Photographing kids can be a very delightful business to be in. From birth all the way to young grown person, parents and relatives want to be able to have a visual record of their baby girl or son growing up. In most cases parents bring in children mostly for special occasions and other reasons to commemorate. Normally they have pictures taken fairly often when they are babies and every year or two after that. For some this pattern extends to 18 and occasionally even 21. Don't forget the holidays such as Christmas or Easter. All these photograph opportunities can add up to a nice residual income, particularly if a photographer gets lots of clientele. Using a green screen can help you get those customers.
by DougTaylor


Photographing kids can be a very satisfactory business to be in. From birth all the way to young grown person, parents and family want to be able to have a visual record of their baby girl or boy growing up. In the majority cases parents bring in children mostly for out of the ordinary occasions and other reasons to celebrate. Normally they have pictures taken quite often when they are babies and every year or two after that. This can go on until the children become grown ups. Don't disregard the holidays such as Christmas or Easter. All these photograph opportunities can add up to a nice residual income, particularly if a photographer gets lots of consumers. Using a green screen can help you attain those patrons.

But wouldn't it be nice if there was a approach to step up the amount of sales, particularly during the early infancy years where the child's moms and dads may not normally bring them in for their portraits? Inside of this piece of writing you will find not one, not two, but three fantastic ways you can take home extra money by using a green screen with the same clients - and it will not cost you much at all to apply them all.

Try using the age old question all children hear all the time: "What would you like to be when you grow up"? This question routinely leads to the normal answers of doctor, firefighter, policeman, astronaut, and cowboy or cowgirl.

Here is a rapid way to do this. First, to make sure you don't have to generate elaborate sets or print up some location backdrops, set up a green screen that you will take the child's photo in front of. The next thing you need to do is have the child dress up in that cowboy suit or a police uniform- If possible have some common items on hand such as fire hats or a doctors mask. Take the photograph then use simple chroma key software to put them in the proper background.

An additional way to utilize a green screen and offer an additional unique portrait opportunity is what I like to call the "show off" tactic. This idea calls for the parent to bring in something the child has accomplished that they are quite proud of. Then, take the child's portrait as if they're standing proudly next to their own exhibit. In the green screen software place them leaning over a baseball or football (or any other sports item that fits).

Last but not least do not forget to utilize themes to your advantage. For instance, find out what the child's favorite book is that they read and appreciated. Do some exploration and figure out a way to place them inside the books settings. If the book is something like one of the action books try placing them in the jungle or in the middle of a cattle farm. For "Harry Potter" use old English streets, or pictures of the interior of ancient college hallways. If you put your brainpower to work and make use of your thoughts you will find there is no limit in the places you can position your clients when you are using a green screen.

About the Author: