Friday's Family Photo Tip No. 8

Negative space

Negative space, in photography, is the space around & between the subject(s) of an image.  This empty space can seem like an unimportant waste of ... well, space. But it is this emptiness that adds an important element to the composition of your photo. See how much of an effect the extra space has on the photo below?

Almost every picture has negative space, but it is not every image that uses that negative space as a strong, even dominant element of the composition.

Have you used this technique before?  If no, have a try!

Friday's Family Photo Tip No. 7

Shoot lots!

This week's tip is a continuation from last week. While kids move quickly, their expressions can change in a nano-second.

When you shoot multiple images quickly of a person, you can sometimes get some surprising & spontaneous shots that you’d have never gotten if you shot just one. Switch your camera to continuous shooting mode & shoot in bursts of images & in doing so you’ll increase your chances of that perfect shot.

These two were snapped just seconds between each other as this little Girl Guide was performing in the Christmas Pageant. But there are six others with her eyes shut or face looking awkward. I like the first one best.

Friday's Family Photo Tip No. 6

Quick Tip Number 6 -  Wear Your Running Shoes

I probably don't need to tell you that kids move fast.   It's a good thing that they tend to run in circles, otherwise we'd be hard pressed catching them in photos.

There are a few techniques you can apply to overcome the blur that fast kids create. The most important way is VALIUM by adjusting your shutter speed.  Using a slow shutter speed will only blur your object.  As to which precise shutter speed is appropriate, it differs with cameras & situations.   Get out & play when they are playing!

If you have a point-and-shoot, look for the "sports-mode" control - it has a little picture of a man running.  If you're shooting with a DSLR, start with a shutters speed of about 1/200  of a second & experiment until you get the appropriate one.

This photos was taken on a very overcast day with a shutter speed of 1/500 sec at f1.4 ISO 800.  I make my camera work hard!!

Friday's Family Photo Tip No.5

Quick Tip Number 5 - Background Work

To really let your subject pop out in your photo, try to eliminate any distractions in the background. Simplify as much as you can by changing the angle you take your shot. Taking the shot from the ground or looking directly down may eliminate enough background to show off your little person without distraction.

Especially remember to check the outer edges - don't let something distracting on the fringes take your viewers' eyes away from your intended subject.

Friday's Family Photo Tip No.4

Tip number 4 - Show Some Emotion

Today's quick tip is super quick - I'm about to drive ot Perth for a river-side wedding (complete with a French groom) in summery weather - can't wait!  So I beg your forgiveness for any typos today...

Today's tip is "show some emotion". When we take a photos of family member, we try to capture "them" - but that's not just the way they look -we also look for a bit of personality - some life - some connection - some emotion!

I've found that three & four-year-olds are especially into  the big cheesy smiles for the camera if they spot it.  So try to disappear, and perhaps look over the shoulder of another family member to catch that authentic moment.

The best way you can do that is if you are connected emotionally to the moment yourself!

Friday's Family Photo Tip No.3

Tip number 3 - bring several props/diversions.

Kids have a short attention span and will quickly become frustrated with posing/smiling for too long.   I suggest having a few things for them to play.  This will add variety to the images, and more importantly,  you'll have a much happier child to work with, as you can see from Tyler's face - concentrating on those bubbles. 

Here's some suggestions... apples and other bright fruit look great in photos (but make sure you choose  ones that are not too messy).  Then toys (ones they haven't seen for a while) and even kitchen utensils... be creative!  When you're close to finishing up,  bring out the messier distractions like lollipops or cupcakes - but save them to the end or you'll be in for a wardorbe change...and possibly a bath!  

Friday’s Family Photo Tip No. 2

Today’s quick tip - focus on the eyes

We humans are drawn to each other's eyes. This is especially the case when we look at children, whose eyes are usually big, bright, shiny and oh so expressive! They reveal character. 

Most good photographs of people and animals have one thing in common: the eyes are in focus. If the child’s eyes are not in focus, the picture tends not be as strong or captivating.

Now, of course, with kids, this will mean getting down to their level so be prepared to be down on your knees!

Friday's Family Photo Tip No.1

This week is the beginning of a series of quick photography tips for those of you who love photographing your families as much as I do.  I hope to get your creative juices flowing.

Kids would have to be one of the most interesting subjects in the world ... laughing and smiling one minute, and having a total melt down the next.  I only wish adults could show even HALF as much emotion!

Today's quick tip is "don't forget the down time".  Providing you're not neglecting them in their time of need, don't forget to capture those quiet moments when perhaps they're not at their peak (like my gorgeous little friend who had a nasty cold).  Don't forget to catch those bumps, and sibling wrestles, tears.  After all, its all part of family life.