Ideas for Country Photography of Toddlers

Country Location

• For a photo shoot in the country, go for a natural scene, such as a meadow, colorful barn, paddock or wooded section. Let the toddler wander inside the barn as you take photos of her bending down to pick up a piece of hay, feeding a carrot to a horse in the paddock or sitting on an old tractor. Other shots to look for include one of her waddling through the rows of corn, chasing chickens or picking flowers in a meadow.

City Location

• Country settings found inside a city include neighborhood parks, a rodeo, a haunted hay ride or a pumpkin patch. Use these scenes to zoom in and capture his facial expression as he tosses the changing leaves of autumn into the air, rides his first pony, or tumbles or plops down on a grass lawn. Take photos as he runs around a pond chasing the ducks while trying to feed them. Snap pictures of him leaning over an extra-large pumpkin, trying to wrap his arms around one or deciding which one he wants to take home.

Angle

• Vary the angle of the shot to provide interest to your photographs. A wide-angle shot emphasizes the country scene while a close-up shot focuses on the toddler and her expressions. For example, get down to her eye level and shoot pictures of her petting a horse to show how large a horse looks at her size. Take a wide-angle shot of her peering through the fence watching chickens, pigs or goats.

Shots

• Candid shots, such as him looking back at you from a country lane, work better than posed shots because toddlers tend to wander and won̵7;t sit still for long. If you want posed shots of him in his overalls, reduce the amount of time he needs to be still by preparing the scene and placing him into the shot. Restrict his movements, for example, by putting him into a corner area or distracting him with props.

Props

• Props bring a new dimension into your photograph while distracting a toddler. A close-up photograph of her on a tire swing or in a hammock gives a country feel. So does one of her in a galvanized wash basin as she stands up, bends down to throw out a ball or peeks over the top. A photo of him slipping on cowboy boots or playing with a cowboy hat in a barn brings in a country feel, especially if he is wearing overalls with a gingham shirt.