Momtography

I've been lucky to be able to teach a few fun classes on "Momtography". Here is the short, sweet, to the point blog version!

So what is "momtography"? Well, basically exactly what it sounds like! Moms (or grandmas) taking pictures like the pros! Obviously, to get really high-quality pictures it helps to have a great camera. But you can also fake-it-till-you-make-it with your regular old point and shoot camera, or even your phone!
The following are all pictures taken on my iPhone, and all starring my favorite kid ever. Sorrynotsorry that I take so many pictures of this cutie.

Aperture

Phones these days have great aperture settings. For those that don't know, "aperture" controls the depth of field in a photo. Notice how crisp and clear his foot is, and how blurred the background is? This is a look many photographers use and love (ok, generally not of a foot) and it's something most phone cameras do for you automatically! You can test it out now- hold your thumb in front of your camera and watch it blur out the background. Test it out on your kids- it's a great way to blur out the dirty laundry in the background! Or is that just me?

Catchlights

Catchlights are such a simple way to make your photo look more professional. In both of these photos Dayen is facing a big, open window. Find the magic place in your house that has the best lighting- usually a room with a big window- and try out the different angles the light can touch your subject. It will completely change your picture!

What's the biggest problem moms have when trying to take pictures of their kids? That's right, blurriness! Thankfully, as a professional, I never have that problem.

Just kidding.

Thankfully, I have some tips to help overcome it! First, remember that you need to hold as still as possible, especially in low light conditions. Second, rather than shouting, "Say Cheese!" (and getting the totally fake smile that you don't want) find other ways to help get your child to freeze and smile. That's the major benefit of being a momtographer- you can get the truly genuine smiles that another photographer sometimes doesn't. Is there a special song you can sing to make your child smile, or a toy you can hold up to catch their attention? Be patient. It doesn't always work out on the first try.

Or, if your child is like mine, you can just give him some food and he's happy as a clam and ready to smile! Easy peasy. As long as you don't mind food all over his face.

Posing

How can I put this simply? Don't be afraid to be a shameless poser. If you find a cute, colorful lollipop at the store, feel free to give it to your son (who is waaay too young for lollipops) simply for the purpose of taking a picture. And when his little fingers are sticky for a week, you can look back on the cute picture to remind yourself it was all worth it.

We live in a world run by Instagram. Go ahead and pose and add props and then pretend it was all candid. We won't judge!

But I think one of the most important things is to just hang in there and wait for the perfect picture. I mean, don't spend your life and your play times with your phone poised for a picture. But when you absolutely have to take a picture of this sweet moment, make it count! Don't settle for a picture you don't love!

Case in point: the following two pictures were taken about 2 seconds apart.

Kids attitudes and moods change by the second. (Ahem, he may or may not get that from me. Oops.)

There was one day I dressed Dayen in these overalls and he was just looking extra-adorable. So I took a couple pictures (like this):

and realized that just wasn't cutting it. So, I pulled out my trusty DSLR (pro camera) and took this:

My point being: if you are really serious about taking quality photos of your kids, consider investing in a DSLR and a nice lens or two, and learn how to use it! You really will be able to take much better pictures, as long as you learn the basics.

And finally, remember to get in the pictures yourself sometimes! Momtogs tend to hide behind the camera, but don't forget to ask Dad to take a picture once in awhile, or when all else fails, don't be afraid to selfie!

Some of my quick tips:

• Whenever possible, take pictures outdoors. Outdoors is always better!
• Don't be afraid of cloudy days- photographers love cloudy days. Clouds scatter sunlight evenly and make for great pictures- try it!
• When you can't go outside, find good, natural indoor light. Big windows work great!
• Turn off the flash. Seriously! Flash is NOT our friend. Most point and shoot cameras have a setting to let you turn off the flash. If you can't figure it out, let me know and I will happily come over and break it for you. Seriously. Turn off that darn flash!
• When you do take a picture you end up loving, PRINT IT! We take more pictures than any generation before us, but we hardly ever print them. Get those pictures up on your walls or in a book- don't just let them rot in your phone or on your computer until you forget about them!
• Finally, and this isn't a plug for myself (necessarily :) ) Get professional pictures done at least once a year. Man cannot live on phone pictures alone. (Or something else philosophical-sounding.) Hire a professional, dress up, and get some great pictures taken. You won't be sorry!

So, my momtographer friends, what did I miss? Post pictures of your cute littles in the comments! Maybe we will have a momtography contest!

On Love

I want to try a little experiment with you guys!

If you want to participate, read on. If you don't, read on anyways.
I would also love if you shared your thoughts in the comments afterwards!
First: Find a picture of yourself. Preferably one of just you, with no one else in the photo.
Now for the next minute, I want you to just stare at the picture. Really look at it. Jot down or take a mental note of the things that stand out to you in the photo. It can be anything, but try to be specific.
Now, I want you to find a picture of a loved one. It can be anyone: your mom, your spouse, your child, even your dog if you want.
Stare at this picture for a minute, and do the same thing. Take some notes on the things you notice about the picture, how it makes you feel, etc.
Now, I want you to go back over the notes of each picture and take a tally: how many of the comments are positive, and how many are negative? They can also be neutral. 
You see where I'm going with this, right?
How many of your comment toward yourself were positive?
Were your thoughts generally more positive toward your loved one, or toward yourself?
What about finding the photos? Was it easier to find a picture of yourself, or your loved one? Which one did you choose faster?

I try to keep this blog fun and uplifting. But guys, this is so important. And I don't know of any other way to say it.
You have to like yourself.
As a photographer, it just breaks my heart. I can't tell you how many times I take pictures for someone, and they complain that they don't like themselves in the photo. Everything is else is perfect: the lighting, the location, the pose, we got it all right. But there is just something, or lots of things, about themselves that they can't see past.
I can't tell you how many pictures I post that I love, only to have the person delete it off social media and ask me to do the same because "their hair looks bad" or "their smile looks weird" or "they don't like the outfit they chose."
Guys, I'm not above this. I get it. Every picture that has ever been taken of me I have criticized down to every last zit or misplaced strand of hair, but all I'm saying is we have to stop sometime.
I wish you could all see yourselves the way I see you through my camera lens. I have truly, truly, never been taking pictures for someone and thought, "Wow, their smile is weird." or "Interesting shirt choice."
You know why?
Because all I see is your beautiful family, and how happy you are when you're together. (Yes, even when the kids aren't smiling and your shoes got muddy and nothing is going according to plan.)
I wish you could see yourselves the way your family sees you. Especially your spouse and kids. I promise, they never look at your family picture and think anything negative about you.
That's partly why I love taking pictures of kids. 

They always stand in front of the camera so confidently, so excited to pose and grin. I love showing kids their pictures on my camera, and I always ask them something like, "Isn't that pretty?" or "Aren't you so cute?" In the hundreds of times I have done this, I have never had a kid say no, or ask me to take a new one.
Ever.

But when I show an adult their picture, 9 times out of 10 they ask me to retake it because something was wrong. Or they ask me to photoshop them in some way.
And I realize it's the hardest thing in the world to reverse our thinking and start thinking positively about ourselves. 
But I think we owe it to ourselves to try.
Besides, I don't want to take all these beautiful pictures for you if you're going to hate them over silly things!

So I want to know: what were your results with this experiment?
What can I do to help you feel more confident about your photos? How can I help you love the way you look in your photos? (And before anyone says it, I don't mean by using Photoshop to alter you into someone else!)
And what can you do, specifically before a photo shoot, to feel more confident and love the way you look in pictures?
Any and all ideas are appreciated!

The Importance of Prints

Recently I have started doing something new to my business... print sales.
I remember when I was looking for a photographer, I had one important thing in mind: I wanted a disc of all the images. I didn't want to have to buy prints from my photographer, and not know how much I would end up spending on those prints before the session. As I got more into photography myself, I think I actually said the words, "I will never do print sales!"
So, what changed?

Put simply: I realized how often my clients were taking their disc of images, and never doing anything with them. Most often, a few pictures would get posted to social media, and then... nothing! Sometimes, months later, clients would ask me for a new disc because they had lost theirs. When I switched to digital images from a website, sometimes months would go by before the session was downloaded. After that, I don't know if they were ever printed.
I love photography. I love taking pictures of your family, and I am always pushing how important it is to get pictures done frequently. But it's not enough to just get pictures taken. The whole point of why I do what I do is to get those beautiful, high-quality prints up on your wall!
I don't want your pictures to be something you see as a tiny image on your Facebook profile picture. I want it to be the first thing you see when you walk in the door! I want all my clients to have their homes full of these beautiful pictures that we take!

Getting photos professionally done, and then printing them somewhere like WalMart, or worse, not printing them at all, is completely pointless! You may as well ask a friend to snap a couple quick pictures on your phone, because those would serve the same purpose.
That is why I've changed how I do things with my business now. I want to provide a place you can purchase prints that I can guarantee will be high quality, accurate colors, and still affordable.
I still believe you should have the option of printing where you want, so I provide the opportunity to purchase all the high-resolution prints, and print them where you want. But it's important to know you can take advantages of all the services offered by your photographer. This is what they do! They live and breathe these photos, so if you trust them enough to take them, then order prints from them! Or, ask them where they recommend to get prints done. Fill your walls, not just your Facebook walls, with photos.

A Sad Story

I've shared this on my Facebook before, but it's definitely one for the blog...

THIS is my family.

And this happens to be the last family picture we've ever had taken.

If the fashion, haircuts, and style of this photo didn't tip you off, then maybe you noticed I'm not even BORN yet. Yes, this was at LEAST 26 years ago.

They were kind enough to include the family dog though, so growing up I got a lot of, "Oh look how cute Anndee is!" jokes, which I so did not find funny.

Family, I love you. But everyone else... don't let this be your family!

There is always, always, always going to be an excuse to put off having family pictures taken. But it is so, so important to have done! I'm not just saying that as a photographer. We have no guarantees in life. I have done pictures for a family who had recently lost a sibling, and realized they waited way too long to get updated pictures.

What is your excuse? Most times, what I hear is that someone in the family just wants to lose 10 more pounds, or they are self conscious about their big ears, or their crooked teeth, or their acne.

I am here to tell you you are the only one who sees it. And I know today those extra 10 lbs feel pretty detrimental. But your kids and grandkids are growing and changing every second. We lose people, or they move away. Situations change daily.

So get your family pictures done. Even if you never post them on social media, or even hang them on your wall. Get them done for posterity's sake. Get them done so you can look back on today and remember things as they were.

Love yourself enough to accept your weight, your looks, your outfit just as you are today, not how you hope to be someday.

Treasure every moment with your sweet family, and let me help you freeze some of those moments forever.

Here are my recommendations for how often pictures should be done:

Extended/multi-families: every 2-3 years

Single families: Once a year

Kids: Once a year

Kids under 5: every 6 months-1 year (keep in mind you can 

do mini sessions for these.)

It's not so hard, and quite honestly, it's some of the best advice I can give you. Just get those pictures done!! Don't wait until you all have matching outfits, or until your hair grows out. I promise you won't regret it.

Lifestyle Sessions

I love, love, love Lifestyle Sessions.

I might be a little biased, because my life is basically one giant lifestyle session. 😂 I love being able to pull out my camera any time to take a quality picture of these cute, messy moments. 

As candid as these seem to be, don't be fooled- lifestyle sessions can be planned to a T! 

I have so many clients who tell me they don't want posed, fake-smile photos- if that describes you, then these are the perfect sessions for you!

Usually I have plenty of people wanting lifestyle sessions, but they don't know that's what they want! Here are some ideas for unique sessions that qualify as "lifestyle"... The options are endless but hopefully this gets the gears turning for you! 

•At the Park During a session, when kids just won't smile, I always hear, "they would smile if we were at the park!" So, take them to the park! Don't underestimate how cute a picture on the slide, swings, or monkey bars can be.

•Baking A cute at-home session is the family baking together! Pull out the cute bowls, put on some aprons, and don't be afraid to get messy. 

•Camping Fishing, playing in the mud, and roasting smores. Perfect way to remember your family traditions, just a little more dolled up.

•Gardening Bright colored flowers and hand made pots make perfect props for pictures! (Say that ten times fast!)

•Arts & Crafts Like the painting picture above, capturing your kids creating something is even more fun than seeing the finished product.

•Story Time One of my personal favorites! Such a sweet moment to capture parents reading to their kids, and a perfect photo to hang on the wall in their room.

•First Foods It sounds silly, but when I first started giving our little boy food, I was constantly snapping pictures of his cute, messy face.

•Favorite Toys Is there a toy your child just won't give up? Something they really love to do? Capture it! (That way, when the toy inevitably falls apart in the washer someday, you still have pictures to look back on.) 

Like I said, the possibilities are endless, but the main point of a lifestyle session is to capture your family in the most natural way possible. Get creative, think of something uniquely for your family, and give me a call! You won't regret it. :)

Mention this post and receive $10 off a Lifestyle Session!

When To Use An Amateur Photog

Getting started in Photography in Utah can be rough. I think I heard once that we have the most photographers of any state (but don't quote me on that.) Everyone and their dogs has a photography business these days! It can be hard to sift through the incredible, experienced photographers who often cost a fortune, all the way down to the newbies who show up at your wedding with their iPhone a-ready.
Odds are, once you've chosen a photographer, it's for one of three reasons:

1- You've looked through their work, liked what you saw, and want the sort of pictures they generally produce.
2- They were the cheapest you could find, and cheap gets the job done.
3- You know them personally, you know they do photography, so you use them regardless of price or experience.

Now as a Photographer I wholly believe in Community over Competition. I try my hardest never to put down a new photographer, just because I know how devastating it is when someone who is better than you (and there is always someone better) bashes your work. How would the newbies ever get experience if no one ever gave them a chance? But as a client, I think it's important to know when and where you should use an amateur photographer.

DO use an Amateur Photographer:
-When they are offering a good deal to build their portfolio
-If you've seen some of their previous work (and it's decent)
-To practice for an upcoming session with a professional. (Want to make sure your outfits look as good as you think? Do you want to try some different poses and see what you like best in the finished product?)
-As a second shooter for a large event like a wedding (if approved by your current photographer.)
-To help out someone you know that is looking to get into photography

DO NOT use an Amateur Photographer:
-For a newborn session
-For a birth story
-For a first-look session
-For a wedding
-For any photoshoot that couldn't be taken again if the pictures don't turn out.
-If they are charging absurd amounts that don't seem to match their work

I support and am happy to help any up and coming photographer, but the fact is you take on a personal risk when allowing an inexperienced photographer to take photos for you that can't be replaced. I can't tell you how many people I see who first refuse to use a professional because of the price, and then end up using them later because their newborn pictures were never returned to them, or their wedding pictures were so dark you couldn't see anyone's faces.
I've been there. I've been that photographer not taking the highest quality photos for people, because as prepared as they might feel, it's hard! It's a hobby that takes a lot of time and practice to learn, and you don't want to find out in your dimly lit reception hall that they have no clue how to shoot in low lighting conditions. 
But, when you can, it is always great to help a new photographer fine tune their craft and build their business! Ultimately, you should always do your homework first.

What To Wear

I am going to keep this one brief, because you can Google "What to wear on a photoshoot" and find thousands of good ideas and color schemes to follow. These are just my tips based on what I've seen that works, and what doesn't!
#1 Black is not as Slimming as You Think Not only that, but it is very dull in photos and really washes you out. I only recommend wearing black, or any neutrals, if it is just a really great outfit that you are dying to have captured on film. 
#2 No need to go Seasonal I see a lot of people who just LOVE fall, so they schedule a fall session and then deck themselves out in oranges and browns. That's great for your Fall-themed room, but in general it's always better to pick outfits that will fit any season. Not only do you not want to blend in to your background, but you don't want your pictures to look dated and out of place in your home every other season of the year.
#3 You are ALWAYS better off with color My favorite pictures are the ones where people choose bright colors for their color scheme. You don't have to choose bright reds- pastels look great too. Just think COLOR.

(I am using this cute family as an example- again- because they totally killed what to wear in this session. They chose dark colors, but not black, and contrasted it with the bright colors in her shirt and in the little boy's shorts. I was so proud.)

#4 Monochrome doesn't mean Matching Although it might seem simple to tell everyone in your family to wear White- a color everyone probably has- it usually ends up looking very, um, 90's, in photos. To match, you don't need to wear the same color, just colors that complement eachother.
#5 Please oh Please DO NOT Wear Clothing With Words We've all seen the kids in the yearbook who mistakenly wore a shirt with giant words across the front on picture day. Not only does it look tacky, but it's very distracting in a photo! When you see words, you can't help but read them. It detracts from the rest of the picture if someone is constantly reading your shirt. (And no, I will not photoshop the words out of every picture. Yes, people have asked,)
#6 How I shop I am by far the pickiest person in my family to shop for, so I start with me. For our latest family pictures, I found something bright that I liked, and then found shirts for my husband and our little boy that complemented what I was wearing. It also helps to ask your photographer what the location you will be using looks like- if we had all worn yellow in these pictures, it would have been a lot of yellow to look at. 

How to have a Peaceful Photoshoot... with Kids

Families and kids are one of my favorite photo sessions to take. They are the pictures you get done only once in a great while, the ones you take solely for the purpose of filling that blank space on your wall. But they are also some of the most stressful shoots, mostly for mom and dad.
I get it: just a few days ago we met up with one of my best friends to trade family pictures, and before the first picture was taken I was already feeling pretty stressed. I only have one little one year old, but our family of three still took awhile to get dressed in cute matching clothes, and make sure they stayed clean. Add in trying to get my curious little boy to stare at the camera and smile, and you've got a recipe for major stress. When the wind started to blow my hair crazy, I realized a whole side to this family session thing I didn't as the photographer: it's not just sitting and smiling. It's hard work!
Inevitably, a lot of the sessions with young kids end in tears or tantrums or just plain refusing to smile. And with nearly every family, it's the same story: first, the bribes start.
"Mommy will buy you any candy bar you want if you just smile for this picture!"
"Remember if you're a good girl we can get ice cream after this!"
When that doesn't work (or when it only works for one picture), the threats start.
"You won't get a treat if you don't smile!"
"You don't get to play with your friends after this if you don't behave!"
"Smile!!! 5....4...3..."
Now, I'm not one to judge anyone's parenting style. I know how hard it is, and I definitely know how desperate you feel after spending all day getting your family to look their best. Just pretend we are a perfect family for 10 minutes! I am paying for this!
But as a photographer, this bothers me for several reasons.
For one, I genuinely want you to have a good time at your session! Your pictures will be so much better if your family is relaxed and happy. The smiles are more natural, and you won't feel angry every time you walk past that picture for years to come.
Secondly, you ARE paying for this. Very rarely do families show up in clothes they chose last minute, with hair a mess and food stains on their faces. It takes planning, it takes work, and it takes money. Your time and money are valuable to me, so as your photographer I'm not going to give up ten minutes into a session just because little Timmy is throwing a tantrum.
So without further ado, these are my few little hints to help you have an enjoyable, peaceful photo session... even with kids.

#1: Let Your Photographer Take Control I know for me it goes against my very nature to let someone else parent while I am around. But my years of nanny experience have taught me one very important thing: Kids are much more likely to listen to a stranger than they are to mom. Mom is just too familiar and easy to rebel against.
If you've chosen a somewhat seasoned photographer, they have been through this whole routine before. We are not thrown when cute little Susie rips out her bows and starts screaming. We have plenty of tricks up our sleeve to help keep kids happy.
Put yourself in their shoes: you've just been driven someplace you've never been before. You are sat down, alone, probably somewhere uncomfortable, and told to smile at the nice stranger with the big black camera.
It's not comfortable, and it doesn't make for great pictures. And after sessions like that, I hate to say it, but I can just tell a lot of kids leave just hating the photographer. That session was torture! The next session is only going to be worse, because now getting your picture taken is as bad as going to the dentist.
So, let your photographer take the lead. I like to talk to the kids, show them their best pictures on my camera, ask if they can smile even better than that. When they feel like they are my friend, they are much more themselves. Those are the pictures you want taken!

#2 Be Prepared For the littlest kids, it's always good to be prepared with your go-to things that make them smile. I've been blessed with an extra-smiley baby, but I also know just what to do to get that big grin just in time to snap a picture.
Does your little one love a certain song or rhyme? Is there a toy that always makes them smile? Bring them along, but wait for your photographer's cue to use them. It's these sessions that usually have me, mom, and dad dancing around like crazy people, but we always get cute smiles!

#3 Let Yourself Relax I realize you're not spending a day at the spa. But a photo session can really be a fun outing for you and your family! You are already dressed up, so go out for dinner afterwards, or the ice cream you've been promising little Timmy! Have fun with your session, and don't set too many expectations. The worst is when someone comes to me with a list of Pinterest-inspired photos that we just have to get done during our session. It's great to have in mind what you want, but be open to different poses and shots. Your photographer can see things you can't, and you've most likely chosen them because you like the work they've done before. Trust that they are creating something just as magical for you!

#4 Stop, stop, stop the Threats! If taking away privileges is your go-to form of punishment at your house, then more power to you. But when your child is posed, arms crossed and a permanent frown on his face, telling him you are going to take away his DS is NOT going to produce a smile. At least, not the kind of smile we are going for. When I'm doing one-on-one pictures of kids, I often recommend that mom and dad take a little walk, or distract themselves with something nearby. Odds are, the kid really has nothing against me or having his picture taken, he just wants a reaction from his parents. Once he figures out we are friends, I can usually catch a cute smile while we talk about his favorite games.

#5 Be Patient I know the minute you step out of the car and shake your photographers hand, it feels like the clock starts ticking. Depending on the type of session you have, you may have a certain time limit imposed. But sitting and immediately demanding everyone pastes on a smile usually doesn't produce the kinds of pictures you want printed! With larger families, I almost always have to do some head swaps in photoshop. It's just too hard to get multiple people looking and smiling all at the same time, without anyone closing their eyes! For me, I want to move on to the next pose, so I usually make sure I have at least one of each person looking and then move on.
As the adults, you will make your session so much quicker if you just keep looking at the camera and smiling. There is nothing more frustrating than when I finally get the perfect shot of the kid who wouldn't cooperate- but both mom and dad are not looking because they were distracted with the kid. Again, trust your photographer. Let them do what they can to get the right reaction. Enjoy the fact that for this brief moment, all you have to do is sit and smile!

#6 Be OK with Candid Some kids just do not want to pose. Ever. And that's ok! Some of my favorite poses from sessions are the candid ones that happen between families while they are trying to get each other to smile. When all else fails, it's ok to set your kids free and let them play. I will take my camera along and get some professional shots of your kid being a kid, being themselves.

Until next time,
Anndee