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How to Photograph Kids Mid-Egg-Hunt, Unscripted Interactions

Easter is a great time to capture natural interactions and expressions as kids partake in all sort of Easter activities. From Easter egg hunts to helping grandma in the kitchen, this is a wonderful time to capture their experience and maybe even put a book together when you’re done.

First, you need to put yourself at the level of a child. For kids especially, kneel or even lie down to shoot at their eye level. It makes your photos more personal, intimate, and lets you capture their excitement face-to-face, rather than looking down from above.

Anticipate the Action. Egg hunts and family gatherings have predictable beats:

  • Kids spotting an egg
  • Racing toward it
  • Dropping it in a basket
  • Showing it off

Position yourself where you can see these moments about to happen — near a cluster of eggs or where light falls nicely through trees. Pre-focus if you can, and shoot in bursts to catch the perfect expression.

Use a Fast Shutter Speed. Kids move fast. To freeze the action:

  • Shutter speed: 1/500 sec or faster
  • Aperture: f/2.8–f/4 for nice background blur
  • ISO: Bump it up if needed, especially in shade or early morning light

Focus on Candid Connections. At family gatherings, avoid calling attention to yourself. Use a longer lens (like 85mm or 135mm) to give people space, or quietly move around with a 35mm or 50mm for closer, immersive shots.
Look for:

  • Laughs between relatives
  • A grandparent and child sharing a moment
  • Unscripted reactions to surprises or conversations

Shoot through foreground elements like branches, decorations, or doorways to frame scenes naturally. Play with Light and Color. Springtime has beautiful, soft natural light:

  • Backlight the kids in late afternoon for a glow around their hair
  • Capture reflections in puddles or shiny eggs
  • Use pastel backgrounds (baskets, flowers) for soft, Easter-themed color palettes

Embrace Imperfection. The best photos aren’t always perfectly composed — it’s about feeling. Motion blur, slightly off-center framing, or unexpected photobombs can tell a better story than posed pictures. Capture the chaos and joy as it is.

Tell a Visual Story. Think in sequences:

  • The anticipation (kids lining up or peeking behind bushes)
  • The action (grabbing eggs)
  • The aftermath (comparing baskets, sitting in the grass)

This makes for a lovely photo essay or album later. Make this a great and memorable Easter with beautiful images to enjoy years from now too.

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