How do you do it??? Everytime I try to take nice photos of James he moves . Its not like he is old enough I can coax him not to roll around Most of my photos are coming out blurry or not quite right when I use the flash.

Thanks!!!

Very good question. I'm doing DS's 21st album at the same time as trying to grab some decent photos of nephew's son. The best photos (the ones I like) of our children as babies were taken with a "telephoto" lens I think it was called, on an SLR camera. Like macro (not much depth of field) but for people sized objects! Don't have such a thing on my little happy snapper (or is that the portrait setting????), so would love some hints.

hello Scoutannie and helenp.

Scoutannie. It sounds like you may need to up your ISO a bit so the shutter can work faster to minimise the blurring.

If you think of your eye and blink slloooowwwww, and there is someone moving in front of your eyes, they will look blurred. If you blink fast, that person hasnt moved very much at all and is nearly still in the same place as before you blinked. The shutter is the same. It needs to work fast to stop the blurring from a moving person.

Using flash is tricky too. It can overexpose the foreground or the person, and cast big shadows behind. Praps gently have a tissue placed over it (tape it carefully there if you like) to difuse the light for a much softer ambient look, and less shadow behind. Also try the sport setting if you have one. That's designed to have the ISO and the shutter faster to catch high action sport.

have a play with it and let me know how you go. Pop a pic here if you like.

helenP. If you have the room to stand back with a telephoto lens for your shots, its a wonderful tool. I use a 24-70mmL canon lens. Its my fave portrait lens. I can zoom in on toes or back out to the whole person without my moving or getting in their face with the camera.

With your point shoot, portrait setting (the lady's head symbol) is a good place to start. Also try the macro setting as well (the flower symbol). Macro is designed to focus on what is closest to the lens, so make sure you focus on the eyes, not the nose. This setting will blur out the background for you, so it will isolate your subject from what's around him. There is no rule anywhere to say you cant use your macro setting on people.

good luck. pop a pic here if you like when you get it!!

tiff

Thanks Tiff, I'll give this a go later and see what I come up with

just had another thought. use a prop for them to play with. Then the shot of him will be more natural, and not so 'stiff' iykwim.

Tiff, i have a problem too, i have a nearly 2 year old, who now won't look at me when i have the camera out.. maybe he's trying to tell me i take to many photos?? giggle

funny about the too many photos. lol. same thing scoutannie. If you can give them a prop to play with to distract them, and if you stand back a bit and zoom in, rather than have the camera in their face, that should help. I do bribe my kids with banana paddlepops. LOL. I get the shot I want, they get their icecream treat!! they are so mallable atm.

being a bit further back and using zoom will also soften the background for you as well.

Tiff, had a bit of a play, would have to say this is probbaly my fave shot, even though his face is chopped off everywhere.. But i did the eye focus thing you were talking about before....

great pics karen

Oh wow!!! You are on fire Karen! They are all fabulous.. but that last one in my fav!

gotta agree that last one is the drawcard because his eyes are alive, sparkling and sharp.

try turning the camera to horizontal and just concentrate on above his nose. so you'll get his both his eyes, eyebrows, maybe some of his ears and some of his fringe.

I'll pop up an example in a tick or two.

well done for giving it a go.

Wow! I am inspired to try.

Wow amazing Tiff