Try this!

First, I need to start off by saying what a gorgeous day it was yesterday! It was 62º and sunny out and it's February.  I couldn't ask for more!

I've been wanting to get some new images of the girls for some Wild Sorbet frames I ordered back in November but it's just never been the right time. (weather is bad, clothes are wrong, one is napping, one is in school etc).  I don't worry too much about what my girls are wearing when I take their photos, unless it's for something specific. Since these are going on the wall in the space I use for ordering sessions, I wanted them to be somewhat coordinated. Well, yesterday the girls happened to coordinate really well and it wasn't on purpose! So couple that with this gorgeous weather and a little outdoor fun, and walla! I've got myself some images for my walls.

I'm just coming off a photography class taught by the incredible Brooke Snow and I learned so much. I thought I'd pass along a little tip I learned from Brooke that immediately impacted my images.  It's not something that I hadn't heard of before, but it is something I hadn't been intentional about trying, until I had someone walk me through it. And that is what I hope to do for you. Encourage you to try something new that will improve your images!

Now, I'm obviously not a writer by trade, so I apologize if this gets wordy! The simple, but wonderful tip is to interact with your subject(s) to elicit authentic emotion. (And I mean more than just saying, "Smile!" or "Johnny, look over here!") Forget about getting everyone to look right at you. Forget about getting everyone just right and resist saying, "Smile!".  Now, straying from this traditional method of photographing might force some of you out of your comfort zone (It did me!) and it may take a few minutes longer but I think you will love the results.  I talked a little about it in this post.

I have leaned towards the just right, posed set-up for many years in my business and with my own kids. Everyone is situated just right, clothes and hair in place, everyone looking at the camera and if they don't, the blood starts to boil and the bribes/threats come out. 1, 2, 3, "Smile!"  Click. {Camera smiles} My images were nice, but nothing like when I tried this out. As I think back on many of my ordering sessions this past year, I recall moms saying, "That's a good photo, but that's just not his/her real smile." Well, this will help you get that smile. The proof is in the eyes.

What I did:
•I told the girls we were going to go out and play and I was going to take some photos of them playing.
•I gave the girls things to do. (spin around, play ring around the rosie, run towards me, hug your sister tight) Or I talked with them about things until I got the reaction I wanted.
•I snapped away!

Can you see it in her eyes? (Yes, this 7.5 year old smile is in transition!:)

Pretty doable, right? Now don't worry. Every photo doesn't have to be of your subjects laughing. Change it up a bit. Wait through the laugh and catch the smile at the end. Or try for the soft smile, or serious look.

So, next time you take out your camera try these interactive tips. Have your kids play a little game. Have them give the other a bear hug. Ask them questions about their lives and then wait.  Wait for that moment and SNAP. Grab that authentic emotion and freeze that moment.

Thanks for reading my long post and checking out the tip I learned.  Hope to sprinkle more tips in my posts here and there in the next months. Let me know if you try it and tell me what you think! You can comment or email me directly.

How do I love thee?

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I knew I wanted to work something subtle in to my session with the Poindexters. The poem I referenced in this blog title is by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and is meant for one's true love, but I used it as inspiration for the session I had last week with this trio of siblings. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be neat to capture the kids having fun doing activities that expressed their love towards each other.

To start, the kids had some fun making Valentine "cootie catchers" or "fortune tellers". It was fun to see the sayings they put on the inside and watch them take turns trying them out on each other. Next they each made a heart for one of their siblings sharing what they loved about them or were grateful for. Although the statements were short, they were still sweet!

I hope you get to do something fun with your someone special tomorrow! Have a sweet Valentine's Day!

The Scholtens Family

I had a great time interacting with the Scholtens family this past Sunday! Yes, I interact with all my clients but it was a little different this time.  I've been taking a wonderful class by Brooke Snow and have been learning some great practices! One of which, is the role my interaction with my subjects plays in eliciting authentic laughs and smiles. It's easy to get caught up in setting up a shot, getting the right camera settings and even getting that "camera smile" from my subjects. I am learning that that camera smile is good, but I want better. I want that raw emotion.  But to elevate my photography to that level, I need to help my clients feel comfortable in front of the camera so that authenticity shines through.  I've found I'm not at a point where that is second nature while I am shooting. I can interact and have fun all day, if that's all I have to focus on.  The challenge for me is to hone this so it becomes automatic amongst all the other things I am thinking about during a session.

These photos were taken using some of the "invites" and games I've learned about. I still have a lot of practice to do, but I sure like the results so far!

Emily and 52 week family photo project.

Wanted to add a couple more of Emily.  For those who might try to read what is on her hand, it says, "We  must be careful of what we pretend to be."  She keeps a quote of the day on her hand. ;)

On another note, if you decided to do a 52 week family photo project, how is it going? I am a little behind! So far the photo themes have been: in the car, group photo, mealtime. And that is where I have left off! I hope to catch up today. Click here for the original explanation of the project and here for this week's theme. Don't worry if you are behind. Jump in today! I'll post some of mine in another post this weekend. (have a girls weekend planned to catch up on my family photos!) Remember, throw perfectionism out the window on this project. Just take the photos! You will notice, mine are not edited. The color might be off, etc. Just do it!

Happy Friday!