The photos you take of children should tell a story. They are a jump start for conversations between the parents and their children and between the parents and the educators.
How to take quality photos
You want photos that will melt the parent's hearts. You do not want them to look at them and think…oh just another picture!
It is all about the quality and NOT the quantity!
Simple steps to taking quality photos
1) Get up close and personal.
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- Facial expressions are key – if you take photos from a distance, you miss this.
- Get down to the child’s level.
- Take individual photos or small groups of two or three children.
- Avoid fake smiles. Don’t ask the children “look at me and smile”!
2) Check your background.
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- It is childcare, so much is happening in the room. There is less chance of an unwanted background when photos are up close.
3) Make sure your photo is straight.
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- Do not take them at odd angles. It can distract from what is happening in the photo.
4) Photos should be natural or action shots.
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- Remember your photos should tell a story. Capture a moment. A posed photo will not accomplish that.
5) Make sure your photos are in focus.
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- Take many shots at the same time. Sometimes the slightest movement can cause the photo to be blurry. This way you can choose the best photo.
Posting Moments
1) Photos Tagged Correctly
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- Only the child/children that are in the photo are to be tagged.
2) Photos need to be intentional
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- Post photos of children engaged in activities
- Instead of posting a child standing, show them involved in an activity.
- Parents want to see their children engaged and having fun while at childcare.
- Post photos of children engaged in activities
3) Look closely at the photo before you post it.
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- Look at the entire photo
- Would the parents want the photo?
- What is happening in the background?
4) Photo Collage
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- If creating a photo collage, all the photos must include the child being tagged.
- Parents do not want single photos of other children in the room.
- Photo collages are a great idea to capture the best moments of the week or month for a child.
- You can put a nice border around them and even add a few comments.
5) Comments need to correspond to the post.
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- Make sure the caption or the story relates to the photo that is being posted.
- Do not post a photo of a child inside when the caption says fun in the playground.
6) Be patient when uploading photos
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- When uploading photos sometimes it takes a while. Please be patient and wait before you try and upload again. Wait for that little wheel to stop spinning. If once it has stopped and the photo is not there then you can try again. This will stop duplicate photos being uploaded.
7) Photos can be deleted if needed.
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- If you post a photo to the wrong person, it can be deleted by the center director by logging into the portal account.
- If you post a photo to the wrong person, it can be deleted by the center director by logging into the portal account.
Photos posted to parents
Do you feel parents would want to have these photos?
Or do you feel parents would want to have these photos? Photos that tell them a story.
Avoid the following photos
- Large groups of children
- Odd angles
Types of photos for parents
- Up close
- Down to the child’s level
- Can tell a story
