Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger

Tips for Photographing Families

Posted in: Guest Blogger, The Business Of, Tips!
Tips for photographing families — a Top 10 List from Kate Craft, natural light custom photographer based in Duluth, MN/ Superior, WI.
1. Go with the flow. I like to have an idea of what poses and setups I want to use, but sometimes you have to let preconceptions go and just go with the flow! Not every family is the same so not every session will be the same…and who wants to shoot the same over and over!!
2. Provide plenty of time for breaks and horse play especially if the kids are younger. It’s easy for them to burn out fast. I like to set the camera down and play from time to time.
3. Get to know the kids make them comfortable with you. Tamara Lackey says “for 2 hours we are not raising moral human beings.” I like to tell parents let them be. As long as the children are not 100% out of control it’s all good.
4. Get your safe shots. For me, these are the posed smile at the camera portraits. Then, let your creativity fly free. Get in close, snap away as sand is thrown and twirling is happening. Capture moments that you as a mom or dad would love to have someday!
5. Shot the in between!! I like to have Mom and Dad tickle or everyone make funny faces and catch the in-between moments. The giggles and smiles are true and real!
6. Gage the kids’ personalities when you arrive. Some kids love to run free right away, others are more reserved. If the kids want to stay close to Mom and Dad, do the group shots first.
7. Take in to account children’s ages and personalities when planing locations. Ask the parents if their children are runners or good listeners, etc. and explain why you need to know. Taking a wild child to a busy urban location with heavy traffic may not work well. Scout a quiet corner and bring a ‘kid-wrangler’ along if Mom has her heart set on an urban setting.
8. Keep it professional. I have a detailed contract that explains my expectations and requirements which EVERY client must sign before their session. I am all for fun and games during the session, but I want everyone on the same page as far as expectations and delivery of goods and services. When I know all questions have been answered, it makes me more at ease which plays into my next point…
9. Let yourself be there mentally and emotionally. You need to be interacting and present to capture true emotion. You also have to get out of your head and move beyond the the technical and business aspect of the work. This means practice, practice, practice before you take on clients. The technical process must be second nature.
10. Under-promise and over deliver! This is a motto to live by and keeps everyone happy :)=20
Bonus tip : Be sure to tell Mom and Dad “just keep looking at the camera no matter what happens” when trying to get the kiddos to look at you for that group shot with everyone smiling at the camera!

Thanks Kate! Be sure to check out Kate’s work at katecraftphotography.com or on Facebook. What are your favorite tips and tricks when photographing families? Leave your comments and questions below!
Pricing Your Portrait Photography

Posted in: Guest Blogger, The Business Of, Tips!

The following is a guest post from Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography and Professional Child Photographer FAQ. Marianne’s article is a tough but important examination of pricing for emerging professional photographers. I urge you to read the article, leave your comments and questions below and check out her workshop: See The Light.

Check Yourself : Profit Is Not A Four Letter Word

When I started the See the Light Workshop in 2008 I set out to create an all-inclusive program for photographers seeking to improve not only their art but their businesses. My main goal was to help photographers gain the insight to price themselves appropriately and run legitimate (and profitable!) businesses. Frequently I am quoted as saying “profit is not a dirty word” because it is my feeling
that too many people start out as photographers thinking it’s all fun, passion and do not structure themselves as having a business first.

However we all know the point of being in business is to do one thing and one thing only: generate PROFIT. So please, repeat after me:

“PROFIT IS NOT A DIRTY WORD!”

In the years since I started my photography business: Marmalade Photography , I admit that I’ve been pricing sensitive. I have seen talented photographers with SO MUCH to offer give away the farm for free or even, more heartachingly so, paying THEIR clients with their time, energy and talent.

I know that the costs of running a business vary from person to person and my deepest wish for everyone starting a photography business is for them to succeed in a way that produces profit for them and supports the industry in a positive way. To that end I have created a sort of self-evaluation checklist for you to use in determining what your costs of running a business are. In the following “fill in the blanks” checklist I ask that you use it over the course of several sessions and monitor the time you spend doing each of the following tasks. Then I ask you to consult your tax paperwork and figure in what you are paying in out of pocket/out-of-profit costs and take a good long look at how you are running your business. This is for self evaluation and this eye opening experience will help lead you to creating a profitable business that will succeed in the long term. This checklist is meant to be an inventory of your time so be explicit in what you include. It is available as a download from the See the Light Workshop site here:

I see a lot of the following: current pricing by new (upstart) photographers ranges from $250 (or less) CDs with all images retouched and finished to $50 Groupon Specials for session + disc of retouched images to shoot & burn photography that doesn’t include post processing. The excuses may range from “Well I’m new…”, “I don’t want to rip people off…” to “I think photographers are too expensive…”.

I’ll be frank, the types of pricing models as follow do not make business sense, especially when you take all the factors in that are associated with appropriate pricing.

Let me as you a question: are you running a business or a charity? If you run a business, defined as working to generate profit, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK FOR FREE? Read More | Comments
Guest Blogger: The Tiny Light Foundation

Posted in: Guest Blogger, Inspiration of the Week

This week’s guest post comes from one of the volunteer photographers at The Tiny Light Foundation, Samaria Kapcsos. The Tiny Light Foundation offers free professional photography sessions to families with children who have had a life-altering diagnosis. For more information about their inspiring work, or to submit an application visit www.thetinylight.com.

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished~ Michael Strassfeld

What does it mean to be a Tiny Light? Though the title may conjure up an image of something small, minute, or little. There is nothing miniscule about the strength of spirit, ability to inspire, or the depths of love each and every Tiny Lights possesses.

A Tiny Light, though often small in stature, is gigantic in heart, and enormously resilient. Not the darkness of disease and illness; nor the differing of abilities can snuff the light inside these Tiny wonders, because just as the quote suggests, they give of themselves, and their light freely, never to be diminished.

A perfect example of the embodiment of what it means to be a Tiny Light is Kaden. A handsome little man with an infectious grin, and a daredevil attitude, who lights up the room wherever he goes.

Kaden was born with Cerebral Palsy, and narrowing of the airway, making every breath a struggle and every movement difficult. But that doesn’t stop this little ball of energy from just being one of the kids with his 4 brothers and sisters, or from squealing with delight as his daddy playfully tosses him in the air. Kaden has a zest for life like no other child I’ve ever met, and he exudes happiness, and love from every pore, lighting up the faces around him with beaming grins.

Written By Samaria Kapcsos of
Indi Claire Photography

–
The Tiny Light Team
www.thetinylight.com
Backlighting Portrait Tips from Erica May

Posted in: Guest Blogger, Tips!

This week, please welcome guest blogger Erica May who shares her insight on backlighting.

Rock The Backlight

Backlighting makes a portrait come alive and creates so much emotion. Anyone who follows my work will know that I am a total backlighting junkie. It can add a little romance, create a soft haze, make images sharp as a tack, or deliver a powerful statement, all depending on how you use it. I think the hardest thing about backlighting is that no amount of instruction will make you “get it.” Like so many photography skills, you have to just get out there and practice to really nail it. That said, some helpful tips can go a long way.

Let’s go over a few things that will help you rock those backlighting shots. Disclaimer: I am not claiming to be a backlighting expert. These are just the tricks that work for me =P. I have included the technical settings with each photograph as a starting point when you are out there shooting. I use a Nikon d700 and I usually have either my 85mm or 50mm on my camera.

1. Ease into it
If you are new to backlighting, don’t set yourself up for failure by starting in an open field with nothing to diffuse the light. Even experienced backlighters are challenged in these conditions. The best way to start is to have the sun peeking through some trees or around buildings. Move around and experiment with the level of sunlight coming through.

Image Notes: Notice in this image the sun is being diffused by the trees behind my subject. I tried to find a nice little pocket of light (or a spotlight) for her to stand in.
Settings: f/2.5, 1/800s, ISO 200, 50mm

2. Haze or No Haze
You can set the mood by the amount of haze you allow in your pictures. I always like to create a variety of haze and no haze shots in case a client doesn’t like the “hazy” look. By allowing the sun’s rays to hit your sensor you will add haze to your images. If you block the sun with a lens hood or your hand (my personal choice), you will reduce the amount of sun hitting your sensor. You can eliminate the haze completely by shooting down on your subject. Having them sit on the ground and shooting from above prevents the sun from hitting your sensor and creates a super sharp backlit image. Some haze can be reduced in post-processing by increasing your blacks and your contrast; but getting it right in the camera is even better!

Image Notes: In this image the sun was setting and directly behind my subjects. I had to change my position several times to get just the right amount flare at the right place. If I would have been standing lower than my subjects the flare would most likely be under their chins and over their faces which would be distracting.
Settings: f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 200, 50mm

3.Watch your “blinkies”
You may be thinking, “What are blinkies?” This tip refers to paying attention to your highlights to make sure you don’t blow out your image too much. The “blink” method is just a quick way to make sure you haven’t over-exposed too much. In my camera, highlights are set to blink in the areas I have overexposed (meaning they won’t print). That way, I can make sure I haven’t blown any highlights on the face or skin. If you shoot RAW you can recover some of your blown highlights in post-processing; however, only so much can be recovered and these severely overexposed areas usually have a funky tone to them. Your camera meter is not a good gauge when shooting directly into the sun, so you should take a few test shots and review to see where your settings should be.

4. Use a reflector
I know reflectors can be cumbersome, (I’ve had a few reflectors fly away in high winds!) but if you practice with one you will notice a huge difference in your backlit images. For close-ups I always use a reflector to add fill light on my subject’s face, even out the exposures, and create those beautiful catch-lights in their eyes. The more you use a reflector, the more you will get used to it. You can use one by yourself, I promise. I never have an assistant with me on shoots. I usually just tuck the reflector under my arms and hold it against my body. It takes a little practice and I may look like a huge dork, but it works! I use a 5-in-1 reflector and almost always have the white side reflecting on to my subject.

The top image is straight out of the camera with no reflector. It is flat and she has no catchlights in her eyes. In the lower image the subject’s skin is brighter and has a better tone. She also has beautiful catchlights in her eyes.

In this image you can see my reflector in her sunglasses. This was at the end of the shoot and the sun was pretty harsh (morning session) so I was standing above my client to minimize haze and using a reflector to fill from the front.
Settings: f2.8, 1/1600, ISO 250, 50mm

5. Wear White
You can become a walking reflector if you wear a white shirt during your shoots. Often, the catch-lights you see in my subject’s eyes are actually me =). Wearing white also prevents you from casting any weird color casts on your subject’s face as the sun bounces off you and back onto them.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no magic advice I can give you to master backlighting; but hopefully between using these tips and lots of practice you can achieve that yummy glow we all love! So get out there and shoot into the sun and don’t give up. Practice makes perfect!

Erica May is a portrait photographer based out of Dallas, TX specializing in seniors and newborns. For more examples of her work, check out her website and become a fan on Facebook.

// Erica May Photography // Follow Erica on Facebook //

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Guest Blogger: 5 Tips for Children’s Sessions by Summerland Photography

Posted in: Guest Blogger, Tips!

This week, please welcome guest blogger Summerland Photography who reveals some tips for photographing children.

Kids can be a challenge to capture, especially at a family session where you’ve got lots of people to photograph and parents stressed out about getting their money’s worth. Here’s a recent family session and a few tips I use to make these sessions natural and carefree.

Capturing Childhood One Family Session at a Time

I love it when everything you could hope for in a session comes true! I first photographed this family a year ago for the youngest daughter’s newborn session. I was overjoyed to discover the perfect barn and pasture right next to their home. Talk about a score! When I did their family photos this year, I knew I was going to have some fun taking full advantage of it.

Photography is much like real-estate; Location! Location! Location! But, even with the perfect location taken care of, there’s still plenty you need to do so you don’t waste a good opportunity.

1. Wardrobe is key. I tell my mom’s at their pre-session consultation to think about layers, textures, and accessories. At a newborn session I recommend keeping everyone in light, solid neutrals to not overwhelm the tiny baby, but at a child and family session they can incorporate more color and pattern. Just be sure to not make everybody matchy-matchy. Everyone wearing the same color and shirt is beyond 80’s and it’s a nightmare. I send them to websites like GAP and J.Crew Kids for inspiration.

2. Time of day. Yes the golden time of two hours before sunset is lovely, but little kids often can’t last that late. It’s better to have slightly less than ideal lighting and a happy kid. As a result I usually begin my sessions at about 5:30 p.m. That means I need to at least start the session in some open shade. I like to take them just to the edge of it, with the sun at their back which gives them just a little bit of rim light on their hair. Then I use a reflector to bounce the light back at them and brighten up the shadows. Once the sun gets a little lower then you can take them out of it and use either backlighting or direct lighting. I’m a big fan of the back lighting, though. You don’t have to worry about them squinting, and the light just exudes perfect summer day.

3. Keep them engaged. A little kid is only going to sit still for so long, and then they start looking surly and grumpy. You know the face I mean. When I need them to stay in place I use a fun chair or old crate for them to sit on. Then I get them to start telling me stories or knock-knock jokes. Need a really young child to smile? Have everyone sing the “Happy Birthday” song or even the alphabet. Then get everyone to start clapping. Babies love this and always start smiling.

4. Have the parents take a little walk. Kids can feel when mom or dad is stressed. If you have them standing over you barking at little Johnny to smile or look at the camera, not only will he not smile, but he won’t be looking at you either. I warn parents ahead of time that I’ll be doing this. Once the parents are out of the general area the child starts to relax and act more like himself.

5. A parent’s love. When it’s time to shoot pictures with just the parent and child, take you and your camera out of the equation. Get the parent to engage the child with kisses and tickles. Have them sing songs, tell stories, read a book, or just count all of their little chubby toes. Then just step back and capture it. Those will be the images they cherish, not the ones of them both looking at the camera.

Children grow and change so fast, and it’s an honor to be able to capture that. Go into your session with an open and cheerful heart and a child-like sense of wonder, and you’ll be sure to come back with pictures that reveal the magic that is childhood.

Sandy Summers Russell is a former metro newspaper photojournalist who fell in love with a small-town farm boy. She married him, moved to the middle of nowhere, became a mom, and started Summerland Photography in exactly that order. Now, instead of shooting breaking news, professional sporting events, and heartrending human interest features, she photographs brand new babies, fleet-footed toddlers, and jubilant weddings.

// By Summerland Photography // Follow on Facebook //