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The Adventures of a Twin Mom

Motherhood and Travel Blog

February 21, 2022

8 Tips/Tricks to Get Good Photos of Children

One of the questions I get asked the most is how do I get so many good photos of my children, Camden and Ella. I am not a professional photographer but I am very comfortable taking photos of Camden and Ella so I thought I’d share my tips with you! I should also say that I got lucky having two kids that don’t mind having their pictures taken and I know this isn’t the same for all kids but I still thought I’d share what I’ve learned.

  1. Have everything figured out beforehand.  If you know you want to take photos of your kids or family at a certain time or place, have everything figured out beforehand…the lighting (natural light is almost always best), the outfits (I’ll share more about this later), and who is taking the photo. I always take a few test shots prior because sometimes the lighting won’t be how you expect. You don’t want to figure this out when your kids are with you.
  2. Make sure everyone is happy! If your kiddos aren’t happy, the photos will probably not turn out well. Make them laugh and smile by telling jokes, saying silly things, making goofy faces, or even have a dance party.
  3. Hold your finger down on your camera.  Camden and Ella have an attention span with photos of about 2-3 minutes tops, so I hold my finger down and let my camera take 100 photos a minute…usually at least one will turn out good! Pushing someone into taking photos when they don’t want to, isn’t going to benefit anyone.
  4. Coordinate Outfits!  My kids are at an age where they normally don’t care what they wear and still love matching each other (I hope this lasts for a while longer). If I know we’re going to be taking photos or going on a trip, I coordinate our outfits beforehand.  I always pick girl outfits first…ALWAYS because girls’ clothing just has more colors, patterns, and styles.  So, once I have Ella and my outfit picked out then it’s really easy to find colors for the boys to go with our outfits.
  5. Teach your kids where to look/look at the lens.  A photographer of ours once told my kids to look for the butterflies in her lens and if they smiled really pretty they could probably see them! This stuck with my kids and I still say “smile and look for the butterflies” and they do this 99% of the time.  They think it’s fun! Half the time they argue after about who saw the butterfly first.
  6. Get down to their level and get closer.  Backgrounds can be a distraction on your photo or your child could be blurry if too much is going on or you’re not close enough. Sit, kneel, or lay on the floor to enter their world and capture it. Make sure you are focused on them and not what’s going on around them.
  7. Have an editor app!  Like I mentioned above, I am not a professional photographer. I have had zero training on editing photos but I do use a really easy app called Lightroom that helps me edit the lighting in photos. You can even buy Presets on here, all you do is upload the photo and click the preset and your editing is done! Easy peasy!
  8. Let them be little, let them be them!  Capture the real, fun, and silly moments! These are often my favorite photos. I try to keep my phone close by most of the time because you never know when a special memory/good photo opportunity could happen.

It’s easy to get frustrated but try to enjoy the moment…even the crazy ones! I am thankful for all the photos I have.

26 Comments

Comments

  1. Lori Bosworth

    February 22, 2022 at 12:49 pm

    Getting down to their level is a great tip! I also like the idea of holding your finger down on the camera because my young nieces and nephews move a lot and I often get blurry photos!

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      Glad this helped! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Amber Myers

    February 22, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    You have some great tips. I find making jokes and such usually gets smiles from my kids. They’re teens now, so they can be moody, but a fart joke sometimes does the trick.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      Haha! Whatever makes them smile. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Tara Pittman

    February 22, 2022 at 3:48 pm

    I can be hard to get good photos of kids. I know the struggles as I have 5 kids.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      You have your hands full with 5 kids, I’m sure!

      Reply
  4. Melissa Cushing

    February 22, 2022 at 4:10 pm

    Such wonderful tips for getting amazing photos with the kiddos 😉 Such cuties you ahve and I do love the coordinating outfits 😉

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  5. Forever My Little Moon

    February 22, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    I’m still working on getting my daughter to look at the camera. It’s hit or miss and then getting her to smile is another issue, lol!

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      That is definitely normal, haha! Try the butterfly suggestion.

      Reply
  6. Terri Steffes

    February 22, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    I know I was supposed to get some great tips about photographing twins, but honestly, I couldn’t take my eyes away from those two cuties!

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      Haha! Well thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Catalina

    February 23, 2022 at 4:30 am

    Yes, let them be little. The best photos are those when they have a happy moment and feel natural.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  8. Richelle Milar

    February 23, 2022 at 4:39 am

    These are all really great tips! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I will keep this in mind

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Glad they helped!

      Reply
  9. Beth Pierce

    February 23, 2022 at 5:19 am

    These photos are lovely. I must say you are such a good photographer. I hope I can apply these tips and capture better photos

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Alita

    February 23, 2022 at 5:21 am

    I still struggle with taking photos with the kids. Thank you for the tips. Getting down to their level and get closer is great advice.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      You’re welcome! Glad they helped!

      Reply
  11. Elizabeth Neas

    February 23, 2022 at 7:16 am

    These are great photos of your kids. Your tips are wonderful and it shows they work. Love the ones of them with their donations only lemonade stand.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      February 23, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      Aww thank you!

      Reply
  12. Rosey

    February 24, 2022 at 6:59 am

    I hold a bag of their favorite treat behind the camera. Kidding!! Although it might not have been a bad idea sometimes, lolol

    Reply
  13. Everything Enchanting

    February 25, 2022 at 9:47 am

    Wow, such fabulous photos These are excellent tips and I’ll keep them in mind for sure!

    Reply
  14. Marysa

    September 3, 2022 at 10:54 am

    You get such wonderful photos of your family! Thanks for the tips. I have struggled with this for a while.

    Reply
    • Brianna

      September 4, 2022 at 9:39 am

      I hope these help!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Brianna! I'm a wife, mom of twin toddlers, a blogger, and a world traveler. Welcome to a small piece of our perfect chaos!

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AD: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Did AD: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Did you know that 1 in 4 kids in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from? Summer is especially challenging without the help of school lunches. That’s why Food Lion is partnering with 7 brands: @aquafina @lays @kelloggsus @saraleebread @campbells @chexmix @breyers this summer for their Summers Without Hunger program to donate meals to local food banks – you can help by donating $5 at checkout at Food Lion and they will MATCH it! Doubling the donations! I am trying to raise up kids that care about others, and when I heard about this amazing @foodlion program, I knew I wanted them to be involved. They loved taking their proceeds to our local Food Lion and donating by themselves! Purchase a $5 donation at checkout in store or with your next Food Lion to Go order today to help child hunger! https://lnk2.io/wj2k6VL #FoodLionFeeds #SummersWithoutHunger #PutHopeOnTheTable
Our anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island was a d Our anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island was a dream! Sharing all the details about our trip…our stay @sonestahhi and everything we did on my blog today.  #hiltonhead
#AD These three could sit here all day playing gam #AD These three could sit here all day playing games!  Does your family love to play games? When we first moved in we had bugs in here. Thanks to @raid they are all gone and we no longer have to think about a bug crawling across our game boards!  We always have Raid® Ant & Roach Killer with Essential Oils and Raid® Ant Baits on hand. 
 We love that Raid® Ant & Roach Killer with Essential Oils is safe for use around kids and pets when used as directed. We buy these from our local @publix . #RaidProtects
9 years! 💗 Happy Anniversary, Judd! I’m so th 9 years! 💗 Happy Anniversary, Judd! I’m so thankful for you and this life we’ve built together.
AD: My kiddos, you are ONE IN A MELON! This past AD: My kiddos, you are ONE IN A MELON! 

This past year with all the craziness in the world, I've realized how important it is to buy and support local companies. I love that my favorite grocery store @foodlion lets me do this while shopping in their store...they have tons of products labeled Local Goodness which are products sourced from inside state lines. . From produce to seafood to baked goods to health & beauty, they've got an amazing selection! This juicy watermelon was from Coosaw Farm https://lnk2.io/w5BsFSN #LocalGoodness #FoodLion
If someone asks me for a good place to take a summ If someone asks me for a good place to take a summer vacation with kids… Myrtle Beach is always in my top three spots! We had the best time there last month for a little family getaway of our own at @hiclubvacations South Beach Resort. #HostedByHCV

 

Today on their Checking In blog, I’m sharing the Top 12 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach for families this summer! Head over to my link in bio or swipe in my stories to check it out. 🙂 #MyrtleBeach #SouthCarolina #travelingwithkids
#ad It’s that time of the year…Spring Cleaning #ad It’s that time of the year…Spring Cleaning!! Do we think Camden and Ella will actually help? #doubtful First up, cleaning the carpet with the @BISSELLCLEAN PowerForce™ PowerBrush Pet upright carpet cleaner. It doesn’t matter how much we vacuum-- between 2 kids and the tough messes from our rescue pet, our carpets do need to be powerfully cleaned often! This lightweight but powerful cleaner always does a great job removing dirt and stains and is extremely affordable. We bought it at @Walmart #PowerForcePowerBrush #WeArePetParents
Can someone bring me something frozen with a littl Can someone bring me something frozen with a little umbrella in it please? #thebaropensin15minutes😉 Judd and I are having such a wonderful vacation @sonestahhi! ☀️🌴🍹

#sonestahiltonhead #hiltonhead
Kid free in paradise! This is our first trip just Kid free in paradise! This is our first trip just us👫 in 3+ years.  We feel so refreshed already and ecstatic to be here at @sonestahhi, our home away from home for the next few days! 🌴☀️🍹#hiltonhead #hiltonheadisland #sonestahiltonhead

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AD: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Did AD: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Did you know that 1 in 4 kids in our community don’t know where their next meal is coming from? Summer is especially challenging without the help of school lunches. That’s why Food Lion is partnering with 7 brands: @aquafina @lays @kelloggsus @saraleebread @campbells @chexmix @breyers this summer for their Summers Without Hunger program to donate meals to local food banks – you can help by donating $5 at checkout at Food Lion and they will MATCH it! Doubling the donations! I am trying to raise up kids that care about others, and when I heard about this amazing @foodlion program, I knew I wanted them to be involved. They loved taking their proceeds to our local Food Lion and donating by themselves! Purchase a $5 donation at checkout in store or with your next Food Lion to Go order today to help child hunger! https://lnk2.io/wj2k6VL #FoodLionFeeds #SummersWithoutHunger #PutHopeOnTheTable
Our anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island was a d Our anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island was a dream! Sharing all the details about our trip…our stay @sonestahhi and everything we did on my blog today.  #hiltonhead
#AD These three could sit here all day playing gam #AD These three could sit here all day playing games!  Does your family love to play games? When we first moved in we had bugs in here. Thanks to @raid they are all gone and we no longer have to think about a bug crawling across our game boards!  We always have Raid® Ant & Roach Killer with Essential Oils and Raid® Ant Baits on hand. 
 We love that Raid® Ant & Roach Killer with Essential Oils is safe for use around kids and pets when used as directed. We buy these from our local @publix . #RaidProtects
9 years! 💗 Happy Anniversary, Judd! I’m so th 9 years! 💗 Happy Anniversary, Judd! I’m so thankful for you and this life we’ve built together.
AD: My kiddos, you are ONE IN A MELON! This past AD: My kiddos, you are ONE IN A MELON! 

This past year with all the craziness in the world, I've realized how important it is to buy and support local companies. I love that my favorite grocery store @foodlion lets me do this while shopping in their store...they have tons of products labeled Local Goodness which are products sourced from inside state lines. . From produce to seafood to baked goods to health & beauty, they've got an amazing selection! This juicy watermelon was from Coosaw Farm https://lnk2.io/w5BsFSN #LocalGoodness #FoodLion
If someone asks me for a good place to take a summ If someone asks me for a good place to take a summer vacation with kids… Myrtle Beach is always in my top three spots! We had the best time there last month for a little family getaway of our own at @hiclubvacations South Beach Resort. #HostedByHCV

 

Today on their Checking In blog, I’m sharing the Top 12 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach for families this summer! Head over to my link in bio or swipe in my stories to check it out. 🙂 #MyrtleBeach #SouthCarolina #travelingwithkids
#ad It’s that time of the year…Spring Cleaning #ad It’s that time of the year…Spring Cleaning!! Do we think Camden and Ella will actually help? #doubtful First up, cleaning the carpet with the @BISSELLCLEAN PowerForce™ PowerBrush Pet upright carpet cleaner. It doesn’t matter how much we vacuum-- between 2 kids and the tough messes from our rescue pet, our carpets do need to be powerfully cleaned often! This lightweight but powerful cleaner always does a great job removing dirt and stains and is extremely affordable. We bought it at @Walmart #PowerForcePowerBrush #WeArePetParents
Can someone bring me something frozen with a littl Can someone bring me something frozen with a little umbrella in it please? #thebaropensin15minutes😉 Judd and I are having such a wonderful vacation @sonestahhi! ☀️🌴🍹

#sonestahiltonhead #hiltonhead

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