Photographers can get pretty secretive when it comes to "LOCATION" spots for their photography sessions.  I can understand this because who really wants to go to a crowded location and have to "wait your turn" to use a bridge or what have you...Others just don't want to tell you because they want to offer exclusivity and I understand that too, because if you live in the city and you've found a "country" spot all to yourself, why would you want to spread the word??

Then there are those crazy photographers like me that will go out with her best friend, who also happens to be a photographer, and show her ALL her spots and giggle the entire time and perhaps even "strike a pose" in the middle of it along the way...

but, I digress...

So, what does one look for in a 'setting' when you are taking photos...

Obviously when you are talking about "real sessions" you have to think about proximity and how far you want to drive, or if you are dealing with little kiddos with short legs & how much walking, etc etc...you also have to determine time of day and weather...

However, for today's {Teach It Tuesday} post, I want to just cover some basic things to look for when even just photographing your own kiddos...off the cuff...

1. Look for LIGHT...look for SHADE...find the natural REFLECTORS

Be aware of the light all around you...make a point to check the time of day and where the sun is headed.  Think about backlighting, open spaces...watch for how the sun filters through the trees or how it reflects off of a pond or lighter surfaces.

2. Look for TEXTURES

3. FRAMING...natural & architectural elements

This means looking for lines and repetition in your setting...Sometimes it means using trees to make a "frame" around your subjects...sometimes it means showing depth by blurring the repeating "lines" or to show distance and movement...Think of putting your subjects in the "negative" spaces to "frame" them in...




All the example photos that I chose to share came from the same location (just with different families) I love this place because of the 4 Components that I mentioned...it offers a lot of variety and yet, it keeps things basic and easy to follow with my composition set ups...and yet, there is still more to explore and different angles from which to shoot...

As always, just keep practicing!!!

Getting sharp images can be frustrating sometimes...I get it...if it's not running kiddos or low light, then it's someone bumping you or sneezing in the middle of the madness!

If you've been at this long enough too, you know that it DOES take some practice too...it takes some "revamping" of your mindset and forcing yourself to do things in the moment that don't come naturally (UNTIL you've practiced awhile)

With that said, here are some practical tips that will perhaps get you on the right track!

1. You gotta have a GOOD lens (preferably a PRIME). I hate to tell ya, but, kit lenses and the regular zooms that came with your camera are just not made to be as tack sharp as other lenses.  At the same time, if you don't know HOW to use a prime lens, you'll still get blurry pictures...(this is where a Snapshop comes in handy to learn the basics of camera functions and how it pertains to lens usage)

2. Do NOT go below 1/250 on your shutterspeed.  I know, I know...it seems impossible when indoors...and I understand.  Indoors you could "maybe" go to 1/125, but make sure you are REALLY following the rest of these tips so that you have the best chance, especially with moving kiddos!

3. Lock your arms & elbows.  You could even lean against a wall.  You want to pull your body in as tight as you can when you are focusing in on a shot.  The less movement you make, the better chance of a tack sharp image.

4. Hold your breath.  I know this sounds crazy, but, in the beginning, I don't think we all realize just how much our bodies move.  Mine moves like crazy because I have this unbelievable amount of adrenaline and excitement going on when I'm taking pictures...I have to remember to calm my insides down, just for that second and HOLD IT...it's not long, but you'd be amazed what even just that millimeter of a breath can do.

5. Be gentle with the shutter release button.  All the locking elbows and holding your breath, aren't going to be enough if you are crankin' down that button hard...those sharp, rough movements cause camera shake.  So, when you are focused in on a subject, press that button gently to produce the image shot.

6. Use Back Button Focus.  This became such a game changer for me!  I was suddenly able to figure out how to get my daughters' kicking a soccer ball mid air and it looked AWESOME!  If you are a part of the Snapshop Community, be sure to check out the video tutorial I posted in our private Facebook group!

7. Toggle your focal point.  I love toggling...I like the word "toggle" too...isn't just silly coming off your lips?  I digress... This is something else we discuss in a Snapshop AND will go more in depth with in a Snapshop #2...Move your focal points so that you don't have to jerk your camera to focus on your subjects.

8. Make sure everything you want in focus is on the SAME PLANE.  Some will argue that it's better to just shoot with a higher aperture and NOT to shoot wide open.  For beginners, I would say this is true.  Start with your aperture higher than 3 before you venture into the realms of 1.8 and 2.2!  However, for those that have been working with your prime lens...it's IMPERATIVE that your subjects all are on the same plane! Pretend their noses are pressed up against the same piece of glass. Depth of field is also VERY important when shooting wide open as well.  (again, more to talk about in a Snapshop #2)

Lifestyle photography can be daunting for some...

First of all, it can be an investment...I know that currently, I'm one of the least expensive photographers in my area as you consider my style of photography, but it's still a hefty investment for some...and that can get some people feeling rather nervous...

It's not like a $7.99 print from Sears of your kiddos in an enclosed room where you're just hoping to get a good shot to throw into a frame for grandma...

There's the worry of whether the kids will behave, will the location be nice, will the weather cooperate, what if I don't like my makeup or my clothes, what if not everyone smiles at the camera...and the list of worries continues...

let's just stop right there...

We need to adjust some expectations and "definitions",  if you will...

Lifestyle Photography isn't about getting "perfect" shots...it's about getting REAL images...

I had a conversation with a family 2 nights ago when I asked them to PLAY with their little girls...I asked them, "do you ever play ring around the rosey?" It turns out that they do...a lot...

I guaranteed them that when the girls turned 16 they were NOT going to "play" that anymore...this is a MOMENT in time...every individual is UNIQUE...every child has a PHASE (and it feels like it's a different phase every 3 days) But the point is that when you begin to see this type of photography for what it is (and what it is not) it helps to be able to appreciate the uniqueness of each session....

Now, I also know that no matter how many definitions or "adjusted expectations" I put out there..."MOM fears" are just THERE...

So, let me try to give some practical tips that you can apply on top of learning to "SEE" in a new way...

1. Choose clothing carefully | I've recently started working on my pinterest boards in order to help families have ideas for not only what to wear but what to expect...Please feel free to follow me there and check out the "What to Wear" boards...and also the "Families" board so that you get an idea of the types of moments that I'm looking for, as a photographer.

2. Make sure that everyone is well rested and well fed | If you need to bring snacks, do it...it doesn't do anyone good and relationships don't magically appear when kiddos are tired and husbands are starving! Once my fall schedule is actually verified for my own daughters' sports & activities, a first come, first serve posting will go out...you'll have at least 2 weeks to be able to plan and be ready for an upcoming session.

3. Leave time to get ready | I'm the WORST at time management...I just am...I'm a spontaneous, fly by the seat of my pants gal...and my husband knows it...and yet my entire family is NOT like that...so, for times when I get my own family photo session, I've learned to allow time for everyone to get ready...to allow my teenage daughters to feel pretty and make time to do their hair the way they feel best.

4. Ask everyone to be CHEERFUL participants | Listen, I GET it... I get the "faces" from everyone when I whip out my camera for yet MORE pictures!  However, I also know how much these pictures will mean to everyone later...maybe not today or tomorrow, but definitely 5 years from now...and years and years from now when my girlies are looking through scrapbooks...those moments captured will mean the world to them...so for the NOW, if I need to bribe them, if I need to make some loving promises to my spouse...so be it!



((and for MY part, as the photographer...I promise to be CHEERFUL and to make it a FUN experience for everyone...to the best of my ability))

5. Be natural |  This is hard...it's hard because we are nervous that it "won't look right" and it's an "investment" and all those worries I mentioned above come back to haunt you...Bear with me here though...Pinterest has made it nearly impossible to be "natural" with every pose known to man pinned to boards...but, the purpose of my light posing is just to "get the ball rolling"...so just go with it...because  #6

6. Not everyone has to be looking & smiling (leave that for the studio) | I know in a perfect world perhaps we'd all like christmas cards like the kardashians...(or maybe not...but, anyway) My girls have not always liked the camera...there were many years where their smiles were awkward and their eyes squinty...years where my youngest thought something scary was going to shoot her through the lens and refused to look at the camera at all...but ya know what...THAT'S OKAY IN MY BOOK!  Because refer to previously in this post:
Lifestyle Photography isn't about getting "perfect" shots...it's about getting REAL images...

7. Have AUTHENTIC FUN with your family...don't force it | I've had families bring soccer balls because that's their THING...If you've got a thing, then let's capture that...but, don't force throwing a toddler into the air or putting them on your shoulders when they are scared and it takes them out of their comfort zone...even if pinterest swears by it!  This is YOUR family...it's capturing YOU and the personalities of YOUR kids...Let your session be exclusive and incomparable...

Every person is uniquely made, unmatched and extraordinary!!!  Let those differences shine! Get out of the "cheese" mindset and love the LIFE you are creating with your family!!

I'm beyond thrilled that I get to watch and even be in a tiny part of the story that is unfolding!

For today's {Teach It Tuesday} I want to talk about "Time of Day" as it pertains to photos...either in my own CT PhotoMemories sessions OR with your own family!

Let me assure you...there IS a difference...HOWEVER, how much of a difference and what you do to compensate for little challenges is completely up to you!

Let me begin by saying this...you CAN photograph at ANY time of day...it would be silly to try to take pictures of your kiddos in a pool (because you wanted to capture their playfulness and part of that "story" for a vacation or what have you) at 6:30 in the morning or 8:30 at night...neither of those are conducive to non-crankie kids due to cold water, sleepiness, or "I'm hungry" (I understand that there are some exceptions to this, but just bear with me)

My point is this...as a MOM (or DAD), who KNOWS her/his camera, you ARE able to take photographs in any type of lighting situation...you CAN capture the moments regardless of whether you have perfect "lighting" or not...and if you don't, you truly need to attend a Snapshop Workshop with yours truly!!!

Now, that said, let's talk about a more "staged" or "scheduled" photo session...What is the big difference in the "time of day" in which you shoot?

MORNING:
Morning light is a term I use rather loosely...REAL morning light is when the sun is first coming up...when it's just peeking over the horizon...everything has a shimmer of the dew still on the green.  The sun is strong and bright and the rays bring a white light to the surroundings...

In terms of my own photography with clients, our "morning" is well before the noon hour and while we can still filter the light through the trees to avoid squinting.  However, the color of the light is brighter and more white/yellow than it is later in the day.  It gives me a feeling of bright, happy, breezy, curiosity and happy! Early morning light would be even easier to shoot in, which is why, as we head into fall, morning shoots are some of my faves due to the coolness of the morning and the light just peeking over the horizon...

 


LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING:
This is another time of day that seems to work well with families for the types of sessions that I offer...it's well before crankies set in for bedtime, but the sun is low enough in the sky that it's starting to lose it's yellow and have more of an orangey glow.  This is also the time of day where shadows dance and the sun can be almost on your face but it's so low in the sky that it works more as a reflector instead of needing to squint due to the brightness.




GOLDEN HOUR:
This is a "magical" time of day, and it goes rather quickly...it's the last moments before the sun is completely gone. It can also be explained like this: the times the angle between the sun and the earth’s surface is small which allows for the sunlight to flow over the landscape in a way that intensifies the colours of nature and also creates spectacular shadows
For example, sunset on August 4th is set for 8:45, according to the latitude/longitude times, golden hour will begin at 8:07  For me, images captured at these times produce a unique, moody, emotional depth in pictures...




There may be certain circumstances that constitute a specific time of day...but, more often than not, I just want to understand how the light is moving, coming up or setting...the color and amount of filters/shaded areas I have to work with...my goal is to produce a personal STORY using whatever elements I have on hand at the moment the story is taking place...

Some other resources about Lighting:

Understanding Hours & Light
Golden Hour Calculator

If you are like me...the only TRUE and REAL reason you ultimately own a "big girl/boy" camera is because you want to take amazing pictures of your own kids!

You didn't invest money in that camera body or fancy lenses so that you could just look cool while you were on vacation...you aren't necessarily passionate about taking pictures of bumblebees on flowers...I would venture to say that you are aiming your focal points towards the plates of food you eat every day...

NOPE...you aren't in this "photography thing" for any of that...

You want to document the lives of your kids...of your families...in an AWEsome way!

If you are like me, you want scrapbooks filled with pictures that your kids swoon over and want to look through over and over again...you want your facebook albums and instagram feeds to look like a magazine shoot so that you can just stare at your family and count your blessings over and over again!

We LOVE our families...and if we're honest, we DO like PRETTY things...we want our pictures to look PRETTY...to be AWESOME!

The first step on your way to reaching that goal, is learning your camera/equipment! If you follow this blog, it means you've probably already attended a Snapshop and have learned those foundational concepts...it's not just about snapping the shutter button at the right time...it's about exposure, metering correctly, focal points, aperture/shutterspeed/ISO and determining how you will use the settings together to create the image you envision...

These, and a whole lot more, are all things we cover in a Snapshop #1 or Basic Mentoring class.
We also spend a considerable amount of time on composition and photo recipes (Snapshop Grads, check out your booklet for examples)

For the purpose of this post, I'd like to elaborate just a tad more on some tips for photographing your own kids .

1. THINK COMPOSITION | Have your kids interact with one another...tickle, tell a joke, push on the swing, pull the wagon, play cards, throw a snowball...whatever you do, make it fun...don't make them hold hands if that isn't their thing...that's the quickest way to make that photo go downhill...remember we're documenting LIFE...make it REAL and FUN for them!

2. ANTICIPATE THEIR NEXT MOVE. This can be difficult, especially for beginners...but before you get out there and start clicking away, take a moment to take inventory...be aware of your surroundings and try to determine what your kids are going to do...are they just sitting there examining a lady bug...then you know what your settings can be without getting blur...Are they going to start jumping and running?  if so, be prepared with what you know about shutterspeed and your light source.  Have your camera ready before the moment takes place if you are able.

3. DON'T FEEL ENTITLED TO A GOOD SHOT | RELAX   This is a hard one and one that I struggle with...I feel that when I take the time to 'set up' a shot, doggone it those kids should cooperate and I should get a perfect image!!!  (insert stomping of feet) Does anyone else ever feel this way?  yes, well...it's gotta stop...we aren't entitled to anything just because we happen to SEE something in our minds eye...and I've had to let that go thousands of times...because that is yet another way to ruin photography for my kids when I make the experience all about the IMAGE instead of the MOMENT!

4. SHOOT MANY FRAMES IN A MOMENT  We now live in the digital age...so, by all means USE IT...you don't have to pay for rolls and rolls of film anymore...you can snap away...so do it....keep that trigger finger happy...you are bound to get something in there as you are first learning how to utilize all your settings in manual AND keep all those other things in a line as well.
Plus, you end up getting some pretty sweet timelines...

5. FOCUS ON THEIR EYES If you want a good focal point, go for the eye...toggle to that eyeball, pull those elbows in, steady yourself against the table or a tree...go for the shot!!
6. PHOTOGRAPH YOUR OWN KIDS OFTEN | LIKE A LOT, A LOT
I know many of you are rolling your eyes at this...the thing is, the more your kids are comfortable with you, with a camera in your hands, the more they will begin to just ignore that fact and continue in their moments...which is EXACTLY what you want them to do.  People ask me all the time if I have my kids trained...well, in a sense I do...they really just don't care that my camera is with me...it's ALWAYS with me...they are now to the age where THEY ask to carry it and take pictures...it's just part of our life.

7. PLAN A MINI SESSION  | UNDER 10 MINUTES
We've talked about being IN the moment, but I understand that you want SOME pictures of them looking at you...of their darling expressions...So, start planning...be prepared...Set up an area near a good light source ...then just ask your kiddo to come and have a seat in that spot...(you'll already know your settings because you'll have tested it with a stuffed animal or something) All you need to do now is engage them...get them talking about their favorite things, tell a joke, make a funny face, sing a song...All the while you are snapping away...do NOT make them stay longer than 5-7 minutes...just see what happens...it's great practice...and I think you'll be surprised...

Here's one I did back in 2012 with my youngest...
8. LISTEN TO THEM | Something I've learned (which HAS been a learning curve being the talkative person that I am) is that sometimes it's just better to listen...I have my own ideas, I KNOW what I want in a picture...but, that means NOTHING if I haven't connected with my girls...Sometimes it means letting THEM set something up and just going with it...LISTENING to their ideas and incorporating that into what I "see" as well.

In the last post we discussed when we might use an AUTO setting...

In my Snapshop Class, we talk about all the different shooting MODES...



Ultimately, our end goal, is to eventually feel comfortable in MANUAL mode...

But, let's be honest, it can be intimidating with all those buttons and the action happening so fast!

So let's talk about WHEN we "MIGHT" use another mode, other than MANUAL! or perhaps when
AUTO IS OKAY!! (Did I just say that???)

1. It's more important to GET THE SHOT than anything else..remember when I said that?
Practice Manual mode when you have the opportunity to practice...when something major important is going on and you don't want to miss the moment, that's NOT the time to fiddle with manual mode...as you get better and better during your PRACTICE time, when those special moments arise, you'll be more confident to spin it to M.

            *AV or A MODE; this is also a good "practice" mode to use because you only have to think about your aperture...nothing else...the camera calls the rest of the shots.  This is especially useful with a prime lens because you can have a wider aperture, ensuring the bokeh/blur, but not having to worry about the other settings. Being outdoors with LOTS of available light is also a good time to practice AV or A mode before going into Manual as well...because with lots of a light, and only allowing the camera to choose shutterspeed (not aperture) the camera will make sure to speed it up so that you not only get your blur from your chosen aperture setting, but you capture the action too.

             *if you are indoors, low light, and a moment is unfolding and you don't feel comfortable yet with what you've accomplished in your PRACTICE time...please don't feel badly using AUTO...yes, that silly pop up flash will pop up...but, so be it...AT LEAST YOU GOT THE MOMENT!!!

2. AUTO WHITE BALANCE