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PhotographyPHOTO TIPS FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES
Jan
8
8
T
hrough my portrait work with families and children, I've been asked a number of times how to get great photos of kids. It can be hard! They're always moving, or they're not into it, or...who knows! Even when it's not easy, I still make sure to get fun shots that truly reflect their personality. I love working with families and getting to see how their dynamic works, what they value, and where they call home. But over and over, I hear frustrated parents say they just can't get a good shot! If you've tried and are at a loss, here are a few tips that might help:
1. Don't worry too much about posing. Candids often reflect your kid's true self anyway! It can also be hard to direct a small child, so I just let them be themselves and see where it goes.
2. Get outside. If weather permits, always try to go outside! Natural light is best - just avoid harsh midday sun.
3. Find your home's best spot. (When shooting indoors, try to scope out where the best light is. Chances are it's by a window - don't worry about what your background is too much, as good light and composition trump background any day.
2. Get outside. If weather permits, always try to go outside! Natural light is best - just avoid harsh midday sun.
3. Find your home's best spot. (When shooting indoors, try to scope out where the best light is. Chances are it's by a window - don't worry about what your background is too much, as good light and composition trump background any day.
4. If you ARE concerned about backgrounds, simple is best. Try to avoid any cluttered area, and opt for a simple, clean background (on a bed with the headboard as the background, on the couch where the background is wall/more furniture, etc.)
5. Always remember, have fun!! Try not to make "photo time" a stressful time. Make light of it, and your kids will enjoy themselves and forget the camera's on them. It shouldn't feel like a chore to them to pose for the camera.
5. Always remember, have fun!! Try not to make "photo time" a stressful time. Make light of it, and your kids will enjoy themselves and forget the camera's on them. It shouldn't feel like a chore to them to pose for the camera.
6. Cloudy days can be your best friend. Aside from avoiding shooting in harsh midday sunlight, getting some photos of your kids on cloudy days can also help out a ton! Please, stay inside if it's raining - but a few clouds (even ALL clouds) offer soft, naturally diffused light. Give it a try!
7. Work around their schedules. This may sound obvious, but trying to get photos of your kids if they're tired, hungry, or bored will probably not be very easy! If you're really trying to get some great photos, opt to photograph after a snack, after waking up from a nap, or while playing their favorite game.
7. Work around their schedules. This may sound obvious, but trying to get photos of your kids if they're tired, hungry, or bored will probably not be very easy! If you're really trying to get some great photos, opt to photograph after a snack, after waking up from a nap, or while playing their favorite game.
BEHIND THE SCENES!
H
OLY COW!! It has been one crazy year over here. From photography, to cinematography to editing and more... our team has had one tremendous year. By now, you all probably know Amie, Chris, Adam, Andy and Danielle. I hope I've mentioned them on the blog enough this year for you all to know that I DO NOT stand alone in this venture. I have an extremely talented and supportive team, and not only am I eternally thankful for their contribution professionally... but personally speaking, I {heart} these guys like it's going out of style. When we all pack our bags on Friday nights, we know who we're spending our Saturdays and Sundays with. It's an extended family. We laugh, we joke, we yell, and we get over things. Just like a real family would. This year, we added 2 more members to our team: Natalie and Geoff. Natalie works on the photography side, and Geoff works with the video team as an assistant of all things video related. He's a life saver! And what can I say about Natalie, except that there's never a dull moment when she's around!! We worked with dozens of couples this year to help capture both the still and motion memories of their special day, and had the distinct pleasure of traveling for two really epic destination weddings. One in Baltimore and one in Spain. The year has been fun, exciting, crazy, scary, nerve-wracking, hilarious, emotional, and amazing. Bring it on. We're ready for more!!
So as we bring 2012 to a close, I thought I'd share some of our behind-the-scenes moments. When it comes to weddings, there's never a dull moment. Never!! No two days at work are ever alike, and I think that's what we all love most about what we do. So check out some of the madness we experience at real weddings. Happy Monday!
So above, we have Natalie. She officially started shooting on the photography side with us in early 2012. Honestly, I don't think she had any idea what she was really in for when it came to Indian weddings. Madness is an understatement. Don't worry Nat... the photos are suppose to look like that!! And below we have Chris and Andy. Sometimes, they like to bask in the glory of small victories.
Just a typical setup for a first look. Chris tends to do his thing along the sidelines... you know, stuff like hiding in the bushes! No big deal.
And here's Adam... he's the MacGyver on our team. He'll find pretty much any prop he can to make the shot look good.
Ok but seriously Adam.... No Big Deal. Not like I was trying to capture the special moment here or anything!
And when you put Chris and Adam together, you get a little bit of trouble, mixed in with a lot genius!! These guys will do whatever it takes. PS - I love the cart driver who's just hanging out... not even bothered by the fact that there's 2 dudes hanging off the roof. Just another day on the course I guess.
Amie and Natalie make a great team together. Here they are setting up for a first look.
Andy normally stays behind the scenes as a video editor... I guess when we give him a camera he maintains the same disguise, staying behind the scenes.
Rocks. Ocean. Seaweed. Nothing can stop this duo!
When the full crew is in action, here's how we get down. Adam shoots tight and steady, Chris goes wide with motion and Amie zooms in from the side. Killer combo!
Ahhh, and here's me. I'm sort of like the art director in all of this hoopla. I like to make sure the couples are at ease, that they understand what all of us are doing and why we have so many gosh-darn cameras!! It doesn't always make sense, but i love that couples trust me!!
And YES, I will just about go anywhere to get a fantastic shot. If the bride wants to climb the rocks, we're on it.
Getting their sexy on!!
Chris is THE GLIDECAM MAN. I seriously commend him for being a pro at this little gizmo. It's a lot heavier than it looks.
Here they go again... Want to create a reveal in the middle of the beach in the blazing sun?! NO BIGGIE, we'll just use Adam's tie.
And yes, we get a little goofy at times. But we had to.... Chris was wearing ankle socks!!
Love working with a bride and her bridesmaids. Women are so good at following directions and getting themselves together. The boys on the other hand? Not so much!
Amie & Chris -- Mr. & Mrs. Smith style!!
Danielle loves it when live animals show up to the wedding.
Just filming so artsy fartsy grass stuff.
Yes, we know!! It's 105 degrees in a church with no windows.
Here's Adam going at it with a baraat-by-boat.
And sneaking in for the slider shot.
Seriously Chris... you are NOT invited to hang out at the sweetheart table. Get out of my shot!!
A shot of the party shot.
Adam is easily excited by fun parties.
And I just love Amie's sheer focus and dedication to the job... completely oblivious to the two goofballs behind her.
Even on the coldest of days, these guys make it work.
And here's Geoff... he the newest member of the team. He's gettin' his learn on during cocktail hour!
Chris is getting ready for a baraat-by-boat at the InterCon. I would venture to say he's a tad excited.
Amie is just doing what it takes to get the shot.
Just a quick test shot Natalie!! I promise no one will ever see this!! Mwwhhaaaa.
Wait -- I thought grand entrance was coming in that door over there? Have things changed... again?!
And we'll close with this overly excited photo of yours truly! I think this pretty much sums up my feelings about the year and what we do. Always exciting, always fun, always a little goofy!! Happy Monday.
FIGHTING, DOCTORS & GETTING ON TRACK
I
've been in a total funk for the past week. You may have noticed. I'm going to blame this nagging cough. It just won't quit, and I feel like it's sucking the life out of me! You know the kind of cough that just kills you when you're in bed, and then you just can't sleep... and then of course, you're a zombie all day long! And I know it's my own fault, but I'm just one of those people who refuses to go to the doctor. I'd rather stay home, take my self-prescriped dose of medications and fight the good fight. No offense to all my super-smart doctor friends I've got out there, but when it comes to something as simple as a common cough, there's really not much diagnosis or help offered when you go to the doctor. I feel like they pretend to look down your throat, ask you a generic set of questions, tell you that "it's just a common cough, and that it should wear off in about 7-10 days"! Well I already knew that!! Thanks. So here I am, day 10 on my own, and I'm finally feeling better. And you know when you're sick, everything just seems to take 3x the amount of energy out of you??!! So even though I've been normal busy over the past week, I feel like it's been a crazy busy for like a month. The last time I remember feeling like this I was in Kindergarten and I had the chicken pox. Of course when you're a kid, everything seems more dramatic than it really is. That's kind of been my week last week. Ok, ok... enough ranting. Time to shake it off. I'm back on track now, feeling healthy and ready to rock out March. Um, is it seriously March already?? Can someone please explain how that happened!!
In the spirit of getting ready for Spring, here' s a sneak peek at a gorgeous shoot from last week. Lots more to come soon, and I can't wait to share. Are you guys ready for Spring? What's everyone working on? Drop a line... I'd love to know what everyone is up to!! Happy Wednesday.
Speaking: PPAM Convention
Feb
28
28
I
was a nervous wreck. Not only had I been sick all of last week... fighting a cough that just won't quit and being the verge of losing my voice... but I was kinda, sorta petrified of speaking at my first legitimate conference. Sure, I've spoken quite a bit over the past year, but mostly at casual, intimate groups. Not a legit conference! I sat in the parking lot of the conference on Sunday morning. I took a deep breath, looked myself in the rear-view mirror and told myself that this was it. It was time to go inside and do what I had come here to do. Boy, had I worked myself into a tizzy for absolutely no reason. From the second I walked in the door, I couldn't have received a warmer welcome from the PPAM family. A huge thanks to Andrea Joliat and Amy Rader for taking such wonderful care of me throughout the whole day. From keeping me company at lunch, to making sure my water was always full, you ladies were incredible and made me feel right at home. Thank you, thank you!
I honestly feel blessed that I'm able to share my knowledge on business and branding with the photography world. It gives me a reason to appreciate the path that has led me to photography, and given me the incredible opportunity to lead a life I love! Happy Tuesday.
THE BEEHIVE
Feb
6
6
A
huge thanks to everyone who came out to The Beehive on Friday night. As I mentioned on Friday, I attempted to organize an informal get-together for our local photographers network. I feel like it's so easy to hide behind our Facebook personalities, and never really get to know the real people in our local community. Let me just say... I had a blast. Sure I felt a little lost at first... were we gathering upstairs? Or no wait, downstairs? Nevertheless, we all found each other and I really enjoyed meeting a ton of new faces and seeing people beyond their profile picture! So thanks to everyone who braved the cold, and DVRed your favorite Friday night show so you could come out and be social. Can't wait till the next time. Happy Monday!!
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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. For the most part, this blog is a collection of my work, ideas, inspirations and things I've learned. If you're a bride & groom: sit back, relax and soak it all in... until your fingers get pruny! If you're a photographer: I hope you can take away something insightful from what I've learned about turning my passion for photography and cinematography into a career. You can also explore more about the world of BINITA PATEL by clicking below. Until we meet... have FUN, be STYLISH.
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