Probably the biggest difference between professional photographs and family snaps is the amount of clutter in the background. It is very common to see lovely pictures of children that are spoiled by the kitchen bin, a bit of the fridge and a sink full of dishes in the background. When we look at people our [...]
Once you have decided on your favourite photographs, you need to decide the best way to view them. Digital photography has greatly expanded the way that we can look at our images and how you choose to display them can affect not only your enjoyment of them but also the meaning they have for your [...]
In my last tip, I advised not to hold back on how many frames you shoot. Once you have done that and downloaded the images to your computer, what should you do with them?
Often people show me their pics on their computer and I am always amazed that they seem to keep everything they shoot. [...]
Before the days of digital, one of the biggest differences between amateur and professional photographers was the amount of film they would shoot. A photographer will often shoot lots of frames of what looks to be exactly the same shot. While doing this people sometimes say to me “you must get one good one out [...]
Trying to include too much in the picture is a common fault with many holiday and family snaps. If you want to have really personal shots of your child you should try getting in really close. A tightly framed head shot makes you concentrate on the eyes of your subject and gives a real feeling [...]
It is a good idea to have your camera ready to shoot when you are in the house. Pictures of your children playing with their favourite doll, climbing a tree in the garden or just covered in breakfast are the images that you will treasure when they are grown. The moment may pass by the [...]
I try to never use flash when photographing children. As well as being very distracting it also ruins the atmosphere that natural light can give. When working on magazines I used to have situations where I was forced to use flash and tried hard to make it look natural, but now I love capturing the varying moods of available light.
The most difficult child for me to photograph is the one who has been trained to say cheese at the first sight of a camera. Saying cheese does not produce a natural smile, usually it results in a grimace that will not show your child at his or her best.
Ken Sharp creates classic, natural photographs of families and children.
