Candid photography is when you photograph the subject without asking them to pose or look at the camera. When children who shy away from the camera become subjects this may be a challenge. The perfect way to avoid that kids don't get burnt out from the camera is not asking anything of them or disrupting what they are doing and patiently sit back and observe and wait.
Candid photography allows capturing true emotions, expressions that are not forced or faked. Candid photography doesn’t always have to be joyous as it can be very powerful when you capture hard moments as well, but the emotions are raw and real.
Her name is Natalia and she came to this world in pandemic times. Photographing her taught me that photographing kids in their “natural environment” gets you better shots and this way I ended up catching natural expressions and moments that I otherwise would not get, through a posed photo.
.Over time my desire to get the image I wanted vanished and got replaced by making the best of the image I captured because I feel like I got to understand how to watch for and catch great candid moments.
Endless possibilities appear when you’re looking for natural moments or details and the result is meaningful art and a visual reminder of good times.
Human beings are fickle creatures. But kids are different. Kids learn through play. Play is their number one job. So, if you want to get great photos that encapsulate childhood, you need to catch them at play.
Kids, like adults, will alter their behavior when they know they are being watched. They also tend to be much quicker to forget that they are being watched which can work to your advantage. If you can move around and play a bit too, the children will almost forget that you have your camera on you.
Children are elusive in their movements and will beat to the sound of their own drums. That’s what makes them so cute and hard to capture all at the same time. When you do get that one great candid shot though, it can be an amazing feeling to freeze that adorable moment in time.