Digital Photographers' Newsletter

July 2011 Edition

Your newsletter will be focusing on the practical issues of photography for community photographers.

Summary this Month:

• Photographing Children.
  
• Workshops will recommence in near future - please email me your interest and what you would like work shopped. Each workshop will be limited to 6-10 participants to ensure personal tuition.
  
• FREE Basic Photography notes - snippets of my experiences over the past 3 decades for increasing your basic photography knowledge and skills to help improve your creative photography.
  
• Join our Digital Photographer's email network and receive my Tips for Digital Photographers FREE as they are produced.

Last Month's Seminar:

Last month at our Seminar we discussed composition of photographs.

At this month's Seminar we will discuss how you can modify the creativity effects of your photographs using adjustment of shutter speed.

We thank Helen Corr who presented many of her recent images. These included many post edited creative effects which were both unusual and eye catching. Some others like the portrait of George were examples of very careful use of available light for creative and pleasing effects.

George was one of the models from the recent photo shoot, and it won her an honour in the monthly Brisbane Camera Group competition.  She was very happy as this was her first photo competition entry. This recognition was very exciting for her. Congratulations Helen and good luck with your next entry in the "not at eye level" competition. 

Perhaps some of our other seminar participants and newsletter readers might like to talk up the challenge of a few images in the "not at eye level" category. Please bring them along or email them to me for this month's seminar.

George by Helen

This Month's topic:

Photographing Children

Not only are children one of the most interesting subjects, we truly cherish every moment we have with our children, and we want to remember it all. Some might even go so far as to say the entire digital camera industry would not exist if it were not for proud parents. Here are some tips for ensuring that your photos of children are even more memorable.

Meet them eye-to-eye

Bring yourself down to the child’s level. Even if you need to crouch down, it will provide a much more interesting perspective that invites you into their own world. Many parents mistakenly photograph their children from above, and doing so diminishes their stature and makes them seem less significant. When you photograph children on their own level (and get up really close), you truly get to see them as the little people that they are. It’s also important to try and fill the frame with your child. Some of the best photographs of children are taken up close and personal. These pictures bring out their personalities and allow them to take center stage in the shot. Unless your child is interacting with another kid or something in the background, zoom in as much as you can.

Capture natural expressions

While posed shots are great, better results are often gained by capturing an image when their thoughts are preoccupied with something else (eg. while at play). If you can change lenses on your camera, use a lens with a high zoom that allows you to zoom in really far while your child is off in his or her own world. You will capture their faces enjoying the moment rather than thinking about the camera. One of the best times to do this is when your children are playing with other kids. They will be too busy with their friends to notice your presence, and you will get some photos that tell a story of what it was like for your kid to grow up. It does not matter how old we get. We never forget those first friendships. Years later, your kids will be looking through these photos, and it will spark all kinds of memories.

Kids get bored pretty fast. If you do too many posed shots, their attention will go right out the window. That’s why it’s best to get the posed shots out of the way from the very beginning. That way, your child can go about whatever he/she wants to do while you’re busy snapping away. There’s a second reason why you want to get those posed shots done as soon as you can. As you know, kids tire out, and once they’re tired (even though they will never admit it), they are the least cooperative photographic subject you will ever meet. Make sure they’re posing when their energy levels are at their highest, not when they need a nap.

Children who have grown up having their photo taken will be a lot less likely to freeze or show off in front of a camera. As you photograph your children more, they eventually loosen up and forget that the camera is even there. That’s truly the best way to get more candid photos of your children. Start early and make photo taking a part of every day out.

Record their growth from toddler to child to young adult by taking a family photo every year around the same time. Do this either on the first day of school or during spring events. You will also want to photograph your kids’ favorite toys, games, dolls, and other things they have interested in. This helps to tell a story about your child,s childhood. As always, your children will probably be too preoccupied with other things when you ask for that yearly photo, but it’s a good idea to start early on so you don’t miss a beat. Stand firm against their protests. They will thank you later.