It wasn't supposed to be this way...
Covid-19 came in and changed our lives, our moods, and our perspectives on a lot of things. It looked at all of our plans and just laughed at them and if we dwell on this it can be heart breaking. So we must adapt. Life still goes on. So whether you're a mom-to-be wanting to capture some maternity photos, or a new mom wanting to document this time in your newborn's life, or a parent looking to get that picture of glee as your child plays in the backyard, I have some simple tips to help you capture your own everyday moments. And please, feel free to email me with any questions you may have!
Go Outside
If you can take the picture outside do it!! Natural light is always best. If it is a bright, sunny day put your subject in the shade. If it's cloudy then just snap away!
When you have to be inside...
Turn off all artificial light. Seems counterintuitive, but really all that extra light adds weird colors and shadows to your pictures. Turning off artificial lights will help you achieve natural looking skin tones.
Windows can be your BFF
I've told you to turn off all the lights and now you feel like you're in a dark cave. Find a window! The light coming from the window will be "soft" and flattering. Either pull up the blinds completely or open them enough so the lines and shadows dissapear. The subject of your photo should face the window to let the light shine on them. If you don't have windows that let in enough light, you can always use your front or back door. Again, the subject should face the light. They can back away from the light if it's too strong.
My "Extra" tip: cover a sizable piece of cardboard in tinfoil and BAM! You have a reflector, a tool that will help you shine and bounce light on to your subject. Keep the foil smooth!
Remember what's important
With kids in your house 24/7 it may be a little more difficult to keep the house decluttered. Or the room with the best light happens to be the laundry room. Or maybe the fence in your backyard has seen better days. Don't worry about it! Backgrounds are not always important. Having your subject closer to the camera will help "blur" the background but it will also put emphasis on what IS important: faces + action! Don't get me wrong, if there is something distracting in the background and you can remove it -- do it! But at the end of the day, it is far better to focus on capturing the moment, the expressions, than it is to worry about what's going on in the background or to worry about what's being worn or the color of everything.