How to Photograph Kids at the Playground
Using Public Parks as a Backdrop for Fun Summertime Photos
Jun 12, 2009
It's summer vacation and the kids are out of school. Where do they head? To the nearest park or playground, of course! Tag along with them and get some wonderful photos of your children at play. Public spaces offer delightful combinations of texture and color, as well as props to keep your subjects engaged. No cranky kids at this photo shoot!
Take Photos from Different Angles
Positioning yourself above or below your subject makes for interesting images because it offers a unique point of view. Photographing a subject from the side or behind creates a different mood in your picture than taking a photo of someone who is looking at the camera.
Use Natural Lighting Creatively
Taking photos during the "golden hour" early in the morning or late in the afternoon produces warm skin tones and soft shadows. If a trip to the park happens during the middle of the day when the sun is high and shadows are harsh, fear not! Position your subject under a tree to get softer dappled light. Or place them under a piece of playground equipment to illuminate them from the side with reflected light.
Integrate Visual Elements in the Scene
Playground equipment offers lots of opportunities for framing your subject. Horizontal bars, vertical bars, ropes and chains all can be used to create focus. The setting also offers a variety of textures – metal, wood, stone, rope, grass – and colors. You can capture dramatic photos by using contrasting textures and colors.
Take Photos with Perspective
Take advantage of natural lines that create perspective in your photos. Converging lines will create a focal point that draws the viewer’s eye into the scene. If you frame your subjects with items that are closer to the camera than the subject itself, the differential focus will add depth to your photo.
Capture the Action in Your Photo
It can be difficult to photograph children on swings, but it’s worth the extra effort. Wait for the swing to complete its arc, depress the shutter halfway and hold it. As long as you keep the shutter depressed and don’t move from your spot, the subject will be in focus the next time it returns to the same position and you can snap a great photo.
Photos Descriptions
- The image was captured when the swing was at the height of its arc. The ropes supporting the swing direct the viewer’s eye to the subjects. The position of the children – upside-down – offers an interesting perspective.
- The converging yellow lines draw the eye deep into the photo, emphasizing the subject and contrasting with the abundant red tones. The juxtaposition of rigid horizontal lines on the roller slide and speckled gravel in the background creates contrast.
- The metal grating forming the base of the play structure offered a unique way to filter light as it passed through to the boy below it. The dappled effect makes the subject’s eyes a strong focal point.
- The red ropes frame the subject, and the blue bars direct the viewer’s eye to her face. The placement of ropes in the foreground and bars in the background adds depth to the photo, and the light sky in the far background provides empty space for the eye to rest.
- Photographing the subject from below makes him seem larger and important, while the blue sky in the background frames him and contrasts with his red shirt. The fact that he is looking away from the camera creates a serious, rather than playful, mood.
Note: In many jurisdictions, it is not legal to publish a photograph of a child without a signed permission waiver from the legal guardian, so if you happen to catch other children than your own in the image, either refrain from using it publicly, or speak to their guardian when you take the shot.
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