Updated October 13, 2026
If you’re taking a photo of a little kid, you’d better be looking up at them or at least getting on their level. Photographing from adult height makes children look small. From their height, they look as big as they feel. I’m Katie Donnelly, a Paris family photographer, and this one change in perspective will improve your photos of kids today.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
Kids Are Fearless Tiny People Who Think They’re Giants
When my nephew was around 6 months old I was hanging out with him and my brother and I had a sudden realization:
Babies are like drunk, little people.
Reason?
No fear and serious balance issues.
Seriously, they climb EVERYTHING, teeter totter around while nearly missing hitting their heads into everything, and try to put everything in their mouth. Even pebbles. Because they have no fear they don’t realize that trying to drink soap is probably not good for their health.
As my nephew grew, fear still has not deterred him from doing anything. He doesn’t care about scraped knees, he’s going to run and jump off the patio as many stinking times as he wants! Try and breakdance on concrete? Why not!? Who cares that he’s bruised when he falls or bangs his elbow?
When he’s playing super heroes he thinks he is a super hero. Seriously, he’s from Brooklyn and Captain American is from Brooklyn thus Little T = Captain America.
He’s going to save the world.
Seriously though, he will. I hope he never looses that feeling that he’s bigger than his body, I hope his fears never EVER stop him from choosing what’s right over what’s easy.
Right now, at four, this fearless giant in a little kid body is who he is and this is how he feels. So the only thing left to do is document that.
Show That Your Child Is Bigger Than Their Body
YOU need to SHOW that your child is bigger than their body.
If you’re taking a photo of a little kid, you’d better be looking up at them or at least getting on their level. You need to show the world how THEY see themselves, not how you see them from your grown up perspective.
Get Down on Their Level: Two Examples
Example of little S looking big at her level:
Example of little S looking small from my perspective:
- Kneel, sit or lie on the ground so your camera is at their eye height.
- Try looking up at them for a superhero photo.
- Then stand up and take one from above too. Compare the two, and you will see it straight away.
This lesson is part of The Authentic Portrait: A Parent’s Guide to Documenting Childhood, my photography guide for parents who want to learn the basics and take better photos of their kids, without spending hours and hours taking classes. I am working on a new edition of the guide. Until it is ready, you can read every lesson in The Authentic Portrait series.
Next lessons: my tips for photographing kids, how to get kids to sit still and smile, and 3 tips for capturing motion.
Always the one behind the camera?
Hand it over for a morning. Our English-speaking team photographs families in Paris, so you are in the photos too. Sessions start at €150, and you see your photos the same day in our Saint-Germain studio.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
Questions About Photographing Kids
From their eye level, or looking slightly up at them. Getting down on their level shows the world how they see themselves.
Because you are photographing from your grown-up height, looking down. Kneel or sit so the camera is at their height.
Photograph from below their eye level, looking up. It makes them look as big as they feel.
About the author
Katie Donnelly, Paris Photographer
Katie Donnelly is an American photographer who opened her Paris studio in 2013 and was voted Best Portrait Photographer in Paris in 2017. She and her English-speaking team photograph families, couples and solo travelers at sunrise, so visitors go home with relaxed, real portraits instead of rushed selfies. Meet Katie and the team.
Ready to Book Your Paris Photoshoot?
You take the everyday photos. Let us take the ones with you in them.
- When: Mornings, just after sunrise, when the city is quiet
- Who: Families, couples, engagements and proposals, and solo travelers, with an English-speaking team
- Your photos: Viewed the same day at our studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Session fee: From €150. Inquire for our full price list.
Tell us your dates and we will help you plan the rest.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
