18 DIGITAL CAMERA^
1
Get the kids involved
The kids are the undoubted stars
of this show, and their comfort
in front of the camera is key to a
beautiful shoot. Help a shy child
feel better by making the process
collaborative: show them your
camera and let them see pictures
of themselves. This will help them
to trust you, and not feel so afraid
of the strange clicking machine
you’re aiming at their face.2
Embrace your
inner child
Fun and movement create magic on
family shoots. Get the kids running
and playing alongside you, and
take the shots when they’re totally
engrossed in whatever game you’re
playing. Slightly older kids love to
hunt for the Gruffalo, and bubbles
don’t go amiss at any age. Come
prepared to be a bit silly, and
you won’t go far wrong.3
Save the best
for last
Most people want at least one
posed group family shot, so it’s a
good idea to get it done first. While
they’re there, ask them about
something funny that’s happened
this week to capture the more
natural version of this setting.
Instigate some walking shots,
before letting the real fun (and
unscripted chaos) commence.Kitty’s kit bag
I shoot mainly with my Canon 5D Mk
III with a Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 lens:
it’s a fantastic set-up for most family
shoots. I love the easy back-button
focus on this camera, allowing me
to lock in continuous autofocus
on my fast-moving subjects.
I have recently started using a
Sony Alpha 7 III, a lighter mirrorless
camera with amazing touchscreen
focus and excellent low-light abilities
(for in-the-forest type shoots). I use
my Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens for up-
close detailed shots, with a Sigma
MC-11 adaptor enabling use on the
A7 III. Throw in a spare battery, spare
SD cards and some bubbles for the
kids, and I’m good to go.18 DIGITAL CAMERA^ MARCH 2021 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
Use Aperture
Priority ModeAperture Priority allows you to
manually control the aperture
while the camera largely
determines the rest, leaving
you free to play and create.
Set the ISO to Auto (fine for
most outside photography),
then you can determine the
minimum shutter speed –
I recommend 1/500 sec
for those high-speed kids.Kitty^Ckark