Photographing kids is very different from photographing adults. Between kids’ craving for constant movement and shorter attention spans, the behind-the-scenes of a portrait shoot looks quite different than a portrait of an adult. But the best photographs of children often come from embracing those challenges and simply letting kids be kids. This week, we feature five stunning portraits and documentary photographs of children from Chuck Anerino, Heidi Margocsy, Sophie Smith, Jennifer Montgomery, and Melissa Soto.

Chuck Anerino, Anerino Originals

This poolside photo by Chuck Anerino of Anerino Originals captures a candid moment, yet it’s perfectly framed by two kids and a basketball in the foreground. Anerino says he brings his camera everywhere he goes to document his family, even the grocery store. He focuses on capturing moments as they are rather than how he wishes the moment would look. He captured the shot with the Leica M Monochrom and a 50mm Summicron lens.

“This was a pretty typical scene on the basketball court next to the pool with kids eating popsicles while waiting to play,” Anerino says. “One thing that really helps when photographing kids is to take your time to build rapport by getting to know them as people before taking photos.”

Heidi Margocsy, In Her Image Photography

For this image, Heidi Margocsy of In Her Image Photography was asked to capture an heirloom portrait that was both beautiful and timeless. The combination of lighting, expression, wardrobe and props accomplishes just that. Margocsy took the shot with a Canon EOS R6 and the Canon RF 50mm f1.2, feathering the light from a Flashpoint XPLOE 600 in a 60-inch softbox.

“For me personally, [photographing kids is] about engagement, true connection and keeping the child focused,” she says. “This can sometimes be tricky depending on the age of the child, so I tend to ask lots of ‘kid questions’ when photographing children. When I do this, the children become more present, forgetting that we’re at a portrait session—and instead become engaged in conversation, which in turn, results in wonderful natural expressions.”

Sophie Smith, Indigo Portraits

For this shot, photographer Sophie Smith of Indigo Portraits wanted to capture a photo that showed the siblings’ bond while still feeling relaxed and natural. She chose the background and wardrobe in warm tones to compliment the models’ skin tone and hair. Her Canon 5D Mark IV captured the shot, lit by a key light with a double diffuser and a second light bounced off a reflector for fill.

Smith stresses that speed and flexibility are key to working with young children. “When you’re photographing kids you never really know what you’re going to get,” she says. “Some children would happily stay in the studio all day, and some will get tired of being photographed quickly. I think when you have especially little ones, speed can be key! I do use a shot list and have some poses I’d really like to achieve, but I think it’s important not to get too hung up on those because some children may have their own ideas, and that’s ok! What I really want, and what I know their parents want, is for them to be happy and enjoy themselves and for the images we get to have natural expressions, their own beautiful smiles—not forced grimaces… and that can take a bit of patience and flexibility.”

Jennifer Montgomery, Jen Montgomery Photography

This photograph by Jennifer Montgomery of Jen Montgomery Photography seamlessly blends the family with their environment. Montgomery says she was inspired by the landscape and wildlife and wanted to use those elements to tell a story about the family. She captured the show using the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon RF 28-70mm f2.0 lens.

Montgomery overcomes the challenges of photographing young kids by encouraging them to play. “Getting a child to show their personality can be a challenge,” she says. “Showcasing their little quirks, energy, or a natural laugh is something I strive for with every shoot. To overcome this, I do the best I can to encourage play. When they start having fun, they are more likely to act like their natural self and allow me to capture that.”

Melissa Soto, Melissa Soto Photography

Melissa Soto of Melissa Soto Photography finds a balance between sitting back and waiting for the moment to happen and giving a little direction. That’s how this image of her son learning the boogie board ended up perfectly framed by the pier.  She captured the shot with the Nikon D750 and the Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art lens.

“I’ve learned kids are kids and as long as you sit back and wait, the moment will happen for you to document. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t give a little direction,” she says. “I’ll ask questions that spark their curiosity such as, ‘go touch that object and tell me what it feels like,’ or ‘look over there and tell me what you see.’ As my kids are getting older, my approach is starting to change and I’m trying to figure out what that looks like. Continuing to experiment with different approaches shows me what does and doesn’t work.”

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery to: [email protected].

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