Autumn Leaves © Tim Pannell Photography

Our family just got back from a trip to Utah.  The autumn leaves were incredible!  I love this time of year.

We have 2 older children that are going to college up there and my wife and I both have extended family there as well.

It was nice to go up and see everyone as well as get out of the surprise 100 degree weather that showed back up here in Arizona last week.

We had a great time visiting with family and wish we were still up there.

One of the things I enjoy most about the Fall is the colors.  It’s so much fun seeing all the vibrant colors and how quickly they change from day to day.

We took advantage of the weather and shot lots of pictures of our kids with their cousins.

I purposely shot as simply as possible this week because I wanted to use these images as instructional pictures for my Photo Mommies Workshop that starts on November 9th.

Red Leaf © Tim Pannell Photography

Sometimes when the scenery is so pretty, it’s hard to not overdo things and get an image that becomes cluttered with no real direction to it.

If you’re shooting your kids, be sure to keep them strong in the photograph.  It’s about them, make sure the photos you take reflect that.

Find activities that the kids like to do and capture them doing it.

Help Your Sister! © Tim Pannell Photography

Be sure to shoot at the optimal times of day…..just after sunrise and just before sunset.  If you have to shoot in the middle of the day do your best to shoot in open shade.

You can also take advantage of backlighting which makes the colors in your backgrounds really pop.  The sun stays lower in the sky this time of year so the quality of light is better than during summer months.

The colors don’t last long so be sure not to procrastinate.  Get out there and shoot like crazy while the colors are still there.

Be sure to register for the next Photo Mommies Online Workshop if you haven’t already.  It starts on November 9th, runs for 4 weeks and only costs $150. I hope to see you all there in the forum.

Free wheeling © Tim Pannell Photography

Registration for the 8 week class is now closed and registration for the new 4 week workshop begins right now.

If you have a digital camera and want to take better photographs of your kids, but aren’t sure how to set up your camera settings or what lenses to use, or what f-stop and shutter speed combinations to use, then this is a great workshop for you.

Enjoy learning at your own pace with the weekly lesson modules. Every week brings new lessons with new tasks or assignments to help teach you the ins and outs of taking better photographs of your children.

You’ll learn how to make your subject really stand out from your background. I’ll teach you how to find better backgrounds. Learn about props, wardrobe and how to choose colors.

Learn how to use available light to your best advantage.

More than anything, this workshop is designed to be fun and informative. Take advantage early and sign up now. The cost for the 4 week workshop is only $150.

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 – Storyboard

* A Week in Your Children’s Lives
* Using available light
* Props, wardrobe and colors
* Shoot, shoot and shoot some more
* Edit, edit and edit some more – Use the Hatchet, be tough!
* Unleash the Creative Beast! – (4th assignment)

The 4 week photo workshop begins November 9th, just in time to get you ready to take great shots of your kids during the holidays.

Registration gets you access to the Photo Mommies Forum where you will get lots of positive feedback from fellow Photo Mommies as well as myself.

So go ahead and take advantage of this great opportunity and register today, just follow this link:   Photo Mommies Workshop Registration

I’ll see you in the forum!

© 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 – (1^st 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 – (2^nd assignment)

Week #3 -       The Art of Seeing

Lens Choice

Viewpoint

Rule of Thirds

Cropping

Background options

Developing Your Creativity – (3^rd 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! – (4^th assignment)

Week #5 – Importance of Editing

Candids vs. Portraits

Interacting With Your “Victims”

Indoors vs. Outdoors

Tight and Tidy vs. Loose and Sloppy – (5^th assignment)

Week #6 -       Color Management

Photoshop Settings

Photoshop Actions

Basic Image Enhancement

Workflow

Before and Afters – (6^th 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! – (7^th 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.