Speedliter's Blog

Fall Family Photo Shoot Midday Sun and Active 1 Year Old

· Updated

Here’s how I used my Canon 6D and 600EX-RT to shoot family portraits under the midday sun using shade, sun, strobe in different ways.

At Forest Park where we captured engagement photos 3 years earlier, I met my clients to capture winter family photos with their now 1 year old daughter, Reagan.

How to family photo shoot on a sunny day pin: parents walking with their toddler

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With younger kids, I start slow to get them comfortable around me and the camera and strobes. We mix it up between candid and posed photos taking cues from the kids to determine when we can get the best reaction or mood.

Here I’m interacting with Reagan while her parents hold back. Reagan was interested in the camera and responsive to me, so we were able to get some fun shots of her. I use my Canon 6D and Yongnuo radio trigger to control my 600EX-RT shooting through an umbrella to light up Reagan’s face and offset the harsh midday sun.

Toddler in a red plaid shirt with her parents blurred behind her

GEAR: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8, Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Radio Trigger, Canon 600EX-RT, Manfrotto 1004BAC light stand, 43” white shoot through umbrella

SETTINGS: 1/160 sec at f/5.0, ISO 160 112mm

Lighting diagram: family in midday sun with a speedlite in a large umbrella for fill

Reagan DID NOT want to sit still, but we still got a few quick posed family shots… for posterity.

Family in matching red plaid sitting on a bench outdoors in fall

GEAR: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8, Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Radio Trigger, Canon 600EX-RT, Manfrotto 1004BAC light stand, 43” white shoot through umbrella

SETTINGS: 1/180 sec at f/6.3, ISO 160 70mm

Lighting diagram: family 10 feet from the camera with an umbrella-mounted speedlite as fill in midday sun

Walking photos are an easy way to keep young kids engaged and get a photo of them with their parents. Black and White or Sepia photos always look good. Lightroom presets are a great way to quickly test out different adjustments for your photos. They also save a lot of editing time. I started with a free preset kit from Sleeklens that I use a lot.

Black-and-white photo of parents walking hand in hand with their toddler in a park

Gear: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8

SETTINGS: 1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200 76mm

Reagan did not want to slow down, so we made the best of it and got some action shots. I am a big fan of always adding some fill light. I want to deliver well lit photos. Here I am using the built in white reflector on the Canon 600EX-RT to throw some light on my subjects. It doesn’t seem like much, but it does the job.

Family in red plaid playing on the grass beside a pond in fall

GEAR: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8, Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Radio Trigger, Canon 600EX-RT using built in bounce flash

SETTINGS: 1/320 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200 70mm

Lighting diagram: on-camera speedlite bounced up with a white flag for fill in midday sun

We did some fun photos in between, and finish with some more portraits of Reagan on an old wooden chair I brought. I’m using my radio trigger setup again with the shoot through white umbrella.

Black-and-white photo of a toddler in plaid sitting on an old wooden chair outdoors

GEAR: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8, Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Radio Trigger, Canon 600EX-RT, Manfrotto 1004BAC light stand, 43” white shoot through umbrella

SETTINGS: 1/320 sec at f/5.6, ISO 320 119mm

Toddler in a Santa hat and red plaid dress standing in fall leaves

GEAR: Canon 6D, Sigma 70-200 2.8, Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Radio Trigger, Canon 600EX-RT, Manfrotto 1004BAC light stand, 43” white shoot through umbrella

SETTINGS: 1/400 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200 70mm

Lighting diagram: toddler 6 to 7 feet from the camera lit by a speedlite in a large umbrella

Let me know if this post helped with your photography skills. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below!