How to Photograph a Child’s Birthday Party

I’ve been asked by parents of children to photograph their birthday parties numerous occasions and each time it has been a lot of fun.

Photographing children isn’t always easy - and photographing ‘the birthday party’ presents it’s own unique opportunities and challenges as a photographer.

Birthday Parties present us with a lot of emotion, interaction, color and energy in a child’s party - the highs and a few lows of life are all present. On the challenging side of things - children’s parties can be chaotic places with moving subjects, lots of clutter and often little time for those organizing them to pick up a camera and take a shot. photo by Johnny Blood

Here are a few tips on Photographing Children’s Parties that come to mind:

1. Designate a Party Photographer

There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a party and realizing that while the camera was out that no one bothered (or had time) to pick it up and take some shots. Give someone the job and release that person from other party duties to just take photos. This way you’re guaranteed to get some shots and will have something to remember the day with. It is also good because it means others are able to relax and enjoy the party and that parents can rest assured that the photos will only be used responsibly.

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2. Get a Child’s perspective

One of the most important tips I can share is to get down low when taking photos of children. The biggest mistake I see in party photos is adults taking shots from a standing position looking down onto a scene. While you might take a few shots from this perspective the majority of your photos should be taken at eye level of the subjects you’re shooting. Photo by Ana June

3. Mix up Your Shooting Angles and Focal Lengths

Having said this - it can inject a lot of life into party shots if you do mix up your shooting angles and focal lengths at a party. Try some shots from standing up high (get on a chair even to accentuate it - this can be great for group shots) but also get down really low and shoot looking up at kids. Also try a range of focal lengths ranging from wide angle shots that take in the whole party scene through to zoomed shots of kids and party elements. Mixing it up like this will mean you end up with a more dynamic and playful series of shots at the end of the day.

4. Adjust White Balance Settings

Most children’s birthday parties happen inside (at least in part) where lighting can be tricky. In most cases there will be some artificial light which can leave your photos with different types of tinges. The easiest way to overcome this and ensure your shots are true in color is to learn to use your white balance controls. This is the subject for another post but most modern digital cameras have a variety of automatic settings that will give you some easy settings for different lighting situations. Before the party experiment with white balance and get your setting right.

5. Look for the Party Details

Another way to add interest to the shots is to focus in on the details of the party. I find that many of these shots are best taken before the guests arrive and might include shots of the cake, photos of balloons and other decorations, photos of presents stacked, shots of a set party table. Often it’s good to get in nice and close to these elements - fill the frame with them (to the point where they even become a little abstract). You’ll find that these types of shots look great scattered through an album between shots of people. Photo by cupcakequeen

6. Use Bounce Flash or a Diffuser

Speaking of lighting - you’ll probably need some sort of extra lighting if your party is inside. You can help to eliminate the need for this by increasing your ISO setting a little but unless you have a lot of natural light or an extremely fast lens you’ll probably need to use a flash. If you have a flash hotshoe you’ll probably get the best results if you bounce the flash off the room or walls or if you use a flash diffuser of some kind so that the flash is not as harsh on your subjects (a common problem with many party photos).

7. Know the Party Plan

In order to capture all of the important moments in the party you should know how it is planned to run. Know when everyone will be sitting down, when the blowing out of candles will happen, when presents will be opened etc. This will mean you can be well positioned for each event just ahead of them happening.

8. Shoot Candidly

Most of your party photos will end up being candid ones of children and adults interacting with one another around the different party activities. I’ve written on candid photography previously but you’ll probably want to take a couple of types of candid photos during the party. I tend to take quite a few shots from the edge of the party using a longer zoom lens. These shots are largely of kids interacting with each other, playing, eating etc. The other thing to do as the party ‘warms up’ is to actually get into the party and shoot from within it. In these instances you will find a wide angle lens more appropriate and you actually join in the circle of activity (ie sit with the kids, play the games, eat the food) and photograph the children as you do this. At times it might even be appropriate to make taking the photos a game of sorts - getting them to pose and then show them the results on your LCD. Photo by igorms

9. Shoot out of Relationship

Photographing from ‘within’ the party is fun but it doesn’t just happen straight away with many children. I find that the best shots come as the children warm up to you and their surrounds. So make an effort to meet the children as they come into the party and to be friendly and fun. This might even mean putting your camera away for a little towards the start of proceedings. Also in this I’d highly recommend that you need to be aware of personal boundaries when photographing children. Unfortunately we live in a time where the topic of photographing kids is something that makes many of us think about ways that doing so can be misused and abused. Always get permission of the parents hosting the party before photographing proceedings, always stay with the main group and don’t get into one to one shooting situations, be aware of giving those you’re photographing personal space and being appropriate.

10. Planned Shots

While the majority of your shots will probably be candid shots you should also think ahead about what type of ‘must have’ sort of shots you want from the party. Consult with parents (if you’re not one of them) about what type of shots they want. These might include some group shots, cake shots, blowing out candles, opening presents, party games etc

11. Take Before and After Shots of the Party

It’s amazing to see how a room (and people) can be transformed in just an hour or two when you have a group of children in it. For this reason you might want to consider what type of shots you’ll want to take before the party actually starts. This might include some of those shots that focus in on different elements of the party (see above) but also shots of the birthday boy or girl when they are dressed up and looking (and behaving) at their best. Also take a few shots at the end of the party - they could make a humorous comparison series with your before shots. Photo by Amber B

12. Shoot in Burst Mode

One of the most effective ways to capture parties is to learn how to shoot in continuous shooting (or burst) mode when your camera fires a series of shots in quick succession. This is particularly useful when shooting children as they rarely sit still but is also a good strategy for key moments in the party like blowing out the candles (which you only get a couple of seconds of opportunity to capture).

13. Include Adults in your Photos

The focus of children’s parties is generally the children - but the adults attending the party can actually present you with some fascinating shots as they watch on. Sometimes their reactions to what the children are doing can be quite fascinating and its worth including them in shots - particularly those adults in the immediate family of the child having the birthday. [dps]

Give Your Kids A Treat At London's Children Theatres

London is perfect for family getaways. There are countless attractions for all members of the family. London is known for its spectacular arts and theatre attractions. There are theatres that cater for families. These theatres present plays and performances that cater to children and even those who are kids at heart.

By ClinkHostel

London is known for its many theatres. There are theatres for all ages. For family travelling to London with kids, there are several children theatres to go to. These theatres present plays and performances that specifically cater to the young generation and even those who are young at hearts.

Don’t let your kids (and the kid in you) miss the educational, creative and fun performances on the following children theatres:

• The Little Angel Theatre

The Little Angel Theatre is for little angels who want to be part of the enchantment of every show. This was founded in 1960 by puppeteers headed by the South African master puppeteer, John Wright. There are various marionette shows going on in this theatre. It never fails to bring magic in every show. The Little Angel Theatre can be reached via different modes of transportations from most of London hostels, in case you and your family are staying at the various London hostels. It is located at 14 Dagmar Passage, Islington, London.

• The Puppet Barge

This theatre has been showing marionette and rod puppet performances for over 25 years already. The theater can accommodate up to 50 audiences. The atmosphere inside the theatre is very relaxing, thus, you and your kids can fully concentrate on the enchanting shows.

• Polka Children’s Theatre

  The kids in Wimbledon are lucky to be close to this magical theatre that has been inspiring children’s imagination for many years. The Polka Children’s Theatre was opened to public in 1979. Since then it never failed to entertain its children audience. There are two parts in the theatre, the Main Theatre and the Adventure Theatre. Visiting Polka Children’s Theatre will not only entertain your children but it will also set off their love for arts and plays.

• Half Moon Young People’s Theatre

  This theatre aims to stir the artistic side of young people ages 0-17. The performances are set to be educational and at the same time entertaining. Aside from professional performances, this theatre also offers participatory projects. You can visit the Half Moon Young People’s Theatre at 43 White Horse Road, London.

• The Tricycle

The Tricycle is one of the most visited local theatres in London. This theatre can be reached in Kilburn. There are several modes of transportation that can take you from your London hostels to the “The Tricycle” theatre. This theatre does not only hold performances, it also offers workshops for young performers.

London is truly an art loving city. When you visit London, spend a day out of your London hostels at any of these theatres. These are perfect treats for your kids!

Clink Hostel is a fully reinvented 200 year old courthouse in London. Today it serves as a Cheap London Hostel that offers comfort without the high cost attached. It is historic attraction in itself. Clink Hostel is located close to London’s major tourist attractions.

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Childhood Escalator Injuries...Can We Prevent Them?

Escalator injuries occur in younger children. Prevention is the key. If the parents are not supervising them closely, injuries can occur. There is no specific correlation between shoes and injuries; they occur even in the best of circumstances usually due to inattention and children's unsafe behavior. Parents need to be diligent about watching their children and following the guidelines to provide a safe ride for all children on escalators

By Dr Marybeth Crane

What is the truth about the risks involving our children and escalators? As a physician and a mother of three small girls, a few questions came to mind. Flip flop sandals and Crocs have been lumped together as increasing risks, but is this a fair assessment? Is awareness enough to protect our children? Do the shoes our children wear on escalators matter?

Let’s start with a look at the numbers. 245 million peolpe ride an estimated 35,000 escalators every day in the United States. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that about 10,000 people go to the emergency room every year after accidents on escalators and 20 percent of these injuries involve entrapment of feet, hands, or shoes. That’s approximately 2,000 emergency room visits per year for such entrapments, which usually involve softer shoes or bare feet. These figures have been fairly constant for the past 15 years, long before the advent of Crocs, so this seems to nullify the idea that Crocs somehow increases the risk of entrapments as compared to other soft footwear. Given the number of kids wearing Crocs today, it only stands to reason that eventually an entrapment would occur, as Crocs are not immune to rider missteps resulting in being grabbed by escalators, any more than flip flops, jelly shoes, sandals or soft running shoes.

What puts our children at risk? The fact that escalators are dangerous to small children has been well known for years. In fact, in 1997, in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, it was reported by a group of physicians from the Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine and the Pediatric Emergency Service, “Children are at risk for sustaining severe injuries on escalators. Increased risks of injury include young age, inadequate adult supervision, improper activity while riding on the escalator, and mechanical problems with the escalator. Escalator-related injuries may be reduced with focused education directed towards parents and the public on the safety issues that lead to these injuries.” The largest incidence of injury was reported to be involving children between 2 and 4 years old (50%) with the average age being 6 years old. It should also be noted that 60% of children fell prior causing their injury.

The action of stepping off the escalator is associated with an increased risk of injury. Young children may remain standing on the escalator and allow their feet to slide off at the end, instead of actually stepping off. The small size of a child’s foot may increase the risk of it slipping into the gap where the last step slides into the comb plate. While stepping off an escalator may seem like a simple and natural task to an adult, the developmental level of young children limits their ability to both anticipate and coordinate this action. In addition to feet becoming entrapped during the process of stepping off, children’s small extremities may become lodged between two steps or between a step and the side-rail.

We can continue to ride escalators with our children if we follow some simple safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

1. Loose shoelaces, drawstrings, scarves and mittens can become entrapped. Make sure a child’s clothing does not put them at risk.

2. Always hold children’s hands, just like crossing the street!

3. Do not permit children to sit or play on the steps.

4. Do not carry children in strollers, walkers, or carts. Use the elevator.

5. Hold the handrail and always face forward. If you fall, you put your child at increased risk!

6. Avoid the edges of the steps where entrapment can occur.

7. Always pay attention and alert while riding with your children, note where the emergency shut off is.

Prevention of escalator-related injuries is the key and efforts should be focused in two directions. Safety education for parents should include and give specific guidance regarding injury prevention about riding on escalators. Increased parental supervision should be encouraged, such as hand-holding or even carrying of young children while riding on and especially while stepping off escalators. Children should be taught not to run, play, or sit while riding on an escalator and of course, children should face forward and hold the handrails.

The bottom line about escalator injuries is that no matter what shoes a child is wearing, if the parents are not supervising them closely, injuries can occur. There is no specific correlation between shoes and injuries; they occur even in the best of circumstances usually due to inattention and children’s unsafe behavior. Parents need to be diligent about watching their children and following the guidelines to provide a safe ride for all children on escalators.

For more information on foot and ankle health, as well as prevention of injuries, go to www.faant.com. Dr Marybeth Crane is a board certified foot and ankle surgeon, mother of three small girls and the managing partner of Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas.

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Life After Divorce - Still Angry? Try The "F" Word!

Are you really angry at your ex-spouse? Find out how to effectively use the "F" word to release that anger and move forward!

By Alyssa Johnson

Divorce and anger usually go hand in hand. In order to move forward with your life though, you’ve got to let that anger go. How? Well, let’s focus on that today.

It’s not an easy thing. I’m well aware of that. This is probably the hardest part of moving forward from a divorce. But, it’s the most important.

The answer is a simple one. Applying the answer is the hard part. The answer is the “F” word - forgiveness. Now hold on!!! I know a lot of you are tempted to start yelling at me right now! Hear me out!

There is a lot of confusion about what forgiveness means. Forgiveness is a letting go process. It is for YOU, not for your ex-spouse.

It is not saying their behavior was ok.

It is not letting them off the hook for their actions.

It doesn’t mean you’re denying you were hurt or saying what happened was ok with you. Instead, it is a very powerful CHOICE.

You are choosing to no longer allow what the other person did to rule you.

You are choosing to no longer allow your life to be stuck in the past.

You are choosing to move forward. It’s important you are very clear that making this decision is about YOU and your children. It isn’t about your ex-spouse. No one said you have to tell them “I’ve forgiven you.”

Without that forgiveness, the bitterness, resentment and anger will continue to fester and cause more hurt. It will taint your life view and by doing so, your ability to effectively parent.

This is a slow process. It doesn’t happen by just saying “I’m forgiving him/her”. It’s a choice you will have to make EVERY day for awhile. New things will pop up that will cause you to want to slide back into that anger. That’s when you remind yourself of the choice you’ve made.

It’s especially helpful during this difficult time when this is new, to have a trusted friend to keep you on track. If they hear you start slipping into the anger, they can gently remind you of the choice you’ve made to not let this person control you or your emotions any longer.

Is this easy? Of course not! It takes time. With time and dedication to the choice you’ve made, it will get easier. You won’t feel as if things are out of control or worse yet, controlled by your ex-spouse. Instead, you will feel as if YOU are the one making the choices in your life. Choices to move forward and be a better parent.

If you'd like more great resources to help you prepare for your remarriage and step family, I invite you to visit us at http://www.RemarriageSuccess.com . There you will find article archives, forums, tips of the week, resources and other sites that will get you on your way toward your very own remarriage success! And if you enjoyed this article, why not receive a few every Friday with our Tip of the Week? I encourage you to get all the details at http://www.RemarriageSuccess.com/tip.htm today.

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Parenting Tips For Divorce Damage Control

While divorce is a sign of freedom for couples in a bad relationship, it leaves scars on the minds of both partners. Divorce is not a new phenomenon, as many would have us believe. People have been getting into marriage and walking out of it from times immemorial.

By Dr. Noel Swanson.

While divorce is a sign of freedom for couples in a bad relationship, it leaves scars on the minds of both partners. Divorce is not a new phenomenon, as many would have us believe. People have been getting into marriage and walking out of it from times immemorial.

Whichever way you look at it, divorce means something went wrong. Two people who, for all the right or wrong reasons, had pledged themselves to stick together to provide a secure family base for their children, are now splitting up. It didn’t work out the way it was supposed to.

Divorce is always sad. That is why even the law gives time for the couple to think it over.

But, if it has happened or is going to happen, it is best to look ahead and not dwell on the past and dig old wounds. It will only make life more difficult, whereas you need all the positive energy to move on in life and make the best of a bad situation.

One thing is clear: No one wants to get divorced. But if, it happens or is going to happen, we should try to minimize its impact on all concerned, especially children.

And, the priority should be to make all efforts to minimize its impact on the kids. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:

1. Don’t get divorced! The best situation for children is to live with both parents in a loving and caring home, preferably with loving and caring relatives nearby.

If your relationship is struggling, for whatever reason, be honest about it and seek some help - either for yourself, or jointly as a couple. Do whatever it takes to re-kindle the love you once had.

Note, this does NOT mean you should put up with an abusive relationship just to “stay together for the children”. Ongoing violence, drug abuse, acrimony, etc are NOT good for children. If you really need to get out, then get out.

2. Once you have taken the decision to go in for a divorce, go about it in grown-up manner and as far as possible try to separate amicably. Discuss it and agree that under the circumstances it is best to separate. Avoid lengthy court battles and custody disputes; they will drain you out emotionally and financially. Hurt feelings will become impediments in your efforts to move on with life. You can’t begin to imagine what impact it can have on the children.

3. You might think the other person is ‘evil’, but avoid speaking against him. Children don’t like to hear anything against their parents. You need to be grown-up and honest with your children. Talk to them and answer their questions as honestly and dispassionately as you can. You also need to reassure them that you will not leave them. Usually, that is a great fear in the minds of children.

4. The secret of all relationships is honesty. While you should not say nasty things about the other parent, there is no need to defend them either. If he has promised to come and doesn’t turn up, don’t make excuses for him. You don’t know what is going on in the child’s mind. Very often children start blaming themselves for all that is going wrong. Make it quite clear that it isn’t their fault that you separated or that the other parent is so unreliable.

5. Another very important aspect is to encourage your children to keep in touch with the other parent for as long as it is a positive experience for them. Encourage visits, phone calls and letters. Let your child get the love and attention of both parents despite your feelings.

6. However, be very careful that you don’t start using your child as a messenger. Find other means to communicate to each other.

7. In case the other parent is really harmful or abusive, protect your child by all means, but make sure your opinion is not based on your prejudices.

8. If you have a choice, don’t go in for joint custody; it doesn’t work. The child feels torn between two homes. If the other parent is emotionally and financially strong, let him/her take custody of the child even though it rips you apart. And, take care of the parenting in your house and don’t dictate your rules on the other parent in their house.

9. Children are not prepared to see someone else taking the place of their parent. So, be sensitive about bringing strangers into the home. Children keep hoping that their parents will get back together some day. Don’t kill their hopes.

10. Finally, take control of your life. Don’t dwell on old wounds. Think positive and live in the present. Try to make the future happy. You will come out stronger from the experience and you will give your children hope about human relationships, or they might fall into similar situations when they grow up.

Will your children suffer from your divorce? It all depends on how you handle it. But if you can maintain a calm, adult, relationship with your ex, so that you can talk sensibly about visiting times, school progress, etc, even if you can’t live together, then you children can do very well.

All you have to do is be a good parent to the best of your ability.

Dr. Noel Swanson specializes in helping parents with their children's behaviors. To tap into his expert parenting advice visit his website and check out his hugely popular GOOD CHILD Guide manual, jammed full of practical parenting advice.

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Parenting Tips: How To Find A Sitter

You may be both working parents and are out of the house for more than eight hours a day. You may also simply be considering having a couple's night out. In both cases, you may need to leave the kids with someone trustworthy.

By Rashel Dan

You may be both working parents and are out of the house for more than eight hours a day. You may also simply be considering having a couple’s night out. In both cases, you may need to leave the kids with someone trustworthy.

Of course, you’d want to work efficiently or have a night of pure unadulterated fun without having to constantly worry about what’s going on at home. The usual way to go is to get a sitter. The process of getting a sitter however probably is not that simple.  What do parents have take note of when picking a sitter?

Start as Soon as Possible

If you have plans of going out, find a sitter as early as possible. This means planning all your night outs, breaks, work commitments ahead of time. This is to ensure that when you decide to study your sitter options, you have more time to study qualifications and be discriminating.

Study All Your Options

Needless to say, you would want a sitter that can be entrusted with your kids’ safety. A relevant tip therefore is to look at all your options. You can look for sitting services in the paper. Just make sure that the services you choose are ones which conduct some form of background check on their sitters. Another good parenting tip on this aspect is to advertise with your local community organizations or groups. One of the best thing to do however is to ask close relatives and friends to recommend some good sitters.

Ask For a Lot of Things

Don’t be afraid to ask the right questions. Many highly recommend asking for references and actually checking and calling on those references. You should also consider a lot of questions during your interview with potential sitters.

Ask about length of experience as a sitter, ages of kids looked after, training in CPR or other relevant training.  Make sure the applicant sitters know what they should do during emergency situations like the child choking or falling down the stairs.

Take the Time to Observe

If you have your pick already, take the time to observe how the sitter interacts with the kids. One parenting tip is to see if the sitter seems naturally comfortable with the kids and vice versa. Another thing to do for additional safety is to install nanny cameras.

Ask the Kids

Always talk to your kids about their experience with their baby sitter. You can ask them to describe what they did that day, if they enjoyed being with their sitter, what new things their sitter taught them and what other things their sitter has been doing. Be sensitive to such warning signs as discomfort among your kids when you ask them sitter related questions and bumps and bruises in inconspicuous parts of your child’s body.

Discover the best parenting tips online. Read more about parenting advice from experts.

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