Tuesday, November 18, 2008

My Own....

Little Monkeys.




My friend and I went back yesterday to our new fave location. I am finding that is is increasingly difficult to take pictures of my OWN kids. Let's just say my patience with them FAR lacks the patience I have for other people's children when it comes to photography.
I think she had the same problem. She tried to shoot a few of her own kids as well. She claimed her kids did better with me. I guess next time, we just need to trade kids.
Some tips when shooting your own kids:
1. Bribery. Yes. I am not too ashamed to admit it. I bribe my kids on occasion. After the shoot, the kids were rewarded with a trip to Target and $5 each.
2. Come prepared. M & M's really work. They really do.
3. Don't get frustrated. My kids react to my moods. When I am tense, they are tense. If I keep it casual, they tend to follow. I am not a huge fan of posed photography. It is hard not to pose them a little when you want a group type shot though. Try to keep it as natural as possible. Let them interact and just keep shooting.
4. Bring help! I made sure my husband could be there with me. He was able to distract the kids and make them smile so I could focus on actually taking the pictures. They are always better for their dad anyway.
5. Don't be afraid to try a few different times. It is okay if you don't get it perfect the first time. I had a few difficulties yesterday with my camera settings. My pictures didn't come out as tack sharp as I wanted them to be and Ryan has his "forced fake 6 year old" smile thing going on. I may just have to try again. But, I am happy I captured the moments I did. The black and white ones are being printed today! Wanna know something? I have NEVER printed any of my pictures for personal use in my home. That chanages today.

6 comments:

jenn said...

Beutiful kids, beautiful location, beautiful pictures.

Unknown said...

I really like them all but the last one is my favorite! Oh and bribary so works :)

AMMIE said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AMMIE said...

Kati,
Have you ever been behind Osmonds designs
in lehi? I just got my family pic's from peek a boo photos and it really is great back there. It has a very urban feel. It also has a wonderful junkie truck off to the side. Your pics are great!

Becky said...

Kati I love them! What adorable kids and the photos look picture perfect! You really are amazing! Your tips are such good advice for any one shooting photos. Thanks for being willing to share with us!

kimber said...

The picture of your little girl on the bridge should be a BOOK COVER. It is absolutely gorgeous. Quite possibly the MOST beautiful picture I've ever seen. In fact, YOU should write a photography book and put this picture on the cover. You really should.