Candidly the toddler

I just love shooting toddlers candidly – as they are, and not as their mothers want them to be!

Studio photographers often refer to the short attention span of young children as a ‘problem.’ To me it is a big advantage as it allows capturing of many natural moods, facial expressions and body language displays within a short time. But then of course, I shoot candidly in their environment.

Don’t get me wrong: I have seen brilliant work by studio photographers who just posess that ‘something’ to work with children this age and with the support of total lighting and background control produce awesome toddler photos. I often envy their talent and skills.

However, in 20 years time the brilliant studio photos will at best show the young adult what he looked like at he age of 18 months, while my candid shots will tell him what he was like at that age!

But, a word of advice to the moms and dads with cameras around the house: Just because you’re shooting candids of the toddler in his or her natural environment, doesn’t mean that you should be happy with any old snapshot! You might find that in 20 years time you end up with a young adult frustrated with and criticizing your photographic skills rather than reliving his early days with nostalgia.

Capturing great candids of the kids certainly requires some knowledge and skills and it is not nearly sufficient to “buy a good camera” to do it. Cameras don’t take good pictures (especially not of young children) – people do!

If you really want to get those great candid pics of the kids growing up – invest in learning: books, the internet, a course or workshop, or if all else fails, from time to time get someone who can to come crawl around with a camera in your backyard or on your lounge floor!

I trust that ‘lil Gerhardt’s parents will find the set published here of some use in 20 years from now.   Happy shooting!

I’d appreciate some fellow shooter’s, mom’s and dad’s comments on this approach as I might be a lone voice crying out in the desert.

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