Welcome to my third reflection of 30 years behind the lens, in the run-up to my exhibition. Just 10 days away now!…

Children have been the mainstay of my photographic subject matter, throughout my press photography career and they are images that editors and readers will never tire of.

One of my all time favourite child shots from a pet show back in the 80s.

Children and animals can make a perfect combination and if you click a good candid shot at the right time, your audience (and the editor) will ‘melt’! An image like this one (left) is the ideal illustration for that village pet show. I prefer not to pose too many shots when I am working on this sort of photo feature. I always think natural is best.

Joy in the playground!

The next two contrasting shots were from the same newspaper feature on a local primary school. I really wanted to capture some great natural expressions in the playground. A 200mm lens and a sharp eye were a must. 

Tenderness of a caring friend.

 

 

 

 

Excited on the catwalk!

Another favourite of mine was this shot I took of a couple of very determined and exciteable youngsters being clapped onto the catwalk. The event was a village hall children’s fashion show and great material for a press photographer! It’s often worth waiting for your subjects to get bored with what you are doing, so you can blend into the background.

Mud glorious mud!

School sports day with a twist! Every parent’s nightmare perhaps, but some good photo opportunties for me. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would slip and fall!

The last of my images to share with you is this delightful shot of a youngster cooling off on a hot day. I needed a fast shutter speed to freeze the water and several attempts to have it not covering her face. Yes, in case you were wondering, parental consent was sought before snapping. It’s something that (sadly) these days, photographers must consider. Personally, I think it’s a matter of courtesy and common sense.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this article. Animal photography is my next subject in this series. If you’d like to see more samples of child portrait photography on my website, click here.