Can you photograph fast-moving children well without a high burst rate?
Asked 10/7/2011
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I’m wondering whether high FPS is really necessary for photographing active children. Their expressions change very quickly, so burst shooting seems useful, but can a camera with a slower continuous shooting rate still capture great moments? Is it mostly luck, or can timing and technique make up for a lower frame rate? If so, what should I practice to improve my chances of getting sharp, well-timed shots?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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You can definitely take better pictures of small children with a single shot and you don't even have to be an experienced photographer (but you do need a good camera, see last paragraph).
I'm not an experienced photographer, I mostly take pictures of my two (very fast) children and I used to think continuous drive is a great advantage in photographing children.
I discovered that I got lots and lots of pictures of random moments but never a picture of "the moment" - when I photographed my son on a trampoline I never got the picture where he is on the highest part of the jump, when I photographed my baby daughter I always got the moment right before and right after the smile and when I photographed kids playing an xbox kinnect game at a party it looks like they barely moved.
On the other hand, it's very easy to hold the camera, pre-focus and wait for the moment to get that one great picture.
But all of this only relevant if you have a camera with practically no shutter lag, capturing the moment is easy on my DSLR but impossible on my old P&S (that also has low FPS and low quality video - resulting in many many pictures of the moment right after something really interesting happened).
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A high burst rate can help, but it isn’t required to get great photos of active children. Good timing and anticipation often matter more than simply holding the shutter down.
Useful techniques:
- Watch for predictable moments and expressions, then be ready before they happen.
- Pre-focus, or keep focus engaged with a half-press / continuous focus as the child moves.
- Use the viewfinder if possible; many photographers find it easier for timing and tracking.
- Don’t just “spray and pray.” Waiting for the peak moment often gives better results than lots of random frames.
- Stay unobtrusive and let children act naturally; candid expressions are easier when they aren’t reacting to the camera.
Burst mode is still helpful for very fleeting action, but it won’t automatically catch the best instant. Practice helps: learning to anticipate motion, expressions, and behavior will improve your hit rate over time. For events like parties, you can also watch for reliable triggers—cake, gifts, balloons, games—since those often produce strong reactions.
So no, it’s not just luck, and yes, it’s a skill you can learn and improve.
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