The parents aren’t alright: How to photograph your kids during a pandemic

I have four kids, including an 11-month-old baby, twin four-year-olds and a six-year-old. And, while I consider myself lucky that I don’t have to worry about remote learning during this pandemic, preschool is also closed. So, for me, there’s no escape, no alone time. None.

“Staying home” has been bittersweet. At times it feels like too much. Other times, my eyes are open to how much my children are growing and changing. There are decent days and there are really bad days where the tantrums and crying all fold into one giant explosion.

As a creative, I feel an overwhelming need to document what inspires me. During this season of pandemic living, there have been an abundance of opportunities to just sit, watch, and click. Whenever I feel the mood strike or see an opportunity, I grab my camera. Sometimes this happens several times a day, sometimes I go weeks without taking pictures. And that’s OK.

But, it is good to have an outlet, especially now. So, if you feel like there’s nothing left inside your home to photograph, here are a few ideas to help inspire your creativity.

1. See colors in a new way.

As photographers, we learn to look for a complementary colors and patterns. I’m used to doing this for clients when helping them coordinate outfits or finding wraps and tiebacks for newborn sessions. But I’m not as accustomed to spotting color patterns when taking everyday pictures of my kids at home, where things are a lot more chaotic and “in the moment.” However, I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to find complementary patterns, shapes, and colors in my documentary photos as well.

And, in a home where my kids wear a striped shirt with unicorn pants, I call this a win. I don’t force it, I’m just now aware of colors working together and I document it when the mood strikes.

For example, this summer one of my girls was wearing a pink dress and laying in an empty blue baby pool. It just so happened that there were two toys around her that were also blue and pink. So, I grabbed a chair, stood above her, and got the shot. It’s one of my favorites because of how well everything fell into place, quite by accident. It felt like a little creative light in an emotionally dark summer were so many kid-related activities were shut down.

If you’re in a place where a certain color or colors are calling out to you, try to work with them and develop it. Look at the colors in rugs, pieces of art, blankets, or nature.

2. Try a new photography technique.

I once saw a copper pipe being used for wedding sparkler exit shots, so I grabbed one myself at a local hardware store, and I think it’s the coolest thing ever. You can use it in any situation, but it really gives that gold pop when it hits direct sunlight.

I’ve also found that it picks up vibrant colors in direct light. This incorporates colors other than the copper from the pipe itself. It takes some experimentation with hand placement so your hand isn’t in the shot, but it adds a whole new dimension and interest that really captures the viewer’s eye. Plus, the copper pipe only costs a few bucks!

Here’s a great tutorial on how to create a “ring of fire” in your photos using a copper pipe.

3. Use household objects creatively.

Do you ever find your kids playing with things in your home that aren’t meant to be toys? Yeah, me neither. But all jokes aside, I noticed one of my daughters grab a hand strainer from the kitchen and use it as a hat and a mask. When put in front of her face, it gave a really neat effect and created a dramatic image.

She happened to be playing in our front room where the sun shines into our home full force in the morning. I grabbed my copper pipe and faced her slightly toward the window. The copper pipe reflected off the blue and pink from her shirt, which made the image much more interesting and vibrant.

There are a ton of household objects that you can hold in front of your lens or hand your kids to play with for a new look. Think of things like eyeglasses, a clear cup, tights, cheesecloth, or fabric from a curtain or tablecloth.

4. Take a selfie.

We spend so much time documenting our kids and their journeys that we forget about documenting ourselves and our feelings. To be able to set ourselves up for a little photo shoot — with or without our kids — is incredibly therapeutic.

I am speaking personally here, but the immense anger, frustration, fear, and uncertainty that I’ve been carrying around feels so heavy. Although I could document that, I’ve chosen to focus my self-portraits on calm, stillness, and love. It reminds me that I am still here, and that my kids are going to be OK. That we can have fun and that I’m doing my best.

I grabbed my eldest for this self-portrait session. I’ll admit she was supposed to be on a zoom lesson, but we needed this instead. We cuddled in sweats, we laid together in fancy dresses (with sweats underneath), and we jumped on the bed… in sweats. It was such a fun bonding experience that helped ground me. So however you want to express yourself in these images, do it.

5. Photograph the unremarkable.

The note I want to end on is to document the moments that don’t seem “Instagram worthy.” Some of my favorite shots of my family this past year have been pretty unremarkable. But when I look at them, I know that had I not taken these images, I would’ve forgotten they happened.

Sometimes the inspiration is lacking, or you’re sick of your own four walls. In this world of mess it feels as if we are just coping and getting by. We’re not necessarily enjoying ourselves, and in fact, we’d rather forget all this ever happened and get back to normal. But these are your memories and your children’s. You are an artist as are they. Kids are funny without trying, and they wear their hearts on their sleeves. Take advantage!

So even if your kids are just eating breakfast or pushing their Little Tikes car up the street for the millionth time, document it. Because there’s gold in there, and continuing to find creativity in this mess keeps our minds sharp and sane. We are storytellers not just for our children, but for ourselves.

In a tornado of remote learning, meal prep, cleaning, and managing the household, there’s a good chance I won’t actually put any of these photos on my computer for quite some time. But when I have time to myself, I look forward to pulling them up and editing, and this anticipation gives me a little mental health boost. These are a few things I’ve learned in this year of documenting my own family, and I’m hoping to inspire other parents who need a creative outlet and new perspective.

Photos by Mia Gorrell

More creative photography techniques to get you through.

Create striking ring of fire photos in 3 super simple steps

7 Ways manual focus can improve your photography

How photographing movement can completely change the mood of your images

Here’s why a smartphone 365 project is the perfect way to document everyday life

A creative approach to 30 days of family documentary photography during COVID-19