Taking Photos Of Your Nine Year Old

If you want to capture dreamy portraits of your 9-year-old, the key is to create a relaxed and comfortable environment. Start by letting your child choose the location of the shoot. It can be a park, beach, or even in your backyard. Next, encourage your child to express themselves in the photos. Let them choose the poses and expressions they feel comfortable with. Use natural light to your advantage, and try to shoot during the golden hour, which is the hour after sunrise or before sunset. Lastly, incorporate props that represent your child's interests or hobbies, such as a musical instrument or sports equipment to bring out their personality. With these tips, you’ll be sure to capture dreamy portraits of your 9-year-old that they will love.

I had both of then picking flowers and told them to throw it in each other’s outfits. It made for a great moment of laughter with these two. This photo was taken on the property of my old house in Woodstown, New Jersey.

With this one.. I had her brother make “fart”noises off to the side. It made for some laughs!

If you're looking to take some amazing photos of your nine-year-old, the following tips may come in handy:

1. Get to know your subject: Spend some time with your child, learn about their interests, likes and dislikes, and plan your photo session around their preferences.

2. Choose the right location: Pick a location that would be comfortable for your child and that would also help in bringing out the best in your photos.

3. Get down to eye level: Get down to your child's eye level to create images that are much more intimate and engaging. I always say if your boobs aren’t touching the ground… you aren’t low enough!!!

4. Use natural light: When possible, use natural light as it gives your photos a more natural and organic look.

5. Use props: Don't be afraid to use props to help your child get into character and to make the photos more interesting.

6. Use a Fast Shutter Speed: Kids can be really fast and unpredictable, so to get sharp images, you need to use a fast shutter speed.

7. Capture candid moments: Let your child run free and play, and capture those candid moments of joy and laughter.

8. Be patient: Kids don't always cooperate, so try to be patient and creative in finding ways to get the photos you want.

9. Have fun- You’ll get more natural smiles!

10. Don’t stress out! You need to remain cool. I know it’s your kid and they know how to push our buttons. Keep cool, calm and just take a step back. Create an activity for them to focus on and just watch the magic happen!

I got her picking flowers in a beautiful wildflower field. I wanted to get her in the moment with her pretty little dress on.

As you can see, there are some ideas on how to capture photos of your own kids. Don’t push it. When mine were little, there were times were I couldn’t get a thing. Big meltdowns. Don’t force them if they don’t want to. Include them in the process. They’ll be more willing to “pose” for you. There’s a saying, “Photographer’s Child Syndrome.” It is called that for a reason. I’ve realized if you make it fun, let them in on the process, give them an activity to do, they are super willing to be a part of the portrait process.

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee Giumetti

Shooting Star Photography