How to Photograph Your Grandkids

-

Photographing Your Grandkids

We asked three Island photographers—Ashley Marston, Erin Wallis and Kimberley Kufaas—for tips on how to best “capture your kids.” Here are their answers…

Get lots of photos together. Is grandpa sitting at the table playing cards with his grandson? Grab the camera! Is gramma reading a bedtime story? Grab the camera! You will never regret having photos with your grandkids. And they will be some of the kids’ most treasured photographs. – AM

Get down to their level. If they are playing cars, or crawling down the hallway, make sure you are down there too. Not only will they think its so fun that you are right there with them, but it will likely also get you a few good smiles so be ready. – AM

Find an environment the kids love, whether it’s a forest walk, baking cookies, you name it. Finding a comfortable area for them creates those moments where you can follow their lead.

Get to their level and think about your surrounding and most importantly the lighting. I use natural light 90 per cent of the time. If you’re indoors make sure that light source is nearby. If you’re outdoors just watch for the sun to be behind or directly in front of your subject(s). They don’t always need to know you’re planning on taking a photo. – KK

Take it outside! Head to a field or a beach without a lot of people or distracting elements. Take a stroll along a trail and snap a few images as they are walking towards or away from you. Make a game of it—if it’s fun, your results are guaranteed to be better! – EW

Take them outside to an evenly lit spot. Avoid harsh, bright sunshine or super dark spots. If you’re using your phone to take their photo, remember you can touch the brightest or darkest part of the screen to lighten/darken the image properly. – EW

Don’t make taking their photo a chore. Have your camera out and handy when they are having fun or when they are in the moment. Don’t fight them to get the perfect shot. – EW

Remove busy or unnecessary elements —any cords, garbage or clutter. Better yet, take them to a place they don’t usually get to play (or, as above, sleep) in: Your freshly made bed! – EW

Everyday life with kids is typically chaotic. Adding a camera to the mix to capture memories of your visit sometimes takes some patience and extra bribery. That’s not always what it’s about to get the perfect photo. It’s not just about smiles. My take on photography is capturing moments that are actually happening at that time. I do prompt some posing, but usually some silliness and being playful I can get the kids working well with me. – KK

To see more photos from each of the featured photographers, visit: