Photographing Kids

As photo pro Jim Miotke says, photographers need inspiring subjects to produce great pictures, and kids certainly rank high on the list. The information-packed Photographing Kids, from the Adventures in Photography series (see review of Digital Photography Unleashed! in VL-9/05), features four 25-minute instructional segments, as well as a profile of professional children's photographers and insights into their techniques for getting the best responses from kids in the frame. Topics include “Working with Light” (tackling the most basic variable in photography), “Portraits and Candids” (covering angles and motivating subjects), “Sports and Fast Action” (with special emphasis on camera performance, lens selection and use, and depth of field), and “A Look Inside Jim's Camera Bag” (in which Miotke notes the importance of careful selection of gear). Effectively illustrating how a live-action photographer works with child subjects—and then cutting away to the actual photos taken, thereby providing viewers with an instant perspective on how artistic shots are created—this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)