3. Before fancy gear, before the exposure triangle, before homemade studios and photography props … there is LIGHT. And when you understand and love light then your photography will improve and grow like never before.
4. Why is LIGHT so important??br />Shutter Speed Your camera NEEDS light to do a good job The amount of light your camera can see determines the shutter speed of your picture. VERY important for catching those fleeting first smiles. Not to mention for making nice sharp, clear pictures!
5. Same ISO, same aperture but notice the difference in shutter speed!Picture on the left is taken with the curtains closed at a shutter speed of 1/15.Picture on the right is taken with NO other change than opening the curtains and you get a shutter speed of 1/250!
6. Why is LIGHT so important?? Exposure! Putting your subjects in poor light can make for underexposed images (your pictures are dark) or overexposed images (the brights and whites are blown out and too bright). Good light helps achieve better exposure (esp. if you’re shooting in Auto) and shows off natural skin tones and shades of color.
7. Why is LIGHT so important?? To make your pictures look good! Good light is beautiful – it gives your hair highlights, makes your eyes light up and makes the trees and grass come alive with warm color.
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9. What is good light? Facing the light source parallel, or to the side (depends on the look you want) or backlight with a reflector. A lot of light around you
10. Catchlights Catchlights are a good starting indicator if you have good light or not. If your subject is facing the light, OR facing away from the main light source with a surface reflecting light into their face, then you will have catchlights.
11. Indoor DIFFUSED Light Diffused light is what you are looking for! Diffused light is found when you have light present but not direct and blaring. DIFFUSED light is bright, but non shining directly into your home.
12. Tip: Turn off all your overhead lights. They just compete with your natural light and can add unpleasant shadows and highlights.
13. Tip: Be aware of where the light falls in your home during the day. What room has the best light? What time of day do you get great light in your living room or kitchen (or other spaces you use the most). Go the whole day with the lights OFF and the curtains OPEN to really notice the light!
17. To flash or not to flash? Get to know your camera. If your camera always gives blurry pics and you are giving it all the light you can, then by all means use the flash. You will regret years worth of blurry pictures more than you regret using the flash.
18. IF your camera is capable of being used in Manual then learn how to use it! This will help you get around the problem of always relying on the flash in low-light situations. That way when you use flash it will be YOUR choice, not the cameras.
19. Outdoor Light Diffused light outdoors is also called “open shade” This could mean you are standing in the shade of a tree or building WITHOUT a barrier/roof/trees overhead. Diffused light is easy to find at sunset because the low light creates long shadows for standing in.
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21. Overcast Days Overcast days provide even light everywhere. You won’t have to worry about harsh shadows. The plus side is you can take pictures anywhere, anytime. The downside is that you miss out on the beauty and interest that happens when you incorporate light into your pictures.
22. Use overcast days for those tricky kids photo-ops: Playing at the park at 1 p.m. is MUCH easier in overcast light! Blow bubbles, ride bikes, go on a hike take advantage of the even light and do something picture worthy!
26. On their level Make it a habit of always shooting on your child’s level! If they’re on the floor, get on the floor so your camera is on level with their face. If they’re on the stomach on the ground, then you do it too!
28. Perspective adds interest When you are composing the shot YOU determine what perspective you will capture. Try shooting from above or standing on something to get high up.
29. How about laying on the ground? Ask yourself: Can I tell this story differently by changing my perspective. Get creative!
30. Rule of Thirds The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in visual arts. The rule states that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of this technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would. (Wikipedia)
31. Fill the frame Close in on the action! Determine what you want to capture and fill the frame with that (not the rest of the empty pool or the other strangers in bumper cars!)
32. Space Decide: Do you want to fill your frame, or does the background enhance the picture and help tell a story?
33. Add interest to your pictures by adding another element like leading lines: Lines that draw the viewer to your focal point and add interest and movement.
34. Another technique for added interest is creating a frame-within-a-frame:
35. Watch your behind What’s in the background? This is important for indoor and outdoor photography. Can something be moved? Cleaned up? Do you need to change your position? Get rid of distractions!
36. Watch out for bad composition Chopped body parts and poles or branches growing out from their head … not the best composition Become aware of how you’re filling the frame and what’s in the background when you are composing your shot.
37. Storytelling What is it? Literally telling a story through pictures. A photograph has the ability to convey emotion, mood, narrative, ideas and messages – all of which are important elements of story telling. This method can be used for just one picture, or a series.
38. When to use it? To capture memories that happen over time that are connected, like my daughters first year of school:
39. Long-term storytelling (like the year-long Kindergarten story) requires thinking ahead and remembering.Short-term storytelling could be a family vacation, or an afternoon with your children.
40. The important thing is you don’t just get poses, you don’t just get a slew of candids … you tell a story so that if there were no words, you would still have a beginning, middle and end.
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43. Storytelling doesn’t have to be of major life events. It is powerful to tell the small, everyday stories that happen in your home. Stories that reveal personality and interests or stories that illustrate a day in your life.
44. Tips for making it great: Plan ahead (for long-term). Be prepared with your camera! Capture different angles Get pictures of the details Write the story that goes with it!
45. Candid Photography What is it? Taking pictures without your subject noticing. In candid photography no direction is given to the person you are taking pictures of.
46. When to use it? Children playing together, little ones getting into trouble, parties, holidays – anytime when it is important to catch the action.
47. Tips for making it great: Take your camera with you! Have it out and handy at home. You never know when you’ll have a “candid” moment Don’t use flash. It kills the moment when they realize you are intruding
48. Create a candid: The easiest way to get a faux candid is to ask the people you are photographing to interact (I usually tell my husband to do something funny to get the kids to laugh). Why? Because sometimes choosing to create a candid moment creates a better picture than the picture you were trying for!
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50. Posing You are choosing the location and the light and giving direction on how they should stand.
51. When to use it? Use sparingly with your kids unless they are really good sports! You don’t want them to get sick of your camera Save posed pictures for special occasions (Easter or Christmas outfits, a snapshot when Grandma visits, first day of school pictures, a new haircut)
52. Tips for making it great: Don’t expect 3-and-unders to pose for you. Position them in great light and make them laugh and smile and shoot quickly
53. I Recommend posing older children as little as possible – they usually overdo it so it looks cheesy and stiff because they are trying hard to do what you are telling them.
55. Always have their “pairs” (two ears, two hands, two arms etc) separated with one slightly in front of the other (usually having them put one foot forward solves this problem)
56. Posing a parent and child I have one RULE that I stick to when posing a parent with a child: Have the parent be on the SAME level as the child. This could mean crouching, sitting, laying down or holding the child so their face is on level with your own.
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58. A simple in-home backdrop One LARGE blanket, two chairs and two clamps.
59. Textured blankets White (color casts and timelessness) Heavy (don’t have to worry about wrinkles) Easy to clean (baby pee and poop) watch for “Dry clean only” Bean bags and boppy’s Trash bags Heavy duty clips Keep it simple
60. Watch for wrinkles, color casts, shadows and sitting right up against the backdrop.
61. The First Year The first year is FILLED with photo opportunities. Not only the milestones like crawling, teeth and solid food, but the amazing growth and change in your baby. Watch as they change in pictures with a photoshoot just for them every three months.
62. Hospital Utilize the window light! Pictures to get at the hospital: Family picture, mom, dad, baby in the going home outfit
63. Newborn: First pictures at home Setup: The blanket/boppy combo described earlier or a simple white textured blanket. Lighting: Parallel to a large window
64. Tips: When your baby falls deep asleep find whatever room has the best light and get started. Make sure your house is really warm. A naked newborn is not happy when they are cold. If there are older siblings hanging around have dad take them out so you can take your time and not feel stressed.
65. 3 Months Set up: One simple white textured blanket. Lighting: Parallel to a large window.
66. 3 Months Posing On their back (from above and the side) On their tummy (from the front and the side) Change your camera angle from horizontal to vertical to get even more variety.
67. 6 Months Set up: Outdoor if possible or indoor with simple white textured blanket (LARGE) Lighting: Parallel to light source, or in diffused light outside
68. Posing: Sitting (with their feet facing towards you and away) On their tummy (from the front and side) Headshot
69. 9 months Setup: A good age to start outdoor pictures because they are more mobile and don’t want to stay on a backdrop. Lighting: Outdoors at sunset
70. Posing at 9 months Crawling (front and side) Standing while holding onto something for support Sitting (body facing you and away from you)
71. One Year Set up: Outdoors if possible. Balloons, birthday cake, “big girl” outfit, a chair or stool or other prop they can sit on. Lighting: Sunset (if the baby is a walker then find a location with great light at sunset since you’ll be chasing the baby around for pictures)
72. Posing 1 year: Great age for (un)posed pictures. Plan a cake smash, bring some fun props (balloons, chair etc) and follow them around while you take pictures.
73. Milestones Milestones are often under YOUR control for lighting, composition and (perhaps) posing. First smile, tooth, sitting up, eating solids, crawling, walking, pigtails First day of school, lost tooth, learning to ride a bike First date, car, dance Holidays: Special outfits, traditions and memories
74. Now What?? Your pictures aren’t doing any good just sitting on the computer ! Fill your home with LOVE.Surround yourself with MEMORIES andJOYon every wall. You will be amazed at the positive influence it will have in your home!
82. Matted Pictures Benefits: Great for a diy project (or very affordable from a professional). You’re not constrained by frame sizes .. you can create images in whatever size you want. Very inexpensive supplies. Drawbacks: When you want to switch out the pictures you have to do the project again – you’re not just switching pictures in a frame. The pictures aren’t protected by glass. (Picture from www.iprintcanvas.com)
83. Canvas Benefits: Lightweight and easy to hang. Classic and timeless look. They’re really cool Drawbacks: Can be expensive
84. DIY displays Benefits: You can customize your art to your style completely. Usually DIY projects are very affordable. Drawbacks: It takes more time than purchasing a picture frame. Pictures from: The Creative Crate, Photojojo, Martha Stewart
86. Your walls are bigger than you realize. Fill the space with large pictures for an eye-catching centerpiece in your home.
87. Small is BIG in a group Creating your own gallery or mosaic wall is a great way to use up frames you have lying all over the house (spray paint them the same color for a cohesive look). Pictures from Martha Stewart
88. Large groupings of small prints is also a great way to show off your family photos without feeling self-conscious about the quality of the pictures in enlargements. So even if you’re just starting your photo journey get those pictures on the wall!
89. More than walls… First year book School books Cookbooks Blog books Letters to Santa books Birthday books
90. THANK YOU FOR COMING! I hope you leave inspired and excited to tell your family story! If you need help getting started I am offering a HUGE DISCOUNT just for You $25 off custom family or child pictures Coupon will be emailed as soon as I receive your response to the class feedback questionnaire (May not be combined with any other offer.)
Editor's Notes
Ask class. Mention, to remember, to capture, to celebrate, what we think about is what we become, our children’s confidence, a happy home, to surround ourselves with positive happy thoughts and images, so my children don’t forget how loved they are
Where is the light coming from in this picture?
Notice the difference the light makes!
Lots of different types of good light. And there is light that is amazing and powerful and there are photographers who take what I would normally consider to be bad lighting and make an amazing photo. BUT for the sake of this class, the basic, nail-it-everytime kind of light is when your subject is parallel to the light source, or just a little to the side.
So … how do you find that nail-it-everytime good light indoors? You’re looking for difussed light inside. Direct light makes you squint so you can’t look at the camera.
You’re going to want to remember this, or at least be aware of this for those moments when you want to say “Can mommy take a picture? “ Like this moment with the haircut. It was time for a posed picture moment and I had to quickly know where the good light was and face her in such a way that I could get the light right.
Talk about shooting on their level.
At the joints too
Storytelling as a mom will be different than anything else you might hear about storytelling because to you this picture might be meaningless. But to ME it tells a big story. So don’t get caught up on what others might think … if the picture or picture series is telling a PERSONAL story, you and your family might be the only ones that get it, that feel the emotion of it and understand the message. And that’s ok
How is this different than storytelling? Well hopefully your candids DEF. take a picture. Hopefully they are full of emotion and they tell a story even if it’s one frame … the difference is, that when I’m thinking in terms of storytelling then I WILL get some posed shots (think of my daughter on the first day of school) and I might get some candid shots to. I might also set up some detail shots like the tomatoes I canned. So while candid photography tells a story I chose to separate it in how you think about it.
All of these pictures would have lost their meaning with a “say cheese” kind of moment.
Shows relationship and love. Looks less formal.
If you want to use props, and you’re interested in studio photography then I would get a backdrop or take a workshop from a boutique studio photog. This is for a natural light, organic look which is my style. Simplicity and texture rule the day over trendy props and fake wood floors
Tell your love story in your bedroom. Pictures of your children being loved in their bedrooms. Pictures of your children expressing themselves creatively in the playroom. Pictures of your family at significant spiritual locations
