QuickStart Guide to Documenting Your Family: Task 3 - Capture The Eye Contact
Every parent wants to have a portrait of her child looking into the camera with her absolutely unique expression. Those pictures are an amazing time machine and they immediately transport you into the moment when they were taken. They are priceless. And you can take them. But it can take time and patience.
The most important thing is to build a trustful relationship. If your children do not like when you take pictures of them you should practice the first task from this guideline for quite a long time until they relax and realize that you are not disturbing them, not giving them any instructions and do not expect anything special from them.
If you think that your child is not really bothered by being photographed you can go for an eye contact portrait straight away. Choose a time when your child is relaxed and happy but not really busy or concentrating on something interesting. First you should take camera and chose a position close to you child. Start taking pictures and then start a conversation about a funny or pleasant subject. You can ask your child what she wants to have for dinner or for her birthday or what is her favourite song at the moment etc. Keep your camera close to your face but do not take pictures all the time – let the conversation evolve first. If the conversation goes well wait for the moment when your child looks at you with a cheerful expression and take a picture. If you think the picture is good, put the camera down and continue talking.
If you have a baby or a toddler you can just being silly in a usual way and get some precious giggles.
You should take these pictures of your children really quickly. It is hard to look at the camera for a long time not only for a child but for an adult as well.
The most important thing is to build a trustful relationship. If your children do not like when you take pictures of them you should practice the first task from this guideline for quite a long time until they relax and realize that you are not disturbing them, not giving them any instructions and do not expect anything special from them.
If you think that your child is not really bothered by being photographed you can go for an eye contact portrait straight away. Choose a time when your child is relaxed and happy but not really busy or concentrating on something interesting. First you should take camera and chose a position close to you child. Start taking pictures and then start a conversation about a funny or pleasant subject. You can ask your child what she wants to have for dinner or for her birthday or what is her favourite song at the moment etc. Keep your camera close to your face but do not take pictures all the time – let the conversation evolve first. If the conversation goes well wait for the moment when your child looks at you with a cheerful expression and take a picture. If you think the picture is good, put the camera down and continue talking.
If you have a baby or a toddler you can just being silly in a usual way and get some precious giggles.
You should take these pictures of your children really quickly. It is hard to look at the camera for a long time not only for a child but for an adult as well.
I hope this was helpful! The next part is coming soon!
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based in Geneva, working in Switzerland
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