Introduction to Child Photography
A course by Leila Méndez, Photographer

Learn to lead a kid’s photo shoot: prepare, direct, edit and present the final results
The productions and shootings with children involve a different direction and management with respect to the sessions with adults. Turning the session into a game and making the plan fun will create a fantastic dynamic where you can breathe naturally and where everything flows. This is just one of the many things that Leila Méndez has been learning in her long career directing and photographing shootings children. He has worked in publications such as El País Semanal, AD, The Guardian, and has collaborated with clients such as Uniqlo, Warner, Desigual and Adidas.
In this course, Leila will teach you the keys to conducting a shooting with children. From the preproduction and the direction of models, to the edition and presentation of the material. At the end of the course you will have the necessary knowledge to face a professional children's photography shooting, ready to be published.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 15 downloads
What's included in this course?
Leila will begin by telling you about her beginnings in the world of photography and, more specifically, in children's photography. He will tell you about his career and his work in campaigns and prominent publications. Then he will show you some of his influences.
You will make an introduction to the fundamentals of children's photography, seeing different examples and discovering that it is a field with infinite possibilities, and that encompasses two broad categories: fashion and advertising; in both, the theme lifestyle is king.
You will see what an assignment consists of, whether from a brand, an agency or a publication, and the role of the art director in this process. In your session the art director and the photographer will be you, you will create your idea and visual universe. You will learn to create a concept and see how to land it visually, helping you with a mood board with visual references; It is essential to communicate how you imagine it.
You will discover which people are essential in the staff (stylist, hairdresser, assistant, set designer ...) to carry out the shooting seeing the role they occupy and, also, You will learn to negotiate budgets for collaborations. You will decide if your session is in a location or set. Leila will explain how to find a space that works photographically, optimizing its possibilities. It will also give you some tips to get ideas and tell you about the types of languages at the time of telling a story.
Next, you will find out how to make a casting and how to define the profiles. You will see your options and learn to write your requirements for a casting agency, in case you don't do it personally. You will take note of legal documents to work with children. You will review materials and technical equipment necessary for the session, such as specific lenses and lighting for a children's session.
Leila will give you many tips to work with children, turn the session into a game and give you the three basic keys to directing them. It will also teach you to manage time well, since you do not lack essential things for your well-being. He will talk to you about the acting of the models, how to strengthen and control their attitudes and dynamics.
You will select the best images based on what you want to enhance and thinking about the set. There, you will think about order and how to group them to get your narrative. You will edit the photos making very simple touches to avoid losing naturalness and freshness. Leila will address three important points: skin, color and visual cleansing. Finally, you will see your dissemination options to show the final material: editorial, portfolio, book, and some final tips to achieve your goal.
- 100% positive reviews (51)
- 1,087 students
- 17 lessons (2h 48m)
- 15 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
You will do a shooting of professional children's photography ready to be published, which you can do with the knowledge learned during the course.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
To amateur and professional photographers, who have the restlessness and desire to work with children.
Requirements and materials
To take this course you must have basic knowledge of photography and basic notions of Adobe Photoshop for the final retouching of your images.
Of materials, you will need a SLR camera and flashes if you do your session in a studio, and a computer with Adobe Photoshop installed.

Reviews

Leila Méndez
A course by Leila Méndez
Leila is a photographer specialized in portraiture and with a special predilection for working with children. Leila is from Barcelona, and after more than 20 years working in the publishing and advertising world, she discovered that what interests her most about photography is the contact with people and learning from others through the camera. Believe strongly in the power of children to communicate and tell stories. That's why he tries to turn his sessions into something special and magical, through color, props or clothes.
His work has been exhibited in festivals and exhibitions in many cities, such as La Caixa Foundation, Iguapop Hall, Fnac or FashionWeek Barcelona, among others. In addition, he has worked for The Observer (The Guardian), Vogue Spain, Architectural Digest (AD) or El País Semanal (El País), and has done advertising campaigns for Uniqlo, Fly Emirates, Diesel, Adidas, Vodafone, Virgin, IKEA, Desigual, El Corte Inglés and Carolina Herrera.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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What will we do in the course
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U2
First steps: photography of children
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Introduction photography of children
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The order
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The creation of a Moodboard
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U3
Preproduction
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Who are part of the team?
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Location
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Casting
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U4
Shooting
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materials
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illumination
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Work with children
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Model Address
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U5
Postproduction
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Image selection
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Retouching and color adjustment
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Last details
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How to present the material
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FP
Final project
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Introduction to professional photography with children
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
You will learn techniques for photographing children both outdoors and in the studio, directing child models, creative lighting, pre-production, casting, session production, post-production, and how to develop advertising and editorial campaigns in children's photography.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those who already have basic photography knowledge and want to deepen their skills in child portraiture, directing, and professional session production.
You'll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera, portrait lenses, an external flash, reflectors, a computer with editing software like Photoshop, and internet access to follow the course content.
You'll learn how to blend natural light with front flash, use mobile lighting setups, and tricks to achieve vibrant colors and authentic portraits in outdoor settings.
Yes, the course covers essential legal topics such as permissions, image rights, and procedures for children's casting in photo productions.
Yes, the course teaches directing techniques, managing emotional dynamics, and strategies to capture natural, spontaneous expressions from children.
Yes, the course includes producing advertising campaigns, editorial portraits for magazines, and children's fashion photography, covering styling, moodboards, and art direction.


muy ameno y da para muchas ideaas, muy bien explicado, lo recomiendo.
Me ha gustado mucho este curso. Se me ha hecho muy ameno y he sacado muchas ideas y recursos. Las influencias también son muy interesantes
La profesora es un encanto y hace que el curso sea ameno y divertido. Haré más cursos con ella seguro!
pluto chouette et plein de bonnes idées mais trop professionnel pour moi
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