Photographing kids and pets: sharp photos of subjects that never sit still
Children and pets are some of the most rewarding subjects to photograph and some of the hardest. They move suddenly, they do not hold a pose and the best moments last a fraction of a second. The good news is that the camera can do most of the hard work if you set it up for motion: a fast shutter, autofocus that follows the subject and a burst of frames for every moment. The rest is about where you put yourself and how patient you are. This guide covers the settings first, then position, light, a phone version and a few rules for keeping animals calm and safe.
Starting settings
| Setting | Start here | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Shutter priority (S/Tv) or manual with Auto ISO | 4 |
| Shutter | 1/250 s calm, 1/500 s playing, 1/1000 s+ running | 1 |
| Aperture | f/2.8–f/5.6 | 4 |
| ISO | Auto ISO, upper limit around 6400 | 4 |
| Focus | Continuous AF (AF-C/AI Servo) with eye or animal detection | 2 |
| Drive | Continuous (burst), low or mid speed | 3 |
| Flash | Off; use window light | 6 |
1Choose a shutter speed that freezes the motion
Blur in photos of kids and pets is usually motion blur, not focus error: the subject moved while the shutter was open. The faster the movement, the shorter the exposure needs to be. A child sitting with a toy is very different from a dog sprinting across a lawn.
The values below are approximate rules of thumb. Distance matters too: a subject crossing the frame close to you needs a faster speed than one moving toward you from far away.
- Calm moments (sitting, reading, a sleepy cat): about 1/250 s.
- Normal play, crawling, walking, a dog sniffing around: about 1/500 s.
- Running, jumping, a dog chasing a ball, a child on a swing: 1/1000 s or faster.
- Fur flying, water splashes, a cat leaping: 1/2000 s if the light allows it.
- Check a few frames zoomed in on the screen; if edges are smeared, go one step faster.
2Use continuous autofocus with eye detection
In single-shot AF the camera locks focus once and stops. A child who leans forward by a few inches is already out of focus at wide apertures. Continuous AF keeps adjusting as long as you half-press the shutter or hold the AF button, and tracking modes follow the subject across the frame.
Most recent cameras can find a human eye and many can also find animal eyes (dogs, cats, birds). This is the single most helpful feature for these subjects, because sharp eyes are what make the photo look sharp.
- Switch focus mode to continuous (AF-C on most brands, AI Servo on Canon).
- Choose a wide or tracking AF area so the camera can follow the subject around the frame.
- Turn on eye detection and set the subject type to human or animal; some cameras pick automatically.
- Consider back-button focus: move AF to a rear button so focusing and shooting are separate, which makes tracking easier to control.
3Shoot in short bursts
Expressions change from one tenth of a second to the next: a blink, a turn of the head, a tongue sticking out. Burst mode takes several frames per second while you hold the button, so you can pick the one frame where everything lines up.
Very fast bursts fill the memory card quickly and make sorting tiring. A low or medium burst rate is usually enough for family photos.
- Set the drive mode to continuous low or medium (roughly 5–10 frames per second, approximate).
- Fire short bursts of three to six frames at peak moments instead of holding the button down.
- Use a fast memory card so the camera does not stall while saving.
- Delete weak frames soon after; keep only the best one or two of each burst.
4Let Auto ISO protect the shutter speed
Indoors, a fast shutter speed often leaves too little light. Auto ISO solves this: you fix the shutter speed and aperture, and the camera raises ISO only as much as needed. A slightly noisy sharp photo is better than a clean blurry one.
Some cameras also offer a minimum shutter speed setting for Auto ISO in aperture priority. The camera then keeps the shutter at or above the speed you choose before it raises ISO.
- Use shutter priority (S/Tv), or manual mode with Auto ISO turned on.
- In aperture priority, set the Auto ISO minimum shutter speed to about 1/250–1/500 s.
- Set an upper ISO limit your camera handles well, often around 3200–6400 on recent models (approximate).
- Start around f/2.8–f/4 for a soft background; use f/5.6 for two children or a pet and a child together so both stay sharp.
5Get down to their eye level
Photos taken from adult standing height look down on kids and pets, which makes them look small and shows a lot of floor. Dropping to their level puts the viewer in their world and makes eye contact much stronger.
It also improves the background: instead of carpet or pavement, you see the room or the garden behind them, and it falls out of focus more easily.
- Kneel, sit or lie on the floor so the lens is at the height of their eyes.
- Use a flip-out screen if your camera has one, so you can hold it low without lying flat.
- Move around to put a simple, uncluttered background behind the subject.
- Stay at a comfortable distance; a short telephoto (around 50–85 mm on full frame) lets you keep back a little.
6Use light from a window
A large window gives soft, flattering light that is bright enough for faster shutter speeds than ordinary room lamps. Light falling from the side shapes faces and makes eyes sparkle with small reflections, called catchlights.
Direct sun through the window is harsher and creates hard shadows. Overcast days or a window that faces away from the sun give the gentlest light.
- Bring play close to a window: a few feet from it, with the light coming from the side.
- Turn off mixed room lights to avoid odd colour casts, or set white balance to daylight.
- If the sun shines straight in, diffuse it with a thin white curtain.
- Use a white sheet or wall on the shadow side to bounce some light back.
7Be patient, play and use treats
You cannot direct a toddler or a dog the way you direct an adult. The best photos usually come from joining the activity rather than interrupting it. Let them get used to the camera first; many pets are curious or nervous about the clicking sound and the lens pointing at them.
For pets, treats and toys are your assistant. A squeaky toy or a sound above the lens draws the eyes toward the camera for a second or two.
- Let the pet sniff the camera and give a treat, so the camera becomes something positive.
- Hold a treat or toy just above the lens to get eye contact; reward after each sequence.
- With children, play a game, give them a task or let them talk about a favourite toy instead of saying "smile".
- Keep sessions short, around 10–15 minutes (approximate), and stop before anyone gets bored or stressed.
- Ask a helper to handle treats and distractions while you shoot.
8Photograph kids and pets with a phone
Phones work well for kids and pets in good light, and they are usually already in your hand when something funny happens. In dim rooms phones choose slow shutter speeds, which gives blur, so light and burst shooting matter even more.
- Shoot near a window or outdoors; good light is the biggest improvement for a phone.
- Use burst mode (often by holding or sliding the shutter button) or a live or motion photo, then pick the best frame.
- Turn off night mode for moving subjects; it uses long exposures that blur motion.
- Get low and tap to focus on the eyes; use portrait mode only for calm moments, as it can struggle with fur and fast movement.
- Avoid digital zoom; move closer instead or use the phone's telephoto lens if it has one.
9Skip the flash and keep everyone safe
A flash going off close to an animal's face can startle it, and repeated flashes may make it fearful of the camera. Many animals also reflect flash strongly from the back of the eye, which gives glowing eyes. With babies and children, constant flashes are tiring and break the mood.
Safety comes before any photo. Never put a child or pet in a risky spot for a shot, and watch the animal's body language for signs of stress.
- Turn the flash off and use window light or a brighter room instead.
- Watch for stress signals in pets, such as flattened ears, yawning, lip licking or tucked tails, and take a break.
- Never place babies or pets on high surfaces, near water or in unusual poses without a second adult holding or spotting them.
- Keep camera straps, lens caps and small accessories out of reach of small children and pets.
- Ask before photographing other people's children or animals, and respect a no.
Before you start
- Shutter priority or manual with Auto ISO
- 1/500 s for play, 1/1000 s+ for running
- Continuous AF with eye or animal detection
- Burst mode, low or medium speed
- Fast memory card and charged battery
- Play area near a window
- Treats, toys or a helper
- Flash off