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Posts Tagged ‘Family’

A Behind-The-Scenes Look at a Family Photo Session

19 Nov

You’re probably used to seeing perfect family photos on Pinterest. After all, photographers love showing their best work. But you’ll learn a lot more from seeing an entire family photo session rather than just one perfect photo.

So today I’m giving you a glimpse into one of my traditional family photo sessions. I’ll tell you what gear I used, my thought processes during the shoot, how many photos it took to get a keeper, and how your mistakes can help you develop as a photographer.

I’ll show you the good, the bad, and the photos I didn’t even let the family see.

Family photo tips - golden sunlight

I love photos like this with golden back light in idyllic scenes. But the reality is for every ‘perfect’ photo like this there are dozens (if not hundreds) that don’t look so nice.

Gear

For this family photo session, I used a Nikon D7100. For most of the photos, my lens was an 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5, although a few were taken with a 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens. I decided to shoot in RAW and JPEG but only processed the RAW files using Lightroom.

Family photo tips - lightrrom

Lightroom is my favorite post-processing program. I had 982 photos from this session. To narrow them down I flag the photos that stand out to me and then highlight the final keepers in yellow.

The Session

This session is from my earlier days as a family photographer. I  chose it because there was a lot I hadn’t learned yet, and I’d rather show you a tough session because it will help you a lot more.

There was an infant and most of the kids were under five. Thankfully, I had a lot of experience photographing young kids after being a school photographer for a couple of years.

The aim was to get a variety of photos of the family, siblings and individual kids.

Family photo tips - sooc

This photo is straight out of the camera (SOOC) and is typical of the photos I ended up with. It can be really challenging to get a family of six to all look at the camera and smile at the same time. One or two kids are always looking away or not smiling. Inevitably, the mom and dad end up looking at the kids instead of the camera. You’ll need to learn to capture their attention.

 

Family photo tips - sunflower field

This is what the photos look like after editing with Lightroom. It took 70 photos to get this one. I was discouraged, but it taught me that I needed to get better at interacting with groups.

 

Family photo tips - siblings

This photo is SOOC. It can be really tough to get four siblings (one of them an infant) to look at the camera and smile at the same time. It helps to have a parent or assistant standing directly behind you to get their attention. That person should be playful and silly to engage the kids. This is far better than having adults off to the side yelling at the kids to “look here!”

 

Family photo tips - siblings

This is a nice photo after editing with Lightroom. It took 33 bad photos to get this good one.

 

Family photo tips - siblings

Sometimes you’ve got to let little kids get the silliness out of them. Why shouldn’t a photo session be fun for them? But be careful. Sometimes letting them be silly unleashes too much craziness. Honestly, I think they were much happier by this point.

 

Family photo tips - siblings

By now, you can see that most of my photos were underexposed. I had to brighten them a lot in Lightroom. Now I use a combination of aperture priority and exposure compensation. I aim for the brightest exposure I can without overexposing it. Them I can make final adjustments in Lightroom.

 

Family photo tips - siblings

This final photo (edited in Lightroom) has a pretty relaxed feeling to it. I’m not always looking for stillness and perfect posture in a photo.

 

Family photo tips - children

I found it much easier working with each child individually. I could connect with each of them and provoke nice expressions. As a group, it’s difficult to engage them all at once.

 

Family photo tips - infant

SOOC. Typically, infants don’t sit up very well on their own, especially while sitting on bales of hay. I always have a parent sitting nearby to steady them. They pull their arm away for a few seconds while I’m snapping photos.

 

Family photo tips - infants

When they’re in a good mood it’s so much fun to make an infant smile.

 

Family photo tips - infants

Infants and toddlers can be really tough to photograph when they’re in a bad mood. They need lots of snacks (but not bribes) and time to be themselves between photos.

This photo session should teach you the value of paying attention to your exposure in the moment. Watch your histogram and use exposure compensation to make adjustments.

Practice engaging kids and small groups of people so you can do it effortlessly at photo sessions.

Don’t worry that it might take you 10–20 photos to get one worth keeping. That’s pretty normal for many photographers.

One thing I hadn’t learned at this stage was the creative power of angles. Angles and candid moments are now the most important part of my approach to family photo sessions. The creative use of angles in combination with candid moments help make each photo more unique and personal.

Candid Moments

While I had a fair bit of photography experience at this point (yearbook, several weddings, school photos, and some families),  I certainly hadn’t developed my own vision or style. But this session was part of that development.

I share these candid photos with you because it was photos such as these that helped me develop as a photographer and made me who I am today.

Family photo tips - candid

This photo was taken right at the beginning on the way out to the sunflower field. You can take candid photos at the beginning of the session as a way to warm up and get everyone used to the camera.

 

Family photo tips - candid

This was a quiet moment before the session began. I love the soft light on the mom’s face.

 

Family photo session - candid

This is a pretty good example of letting infants and toddlers explore during the session. They’re curious about the world around them. So let them explore and you’ll likely make some great candid photos.

 

The last place we took a family photo was outside a big barn. The girls played with the barn cats and I couldn’t resist a few photos (even though I felt like my job was to focus on posed photos). My camera misfocused, so this picture is blurry. But there’s something so priceless about the moment that I consider this photo worth keeping anyway. I actually find something nostalgic about the misfocus. It doesn’t look so bad as a small print or on a small screen. But I wouldn’t give this to the family or put it in my portfolio.

 

Family photo tips - walking

This photo of the family walking together was captured as we moved from one location to the other. These days I plan a circuit for sessions and capture candid photos between locations.

 

Family photo tips - infant

This candid moment came after a few posed photos with the mom and her little one.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the early stages of being a family photographer, don’t feel bad if you haven’t settled in yet. Keep persevering through the tough moments and you’ll grow. Those rare photos that make your heart skip a beat are clues to who you will become as a photographer. Pursue more of those, but understand that you also need to pursue lots of other things because you never know what will make your heart skip a beat.

Family photo tips - dancing

I saved this photo for last because it was one of the moments that changed me forever as a photographer. While I was photographing the mom and little sister I looked over and saw the big sister dancing on the path. To me, it was the essence of childhood. It didn’t take me 70 tries to get this shot. In fact, right after I took this photo she stopped dancing and posed. To this day, dancing is part of many photo sessions.

What else do you need to know?

I’m happy to share anything about this family photo session with you. Let me know in the comments what else would be helpful to you.

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The Truth About Becoming a Professional Family Photographer

06 Nov

So you’re growing restless with your place in life, and thinking of becoming a professional family photographer? You know it’s what you want to do, but there seem to be a lot of obstacles holding you back. If only you could take a quick peek into the future and see if it will really work out for you.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to see the future. But would hearing from a photographer a few years ahead of you help?

I’ve been there myself and encouraged others along the way. And I hope I can inspire you too.

My first photography job had me working with dozens of kids every day. I didn’t know how to work the camera. Everything in the studio was preset. But what I did learn was how to work with people, especially kids. That is one of the most valuable parts of my family photography business.

Am I Good Enough?

Chances are many of your doubts relate to one question: ‘Am I good enough?’ But keep in mind that’s different from asking, ‘Are my photographs good enough?’

Are your photographs good enough? Do you know how to work your camera, and take the photo you envisage in your head? Do you get good responses from people when you put your photos out there? Do other photographers give you encouraging feedback?

If you can’t answer ‘Yes’ to these questions, then you probably need to improve your skills. But if you can, then you are good enough. And you’ll keep getting better through experience. Eventually, you’ll know you’re good enough because everyone who hires you will love their photos.

Begin with competence, and the confidence will come with time.

Along the way, you may be really hard on yourself. You might be a great photographer who pleases the families that hire you, and yet you still feel inferior. Learn to be honest with yourself, and start assessing your work from other people’s perspective.

At first, it may feel really awkward taking photographs of families you don’t know. Learn to embrace that awkwardness and be comfortable with new people, silences, and the occasional tears.

I Don’t Have a Defined Style Yet

You don’t need a defined style when you’re starting out. You’ll develop your style along the way. You don’t really know what you’ll encounter yet, so keep yourself open to surprises. Your style will reflect your unique vision (which you’ll be developing your entire life) and the experiences you’re drawn to.

Compared to other photographers well ahead of you, your style and vision may seem weak. But if you ask, they’ll tell you it took them a while to develop their style too.

I knew nothing about ‘golden hour’ photography when I first started my business. Now I love this time of day for photography.

I Need to Have the Right Gear First

Don’t go into debt for thousands of dollars to start your photography business. Use what you’ve got to the best of your ability. It’s probably better than you think.

Yes, you need to have good gear. But most new photographers over-purchase and buy gear they never use. Start with a good camera and a 50mm lens. Then upgrade and expand your gear as you get more experience.

No photographer is as good as the simplest camera — Edward Steichen.

I use a Fuji XT1 and 56mm lens for most of my photos.

Where Can I Get a Logo?

You don’t need a logo to get started. Nobody really cares about your logo. When people are looking for a photographer, it’s not your logo that will convince them to hire you.

Spend your energy building and showcasing your photography, and leave the logo for later.

How Many Facebook ‘Likes’ Should I Have?

When you’re starting out you should use every avenue possible to let people know you’re in business as a photographer – social media, networking, word of mouth and, of course, a website.

But don’t worry about the number of ‘likes’ you have. It’s the people who hire you that count, not the people who click ‘like’.

In the beginning, social media and word of mouth were critical for me. But now my website brings in most of my business. Create a simple website showcasing your photography, and tell people why they’ll love hiring you as a photographer.

Should I Quit My Job?

No.

Ease yourself into becoming a professional family photographer, and then leave your day job when you’re confident it’s the right decision.

I had seasonal jobs that allowed me to pursue photography in the summer. After about three years I decided to quit my job. I’m introverted and find it difficult to promote myself, so it took longer than it needed to. It might be much quicker for you.

Occasional sessions on evenings or weekends is a great way to get started. Prove you really want to be professional and that you can make your business work, then quit your job.

The more you focus on your photography instead of things such as logos and likes, the sooner you’ll be able to transition into your own business.

What Should I Charge?

I guarantee you’re thinking about this the wrong way. You’re thinking about how much you should charge per session, aren’t you? But you really have no idea. You’ll make assumptions about how much people are willing to spend. And you’ll settle for way too little.

Instead, you should:

  1. Decide how much you’d like to earn in a year.
  2. Decide how many sessions you’d like to do each year. (How many sessions can you handle each week or month?)
  3. Use those numbers to calculate how much you need to charge per session.

Suppose you’d like to earn $ 50,000 per year and want to do only one session a week.

So that’s $ 50,000 / 50 sessions, or $ 1000 per session.

Maybe you’d settle for $ 20,000 each year and 100 sessions (two per week).

That’s $ 20,000 / 100 sessions, or $ 200 per session.

Keep in mind expenses. I use minimal gear and work on location, so my costs are quite low. But some photographers make a lot of money and then lose a lot of it due to expenses.

Above all, don’t assume you have to be cheap. People value photography, and when you’re a great photographer with excellent people skills they’ll be happy to pay you.

And don’t worry if your friends think you’re charging too much. Believe me when I say you shouldn’t start out cheap and then raise your prices over time. By all means, start off cheaper for a month or two to build your portfolio. But when you start you should already have your correct pricing in place.

Any Questions?

I’d be thrilled to answer any questions you might have. Leave them in the comments and I’ll answer them for you.

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How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings

22 Oct

Wedding days are filled with details. While the bride and groom portraits are the most important pictures you’ll photograph during the day, family and bridal party portraits come at a close second.

These tips help you photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly and beautifully, giving your guests great photos without taking up valuable time.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 1

If you have time during the bridal party photos, get creative!

Family portraits

Make use of a consultation to speak with your clients before the event to find out if any of their parents are divorced and note this down on a wedding info sheet.

I lead with this because it can change the order in which you photograph family portraits, especially if there are parents who choose not to see each other.

Unfortunately, this is a reality and should be handled with care.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 2

Ask about divorced parents before the wedding because it can affect family portraits.

During the consultation process, you should also create an itinerary so that you have at least 30 minutes for family portraits. The more time you have, the more variety in posing you can get, however, 30 minutes is enough time to capture the family.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 3

Both family portraits in the same location.

When photographing wedding family portraits before the ceremony, make sure you confirm if both the bride and groom families will be present or if you will be photographing them separately.

Either way, this list provides different combinations to use with each family; all achievable in under 15 minutes.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 4

Build portraits by adding people gradually.

  • Bride/Groom with parents (If they are divorced, photograph with new spouses or simply keep them separate portraits)
  • Bride/Groom with entire immediate family, including brothers, sisters, including spouses and children
  • If grandparents are present, take another photo of the entire family including grandparents
  • Bride/Groom with mother
  • Bride/Groom with father
  • Bride/Groom with nieces and nephews only
  • Bride/Groom with siblings
  • Bride/Groom with grandparents
  • Bride/Groom with important uncles/aunts/extended family
How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 5

Build portraits by adding parents and without moving them, add in the rest of the family.

Keep the portraits of the extended family until the end.

They may be eager to get family portraits after the ceremony but make sure that you express to them that the most important photos are of the immediate family.

Of course, make sure to ask the bride and groom if there is anyone in the extended family that is a must-have during the family portraits.

At small weddings, you might have a chance to photograph all of the guests with the bride and groom.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 6

Take photos of each family individually and don’t forget to add the bride or groom.

The family portrait formula

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 7

To do this and all of the family portraits quickly, follow this formula:

  1. Find a big space with a neutral or pleasing background, like pretty landscaping, an interesting building, or a clearing in the venue/location. One great option is to photograph close to the ceremony where family members are all together and present. This helps keep people from wandering off and missing out on the portraits.
  2. Begin with the family that is present. For example, if the groom’s family is ready, begin with them so that you don’t waste time waiting. Set up the bride and groom in the center, tummy to tummy, holding the bouquet. From here, build out until you get the entire family in the photo. Remember to also take photos of the bride and groom with their respective families alone.
  3. From there, it is easier to keep the bride or groom in the center and add or remove people as needed.
  4. Always show a connection by having people put their hands on the arm of the person next to them or if they are spouses, holding hands. Putting hands on the shoulders of children or holding their hands also helps. 
  5. For babies and children under 3, they are best when being held as sometimes they might be too small if they are standing in the portrait. If you have time, photograph both options.
How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 8

Both families are in one portrait.

Family portraits are the ones that guests always download the most as many family members do not live nearby. Weddings act as a mini-reunion for families, which is why it’s important to get solid portraits of them.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 9

Grandparents are very important guests, make sure to take portraits when they are present.

Taking family portraits using the formula above ensures that you can work quickly and not take up time from the cocktail hour or even the bride and groom’s portraits!

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 10

Connect family with hands to arms or on shoulders.

Once you take the solid portrait of the family, if you have time, get creative or have fun with it.

Get a photo of the family hugging or siblings doing something funny.

Doing this also helps keep the mood light and ensures that everyone has fun during the family portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 11

Bridal party portraits

Bridal party photos should take anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour to photograph to get as much variety as possible. Begin photographing the entire bridal party together to ensure that no one is missing and everyone is present.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 12

Begin with photographing the entire bridal party together.

A few quick tips for bridal party portraits

Make sure that all boutonnières and bouquets are ready and each person has their flowers pinned or in hand. Place bouquets at belly button height because this keeps the arms slightly bent, and the flowers visible without being too high or too low.

For the groomsmen, ask them to take out all of their belongings from their pockets as this can create hard to edit shadows on the pants. If there is something special, like a gift from the bride or groom to their bridal party, take a photograph of that too.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 13

Take the following series of photos for the entire bridal party portraits:

  • Bridal party standing in line – placing bridesmaids on bride’s side and groomsmen on the groom’s side is a classic and sure portrait of the entire bridal party. Place the tallest people on the outside as they can distract from the bride and groom if they are shorter. Then line them up according to height.
  • Create a ‘u’ shape forward or try to use a ‘v’ shape to create more depth.
  • Stagger the bridal party and turn some people away from the center, creating more depth in the portrait. You can sometimes have the bridesmaids interlocking arms or the groomsmen holding shoulders or leaning against each other. Try different ideas with them standing.
  • If you have access to chairs, place a couple in front to create differences in height and create a similar portrait but with a few people sitting. It makes a much more interesting photo.
  • If there are steps, use them to stagger the bridal party across, keeping the bride and groom center.
  • Get a photo of the bridal party walking toward the camera having fun.
  • Ask the bridal party to mix and get a group photo of them having fun.
  • Get a group hug if the bridal party isn’t too large. Doing so creates authentic smiles and breaks-up the stiffness or seriousness of the portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 14

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 15

Bridal party portraits should be fun and keeping the mood light always helps.

If you find yourself having a hard time getting them to focus, try letting them know that the faster you photograph the portraits, the faster they can get to the party.

This usually motivates them to cooperate faster.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 16

Once you have the entire bridal party portraits, take photos of the groomsmen. The bride can take a break to touch up makeup, take a sip of water, or rest for a moment.

Groomsmen usually want to get the portraits over as quickly as possible so beginning with them makes everything run smoothly. If you have a second photographer, ask them to take the groomsmen aside and photograph them while you focus on the bride to cut time as well.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 17

Photographing the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately is much more fluid and can be more fun. Have them line up, hug, do something funny, and take individual photos of the bride or groom with each person.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 18

Have fun during bridal party portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 19

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 20

Take individual photos with each person in the bridal party.

Make sure to take waist-high portraits as well as full-length with enough room around the frame just in case they print the photo at different sizes that may crop the image.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 21

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 22

Try and keep the bridal party photos in one location so that you don’t have to move so many people around.

Another tip is to photograph the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately earlier in the day and come together after the ceremony for the larger portrait.

Sometimes this can save time as well.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 23

Extended family bridal party portraits

After the ceremony, as guests congratulate the couple, do not get caught in the trap of photographing extended family portraits. Make sure to let the guests know that during cocktail hour or the reception, you will have more time to photograph guests with the couple.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 24

Extended family photos during cocktail hour saves time from the bride and groom portraits or other events during the wedding day.

The reason for this is because taking portraits of guests with the couple immediately after the ceremony, or while the guests are congratulating the couple, can cut time from the family portraits.

It is okay to get candid/photojournalistic photos during this time of the couple with the guests.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 25

Photos during the reception for extended family is very ideal.

However, make sure to get a few before heading to the location where you are taking the family portraits. This gives you time to set up and get your camera ready for the quick family portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at 26

Keep a checklist

Use the Notes app on your phone or carry a printout of a checklist with all the combinations to use to photograph the family and bridal party portraits. Doing so helps you keep track of what you’ve already photographed and what you need to do, so you don’t waste time wondering what comes next.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 27

Weddings are all about the guests, and the guest list is meticulously planned, so make sure you take the extra step and ask the bride and groom if there are any guests they specifically want photographing.

Doing so makes all the difference when they look through their final images. Make sure to include these VIP guests in your checklist and note when would be a good time during the day to get their portrait.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 28

Once you have more wedding experience, these portraits become easier and quicker to set up, photograph and pose. Soon you’ll be doing them in under 15 minutes, giving you more time to experiment and get creative!

Put a family member or someone close in charge

It can be stressful making sure all the family members and bridal party are present where and when they need to be. This stress should not fall on either the bride or groom.

On the day of the wedding, find someone who is a family member or bridal party member who is familiar with both sides of the family be in charge of making sure that all family members and bridal party are where they need to be during the portraits.

Since they know who the key players are, this helper can cut time by making sure everyone who needs to be in the portraits is present, making the portrait time more fluid.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 29

Take photos of gifts the bridal party receives from the couple.

Keep the portraits moving 

Sometimes, you’ll have to wait on a family member or bridal party member, and that is okay. You always want to make sure the bride and groom stay as calm and stress-free as possible. When this happens, keep the portraits moving.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 30

For example, if the groom’s family isn’t ready, then begin with the bride’s family. If you’re waiting for a bridesmaid, take individual shots first and then move on to the groomsmen.

Making sure the portraits continue allows the person who is missing to arrive, all the while you are still creating beautiful portraits for the bride and groom.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 30

Allow the bridal party to have fun.

If there is a circumstance where someone essential is missing or unavailable for the photos, ask the bride and groom to move the portrait session to a different time.

Perhaps you can do the bridal party portraits during the cocktail hour or carve out some time during the reception to get family portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 31

If you have access to chairs use them to pose the bridal party or family.

Make sure to note any changes to the portrait sessions and anyone still to be photographed. Ensure that you get the photo during the day to help the bride and groom feel less stressed and more confident in you to achieve all the crucial portraits.

How to photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly at weddings 32

In conclusion

Family photos and bridal party photos are a huge part of every wedding day and can be stressful when trying to pose large groups of people.

Using these tips can help these portraits to be more streamlined so that the guests, as well as the bride and groom, can enjoy the party.

You’ll get fabulous portraits that everyone loves without having to take up too much time.

Do you have any wedding portrait tips you’d like to share? If so, leave them in a comment below.

For more information on wedding photography, read this article on What Are the Real Responsibilities of a Wedding Photographer or What to Bring to Photograph a Wedding Besides Your Photo Gear

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How to Photograph Your Everyday Family Life

26 Sep

Raising kids is beautiful chaos

From breakfast to bedtime, raising kids is chaos. But there are hundreds of beautiful moments along the way if you train your heart and eyes to see them. Right in the heart of the chaos, you can beautifully capture mundane everyday moments of family life in photographs.

Golden hour family photo - How to Photograph Your Everyday Family Life

In order to capture your everyday family life in photos, there are four areas you will want to cover:

  • Gear to use.
  • What to photograph.
  • Creative skills.
  • Discovering lifelong projects.

1. Gear

“Photographers, like few other kinds of artists I can imagine, have an insanely personal relationship with their gear.” – David DuChemin

I will begin with gear because you will dramatically increase your chances of great photos throughout the day when you are well prepared.

Minimal Gear

I’m a fan of using minimal gear for anything that I’m photographing, including my own family life. You might find that constantly worrying about upgrading your camera or using too many different lenses will actually distract you from the little moments that are happening all around you.

Settle on a camera and then forget about all the new options that come along. Pretty soon you’ll discover which lens is your favorite. Use that lens often, but try a different one every now and then to expand your creative abilities.

iPhone

“The best camera is the one that’s with you.” – Chase Jarvis

Many families invest in a DSLR camera such as the Canon Rebel, but then it’s too difficult for them to use. So they often find themselves using their phone instead.

Don’t feel bad about using your smartphone to take pictures. Though the technology may differ, any camera is better than no camera. The principles of creative photography are the same no matter what camera you’re using.

Because it’s so easy to carry, your phone is normally the camera that you are ready to take a picture with any given moment.

A silhouette of two children playing in curtains. - family life

I began capturing family moments with my iPhone 4s as a challenge to take interesting photos no matter what camera I had with me.

Keep your camera close

Whatever camera you’re using, make sure that it’s normally within arms reach. When you see a great moment happening you can reach for your camera and turn it on as you’re lifting it to your eye. I also leave my lens cap off at all times. I’ve never damaged a lens and don’t want to fumble over lens caps while a great moment passes me by.

Keep your battery charged

How many times have you seen a family member miss a great photo because their camera battery died? I see this happen during every single special occasion just as the best moments are happening!

You should always have a spare battery and have it charged and ready. I don’t wait for my first battery to be drained before I charge it. As soon as it begins to drain I switch them.

Don’t leave your camera in manual mode

How many times have you quickly picked up your camera to take a few pictures only to discover that the settings were totally wrong? Perhaps you used your camera in manual mode outdoors in the bright light and then forgot to set it before capturing a quick moment indoors.

The indoor photo will be underexposed or completely dark. To avoid this I always leave my camera set on aperture priority. I do this because I don’t want to forget to adjust the settings if it was left in manual mode.

A clean 50mm lens

I recommend that everyone own a 50mm lens. They are wonderful for achieving bokeh and perform well in low light.

Portrait of a girl at a fair. family life

This photo was taken with a 50mm lens at f/2.5. The background is blurred, but you can still tell the context.

But no matter what lens you are using, make sure to keep it clean! The easiest way to improve photo quality is to keep the lens clean from fingerprints and dust.

Picture of a toddler with messy fingers trying to touch the camera. family life

Messy toddler hands force me to clean my lens several times a day!

2. What to photograph

With minimal gear, charged batteries and a clean lens the question then becomes, “What should I photograph?” The answer is literally, anything.

Capture the obvious moments that are important to you. Maybe first steps, first foods, siblings playing, day trips to the beach. But begin to consider the less obvious moments as well.

“I look around the edges for those little askew moments — kind of like what makes up our lives – those slightly awkward, lovely moments.” – Keith Carter

Breakfast

“If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health.” – Shauna Niquist

A child coloring at a restaurant. family life

Remember going to restaurants with your parents and the server would bring you a coloring book? Those are the little things to photograph.

Chores

Kids washing a big window. family life

I love it when the kids help with the chores, especially when it adds to my series of window photos.

Playing outside

Especially when photographing outdoor adventures, consider taking enough photos to tell a story.

Two kids using a swimming pool as a boat. family life

One year the bay flooded and came right up into our yard. The kids got the idea to drag their swimming pool along and use it as a boat! I wasn’t about to miss out on that photo op!

Discovering huge fish in our yard. family life

After launching their boat they discovered that some huge fish had come to live in our flooded yard!

A photo taken from within the water. family life

Wanting a different perspective, I decided to wade into the water myself.

A low angle photo of a girl holding a worm!

To come up with an interesting series of photos, try to capture events from beginning to end. Use a variety of angles and perspectives, and go for the close-up!

Snacks

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

Little girl eating a snack.

Grown-ups eat without thinking, but snacks really make kids cheer up! She is lit by a window off to the side and warm colored light just above her head.

Playing inside

A little girl playing the piano.

Is there a child alive who can resist playing the piano? One thing I was careful to do with this photo was to frame it in such a way as to cut out the background clutter. It forced me to get nice and close.

For a totally different perspective try looking through toys to take the picture.

A child playing with glow sticks.

My kids love glow sticks and I love the challenge of low light photography! This is when a 50mm lens with a large aperture of f/1.8 comes in handy! I bumped up the ISO to 5000 and slowed the shutter speed to 1/15th of a second to get this shot.

A photo with lots of texture.

The texture in this photo is brought out by a window back-lighting the scene.

Day trips

A kid flying a kite.

Sometimes play for me is photographing a challenging scene like this.

A child getting onto a plane.

Museums are a way to work exciting new things into your photos.

Picture of a boy at a train yard.

My son loved playing with his toy roundhouse and crane. This photo allowed me to capture the real-life versions of the toys my son loved playing with.

Dinner

“The shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization: sharing, listening, taking turns, navigating differences, arguing without offending.” – Michael Pollan

A steaming plate of food.

Backlight or sidelight helps to capture steam in a photo.

Golden Hour

Walking at golden hour.

I love to time our family walks so that I can take some golden hour photos.

A child playing with toys indoors as the sun sets outdoors.

I love golden hour so much that I’ll even photograph it indoors.

Sick days

Even when my daughter is sick, she lets her funny personality shine. We kept a bowl by her bed just in case, but it made a good helmet too!

Sunsets

A sunset seen from indoors.

Photographing a sunset outdoors is the obvious choice. But when your living room window offers a good view, don’t miss the chance for a different perspective.

Kids sleeping

Photo of a sleeping infant.

This is a perfect example of using an iPhone to take photos of your family life. My DSLR would have made a lot of noise. So I grabbed my iPhone 4s and turned the sound off to take this photo.

A boy sleeping with a latern.

A higher ISO and slower shutter speed were used to capture this low light photo.

3. Creative Skills

“The real tools of our craft are not the camera and lens: they are mood and composition and the visual language of the photograph. Spend more time learning those and no matter what camera you use, you’ll make compelling photographs.” – David DuChemin

In order to capture all these moments, you need to master some essential skills. We’ll discuss creativity, basic camera settings, patience, and editing.

Angles

Choosing different camera angles will instantly make your photos more exciting and add variety to the hundreds of moments you’ll be capturing.

Try angles such as bird’s eye view, face to face and low angle.

I used a bird’s eye view to photograph this scene of my kids drawing.

I used a high angle to capture the scene as it began to turn chaotic!

Finally, I came in for a slightly low angle “face-to-face” shot before things spun completely out of control. By using a variety of angles and getting in close, everyday family life can be just as fun for the photographer as the kids!

Background

Backgrounds are good for two things; telling a story or getting in the way.

If the background does not help add anything to your photo then try to make it disappear. In all the photos in this article, I tried to eliminate the background as much as possible, or use it to create a context in the photo. Look back and decide which one you think I chose.

If your background is beautiful or adds to the story of your photo then be careful to make the background a strong part of your photo. Allow me to illustrate with Lego!

A Lego man with a plain background.

This shady Lego character was photographed with a clutter-free neutral background.

Lego man with a Lego train behind him.

This is the same Lego character, but this time there is a Lego train in the background adding some context to the photo.

ISO

When you are in low light situations and you’re using a new camera you should raise your ISO as high as possible (3200 or 6400). A higher ISO will help your camera to absorb more of the dim light and help your photo to be brighter.

True, a higher ISO may introduce some grain or digital noise into your photo, but isn’t a grainy photo better than a blurry photo or no photo at all?

A child sleeping with a book.

This naptime photo was captured with an ISO of 3200.

Sharp photos

If you’re in low light and using a lens with a large aperture (f/1.8) and a high ISO (3200 or 6400) then the last thing to consider is your shutter speed. If your shutter speed is too slow your photos might become blurry for two reasons. Perhaps your subject moved. This happens all the time with kids! Or perhaps you moved the camera, even slightly, as you took the photo.

You need to steady yourself as much as possible while you take the photo and wait for the moment (however brief it may be) when your subject is still.

You could also embrace the creative side of a slow shutter speed!

A portrait with background motion blur.

This was taken with the iPhone 4s on a cloudy evening. I knew the shutter speed would be slow. I walked backward while my daughter walked toward me. This kept my daughter sharper than the moving background. Motion blur is fun to experiment with, try it!

Inspiration

Look for inspiration among street, food and portrait photographers. Anything you can learn from different photographers will help you to photograph your everyday family life better.

Patience

I cannot over-stress the absolute importance of patience as you photograph your everyday family life (especially with toddlers). So many possible moments and photos will be ruined if you refuse to be patient.

Perhaps you have a photo in mind but the kids aren’t cooperating. Losing your patience will only lead to anger on your part and frustration from the kids. Your kids will learn that picture time is no fun and cringe every time you bring out your camera.

Edit and Print

Finally, you need to prepare your photos for print. Consider adding your favorite photos to a photo book or making larger prints for your home. Do not skip the printing stage, this is what gives your photos a real life of their own rather than just existing on a hard drive.

4. Discovering Lifelong Projects

As you sift through your photos over the years, you may notice that patterns begin to emerge.

Many people start photography projects from scratch, but you can also create photography projects based on photos you have already taken.

I had taken a number of photos of my kids playing near our living room window. When I put them together, I realized I had been working on a series without even realizing it! After that I began to think of that window as a canvas, waiting to see what would happen on it.

Photo collection

This is a small number of my living room window photos. When the collection is complete I’ll figure out how I want to present it. Perhaps a photo book, or a series of large prints in a recreation room. Maybe I could use them to illustrate a collection of essays.

Conclusion

Your life and family are unique. Whatever gets you excited to grab your camera, do it. Whatever will keep you up late at night sorting and editing. What will get you printing your images? Those are the things worth photographing.

Whatever chaos your family produces around you is an opportunity to create beauty with your camera.

I would like to know which tip has been most helpful to you and I’d love to see some of your prized family life photos in the comments below.

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How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

16 Sep

There is little quite as delightful as going through family albums, reliving memories and watching how things have changed over the years. Having digital copies is great but nothing really beats the excitement of having them in print, holding all those memories in your hands and going through them at your leisure.

It’s a sentiment I’ve especially grown to appreciate since the birth of my daughter. The rare times my hard drive starts giving me trouble and I begin to fear the loss of my digital files, I’m assured if anything, my favorite photographs with my loved ones are safe in their spot on my shelf. So, how do you go about creating such family albums?

The Lightroom Book Module

If you use Lightroom in your post-processing workflow (who doesn’t?), you’ll be delighted to know it helps you make beautiful albums even if your sense of design isn’t the best.

It keeps you from looking for other software – where you’ll probably be re-uploading your photos, struggling with their size, cropping, and even brain storming for creative and appealing layouts.

The Lightroom Book Module even goes a step further and gives you the option to send your photo book to Blurb for printing from within Lightroom!

In case you don’t know, Blurb is a publishing company which prints quality books on-demand for people like you and me. They’re reasonably priced and could rival professional photo books. To sweeten the deal, they deliver your order right to your doorstep!

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Of course, you still have the option to convert your photo book into a PDF or JPEG images. That way you can have them printed yourself or just save those layouts as collages. So, without further ado, let’s look into how you can make beautiful family albums!

Step 1 – Make a Collection

Before you start creating your book, you should make a Lightroom Collection of the photos you want in the book.

Since I take a lot of photos of my daughter and they’re all in different folders, I’ve set up a Smart Collection which saves any picture I keyword with her name. This way, Lightroom automatically saves them to that Collection. Whenever I need to look at all her photos together, I just navigate to that folder and they’re all there.

For this example, I’m making a photo book of my daughter’s first year. Once you’ve made your personal Collection, select it and head over to the Lightroom Book Module.

Step 2 – Save your photo book

In the Book module, you’ll immediately see all the photos of your Collection laid out in the form of open book pages. (Note this only happens automatically if you set that up in your Lightroom preferences).

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Before you start anything, it’s a good idea to save the book so you don’t lose any changes you make. To do so, look for this button in the top-right: Create Saved Book.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

After clicking that, you’ll be asked to name your book and choose where you want to keep it in Lightroom.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

It’s preferable to keep it under the collection you’re working from so it’s always easily accessible. To do so, select the Inside checkbox, and in the drop-down menu select the collection you’re using. I’m using a collection with my daughter’s name. (Keep the other options ticked as they are by default).

On the Collections panel, the photo book will appear under your collection.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Viewing your photo book

You can choose how to view your photo book from the different “Views” options on the toolbar at the bottom.

The default one is the Multi-Page View which shows your entire photo book. You can enlarge or shrink the size of the pages by using the Thumbnails slider on the bottom-right, the same way you do in the Library module.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Then there’s the Spread View, which shows how side-by-side pages will appear in the book. This is useful when you’re having a closer look at your photo book. You can shift through the pages using the arrow keys on the toolbar below.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Finally, there’s the Single Page View to get really up close and personal, for when you’re adding finer details.

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Step 3 – Select Book Settings

The first panel on the right-hand side is the Book Settings panel. Here, you can choose the format of the book between Blurb, PDF, and JPEG.

Publishing with Blurb

First, let’s look at the options you have if you choose to publish through Blurb.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Depending on your requirements, you can change the size of the book.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You also have the options to change the paper type and the book cover. An interesting thing to note is that at the bottom of the panel you’ll see a rough estimate of how much your book will cost. However, the price is only visible if you’re using the Blurb option (as seen above).

As you change your options the price will also change. This helps you manage your photo book within your budget.

Publish as a PDF or JPEG

If you choose PDF or JPEG in the Book drop-down, the options will also change (shown below).

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You still have the liberty of changing the book size and choosing the book cover, however, now you also have to look over other things like your image quality, resolution, etc.

Step 4 – Layout

Now that basics are out of the way it’s time to get to the good stuff!

Right now, your photo book may have a lot of empty pages and it clearly doesn’t look like what you want. The appearance, or rather, the layout of the book can be changed in the Auto Layout panel.

Notice that the Preset selected by default is Left Blank, Right One Photo, and that’s likely how you’re seeing your book right now: the left page is blank and the photo is on the right side of the spread.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

If you want you can choose any of the other presets available to you, though you’ll find there’s little available.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

To change everything to your liking, you’ll first need to hit the Clear Layout button in the Auto Layout panel.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This clears away everything and gives you a completely new canvas to work on.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Making your own Layout

In the Preset drop-down, select Edit Auto Layout Preset.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This opens a dialog box where you can select how you want your pages to look.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You can see that the dialog box is divided in half to accommodate the design for the right and left pages. By default, the left page is blank. On the Left Pages drop-down, select Fixed Layout.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This will open a variety of layouts for you to choose from. You can scroll through them to see if anything catches your fancy.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

The grey area in the template shows how much space the photo will take on the page. In the image above, the first sample (on the left-hand page) portrays an image having some space from the edges of the page, thus we can see the white border. The second template (on the right-hand page) shows an image being fit onto the entire page with no blank space at all.

As you scroll down, you’ll see a number of different layouts, some of them with text as well.

Your page might not be the same proportion as your photograph, so it’s a safe option to choose “Fill” from the Zoom Photos drop-down menu.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This makes sure that the final look is exactly as you see in the template, or you might be seeing more blank space than you were supposed to.

You might have noticed that so far we’ve been working with “1 Photo: from the secondary drop-down that appeared after selecting Fixed Layout.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

If you choose any of the other options from the dropdown, the templates will change accordingly.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Similarly, you can choose any template on the right-side pages. Don’t forget to choose “Fill: in the Zoom drop-down before you hit Save!

One tip I offer is that you should choose templates where images have some space (white lines) between them. It gives a more elegant, classy look. In the end, though, it all depends on your personal preference.

When you hit Save, the New Preset dialog will ask for a name. For convenience, name the Preset according to how you’ve selected the layout to look (see example below).

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

When you click Create, the Auto Layout panel will have the new preset selected. To apply it to your photo book, you just have to click the Auto Layout button.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

If you don’t, you’ll find your book to still be in the default setup of “Left Blank, Right One Photo”. This is what my view looks like after clicking Auto Layout.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

As you can see, Lightroom applied the selected layout (that we created) to the entire photo book.

Step 5 – Changing Layout for Individual Pages

For now, your entire photo book follows a single layout. But you can also change the layouts for individual pages too! Let’s check out the Page panel for that.

Select the page where you want to change the layout by clicking on the little arrow on the Page panel.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You can also access these options directly by clicking on the little arrow below any page you select.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This allows you to choose from all the layouts available.

Step 6 – Working on Individual Panels

There’s still more tweaking you can do as well. If you think an image would look a bit better after a little bit of zooming in or out, you can select the image and a zoom slider will appear. Simply drag the marker as you see fit.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

This sort of work is better done in Spread view since it shows you a larger view and is also easier on the eyes.

You can also change the position of a photo by dragging it. It will move within the confines of its template. In the image below, you can see the photo has been dragged a little bit from left to right.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You should go through your entire photo book in the Spread View at least once to make sure everything looks good and no image is getting cut off in an unpleasant way.

You can get really creative and make interesting sets of photos by using zoom and dragging the image to adjust its position.

Step 7 – Changing Photos inside Panels

Lightroom arranges all the photos automatically. So obviously there may be images which you want to see on another panel, or another page, or a certain set of images you wanted to keep together.

You can change the photos inside panels pretty easily by dragging and dropping. Select the photo you want to move and drag it towards the panel you want it in. Once you drop it, the two photos will swap places.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You can also drag photos into the panels from the Filmstrip below.

Removing a Page

If you want to remove any page, right-click on the page and select Remove Page.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Step 8 – Adding Text to your photo book

When you select any page or photo, a small button “Add Page Text” or “Add Photo Text” will appear near the bottom line.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Simply click this button if you want to add text and write whatever you want.

Lightroom’s default font might not be very pleasing to the eye, so if you want to edit your text, select the text and look over at the Type panel.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

The Type panel is pretty straightforward. Here you can change the font type, font color, font size, opacity, alignment, etc. By default, the font is set tightly against the photo.

You can adjust this through the Text panel too.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

The Offset slider on the Text panel helps you adjust how near or far you want to place the text from the photo.

You can also adjust the text to sit Above, Over or Below the photo. If you want to remove the text, uncheck the Photo Text option in the Type panel.

Step 9 – Adding Backgrounds to your photo book

Our last stop is the Background panel. If you want to add images or some sort of design in the background, this is where you need to be.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Adding a Photo in the Background

If you want to add an image as the background, simply drag it from the Filmstrip and drop it on “Drop Photo Here” in the Background Panel. It’ll appear as a faded background.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You can control its density with the Opacity slider near the bottom of the panel. It’s best to keep it at a low opacity like 20-30% so it doesn’t distract from the main image.

Adding Background Color

If you want to add a color to the background, you need to check the Background Color option. Then you can click on the color selector and pick a color, or add a HEX code to get your desired color.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

Adding Graphics to Background

Adding graphics is just as simple. Click on the arrow icon in the Background panel and it will open a side menu.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

By default, “Photos” is selected. Change it to “Travel” or “Wedding: and you’ll see graphic images similar to the ones in the image above. Select the one you like and you’re good to go.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

You can experiment with the Opacity slider using graphics too.

Note: Any background effect that you apply will apply to only the selected page. If you want to apply it to the entire photo book, you’ll need to check the Apply Background Globally option.

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Step 10 – Ready for Printing!

Once you’ve worked out the finer details and are all set to see your photo book in print, select the Send to Blurb button at the bottom of the panels. In case you’re working with the PDF or the JPEG option, you’ll have Export Book to PDF/JPEG as the last step.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

When you click Send Book to Blurb, you’ll get a Sign In window detailing the final look and price of your photo book.

How to Create Memorable Family Albums Using the Lightroom Book Module

If you want to get good quality prints at a good price and a professional looking photo book ready at your doorstep, I’d suggest making an account at Blurb and taking full advantage of it.

Afterward, the only thing left to do is to wait for the memories to be given a form.

I know for a fact that I’d love to look through this album of my daughter’s first year in the world, from time to time, even ten or twenty years later. At that point, who knows where my digital files will be.

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Getty family strikes deal for majority stake in Getty Images

11 Sep

The Getty family is working to regain control of stock photo agency Getty Images, according to multiple reports published late last week. Sources claimed to Financial Times that the Getty family is working to buy back Carlyle Group’s 51% equity stake, which it acquired six years ago.

Though the terms of the deal haven’t been officially revealed, FT claims the Getty family is paying approximately $ 250 million with about $ 2.35 billion in existing debt rolling over. This is compared to the approx. $ 500 million that Carlyle Group paid years ago to acquire the majority stake.

On September 4, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Getty family confirmed a deal including both cash and “units that provide Carlyle with a continuing financial interest.” However, specific terms for the arrangement weren’t disclosed. The family confirmed to WSJ that the deal is expected to close by the end of Q3 2018.

Via: Financial Times

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Behind the scenes of Drew Gardner’s gigapixel shot of British royal family

16 Jun
Drew’s 2.3 gigapixel image is made up of more than 100 50MP files, shot with the Fujifilm GFX 50S. Click the thumbnail to launch the interactive image at www.telegraph.co.uk

Photographer Drew Gardner has been a photographer for more than 30 years, and since 1999 he’s worked mostly in the commercial world. Following a recent move into 360-degree imaging, he accepted a commission from British newspaper The Telegraph to shoot a gigapixel image of the queen’s birthday parade. Earlier this week we spoke to Drew to learn more about how the project came together.


Following a career working in local and national press, I decided to move away from newspapers and into commercial and advertising photography, in 1999. These days I shoot extensively for magazines around the world, so the commission has to be something really special to entice me to work with newspapers again.

When I was asked to shoot a gigapixel photo for the Daily Telegraph, it was a trip down memory lane for me in many ways, but with the latest technology so I leapt at the chance. I was approached about two weeks before the event, and I spent many hours working out the sequence of events and the best position to place the camera.

I work with a wide variety of gear but this occasion seemed a perfect opportunity for a medium format camera, where ultimate resolution would be very useful.

‘The final image doesn’t represent one moment, but rather many different moments’

I like shooting gigapixel photos to record events. The final image doesn’t represent one moment, but rather many different moments. This provides a better overall feel of what it was like to be there. When I say many different moments, the final gigapixel image is made up of more than 110 50 megapixel images, shot on a Fujifilm GFX 50s with a 250mm F4 lens. The result is a 2.3 gigapixel file.

Drew Gardner has been a professional photographer since 1979. Based in the UK, Drew’s work spans local and national press, and commercial photography for clients including Manfrotto and Suzuki Motor Corporation.

Check out more of Drew’s work at his website, drewgardner.com

I love the Fujifilm GFX 50S. It really suits the way I shoot medium format camera, and it weighs less than most DSLRs. Image quality is stunning and it has proven very reliable.

What I really like about the GFX is its high ISO performance. Even though the light was excellent I shot at ISO 1600 to allow me to stop down to F11-16 for better depth-of-field. To move the camera I used a Seitz VR drive motorized head – the same head that I use for all my 360 degree still images, too.

I’m a huge fan of Brian Storm of Mediastorm who is a great advocate of the use of audio and this was the perfect occasion to record ambient audio of the event with a Zoom H2N audio recorder. Audio is all too often overlooked and yet it is a very easy way of adding another valuable dimension to a gigapixel or 360 panorama image.

View the final gigapixel image at www.telegraph.co.uk

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

14 Jun

In this article, I’ll show you how to photograph your family vacation starting with simple gear, creative photography tips, and the most important part – managing personalities and emotions.

“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

A grumpy moment on a family vacation. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Not every photo has to have a great big smile in it. My little girl was pretty grumpy at this moment. But I found something humorous about her expression as well as something artistic about the colors and the distance between her and her shoes.

I was 9 years old on a family vacation when I first fell in love with photography. My parents let me snap some photos with their camera. From that moment on, all I could think about was photography!

In spite of how much I loved photography, I grew up taking terrible photos of our family trips, mainly because I didn’t know how to take good photos. But thanks to places like Digital Photography School, I’ve finally learned to take good photos of family adventures with my kids.

#1 – Itinerary and Gear

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

Your family vacation has a destination; you’re not wandering aimlessly. Your trip has a goal; perhaps adventure or relaxation. So too, should you also have a goal for your photos.

Why is a goal so important? Many families come home from a trip discouraged that they don’t have better photos of their journey. It’s easy to be distracted, lazy, or burnt out and just forget to take photos. But having a goal will keep you on track.

First step of the road trip is to wash the windshield! - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

When my family took our first long road trip together I was determined to document the entire journey. This would also be my first big photography project.

Anticipation is one of the best parts of a trip. During the weeks of pre-trip excitement, consider what excites you most about your destination. Jot down some notes about things you’d like to photograph. Keep those notes in your camera bag and check them off as you travel.

Write the list when you feel most inspired and then it will guide you in the midst of vacation chaos when you are feeling rushed and less inspired.

Pack Lightly

Try to bring along as little photography gear as possible. Your kids will be asking you to hold their coats and hats, you’ll be carrying souvenirs, the last thing you want on top of that is a mountain of gear in an extra large camera bag.

Just a camera and rubber boots. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This was my main gear for a trip to the Canadian East Coast; a camera and rubber boots! I also had a tripod but almost never used it. It was a pain to carry around and set up. I’d rather be free to move and have fun with the kids than being loaded down with camera gear I won’t even use.

Here is a list of my favorite gear for traveling light on day trips and longer vacations.

  • Wide-angle lens
  • Telephoto lens
  • Underwater camera housing
  • Spare batteries
  • No tripod

The wide angle lens is perfect for landscapes, the telephoto lens for those far-off sights, and the underwater camera housing is perfect for beaches and oceans.

Remember, traveling light allows you to be free in the moment, instead of wrestling with gear. Some photographers constrain themselves to only one camera body with 1-2 lenses. This forces them to think more creatively about the scenes and moments in front of them rather than fussing over gear decisions.

Kids on a rock in the ocean. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This photo was taken with my underwater camera housing. The ocean was so cold I was numb from the waist down!

#2 – Creative Ideas

“For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

There is a lot that can be photographed on your family vacation. Always keep your camera handy rather than having it packed away in a hard to reach spot. There will be so many little moments to capture and you’ll get pretty discouraged if you miss them because your camera is packed away.

These 5 creative tips will guide you as you photograph your family vacation.

1. Photograph from inside the vehicle or plane

Mugs of hot chocolate on the dashboard. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My wife and I journeyed to the south-west for one last trip before becoming parents. The desert was hot but the mountains were cold! We brought a tiny stove with us to make hot chocolate along the way.

Depending on the nature of your trip, you may spend a lot of time inside a vehicle. Don’t waste the chance for some unique photos.

A view from inside the vehicle adds a different perspective to your photos. If every photo is shot from the same perspective or angle they will be boring. You want your friends and family to be excited as they flip through your photo book.

Mountain road view from inside the car. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Driving mountain roads is my favorite part of every trip. I’m always torn between being the driver or being the passenger and taking photos.

View of a storm on the plains from inside the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Storms can be a beautiful part of the journey. Especially when you’re nice and snug inside the car!

A view of houses from a plane. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

We had a friend who was training to be a pilot and took us to breakfast on a plane!

One dark cloud hangs over the road ahead. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Driving toward the Midwest United States, one black cloud hung over an otherwise cheerful sky. Maybe it was warning us that the next time we took a trip like this there would be two screaming toddlers in the back seat!

2. Locations and Landscapes

You’ll likely visit many beautiful landscapes during the day. But how would that same landscape look during beautiful evening light? Revisit some locations to take photos at different times of the day.

Monument Valley in Harsh Light - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Monument Valley during the harsh light of midday.

This is Monument Valley during the beautiful evening light.

Hall’s Harbour in the evening light. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Hall’s Harbour in the evening light.

Hall’s Harbour in the harsh light of the day. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Hall’s Harbour in the harsh light of the day.

Many of us take pictures of family members simply standing beside landmarks or landscapes. But there has got to be a more creative way of documenting the places and things you see.

Try photographing candid or natural moments while working landmarks and landscapes into the background.

Family photo at Peggy's Cove - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Here we are as a family. Do you know where this is? It could be any body of water in the world. I’m glad we have this photo, but I had to get more creative with my backgrounds.

Colorful East Coast homes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I loved the charm of these colorful East Coast homes, but I didn’t want photos of random houses. So I made these homes part of the background instead of being the focal point of the photo. The bigger story is about my kids having a blast throwing rocks into the bay and the homes are part of the beautiful scenery.

Photographing Niagara Falls - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I have many photos of my kids looking at the camera on vacation. But I wanted something more creative. How about a silhouette with interesting framing?

Here is a simple question that will help you take better photos of the places you visit. Ask yourself, what is the essence of that place? Why do you love it so much?

Skipping stones at Hall's Harbour - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I had many beautiful (and not so beautiful) photos of Hall’s Harbour. I wasn’t satisfied with any of them and I wasn’t sure why. One evening I saw this couple come walking along and start skipping stones. That was it! That was the essence of this place; peace, solitude, skipping stones. This is a far more personal photograph to me.

Lighthouse at Summerside PEI - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

In Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the vastness of the ocean overwhelmed me. That was the essence of the place to me. No matter where you go on PEI, you are surrounded by the ocean. I composed this photo to portray that vastness. A tiny lone lighthouse in the distance.

When you’re among the massive rock formations in Utah, you feel very small and vulnerable.

Black and white photo of Niagara Falls - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Niagara Falls is one of the most nostalgic places on earth for me. It’s where I first came to love photography as a child. The viewfinder is an icon for travelers, and Niagara Falls is one of the most recognizable sights in the world. The slight misfocus, the grain, the black and white, all work toward capturing the essence of Niagara Falls for me; memories.

This is Monument Valley during the beautiful evening light.

Visit locations at different times of the day, think creatively rather than making your family stand beside things, and consider the essence of the place you’re in.

3. Moments

You’ll be busy photographing the obvious landscapes and big moments of your trip. But you will experience many little unexpected moments in those places. Photograph these odd moments too. You’ll find them to be very meaningful moments and love talking about them when you look back at your photos over the years.

Kids riding an escalator - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My kids loved their first trip to Niagara Falls and I loved sharing that place with them. It was also their first time using an escalator (a moving set of stairs). They rode it over and over. I love this low angle perspective and how the main lines converge in the center of the photo.

A toddler making a mess of sunscreen. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My two-year-old daughter was being so quiet in the backseat. But you know when a toddler is being quiet they might be up to no good! She had discovered the tube of sunscreen and applied it liberally! Needless to say, she did not get a sunburn that day. If this had happened earlier in the trip I would have freaked out. But by this point, I had learned to relax no matter what happened.

4. Food

Often you will experience new foods on your journey. Whether you like the food or not, photograph some of it. Viewing the photos of food will instantly trigger memories of the meals you shared.

A lobster on a plate. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

We tried lobster for the first time! The sun was shining directly on it, giving such deep color to the photo.

An empty plate of fish and chips.

Fish and chips is a must on the East Coast. The dinner was so good I forgot to take a picture until it was too late!

5. Hotels, campsites

Hotels and campsites are a blast for kids to explore! Make sure to capture some photos during downtime at the places you sleep.

A boy jumping across motel beds. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

After a 10 hour day on the road, my son discovered just how fun beds in a hotel room can be. He was just barely able to leap the chasm between the two beds. He may forget the boring scenery, but he’ll love this memory.

A little girl with her face pressed up to the window screen. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Bathed and changed into fresh jammies, my daughter sits at the window with her nose pressed against the screen.

Kids playing with their parents shoes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Kids being crazy with our shoes while we pack for the next part of our journey.

At this point, if you’ve packed light (including your photo inspiration list) and taken note of some creative ideas, you’ll be set to take some great photos along the way.

But one thing threatens to ruin your photos and your trip – emotions.

#3 – Managing Personalities and Emotions

“Tears and sweat often bring out the best in us.” – Mister Rogers

Every family is different, but most families deal with a certain amount of drama on their trips. Learning how to deal with drama and negative emotions is critical for having a better time with your family and taking better photos.

Consider the fact that you won’t be in the mood to take photos if you are grumpy and your family won’t want to be in photos or do anything fun if they are grumpy. My family learned this lesson the hard way.

Little girl happy in the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Everything started out fine on our trip to the East Coast. Filled with the anticipation of the journey, we had books and snacks and things to do in the car.

Crying girl in car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

But my goal of a family adventure and a beautiful photography project is quickly met with a reality check. Our kids are 2 and 4 years old and we’re crammed into a little car – more often than not, it feels like a disaster.

Two toddlers sleeping in the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My wife and I thought that we could easily relive the adventurous trips we took before we had kids. But the reality was now very different. We had to plan for shorter days of driving, more motel stops, earlier bedtimes and lots of relaxed downtime.

A little girl with sand in her eyes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

But no matter what we tried, the first half of our trip was just a disaster. Not even a relaxed day at the beach was any fun. The ocean winds blasted us with sand. We couldn’t enjoy ourselves for a moment. Even I couldn’t keep pretending to have fun. At one point our little girl ran into mama’s arms with eyes full of sand from the relentless ocean winds.

A mom and boy playing in the mud. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

The ocean tide was always leaving behind a shoreline of muck. Normally kids love mucking about in the mud. But not on our miserable road trip. You know you’re in trouble when nothing makes your kids happy anymore. By this point in the trip, I was sure I’d have nothing but tear-filled photos for my project.

A sleeping girl. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

A week into the trip we were at our wit’s end. Finally, one Sunday, we collapsed in anger and exhaustion and slept the day away. We woke up to the realization that this trip was a disastrous idea. At this point, I didn’t even care if I got photos or not. I just wanted my family to survive without hating each other.

A family at a harbor. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Something happened when we let go of chasing new locations and perfect photos. We admitted defeat and just stayed in one place for a while. We actually fell in love with a nearby harbor tucked away from other tourists. Halls Harbor was our refuge from the crowds – and ourselves.

Slide at the playground. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

For the first time, I finally understood what it was really going to take to make our first family vacation a good one. We put the tourist life on hold and did the things that our kids really wanted to do – go to playgrounds and throw rocks in the water!

A boy playing in dirt. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Frankly, when we gave up, that’s when everything changed. We even met up with friends who had also journeyed out east. We could talk and unload our weakness as parents, confess the disaster we had made of this trip, and hear words of encouragement from our friends.

Family vacations are rarely the times of rest and relaxation that we hope them to be. Between kids fighting in the backseat and parents getting more stressed every day – sometimes I wonder why we ever go on trips!

But we can turn these challenges into a chance to grow as people. I learned a lot about our kids and myself on our first family road trip together. There were sweaty, tear-filled moments but we learned to embrace them and grow as a family.

Editing Life

Long after your trip has ended, you can relive the moments – and the lessons learned along the way.

Don’t forget about your photos. Print them, hang them, let them bring you joy until your next family adventure.

I sat at the kitchen table late one night reliving our trip through all the photos I had taken. The tears in the car. The tears on the beach. The tears in the mud. I thought about how naive we had been about traveling with toddlers. How we tried everything and failed. But also how the trip had been redeemed.

A photobook and a camera - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Just a couple weeks after that I was unwrapping a brand new photo book I made of our trip – my first finished photography project.

The post How to Photograph Your Family Vacation appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Photographer Dad creates epic Star Wars Christmas card for his family

07 Dec

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Photographer Josh Rossi is no stranger to creating epic photography for and of his family. His portraits of his daughter as Wonder Woman swept across the Internet like wildfire, and he’s continued doing amazing work, including this touching series where he transformed disabled kids into Justice League superheroes.

So why did he let some run-of-the-mill “family photographer” take last year’s Christmas pictures for him!?

He didn’t know either. In fact, he felt deeply ashamed by this lapse in judgement, and so he set to work creating something amazing to redeem himself this Holiday season. Cue Star Wars theme.

“I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and my wife has been asking me to do some pictures of us so I went all out this year for our family photos,” Rossi tells DPReview. And by all-out, he means he recreated the Star Wars: The Last Jedi posters featuring himself, his wife, and their two children instead of the lead actors.

“I had such a fun time doing this with my family,” he told us, “especially with my 1 year old.”

Rossi sent over a few behind the scenes images for us (below) and you can see the final shots in the gallery at the top.

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To see more of Rossi’s work, or if you just want to say hello and kudos for another really creative and well-executed project, head over to his website or give him a follow on Instagram and Facebook.


All photographs by Josh Rossi and used with permission.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Zeiss reveals Milvus 25mm F1.4 lens, the 11th in the manual-focus family

22 Oct

Zeiss has added a new wide-angle lens to its Milvus line of full-frame, manual focus lenses for Nikon and Canon DSLRs. The new Milvus 25mm F1.4 is now the fourth widest lens in the family—which ranges from 15mm to 135mm—and brings the total number to Milvus lenses to 11, four of which boast fast F1.4 apertures.

According to Zeiss, the Milvus 25mm F1.4 is “suitable primarily for landscape and architecture photography, and for journalistic shots and videos” thanks to its fast aperture and a new optical design that uses 15 elements in 13 groups to deliver “high-contrast photos and a harmonious bokeh.” They also claim “hardly any color fringes,” even when you’re shooting with the lens wide-open.

Like the entire Milvus line, the new 25mm F1.4 is manual focus only, and features a robust all-metal housing as well as ‘special seals’ for protection against dust and splashes.

The new Milvus 25mm F1.4 will be available starting November 2nd for 2,400 Euros (including tax) or $ 2,400 USD. To learn more about this lens or the entire Milvus line, head over to the Zeiss website by clicking here.

Press Release

ZEISS Unveils High-Speed DSLR Lens: ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25

With its new wide-angle focal length, the ZEISS Milvus family now boasts eleven lenses for single-lens reflex cameras, including four focal lengths with a maximum aperture of 1.4, which are perfect for videographers too.

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 2017-10-18.

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 is the latest focal length to be added to ZEISS’s largest range of lenses for full-frame single-lens reflex cameras. The lens, which was developed for the DSLR systems from Canon and Nikon is suitable primarily for landscape and architecture photography, and for journalistic shots and videos. “The completely new optical design ensures superior performance across the entire image field,” says Christophe Casenave, Product Manager at ZEISS. “This results in high-contrast photos and a harmonious bokeh.”

High-speed wide-angle lens

Thanks to a maximum aperture of 1.4, this lens can even capture exceptional images in poor light. “Even at full aperture, there are hardly any color fringes,” says Casenave. “The finest details can be reproduced in high definition and contrast all the way into the corners.” The metal housing is what makes the lens robust, and its dirt and dust protection even makes the ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 ready for action in adverse weather. The large 172-degree focus rotation angle enables precise manual focusing for adding creative touches to photos and videos.

The largest ZEISS lens family yet

Featuring eleven focal lengths ranging from 15 to 135 millimeters, including two macros, the ZEISS Milvus family covers a host of applications, such as portrait, landscape, architecture and street photography. “We can offer every photographer just the right lens,” says Casenave.

Perfect for videographers too

The four ZEISS Milvus focal lengths 25, 35, 50 and 85 millimeters with an aperture of 1.4 are just perfect for filming. Thanks to their high speed, they are suitable primarily for interviews and documentaries where the videographer can utilize natural light. Thanks to the de-click function in the version for the Nikon-Mount the aperture can be adjusted continuously. ZEISS Lens Gears in a range of sizes permit the use of follow-focus systems.

Price and availability

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 retails for 2,400 Euros including 19 percent sales tax (RRP) or $ 2,400 USD and will be available starting November 2nd 2017 at dealers and from the ZEISS online shop.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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