Capture Your Kids in Pictures: Simple Techniques for Taking Great Family Photos with Any Camera [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Jay Forman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2004

A technical narrative does not inspire great pictures of kids, looking at captivating pictures does. Using stunning yet unintimidating photographs and simple techniques, this photography guide teaches parents how to take better photographs of their children. The images are the main teaching tools, so the reader is not bogged down by jargon. The supporting text is strong but simple, as are the instruction-filled captions. Every photograph profiled in the book was taken with a basic digital or 35mm camera in natural or basic lighting, so parents do not need to worry about using complicated lighting gear or techniques. Parents will learn to take strong photographs that capture the personality, spirit, and perspective that only their children have.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jay Forman is a professional photographer specializing in photographing children

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books; 1st edition (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817436553
• ISBN-13: 978-0817436551
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Children

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for Every Parent, July 8, 2004

By 

EastCoastReader (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Capture Your Kids in Pictures: Simple Techniques for Taking Great Family Photos with Any Camera (Paperback)

I am a terrible photographer-or at least, I was, until Jay Forman's simple lessons. I had no idea how just a few little "tweaks" in my technique could produce such amazing photos-better than any cheap mall photo shop with silly props. I can use my own camera and get some beautiful shots of my kids at home, doing what they love. This is by far the best photography book I've ever read. It is, sincerely, the one investment that is paying off for me every time I use my camera. And this book, giftwrapped, would make a great way to announce to your hubby or parents that a baby is on the way!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Helpful Book, October 13, 2005

By 

S Tutterow (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Capture Your Kids in Pictures: Simple Techniques for Taking Great Family Photos with Any Camera (Paperback)

A friend loaned this book to me with the recommendation "There are some decent tips in here." I initially put the book away, thinking that my two high school photography classes had been enough instruction for something as simple as taking snapshots of my daughter. Turns out I was wrong.

The book is filled with practical advice. And more importantly, each tip is illustrated with side-by-side photos to show what happens if you do it right, and what happens if you don't. With each chapter you learn a new tip or technique, understand the "why" behind it because you see it in the many photo comparisons, and you begin to internalize it. I imagine with time and a little practice, the tips will become second nature for me, and then I'll loan the book to someone else.

One last note. This isn't a book for photography buffs with big gear bags. All the photos were taken with a basic 35mm camera and no special lenses, and I found the content highly relevant for my own photography, which is 95% shot from an everyday Olympus digital camera.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful manual full of simple tips for great photos of children!, February 16, 2007

By 

Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Capture Your Kids in Pictures: Simple Techniques for Taking Great Family Photos with Any Camera (Paperback)

This is a great book on photographing children, covering basic rules of good photography (eg, the rule of thirds) as well as more specific ideas particularly applicable to children. I especially liked that this book is full of photographic examples: every page has at least 2-3 photos displaying various options, which helps the reader to immediately get a clear visual sense of what makes for a "good" picture of children. The author begins by focusing on general principles such as composition and light, then moves on to address more specific topics, including photographing infants, setting the stage, and taking candid shots. He also focuses on picture-taking for special occasions, from sporting events (including how to position for each sport) to birthday parties to holidays. Finally, there is a small but helpful section on scrapbooking. Although this book covers children of all ages, it would make a great baby shower gift (which is why I bought it). Overall, this is an excellent picture-taking guide which I think would serve to help virtually anyone improve their pictures of not just children but people in general; highly recommended!