Halloween kids

[Kris V]

Every Halloween we organize a "Trick or Treat" in the park of our subdivision. I usually take pictures for posting on their website.
The main problem I have with this: The parents see a camera and make their child do the "say cheese" bit.
The candids I got are OK, but the posed pictures are just that - stiff and unnatural.
I usually set my camera on "Auto" for this event, since I have very little time to mess with settings. We start at 6PM and it gets dark pretty quick, so the light changes constantly, and the kids turn around at the wrong time.
This year, I took about 400+ pictures, with about 60 that can be used for their website.
One of the kids cooperated beautifully for an experiment with lightpainting - 1.5 sconds - handheld.
Here are my favorites:
Little butterfly


Vampire girl - these teeth were actually very creepy "glow in the dark".


Experiment with Light Painting

[PS Deepak]

Light painting is amazing

[Donald]

That is a really charming image.

[AB26]

Hi Kris,
Seems to me you need to shoot this event in a photo journalistic style with a long lens and good flash, avoiding those posed "say, cheese" shots.
Love the little butterfly.

[Kris V]

Hi Kris,
Seems to me you need to shoot this event in a photo journalistic style with a long lens and good flash, avoiding those posed "say, cheese" shots.
Love the little butterfly.

Andre, I'll keep that in mind for next year.
Parents are the main problem, especially when they see a camera that's more than a P&S or a cellphone. The kids really don't care, they just want their candy!