Are other people's children easier than your own?

[keljbj]

I'm nowhere near ready to do this professionally, but in the future my aim is to specialise in babies/children and family photography. I like to practise on my own children (i have 4, ranging in age from 15 down to almost 4), and i'm fine when i am taking candids. But posed photos are a nightmare lol. I try to engage them, talk about their day, favourite toys, get them to tell me silly jokes and vice versa. I tell them it's our special time, something for us to do one to one (they get limited time just me and one of them obviously ). But they honestly are a nightmare :bonk: Obviously with my own kids i can just call it a day and try again later, but i wouldn't be able to do that for paying customers (would i?! ).

So, are other children generally easier? Or shall i just give up whilst its just a vague dream

 

[AR-Graphics]

Ah children, you've got to love em! Having 4 children myself (5 to 8) I recognise all you were saying, all the cajoling, pleading, bribery (have you tried offering money! ) yes it can be huge fun trying to get them engaged. :bang: it gets even better the more children you add to the image! It's worth it though when you get some memorable images. I have some lovey shots of mine on my facebook account, and I posted some on here that i took for Christmas cards a while ago (unseasonal cards). As with those and other children group shots, the chances of getting them all with a good expression at the same time, decreases exponentially with every child added!:bonk: I've therefore become quite adept at using photoshop to swap heads!

Anyway I'm afraid there is no real answer to your question. Like your own kids it can just depend on the mood they are in. I generally chat with the parents to find out some things about their children such as their interests when they are likely to be sleepy and grumpy etc. Sometimes being a stranger can work for you as many children will see you as a authority figure and take direction better. Other times they can be very shy and you have to spend quite a bit of time getting to know them (that's when finding their interests and a bit of research comes in). I normally don't get the camera out until they've overcome that initial shyness and we are chatting. Then I get the camera out and try and get them interested in it. Let them look through it perhaps take a picture of me, then it becomes a bit of a game and generally the shoot goes quite well.

So it's very much a case of summing up the situation and tailoring your approach to it. Its Just practice practice practice and tranquillisers!

 

[Phil V]

When you start this, people tell you that portrait photography is 90% Psychology and 10% Photography. You then get wrapped up in how difficult photography is and forget that you were warned about the tricky stuff.

Once you've got the basic camera craft sorted, and you've learned how to get your subjects to behave how you want, all you're left with is learning how to light them well enough to make them look better than SnappySnaps do. Good luck.

 

[Lyonspride]

Are other people's children easier than your own?

In a word.... Yes.

"Familiarity breeds contempt"

Your own kids will mess about and misbehave, they'll want to pull silly faces or do crazy things on camera, kinda like miniature Russians.

Someone else's children usually won't misbehave around a stranger, not as long as they're on their own (no sibblings/friends around).

 

[Throttle]

On average if im trying to get my own kids photo'ed i find them hardwork to get if i want a posed type shot,
yet if i get out a light stand and maybe umbrella with a off camera flash ( which i rarely do ) they will tend to be more interested for a photo as its something new too them to have a photo with it

I usually take random type candid photo's when there playing or even watching tv, I would agree that other peoples children would be easier to photo if they don't know you too well they tend too be quieter on average and will listen more usually

 

[keljbj]

Thank you for your replies. Good to know that i don't have to give up before i've even started . I think my children are just pains anyway

 

[Adam_K]

Yup trying to capture images of my two boys is a nightmare, now I venture out with the 70-200 and get candids unless they have decided to be nice for a change lol. The trouble is they know all the tricks and what buttons to push to wind me up. Take for instance trying to do my 4 year old sons passport pictures the other day, it was painful like pulling teeth, especially when I told him not to smile, big mistake!