Picture This Workshop- Week 4 of 5

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Hey there!  It's Jenny from J. Van Allen Photography, this is week four of our photography tutorial... How has it been shooting in the manual mode?  I'm telling you the more you practice the easier it gets! 

Here are some tips and tricks that I've learned along the way regarding different situations...

Lighting

• I try to photograph my shoots during those beautiful "golden hours."  Just before sunset.  It's a great time to get that great sun flare, and the lighting is just bea-u-tiful!
• If your shooting in harsh bright light have no fear, just find places where there is shade and it's close to the light.  Bring your subject to the edge of the bright light.  They'll get all the beautiful flattering light, and no one will ever know!

here are some examples of lighting examples...

This picture was taken in those "golden hours" and the sun was quickly going down, so I changed the ISO to 400, and caught the sun before it went all the way down!

EOS 7d, f-stop 4, shutter speed 1/100, ISO 400

and here is an example of a picture taken outdoors on a bright and sunny day, I just placed my subjects in the shade, where the lighting was still flattering.

EOS 7d, f-stop 4, shutter speed 125 ISO 200

How to photograph babies

Who doesn't love a snuggly little peaceful baby?  I love newborn shoots I must admit, I love how perfect they are!    Here are some tips for you...

1. Shoot in a location where you get lots of bright, indirect natural light.  (the picture below was taken in mom and dad's room in front of a sliding glass door)
2.  If you plan on taking some pictures of your snuggly baby in the nude... crank up the temperature so it's nice and toasty in the room (you'll be sweating in the end, if you're doing it right!)
3. Speaking of nice and toasty... heating pads are great to place under your blankets.
4. Find a good pillow, boppy, bean bag (which I used in the pic below), to prop up and position the baby.
5. Prop up a cheap backdrop (aka sheet or blanket), or if possible with the lighting,  position your beanbag against a solid wall.  
6.  Bring lots of patience!  After all it's not you who gets to decide when you get to take pictures.  The baby's in charge!

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How to photograph the bigger kiddos

Okay so this is a tough one I'm sure for every parent.  I'm sure you have a conversation that goes like this:
Mom: okay this will go really fast if you just look at me and smile pretty, okay!
Kiddo: okay
Mom: well you have to look at the camera, are you looking AT the camera. Where is the camera?
Kiddo: Are we done yet?
Mom: NO! Will you please just LOOK at the camera? Okay whatever, I'm done!

We've all had it! Skip this part if you have amazing photogenic children, and by the way I'm soo jealous!

1. I find that when you talk to them, ask them questions about themselves; how old are you, what's your favorite ice cream, etc.  They forget that you have this big camera in their face and they talk about themselves, what kid doesn't like to talk about themselves?  
2. Also, for the most part, if you are wanting clear and crisp pictures, make sure your shutter speed is set at 1/125 or higher, just in case you have some extra wiggly kiddos.
3. Make sure it's not too chaotic.  Sometimes if there are several people around you, trying to get the kiddo's attention, they don't know where to look at, how to smile, how to act...
4. little treats go a long way (marshmallows, pez candies, etc).
5. Don't be afraid to get close to them.
6. If shooting more than one child, get them close, smush them together.  Often times in pictures, the subjects aren't close enough together!
7. Show them how gorgeous they are!  Let them take some peeks at some of the photos!

Here are a couple more ideas!

Feather dusters and PEZ dispensers who knew?

Feather dusters are great for tickling toes, tickling faces and just making them squeal with delight! It's my new best friend, it works great!

Yes, that is a PEZ dispenser attached to the shoe mount. What a great idea! Check out this tutorial for directions on how do it! It's easy!

Well I hope you learned a few things with your camera, and learned some new tips!  Stay tuned for next week, we'll be having the Q & A and also have a couple giveaways!