September, 2009
Trick or Treat © Tim Pannell Photography
I love taking Halloween photos of kids. There’s nothing cuter than a little bitty kid in a totally killer costume.
Halloween is my favorite holiday. I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s because that’s about the time we start getting amazing weather here in Arizona.
I love the crispness in the air, the colors, the costumes, the candy. I love it all.
© Tim Pannell Photography
There are so many great opportunities to take great pictures too. From carving the pumpkins and making cookies, to the obvious cute costumes and trick or treating.
You can use available light outdoors and get all kinds of great looking light. If you’re outside early enough, try doing some back-lighting. All these images were done just with available light.
No reflectors, no strobes, no nothing. Just work on understanding where your light is coming from and do your best to get some nice highlights on your heroes.
Carving © Tim Pannell Photography
The other really nice thing about Halloween is that the kids are so excited about what’s going on that they don’t get too wrapped up in the camera being around.
© Tim Pannell Photography
They eventually stop paying attention to you and start getting wrapped up in whatever it is they’re doing. Usually, that’s the best stuff.
Just keep it simple. Use a fairly open f-stop to blow out your backgrounds and don’t get too crazy with the props.
Be sure to check out the Photo Mommies Online Photography Workshop that starts on October 21st and register before it gets filled up.
© Tim Pannell Photography
Well, it’s finally here. We had a couple little hiccups with the website this last week, but we’re ready to begin registration for the Photo Mommies Online Photography Workshop.
The workshop begins on October 19th. It goes on for 8 weeks. If you want to see the curriculum, just follow this link: Photo Mommies Workshop.
This comprehensive workshop is designed to help the amateur photographer that wants to get more out of their digital camera. If you have kids and want to take better photographs of them, this is the workshop for you.
Learn what it takes to create beautiful photographs of your children. From how to navigate your way through all the bells and whistles on today’s cameras, to using available light, to simple composition and how to find good backgrounds and props.
You’ll also learn basic Photoshop and retouching techniques, digital workflow and how to store your files properly.
There will be weekly modules available to download with the lessons so you can learn at your own pace throughout the week. There will be tasks and assignments to challenge you each week to grow and stretch beyond your current comfort zone.
The fee for the 8 week workshop is just $299. Get registered now. www.photomommies.com/workshop
Little Cuties © Tim Pannell Photography
I got to shoot two little girls yesterday. What a hoot! The youngest is one and her older sister is 2 1/2. They are adorable.
Their parents are friends of ours from church. I see them every week, but I didn’t really know much about their 2 little cuties.
Sisters © Tim Pannell Photography
The first time I shoot with kids, I try not to push too hard for a preconceived shot. It rarely works out the way you plan. It’s better to just kind of go with the flow.
The younger they are, the shorter window of opportunity you will typically have. We shot for under 2 hours, which is a long time for 2 little ones of their ages.
Try to find a couple places that have good available light and backgrounds. Find some props to help keep them from paying too much attention to you and then start shooting away.
We started out with a little kitchen set. Eden, the 2 year old loves to bake! This was the easiest way to get her into shooting without “posing” for the camera.
Eden the Chef © Tim Pannell Photography
Eventually, they get used to you and you can get some natural looking shots of the kids just being kids.
The struggles with available light are almost always focus related. I have great lenses and yet they still struggle to lock on sometimes when the subject has lots of “energy.”
"Popular" © Tim Pannell Photography
Shoot anyway. Even if they’re moving in and out of focus. Sometimes you can get some happy little accidents. Blurry isn’t always a bad thing.
I shot most of these images at f2 between 1/125th and 1/200th of a second, ISO rating of 800. No fill lights, no reflectors. I wanted to show what can be done with no additional lighting.
Little Chef © Tim Pannell Photography
Most people starting out in photography just have the camera and a couple of lenses. Sometimes people mistakenly believe they can’t get great photographs without a lot of “stuff.” You don’t have to have fancy studio lighting equipment to get great shots.
© Tim Pannell Photography
You can add additional lighting to your “kit” in due time. There’s nothing wrong with taking baby steps in the beginning.
© Tim Pannell Photography
The most important thing to remember when shooting little kids is to try to make it fun and no big deal. It’s not life or death if you don’t end up getting an amazing shot.
© Tim Pannell Photography
If you try to force the situation you could ruin a lot of your chances for getting great shots the next time. You don’t want your kids going AWOL any time they see you pull your camera out.
© Tim Pannell Photography
Remember, Just have FUN!
Registration for the Photo Mommies Online Photography Workshop begins on Tuesday, September 22nd. Be sure to sign up, there will only be 125 spaces.
day in the life A © Tim Pannell Photography
Have you ever started taking photographs of your family in the morning and shot throughout the day til bedtime? “A day in the life” coverage can be a whole lot of fun.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that unless something special is going on, there’s nothing worth shooting. You don’t need any “special events” to get great pictures.
Just for kicks, try shooting some of the more mundane events of your day and see what happens.
I think you’re in for a surprise. There’s no pressure when you’re just shooting ordinary stuff. Play around, have a little fun. Be loose. Be freewheeling.
Your kid’s eating pancakes……photo. Your kid’s walking out the front door with her oversized backpack…….photo. Your child’s playing video games…….photo. Your little munchkin is doing her homework……photo.
Day in the Life B © Tim Pannell Photography
Keep your camera handy throughout the day and see how many great shots you can make in a given day.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Photo Mommies Online Workshop. Registration begins next Tuesday – September 22nd. Classes start on October 19th.
Day at the Beach © Tim Pannell Photography
Everybody I know wants to be able to take better pictures of their families. We have all kinds of important occasions in our families that we want to record and be able to look back on.
Think of all the holidays, birthdays, vacations, family reunions, school plays, sports programs, not to mention all of the everyday “ordinary” activities that can provide extraordinary opportunities to make great photographs.
My wife and I are at a point in our lives when our kids are moving out of the house. It’s very bittersweet. We’re excited to see our kids growing up and moving off to college to take on the world, but there’s a rather large piece of us that yearns for those days, not so long ago, when we had everyone at home in our own little nuclear family.
I recently went through the last 18 years of transparencies from my career, organizing them and boxing them up for long term storage. To say that it was memory lane would be an understatement.
I have all of my children’s lives documented in these boxes. It’s hard to believe how quickly they have grown up. We have 2 left at home, a 16 year old son and an 11 year old son. There’s really not much time left until they will be moving on as well.
It makes me want to take advantage of that time and make sure we create some wonderful memories to take with us into the future.
If you have a digital camera, use it. Keep it handy so it’s easily accessible. If something fun starts happening at home, grab it and start shooting. Don’t stop whats happening and have people look into the camera, that can seriously interrupt the flow of the moment.
The Toss © Tim Pannell Photography
The first couple of times you do this, your kids may be a bit self conscious, but as they get used to you whipping out that camera, they’ll learn to almost completely ignore you and you’ll be able to create some wonderful candid photographic moments.
Not everything has to be set up with extra lighting. Natural light is wonderful when you know how to use it properly. The more you shoot, the more you start understanding how best to position yourself with respect to the available light.
Some of my favorite shots I’ve taken over the years are some of my simplest setups. The “daddy – daughter” shot in this post was available light only, no reflectors or anything. i just wanted to be a fly on the wall and get them just being together.
No elaborate setup, no over the top emotions or expressions. It’s a simple, classic look and feel. I love shooting at the beach more than just about anything. The sound of the surf coming in and going out is very relaxing and lends itself to feelings of timelessness.
If you’re interested in learning more about lighting, f-stops, shutter speeds, composition and just photography in general, be sure to sign up below for the Photo Mommies Online Photography Workshop. Registration begins in just 2 weeks – September 22nd. The 8 week class starts on October 19th. Enrollment is just $300.
© Tim Pannell Photography
I’m getting ready for the October 19th launch of my Photo Mommies Online Photography Workshop. The goal is to help moms use their cameras better and get better pictures of their kids. It’s been a lot of fun creating the curriculum.
I’ll also be creating Camtasia videos showing step by step Photoshop techniques at the end of August once the software is available for Macs.
So, if you’re a mom that is passionate about photography and your kids and want to take your photo skills to a higher level, this is the perfect photo workshop for you.
I’ve been a successful commercial photographer for over 24 years and will be sharing insights, tips and secrets I’ve learned over those years as I’ve worked with thousands of kids.
Here’s what some people I’ve worked with over the last decade or two say:
Pete Schnaitmann
Peter Schnaitmann – Executive Producer – Corbis
“Tim and I have worked together for over six years at Corbis and I have enjoyed every minute of it! He is an amazing photographer who has the ability to work with people of all ages and get them to relax and be comfortable in front of the camera which enables him to create images that show true emotion and feeling. Tim is solution oriented and always looking for new ways to light and to create images that are unique and stand apart from the rest. His positive energy and determination to always create the best image for the project helps to make every shoot a success.”
Ellen Herbert – Producer/Freelance Art Buyer – Former Sr. Director of Photographer Relations, Jupiterimages.
“It is rare to work with a photographer like Tim Pannell. In my 25 years of producing, directing, licensing and buying imagery, he is number one on my list of photographers to call for any project. I know he will bring a creative vision that will take any concept, no matter how staid and overdone, a new slant. Every member of every crew that has ever shot with Tim finds themselves doing their best work when on set with him, inspired not only by the creative process, but by Tim’s supportive, positive and enthusiastic energy and his optimistic outlook. His images are among the top income producing in all the major stock agencies and he is in high demand. He is one of the most respected photographers in our industry. He makes it look easy. Its not, but he makes it look that way. I can’t wait for the opportunity to work with him again.”
The workshop will be available online starting October 19th and will run for 8 weeks. Each participant will be able to download each week’s lesson at the beginning of the week. They can then study and work at their own pace throughout the week. Assignments will be done over the weekends applying the principles learned throughout the week. I will be giving you personalized feedback on the numerous images you create throughout the entire course.
Here’s the curriculum as of today: (It may change between now and the start of the photo workshop)
Week #1 – Introduction to Photography
A Day In Our Life
Techno Geek vs. Creative Freak
Equipment – Basic Camera Settings
Go Out and Play – (1st assignment)
Week #2 - Exposure Control
Shooting Modes
Histograms – (Polaroid was so over-rated)
ISO
Picking an Aperture
Depth of Field
Shooting Action
Aperture vs. Shutter Speed – (2nd assignment)
Week #3 - The Art of Seeing
Lens Choice
Viewpoint
Rule of Thirds
Cropping
Background options
Developing Your Creativity – (3rd assignment)
Week #4 - Working With Light
Lighting is the Bomb
Styles of Lighting
Outdoor lighting Techniques
Indoor Lighting Techniques
Out With the Bad Light, In With the Good! – (4th assignment)
Week #5 – Importance of Editing
Candids vs. Portraits
Interacting With Your “Victims”
Indoors vs. Outdoors
Tight and Tidy vs. Loose and Sloppy – (5th assignment)
Week #6 - Color Management
Photoshop Settings
Photoshop Actions
Basic Image Enhancement
Workflow
Before and Afters – (6th assignment)
Week #7 – Storyboard
A Week in Your Children’s Lives
Shoot, shoot and shoot some more
Edit, edit and edit some more – Use the Hatchet, be tough!
Unleash the Creative Beast! – (7th assignment)
Week #8 – Share the Wealth
Best of the Best
Wrap It Up, I’ll Take It
The photography workshop will be limited to the first 125 people. The cost for the 8 week course is $300.00 payable in full at time of registration which is set to begin on September 22nd. To make sure you’re up to date on workshop registration info and on our latest tips and techniques just fill out the form below with your name and email address.
Family picnic © Tim Pannell Photography
I’ve been a commercial photographer for over 24 years now, so It seems a little weird for me to be saying that I’m discovering the joys of photography all over again.
Over the course of my career I’ve worked with Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Phil Mickelson and shot all over Europe, Africa, South America, Greece, Canada and most of the states in the U.S.
I’ve worked on countless campaigns and with countless ad agencies and art directors. I have to say that I always have a ball when I’m working.
But, out of everything I’ve shot, the one subject that is my hands down favorite, is kids. They’re a blast! I love their energy, I love the challenge of keeping them interested. I love trying to understand what makes them tick.
I only started this blog a few weeks ago in the interest of sharing some of the things I’ve learned over the years with others. I didn’t realize how much I’d benefit from it.
So, while I’m trying to come up with ideas for the blog, I’m remembering how I used to feel all those years ago when I was just starting out in photography.
I used to pour through magazines and books, searching for great images and I would always look in awe when I stumbled onto an amazing photograph.
I ate, drank and slept photography. Writing this blog has reawakened those feelings inside me and it’s been a lot of fun reconnecting with that.
I have so many friends that are extremely interested in photography. Several of them are into scenics and nature shots, but the vast majority are mostly interested in shooting better photographs of their children.
© Tim Pannell Photography
The “Photo Mommies” blog focuses exclusively on taking better photos of your kids. It’s been fun sharing some portrait lighting ideas and photography tips, but I would like to get more in depth than I can in a “blog” format.
Since I want to share more and do more, I’ve decided to offer an online photography workshop to a select number of students.
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
The class will run 8 weeks. The first class will start in October
There will be a limited number of students allowed in each class so that I have enough time for each person on an individual basis. I will give everyone personalized feedback on their assignment images.
I’m having a website designed so there will be a forum specifically for these workshops. I will be able to post daily lessons, images, videos, and screen captures.
At the end of each week, there will be an assignment that covers the daily lessons studied during that week.
Students will be able to post questions and upload some of their photos for critiques and feedback. I haven’t settled on a fee just yet, but perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 – $400.
I do have a lot of questions at this time. I know what I would like to learn in a photography class, but I don’t know what any of you might prefer or enjoy.
What would you be looking for in an online photography class? What topics would interest you the most? What would your expectations be for an 8 week class?
If any of you have already taken an online photography course, what did you like about it, what didn’t you like about the workshop? What areas of child photography do you struggle with the most?
I’m open to any suggestions, no matter how big……or small they may be.
camping © Tim Pannell Photography
I’m really excited about teaching these workshops and I am looking forward to getting to know a lot of you better. By the end of the class, I’m sure I’ll have a pretty good feel for who your kids are as well.
There’s nothing as cool as getting a great, timeless shot of one of your kids that will last forever. Nothing is better at transporting us through time to a cherished moment or memory than a photograph.
Let me give you the photographic tools you need to capture the images of your kids that you already carry around in your heart.
© Tim Pannell Photography
I get a lot of questions about adjusting image sizes from people. How do I resize an image for printing or to put on a website? What’s the right way? What’s the best way?
Here ya go!
1. Open up your image in Photoshop. Choose your desired DPI or resolution. You may or may not need to change this, depending on your camera settings. Are you shooting in raw format or jpeg? There’s no right or wrong on that, it’s just a personal preference.
2. If you need to change your resolution, go to your Photoshop toolbar and click “IMAGE” – then – IMAGE SIZE. This will open up a dialogue box that looks like this:
3. If you are changing the DPI or resolution of the image you need to deselect the “Resample Image” box. This will allow you to change the resolution of your image without losing or gaining any pixels. This is a very important step. In this example we’re changing the DPI from 72 to 300.
4. Once you have entered your desired resolution click OK. Notice that even though we changed the resolution setting the overall size of the image stayed the same at 955.7K.
5. Go back and click “IMAGE” – IMAGE SIZE - again to bring back the dialogue box.
6. When you are ready to change the image’s dimensions be sure that the “Resample Image” box is checked. This keeps the image’s proportions intact.
7. Enter the desired Width or Height of the image. You only need to enter one of the two since the other will be calculated for you because the “Resample Image” box is enabled. Notice now that the overall size of the image has gone from 955.7K to 394.9K.
8. Do a “Save As” command and give your image a name. This will allow you to keep the original image or document intact.
If this was helpful to you, be sure to check out the Photo Mommies Online Workshop that starts up on October 19th.
© Tim Pannell Photography
One of the biggest problems I see with amateur photography ( Wow, am I Andy Rooney all of the sudden?) is no clear subject.
The background is as sharp as the foreground. Colors are all over the place. Lighting isn’t thought out.
Am I supposed to be looking at the kid in the shot or the amazing park like setting behind the kid?
I’ve been guilty of this too, we’ve all done it at one point or another. We’re in a beautiful spot and we want to take a beautiful picture of our child and instead of making it about the child we pull back and include as much of the background as possible and create an image with all the punch of a 90 pound pacifist.
Milk toast, vanilla, bland………eeeeew. Instead, be bold! Take a stand. Highlight that subject, make it stand out. Give it some separation from your background and anything else that might confuse people.
There are several lessons in the upcoming Photo Mommies Workshop that go over this very important photographic principle.
The temptation to make a photograph that says a lot about a lot of things is very strong. In my career I’ve had numerous clients (usually home builders) that want a single image to be both a beautiful architectural shot and a classic “warm and fuzzy” lifestyle shot. It drives me crazy. It’s never been done. It’s been attempted nothing shy of a billion times, but it’s never really worked.
If you try to do both, you wind up with a lousy shot that isn’t strong in either of those two areas. The solution for the home builder is to have a better designed ad. Do a great architectural shot and then do a great lifestyle shot. Two strong, separate images instead of one wimpy, straddling the fence, I don’t know what type of picture I am kind of image.
The same principle applies to family pictures and shots of your kids. Whether they’re set up formal portraits or candids. Simplify!
Just remember, less is more. Pick one thing and make that what the picture is about. Everything else should be secondary.
