I love babies! I love photographing babies! This was a fun new experience for me, photographing cousins! Matthew is 4 months old and Kendal is just newborn, what a great concept though including your family in your session! We also included Kendal's older sister Alaina too!
This has been one whirlwind weekend; Beach Mini Sessions on Saturday, Maternity Session on Sunday, and in between on Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was taking photos around town for Destination Plymouth. Today is time for one deep breath and then tomorrow is family photos in the morning and another night of Cameras and Cocktails in the evening! Whew!!! My maternity photos were a highlight. It was for a wonderful family that I have done sessions for multiple times in the last couple years. I love so much seeing them and working with them. Also seeing little miss "S" growing into such a beautiful little girl!
This was one of my favorite photos from the weekend!
One of the hardest things to do is to take a great picture of your kids. I have a few tips to make that easier: 1. Pick their best time of day for pictures whether you or hiring someone or taking them yourself. I find that for most kids that is morning.
2. Make sure your kids are well fed. Also bring snacks, drinks, and treats to make things easier.
3. Play and interact while you are taking their pictures, it brings out the bright side of their personality.
4. If they are having a tough time, give them some time to reset. Whether I am taking pictures for other people or myself I find that this comes in handy to change the mood. I am more worried about getting the right shot than about the time on the clock.
Happy Shooting!
The season is now in high gear and I am having so much fun. I have been having so much fun meeting new people and reconnecting with people I have photographed before. This is my second session with V. Her first session was her cake smash session and it is so much fun to see how much she has grown and what a beautiful little girl she is. She is also so amazingly sweet and fun! I loved spending time capturing her and at one of her favorite places...The beach!
So I am so excited my mini sessions on the beach are almost upon us! I just got another sign up yesterday! It's going to be so much fun! If you have not yet heard, mini-sessions are a smaller more compact session. For $99.00, you will receive a 30 minute session, 8-10 digital images and one 8x10 print from your session. Although most people typically think of this as family photos I have all different groups coming, families, couples, maternity photos, and a group of long time girlfriends just to name some. I still have sometime available if you are interested, Call now! 508-244-4073 or email me at kathy@themirroredimage.com
So now that it is getting nicer out and summer is coming more of us are thinking about taking vacations and getting out and about. In addition to wanting to have loads of fun on your trip, you probably want to capture some moments that remind you of the great time that you had. Here are some things that I find helpful.
1. If you are driving bring a tripod. You want a picture of the WHOLE family.
2. When you set people up look for a location with a bench or some rocks, something that will make it easier to stagger people. Photos are so much more interesting that way.
3. Stay away from bold prints. If one person is wearing a brig floral caftan, that will certainly be the focus of the picture!
4. If you have kids, take pictures in the morning. That is usually their best time and the time they are most willing to listen to direction. Also I am not above bribery (carry a little treat with you, a couple M&M's go a long way!
5. Mid afternoon is the best time to capture great lighting. It's called the golden hour and you have great light if you think you can get you family to pose then.
6. Save noontime for lunch not pictures! There is usually a hazy film on your images when the sun is right over head. I try to avoid taking pictures at this time if I can help it!
If all of this seems like a lot, consider calling a photographer located where you are staying and having them meet you for an afternoon. Family Photo Shoots are affordable and you won't regret having some great images to cherish! Happy Shooting!
So here is another great idea that people don't always think of. How about inviting a photographer to a couple hours of your next family gathering and having some professional family photos done? I have booked some events like these in the near future and more coming. It is becoming a more popular idea. For a little more than what you would pay to get your own family photos done you have captured a moment to remember and you have your family on film as well. Here are some of my favorites from the most recent event.
So I planned on doing more photo restoration projects for Throwback Thursday, but my little baby who is no longer a tiny baby is feeling under the weather today. This is actually day 3 of her cold and she is bouncing back, tired and sniffling but otherwise good. Of course that made me digress to think of my cute little baby when she was a cute little baby and then start looking through some of the cute little pictures that I have loved the best of her. Here is just a selection of Little Lucy thus far!
So I spend a lot of time taking pictures both at work and at home...that's probably a given. I had three photo shoots this weekend (photos to follow).What I have learned over the years is this, you don't have to have the biggest and the best to get the best result. In fact, two of my favorite lenses are the least expensive ones I own: 1. AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX Lens
2. Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens
Both lenses were under 200.00 each brand new and I find them indispensable. Fixed lenses make a huge difference in portrait photography. They give you more control over the clarity of your subject and the ability to dial down your aperture enough to really make your subject come to life. Even with a starter camera you will see a phenomenal difference using a fixed lens. The 35mm lens is my most used lens and I love the way my images have changed since buying it.
Of course the bigger and better you camera gets the more difference you will see in the image that is produced as far as image quality goes, but I think you will be amazed at what you see by switching from a to something like this. The onus is on you to do the work of moving around your subject but it is worth all the effort!
So today was so not the day to be on the beach taking photos! Really that was yesterday, but we made it work and we had so much fun! These kids were troopers and they had so much fun playing in the sand, they barely noticed how cold it was. Their mother should be a stylist too! Look at the amazingly cute coordinating outfits. I had a blast and I am so happy with our shots! If you want to join in on the fun sign up for some family photos or join one of our mini sessions. The first date is listed below in my trendy new postcard, thanks to the Sanford Family!
Are you looking for that perfect beach photo! This is a great idea to get a jump start on Christmas photos or plan Christmas in July! Don't miss out, I have a few sessions left!
One of the biggest issues that I have come across is how to deal with less than ideal lighting situations, especially direct sunlight. Direct sunlight creates a bunch of unflattering shadows on your face. Over exposes details so you have odd highlights and a multitude of other problems that just don't add up to a good picture! Here are a few tips on how to deal with that: 1. If you can, photography in the shade. Put people under a tree or under the shade of a building if it is at all possible. Granted this is not always possible. Sometimes you can't change the position you are taking the picture from and you just have to deal with it.
2. Another great way to deal with the sun is to use your flash to even out the shadows. Fill-Flash will fill in the shadows and even out the tones on your subject.
3. If you have one, another really good option is a reflector. You can use some different DIY reflectors on the fly to reflect the sun back at you. You can make a reflector if you want to keep it really inexpensive. (Glueing aluminum foil to poster board). Most reflectors are affordable and easier to transport. If you have photos coming up or you are in a pinch then the DIY method is a good one.
Hi Everyone! The nice weather is finally peeking through and I am in super excited to book the first beach mini session of the season. If you have never heard of mini-sessions before, they go like this! You sign up for a 30 minute session, you receive 8-10 edited digital images plus one 8x10 print. If what you really want is one good beach photo for the wall or for your christmas cards next year then sign up now! The best part is, it's only $99.00 for the whole deal. Sign up now, spaces definitely go fast!
When you think about family photos you probably think of those photos at the beach or in the park. you get all dressed up and capture that moment. What about capture those moments that you will always remember in your mind. The things that you love to do with your kids when they are small. Time always moves too fast. One of the things that Lucy and I love to do the best is cook together. We bake and cook and we dance. We have a blast. She is such a character and she always says, "Mommy, what do we need next?". I just want to eat her up. This is one of the moments I wanted to capture so that I could remember the moment. What moments do you have like this? Why not schedule something at your home? Take some pictures of your family in your element and then you can still take some photos of you together that are posed at the same time if you desire. Here are some of my favorites:
Who knows what runs through the mind of a two year old! Each day is new and exciting (and challenging, LOL) I am working on putting together the presentation for my Intro to Digital Photography Class on May 4th and I wanted to get different pictures representing different aspects of photography. One being aperture. Portrait Pictures are always better with a lower aperture setting because your subject stands out more from the background and comes to life a little more. Since I have a built in subject, I asked Lucy to pose for me and after several attempts, this is what I got. Lucy lunging toward the camera with her bunny saying : "He do it, He take my picture!" Just such a cute moment to bring a smile to my day!
I know it is a little late, but here we go with one of my favorite photos from Easter! We went to the Easter Egg Hunt at Emeritus Senior Living. There were tons of kids there. They did a great job though and the kids all made sure they left some eggs for the little ones. Lucy had a blast. They had decorate your own cupcakes. The residents were so sweet and nice, I think they had a blast too. I hope you enjoy Lucy in her Easter Dress as much as I do!
Oh my! The nice weather is certainly here full force this weekend and not a moment too soon! Time to get out and start checking off one of my goals: personal creative projects. I am making it a goal this year to not only work on my business but to also balance with it the creative ideas that I have mulling around in head! These have nothing to do with making money. They only have to do with having fun! I sometimes get so wrapped up in my work (not a bad thing!), I forget about all the other fun projects I want to do. So this year, I added it to my business plan so I am making myself accountable for those things too! Here are some fun creative photos taken around town today! today was a day purely dedicated to playing. Here are some pictures of my loves at the playground! Happy Sunday everyone!
Now scheduling Valentines Day Mini Sessions for February 8, 2014. If you missed out on our Christmas Deal here's another way to give the Valentine's Day gift that will never be forgotten. For $99.00 schedule a 30 minute session and receive 8-10 edited photos and one 8X10 print.
We get a lot of babies around here and every one is a new and different experience including my own who is 21 months old. We love every one of them and try and keep things fresh and interesting with new props and new poses. We make things fun and relaxing for the moms and the babies. Plymouth and the South Shore have a lot of seasonal themes to offer and now that we are closing in on Fall and Christmas, I thought it was time to break out the adorable newborn hats and fur blankets. Baby C was so comfy and cozy!
With the holidays approaching aren't we all trying to figure out what to give to others that doesn't cost too much and is still meaningful. Before the weather gets too cold, here are some tips from Nikon on How to take better photos of your kids!
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/grtscpdc/taking-better-photos-of-your-kids-at-play.html
