Are you tired of going to the department stores to get your children's
pictures taken? Or do you just want to try your hand at doing it yourself? This
little article will help you do just that.
Here is a list of the items you will need:
*PHOTOGRAPHER*
*SUBJECT*
*LIGHT SOURCE*
*BACKDROP*
*CAMERA*
*PHOTOGRAPHER* - This will be you! As the photographer it will be your job to
capture on film (or memory card) a reflection of what you see. Before your shoot
consider the purpose of the shoot. Is it to capture that silly thing that Johnny
does with his eyebrows? Is it to get a picture of Maddi in her new Easter dress?
Or is it to get a picture of the kids acting like they actually like each other?
Also consider the feeling you hope to portray with your pictures. Do you want a
proper, formal picture? Do you want to capture natural, everyday expressions?
What look are you going for? Having a clear purpose, even if it’s only just for
practice, will help you to meet your expectations.
*SUBJECT* - Who are you taking a picture of? Of course you will need someone or
something to photograph. Once you have chosen your subject, keep in mind their
personality and temperament. Your toddler may only sit still for five minutes.
And, that may be only if he has something to play with and keep him preoccupied
(this would be a great way to incorporate a prop as well as a "distracter" into
the picture). Your teenager may be camera shy and not cooperate at all! Prepare
for what you can reasonably expect from your subject. Don't push beyond what
they want to do or you may have a meltdown on your hands, especially with young
children.
*LIGHT SOURCE* - Next to having a photographer to create the picture and the
subject to take a picture of, this is the most important aspect of the shoot.
You will need an adequate source of light to illuminate your subject. The best
and least expensive (well, actually it's free!!) form of light is natural light.
This can be used outdoors as well as indoors. If shooting outdoors, shoot in the
early morning, late evening, or on an overcast day when the sun is not bearing
down on you. These times of the day will give you a soft, natural light and keep
the strong rays of the sun from creating harsh shadows on your image. Not to
mention this will keep you from having a heatstroke while chasing a toddler all
around the backyard. Try to find a spot that is not in direct sunlight. Porches
and covered patios are two options. If you are shooting in a shaded area, choose
an area that is in full shade and not "spotted" shade. This way there won’t be
splotches of light in your photo. If you do find yourself shooting in direct
sunlight, always shoot with your subject's back to the sun. This helps from
getting that “I'm squinting because the sun is in my eyes" pictures. Also, using
your camera's fill flash can help in this situation.
Before you venture outdoors, you may want to check great locations in your house
to shoot. Big windows, several windows grouped together, or patio / French doors
that bring in a great deal of light are potentially prime locations. Check how
the light "lights up" and falls on your subject. Experiment setting your subject
to the left and to the right of the window to help you find the best spot to
take pictures in.
Another option to look at down the road are continuous lighting systems or
strobe lights.
*BACKDROPS* You will need a backdrop to set your subject up against. The
possibilities for this are endless. One option is to let nature be your
backdrop: a tree, field, flowers, the park, etc. Another option is to use a
piece of fabric or material. Blankets or sheets can make nice inexpensive
backdrops. If you choose to buy fabric for the backdrop, keep in mind the number
of people that will be in your shoot. Fabric that is 60 inches wide is a good
starting point. Four to five yards will give you more than enough material and
allow your backdrop to puddle if you wish. This will also give a child a little
room to roam but still be on the backdrop. Solid colors that do not distract
from your subject work best.
If you're using a piece of fabric (blanket, etc.), you will need a way to hang
it. I started out by draping my fabric over two barstools. Other ideas could be
to drape it over chairs or the back of a couch, tack it to a wall, hang it on a
clothes line or between two ladders or create something to hang it from.
I've seen backdrop stands made from PVC pipe on other websites and decided to
make one of my own. For my needs, my stand is eight feet by eight feet. Here is
the instruction, if you choose to go the PVC route. These supplies can be
purchased at your local hardware store. They will cut the PVC to the size that
you specify, so adjust the measurements according to your needs.
You will need:
8 - 4ft. pieces of 1 inch thick PVC pipe
4 - 2ft. pieces of 1 inch thick PVC pipe
2 - 90 degree (L shaped) couplets
2 - Straight couplets
4 - T shaped couplets
Put the stand together according to the diagram.
To hang my fabric from the backdrop stand, I flip over the top of the fabric
about 2 inches and sew a stitch to create a pocket. I slide the pipe right
through the pocket. This stand is easy to break down and very portable.
*CAMERA* Of course!!! Use what you already have! Don't feel the need to go out
and buy something expensive or think you have to wait until you have a "great"
camera. Go for it now!
HAPPY SHOOTING!!
