CHILDREN, PHOTOGRAPHY OF The success or failure in photographing a child is nearly always dependent on the ability of the operator to gain the confidence of his juvenile sitter. In the case of amateur work, the child is often personally acquainted with the photographer, but in professional work the child is probably a complete stranger to the operator. It is useless to treat a child in the same manner as an adult, and simply request it to assume the desired position. Particular art is necessary in getting the child to adopt the pose required. Too many friends of the child should not be allowed into the studio, one being quite enough ; otherwise difficulties are likely to ensue, especi ally in the case of very young children whose attention is very easily diverted. Children differ so much in their disposition that it is possible to make friends easily with some, whilst others are shy and require quite diplo matic handling. In some cases it is better to ignore the child at first, and to engage in con versation with whoever is in attendance on the child, and then, by opening a picture-book, operating a mechanical toy, introducing a dog or cat, the child becomes interested and gradu ally its confidence is won. Some of the most successful child photographers have cultivated an ability to bring themselves down to the children by playing games and in other ways giving them the impression " that they are one of themselves." By this means they engage a child's attention, until both the desired position in the studio and the happy expression are attained, at which juncture an assistant makes the exposure.
The introduction of modern high-speed plates has given new possibilities to child photography. Some few years ago it was necessary to draw up all the studio blinds so as to admit as much light as possible, but although this allowed a quicker exposure to be made, the picture was devoid of all light and shade gradations. The plates at present available allow of a more subdued light being used ; and proper attention should be given to the arrangement of blinds for con trolling the lighting.
The studio reflex camera is at present but very little used, but for child photography it possesses very great advantages, as it frequently happens that when the child has been correctly focused and the dark-slide inserted for exposure, the child moves to some other position, necessi tating re-focusing. With a reflex camera this
trouble is avoided, as it is possible to focus the sitter right up to the moment of exposure.
The dress of the child often makes or mars a picture, and some photographs owe their charm almost entirely to dainty garments. On the other hand, quite young children usually make more pleasing pictures when photographed either nude or with only a single garment on.
Amateur work takes place under varied con ditions, some workers possessing lofty rooms with abundant light in which it is possible to obtain pictures equal to those produced in a studio ; but for those not so fortunate special arrangements must be made so as to obtain sufficient light for the quick exposures necessi tated. In an ordinary room with a bow window it is often an advantage to take away all existing blinds and hangings, as these, when drawn up or to the side, frequently cut off much light. The window-panes may be covered with tissue paper, as this gives a more equal diffusion of light ; on the shadow side a screen should be used with a sheet thrown over it for use as a reflector, but care must be exercised not to move this reflector too close to the child, otherwise too flat a lighting is obtained, and there is great risk of producing false lights in the eyes. As children are usually taken so as to show the entire figure, it is necessary to see that the light ing reaches well down to the ground ; to accom plish this it is sometimes useful to build up a platform some i z in. or 18 in. from the floor. Care must be taken to prevent the light coming too much from the side, and so to arrange the light that the strongest portion of it falls from a point higher than the child's head. This can be attained by covering the lower panes of the glass with three or four thicknesses of tissue paper. In photographing children out of doors, good lighting is possible if care is taken to choose a position where the light is screened from one side ; this is easily done by utilising the side of a house and arranging the sitter near to it, so that the main direction of light falls from the side and front. If a head screen is available it should be used to cut off the immediate top light. An entrance doorway or portico is very often suitable for such portrait work. (See also " Home Portraiture," " Studio Portraiture," etc.)