On a summer evening, the garden becomes a playground. Children run, jump, build dens and invent games that seem to have no end. The light is warm, the air is calm, and everybody is relaxed. It is the perfect time to take pictures that will bring the whole season back later. The secret is to join in quietly and let the play carry on.
Children usually stop playing when someone points a camera at them. So do not ask them to pose. Simply stay nearby and wait. After a while they forget about you and go back to their game. Then the best pictures begin: a burst of laughter, a wobbly cartwheel, a mud-covered knee.
Getting down to their level
Crouch or kneel so that your phone is at the same height as the children. Pictures taken from above make small people look even smaller and less involved. From their level, you see the game as they see it. The grass, the swing and the garden fence all become part of the story. It also makes the pictures feel closer and warmer.
Low evening sun is a gift to any photographer. It paints the grass gold and lights the edges of hair and clothes. If the sun is behind the children, you get a soft glow around them. The faces may look darker, but the mood is wonderful. If you want clearer faces, stand with the sun to one side of you instead.
Movement is the difficulty with children, so take many pictures in quick succession. Many of them will be blurred, and that is perfectly normal. Keep the ones where the action is clear and the expressions are happy. Sometimes a slightly blurred picture with plenty of energy is better than a sharp, still one. Watch for small moments too, like bare feet in the grass.
When the light fades, sit down together and look through the pictures. The children will love seeing themselves in the middle of their own games. Choose the best few and keep them together in one folder. In years to come, these ordinary evenings will seem precious. A garden, a summer evening and a few children are all you need.
