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.
I had the delight last fall to photograph an old coworker's family in a fun play session. Capturing the wonder and energy of kids is a blessing.
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.
In January 2017, we spent a day in Barbados with 2 of my favorite persons, walking on the beach, eating Chefette, drinking Banks beer, catching up and talking about "the good ole days".
If you have never been to Barbados, you should put it on the list along with the rest of the Caribbean. Seriously! The Caribbean is so much more than beaches and sun. The food, the music and the people make the Caribbean worth exploring.
When we were South Florida over Christmas, we were in traffic at a stop light. The light turned green but the traffic did not move. We suddenly saw people jump out of cars in front of us and rush ahead. For a minute we wondered if someone was ill or if an accident occurred as we could not see what was happening ahead. We then realized that a van had broken down in the middle of this 3 lane road. No one honked their horns, no one screamed at the driver to get his van out of the road. At least 5 persons happily got out of their cars and helped the driver push the van out of the road and into a strip center.
I am not sure if it was the Christmas spirit, but I hope 2018 brings more evidence of community spirit and hope.
As the new year has started off so cold and snowy, here is some warmth via photos taken on a Caribbean Cruise we took last year.
“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.
“You are like an ocean: quietly ebbing and flowing to the rhythm of life, but wildly expansive and profoundly powerful. You are boundless. You are whole. Your quietness is your strength. Your depth is your advantage.”
― Aletheia Luna
I met Jennifer Strickland almost 2 years ago at one of the many Philly Instagram community events and was instantly drawn to her candor, quiet hustle and the ease with which she approaches random strangers.
Jen recently stepped out on faith and has taken on entrepreneurship full time. I see her hustling with calm confidence and slowly putting herself out there as the face of her business.
I met Jennifer Strickland almost 2 years ago at one of the many Philly Instagram community events and was instantly drawn to her candor, quiet hustle and the ease with which she approaches random strangers.
Jen recently stepped out on faith and has taken on entrepreneurship full time. I see her hustling with calm confidence and slowly putting herself out there as the face of her business while simultaneously tending to the needs of her family.
You can take a look at Jen's beautiful photography on her website https://www.jenstricklandphotography.com and her Instagram.
Contrary to popular opinion I do shoot men. I did a recent evening city shoot with Phil around Old City and on the Ben Franklin Bridge. There is nothing like a well dressed man in the suit.
