Kids photoshoot ideas: A photography guide.

Learn tips to plan and capture successful photos of children, plus photoshoot ideas to inspire your next photo session.

Creating photoshoots for children can be both challenging and rewarding. Depending on their ages and personalities, they may have less interest in or patience for longer sessions. That’s why it's essential to have a game plan to ensure you get all the shots you need.

Plan your photoshoot.

You should aim to make the photoshoot playful and fun.

Unless you know the children ahead of time, you'll likely want to discuss photo and pose ideas with the parents in advance. Where possible, let the kids pick the location and props to help them feel more involved and comfortable with the shoot.

Choose the best timing.

While most photographers like to shoot during the last hour of the day for the best light, this time isn't always feasible for kids and their meals and bedtimes. Instead, consider the early morning version of the golden hour — or at least try to shoot when the light is still soft and diffused before the sun gets too high in the sky.

Here are some kids photoshoot ideas to try:

• Aim for candid shots rather than posed photos, capturing them in their most natural element such as playing with toys at home.
• Flower fields, beaches, or other nature locations offer optimal natural light and lots of visual interest.
• Shoot photos at the local park for a carefree photoshoot that also captures the family's current neighborhood.
• Add props for visual interest, including anything from flowers and balloons to favorite toys like teddy bears or skateboards.
• Play around with superhero or character dress-up.
• For babies and toddlers, use an interesting background such as a flower wall backdrop.
• Bring movement into the photoshoot with activities like blowing bubbles, finger painting, or playing with the family pet.

Get creative with your photography.

Edit your photographs, apply presets, add creative elements, and share them from anywhere in the world with photo editing programs from Adobe.

Explore what more you can do with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom.