Creative Techniques for Photographing Children

by Vik Orenstein

Book Overview

Childhood is abundant with beauty, grace and wonder - making children a favorite subject of amateur and professional photographers alike. And now, regardless of experience and skill, anyone can... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582970289
• ISBN13: 9781582970288
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.6" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent for artists

I am a professional children's photographer who was looking for some fresh poses and ideas, and I definitely found those in Orenstein's book. The photos are non-traditional and full of life and movement, but you can bet that almost every last one was a seller -- and probably at a higher price than a boring department store portrait. It's full of great ideas for showcasing a child's personality and developing a creative, personal, SELLABLE style. I read the reviews before I bought it, and I have to say that the photos are great examples of how you need to learn "Photo Class 101" rules, and then break them. If you are interested in "mall photo mill", standard studio stock shots of kids with tired props in front of fake-looking backgrounds, look elsewhere. But if you want to be more than just a point-and-shoot photographer, Orenstein's book is for you. I would highly recommend it to all those who are just starting out in this fun but often frustrating field.

Inspiring and Full of Energy

A professional photographer with a real love for kids and an clear appreciation of what makes for an exciting and exhuberant picture of a child reveals the secrets behind page after page of successful pictures. The author propounds a refreshingly unconventional method to child photography - rather than dressing a kid impeccably, sitting the kid down and having the kid smile, the author prefers to give kids the run of the studio, a choice of dress, and a full range of expression. Every page of this book is bursting with the energy of kids portrayed, providing the inspiration - and step by step instruction - for applying the same sort of "unconventional" techniques on future generations of children.

The Best!

I think of this book as the "gold standard" to which I compare everything else I read on child photography. Vik has such a great style -- reading this really inspired me AND made me think "Hey, I can do this too!" Her instruction and tips are excellent, and I really like the fact that she advocates capturing images of kids just being kids, rather than a lot of contrived poses. My only complaint is that since it was published in 1993, a lot of the equipment info is now outdated -- particularly the film types she recommends, some of which are no longer available. I would love to see a new edition with some updated info in this regard.

Very Inspiring and Packed with Great Ideas

Even if you already have a way with kids or a knack for creative, fun portraits, you will still enjoy and learn a lot from this book! This gem is full of great tips and reveals many ways to make magical, memorable portraits of children. Vik shares a wealth of wonderful techniques for getting real and natural expressions, styling your images, and having a great time becoming more creative. It is a treasure and a joy to read. No parent or child photographer should shoot without it!

A truly refreshing and unique approach to child photography.

Vik Orenstein owns a photography studio, "Kidshooters," which specializes in uniquely beautiful child portraiture. We can all remember as children being forced to sit stiffly before the photographer and his camera. Vik's approach is one that encourages the child to be himself, thereby capturing his true essence. This is a wonderful book for anyone just getting starting in the photography of children, as well as for professionals. Another interesting aspect of the author's work is her use of hand-colored black-and-white photographs. Anyone who wishes to improve or revise their techniques for child photography would benefit greatly from this book.