Tuesday's Tip | Let Loose!
I'm going to try something new on the blog starting this week! Each Tuesday, I'll post a tip that will help in all aspects of photography. It could be a tip to help my clients, or it could be a tip that I think might be helpful for fellow photographers. I get lots of questions from both my clients and photographers, and I'll definitely be answering those during this series of blog posts; however, I'm going to do my best to address things that might not occur to you before your photo shoot. The topics will definitely be varied, but I think it will be fun. I hope you agree! If you do have any specific questions and would like them addressed, please feel free to leave them in the comments.
For my first Tuesday's Tip, I thought I would just start with something basic but also something that's so simple for everyone, both clients and photographers, to do: LET LOOSE!
TIPS FOR CLIENTS
My goal is to capture you! Whether you are an expecting mom, an engaged couple, a family of 6...my goal is to capture your beauty at that moment so when you look back at your photos you get that feeling. It's tough to describe, but if you've reminisced over old photos, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's like a little rush of emotions all at once: happiness, calmness, a little smile crosses your lips, and maybe even a little bit of sadness as you remember the chubby little hands that your 15-year old once had. Time passes very quickly in our busy lives, and photographs, video, and memory (and we all know how great our memory is as we get older!) are really the only ways we have to stop time and capture moments. While posed photos will still capture what you looked like at a certain time, they won't capture your personality, and personality is what makes you who you are.
The best way for me to capture your personality at your photo session is for you to LET LOOSE!
1. Don't worry about the kids! This is the biggest tip for letting loose because things can go from bad to worse in 10 seconds flat. They are going to get antsy, they are going to get mad, they might even cry a little. It's all ok, and it does happen. I understand you're paying good money for your photo session with me and you have this idyllic family photo of everyone happy in your mind, but the absolute best thing you can do if your child/ren start to go astray is to not worry about it. If you get stressed, they are probably going to get even more stressed and that creates a downward spiral. If it does happen, feel free to take a deep breath and let me take over with them. A couple of minutes of distraction from me and usually things are back on track. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that seem to work well. And honestly, if you just let things happen (and I know it can be tough!), a favorite photo might just be the result of the insanity!
The above photo is the perfect example of two young brothers who were running around all over the place two seconds before, and then I used one of my little tricks and this special moment between the two of them was captured.
2. Be silly! It's okay to laugh and be goofy. Even if there are no kids involved, giggling and acting a little crazy can be good. How do you feel after a good belly laugh? Relaxed, right?
3. Don't worry about how you look! You've planned your outfits carefully, probably had your hair and makeup done, so everything is already the best it can be. Don't worry about that last 5 lbs you wanted to lose either! I will pose you the best way for your figure, and remember, you and your children will not care one bit about an extra 5lbs when they are looking at your photos 5 - 10 - 15 years from now! Don't lose out on capturing beautiful memories because of a couple extra pounds. Don't be afraid to be sexy or to look beautiful...because you are...right now!!!
4. Be interactive! Don't be afraid to hug, touch, move! It's all good. Not every photo needs to have everyone looking at the camera, and honestly, this is where I capture your personality, your love, your happiness! I will definitely prompt and give direction when needed, but don't be afraid to do your own thing.
5. Trust my process! You've seen my photography, and you've chosen me because you like my work. The best thing is to trust that I'm doing my job and getting the best photos of you :)
TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
1. Forget about what everyone else is doing! Yes, I know you want to try that pose or use a certain backdrop, that's totally fine. Try them out, but then LET LOOSE and let your own personal style and creativity take over! This is when you'll do your best work. Trust me on this!
2. Don't be afraid to make a mistake or take a not-so-great photo. Don't think too much about this. If something isn't working, move onto the next idea. If you don't try, though, you'll never know!
3. Try something new at every session! I wouldn't necessarily start out your session with your crazy, new idea. Get your "safe" shots, but once your subjects are comfortable with you and in front of the camera, do something a little bit crazy! This definitely helps keep things from getting stale and might even spark a new idea for the next session. In the above photo, I knew what I wanted my end-result to be, but I just had to figure out how to get there. My studio has this amazing brick wall with windows that I love to use, but the windows don't go all the way to the floor AND the windows have green trim! In order to get the nice backlighting, I had an idea to put one of my foam-core boards over the brick. Since I was over-exposing the background, it really didn't matter what was there as long as it was white. So glad I tried it out!
I hope you've found my first Tuesday's Tip helpful! If you have any questions or comments on what I've discussed, please feel free to leave them in the comments or send me an email!