| There she was in all her glory. Long white lab | | | | Kids love to make faces, don costumes and |
| coat, frizzy hair, safety goggles -- and a face | | | | assume a new personality. It is the ultimate form |
| smeared with the black ash of an experiment | | | | of exhibition. You just can't let the opportunity |
| gone terrifically wrong. She was, at least on this | | | | pass. They WANT to be noticed. Most |
| Halloween night, Dr. Abby Normal. But for most of | | | | point-and-shoot variety cameras have wide-angle |
| her life I had known her as Abigail, my daughter, | | | | lenses. While this helps them to get sharp results |
| and I had just taken some of the most legendary | | | | and to work well in lower light, they tend to |
| photos of her life.These weren't your | | | | move the subject matter further away. Most |
| garden-variety portraits. Not exactly Wal Mart | | | | have a minimum shooting distance of around |
| studio stuff either. They were pictures taken of | | | | three feet. Don't be afraid to push that limit at |
| my kids in their natural element -- being kids. That | | | | Halloween. Get in close, have them make faces, |
| is the real photo opportunity of a holiday like | | | | ask them to talk to the camera. They will. It is, |
| Halloween.For treasured images this Halloween, | | | | after all, Halloween.4. Let Them Call the Shots -- |
| here are some quick tips to remember to get | | | | It's their party. Ask them what kind of pictures |
| once-in-a-lifetime photos:1. Stop Posing -- | | | | they want. When my son was Harry Potter a |
| Halloween is not a formal affair. So don't bother | | | | few years back he wanted to jump off the roof |
| with the wedding style shots. Engage the kids in | | | | on his Nimbus 2000. We had to reason with him a |
| the play associated with their costumes -- and | | | | bit. But a little leap from a lawn chair to the grass |
| THEN shoot the pictures. Candids reveal the | | | | did the trick and we got the shots of Harry in |
| smiles much more than a "Hold still, honey!" | | | | flight. Chances are your kids have an idea of the |
| moment.2. Shoot Early, Shoot Often -- Film is the | | | | persona they are adopting. Let them call the |
| cheapest part of photography. And in this digital | | | | shots to document the experience.5. Use the set |
| age, there just isn't a reason not to shoot several | | | | -- Most of us decorate for the season. There |
| images. There are many good reasons for being | | | | could be haystacks, a bubbling pot, a roaring |
| trigger happy with the camera. First, if kids are | | | | fireplace. Use these props, even if they don't fit |
| use to you constantly firing away they won't | | | | the theme of the costume. Down the road the |
| bother with the plastic smiles. But most | | | | memories you cherish will include all the fun that |
| importantly, shooting more simply increases your | | | | went into creating the holiday environment in your |
| chances for great pictures. With Halloween | | | | home.Good candid pictures of children require |
| pictures some of the best images are taken while | | | | active participation and putting them at ease. |
| the costuming is in process -- don't wait for the | | | | Halloween is the easiest of seasons in which to do |
| finished product in getting out the camera.3. Get in | | | | this. |
| Their Face -- Halloween was made for pretend. | | | | |