Lifestyle Photography Tips | New Castle Family Photographer

For Sunday Stills this week we were asked to share a Portrait Session and some tips to improve Portraits.  This is a Lifestyle Session done with my Sisterella and her beautiful children.

Tip 1... Location.  It's super to have the location either be the choice of your subject or relevant to their life in some way.  This location was chosen because the children's father is an Engineer on the railroad.

Tip 2 ... Photos from behind.  I love the above photo.  Colin setting off and Anna following.  A priceless narrative to where they are in their life right now.

Tip 3 ... Not all photo need a constrained crop.  Frame for the subject/story NOT for the 'picture frame'.

Tip 4 ... If your subject is low to the ground. Then get down on the ground and shoot from their perspective.  Alternately you can shoot from up high...I love my 3 step ladder (I always have it with me now).

Tip 5 ... Background.  Before you press the shutter make sure that your background is clean.

Tip 6 ... Wait.  Let your subjects breathe.  Let things happen.  I like this photo better then the one above it.  And in a few years when Colin is all grown up, Sisterella will like this one better too.  

Tip 7 ... Shoot the funny stuff.  Mum with the 'props' makes a fun Facebook profile photo.

Tip 8 ... Be on the look out for the sweet stuff.  It wasn't hard to see what was going to happen once Anna Sophia picked a couple of flowers and headed back towards Mum.  My camera is to my eye the majority of the shoot.

Tip 9 ... Let the treasures be in the shoot.  Colin had a Railroad spike and Anna had given Mum the flowers.  They were equally proud of these found 'treasures' from our morning out.  No use in asking to put them down and tempt a hissy-fit.

Tip 10 ... Move those Focus Points.  Moving the Focus Points on the camera is now second nature to me.  It wasn't always.  But once I got used to doing it ... it stepped up my composition game.  Yes you can focus and recompose, which I do frequently for my still subject.  But for moving subjects or my fast moving Polo photography moving those Focus Points gets me a shaper better composed picture every  time.  It's second nature to me now...like adjusting Aperture and Shutter Speed.

Tip 11 ...  Get a variety of lighting scenarios.  Front light, back light, side light.  Opportunities for flare or a silhouette shot add some drama to the Gallery that you present to your subject.  And allow your artistic side to come through.

And finally...

Tip 12 ... When you are looking for a location.  Scanning for the next place to move your subjects...your camera needs to be up to your eye.  You need to be looking through your lens so that you can see what will be in the shot.  See the environment from your lenses perspective.

Happy shooting!

The Railroaders Daughter

My Niece, The Railroaders Daughter

Jay Maisel says 'that in order to take better photographs you have to become a better person'.  That's a pretty powerful statement.  One that bears more than just a passing thought.

It's the opening of your heart that allows you to drink fully of the human experience.  We are given opportunities daily to expand our views.  Choices to harden or soften our focus and understanding.  We can acknowledge or embrace the views of others.  We can share in the miraculous experiences of life.

We can open up our hearts to other people and we can let them into to our hearts.  Let them see who we really are.  Not hide ourselves away in fear that if we let people in that we somehow we will not be enough.  That we will show everything and be found lacking.

For me the word "Namaste" is such a beautiful one word mantra that helps me on my path.  It means "the spirit in me acknowledges the spirit in you".   It reminds me that all creatures deserve respect. That we were created in love...and in love we must walk.

What about you...do you have a mantra that reminds you to stop and breathe and acknowledge?

Blue Skies Forever

Fishing on the bass pond.

I love water shots.  They are great opportunities to let your eye roam around and see the image within the image.  Thanks to Skywatch Friday

Beach Bum

Anna Sophia...Beach Bum... Nags Head, North Carolina

Heads up!  The next few posts will be an overload of cutesy beach pictures.  Including, but not limited to, children, Jack Russell Terriers and Lighthouses.  If you have an aversion to any of these....or sand in general you may want to skip visiting here until next week.

What Sparks Your Creativity?

Anna Sophia getting her writing groove on at Starbucks.

Today I stumbled upon an article that claimed that vacationing is necessary for creativity.  I just want to get on the record and say that I wholeheartedly AGREE with that statement.  I always come back from a few days away feeling fresh and uber-creative.

The problem is....like so many of you....I just can not pack up and go on vacation whenever I feel my creativity start to wane.  But as I was thinking about the article I realized that there are a couple of 'mini-breaks' that I take regularly that do fortify my muse.

• Slow walk at the park with the Jack Russell Terriers
• Fishing just before sunset...then sitting at the campfire till midnight looking at the stars
• Laying under a tree in the grass on a blanket and reading the afternoon away
• An hour or two at Starbucks laughing and talking with a friend
• Sitting in the pasture watching my horse graze
• Shootin' Safaris...when I get in the Jeep with my Camera...no destination in mind and just drive somewhere and shoot for the day

So what helps you to spark your creativity...what feeds your muse?

Day 29 - Happy On A Pony

Day 17 - No Harm

Disclaimer: No Children Were Harmed During The Making Of This Photograph.

Seriously.

Sisterella was feeling a little bit low regarding the re-homing of Diesel. So I thought it would be nice to have her and the kids over for dinner and a mini photo shoot. And it was going well....it really was.

This was our second location. By the lake. And if she had been in real trouble I would have stopped shooting.....

But she wasn't, just her arms were in the mud... Well that and the hissy fit.

Sisterella was sitting beside me.... She went to the rescue....

I kept shooting. I mean wouldn't you....we got a lot of great images...but these. These images are the ones that 10 years from now will make us laugh and smile!

Nothing Say's Summer Like a Half Eaten Hot Dog

I posted a picture of my nephew on Monday....and I'm an equal opportunity kinda auntie....

My hubby, scopin' up and lovin' on my adorable niece a couple weeks at the polo match.

Question....Where do you stand on facial hair....particularly male facial hair? I've been begging hubby to keep the mustache and shave off the hangy downy droopy caterpillars. He won't do it though. Ugh!

Tag

Puppies, kids, warm summer afternoons....it's a good life!

Sisterella had a recent addition to the family. A Mastiff puppy named Diesel. He is going to be BIG.

Are you a dog person? Big dogs, little dogs, size doesn't make a difference?

Size doesn't matter to me....I like a big attitude though....but you knew that already right.....because of the Jacks!

Auntierazzi

Okay well I got the used Canon 40D. And I've been shooting with it every night. Last night I had my niece over. And shot about a gazillion pix. I think I'm getting the white balance thing figured out.



Any comments? Besides the fact that my niece is freakin' adorable! Composition? White Balance? Focusing? Afternoon sun yesterday was strong.

What are you guys using for editing software? Anyone have any comments on Photoshop Elements or Lightroom?

Fishin' The Pond

We have two ponds here at the farm. The 'perks' of having to irrigate! This handsome bass was caught in the bigger of the two by my Grandfather this past Saturday. This was his second cast of the evening. This big bugger struck the ol' top water lure hard. And he was not happy about being reeled in either.

The niece caught the most fish...we finally let her put this one in the bucket so she could watch it. Little known fact....Bluegill really enjoy cheese curls!

No fish were harmed in the making of these pictures....all were released happily back into the pond. Snaps were taken by Sisterella!

Polo

Aunt Sally and Sisterella lookin' happy in the setting sun! Ladies what were you hiding in that cooler?

Thank God It's Friday! POLO! It's been two weeks since the last match. And this past work week has been insane. These are a few pictures taken at the last match.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday night Polo in Darlington PA...all four off the ground.

The little niece taken in the "tony" action with a look of serious contemplation. (pony=tony)

Shot Of The Year

As we get ready to bid adieu to 2008.  I narrowed this years blog pictures to my three favorites.  

The worlds most photogenic JRT....Clarice

My adorable little Niece

My most beloved....Obligato

Lets put it to a vote.  Which of the three do you like best?  Do you have a favorite photo from this year on your blog?  Please link it.

See you all next year!

Sisterella

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Sisterella......Happy Birthday to you!

Love you! XOXO

My Tale of Love

 

My "love" story is about my lovely little niece and nephew.  This summer on a camping trip.  We loaded up the kids in the car and went on an ice run.  While we were waiting for ice.  We decided to get my nephew (age 3 1/2) an vanilla ice cream on a stick w/a chocolate coating on the outside.  My niece  (age 1 1/2) was happily sucking on a lolly-pop.  So we didn't bother with get her an ice cream.  We give the nephew his treat and drive back to the camp.

When we get back to the camp I turn around in my seat and there they are both of them covered in melting ice cream and chocolate there car seats covered and the seat in between them an melted ice cream chocolaty mess.  As I sat and watched my nephew take a lick then pass it to my niece and she would take a lick and pass it back.  So forth and so on. Dripping, slurping and laughing.

My heart was filled with love for them both.  My little nephew loves ice cream.  And without even being asked he decided to share with his sister.  He loves her and she loves him.

Fish Outa' Water

My nephew and niece came by the house last night. We never have any trick or treat where we live. So that makes these fish out of water even more rare!

Don't be sad little fishy.....candy is much more yummy then fish food!

Curious Eyes

My niece's big brown curious eyes to complete yesterday's quote.

Nephewage

The little nephewage takes jobs very seriously. And cuttin' wood is no exception. He has gone through at least a half dozen toy chainsaws & saws at this point. This is serious business to him. "Cuttin', Choppin', Splitten' and Stackin'" are well used word sets in his 3 yr old vocab.

He saw this stack of wood from the office.  And wanted to go up and stack a little.  Who am I to say no.  He knows what he's doin'.

Do a couple more buddy.....this is a family farm....child labor laws don't pertain.

My Niece

Sisterella performed one of my very favorite Auntie duty maneuvers recently. "The Drive By Child Drop" .... do not be alarmed ... No children are harmed in the execution of this maneuver. The scant 1/2 an hour drop gave us just enough time to amble down to the barn to feed the horses some grass then a quick walk around the office to pick up sticks.

Lord-love-a-duck this child is adorable!


I absolutely love being an Auntie.