How to take better photos of your child

Using your iPhone outside...

OK last week we covered the automatic modes of the Canon, next week we'll cover the manual modes... so it's the iPhone and outside shots we'll cover here.

Taking photos outside is all about movement and light. You need to be aware of how much light there is and where it is coming from. You also need to understand how much time you have to take the photo... with an iPhone this is no time at all so you need to 'anticipate' the image.

Poor Light – Try to keep the subject as still as possible

Adjusting this photo with some apps will
improve the image

OK we're trying to take photos of children, so we don't have much chance of keeping them still. Think about putting baby's on a blanket or in a bouncy chair. If you are strapping them in then remember that you will probably see the straps in the photo. ABOVE ALL make sure the baby is in a safe place and isn't going to fall and hurt itself.

Your little one is probably in the shade as we're asked to keep them out of direct sunlight. So make sure you use what light you have and keep the sun to your side rather than behind you. Use the light adjustment feature that comes with the iPhone... tap that little square to the darkest part of the screen and watch the photo become lighter...then click on an area near your child to focus on them but keeping the light setting that's best for the conditions.

Good Light – Keep your finger on that take photo button

Playing 'chase' on the drive

If you have good light and a willing or not so willing subject then take LOTS of photos. The more photos you take the better your chance of taking a good photo that will capture the moment you want. When you have good light, the important thing is the emotion of the photographer and the subject.

Take the photo you feel, if you're playing with the kid make sure you are both having fun and that this is captured in the pictures you take. You don't need to worry about where the light is or what it is, just have fun with the camera.

Lots of light – Try and make sure the light is over one shoulder

OK, the iPhone doesn't deal with this very well. Try to limit the light with your own shadow... make sure the source of light (usually the sun if you're outside) is over one shoulder.

Your subject will probably squint if you try to make them pose. Use the same technique as a poor light scenario - expect choose the brightest part of the screen to set your light settings by clicking the focus / setting square.

Lots of light is very hard to deal with, as always just take many photos and hope for the best.

While you can change your photos with apps such as Snapseed, the iPhone edit, PS Express etc. Nothing helps more than having a good photo to start with!

How to take better photographs of your child...

My project for this year is to improve my photography

As a keen photo taker (I'd not call myself a photographer … yet) and a Mum I take lots of photos of my child, other people's children, animals, flowers, landscapes... anything that catches my eye. I'm addicted to taking photographs – my iPhone currently has 2294 photos on it's photo stream and plenty more in folders. It's amazing that it still powers up so quickly!

Anyway, after taking a photography course last year I have vowed to improve my photo taking skills. So I'm going to share my journey with you, and perhaps you too will see an improvement in those snaps!

A few ground rules:

1. I am a Canon girl through and through. So I'm going to show pictures of my Canon camera – it's digital and one of those big chunky professional looking ones rather than a point and shoot. All the 'technical' stuff I am going to learn and pass on is going to be based upon this camera – the Canon EOS 400D.
2. Since I don't always have my Canon to hand the other camera I shall talk about and use is the one that comes with my 3GS iPhone. More often than not this will be the only camera you have to hand when your child does something cute that you want to capture. So I'm going to include this and the many apps it has to help improve the photos you take with it.
3. I am not a professional, so if what works for me doesn't work for you I may not know why.
4. I am going to try and keep this as easy to understand as possible. Please remember I am a Mum who is just trying to improve her photography skills.

So let's learn a little bit about our equipment.

iPhone - Small camera lens on the back of the phone.

Operated by touching the screen or pressing the little command button on the front of the phone when the phone screen shows the image that you want to capture.

EOS 400D – An actual camera, with a large lens, inbuilt flash, operation dials, several modes, LCD screen, a CF card, a battery and a camera strap.

Operated by turning it on, selecting a mode, focusing on your shot, pressing the shutter key, and hoping for the best.

Your subject:

Children are difficult to photograph, they don't stay still, are usually not found in good light and don't really 'pose' until their older.

So I've set myself quite a challenge.

Here's one from my iPhone:

And one from my camera:

Let's see if I can do better by the end of the year.