How to Frame Better Photos of Your Kids: 3 Composition Tips from a Huntington, NY Family Photographer

A woman and a dog posing for photo outside

Better Composition Makes a Big Difference in Everyday Photos

Kids being adorable? Your partner having a great hair day? Or maybe the scenery is just too pretty not to capture? Before you snap, here are a few simple tips to elevate your everyday photos and frame them like a pro.

Special thanks to Teddy for helping me model these examples…

Tip #1 - Keep Heads in the Frame

A woman and a dog are being photographed and the woman's head is cropped out of the photo.

It might sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly common to accidentally crop out someone’s head—especially when you're snapping quickly. Always give a little breathing room above your subject's noggin. Cropping too tight at the top can feel awkward and cut off the emotional connection of the image.

Pro tip: Use your phone's grid to help keep everything balanced.

Tip #2 - Avoid Cropping at Joints

Feet, hands, knees, tails!—be mindful of where your frame ends. Cropping right at joints (like ankles or elbows) can look jarring or unnatural. If you're taking a full-body shot, make sure you include the entire body or crop purposefully at mid-thigh or mid-torso instead.

Tip #3 - Focus on the Eyes

Example of a blurry photo of a person and their dog

Once your framing is good, don’t forget to nail your focus. Especially when photographing kids, sharp focus on the eyes makes all the difference. Blurry subjects (even in beautiful light) can feel like a missed moment.

Pro Tip: Tap your screen where you want the camera to focus—most smartphones will adjust focus and exposure based on that point.

Success!

A properly composed photo of a family

Bonus Tip - Frame Within A Frame

Mom smiling at her baby taken from a low angle POV

Once you've nailed those tips, experiment with using other things in your environment that frame your subject in an unexpected way.

You might try out angles like getting low to the ground or shooting from above. Or you might look for natural frames—branches, leaves or other people if you’re outdoors— to lead our eye to your subject in an interesting way.

Final Thoughts

To elevate your everyday photos, remember these quick tips:
📸 Leave room around heads and feet
📸 Watch your crops
📸 Focus on your subject
📸 Then, get creative!

I hope these help and that you love capturing your own family moments.

If you’d prefer someone else to do the thinking about framing and focus while you enjoy the moment, you know where to find me…

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