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Hi, it's Albalone but you can call me Alba. I am a Family Photographer based in North
London. I am really good at capturing candid family photography that focuses on showing
the deep connection between family members.
I believe that professional photography doesn’t replace phone photos and phone photos
don’t replace professional photography. They are complementary. In this guide, I will
explain to you how to create mind-blowing photography, with just your iPhone. The tips I
am sharing with you in this guide should help you feel more confident and efficient in
taking photos of your kids. Which will save you precious time and memory space.
Light is the key to great photography. To use it best, prioritise natural light and position
yourself with the light source behind your back, so your subject is well exposed. One
exception will be if it’s sunset and you want to create a silhouette shot, then face the sun
and make the focus by touching the subjects on your screen. Inspiration: ask your child to
play near a window and capture the moment with the window behind you.
Adjusting your child’s position can be important to fix a messy photo. For example, if your
kids are hugging but you have lots of hands and fingers out, maybe tell them to slightly
close their hands into a fist to avoid the sausages display. Or if you see a cute moment or
pose, ask your kid, “Oh wow this was really cool, can you show me again?” And they most
likely will! Posing is as simple as repositioning.
To add perspective, move your child away from the background to create more ‘blur’ (also
called depth of fields). You can also add more blur by getting closer to your subject, by
zooming on your subject so it’s over the usual 1x zoom, or by using the portrait mode on
your iPhone.
Mess and clutter can take away the attention from the subject, so pick an area with a clean
background. It can be a wall, a blanket, a flowery bush, a field or an empty beach, etc...
Avoid trees or poles sticking out of your subject's head. Taking your kid to a unique
location can definitely help create memorable images. So next time you visit a church, a
bluebell forest or a pumpkin farm, get your phone out and let them explore. It will create
striking candid images.
Sometimes we get stuck in position and can’t figure out why a photo is bad. Try to walk
around your subject, examine the light and see what angle looks best. Also, most of the
time you can tell a different story by photographing from different angles. A wide shot of
your child sitting on a bench, a detail of a muddy hand or a close-up giggle will add a
different perspective to the overall story. And don’t forget, little ones see the world
differently, so get on your knees and borrow their eyes for a moment.
The funniest, silliest and sweetest moments are often when we expect them the least. So
always have your phone near you and charged. Some opportunities cannot be missed.
Your kid is eating ice cream and is covered in chocolate? Don’t try to clean it, instead take a
photo and embrace the imperfection.
No kids like being asked to smile, so break your old habits and let them express how they
feel. I always prefer a moody deep stare to a fake grin. If you want a smile, instead play
games with them or be silly so they will laugh naturally.
I know this can sound tempting, but bribing isn’t a great way to get what you want. If your
child doesn’t want to be photographed and isn’t interested in the games you offer, it’s
important to respect their wish. Forcing them will only create hate for the camera. Instead,
try to make it fun for them by imagining a game.
Some days are hard and you might not get the photo you want but that’s okay, you have
every day with your child so let it go and try again another day. Practice makes it perfect.
The eyes are the window of the soul, so focus on the eyes of the person closest to the lens for a
stronger image.
Burst mode is great for action shots. Use a trigger word like “action” or “GO!!!” so your child
knows when to start. This is great for example when you wish to capture your child's dance
moves that they’ve learned at Moving Waves classes. Once captured, delete the missed
shots so your phone isn’t cluttered with unusable photos.
I loved the Photographer Nina Goks’s idea that she shared on her Instagram. Every year,
she will create an album with all her favourite iPhone photos of the year, so her kids don’t
miss out on those private and precious moments. Due to the quality of the images, an
inexpensive album with a simple layout will work. You can try Once Upon, which makes
simple but stylish photo albums.
I hope you now feel more confident and that you will practise your new skills. You can now
create fun photo projects with your kids and document them along the way. If you have
any questions, I will be coming to capture some of Moving Waves classes so you will be able
to meet me in person. You can also visit my website here.
Albalone.
