Family pictures

Well it is that time of year. Family Pictures! 

Last year we ended up not taking family pictures because well....I just had a baby and family pictures are crazy enough.... so that gave me an excuse. So this year I needed to follow through, and get them done ; ) 

Do you take Family Pictures every year? 

 There is something about seeing your whole family in a picture together. 

Do I really have that many kids? lol

And here are a couple with our newest family addition. Honestly. I feel like taking this picture with Ollie was way more work then taking our family pictures last week. Between Eli and Ollie...lets just say Impossible! I pretty much just gave up...

it is, what it is. Right? lol

The Little "Things"

Abigail my daughter picked out my outfit today. It was all laid out on my bed when I went into my room. It made me smile. =) Of COURSE I had to take a picture...but I believe this is going to get it's very own scrapbook page as well. Tip of the day...make sure to take pictures of the little "things".... drawings you have all over your fridge, love notes, etc.  Even though it is always great to take pictures of the little "people" in our lives....the little "things" matter as well. -Susan

April Snapshots - Triptych

Triptych:
A triptych is a series of three photos that complement each other or tell a story.

With Easter fast approaching I wanted to give you a tip/challange that would help you in capturing the moments that are sure to come. Shooting in a series of photos is a great way to capture memories where one photo in not enough to tell the story.

Make sure when you are planning to shoot a triptych, to take the photos the same direction so that when you scrapbook or frame them they will create the feel that you want.

Keys to Compositon

Keys to Composition:

Distinguish ONE important center of interest.

The principle subject of any photo should

command at least 25% of your photo. If your

subject is a person, the percentage should be

higher - 50% or more of the total scene.

Everything in your picture MUST have a good

reason to be there. Concentrate on the subject

of your photo and eliminate all distracting

and unnecessary elements.

How can you eliminate the things you don’t

want in a picture? By shifting angles, moving

closer, or using your telephoto to exclude the

things you don’t want in your shot.

When taking photos indoors, take a quick

glance around. Remove any clutter that could

show up in the picture.

Break the habit of positioning your subject in

the center of every shot.

Consider whether your photo will look best

horizontally or vertically. Try varying

horizontal and vertical shots according to the

impression you’re aiming to capture. Portraits

generally look best vertically. Group shots are

best horizontally.

Your chances of a winning shot increase with

the number of photos you take. take several

shots, vertically and horizontally. Decide

which looks best later.

Don’t be afraid to try shooting at different

angles! They can really add something special

to a photo!

How do we capture emotion in a photograph?

Well, first we have to find a moment. Snapping a posed image of your pet or your kids will get you a nice picture, but if you try a little bit harder and take your time getting a more candid photograph then you may end up with something much more special.

Here are a few things you can try to add more emotion to your photos.

Be in the moment:

Feel the emotion you’re trying to capture.

Be patient:

Wait for the right moment to snap a picture.

Quit Saying "Smile":

To capture emotion you need to keep it candid. Some of the most magical moments are the ones that are unexpected. Take your shots when your subject is relaxed and may not even be aware you are photographing them.

Get Close:

Don't be afraid to get close to the subject that you are photographing. Often a singular emotion gets lost in a busy scene. Try simplifying the main subject of the image before snapping a picture. You can also try placing yourself in a position that does not intrude upon the moment and use your zoom to capture it.

Think outside the box:

Don't be afraid to get off angles, cut off heads, miss focus a bit. Sometimes images like these can be very thought provoking and mysterious.Get up close and personal with your loved ones!

Snapshot Suggestion: Life is about the small things, the moments that make us happy...or sad. Capture at least 1 picture this month that shows an emotion.