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Photographs of young children can bring
pleasure to many people, not only their parents and close relatives.
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The important thing to remember is that
young children tire easily. Patience will be needed to get the best out
of what might be a very brief photographic sessions. If the child seems
to be becoming unhappy it is best to take a break and restart at a
later time. Try to avoid dressing young children up in strange
costumes, as these can humiliate them. The child should be having fun,
and not be made fun of.
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Natural light is probably the best, as it
will not distract or distress the child. Very young babies are often
upset by flashlight.
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Try to think ahead about backgrounds. An
ugly intrusion can ruin what would otherwise be a great shot, and there
may not be a chance to move the subject. As well as more formal
portraits try to photograph the young child engaged in some activity –
playing, or perhaps at bathtime.
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When photographing small children in a
studio or away from home, have a few toys for them to play with. They
may well not be able to understand a request to go to a particular
place or do something specific. Often the only way of getting the right
expression from a child is to play the fool.
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With children who are two years old or
more, Polaroid pictures can be a great help at the photography session.
They will be fascinated by seeing the results instantly.