**FAQ's & General Information** : Photography

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