This is part of a series of tips & tricks to get the most out of your phone camera and capture your own family’s beautiful memories. If you missed it you can check out Tip #1 here.

If you have time, I highly recommend taking a few moments to plan out your shot. Think about where you are, where your subject is and where the light is coming from. When it comes to iphone photos, simple compositions are best. This means your subject(s) and minimal other distractions within the frame. Junk distracts from your focal point, so take the time to either adjust your angle or clear distractions away.

 

Angles

One of the easiest things to do with kids is to get down to their level. Yes, this will mean crouching, squatting and often laying down on the ground, but I promise you it will make all the difference in the world. If you’ve ever seen me at a photo session I’m sure you’ve seen me all over the place – standing on my tippy toes and then laying flat on the ground with my head smooshed against the floor. I’m not beyond getting completely dirty or wet if the shot warrants it. Getting down to their level allows you to have direct eye contact and to bring their world into perspective. Other angles to consider are shooting up (at the sky), shooting down (birds eye view), and shooting your subject’s back.

 

Negative Space

I’m a huge fan of using negative space. I love composing a shot where my kiddo is tiny within the frame as it shows how small she really is in this huge world. Negative space can also be very effective in pointing your viewer’s attention exactly where you want them (on your subject). Think about putting your subject(s) right in the corner of the frame, or showing just their eyes instead of their whole face and then allowing blank space to fill the rest of the frame.

 

 

Framing

A really effective method of having a picture with some punch is to utilize framing….and I don’t mean literally framing the picture. I mean using what you have around you to create a sort of virtual frame within the composed shot. Having a framing element can lead the eye straight to your main focal point, it can add context by showing a bit of your surroundings and it can also add depth to your photo. Think of utilizing archways, half open doors, windows, cribs and shadows.

 

 

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Let’s hang out over on Instagram. If you implement this tip or any of the tips in the e-guide, I’d love to see the beautiful snaps you’re creating.  Make sure to tag me (@fiddleleafphoto) so we can connect.