Picture perfect: Experts offer some tips on how to photograph children and pets

"Don't let raw sun hit their face, even though most conventional wisdom says to do so. Keep them in a shady area without a lot of sun on them. … There are a few basic places you can count on for the right kind of light for a pleasing photograph. On the north side of buildings, there is often a triangle of shade."

"On vacation, shoot close and wide. Use a wider lens and a wider setting on a camera and get in close enough that they (whomever you are shooting) are pretty much the subjects but so the wider spread will put them in context." This helps so your subject won't look like an "ant" compared to the background.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take better pictures?

"Sit down and think about what your child really likes, what they love, what they'll respond to and give it to them. And it really just depends on the age and sometimes even the child. Little kids love to have power over adults. If you pretend that you're afraid of them or they're scaring you … and you start jumping and running, they light up like a light bulb."

"With pets, make a lot of goofy noises. Bark at them, use squeakers and then also, let them run. Have a quick finger. If you give them something to do that's fun in an area with open shade and just let them play, you'll get a lot of magical images."

Are there any cameras you would recommend a parent buy?

"Just about any camera is going to be a good camera these days."

Laura Means

Means A Lot Photography

www.meansalot.com

What are common mistakes people make when photographing children or pets?

"The eyes of a subject in a photo are the first things that most people focus on when they are looking at a photograph. There are many things that can cause the focus to fall off of the eyes. One of them is taking pictures in direct sunlight at noon. When the sun is overhead, it creates shadows in the eye sockets and causes squinting. Finding a pocket of shade or turning your flash on to remove the shadowing remedies this."

"In the age of digital cameras, many parents do not take enough pictures. … The more photos that are taken, the more opportunities there are to have good pictures."

"Ideally, it is a good idea to never cut limbs off at the joints in a photograph. Paying attention to make sure that fingers and toes are not cut off will greatly enhance the composition of a photo."

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take better pictures?