Creative Techniques for Photographing Children [Paperback]

Vik Orenstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

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 capture their charm on film like never before. Photographer Vik Orenstein gives the technical and creative skills needed to: portray each child as full of innocence or action, curiosity or thoughtfulness; create great compositions and master perspective; manipulate light to evoke mood and avoid common lighting pitfalls; successfully work with interesting visuals, from flowers to freckles; master everything from lenses and film to processing and printing; Orenstein also provides nine professional portraiture projects that range from simple to challenging. Each one comes with the detailed advice and step-by-step instructions needed to photograph children like a pro. There is additional guidance on running a successful photography business and the latest word on the digital revolution.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Photographer and writer Vik Orenstein owns and operates Kidshooters and Tiny Acom Studios. Both are nationally recognized photography studios specializing in handcolored portraits of children. She offers her advice in frequent television appearances.

Product Details

• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; Revised edition (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582970289
• ISBN-13: 978-1582970288
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly refreshing and unique approach to child photography., December 29, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Madison, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Techniques for Photographing Children (Paperback)

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.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, May 3, 2000

By 

S. G. Lorenz (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Techniques for Photographing Children (Paperback)

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.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for artists, December 17, 2002

By 

"liberrian" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Techniques for Photographing Children (Paperback)

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.