September, 2010

Photographing Kids 101 – Avoiding the Rut

Have you ever been in a photographic rut? I sure have. A lot of times I’ll find myself not shooting because I want to create some gorgeous, incredible image and I don’t really have anything in mind that rises to that level. So instead of going out and shooting anyway, I wait….and wait…..and wait. The funny thing is that with all the waiting….nothing really comes from it and I wind up with exactly that….nothing.

I’ve never succeeded at thinking my way out of a photographic rut….don’t misunderstand….I’ve tried thinking my way out of it 1,000 times….it just has never worked yet. Here’s the dumb thing about me though……the next time I’m in “the rut” I’ll still try to think my way out of it at first, even though I know better. Now that’s just stupid…isn’t it?

We all want to shoot beautiful, interesting, creative, one of a kind images of our kids, but sometimes if we insist on only shooting when everything is perfect and amazing we actually limit ourselves and, I think, miss out on some great photo opportunities. I find if I just do an image or series of images where I go back to basics it can help me.

There’s nothing wrong with doing a “simple simon” portrait outside in open shade or backlit. Just you, your kid, a cute outfit and decent light. Yeah, I know it’ easy and you’ve done it a billion times, but you know what? It still works.

The important thing is to always keep shooting…even when….or maybe, ESPECIALLY when nothing seems to be flowing or coming together. I struggle with this all the time. When I get to the point that I don’t have any new ideas and I sit and think….and think…and think….hoping that an original thought will pop into my head, I know I’m in trouble.

The best thing I’ve found for getting inspiration is to actually just grab the camera and a reflector and a kid and shoot….play around. When I’m actually doing and not intentionally thinking, then the thoughts and ideas come into my mind and I can move past my photographic rut.

It’s frustrating to feel like you’re just repeating yourself over and over again, but you won’t get over your frustration by refusing to shoot until you have a completely original idea in your head.

Just keep moving forward. Try new things from time to time. Try cropping completely different than normal. Shoot in different light than you’re used to. Jack your ISO rating way up there and just see what happens when you shoot indoors with a lot of noise. Break some rules. Don’t be afraid to “fail”. First of all, it’s not failure to try new things. It’s also not failure to shoot your bread and butter. The trick is to just keep shooting.

I’ve included a real basic image here……not much to it at all. It’s cute and that, in and of itself is enough. My previous post had a few really complicated images…..crazy lighting, post production toning and effects, compositing. It was a complicated image to produce, but the image itself was really simple and strong.

This image is simple in execution as well as simple overall. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a photo has to be complicated to be good…it’s usually just the opposite. Complicated for complicated’s sake is a bad road to travel. Simplicity usually leads to stronger images. Don’t be afraid to shoot simple, strong images and the next time you’re in a photographic rut don’t think your way out of it…..shoot your way out of it.

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christy - Thanks, Tim. I read your post earlier about the shots you took of your niece on the Salt Flats at the crack of dawn, and I thought to myself, If I have to get up at 3 a.m. to get good portraits then it's never going to happen. :) Now I'm thinking I just need to get out of the house and play around with my camera and forget the high expectations I tend to set for myself! Now if it would just cool off enough that we aren't visably sweating all day long, I'd be set!

Photography Tips – Invest in Lighting

Here’s one of the best photography tips I can give you…..Invest in lighting. I know it’s expensive, I know it can be confusing when you start out with it, but trust me…..there is an entirely new world out there for you when you have lights and learn how to use them effectively.

There is only so much you can do with available light before everything you shoot starts to look the same. Sometimes, it’s nice to just mix it up.

It seems like the latest posts on this blog have been about shooting our kids once they’re older….it wasn’t intentional, but it seems to be what I’m mostly doing this last month. If your kids are still little…..enjoy them…..it won’t be long before they are heading off to college and you’ll be wondering where on Earth the time went.

I’ve spent the last couple of days shooting my oldest son for a potential job he’s up for in the sports media department at the University he attends. He’s in the Graphic Design major and this would be a dream job for him.

He played soccer this past summer with a bunch of buddies and one of them runs the department and mentioned that if he had a bunch of good work, he’d be able to get him in. That was all Blaine needed to hear and he was busy creating “mock” ads and needing great photographs for them.

I used to shoot him like there was no tomorrow when he was a little guy and it was almost like going back in time working with him again. We did a whole bunch of soccer images with his layouts in mind. It was so much fun to be shooting him again.

I was really happy with the lighting setup I used so I shot my 17 year old in his lacrosse gear as well. He doesn’t really like having his picture taken, but was a great sport and actually had a good time, even if he won’t admit it. He loves the finished images he’s seen so far.

I also grabbed the 6 year old next door and dressed him up in his lacrosse garb as well. What a blast!

These shots were done in the middle of the day, at f-16 and 1/250th of a second. I overpowered the sunlight with my strobes. I set up a paper background and shot my subjects against that knowing that I was going to “strip” them out of the image and put them into a different scene that I had previously shot.

I also went down to Cougar Stadium the other night after their season opener and shot the stadium lights to strip into the images as well.

I know this isn’t the typical stuff you’d shoot with your kids and for many if not most of you it’s overkill, but it was fun and it was a great opportunity for me to do something cool with my kids.

Not all of these images are finished yet, some are still works in progress. The main thing is for you to be able to spend quality time with your kids and then as a bonus have something to remember it by with the pictures.

These images are a lot more advanced than the vast majority of the images I’ve taken of these 2 over the last 2 decades. I just wanted to give Blaine the best chance I could to impress these guys and get this job. My fingers are crossed.

Owning a couple of strobes can greatly enlarge what you have going on in your photographic “wheelhouse”. They are nothing more than tools you can use however you choose. Maybe you’ll use them so subtly most people won’t even notice they’re there. Maybe you’ll push them to the extreme and create images that are way out there.

Perhaps strobes are too much for you, but you want to do a little something more than just point and shoot….look at getting some good reflectors to help you manipulate the light and better your images.

The point is that lighting is just one more part of the process of learning your craft.

Go out and play…..have some fun!!

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Photography Tips – Shoot Concepts and Stories

Okay….I’m a commercial photographer that shoots concepts and stories for a living and that’s very different than just shooting your own kids, which is what this blog is about. So why should you worry about shooting a concept or story for that matter when it comes to your own kids?

Well……because I said so. How’s that for sounding like a parent?

It just makes things more interesting. I really don’t think it’s enough to just plop cute little Steven or Julie on the floor and crank out a couple of cards worth of images of them just looking at the camera and smiling. Sure they’re cute and adorable, but your images can be so much more if you just take a little more time to think things out.

When you add a concept behind the image it becomes so much more to look at….not only will little Johnny be cute, but the picture will be saying something as well.

I’m not saying to never shoot “grip and grins” with your kids….for heaven’s sake keep doing those shots to document the stages of your kid’s life at the very least, but every once in a while try to do something more with them.

Pick an activity that your kid enjoys and shoot the build up to it, then the event and then the “post” event or clean up. Why shoot the clean up? Why not shoot the clean up….lots of times cool stuff happens when you least expect it and getting little Tiffany to help with the garbage might be one of those situations.

So….the next time your little guy or gal has a bunch of friends over to go on the slip and slide, shoot the whole thing from start to finish. Don’t grab all the kids and make them sit still and pose with those cheesy glued on smiles they learn how to give because of “school picture” photographers that get some sort of oddball satisfaction from ruining your kid’s perfect natural expression.

Those photographers really cheese my cracker so to speak…….but that’s a different post for a different blog for another time.

Push yourself, expect and demand a little more from yourself and watch your images go to the next level.

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