#1 Find the mirror. Our brains LOVE balance. When the top matches the bottom (or left matches right), a photo feels calm and wow. Hunt for still water, puddles and windows!
For parents
Photo Tip Feed
25 bite-size photo tips for kids. Tap Share to Instagram on your phone, or save the picture and copy the caption.
All tip card photos are by Kathy.
#2 Off to the side. Imagine a tic-tac-toe board on your screen. Put your favorite thing on a line, not smack in the middle.
#3 Follow the line. Roads, fences and paths act like arrows that lead eyes into your photo.
#4 Get closer. Too much stuff? Take three giant steps closer and fill the frame.
#5 Look down. Stand tall and shoot straight down at leaves, toys or breakfast.
#6 Look up. Lie on your back and point your camera at the sky. Trees turn into giants!
#7 Chase golden hour. The hour before sunset makes everything glow. Go on a golden walk.
#8 Play with shadows. Sunny day? The shadows can be the star of your picture.
#9 Make a silhouette. Put the sun behind your friend and they turn into a dark shape. Jump for extra fun!
#10 Spot one color. Find one bright thing in a calm, plain place. It POPS.
#11 Find texture. Bumpy, fuzzy, crinkly, rough. Make people want to touch your photo.
#12 Leave some space. Lots of empty sky makes a tiny thing feel big and brave.
#13 Hold still. Two hands, elbows tucked, breathe out… click. Blurry photos, bye!
#14 Wipe your lens. A smudgy lens makes foggy photos. Wipe gently with a soft cloth.
#15 Meet their eyes. Get down to your pet's eye level. It feels like they're talking to you.
#16 Catch real smiles. Skip "say cheese." Tell a joke and click during the giggle.
#17 Check behind. Before you click, peek at the background. Move the mess, or move yourself!
#18 Tap to focus. Tap the screen on the most important thing so it's sharp.
#19 Use a window. Window light is free, soft and beautiful. Bring your subject close to it.
#20 Peek in puddles. After the rain, puddles become secret upside-down mirrors.
#21 Tell a story. Show the clues: what happened here? Let people guess!
#22 Groups of three. Odd numbers look extra nice. Line up three things and snap.
#23 Flip it tall. Tall things love a tall photo. Turn your camera sideways!
#24 Spy the details. Shoelaces, buttons, freckles. Little bits tell big stories.
#25 Take ten. Pros take lots of photos and pick the best. Snap ten, circle your favorite!