Taking Great Birthday Party Pictures

Your child gets ready to blow out the candles on their birthday cake (the cake you spent so much time making), you pick up your camera to capture this very important moment in your child's life and...

You're out of film, you've run out of Smart Media cards for your digital camera or you're out of tape for your video camera, or you're out of batteries! Sound familiar?

While everyone waits, the candles on your wonderful kid birthday cake are now melting away, and your child and all their guests are getting impatient.

Film cameras, digital cameras and video cameras are now fairly common in more and more homes.

But most of the time, our cameras sit forgotten on a shelf in a dusty closet... Then, at the last minute we say "now where did I put the camera?"

So do yourself, your family and your child a big favor...

Several days before your kid birthday party, find your camera or cameras and get them ready to capture all the very special moments of your child's birthday party.

Pick up plenty of batteries (make sure they're the right ones)

Charge up your video camera batteries

Pick up plenty of film

Pick up Smart Media cards for your digital camera

Pick up plenty of blank videotape

Make sure your cameras are working

You absolutely don't want to leave these preparations until the last minute...

If you do, it's very likely you'll run out of time and won't be able to stop for batteries or film or videotape.

How To Take Great Pictures Of Your Child Birthday Party

*A Tip From Grandpa Mike

I spent a lot of years as a professional videographer,(I even won a regional Emmy) so when it comes to taking pictures and shooting video, I know what I'm talking about.

First of all, if you don't have time to take pictures yourself, make sure you ask (someone you can trust) to be your "official" photographer and or videographer...

Don't pose all your pictures... Literally "capture" some of the action of the kid activities you've planned... Take pictures of your guests as they arrive (especially if it's a costume party).

Take pictures of your child and their guests playing birthday party games, doing crafts, playing with balloons and anything else they do...

After a while, your guests will forget about the cameras and you'll be able to capture some excellent candid shots.

Don't pose your subjects in front of any windows. The outside sunlight will cause your subjects faces to be much too dark, even if you use a flash.

And remember, you can give some of your guests disposable cameras so you'll be sure to get some "kid's point of view" shots.

Polaroid cameras are also great because everyone can see polaroid pictures soon after you've taken them and you can even let your guests take their picture home as a party favor.

So remember

Get all your cameras ready well in advance so that when your birthday child gets ready to blow out the candles on that very special cake, you'll be more than ready to capture the moment on film or video.

Who knows, that shot could turn out to be a wonderful family heirloom!

For more great information and tips to help you put together a fun kid birthday party, visit us at Fun-Kid-Birthday-Parties.com