TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF KIDS FOR  PATTERN TESTING

(Pattern: CKC Rosemary/Cordelia mashup)

In my years of experience testing patterns for my favorite pattern company (CKC Patterns), I've picked up a few tricks of the trade when it comes to photographing children in a way that highlights the outfit being tested. Since I get asked a lot how to take better pictures, so I thought I would share what I've learned so far. 

This was my very first tester photo with the company, and I was super proud of it. Looking back, it's not a bad photo but I think I could have done better, if I had a bit more experience. (Pattern: CKC Bernadette)

**DISCLAIMER: In no way am I a professional photographer, nor do I claim to possess the skills of one. I'm just an average person with a decent camera and a desire to take better photos of my children for their modeled photos. Also, while I do currently work as a designer for this company, these photos were (mostly) taken while I was volunteering to test out designs. 

Read below for a list of my top tips to taking great photos of children for testing patterns:

#1: EQUIPMENT:

A good camera is ideal! However, if you cannot afford one most high-end cell phones such as an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy have nice professional-ish photo settings. Look for a setting such as "Portrait" or "Live Focus" that automatically blurs the background to let the subject stand out.

I took this photo with my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 using the "Live Focus" feature. The only editing I did afterwards was adding a slight vignette around the outside. (Pattern: CKC Velma Sue)

#2: GET DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL

One of the most important things I learned about taking photos of children is making sure that you lower your body to the child's level, so that your photos don't look like they're taken from above.

The photo on the left side was taken at my height level, which is somewhat taller than my model's. See how it appears that I am looking down at her? Now, look at the photo on the right. I lowered my body so that her body was centered- it is a very subtle change but really makes the outfit and model stand out. (Pattern: CKC Kimber)

#3: PUT SOME SPACE BETWEEN THE BACKGROUND AND MODEL

Don't stand directly in front of your background but rather keep some distance- that way your shots have a naturally blurred background. Focus should be on your model, not the background. If your camera does not blur your background, you can always add that in later using photo editing software. 

In this photo, I was about 30 ft away from my background, which was enough for my camera to focus on the model and blur out the background. (CKC Pattern: Jaycee)

#4: USE NATURAL LIGHT

Throw the flash away! (kidding... don't do that). Try if you absolutely can to take your photos outside under natural light. And if at all possible, take any outdoor photos during "golden hour"- that is, the hour before sunset and after sunrise. This gives your photos that beautiful warm look and also reduces harsh shadows.

This photo was taken just before sunset. It was getting pretty dark, but there was such a beautiful golden glow to the sky. Coupled with the energy of the ocean, it made for a pretty gorgeous photo opportunity. (Pattern: CKC Poppy)

#5: GRAB SOME SHADE

If taking shotos midday, find some shade and have your model stand right at the edge of it- that way all harsh shadows on the face and body are eliminated but your model is still fully lit with a nice dark background. Photos taken right at the edge of a forest, or in front of an open door or covered porch are really pretty.

For this photo, I had my model stand next to a tree just on the edge of a forest. The sun was overhead but filtered by the trees. As a result, her face was fully lit but the background remained dark. This is one of my favorite places to take photos. (Pattern: CKC Rosalinda)

#6: LET THEM PLAY!

Don't make them pose- just let them just be themselves! The best things about kids are their raw expressions and carefree movement. Some of my favorite photos were taken after I stopped asking my model to "smile for the camera".

While not a tester photo, I took this one because I wanted to show off the dress I made for Christmas. It is one of my favorite photos because it shows off her sweet innocence as well as her silly personality. (Pattern: CKC Cordelia/Larkin mashup)

#7: TO THE WINDOW,  AND THE WALL...

If taking indoor photos, find a window with the most light and a blank wall and have your model stand in front of this wall. Your model will be well lit and the background will be nice and dark

#8: REMEMBER THE 10-2 RULE

A good rule on lighting is the 10-2 method. Position your model so that the sun or your light source is at a 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock degree. This position allows light to hit your model's face in a pleasing manner.

I realize my model's face is underexposed in this photo. However, it doesn't stop me from loving it. I love how the sun's rays are casting a warm glow on her face. (Pattern: CKC Zinnia)

#9: IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

When you're testing patterns, focus in on details. Does the garment have a unique sleeve? A delicate trim feature? Don't be afraid to zoom in on the details to show them off.

This pattern's name was "Sunflower" and featured a buttonhole tie-back. I wanted to show off this feature so I got up close and personal. (Pattern: CKC Sunflower)

#10: DON'T BE AFRAID TO HOLD DOWN THE SHUTTER BUTTON

Have an energetic toddler? A high shutter speed and good lighting is your friend. I'm not ashamed to admit that when taking photos of my wild one most of the time I have to hold the shutter down and hope that in one of the thousand shots taken she will be looking at the camera. Hold down that shutter and take high-speed bursts if your camera allows it. Toddlers are energetic and move a LOT but have such a beautiful energy about them that is amazing to capture. Sometimes you just have to take as many shots as you can and hope for the best.

I absolutely love this photo. It was raining outside, and I was stressing that I wouldn't be able to get a good shot of this outfit. My model was getting cold and grumpy, and at that point I all but gave up. Then I noticed her starting to enjoy the rain- splashing in the puddles and trying to catch the raindrops on her tongue. I started snapping while she played and got some pretty cute photos. (Pattern: CKC Genesis (top) and Lolly (pants))

#11: GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO HOLD

Someone gave me this advice, and it is one of the best things I've learned about photographing small children. If you have a squirmy one, a good tip is to give them a small item to hold. This will keep them entertained and somewhat still. Flowers are a great prop and toddlers love them! And, depending how desperate I am, candy is also a great motivator.

No way this photo could have happened without that horse. None. (Pattern: CKC Cordelia)

#12: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE

I recommend Photoshop Express app. It is free and lets you make so many adjustments if your shots didn't come out right when you took them. I also like adding a small vignette to my photos for a bit of drama but that is personal preference.

My model wanted to look like, "an old-fashioned lady in a painting". I went heavy on the vignette in this photo to add some drama. (Pattern: CKC Cuba (top) and Jayda (pants))

#13: SKIP THE SMOOTHING

Children's skin is naturally smooth and dewy. Avoid filters that make the skin appear unrealistically smooth. The more natural, the better!

If your model has blemishes, you can use the spot healing function in your photo editing software but please- do not blur the entire face! (Pattern: CKC Bentlee)

#14: UP THE EXPOSURE

For backlight photos, increase the exposure value so that the subject's face is illuminated, then tweak the contrast, highlights, and shadows a bit until you get a combination that looks good to you. If at all possible, shoot your photos using the RAW setting so that you preserve as much of the photo quality as possible after editing. 

I did some heavy editing on this one because I wanted to give the photograph a bit of a dreamy vibe. In this one, I had to increase the exposure quite a bit because my model was standing directly in front of a window. The camera kept wanting to expose the scene based on the window which resulted in an underexposed model. (Pattern: CKC Campbell)

#15: WARM IT UP

For photos taken on overcast days, increase contrast and slightly increase the warmth. It'll give the illusion of sunset. 

This photo was taken early in the morning just before my daughter got on the bus. It was still fairly dark outside, and also in early spring so the overall tint to the photograph was on the cool spectrum. However, increasing the temperature a bit in my photo editing software did the trick to bright it up. (Pattern: CKC Fleur)

That's it! I hope you enjoyed what *I* found to be the most important tips I've learned about photographing children. All of this comes from advice from other testers, photography professionals, as well as personal experience. I have to note that my way is definitely not the highway- when it comes to taking photos, you do you. Much like art, photography is subjective. So do what feels good to you! If you are a professional reading this, I'd LOVE to hear some things that work for you.