Spring made an entrance in a big way with 80 degree weather on the weekend and hastily retreated to rain and cold. I am wishing for more sustained warm weather so can I go out and do more summer like activities, like water play with my daughter. 2 years ago I captured her trying to wash my car. This is the best in terms of cheap summer fun.
Last year I ran a session giveaway and awarded 2 sessions to persons I thought could benefit from new photos. One of the winners was Natalie Dean who runs a female empowerment non-profit group called Whine & Cheese. It is a safe space for women "whine about the stresses of life and cheese (smile) in acknowledgement of their blessings".
Natalie is an inspiring young woman and it was an honor to capture portraits that she can use in blog posts, on her website or personally.
My friend Jen took some behind the scenes photos of my capturing Natalie. Its always hard seeing pictures of myself but I resolve this year to get in more pictures and become more comfortable in front of the camera as well.
I took these photos about 2 years ago at one of my favorite farms, Maple Acres in Plymouth Meeting. It has a cut your own flowers, a market, horses and a host of other farm animals that kids can pet. This session with Ari remains one of my favorite to date.
Whether you have an iPhone or a digital camera, you can take interesting photos by thinking before you press the shutter. Today's camera phones are so good, that you really don't need in a DSLR for most things (I heard the portrait mode in the iPhone 7 rivals that of a DSLR which is mind blowing!). I thought I would share some universal tips to improve your IG Photos or selfie game.
1. Change Your PERSPECTIVE. Especially in locations and spaces that are "stale" to you, changing your perspective will make the location look totally different and add interest. Look UP at that tall office building towards the sky or Look DOWN that stairway. Especially in a location that is highly photographed, you will be able to capture a photo that not many have.
2. Magic is in the DETAILS. Get close, closer still. If you want to get closer with macro photos on your phone, you can get an attachment for your phone, similar to this.
3. Include NEGATIVE Space. Minimalist scenes are interesting and can add interest.
4. Take More CANDIDS. Capture all the natural genuine expressions that will make you smile years from now.
5. Look for the LIGHT. A great photograph needs great light, even if it is a sliver of light. If you are taking a selfie, go right up to a window or get a selfie light. Indoors, open the curtains and let in light so that the photos are not blurry and there isn't too much grain. Outside, the best time to take portraits is an hour or two after sunrise and before sunset when the light is soft and there are minimal shadows on the face. You can also get beautiful back light or rim light in the hair. You will note that if you go outside at noon to take a photo, the sun is so high, your eyes are squinting against the light and there are harsh shadows below your eyes; not ideal.
Let me know if these tips were helpful. Leave me a comment if you had a question or want me to address anything in depth in future blog posts.
“You let time pass. That’s the cure. You survive the days. You float like a rabid ghost through the weeks. You cry and wallow and lament and scratch your way back up through the months. And then one day you find yourself alone on a bench in the sun and you close your eyes and lean your head back and you realize you’re okay.”
- Cheryl Strayed
Holiday Blues
As the holidays festivities intensifies and winter's cold and darkness sets into the bones, if you are feeling blue, missing someone or disappointed in missing your 2017 goals, take comfort: this season will pass. Hang on, do as much self care as you need to, focus on the slivers of beauty around you.
-- Taken from my December 10th Newsletter. You can view the entire newsletter here and past newsletters here.