In The Posing Playbook for Photographing Kids, longtime child and family photographer Tamara Lackey teaches you her strategies and techniques for successfully posing and photographing children.
Anyone who has photographed children knows: kids don't really do posing. But, as the photographer, it's your job and your responsibility to deliver lasting, impactful images in which kids look great. More importantly, the goal is to create photographs of kids that are authentic, engage their spirit, and convey their unique personalities.
So how do you get beyond the "cheese" smile? How do you harness the wild energy of a kid who won't stop moving? How do you create energy and dynamism with a kid who just seems...bored and not into it? How do you do all that and achieve a compelling composition with flattering light and the proper exposure?
Tamara Lackey has been photographing children and families for years, and in The Posing Playbook for Photographing Kids, she teaches you her strategies and techniques for successfully posing and photographing children. The book begins with a discussion of "organic posing," an approach to directing the subject that focuses on making small adjustments that build up to a successful shot. Tamara moves on to the psychology of photographing children, covering how to read your subjects, work with different personality types, and elicit genuine engagement. She also discusses gear, accessories, composition, lighting, and camera settings.
Then, in five chapters that are the real core of the book, Tamara tackles typical shooting scenarios and works through each kind of shoot, explaining what worked, what didn't, and how each shoot progresses from start to finish. Covering the real-world challenges you'll face when photographing children, Tamara discusses photographing children in the studio, in urban settings, on commercial and fashion shoots, in outdoor natural settings, and in groups. At the end of each of these chapters, she provides a handy reference guide of poses to fuel and inspire your shoots.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1: Organic Posing
Chapter 2: The Psychology Behind Photographing Children
Chapter 3: Gear and Accessories
Chapter 4: Framing, Lighting, and Settings
Chapter 5: What to Keep in Mind When Finalizing a Shot
Chapter 6: In Studio
Chapter 7: Urban Settings
Chapter 8: Commercial and Fashion Shoots
Chapter 9: Outdoor Natural Settings
Chapter 10: Posing Children Together
About the Author: Tamara Lackey is a renowned professional photographer, speaker, author, and show host. Her authentic photography, from portraits to humanitarian photography, is featured in a myriad of major media outlets, from popular magazines to entertainment sites to talk shows.
Tamara is a Nikon USA Ambassador, as well as the co-founder of Beautiful Together, a non-profit focused on supporting children waiting for families. She is also the show host and director for Chasing Frames, an adventure photography show airing on PBS.
Tamara has spoken at a variety of programs, from presenting at Nikon's mirrorless global launch in Tokyo to delivering inspirational talks at Google and Disney. She has delivered dozens of live-cast productions, led mentor treks, and conducted workshops around the world. She also has the distinction of being recognized as a Legend of Light by Profoto, an ON1 Guru, an Imagely Ambassador, and is part of the Think Tank Pro Team. She and her husband, their three children, and their active cadre of pets all live together in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
