As you know, the holiday season is right around the corner. For me, that goes hand in hand with another season, “Family Photo Season.” We love this time of year as we get to see our annual clients come in with their kids who have changed over the past year and capture their style and personality all over again. It’s a chance to catch up and find out what’s new. We grow together with our clients, as many have known us since our daughter was an infant. We shoot our families as a family. My husband shoots, I direct and chat the family up, and Sienna helps distract the kids and gets them to pay attention to the camera. It’s quite the experience, one our clients have fun with, and so do we. Another thing our clients like are our online newsletters I send out, which always include a little tip on how to make the best of the photos you take at home. Here is a compilation of our top five.
1. Use Natural Light
You may not realize it, but most of our work these days is 100% natural light (with the exception of studio images of course). Our tip this month is to experiment with natural light. We’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again. Take your camera off of automatic and try some of your manual settings. You’d be surprised what you might capture.
2. Keep it Simple
You don’t have to over complicate your wardrobe or background in order to have a great picture. In fact, I’ve always loved the less is more motto. I like to keep the color scheme limited to three or four complimentary colors. Pair that with a natural environment and great interaction with your subject and you have the recipe for a great image!
3. Go Bright!
Our clients are always asking me about what to wear. My advice is to tune into your personal style, and to not be afraid to use color. I love bright punches of color in a neutral background such as the beach. It is visually stunning and brings personality to your image. My personal rule is this: Neutrals=Traditional , Bright Colors=Personality. Keep that in mind as you determine what you Xare trying to convey in your photo.
4. Laugh
5. Get Moving!
So get out there, have fun and take some pictures!
