You bought the matching Easter outfits back in February when you found them on sale.
You were so smart.
Now, the visit with a bunny has been shelved, the egg hunt was canceled and Easter brunch has been reduced to whatever meat isn’t freezer burned.
Yes, you’re stuck at home, but you can still capture the holiday in photos (and get some use out of those outfits). After all, someday you’ll look back on this time and will appreciate the memories.
Someday.
And let’s face it, even before COVID-19, the pricy mall photos of your children on the Easter Bunny’s lap only seemed precious in theory. No, there’s nothing like that shot of one kid screaming his head off and another suddenly looking paralyzed in fear in the presence of an oversized rabbit.
The Penny Hoarder’s former director of photography, Sharon Steinmann, is the mother of two children, so she knows all about the challenges of photographing little ones. She told us just who to do it.
6 Tips From a Pro Photographer for Taking Photos of Kids
When her son was 2 years old and her daughter was 5 months old, she shared the following tips that amateur photogs can use when it comes to taking pictures of their kids for any occasion.
1. Timing Is Everything
Steinmann recommended parents photograph their children either at the beginning or the end of the day, time periods that photographers refer to as “the golden hour.”
“The worst time to photograph anybody is in the middle of the day,” she said. “Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the sun is very high and directly above you in the sky, so you’re going to get shadows under their eyes and you’re going to get lots of hot spots, especially if they’re wearing spring clothing, which tends to be pastel and light colors.”
Hot spots are areas of a photo that are significantly brighter than the rest of the shot.
Another key precaution: Avoid scheduling the photo session during mealtimes or nap times.
2. Be Mindful of CIothing
When dressing your little ones in their Easter best for photos, don’t focus only on how adorable their outfits are.
Steinmann advised families to avoid fussy patterns — anything with stripes or intricate designs — because they may not translate well digitally.
“My piece of advice is always try to wear a solid color or a pattern that’s not too busy,” she said. “Another thing is avoid white shirts. They tend to be too bright and create a hot spot.”
Steinmann also recommended choosing comfortable clothing for your kids so they’re not squirming or looking irritated in the photos.
3. Location, Location, Location
Steinmann says amateur photographers will take the best shots outdoors — and that’s also convenient for social distancing. She suggested taking photos at a park if your own backyard isn’t suitable for pictures.
When children are your subjects, Steinmann said, it’s important to plan everything in advance. Make sure you have picked out the perfect spot ahead of time and have taken some test shots on an adult.
“You want to keep it quick,” she says. “Make sure it’s comfortable for them. Have everything together.”
4. Make the Most of Your Camera Phone
Many parents will turn to their camera phones to get photos of their kids, and that’s perfectly fine.
Steinmann suggested turning your phone horizontally to get a more flattering shot. Also, don’t put too much distance between yourself and your subjects.
“Get close, and if you feel like you’re too close, get closer,” she said.
Instead of stressing over getting one perfect shot, take several. You can go through your camera roll later to select your favorites.
“I’ll take 20 versions of the same thing,” Steinmann said. “Generally, the first few are the better ones. After the first few, they’re starting to get antsy and squirmy and they’re going to get annoyed, and they’re less likely to smile.”
If your photo session is running past late afternoon and it’s getting dark outside, she recommended turning on your flash to provide a pop of light.
And if you have a newer iPhone, make sure to set your camera on portrait mode.
“It blurs out the background and keeps the focus on the person,” Steinmann said.
5. Recruit a Photo Assistant
When taking Easter photos of your children, don’t make it a solo effort. Enlist your spouse or a family member you’re already isolating with.
They can serve as an extra subject for test shots and can stand behind you making funny faces to get the little ones to smile in the photo.
“Don’t have that person stand to the right or the left of you,” Steinmann advised, “because they’re going to look over there.”
She also said it can be a good idea to provide props for the photo shoot.
“Bringing props helps, because it gives [the children] something to hold or play with,” Steinmann said.
6. Leave It Unfiltered
When it comes time to print out or share your Easter photos with friends and family, Steinmann recommended parents avoid applying filters.
“I think it’s better just to keep it simple,” she said. “Besides, all these filters that we’re using now, they’re going to look dated later.”
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her cell phone is full of photos of her kid. Staff writer/editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors contributed to this post.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.