Night Photography

I don't actually live in the Seattle area, but I go there frequently for photography opportunities. My last trip there, I decided to fight the crowd for a popular spot in order to get a great shot of the famous space needle. I knew I wanted it to be at night, and I also knew it was going to be a black and white shot, mainly because I knew exactly where in my house I was going to hang it and the black and white feel would match the area I was planning on hanging the photo.

When I showed up, it was about 45 minutes before dark and there was already a crowd, most setting up their tripods and getting their cameras ready. I managed to squeeze (quite literally) between a couple of people and started setting my camera up.

Taking pictures at night isn't as hard as some might think, though it does take a little understanding of your camera and the settings in order to get it right. I remember seeing the guy next to me using a point and shoot camera with his flash on. Please don't do this. If you research a little and know your camera settings, you do not need to use your flash at night.

First, make sure your camera is on manual setting (I know, scary!) It's usually found as being the 'M' on most cameras. Next, you'll want the smallest f number you can get your camera to. This will vary, depending on your camera. You'll also want a long shutter speed. Look for the number that has double quotes. Starting at 1" should be good to start at. You may need to change this slightly as you go.

If you want a clear shot, I'd highly suggest using a tripod. With the long shutter time, you almost can never get a crystal clear shot holding your camera by hand. Also, use the self timer or a remote if you have one, the less you have to touch the camera the better!

Once you take the photo, check and see if the lights are bright enough/not bright enough. If they are - great! If not, adjust your shutter speed by making it slower. If the lights are too bright, make your shutter speed a little faster.

Taking the perfect picture is having fun with trial and error, in my opinion. That's what makes it so enjoyable for me.

Prop Ideas for Children's Outdoor Photography

Besides props being fun to use, they can add to the overall feeling that you are looking for in your photos. For this blog post, I wanted to touch on some ideas for props. There are tons of different types, depending on the look and feeling you're going for.

For the first picture, I wanted to capture the feeling of simple yet rustic and I also knew I wanted to shoot in front of a specific barn. After getting permission from the owner to shoot at this location, I arrived and scouted out the area. I found an old plastic crate - old hay and all, and after emptying it I knew it would work into the shoot perfectly. I hadn't planned on using the crate, but once I saw it I knew it would add to the rustic feel I was going for. I had the hat already, and the model came in worn out, old (but clearly loved!) boots, which only added to the feel of this shoot. I do, at times, tell my subjects how to pose and whether to smile or look serious, to laugh or to gaze off in the distance, but a lot of times with children I just find it easier to take candid shots. I tell them to just act how they normally would and I snap away. A lot of my best pictures are achieved doing just this!

Details are always important. For the next picture, I knew it was a birthday shoot. What's cheaper than balloons for a great prop? I stopped at the dollar store and picked out a few and off I went to the shoot. I had the outfit for the model, which felt celebration-like and it worked out perfect. I brought a crate with me just in case I changed my mind about the feel of the shoot, which came in handy. Even though you can't see the crate in the photo, I had her stand on it and hold onto the balloons. With the wind lightly blowing the balloons in the opposite direction of her, she was forced to hold onto them tight, which turned into a game for her. Again, not asking her to pose any certain way, I snapped away and let the pictures speak for themselves.

And even though the balloons are not in the picture below, having her look up at them the way she is with the lighting behind her, just adds to the majestic feel of this photo. 

You don't have to spend a fortune to obtain props, especially in the beginning. An old crate, boots, a hat, or even balloons can give the feeling you're going for in a photo. Lighting is important in creating a mood for your pictures too, and more often than not, less is more. You don't want to take away from the subject you are shooting, so make sure to keep that in mind when planning props for your sessions.

It's all about the lighting - some tips and tricks

So I thought I'd share a couple of fun photos today. When I took one of my photography classes, the instructor was teaching us all about lighting and how important it was. The assignment was to take photos in the rain. Easy, right?

Wrong.

Lighting is absolutely everything in photography. Whether it be weddings, babies, families....or in this case for me - nature. Having the perfect light can make the most ordinary things look magical.

First, these are a couple of my favorite pictures. Second, they were the absolute hardest to get right, which is why I think I love them so much. I can remember how long it took me to take these and how frustrated I would get because I just couldn't figure out HOW to get it to where the 'rain' showed up in my photo.

Great photos sometimes always require you to think outside the box. There was no rain in either of these pictures. It was the dead of summer, and I live in the desert. After some serious thought as to how I was going to make rain, I had someone hold a hose with a sprinkler attached to the end, over both of my subjects. I also had to make sure the light was behind my subject as to show the 'rain'.

Had it not been for my instructor giving me this assignment, I feel I never would have fully grasped just how important lighting - and the placement of lighting - truly is.

If you've never taken photos like these, I'd recommend giving it a try. You can use anything, and it really is so much fun to get your creative juices flowing!

Preston, Washington Wedding

The photo below is one of my favorites. And the easiest way to explain just why I love wedding photography so much. Being able to capture special moments like this one for couples to remember forever is priceless to me.  It makes me feel good that my passion, something that I absolutely love doing can bring others such happiness. It's worth it all.

JB and Gen are one of those couples who love to laugh and joke with one another, and just enjoy life. I felt honored to be able to photograph their wedding and  I know that when they look back at this photo, it will forever remind them of their love for each other.