5 Things any Mom can do to take great photos at home.

Yesterday a friend of mine and I photographed her daughter in my studio. My friend is an amateur photographer, but a quick study. Hanging out with her and sharing some tips on how to use her fancy new camera gave me the idea of posting a few tips for every Mom or Dad who wants to take better photos of their kids at home.

1. Look for great light: Forget your on camera flash.
Either take your kids outside and use the best light source in the universe (you know, the Sun?) or during the day use the lovely soft light of a window, skylight, or open door. Keep in mind that photographs are a 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional object. Using the on camera flash creates flat, straight forward lighting that will make your kids look lifeless and many times, overexposed. If you are using a SLR camera you can adjust your ISO to increase the camera's sensitivity to the light. Keep in mind this also increases noise. Many point and shoots also allow you to increase your ISO or they automatically adjust to lower light. Most of all keep in mind that photography is all about light and that it might not be a good idea to always shoot in low light conditions if you want good images. In the image to the left you can see a slight shadow on the left side of Hannah's face. Here the light source was from my right side, about 45 degrees from me and the camera. This subtle shift in the direction of the light makes her look natural. The flat lighting of an on camera flash would have also created harsh shadows under her chin and along one side of her body; not attractive. Good images have a great balance of light and shadow. In summary; they mimic the way our eyes are used to seeing things in real world.

2. Pay attention to your shadows.
Once you've found a good light source, consider where your shadows are falling. If you are photographing your kids outside, think about the time of day. Early morning and later in the afternoon will give you more dramatic directional shadows. I love to shoot people about an hour before sunset. The light is still enough to get a good exposure but no one is blinded when facing the sun. If you do happen to find yourself shooting at noon day, a good way to avoid harsh shadows is to find shade. ( I know, it sounds counter-intuitive, but just go with me here.) Find the shade of a large tree or the open shade of a building. In these spots the light is dispersed and you'll have less of a chance of unattractive shadows. If no open shade is available, try turning 45 degrees from the direction of the sun on a bright day. Luckily, if you live in the greater Pudget Sound, like me harsh shadows are rarely a problem between the months of November-June. Cloud cover provides a natural diffusion of the light (ie- the direction of the light is broken up as it passes through the clouds creating soft shadows and the same kinds of light you'll find in open shade).

3. Get Closer.
Not every image needs to be a panoramic photograph. Instead try to fill the viewfinder or screen with only information you want and nothing you don't need. Portraits are about people. Feel free to include them specifically. This doesn't mean you never take a full body shot of your kids, but it is good to think a little bit about how the composition will look and if additional "stuff" will be distracting.

4. Play with angles.
It's fun to see things from a new perspective. Try getting high above, or down low. Even tilting the camera a little so your subject isn't perfectly perpendicular to the horizon. Images photographed from eye level (the view you see normally when standing up) is well, boring. Mix it up. Just ask any of my clients. I'm not opposed to laying on the ground for a photo. Some of my favorites come from this angle.
This photo of Hannah is photographed from above which emphasizes her size and face.

5. Don't always worry if they are smiling. My favorite photos are many times the ones where you can see what the kid is thinking. Have fun with them, don't make them hate photo time by always requiring perfection. My kids love to have their pictures taken because I let them do whatever they want. Now at 4 and 3, they have developed their own favorite poses and they even ask "Mommy, can we take pictures?" What I love about this last picture is the "baby pout" on Hannah's face. Those Gerber baby cheeks are accentuate and she's staring right at me. Plus look at how blue those eyes are? Super cute, but no smile. I love it.

Thanks Heidi for the fun afternoon and such a cooperative model.

Spring means great portraits on location!

Any Washington native will tell you, no group of people on earth rejoice more when the first sunny days of spring arrive then those of us in Western Washington. After six months of perpetual overcast, it's hard not to cut out early from work, throw on a pair of shorts and enjoy the great weather while it lasts! I have to admit I'm no exception and I love the warm spring air but for me, nice weather means it's time to get to work. This post is centered around all of the great types of photos that I love to shoot on a sunny Seattle spring day.

In my business the old real estate slogan "location, location, location" also applies. A great photo is often made by the surroundings. For example, below are photos recently done in Mt. Vernon at the start of the 24th annual Skagit Tulip Festival. The spring color of daffodils, cherry tree blossoms, and of course tulips, speak to the wonderful rebirth of spring like nothing else can. Being on location will always create a more comfortable

environment for your child, since all children are uniquely connected and fascinated by the variety of the outside world. This means more opportunities for portraits that reflect your child's personality and carry greater depth and personal significance then those shot in a studio. The images represent more then a photo school, the speak to an experience and how our children relate to the world around them.


Second only to my love of adorable kids, is the fun that photographing high school seniors brings. It's great to see these young adults as they move to the next phase. I find their goals, ambition, and personal perspective refreshing and I want to express that in each photo. Plus, photographing seniors is very similar to a fashion shoot, but without the deadlines and cooperate undertones. And going on location is the best way to capture all of that excitement. This time of year we are looking for seniors that are fun and outgoing to be photo reps in their schools. We provide a free location session lasting 1.5 hours and including as many clothes changes as you wish, free personalized referral cards (photos from your session), and all of your images on CD and ready to be uploaded to facebook, myspace, or anywhere you wish. For each friend you refer that books with us you'll receive a $20 photo credit or $15 cash. Presently we need seniors from all over the Pudget Sound, so please call us or email to apply. 425.367.4781 or irene@ijphoto.net .

Finally,we have family portraits. Now most of us really only start to think about our family portraits during the holiday season. But by the time November rolls around, your options for locations are limited to anything indoors. This does not mean that the only portraits you can get are those done in a studio! I find the best location for family portraits to be where the family resides. This allows for a comfortable and relaxed setting and no worries about trying to make it to the studio without someone having a meltdown or falling in the mud. Spring and summer do offer a greatest variety for locations and many times the most memorable portraits. It just takes a little foresight and planning! During the months of April-June all location sessions for families of 6 or smaller can receive a 1 hour location shoot for half off! Simply mention this blog posting and save.