What All Parents Can Learn From Kate Middleton’s Mad Photography Skills
She’s done it again. Kate Middleton’s latest photos of Prince George, arriving for his first day of preschool at Westacre Montessori School, are royally adorable.
STORY: Creative Ways to Photograph Your Baby’s First Year
In the shots, released by Kensington Palace on Wednesday, the 2-year-old proudly totes his backpack to the Norfolk, England, school and, with the cutest expression of awe, appears to admire the painted mural.
Photo: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images
STORY: How to Take the Cutest Photos of Your Kids
Call it another win for the royal, who broke with tradition to take the first portrait images of Princess Charlotte herself in May and then caught the sweetest of smiles from her in November with another set of images taken after the tot had turned 6 months.
Photo: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge may not be a professional photographer — though she did study photography as part of her art history degree from St. Andrews — but there’s a lot parents can learn from looking at her handiwork. Yahoo Senior Photo Editor Jennifer Fox points out a few smart strategies Middleton uses and you can too when photographing your own family. No tiara required!
Photo: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images
Compose the photo in an interesting way
Choosing that colorful mural in the background for George’s first day of school snaps clearly livened up the shot of the prince, clad in a solid blue jacket. But background matters less than you’d think, Fox tells Yahoo Parenting. “The natural quality of her images is what makes them so appealing,” she explains. “So if the focus is on your child, get down to their level and allow them to interact naturally with you and the setting.” Perhaps the mom asked George to point to the chicken on the mural and then snapped his photo as he was telling her what he saw, Fox adds. “Asking kids to do too much, or giving them too many directions, is not likely to result in a natural-looking photo.”
Focus right on the kiddos
The soft blur of the background in Kate’s shots of Charlotte makes the focus on the infant sharper, allowing those doe eyes to really pop. Try the same technique of “maximum aperture,” which allows more light than usual to pass through the camera lens, by setting a point-and-shoot camera to the aperture priority setting, advises Fox. “And if you are using a smartphone, some of the camera apps have what is called “tilt shift” or “lens blur,” which allows you to enhance and blur portions of the photo to create a similar effect.”
Look to the light
“Kate uses natural light in the photos, and natural light makes such a difference,” says Fox. “Using a standard camera flash or iPhone flash is a recipe for a terrible photo. You’ll get redeye, weird highlights, uneven and unnatural-looking color.” Her advice? Find a spot in your home that gets great light or take the kids outside to play to capture a quality photo.
Photo: Chris Jelf/Kensington Palace via Getty Images
Take more photos than you think you’ll need
That timeless image of Charlotte playing with her bunny was most likely captured by taking a burst of photos, Fox reveals. “If you shoot in burst mode, meaning hold the shutter release down and take a lot of photos quickly, or hold your finger on the iPhone button,” she says, “this will capture all the smiles and laughs and silly faces that make kids so beautiful in photos.”
Snap the moment
Finally, don’t force a situation. “Yes, your toddler looks adorable in that winter coat with the snow falling, but if he isn’t feeling it, you’re never going to get a good shot,” Fox says. “And you’ll likely be putting a negative association onto having their photo taken.” Instead think, WWKD (What Would Kate Do?) and keep your camera on hand, ready to snap a sweet shot whenever it may arise — perhaps even while you’re walking your little prince to preschool.
Top photo: The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images
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