Photographing children can soon become more of a chore than a joy if a professional photographer has not shared with you the most important tips in achieving great shots. It goes without saying that most children will simply not respond to a command or react as you wish they would, so a little manipulation and clever trickery is required.

Grab their attention – Children bore very easily and as soon as something else in the room distracts them, they will be wandering off into their own little world. Talk to them and make them laugh. Even photographing them whilst they are playing can bring out some fantastic natural and fun shots.

Lower yourself to their level – Babies will usually either be sat on the floor or lying on their belly, so do the same thing. You will achieve a more natural perspective and see the world how they would too.

Prop it up – Use props in your photographs. Props are great for a variety of reasons; firstly because they add an additional dimension to the photograph and secondly, it gives the child something to play with. Shots of children with blank inexpressive faces in photographs can be boring, so keep them interested.

Short and sweet – The average concentration span of a toddler is only around 5 minutes, so try to keep the child amused for this amount of time and spend as little time as possible setting up shots. You might find that by the time you have set it up, the child would have already crawled away to the nearby toy box. Save time and have this already set up when they arrive.

Use the eyes as tools – Eyes are the window to the soul and this phrase has never been truer than when photographing children. Their eyes are large, round and expressive and catching them at the right moment could see your portraits taking on a completely new level.

Think about lighting – Bad lighting will cause the child to squint, so if you see this happening, move the light sources away from them a little for a more natural look.

AM or PM – Natural light that occurs in the early morning and late in the evening is more becoming on a child’s soft face, so use this intelligently.

Dress them up – Fun colors and clothing will not only help to keep the attention of the tiny tot, but will also change the entire look of the photograph. Using bright colors against a subtle background will give depth and a flash of flair.

Use the great outdoors – Photographing children in the park or at the beach will be very advantageous if you are looking for natural lighting and instant props. The background of the sea can be used as a free backdrop also.

Use your head – Think outside of the box. Although young children’s faces are extremely cute, so are their hands and their feet. Photograph them holding a toy or a shell on the beach and add a new perspective to your photographs.