Photography in the Summer time - Child portraits with a difference.

Yesterday saw the start of a weeks visit from my sister in law (also a keen photographer) and her 5 year old son. Other than the extra-early wake up calls I’m quite looking forward to spending some time with them. Children and family portraits are a great way to use your digital camera in ways that get the most out of your environment, not just the image quality. Show a roomful of doting parents two photographs of their child, one while they frown with hi-def clarity and artistic lighting, the other snapped on a camera phone, where the child is beaming at the lens, and I would be willing to gamble a quality macro lens they would choose the camera phone.
That’s not to say that all child portraits should be snapshots with little effort, and the British summertime is great for getting vibrant, full of life, shots that really make the child come to life and add that extra depth to an image. Take them to a park or a nearby bridleway while the sun is shining and a little lens flare can help to make the image a little more interesting. Disobey the rules and face towards the sun while your subjects run around and the resulting silhouettes can capture the magic of moving and playing.

A child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn as they play means the expressions they pull will be priceless. Imagine capturing the first time they see a butterfly, or that guilty, cheeky smile as they run up to give you a mud-covered hug! Kids aren’t afraid to get dirty, touch strange insects or explore under rocks, and this is when their personality could really start to shine.
Another favourite of mine is quite simple. Lie down with your camera! Too many people stand up, point their digital camera at a downward angle and click. Bringing the lens down to a child’s eye level can really add depth to an image and will help you frame that smiling face without a sunhat blocking the way.

If you’re lucky enough to have a digital SLR then don’t be afraid to play with the settings. Over exposing pictures isn’t always the best thing to do but tweaking the aperture to allow in that extra bit of light can really emphasise contrast and make your photos that little bit different.
Of course not every day is perfect, but summer sun can break through rainy clouds to provide some great backgrounds if you want to put a little more time into a child portrait. Site them on a windowsill and capture a reflection with the sun streaking through, or while raindrops are still fresh on the window.

I mentioned earlier that even camera phones can work well in summer, and this is because they’re fun and simple – everything that digital photography should be. On the beach, park or even indoors, the quality may not be as good but summer photos aren’t always about the print, they’re about the memories, and what better way to cheer yourself up in the dreary winter months than seeing the sun shining when you answer a call – all ready for next year’s summer photography fun.