Mother and daughter photography is an art form that can be mastered with a little practice and a lot of patience. Many people think mother-daughter photography is just playing dress-up, but it’s so much more than that! This type of photography requires time and effort. To take great photos with your daughter, keep reading for some tips, techniques, and ideas to help you master this genre.
Table of Contents
Create a stage.
A stage is a set of props that you use to create an atmosphere for your photo shoot. In this case, we are using a chair and a table, but you can also use other things like pillows and blankets on the ground to create different kinds of settings.
Capture the moment.
The most important thing to capture is the emotion and moment, not just an expression. You can get a picture of a person’s face showing emotion, but if it’s not captured at the right time, it won’t be as effective. For example, if you catch your daughter smiling in a photo and take another shot just moments later when she is no longer smiling or looking at you or even looking away from you—that second image will be less powerful than what it could have been had she stayed still for just seconds longer during that first shot.
It’s also worth noting that expressions change over time and with different emotions as well. So while sometimes it might be best to capture something specific like tears rolling down their cheeks or laughter on their faces–other times they may need more than one shot before they’re ready for each other (or me!).
Use jewelry.
- Use jewelry to add interest to a photo. You can use jewelry to tell a story in a photo, create a theme and even highlight an outfit.
- Choose pieces that have meaning to the mother and daughter or that are special gifts they’ve received from each other over time.
- The look of the piece will be important too! If you want something light-hearted and fun, try using some whimsical costume jewelry instead of real gold or silver. On the other hand, if you want something more elegant, then opt for high-quality stones set in quality metal settings rather than rhinestones glued onto plastic pieces!
Try something new.
The most important thing to keep in mind is, don’t be afraid to try something new. If you’re in a rut and feeling uninspired, that’s when it’s time to experiment with different locations, poses and outfits. Your favorite photographer may give you some great ideas for poses or even props!
If your daughter really doesn’t want to smile for the camera because she feels silly, try incorporating props into your shoot that will get her giggling. For example: if she has a favorite stuffed animal or dolly, use those as inspiration for fun photos together! The goal here is simply getting them both comfortable in front of the camera so they look their best when all eyes are on them at prom night (or any other special occasion).
Pick a theme.
A theme is a great way to enhance the story of your photo shoot. A color, season, or occasion can be used as a starting point for the overall look of the shoot. For example, if you’re taking photos during springtime and have an active lifestyle together (as many moms and daughters do), consider using green as your main color palette throughout the shoot.
Try a creative pose.
- Take a walk in the park. The best way to get your creative juices flowing is by being free and playing around with your daughter. You can take photos of her doing something she loves, or simply letting her be herself.
- Go on a trip together. It doesn’t have to be expensive: go camping and cook some food over a fire, or pack sandwiches and spend the day at an amusement park! Being in nature will put you both at ease, allowing you to focus on each other rather than what’s going on around you.
Use props.
Props are a great way to bring more life and fun into your photos. Here are a few tips for incorporating them:
- Use props that are relevant to the theme of the shoot. For example, if you’re taking photos with your daughter at a sunny beach or in front of a Lego wall, bring along those toys!
- Try using unique props that will stand out in your photos. You can get creative by making several copies of something (like flowers) and adding them all together—it’ll look like there’s only one! Using these types of props will make your images more interesting and eye-catching than just having plain old boring backgrounds.
- Don’t spend too much money on expensive props like professional cameras or lighting kits—just use whatever you have around the house!
Wear matching clothes.
Wearing matching clothes is a great way to get an easy and unique photo. It can also be fun and cute, so it’s no surprise that mothers and daughters have been dressing alike for years.
If you’re not sure what to wear, start with a plain shirt or dress in either color or pattern as well as pants (or skirt) of the same type and color. You can even accessorize with belts, hats, jewelry etc., just make sure everything matches!
Other ideas
- Take your daughter’s favorite doll or stuffed animal and pose her with it. You may need to clean it up for the photo shoot if you haven’t done so already (check out our other tips on what to do with old toys). You can also create a new outfit for your daughter’s doll or stuffed animal by cutting up old clothes from your own closet and sewing them back together in any way that suits you!
- If you don’t have access to a studio, you can use natural light by opening the blinds so that sunlight streams onto your child’s face when she looks down at her mother’s hand. Keep in mind that this technique works best when children are seated on their mother’s lap rather than standing next to them; if this isn’t possible, try rotating each person between shots so that light hits them from different angles throughout the session.
Conclusion
These tips should help you create some beautiful mother and daughter photographs. You can also try to find some new ideas and use them in your own photographs. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself while taking pictures with your mom or daughter!