Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Inspire: Photographing Your Own Children by Chubby Cheek Photography

Posted in: Child, Family, Inspire, Lifestyle

Chubby Cheek Photography is easily becoming one of my favorite children’s photographer. You’ll love their ability to capture moments that tell a story on top of their clean and minimal photography style.

Shalonda has shared some wonderful tips on how to photograph your own children with your “fancy” camera.

From Chubby Cheek Photography: Having been in business for four crazy years, weekend after weekend of session after session, I have been burned out and back so many times. My normal everyday relationship with my camera was not a pretty one…dare I say it…yes I will…I began to hate my camera. when we were playing in the backyard I didn’t want to fiddle with it so I wouldn’t get it. when we went to the zoo, aquarium, museum I wouldn’t take it, it was too cumbersome, bulky, in the way, just too much to handle with a 2 year old and 4 year old. Plus, if I’m being honest, I do not own a backup so if something happened to it while we were out, it was bad bad news for me from a business perspective.

But earlier this year I realized that I was not being fair to my own kids or to myself. I spend so much time capturing moments for strangers and totally missing moments for myself…I vowed to no longer rely on a cell phone or point and shoot cameras, yes I had this camera for my business BUT I also had it for myself! I paid a lot for it and all of the bells and whistles, I spent a lot of time learning how to use it properly and by golly, I deserved to capture my own memories with it! So that’s what I have been doing and I haven’t looked back.

Tips for improving your relationship with your camera and shooting for yourself:

1. Live and shoot for today.
While photo a day projects are fun, they are also difficult to commit to and keep up with. So just set a goal to take your camera out to capture everyday moments of your own children once a week.

2. Don’t shoot as a business owner shoot as a mom.
Just shoot for yourself and for your kids. Trust in your ability as a photographer. These images don’t have to be technically perfect or perfectly edited, in fact you may never edit them but at least you have them!

3. Shoot the unexpected, spice it up.
Take your camera with you to one unexpected place that you regularly go to. I promise this is addicting! If your family goes to a favorite restaurant every week/month take your camera. We all go to the grocery store every week, if your kids go with you like mine do, take your camera. Maybe yall go to home depot every sunday after church, yep you guessed it take your camera. The point is be creative, try new shooting or editing techniques.

4. Don’t take your camera or your “moments” for granted.
You have been given a gift and the knowledge of how to use it, do it! Our kids are so lucky to have moms/dads who are photographers, but I think so many of us have found that we are so busy with other peoples shoots that we are lucky to get in a yearly shoot for our own kids, me included. Stop that! Stop it today!

Remember it doesn’t have to be the perfect lighting or a perfectly set up shoot…playing in the playroom, reading books on their beds, bubbling up in the bath, helping with chores….it doesn’t matter just CAPTURE THEM BEING THEM, you won’t regret it!

// By Chubby Cheek Photography // Follow on Facebook //
Inspire: Family Session by Jennifer Weiss Photography

Posted in: Child, Family, Inspire, Lifestyle

This session by Jennifer Weiss Photography was submitted just yesterday but when I saw it, I was totally in love because it was so appropriate for Spring. In addition to the beautiful photography, the styling is so adorable. And since many of us do family sessions in the park, it’s nice to see what CAN be do with a simple location.

From Jennifer Weiss Photography: I had the pleasure of photographing the Boulter Family this week, a gorgeous, sweet family of 4. As soon as they stepped out of their SUV I was in love. Lily, 5, was wearing a vintage inspired dress from Chasing Fireflies. Violet, 2, complimented her sister’s dress with a ruffled trimmed top and pants set. I loved their hair accessories, too.

On the agenda: Violet needed new headshots for her modeling portfolio and mom, Tara, also wanted some new family photos. We met up at a local park in Jupiter, FL in the early evening to take advantage of the lovely lighting. Violet was always on the go, which made it a little difficult to photograph her. There were peacocks in the fields where we were shooting, so I’d try to get Violet’s attention by calling out when I saw a peacock. She seemed disinterested. Come to find out, she referred to them as puppies. So cute!

// By Jennifer Weiss Photography // Follow on Facebook //
Inspire: Family Session by Linda Gentry Photography

Posted in: Family, Inspire, Lifestyle

When Linda Gentry Photography submitted this session, she entitled it, “Go with the flow.” Go with the flow indeed! What was supposed to be a beach session turned into mud when one of the boys got mud on his shirt and the family did not bring a change of clothes. Instead of calling it a day, they decided to make the most of it.

One of the best things about this session is not only that they just went with it, but the photojournalistic aspect of these photographs. Linda captured a family just having fun with each other – and these expressions are what makes the photographs priceless.

From Linda Gentry Photography: You know how sometimes you have a vision for a session? You plan and scheme and load your car full of props to head to your location. Meanwhile, your clients have their own ideas. They have their clothing meticulously picked out. The kids have fresh haircuts and their husband has been warned to behave. And, when you get started… well, things don’t go just as planned. This session was an awesome lesson in “go with the flow.” And, this family’s ability to go with the flow, as well as mine, allowed me to capture one of my absolute favorite sessions.

We wandered down to the river’s edge to begin shooting this sunset beach themed session when we soon realized that instead of beach, we had mud. Without a moment’s notice and with only a few frames captured, my client’s oldest son had a streak of mud down his perfect shirt. I looked at Mom and asked if she had any changes of clothing. Disappointed, she said “no.” So I said, “Well, what do you think if we just let them go for it?” And, that’s what we did. I’ll say that we were a MESS when we were done. But, we honestly had a really fun time and I left with one a session that I’m so proud to share. These boys just melt my heart when I see their pictures. The family was thrilled with their session and they’ve got some wonderful canvas and wall prints displayed throughout their home.

My tips for a session like this:

1. Don’t over plan. When you are working with kids, they will ultimately decide what works.

2. Prepare the parents for a “go with the flow” attitude. Make sure they know that they don’t have to control their kids for your session.

3. Ask parents to dress the kids in something that is very comfortable. They’ll act more like themselves if they feel like themselves.

4. Dirty is ok. Nobody’s kids are perfectly clean. Or, at least, mine isn’t.

5. Don’t be afraid to MOVE during your session. Capture your subject from all angles and be creative with the light. Try not to get boxed in by thinking that your light has to come from one direction or another.

6. Meter, Adjust, Shoot. Meter, Adjust, Shoot. Meter, Adjust, Shoot. Rapid fire.

7. Don’t plan a nice social gathering for yourself after a location session. I always expect to leave sweaty and gross. :)

// From Linda Gentry Photography // Follow on Facebook //
Inspire: Day In the Life Of by Photography by Irina

Posted in: Child, Inspire, Lifestyle

We don’t have enough featured day-in-the-life-of sessions, so I was excited to receive this session by Photography by Irina. I definitely want to do more sessions like these to capture those everyday moments. Irina does a fantastic job telling a story. With day-in-the-life-of sessions, you definitely want to capture both the details and the moments and Irina does it beautifully here.

From Photography by Irina: This was a session with my own children to advertise my newest package “A Day In The Life.” The session was done around 6 pm. My kids LOVE to pose for the camera and my son, Gabriel even asks me to take his picture when he THINKS that he’s done something cute! Marie is a quite an angel that usually takes a lot to get to laugh. She’s very serious most of the time and to capture her joy at bath time was priceless! More pics here: www.photographybyirina.com

// By Photography by Irina // Follow on Facebook //
Inspire: Holidays by Gina Maxine Photography

Posted in: Family, Inspire, Lifestyle

This session by Gina Maxine Photography is just perfect for the holidays! Don’t you just love sessions that tell a story? Hope you are inspired next year to take your children to a Christmas Tree farm and remember to photograph a story that includes a lot of the little details. :)

By Gina Maxine: The other day, I took my kids to Holloway’s Christmas Tree Farm. To make the photos a little bit more interesting, I took a lot of detail shots, kind of like what wedding photographers do. The pine needles, the saw, the signs all help tell the story. We live in the Central Coast of California so my children never get to see snow. There was a whole section with trees that were covered in “snow” and she was so enthralled by it that she kept on touching it. So, my tip of the day is to take abunch of detail shots. It will be a lot easier when you make cards and albums later on. Happy Holidays!

// By Gina Maxine Photography //