Back to school...AGAIN!

It seems like my kids just got out for summer vacation! But, here we are. Heading back to the daily routine of school. We have had a wonderful summer. I can't complain. My kids are all venturing off to school this year. A bitter-sweet time for me. I sure enjoy having my kids home with me. But...off to school we go this week! 

I posted some tips for back to school pictures a few years ago. Head over HERE for those. 

This year, I decided that instead of worrying about taking pictures the morning of, I would do it early. Also...my kids each start school on different days! Last year we actually woke up late for the first day of school! It was such a mess of a morning that I decided to take pictures off of my morning "to do " list. I think feeding the kids breakfast should be top priority. :) Don't stress about the early morning pictures. It is okay to take them after school, or even a week later if that works out better for your schedule. As long as you document the moment at some point...the timing shouldn't matter. 

Baby girl is THRILLED to be starting kindergarten. The oldest is going to Jr. High! And my middle, brainy child is heading to the 4th grade. They are all excited for school to start this year. Especially my oldest! I guess growing up and gaining independence is pretty exciting. 

I love seeing all the pictures on pinterest that have information about the child right on the photo. The ones I have seen are usually done for a birthday. I thought it would be fun for back to school information. Listing little details like shoe size, clothing size and specific interests are things that I am sure I would forget to document anywhere else. Just find a location that has an empty background and not a lot of distracting colors. Brick walls work really well. Make sure you leave plenty of spacing around your child so you have lots of room for the writing. I plan to make one of these for each of my kids and then make a little book for each of them with pictures from class parties, pictures with class friends and all school activities throughout the year. At the end of the year it can be a little year book with blank pages at the end of the book for friends to sign. It will be a great little keepsake for each of them to remember that specific school year. It will be a bit harder with my oldest son...since he would rather DIE than have his mother at school taking pictures of anything. But...hopefully I will get some pictures of him with friends and fun things throughout the school year.

Happy Back to school!

Inspiration....

I have a confession to make. I have previously had a really hard time looking at other photographer's work. I know a lot of photographers really like to draw inspiration from others blogs and websites. Truth is...I just got really frustrated and would lose my sense of self. I don't know if that makes any sense...but when I spent more time looking at others work...I lost interest in my own ideas. I find myself wanting to copy a specific idea or pose. I have been seriously guilty of this when it came to newborn photography. But, what I have found is that every newborn is so totally different that it is almost impossible to copy an exact pose and walk away with an image that you will love as much as the original inspiration. I also found that there is no satisfaction when you copy or spend your time trying to be like someone else. 

With that all being said...I have learned to look at other photographer's work and appreciate their style and interpretation of art. I don't feel so insecure anymore and I don't feel the need to copy or follow trends that are ever changing. I enjoy just going with the flow of a session and creating my own "art" as it happens at that present time. 

Recently I have started using pinterest. It is a wonderful source for all things photography related. 

You can follow me here. I have really enjoyed looking at beautiful photography and also crafty things as well. If you aren't pinning yet...you are missing out on a fantastic inspiration resource. Just remember to use it as inspiration and don't lose your own self while you happily "pin"...

Getting ready for school!

It is that time of year, again! It is no secret that this is not really my favorite time of year. I guess I am one of those odd mothers that prefer her kids at home. Homeschooling, you ask? I'm not THAT crazy! Sheeeeesh! I sent my baby off to preschool this morning. I didn't think I was emotional about it. Until I left her. Then I couldn't stop the tears. We won't get into the reasons I would cry over preschool. Let's just let it rest with the fact that she is MY BABY!

I am sure as a mother you are just like me, in the fact that you want to document that first day of school perfectly...

Here are a few tips for making that early morning photo session perfect!

Let your kids know the night before that they will be getting their pictures taken. My kids do better if they know what to expect the morning of their big day. Make sure you have plenty of time that morning! There is nothing worse than a crazy and rushed first morning of school.

Think outside the box when it comes to your pictures. Try a jumping shot! It is fun and it shows the true feeling of the morning...EXCITEMENT!

Let your kids pose themselves! Haleigh loves this pose.

Move in close! I know you want to get that first day of school outfit...but get a closeup of their face. I promise it will be your favorite shot!

Show the details of the morning. Maybe you could take a picture of their breakfast choice. I always make my kids what ever they want on the first day of school. That usually means making 3 different things. I will definitely take a picture of that! Mostly just to document things like that so one day I can prove to my kids that I was a good mom! Take pictures of backpacks, lunch boxes, new shoes, the bus stop line, kids walking onto the bus...and if you are a psycho mom like me, follow the bus and take pictures of them getting off the bus and heading into school. I try to take pictures of the kids inside their classroom...but my boys are getting a little older and I know there is NO WAY I will get away with that one this year. You know, having a big 5th grader and all.

The point...is to make sure the morning is documented and FUN! One thing my mom did was take a picture in the same exact place. Every. Single. Year. It was in our front yard in front of a pine tree. It is fun to look back at all the pictures. Not only did we grow...but so did that tree. It started as a small little twig and by high school...it was huge!

Good luck this week! Happy for some. Just something we gotta do for others.

I didn't notice....

How much I ignore the amazing images that surround me everyday. I am definitely not a landscape photographer, but learning photography has taught me to notice light. Driving home last night was quite breath-taking! I pulled over to take a picture. Something I should do a little more often. I think I take for granted all the amazing views that surround my own home.

Giving in and using a flash....

I have a confession. I have become somewhat of a lighting snob. I am guilty of missing the moment because I have the attitude of "if the lighting is bad, I won't get a great picture"...

I have missed a lot of moments over the past year because I am too proud to use my camera's on board flash. I do have an external flash. I am trying to learn how to use it properly...but even still, I don't like the pictures any type of flash produces.

In effort to just capture the moment...I have given in and started using flash for the moments that I just don't have enough light.

Are the pictures great? No. Not even close...

But, do I want to miss these little faces in this moment? Not on your life!

Do the technical aspects of photography keep you from capturing that one moment, all in the name of getting a perfectly exposed and technically perfect photo? If so...STOP IT! Capture the moment. Enjoy the moment. Sometimes capturing the memories is WAY more important than getting a perfect picture. I am working on this.

Answering a few Questions....

Thought I would answer a few questions for people today....And, just for fun, I added my favorite bridal portrait of my little sister from last summer.

Katie asks..."your pics are incredible...found your blog via twopeas... you have great talent. But, I want to know what you do for your lighting and your backgrounds... are they photoshopped? please share your secret with me? please????"

First of all, Katie, Thank you for the compliments. It always means so much to me when people take the time to leave me feedback. I love to share on Two Peas. It is a great resource for photographers! It is also fun to meet so many people that share the same passion! As for lighting...I guess I would say I am mostly a natural light photographer. I feel like it is the most "natural" way to do things. One problem I have run into though (especially with newborn photography) is natural light is NOT reliable. A cloud rolls in and you have to re-do all your settings. With newborns, you do not have the time to keep adjusting settings. This is why I have finally decided I needed to learn how to use my studio lighting. It is reliable, dependable and I can keep my settings the same throughout the entire session, making only minor adjustments due to aperture desires. Wanting more or less bokeh, etc. I do not recommend going out and spending a fortune on lights unless it is absolutely something you want to invest a lot of time and money into. Not to mention the space you need to work them properly.

On to backdrops. I would say I'm mostly a "white trash" back drop kind of girl. I use sheets from Wal-Mart. (I do not endorse Wal-Mart very often...actually really despise that place...however you can get a killer deal on sheets there!) I rig my own back drop stand using all kinds of things. clothes drying rack, my fireplace mantel, even been known to use my treadmill. (At least the thing is getting a little attention, know what I mean?) For my niece's pictures, I did rent a backdrop stand as well as a canvas backdrop. While I didn't LOVE the color of the backdrop and actually changed the color on several pictures...It made a huge difference! I loved it. It is next on my list of things I just have to buy to make photography easier. I try to justify the expense of all this stuff...it really makes no sense at all. But...it is all in the name of making this mama of 3 happy with her hobby. Right?

I do photo shop the backgrounds. I like the "seamless" look. I usually burn the blacks to make it look all even. Since newborns are so small...I use a bean bag, draped with a sheet and usually just have the parent hold up the rest of the sheet behind to act as a back drop. I hope that makes sense. It doesn't give the depth you are "supposed" to have between the subject and back drop...but it works for me, so I stick with it.

Annie (also from Two Peas, a fellow Utah Pea!) asks: "Hi Kati...I'm from the Utah peas...CUTE AMAZING pictures :)wow!!!!!And you must share how you hung that chubby baby...I have tried and tried to hang a baby...I can't get them balanced then it throws the mom into a nervous wreak...LOL!!!you must share the secret :)"

I was actually REALLY nervous to do this shot for SEVERAL reasons! First...I don't like to be a "copy-cat" photographer. Someone came up with this AMAZING pose and now everyone is trying to get their hands on it. I guess I just decided that I can't feel bad about admiring other people's work and copying is the highest form of flattery, right? I felt most comfortable trying this shot for the first time with my own niece because I knew my sister in law trusted me with her baby. (At least I hoped she did). I will say there were a few times the baby arched her strong little back and neck and gave us all a heart attack as she nearly fell to the floor! I would make sure you have at least 2 people right there ready for anything! I wish I had some great advice for this shot. This was my first time attempting it. Good thing I had my friend Jen there with her super fast reflexes! I had a hard time deciding if I should drop "my baby/my new camera" to grab my niece. Totally kidding. Kind of. Totally would save my niece first. We tied and RE-tied the knot several times. The baby did tend to twist a little. My brother in law suggested getting fishing line and attaching it with a safety pin to each side so two people could pull, making the baby even. We didn't have the time to rig it up...but I think it would work. I think the key is getting your fabric hung evenly. We slipped the baby in and slowly got her positioned. It was TOUGH! I had enough back drop that I shot kind of from the side to make it look like she was hanging straight...but she really wasn't. One suggestion is to get the mom out of there for this shot. It will make you less stressed and the mom will never know! Ha! I can say that...because it isn't my baby being HUNG from a tree branch! I guess with everything else photography...just keep practicing and it will become easier each time. Truth be told...I am petrified to try it again!

Oliva asks some great questions..."Katie,I guess I should finally leave a message, considering I have been stalking your photography blog since it's birth. I love the pictures you take, and love the tips you share with each of us. I have been trying to improve my photo skills, but along with the one million other things I am trying to do in my life, I am not progressing very much. So I just have a few questions.

1) On your indoor sessions do you always use photography lighting? I noticed that one of your first newborn sessions you said was done at the parent's house. I always have trouble getting good shots indoors and I wonder if it is because the lighting sucks.

I covered this a little bit in the first question...but I will go a little more in depth here. Another key to indoor photography (in my opinion) is a really FAST lens. Without getting completely technical here...(y'all know this is not my strong point)....Lens speed refers to the maximum aperture diameter, or minimum f-number, of a photographic lens. A lens with a larger maximum aperture (that is, a smaller minimum f-number) is a fast lens because it delivers more light intensity to the focal plane, allowing a faster shutter speed. A smaller maximum aperture (larger minimum f-number) is "slow" because it delivers less light intensity and requires a slower shutter speed. So basically...the lower the f-number, the better your in-door shots will be without using flash. If this does not make sense to you...I recommend reading up on aperture and shutter speed and really learning how these work with the lighting you have. This must be learned and fully understood before you will progress anywhere with photography...

2) Do you have multiple backdrops for your indoor shots, or do you just get creative with what you have available?

I hope I answered this one well enough in the question above from Katie. The thing about backdrops...is that I believe you really can just get creative with what ever you have. It makes your photography stand out because it is unique and it makes it your own.

3) Do you choose your aperture and shutter speed manually every shot, or do you ever choose the other setting on your camera like portrait, landscape, sports, etc.?

I almost always shoot manual. The new camera I got is better with the AV/TV modes than my previous camera, so I am learning to trust my camera more. Sometimes it is nice to just take the everyday type pictures without having to think so much about my lighting. I never use the auto modes, however. I recommend people start in AV mode when they are first learning to shoot in manual. This mode allows you to choose your aperture and the camera chooses an appropriate shutter speed to match what you have chosen. Pay attention to what the camera chose and make a mental note of it. Then...you will learn what works and what doesn't. You then learn your camera and how it works with different lighting situations and you can correct them in Manual mode.

4) Do you photoshop all your pictures or are a lot of them exactly as you shot them? I don't use photoshop (yet) and I want to know if I am always going to be disappointed with my pictures if I don't us it?

Because I shoot in RAW mode...I have to post process all my photos. I try to get proper exposure straight out of camera so I don't have to do a lot to my images in photo shop. It is very time consuming and photo shop should not be used as a crutch to fix any mistakes that should be done right in camera. That being said...I make mistakes all the time and I am so glad I can fix them with photo shop. Photo shop should be used to enhance your photos...but shouldn't mean the difference between you loving or hating your photos. I do think that since the trend with photography now is brightened over-saturated color pops, etc...you will only be able to achieve that look with photo shop. I use CS3. I love it. I didn't love the price of it, however. But...once again, with all things photography related...nothing comes cheap with this hobby.

Whew. That does it for today. Guess I will get back to my trashy novel and watch my kids rotting out their smart little brains with the Nintendo DS and watching way too much TV. What else should we do on this dreary cold Saturday?

My favorite image of the day!

This is my new ADORABLE niece! What a perfect dream this little 8 day old was today! She was super sleepy, curly and loved getting her pictures taken!

I used my studio lighting today. I usually do natural light, but I have found it difficult lately with the very overcast days...so I decided to start practicing with my alien bees! I haven't LOVED them, but I haven't really known how to use them either! Until yesterday! Listen up UTAH photographers....I went to a FREE lighting demo class yesterday. I purchased a new camera and lens a few weeks ago at a store in Salt Lake City. Pictureline has FREE classes ALL. The. Time!

Here is a link for the upcoming classes...

http://www.pictureline.com/localevents/classes.php

You can sign up online...and don't forget, they are FREE, FREE, FREE!!!!!

The staff at Pictureline is very knowledgeable and will definitely help you get what is best for you. They have tons of stock, meaning they will most likely have exactly what you are looking for. I highly recommend this store! I also rented a few things for this photo shoot and was very impressed with their rental prices. I love supporting local business, and this store is one I will be visiting a lot. They also just opened up a store in Draper...(which is closer to me, but they do not rent things at that specific store quite yet.)

This session was so fun today...I will be sharing more images soon!

A few favorites...

From a session today...

This little sweetie was so great! Things started off rough, but she decided to cooperate and slept like an angel through all the moving and changing!

It was a perfect newborn session!

Couldn't you just eat those little cheeks!

This session was supposed to be me...helping a friend who was asked to take pictures. Well, it ended up that bossy, bossy me...just took over. {Sorry Jen} Jen is actually pretty great with her own camera...our intention was to shoot together so she could pick up a few tricks to shooting newborns. It actually turned out that she acted as an AMAZING assistant. I couldn't believe how much easier it was having someone there that knew what she was doing! She held my reflector and moved it when I needed her to. She held the binky and took it out when I was ready to shoot. She would run and get whatever I needed to get the shot....What an amazing thing to have! HELP! Wow. Such a difference. I have found that it is so much easier if Mom and Dad don't really help with the session. Baby tends to be more relaxed. Some extra tips for shooting newborns?

1. Move slowly. Don't make any sudden movements! When transitioning to different positions...take your time.

2. Keep a diaper under baby (not attached) until ready to shoot. It is easier to slip out the diaper than a towel or extra blanket. It slides out easier.

3. Got a big exercise ball collecting dust? Get it out and bounce that baby to sleep. Works like a charm every time.

4. Take your time. I usually plan on 3 hours. Because this baby was so great today...we finished in 2 hours. It is better if baby doesn't feel the tension of time. If you feel rushed and try to hurry things along...baby will NOT cooperate.

5. Get an assistant! I think Jen is my new favorite accessory to my newborn photo shoot collection....Not only did she make things easier, but it was fun too!

Love ya Jen! Thanks for such a FUN and amazing day!

My Baby Girl...

The Hubs and I didn't really do a great job with the whole planning of the births. February is a busy birthday month for us. Mine falls on the 3rd, My daughter the 6th and my son, on the 9th. We celebrate the whole first half of February with cake, parties, eating out, etc, etc. By Valentines Day no one really cares about the sweets! This time of year is difficult for photography because Utah isn't really all that beautiful in the late winter. The snow is dirty and everything is brown. I was still determined to get some shots of my 3 year old...so I had to figure out how to work with what we've got! I knew the surroundings would be brown so I thought brown and pink would be a flattering fit.

I think it brightened things up a bit without taking the focus off of my birthday subject. I wanted to keep things simple and sweet. Just like my baby girl.

Wardrobe is another aspect of photography that is very important. Here are some online resources to help you with your wardrobe selections when taking or getting family portraits done...

For traditional ideas of what to wear...http://maternitybykoren.com/blog/?tag=what-to-wear-to-a-photo-shoot

For a more Urban look...http://jamiesampson.typepad.com/just_me_jamie_sampson_pho/what-to-wear.html

Today's styles are bright colors and funky layers. I love this look and think it is so fun! It is another thing that I wonder about though. While it is popular now...will we look back and wonder "What were we thinking?" I tend to dress my own kids in classic styles. I guess I am a little boring. I think the most important thing is that you are dressed nice, well groomed and the outfit matches your surroundings. Yes, wardrobe is definitely something I think mothers spend the most time thinking about! Photographers too! I think every photographer secretly hopes to have that perfectly dressed family while arriving to their session. It makes their job easier and so much more enjoyable if they don't have to worry about their subject's appearance.

A Fun Tool!

Sorry I have been such a slacker with this blog. I promise I will try to do better. The weather here has just got to clear up soon. I am missing the sun!

I thought it would be fun to share a fun thing I have stumbled upon....

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php

It is a mosaic maker! This is a fun way to display pictures on your blogs, websites, etc. It did take me a little while to figure it out. I am a little computer challenged at times. I have a flickr account so I uploaded from there...but you can upload from your own computer. When I was ready to post it on my blog I had a few problems. I am not sure what "the right" way is...but I couldn't get the URL to work for me when I just copied and pasted to upload an image through blogger. There is a tiny little disc that shows under your creation that says download image. I clicked that and then copied and pasted that link instead. It worked that way. Kind of confusing. If you are having problems too...email me and I will try to help you figure it out. Here is an example of one I made today for my family blog...
On Friday the 13th we had my son's 10th birthday party with his friends. We took these boys to the movie "The Pink Panther 2". (Yes, we are a little crazy.) The boys found this great photo Op and I thought this was a fun way to put all the pictures on our blog...instead of just one at a time. Another fun tip is giving photos as a thank you gift. We are going to give each boy that came, his "scary" Friday the 13th picture {and the picture at the bottom of this post} with a thank you note for attending the party. It is a great way to give a memory that will last a lifetime!

PROUD!

I am not going to lie here. This post really makes me cry. Cry for good reasons. Cry for bad. I remember moving into our first home 10 years ago. I met a good friend there. A friend that I have always loved, admired and have a very close bond to. When I moved from this neighborhood, a strange thing happened. Her kids grew up. I remember her boys being young, sweet, handsome, genuine, young, young, and young. Well, my friends....he is still all those things, except, no longer young. In fact...he is a man. How did this happen?

Reporting or shipping off for duty in February!

I am very proud of the man he has become. I am proud of his decision to serve our country. I am proud that he is graduating high school early. However...I refuse to use the word my other friend used when she saw these pictures. "Man, he is HOT!". No...I will not use that word. Because, he is still a little boy in my eyes. A handsome young man? Yes. But....a "hot soldier"?

It scares me how fast this growing up thing happened. It makes me realize how fast time really goes by. Still, I am proud of this kid. I hope the very best for him. I know he is going to do really great things.

As for photography tips? This sessions once again proved how difficult snow can make things. It was so bright outside that I couldn't see my screen to check my histogram. I couldn't see what settings worked best. I felt like I was in the dark. But...it was so bright! So confusing. I tried to hide under my coat to see what was going on. That did help a little. At least enough to see if I was way over blowing my images. Yet another reason to start shooting in RAW. Any of you attempting the shooting in the snow? Any great tips?

As for shooting seniors? I love it. I think they are the best subjects. They are so fun! If you are looking to improve your own photography, I think seniors are a great practice! Way easier than babies/kids. They are easier to direct and they hold still! Nice! So, if you are getting old like me and have friends that have graduating seniors...give them a session for a graduation gift. Pictures last a life time!

Congrats "Soldier Boy"! We are so very proud of you!

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.

Making a bad photo a little better

Sometimes, well, a lot of times I will get a photo that I know I would just LOVE if it wasn't so awful and blurry. We can't always have the perfect photo set up.

This photo was taken at my son's Halloween school parade. The kids walked by so fast they made me dizzy. I shoot in manual mode, so I didn't have time to get the right settings on my camera. The lighting was horrible. This was the outcome. Pretty bad. When I opened up my pictures I loved the expressions on his face. I just couldn't throw it out. I decided to mess around and see what I could come up with....

A little cropping, text, adding a sepia tone and an action that added some texture to the photo, I really fell in love with this picture. Do you get so caught up in that perfect exposed, sharp image that you might be missing some really great pictures? Try some texture to a photo. It might just turn that "bad" photo into a cool work of art.

Getting Creative....

One thing about photography that is the most fun for me is getting creative. For me, posing and getting everyone to smile and look perfect doesn't top my list of priorities. It is hard for some families to grasp this concept. They come ready to pose and sit or stand in the traditional family portrait formations. They really don't know what to do when I tell them to just interact as a family and pretend that I am not even there. Doesn't work with all families...but I am on a mission to learn this skill so I can capture "real life" shots of families interacting, loving and just BE-ing. I usually start by just snapping photos of things that don't seem significant...

Daddy putting his arm around his only daughter to show her where to go.

Older children un-aware of me invading their space...capturing that thoughtful face mom sees everyday.

Angles that don't usually get the focus but can tell a story better than faces ever could.

And getting that one shot that a child dares you to take. This one was sure he would get away from me. Ha! Got ya D! A moment Mom will always see as "her" kid. A moment that is forever frozen and captured. To me, this is what photography is really about.

My tips for today are simple. Stop posing. Get creative with angles. Shoot from the hip, or above your head. Shoot when they don't know you are. Capture the real moments of life. Let your subjects just BE.

Using the Sun....

The sun, (when it comes to photography) I am finding can either be your best friend, or as my boys would say..."Your arch nemesis!" I remember hearing that it was best for the subject to face into the sun, sun behind the photographer, and out in the open daylight. Heard that one? Still believe it? Hello! What exactly does that produce? People with no eyes because they are squinting, washed out faces, and usually very over-exposed photos.
Not a flattering picture, right? With winter quickly approaching (which is my arch nemesis) I am sad that I cannot experiment with the sun more. I guess I could, but I am a complete wimp when it comes to temperatures under 60 degrees. And, with Utah winters and their awful inversions, the sun isn't really around all that much. I am looking forward to experimenting more with my studio lighting equipment, but I have to admit I have enjoyed my summer love affair, learning to shoot in natural light. Here are a few of my favorites that I took this summer with a "setting" sun. They both could use some help in photo shop to make them more dramatic. These are pretty much straight out of the camera just to show you the natural effects of the sun.

Here is a great guide on how to shoot in direct sun light. http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-shoot-in-direct-sunlight/ It is worth your time to read it. No matter if you are an avid photographer, or a mom shooting a soccer game, learning to shoot in direct sun light will improve your photos. Learn about light now. I am getting a lot of comments about waiting to use all this info when "I get a better camera". Don't wait to learn these things when you get a better camera. Learn them now, so when you DO get that camera you want, you will already know the basic and most important aspects of photography. LIGHTING! Don't be afraid to shoot into the setting or rising sun! It can create some amazing effects.

It's all in the eyes!

With everything else photography, I become a little obsessed when I see something that works. I would see pictures that looked simply amazing to me. I couldn't quite figure out what it was about the specific photo that caught my attention. Then, I realized it was all in the eyes.

Catch lighting is the whites in the eyes that are produced from a light source. Many different light sources can produce great catch lights, including: sun, water, window lighting, snow, and man made reflectors. (One great way to reflect light onto your subjects face is with a simple white piece of thick poster board.) Just simply reflect what light you have onto the subjects face creating amazing catch lights!

I have trained my eye to look directly into my subjects eyes to get the best catch lighting. This takes some time to learn, but is so worth it! It means you have to pay attention to light! This is one thing about photography that I cannot emphasize enough! LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT! When you are taking pictures, look into your subject's eyes. Turn them around facing all directions to see what creates the best catch lighting. Walk your kids around your house and look for the best natural light location. The best windows are north facing...but since I only have ONE of those, I have found that my best window is in my kitchen after 3 o'clock. I usually drag my kids in there to take any of those "everyday" type pictures. Even before you try to capture those catch lights, just start noticing them. Then, look around and figure out why they are there. Figure out what is producing them. Then...get out that camera and shoot!

YEAH for catch lights! It is the best secret to making a great photo...FANTASTIC! There are some ways to enhance catch lights with photoshop. If you are interested in that, please email me at littlebitoflove76@gmail.com and I will send you a tutorial!

Also, remember that catch lights can be achieved with ANY camera, and any level of photography skill. Light, is light. It doesn't matter what you use to capture it. Exciting, huh?

Getting blurry....

One question I get asked quite frequently is...

"How do I get my background blurry?"

Hold tight for just a second while I get a little technical on you. ((Not that I understand a whole lotta techy stuff))...but here goes.

When the background blurs, it is called bokeh. Pronounced Boke-aay or boke-uh.

The definition is: "a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject."

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this feature because it can make a picture that has a less than perfect background look great. I love it when I take pictures of my kids and you can't see the messy house in the background because it is all blurred and you can't even tell what the blur actually is! The way I get my blur is with my favorite lens. I know a lot of people that have the 50 mm 1.8, and LOVE it too. As far as glass goes, the 1.8 is a STEAL! This glass creates amazing bokeh because it has the ability for such a wide aperture and creates a very shallow depth of field. A shallow depth of field means that your subject is in focus and the rest of the photo is not. I love using my lens wide open (meaning the lowest aperture number it will allow) without overexposing the photo. If your aperture is open too wide, that means too much time for light to come in. So I determine my aperture according to the light and go from there. But, I always stay as low as I can to create a nice bokeh! I love it. I love it. I love it. Another reason I love my 50 mm 1.4 is because it is so great in low light situations. We will get into that another time.

For a really great explanation on bokeh...go to... The Pioneer Woman. She explains things in a way that even I can understand. It is a FANTASTIC resource for all things photography!

My Regrets...

I really try to live with NO regrets. It is just one of those things that can really make you miserable. But, there is one thing that I just can't get over. I don't have great newborn shots of my kids. Maybe this is why I love taking pictures for friends when they have their babies. I love giving them what I don't have. Sure, I have the Kiddie Kandids shots. Not bad, but definitely not the kind of pictures I will look at, drool over, and remember the sweet moments I had with the tiny new life I created with my better half. I just wish I would have invested the money, time and passion I have for photography before I had kids. I just tell myself that I am capturing things NOW, and that is the most important thing.

Tips for newborn shots: Find someone that is willing to be patient with your new baby. When I take pictures for newborns, I have NO time frame. I let the mom feed, change, love, and take care of all the baby's needs. I also like to go into the home. Keeping the baby in his/her natural element makes all the difference. When I took my oldest in for his newborn session, the wait time was 50 minutes. We waited, waited and waited some more. By the time my son was up, it had been an hour and a half. He was tired, hungry and ready to go home. The girl taking the pictures was so overwhelmed and exhausted that she really had no business taking any pictures. My baby was crying and the photographer, (I use that term loosely here) was at her wits end. She said...(and I am totally serious!) "Well, if your baby won't stop crying, then you will just have to have pictures like that." So, my oldest son's newborn pictures are awful. What was I thinking? Don't be afraid to tell your photographer what you want. I love it when people have ideas and they share them with me. I was always afraid to tell the photographer what I wanted. I felt like it was over-stepping my bounds, even though I was paying them. Include siblings. I know that for me, shots like this one are exactly what I am looking for. It may seem too overwhelming including all the kids for a newborn session, but it is so worth it. Get Dad involved too. There is nothing sweeter for me than seeing a daddy with his newborn. My kids always looked extra tiny in their dad's arms. And, of course, don't forget mom. Most moms don't want to be photographed after just giving birth. I think this is by far my biggest regret. I don't have any pictures of myself with any of my babies. It is a moment that I can never have again. As a photographer, encourage the mom to participate. Give her ideas that produce flattering pictures. As a mom, remember how important this moment is and jump in those shots.

If you are just learning photography, newborn shots are a great way to practice your photography skills. Newborns don't move too much. They sleep...A LOT! Their skin is perfect and let's face it...every picture makes mommy smile. Obviously, from my story above, I wasn't too hard to please. So, next time your friend is having a baby, don't give her footed pajamas for her baby, give her a newborn session. She will LOVE it and will cherish it always!