5 Tips for Young Family Portraits
Shooting family portraits is always a varied experience based on the number of people you are photographing. Depending on the number and ages of your clients, you will need to be spontaneous and learn to adapt to different levels of interaction. Portraits of a young family is no exception. Here is a starting point for a Young families portrait session:
1. Interact with the children
If the children in your shoot are happy, the parents will be comfortable, and you will be able to achieve natural portraits. This said, focus on interacting with the children. Do your best to be “entertaining” through the session to draw out laughter and smiles.
2. Avoid “posing”
Children do not sit in one place for a long time. They are active and moving. Keep your session this way also. Constantly be moving with your clients. You may be able to position or pose the couple where you want them, and then encourage the child to move around - walking, twirling, etc.
3. Follow the Child
Sometimes you may not be working with children who will follow your guidance. In this situation, keep the session lighthearted and fun, by having the parents follow the child until the child stops. Your job then is to have the parents draw close to the child, and then snap a series of shots.
4. Be shutter happy
Especially working with small children, don’t be afraid to take more shots than a normal portrait shoot. You want to make sure to catch the right expressions and no blinking - and with children this is much easier said than done.
5. Be ready for anything
Don’t walk into a family shoot with set ideas that can’t be adapted to in the scenario. Have some ideas in mind that may serve you if possible, but be prepared to take what you have and run with it.
Free Photoshop Actions
Photoshop actions are a great way to quickly edit your photos to achieve the effect you want, and to also fix common issues with your images. They’re basically macros that are developed for Photoshop which, with a click of the mouse, will run through a series of adjustment steps for you, without you having to process each step individually.
While I don’t recommend using actions without understanding the underlying concepts of the adjustments you’re performing, they are handy, and fun, and kind of addictive. You can even write your own actions, the technique of which I’ll write about in a future entry. Lots of companies offer packages of Photoshop actions for a range of prices - I’ve found a few places that offer free actions; or offer small, free “sample” packages of select actions from the full sets available for purchase.
I’ve found these sites to be safe and reliable, but as a disclaimer I advise that you ensure the site you’re downloading any data from is secure and virus-free, before you download anything to your computer.
Pioneer Woman Photography has developed a couple of sets of actions that apply interesting effects to your image, as well as adjust common issues. Effects actions include “seventies”, “heartland”, and “soft & faded”. Adjustment actions include “boost”, “slight lighten” and “dim the lights”. Here’s an example of some of the actions, applied to one of my own photos.
Original photo: a cowboy at the Cody Nite Rodeo in Cody, Wyoming.
This is the “Vintage” action:
This is the “B&W Beauty” action:
This is the “Lovely and Ethereal” action:
I also love Pioneer Woman’s “Start All Over!” action, which backs out all of the adjustments just performed to the image and returns it to its original state. That’s a great ability to have when you’re trying to figure out which action works best with the image you’re editing.
Totally Rad Actions offers terriffic packages of actions and filters. The original package of 46 actions costs $149.00, the second release of 57 actions costs $159.00, and the new package of 21 custom texture overlays costs $149.00. Discounts are offered if you purchase more than one package. However, if you’re not ready to buy the full packages, TRA offers a sample package for free. You are requested to provide some basic information, and in exchange you are e-mailed download instructions to receive eight free actions. You’re added to TRA’s e-mail mailing list, which I’ve never found to be intrusive - they send occasional updates about new products or goodies.
Here’s an example of some of the actions, applied to one of my own photos.
Original - A river along the eastern entrance road in Yellowstone National Park.
This is the “In-Faux-Red (B&W)” Action:
This is the “Troy” Action:
This is the “Super Fun Happy” Action:
One other thing to note - you can run multiple actions on the same photo to achieve the desired outcome.
Smashing Magazine has collected a long, long list of free photoshop actions and links to their sources.
Here’s an example of some of the actions, applied to one of my own photos.
Original: A stream near Aspen, Colorado
This is the “Contrast 1″ action from Photoshop Postwork Actions:
This is the “Retro Blues” action from Rather Large Set of Actions:
Enjoy playing around with all of these goodies, and feel free to share your results in the comments!
A Fly on the Wall - 10 Tips for Wedding Beginners
I’ve never taken a class on how to photograph weddings or read a book on the topic. I have my own way, my own style and my own rules and my clients are happy with me so I must be doing something right!
As a woman, I really feel at an advantage in the world of wedding photography. Firstly, I can capture the excitement of the bride getting ready in a way a man can’t because, let’s face it, most brides don’t want a man hanging around while they’re getting dressed.
I have also been a bride and I see things in a vastly different way than a man ever could. Having started as a makeup artist, I’ve been involved in many weddings and have watched many-a-photographer sit and drink or flirt with the bridesmaids while precious moments are slipping by un-photographed (like the mom fitting her daughter’s veil).
1. Don’t Manipulate
When the bride is preparing on the morning, don’t get in the way and ask for smiles or stage the dressing. Just be on your toes and try to anticipate what’s next.
Is her hair and makeup finished? She will probably be getting into her dress next. Is she in her dress? Get yourself to the bottom of the stairs to shoot her coming down. There is no time to relax if you’re the photographer!
2. Fill In
If allowed, wander around the house or hotel room and snap photos which can be used to fill-in spaces in the album to create a sense of ambiance and location. I always snap the makeup brushes, dresses hanging up, important things around the home.
If you’re at the bride’s family home, there will be loads of memorable things around the house to photograph. Family photos around the home, her childhood bedroom.
3.Get Alone
Spend a couple minutes alone with the dress, the shoes, the flowers, etc. to take meaningful photographs without anxious people rushing you. There should be plenty of time while you’re there.
But when you’ve got what you need, remember to leave in time to photograph guests arriving at the ceremony and the groom as he waits for his bride.
4. Be Bold
Editors Note: Check out these Wedding Photography Tips from a Celebrants Perspective.
5. Dress for the Occasion
If you’re a woman, forget wedding protocol and wear trousers! No trying to look pretty. Before I figured that one out, I was holding my skirt down more than I was holding down the shutter. Quiet shoes are a must - you don’t want to be tip toeing around like a criminal.
6. Remember the Others
Find out who is family and make sure to get some images of them as well.
7. Be Bossy
This part is (still) the hardest for me. There are two times I have to throw my weight around: after the ceremony and during family set. I usually take the bride and groom away to a location for 30 minutes of shooting privately and this can be difficult as the guests often form a spontaneous receiving line and kidnap the couple.
c Craig Johnson
Know who is driving you there and make it happen. The bride and groom have told you what they want and although they are often distracted away from their plan on the day, they will thank you after if you make their original plan happen.
For the formal portraits, it can take a precise military operation to execute such an endeavor and this bit still makes my palms sweat! People are anxious to get to the food and dancing and I’m the only thing stopping them! Have a list arranged ahead of time of the specific groups the couple wants otherthan the usual his-family-her-family, him-and-his-guys, her-and-her-girls, etc.
The most important part in making this happen is to have your bossy go-to person who knows everyone (perhaps one of his groomsmen?) to announce all of the family and bridal party to step outside and then have him announce the groups you are needing. You can literally take each shot within 30 seconds if you can gather them and get them to engage with you all at once. Not as simple as it sounds, but it can be done. I just ask everyone to look at me and smile and then take about 10 shots at once. You can use the PhotoShop group merge function to grab all the smiling faces and put them into one photo if necessary.
8. Gear
A few of my thoughts on gear. NEVER use a pop-up flash. Always have an external flash ready to go and never point it directly at your couple. I always point it at the ceiling or a wall. I shoot with two cameras. My main one has a zoom lens and a flash and the other has either a 50mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.4 wide open so no flash is needed.
Be Professional
True story: I once saw a big, sweaty, poorly dressed wedding photographer hawk back a loogie and SPIT on the ground during formal portraits. Absolutely disgraceful!
It can be easy to fall into the fun of a wedding and obviously, you won’t be any good if you’re uptight and not having fun, but if you get too lax and begin socializing, you will miss important moments and you’re basically at work so remember to be professional.
I would even bring my own snack to eat on the sly when you get a chance - I would never accept an invitation to take part in the buffet. Remember that people are watching you and a huge percentage of them are either looking for a wedding photographer or know someone who is so be professional at all times.
c Craig Johnson
10. In My Opinion
I never take posed table shots. I absolutely h.a.t.e. it when the photographer comes around, interrupts your meal, wine or conversation and forces everyone to squeeze their head into the middle of the table for a photo. What on earth would the couple ever do with that photo? Certainly, it’s good to make a record of everyone who was there and you can do that without being intrusive and even do it in a beautiful way.
But - and this is just my humble opinion - the photographer can easily lose guests’ feeling of ease and comfort the instant he/she becomes intrusive. Make yourself invisible!
I really love photographing weddings. It is HARD work and I actually ache for a couple days after. Bring an assistant who can help you (that’s a bonus tip!) and get a good night’s rest beforehand. Have a blast and be confident - the bride and groom already love your talent because they hired you in the first place. So be secure in that fact and own it!
精选国外摄影网站 分享咯 (豆瓣 摄影小组)
摄影书商 Booksellers
1. 布尔芬奇出版社：http://www.twbookmark.com/arts/
2. 双棕简——十二树出版社：http://www.twinpalms.com/
3. 分布式艺术出版者公司：http://www.artbook.com/
4. 摄影之烟眼图书和照片：http://www.photoeye.com/
5. Pawprint图书：http://www.pawprintbooks.com/
6. 黑白书店：http://www.nudebooks.com/toc.html
7. 查尔斯。A。哈特曼书店和摄影：http://home.earthlink.net/~hartmanc/
8. 摄影技术书店：http://fox.nstn.ca/~hmmerk/
摄影博物馆和画廊 Museums and Galleries
1. 摄影艺术博物馆：http://www.mopa.org/
2. 英国光圈画廊：http://www.aperture-photo.com/index.html
3. 纽约现代艺术博物馆：http://www.moma.org/photography.html
4. 美国摄影博物馆：http://www.photographymuseum.com/
5. 法国摄影博物馆：http://www.mep-fr.org/default.htm
6. 世界摄影画廊：http://www.worldphotogallery.com/
7. 佳利福尼亚摄影博物馆：http://www.cmp.ucr.edu/
8. 北极光画廊：http://www.nlg.dk/contents.html
9. 残留影象画廊：http://www.afterimagegallery.com/
10. 韦斯顿画廊；http://www.westongallery.com/
11. 美国艺术博物馆：http://www.artmuseum.net/
12. 高登摄影网上画廊：http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/gordon/
13. 照相机无名画廊：http://thor.he.net/~matheny/index.html
摄影教育 Education
1. 美国纽约摄影学院：http://www.nyip.com/
2. 罗彻斯特技术学校：http://www.rit.edu/~rckpph/
3. 创意摄影：http://www.art.fullerton.edu/CreativePhoto/
4. 宾夕法尼亚摄影空间：http://www.psu.edu/photogyaphy/
5. 澳大利亚通信学校摄影课程：http://xenios.qldnet.com.au/acs/photo/
6. 荷兰摄影学生毕业作品展：http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/philippe/academie.html
7. 哥伦比亚学院摄影系：http://www.colum.edu/undergraduate/photo/index.html
8. 大学进修：http://www.ryerson.ca/programs/imagearts.html
9. 时装摄影学校：http://www.clickup.net/
10. 美国西北学院摄影通讯：http://photo.nwc.cc.wy.us/
11. 摄影和数码图象工作室：http://www.kst.dit.ie/dit/photo/
12. 圣约斯州大学摄影课程：http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/photography/photo-homepage.html 13. MFA摄影和相关媒体课程：http://www.mfaphoto.sva.edu/
摄影杂志 Magazine
1. 变焦国际杂志：http://www.zoom-net.com/
2. 亚洲摄影：http://www.asiaphoto.com/
3. 视觉摄影杂志：http://www.sightphoto.com/index.html
4. 日本国际摄影杂志：http://www.apn.co.jp/photo/index-e.html
5. 资源杂志：http://www.sourcemagazine.demon.co.uk/
6. 黑白世界：http://www.photos.com/bwworld/
7. 令人惊讶的眼睛：http://www.eyecaramba.com/index.html
8. 在线摄影：http://www.onlinephotography.com/
新闻摄影 Photojournalism
1. 普利策奖：http://www.pulitzer.org/
2. 白宫新闻摄影家协会：http://www.whnpa.org/
3. 电子新闻杂志：http://www.journale.com/
4. 大洛杉矶新闻摄影家协会：http://www.ppagla.org/
5. 国际摄影：http://www.interfoto.ru/
6. 东加拿大新闻摄影家协会：http://www.execulink.com/~ecnpa/
7. 国际战争照相机协会：http://www.combatcamera.org/
8. 国家新闻摄影家协会：http://metalab.unc.edu/nppa/
9. 联系图片社：http://www.contactpress.com/
10. 黑星图片社：http://www.biackstar.com/
11. 美国新闻摄影：http://www.photojournal.com/
12. 自由摄影：http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/f-pro/
13. 明尼苏达州新闻摄影家协会：http://www.mnpa.org/
14. 学生出版物摄影团体：http://www.collegemedia.com/spps/
15. 世界新闻摄影；http://www.worldpressphoto.nl/
16. 取景器后面—新闻摄影记者一年的生活：http://www.digitalstoryteller.com/YITL
17. 摄影8：http://www.foto8.com/
