Tips on a successful family shoot.

Tips and tricks to achieve the best family photo session. It's isn't always easy to get the best family photos. The larger the family the more difficult to get everyone kids included to cooperate. 

Small families typically are the easiest to photograph with older children. They can be positioned and listen well to achieve a flawless photo. I find with younger kids it's much easier to just allow them to do what they do put them in the area you want them and then allow them to be kids talk to everyone in the family and move around a little the photos will be more effortless and pretty. 

I love for children to being props will help such as a small toy that would blend with the photo. I also like to hold a variety of stuffed animals . I being a few different ones because sometimes kids do not always respond to the one you pick.   I try to pick a character that allot of kids know. Olaf from frozen is popular so he has been the best animal right now.  Having toys that squeak or rattle are good to have for children under 5. I like to bring small stools or chairs also for the kids to sit on. 

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The perfect mommy and me photo session.

The With Mother's Day quickly approaching mommy and me photo shoots are very popular. What a wonderful way to create a lasting moment between a mother and her children. I often offer these sessions for girls and boys. For these I think it is important to have some type of props to engage the mother and child. For girls I purchased this gorgeous tea sets. It's China but small and children sized. I opted to go for the real deal instead of plastic because it looks so much nicer in a photo. For boys I have a few children's books that are large enough when photographed can be easily seen. 

 

I love the idea also of incorporating something to sit on. I found this gorgeous bench that matches the set well.   I did standing , seated on the floor and settee for posing options. If the child has been taller they could have also leaned over the back of the settee.  

For the editing I tried to give these more a vintage feel. I wanted them to be light in color and soft. Do I did a soft lense focus of 2.8 to keep them very soft. I even went on photo shop and added more lense blur. I also instructed the mother and daughter to wear coordinating colors for there photo shoot. This will make a huge difference in the final outcome of your session. 

I have also recent offered a photo locket to purchase. These have an antique feel and a 2x2 inch photo locker on them.  They are around 28. The price is good and product is beautiful. 

These photos have been very popular. It's a wonderful chance to capture children and their mother at young age. Something That they will treasure as a lasting memory. 

How to take a pretty bridge photo.

A landscape can be one of the hardest things to photograph. I would suggest picking the best time of day for your photos. Pick a time of day when your bridge is light perfectly. This way your bridge will stand out in a photo. I like to also shoot in camera settings with a higher appeture number. Higher number will allow you to have a more in focus photo. I prefer having a bridge photo that is more in focus with a background slightly in focus. To much background blurr for a landscape is just not something I prefer.  Think of a different viewing perspective.  Get up higher than normal or lower than normal this will make for a more visually interesting photo. Posting the same straight on view that every spectator can post on their phone just isn't the best option. The photo below was taken at sunset at point park in Parkersburg, WV. I am always chasing a beautiful sky.  Www.amandabuckleyimaging.com 

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