But if you have a taste for spontaneity, you’ll love the challenges of child photography. Luckily, many artists have mastered this niche and can inspire you on your journey to child portrait photography. In this article, we have collected 21 of the most influential child photographers across Instagram. Believe us, it’s worth following them!
What is Child Portrait Photography
The niche is self-explanatory. It involves taking portraits of children. However, it is not to be confused with newborn photography. The latter deals with babies a couple of months old. Beyond that age, we call it child photography. There are various approaches that artists take to capture portraits of kids. Many of them go for a smooth, colourful, dreamy style, usually outdoors. It is also popular to take studio photos of children, using props, backdrops, and costumes. Some photographers even take their work to the next level by combining portrait photography with Photoshop art. This makes for unique kid portraits that become precious memories.
Who Are the Most Influential Child Portrait Photographers?
There are far too many to count. So, let’s explore a handful!
Iwona Podlasińska
Iwona started taking photos of her kids in 2014, and she got the hang of it in no time. Her pictures blur the line between dreams and reality by exploring winter wonderlands, outdoor journeys, or interactiom with pets. The images have a warm, intimate atmosphere, mirroring Iwona’s love for children.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Iwona Podlasińska (@iwonapodlasinska)
Paulina Duczman
Paulina is an international multi-award-winning photographer, specialising in fine-art children and family portraiture. She works mostly from her studio. Stylised backdrops and props create refined and sophisticated portraits. Her photos are meticulously composed. They adopt a sombre and cinematic mood akin to traditional film portraits.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Fine Art Photographer (@paulinaduczman)
Jessica Drossin
Jessica is an artist based in Los Angeles. She shines brightest when working outdoors with the children. Her child portraits resemble a fairytale with vivid colours, smooth backgrounds and gorgeous lighting. Jessica’s models wear spectacular dresses and walk through stunning dream-scapes. She also has several photography educational tools available on her website.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jessica Drossin (@jessica_drossin)
Lisset Perrier
If you are looking for heartfelt children portraits, your buck stops here. Lisset’s photos of children and families are straight out of a vintage bedtime-tale. The dresses, editing tools and props capture the old-school vibe and have a sense of timelessness. Lisset does workshops and online courses, passing on her photography and editing tips.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Lisset Perrier Artistry (@lisset.perrier.artistry)
Amina Donskaya
Amina’s work is different from the others on this list, as she takes portraits of adults and kids. Her signature style uses cold colour temperature and tones and often surrounding the models with flowers. She has won several international awards with her art, and she is teaching courses and workshops as well.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Amina Fotografia Fineart (@amina_foto)
Kathrin Belotserkovskaya
Kathrin describes her work as ‘looking for mystery in this ordinary life’. And does this shine through her work! She exudes a more mysterious note than the afore-mentioned artists. She loves playing with different light sources, such as fairy lights, lanterns, or candle. Her child photography style resembles fantastic illustrations.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kathrin Belotserkovskaya (@kateblc)
Anna Gis
Anna has been a child and family photographer for 12 years. Her love for her family and passion for photography led her to plunge deep into this photography niche. Apart from holding exhibitions, she also won photography awards with her work. Her style is best described as playful, often taking note of animals interacting with children.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Gis Anna (@gisanna888)
Liya Milk
Liya’s work stands out in the children photography niche, as she specialises in creating fairytale-esque portraits with rare animals. You can spot deer, alpacas, reindeer, and dinosaurs (thanks to Photoshop and her beautiful mind). She is also known for her photo series revolving around strong themes such as Japan, Harry Potter, a medieval family, or a walk with a llama.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von L I Y A 📷 M I L K (@liya_milka)
Vanessa Rivera
Vanessa’s work embodies magical realism. Inspired by magic and fairytales, her children portraits are more like otherworldly illustrations. Her main inspiration and models are her own children, who are the main subjects in most of her photos.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Vanessa Rivera (@the_life_of_aivax)
Elena Mikhailova
Elena is another artist whose journey in children photography began with her children. Her images are straight out of a fairytale, with the kids drifting aside animals and magical lights. She also has a huge follower base, for whom she holds workshops and classes.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von ЕЛЕНА МИХАЙЛОВА (@lena.photo.ru)
Nina Carlsen
Nina is a Norwegian fine art portrait photographer, taking portraits of children and adults as well. Her work has a vintage vibe, adopting aesthetic styles from the past two centuries. She accentuates this with her models’ choice of clothing, making them appear like wise time-travellers!
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Nina, Norway (@nina_carlsen_photo)
Sasha Chukure Sheppard
Sasha is a creative kid photographer who always finds a way to spice up her portraits. The photos of her children follow some unique concepts. Her boys either play with balloons, go swimming, dress up in a costume, or snuggle their adorable bunny. The love that this family has for each other shine through each of her images.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sasha Chukure Sheppard (@europeanmommyof2)
Suzy Mead
Suzy is an American natural light photographer who takes portraits of children in nature. She has a bright and colourful style, giving the viewer a feeling of peace when looking at her images. She often takes photos of children interacting with nature, such as holding flowers of petting animals.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von suzy mead (@portraitsbysuzy)
Elena Shumilova
Elena is one of the most recognised child portrait photographers out there. She takes family portraits as well, creating a loving atmosphere with her models. She also likes to play with light, adding extra warmth to her images. Her photos have been published in several international magazines and sites, such as SLR Lounge or Digital Photo Magazine.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Elena Shumilova (@elena_shumilova)
Lisa Holloway
Lisa is an international award-winning fine art child and family photographer. She specialises in outdoor portraits and works exclusively with natural light. Her images are dreamy and colourful, capturing the personality of her models. She also hosts video tutorials and editing courses for budding photographers.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von LJHolloway Photography (@ljholloway_photography)
Jackie Jean
Jackie is an American photographer and visual artist. Her children are her muse. She captures children in gorgeous environments. She uses light and vibrant colours to create a magical atmosphere. She travels across the USA, taking photos and holding workshops.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jackie Jean (@jackiejeanphotography)
Jessica Louise
Jessica, like many others on this list, mostly photographs her own daughter. She captures special moments of their everyday life, such as going on road trips, playing in the autumn leaves, or swimming on the beach. Her photos are a celebration of how she and her daughter enjoy life to the fullest.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jessica Louise (@i.am.jess.louise)
Kapuschinsky
Kapuschinsky is an internationally recognised, award-winning fine art photographer. Her work differs from the others listed here as she only takes black and white photos. Her approach to child portraiture focuses on textures, contrast and emotions. This signature style combines the analogue photography approach with modern techniques.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kapuschinsky (@kapuschinsky)
Magdalena Berny
Magdalena has a very distinctive, sophisticated approach to children portraiture. She mostly takes studio portraits and focuses on facial expressions. Many of her images have a minimalistic style. Her portraits are primarily fine art photography with a hint of editorial fashion
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Magdalena Berny (@magdalenaberny)
Kristen Ryan
Kristen’s approach to children photography focuses on details and dynamic moments instead of posed portraits. She often captures movement, creating a strong dynamic tension in her composition. She is a gifted storyteller and freezes memories of great adventures.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kristen Ryan (@kristcx)
Your Kids Smile
Your Kids Smile is a community which features children portrait photographers from all around the world. All you need to do is tag the site or use #yourkidssmile to get noticed. On this page, you can find photos from several artists, with many different styles. Check it out if you are looking for inspiration for your kid portraits!
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Your Kids Smile (@yourkidssmile)
Conclusion
There’s not a dull moment when you’re taking photos of children. You need plenty of practice and experience to capture their true personality and raw emotions. It is important to catch candid moments, as well as to master posed portraits. If you are looking for children portraiture inspiration, check out our list of artists above. Do you agree with our list? Drop us a comment with your favourite child portrait photographer under this post!
title: “21 Influential Child Portrait Photographers To Follow In 2023” ShowToc: true date: “2023-02-08” author: “Willis Richardson”
But if you have a taste for spontaneity, you’ll love the challenges of child photography. Luckily, many artists have mastered this niche and can inspire you on your journey to child portrait photography. In this article, we have collected 21 of the most influential child photographers across Instagram. Believe us, it’s worth following them!
What is Child Portrait Photography
The niche is self-explanatory. It involves taking portraits of children. However, it is not to be confused with newborn photography. The latter deals with babies a couple of months old. Beyond that age, we call it child photography. There are various approaches that artists take to capture portraits of kids. Many of them go for a smooth, colourful, dreamy style, usually outdoors. It is also popular to take studio photos of children, using props, backdrops, and costumes. Some photographers even take their work to the next level by combining portrait photography with Photoshop art. This makes for unique kid portraits that become precious memories.
Who Are the Most Influential Child Portrait Photographers?
There are far too many to count. So, let’s explore a handful!
Iwona Podlasińska
Iwona started taking photos of her kids in 2014, and she got the hang of it in no time. Her pictures blur the line between dreams and reality by exploring winter wonderlands, outdoor journeys, or interactiom with pets. The images have a warm, intimate atmosphere, mirroring Iwona’s love for children.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Iwona Podlasińska (@iwonapodlasinska)
Paulina Duczman
Paulina is an international multi-award-winning photographer, specialising in fine-art children and family portraiture. She works mostly from her studio. Stylised backdrops and props create refined and sophisticated portraits. Her photos are meticulously composed. They adopt a sombre and cinematic mood akin to traditional film portraits.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Fine Art Photographer (@paulinaduczman)
Jessica Drossin
Jessica is an artist based in Los Angeles. She shines brightest when working outdoors with the children. Her child portraits resemble a fairytale with vivid colours, smooth backgrounds and gorgeous lighting. Jessica’s models wear spectacular dresses and walk through stunning dream-scapes. She also has several photography educational tools available on her website.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jessica Drossin (@jessica_drossin)
Lisset Perrier
If you are looking for heartfelt children portraits, your buck stops here. Lisset’s photos of children and families are straight out of a vintage bedtime-tale. The dresses, editing tools and props capture the old-school vibe and have a sense of timelessness. Lisset does workshops and online courses, passing on her photography and editing tips.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Lisset Perrier Artistry (@lisset.perrier.artistry)
Amina Donskaya
Amina’s work is different from the others on this list, as she takes portraits of adults and kids. Her signature style uses cold colour temperature and tones and often surrounding the models with flowers. She has won several international awards with her art, and she is teaching courses and workshops as well.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Amina Fotografia Fineart (@amina_foto)
Kathrin Belotserkovskaya
Kathrin describes her work as ‘looking for mystery in this ordinary life’. And does this shine through her work! She exudes a more mysterious note than the afore-mentioned artists. She loves playing with different light sources, such as fairy lights, lanterns, or candle. Her child photography style resembles fantastic illustrations.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kathrin Belotserkovskaya (@kateblc)
Anna Gis
Anna has been a child and family photographer for 12 years. Her love for her family and passion for photography led her to plunge deep into this photography niche. Apart from holding exhibitions, she also won photography awards with her work. Her style is best described as playful, often taking note of animals interacting with children.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Gis Anna (@gisanna888)
Liya Milk
Liya’s work stands out in the children photography niche, as she specialises in creating fairytale-esque portraits with rare animals. You can spot deer, alpacas, reindeer, and dinosaurs (thanks to Photoshop and her beautiful mind). She is also known for her photo series revolving around strong themes such as Japan, Harry Potter, a medieval family, or a walk with a llama.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von L I Y A 📷 M I L K (@liya_milka)
Vanessa Rivera
Vanessa’s work embodies magical realism. Inspired by magic and fairytales, her children portraits are more like otherworldly illustrations. Her main inspiration and models are her own children, who are the main subjects in most of her photos.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Vanessa Rivera (@the_life_of_aivax)
Elena Mikhailova
Elena is another artist whose journey in children photography began with her children. Her images are straight out of a fairytale, with the kids drifting aside animals and magical lights. She also has a huge follower base, for whom she holds workshops and classes.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von ЕЛЕНА МИХАЙЛОВА (@lena.photo.ru)
Nina Carlsen
Nina is a Norwegian fine art portrait photographer, taking portraits of children and adults as well. Her work has a vintage vibe, adopting aesthetic styles from the past two centuries. She accentuates this with her models’ choice of clothing, making them appear like wise time-travellers!
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Nina, Norway (@nina_carlsen_photo)
Sasha Chukure Sheppard
Sasha is a creative kid photographer who always finds a way to spice up her portraits. The photos of her children follow some unique concepts. Her boys either play with balloons, go swimming, dress up in a costume, or snuggle their adorable bunny. The love that this family has for each other shine through each of her images.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sasha Chukure Sheppard (@europeanmommyof2)
Suzy Mead
Suzy is an American natural light photographer who takes portraits of children in nature. She has a bright and colourful style, giving the viewer a feeling of peace when looking at her images. She often takes photos of children interacting with nature, such as holding flowers of petting animals.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von suzy mead (@portraitsbysuzy)
Elena Shumilova
Elena is one of the most recognised child portrait photographers out there. She takes family portraits as well, creating a loving atmosphere with her models. She also likes to play with light, adding extra warmth to her images. Her photos have been published in several international magazines and sites, such as SLR Lounge or Digital Photo Magazine.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Elena Shumilova (@elena_shumilova)
Lisa Holloway
Lisa is an international award-winning fine art child and family photographer. She specialises in outdoor portraits and works exclusively with natural light. Her images are dreamy and colourful, capturing the personality of her models. She also hosts video tutorials and editing courses for budding photographers.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von LJHolloway Photography (@ljholloway_photography)
Jackie Jean
Jackie is an American photographer and visual artist. Her children are her muse. She captures children in gorgeous environments. She uses light and vibrant colours to create a magical atmosphere. She travels across the USA, taking photos and holding workshops.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jackie Jean (@jackiejeanphotography)
Jessica Louise
Jessica, like many others on this list, mostly photographs her own daughter. She captures special moments of their everyday life, such as going on road trips, playing in the autumn leaves, or swimming on the beach. Her photos are a celebration of how she and her daughter enjoy life to the fullest.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Jessica Louise (@i.am.jess.louise)
Kapuschinsky
Kapuschinsky is an internationally recognised, award-winning fine art photographer. Her work differs from the others listed here as she only takes black and white photos. Her approach to child portraiture focuses on textures, contrast and emotions. This signature style combines the analogue photography approach with modern techniques.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kapuschinsky (@kapuschinsky)
Magdalena Berny
Magdalena has a very distinctive, sophisticated approach to children portraiture. She mostly takes studio portraits and focuses on facial expressions. Many of her images have a minimalistic style. Her portraits are primarily fine art photography with a hint of editorial fashion
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Magdalena Berny (@magdalenaberny)
Kristen Ryan
Kristen’s approach to children photography focuses on details and dynamic moments instead of posed portraits. She often captures movement, creating a strong dynamic tension in her composition. She is a gifted storyteller and freezes memories of great adventures.
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Kristen Ryan (@kristcx)
Your Kids Smile
Your Kids Smile is a community which features children portrait photographers from all around the world. All you need to do is tag the site or use #yourkidssmile to get noticed. On this page, you can find photos from several artists, with many different styles. Check it out if you are looking for inspiration for your kid portraits!
Ein Beitrag geteilt von Your Kids Smile (@yourkidssmile)
Conclusion
There’s not a dull moment when you’re taking photos of children. You need plenty of practice and experience to capture their true personality and raw emotions. It is important to catch candid moments, as well as to master posed portraits. If you are looking for children portraiture inspiration, check out our list of artists above. Do you agree with our list? Drop us a comment with your favourite child portrait photographer under this post!
