color, click, capture photography challenge – orange

This week’s photography tip comes from Emily Anderson of Emily Anderson Photography. Emily has been photographing children and families in the Northeast Arkansas area for several years. She has the patience of a Saint and an impeccable ability to capture the most innocent moments.

When photographing children, have realistic expectations. If your 2 year old can’t sit still to watch his or her favorite 15-minute television show, a 40-minute session with props and specific poses is probably out of the question. (Even for a professional this can be hard to accept when it involves my own children. J ) Arrange to have another person there to chase a runaway toddler, wipe noses, and pull dresses down to cover diapers. Pick a time that the kids are usually at their best. I find that in the morning, right after breakfast is a great time for most kids. Have everything ready and easily accessible. You don’t want to have to go searching for a specific toy or book when you are 10 minutes in to their 20 minute attention span. If the kids are going to working on a project, think about what angle you will be photographing from when you set up the workspace. Take a few test shots of the area as you set up. Keep it fun, and never underestimate the power of candy or gummy fruit snacks.