to anyone who’s ever attempted to take a decent picture of a little kid.

Posted bycasey coombsPosted inphotography

It’s not easy.

Trust me.

You’re going to get half of some body parts, none of others and if what you actually wanted in focus is in focus?

You got lucky.

Look, chances are your child spends most of his or her time at this age invading your personal space, running away from you or causing you to question your decision to become a parent in the first place. So to expect them to sit still and smile for a camera? Pfft.

Balance.

miss j. and a lesson.

Let them be two in their pictures. Quit telling them to look at you.

Because chances are if they are looking at you?

It’s probably because they want something from you.

20 thoughts on “to anyone who’s ever attempted to take a decent picture of a little kid.”

  2. I take a LOT of photos of my kid. Like, a ridiculous number of photos. Yet, I’m pretty sure there was an entire year where her eyes were never once pointed straight at the camera. Such is life.

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  3. Haha these are great!! My husband is always surprised when I tell him I took over 400 pictures when it’s lilttle ones… He just doesn’t get it.

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  4. “chances are your child spends most of his or her time at this age invading your personal space, running away from you or causing you to question your decision to become a parent in the first place”

    LOVE IT! Great pictures as always.

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  7. Love this post. It’s great to know that even an amazing photographer (and mom) like you doesn’t get studio-perfect shots of kids. Honestly, these are 1000 times better.

    My MIL was harassing me the other day because I have so few photos of my 3yo looking at the camera. She figures since I have a fancy new camera, I should have lots. I had to explain to her that taking photos while trying to keep up with (and keep safe) my little guy usually results in shots of the back of his head. Then she actually had the nerve to wonder why I haven’t gotten any of him together with his 6mo cousin where they are both smiling for the camera. I just sighed and said “I’ll try.”

    -Abby

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  8. So true! And some of my favorite pictures of Maggie are ones where she’s just being herself, not looking at me at all (or, looking at me and making a ridiculous face!) There will be plenty of time for posed, smiling photos later when she’s all grown up *sniffle*

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  12. Lately the only pics I get of my 3 year old looking at the camera are the ones where she is “smiling”. Which is really this pained, stricken look where she squints her eyes and sticks her teeth out. It’s charming.

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  16. My favorite picture of my girls is from my baby’s newborn shots. She was about a month old and we tried getting my then 16 month old to hold her. The photographer got her pushing her away and Tiny had a look of terror on her face. I’m so glad she included that one. It cracks me up every time I look at it and I’m sure they’ll get a kick out of it when they are older.

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  17. I’ve taken several thousand photos of my little guy to get a few hundred I like and a handful that I thing are really good.

    Technique has it’s place but so does volume which translates to practice.

    Go shoot! But make sure it’s good light:)

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  19. So true! Just wait until they grow up. My kidlets still act two when I try to get pictures of them even though they’re twenty-two. Some just never grow out of that I guess.

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