The Toughest Subject

People often assume that, because I’m a photographer, that my kids must be perfect little models for daddy’s camera. They envision my boys striking poses and flashing smiles. I wish they were right.

In truth, most photographers (who are being honest) will tell you the hardest people they ever photograph are their kids. It makes some sense. Daddy is always chasing them with that camera, they’re sick of it. Based on completely unscientific research, I’ve found that most parents have the same experience too. I’m here to try to help.

First, don’t try to pose. Kid’s don’t want to stop and pose. And, even if you get them to pose, you’ll probably get that goofy, canned smile they’ve learned from adults yelling “CHEEEEESE”.

Instead of a pose, try catching them doing something fun. The shot of my son here with his balloon is one of my favorites of him. He had a balloon that he was completely taken with. I just popped off pictures while he played. If they’re not playing, give them something to play with. Small stuff is best since it won’t be obtrusive in the shot.

Finally, please don’t say cheese. Kids know that just means to put on the biggest, most unnatural smiles they can muster. Instead use silly words or phrases that will elicit an involuntary and natural smile. Words like “candy” will get a natural smile for a second but phrases like “daddy’s wearing baby pants” or “mommy has puppy breath” will get honest to goodness laughter that you can catch for a couple of shots. Now, its up to you to find a phrase that won’t haunt you in the minivan but you get the idea.

So grab the camera, chase the kids, and try some new tricks to make great snap shots!

Planning for Baby

Recently a mom-to-be mentioned that she wanted to talk about having me photograph her baby when she arrived. Like a lot of expectant mothers, she figured that talking about the photos could wait until after the baby was born. While we certainly have to wait until the baby is born to photograph her, if you wait until you bring her home to think about portraits you’re likely to get portraits of a 3 month old instead of a newborn!

So why the advanced planning? There are a few reasons that it pays to start thinking about a portraits session before your baby arrives.

Things Get Busy

Once the baby arrives your life gets turned upside down. There are lots of visitors and well wishers and a whirlwind of activity to get you and your new one home. Once you’re home its time to settle into your routine as new parents (or busier parents!) and there’s plenty to do. Photography falls well behind feedings, burpings, diaper changes, and sleep (if you can find that). Even though it may not seem like it, you’ve got a lot more time in the month before baby gets here to plan for your portraits.

Babies Grow Quick

We all know this one, right? Everyone tells you to “treasure this time” and “enjoy it while it lasts” because it “all goes so quick”. All very true but never more true than in the first few weeks of life. The best time for portraits of newborns is in the first 2 weeks. Its at this time that they are the most complacent (usually) and spend most of the day asleep. Its a great time to get some great peaceful shots of them.

Decisions Take Time

A custom portrait session is not a drive through item for most folks. Its something that takes a little planning an a little discussion. You’ll have questions about the session and about what to expect. You’ll want to talk with your spouse about what you want out of the session and exactly how many prints the grandmas get.

So when should you start talking about your newborn session? The easy answer is: as soon as you think about it! In reality, about a month or so before your due date is a great time. It will give you an opportunity to talk about your session and plan for what you’d like. We can plan a window for your dates and you can begin to think about what type of package will fit your needs. Remember, this isn’t about committing, its about having a plan!

Pic’ or Treat!

With Halloween only a few weeks away and the Halloween party season in full swing, it’s time to start snapping some shots of your little ones in the cutest costumes ever. If you’re like most folks, taking Halloween shots can be intimidating. Low light, fidgety kids, and costumes can pose a challenge that might scare the camera out of your hands! Here’s a few ideas for taking some great Halloween shots

1. Don’t Wait. Kids are usually willing to put on their costumes at the drop of a hat. My son has been wearing a Spiderman costume almost everyday for two weeks now. Take advantage of that and get some shots early. Without the stress of trick or treating, organizing, and finding gloves, you’ll find it much easier (on all of you) to have fun with the photos. At the very least, plan on taking shots well before you leave the house on candy patrol!

2. Set The Mood. You’ve gone through the effort of getting the perfect costume but you’re going to settle for a picture of it in the kitchen? Try to match the setting to the costume. Got a little cowboy? Try a shot on the lawn or against the wood wall of the shed. Astronaut? How about a shot with nothing but sky in the background? (get low and shoot up) Setting the right mood for the shot makes a world of difference.

3. Play With The Light. Don’t be scared of the dark. Shut your flash off and play. A flashlight under the chin or from the side of the face makes for very dramatic and spooky light. A twirling trick or treater with a glow stick will also make a neat light trail. Have fun and experiment.

4. Change Your Point of View. So often we take photos of our kids from the same place. Standing at our height and shooting down. Point of view makes a big difference. Got a Superman on your hands? Stand him on the patio table, crouch down, and shoot up at him. The low closeup will make you little guy look huge and powerful! Got a little ladybug? Get up high on a chair and shoot down with lots of space around her. This view will make her look small and delicate in a big world. Point of view means a lot but we often don’t think of it.

5. Have Fun! Your kids want nothing but fun on Halloween. Posing for pictures is boring. But, if you ask Superman to bend a steel bar (foam tube from the hardware store) or Buzz Lightyear to talk on his wrist radio, you’ve made it a fun game. Give you kids a reason to get into character and they’ll give you all the shots you could want!

Naturally, you can get good photos without following all or any of these but hopefully, some of these tips will help you take your best Halloween photos ever!