Last week on Thursday my studio was set up for a portrait session and I had half an hour before the session started. So I took the time to portrait my own kids, something I should really do much more often.

Time passes so quickly and children grow and change so quickly, right? Often there never seems to be the right moment or there are so many other things we need to do, but what is more important than having images of your child’s different phases in life?

I have three children of my own, which means plenty of practice and experience when it comes to child photography However, every time I photograph them it’s like a new experience. Children are never the same. They are unpredictable; full of surprises.

Let me give you some useful information about my speciality, artistic child photography:

What is the most important element when photographing children (of any age)? Having the ultimate patience . I am always highly determined to capture the personality of children and their true nature. In order to succeed, patience is required, my patience as the photographer and the parent’s patience. It’s essential to work at the child’s pace. Sometimes I take several great shots within the first 10 minutes, other times it takes 30 minutes before I get the first great image.

I take notice of their individuality and aim to photograph the quiet, the tender and the active moments. When looking at the portraits in a few years time you wish to remember those moments and the versatility of your child’s personality.

So let me show you some of the images I took that day:

This is my 5 year old, Lavinia. She likes to pose, but often this doesn’t come very natural. So I wait a bit and photograph in-between those ‘set-up’ smiles.

And this is nr. 2, Allegra, 3 years old, very cheeky, little patience…. she NEVER does what I ask her to do. I had to carry her back to the background at least 5 times within 10 minutes. My job seemed more like that of a aerobic instructor than a photographer. But it was well worth it, I managed to capture her spirit in so many images, it was hard to choose, which ones to keeo. So I kept them all

This is a classic portrait. Compare it to the second one. It’s a close-up of the first. I love getting close. Images have such a great impact when you move close to your subject. “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” (Famous words of photographer Robert Capa)

A good portrait doesn’t always mean that the person has to look straight into the lens.

And also, children are not always smiling. As mentioned before, for me it’s absolutely essential to capture the child’s mood. Looking at the next image I recognise my daughter; this is one of her typical expressions:

Black&white photography, timeless and classic:

I asked her to sit still, just for 5 seconds, but, of course, ‘no’ was the answer. I love this image, it’s just so ‘Allegra’:

A couple of quiet ‘thinking moments’:

A genuine smile:

Same image, but close-up:

And a snapshot of my ‘crazy’ little girl. Nice foot Allegra

And here comes nr. 3, Thalia, 9 months old and very much on the move. Not for 2 seconds would she sit still and I needed the help of two other people to distract her and carry her back in front of my lens, because every time I did that I didn’t even have time enough ti grab my camera and she was already away from the background.

Her eyes are blue, just like my father’s. So I had to crop into this image and get closer:

Strong colours look fabulous on black. It’s also great to dress your child in something that is the same colour as his/her eyes. This way the eyes would shine even more.

And then all of them together…. but they had no more patience and I ran out of time. Next time

After this brief photo shoot followed a 2.5 hour photo session of a 9 months old boy with his parents. Images will soon be posted on the blog.

If you are looking for a child photographer who creates unique colour and black&white images that are both artistic and heartwarming than give me a call!

Viola

02 January, a short day trip to Buffavento, a castle that perches 950m above sealevel. Steep stairs lead to the top of the tallest tower, were a magnificent view awaits. In fine weather it’s possible to see Kyrenia, Nicosia and Famagusta, as well as the Troodos Mountains and the coast of Turkey.

Well, we weren’t that lucky with the weather and hadn’t quite read the guide carefully enough PRIOR to departing from Nicosia. Dark clouds hang above the castle and it was about to rain. Climbing up 30min with three kids between 9 months and 5 years didn’t appeal to us either, although we had taken a backpack for Thalia. Allegra had already fallen asleep 15min after we left home…

Never mind, we stopped a few hundred meters below the castle and visited the 11th-century Midbyzantine Chrysostomos Monastery. Surrounded by wild plants and flowers,it looks pretty stunning from outside, however the inside is now, sadly enough, completely destroyed.

We stayed just long enough for a few shots; the girls were busy inspecting ants and Thalia was probably happy to sleep in the warm car rather than being carried up the hill.

Here are some images:

How easy is it to get a NICE picture of two sisters?? Allegra, how on earth did the red colour end up on your hand and trousers? No more drawing in the car, that’s for sure

After 5 years of staring into my camera lens Lavinia is pretty much used to being photographed.

Snapshots of Allegra:

A good photo doesn’t always mean that the person needs to look straight in the camera. Just as meaningful: looking down or sideways. Especially kids move permanently; I aim to capture their natural spirit, during work and when photographing my own kids.

Colour versus black&white. Sometimes both options work just fine. A sequence presented with both kind of photos is a nice option:

For tomorrow and Sunday we have planned some more trips on the island. Well, right now at this moment, there is a thunderstorm outside… we shell see about tomorrow.

Viola

And here we go: nr. 2, Lavinia turned 5 in December.

6am on the 10th December 2010, still dark outside. Yes an early start on week days (hence a lovely pink clock that wakes her up nicely every morning!). The doll with a sleeping bag was her biggest wish after she saw it at Tigadoo a few days prior to her birthday. Now, 3 weeks later, Allegra begs her every night for permission to sleep with it

The world puzzle was a must. Now she understands where exactly New Zealand is, her birthplace. And, of course, where the Christmas Man comes from!