With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s a good time to decide what to buy for the photographer in your life (or for yourself). In this guide, I’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for photographers in 2018. The products below are arranged by price – under $ 20, under $ 50, under $ 100, and over $ 100. I’ve used almost all these items myself and strongly recommend them. The ones I haven’t are on my own Christmas list this year!
Okay mamas. Sit down. Let me tell a little you a little story about the optimistic mom-tographer. She may or may not bear a close resemblance to you and yours truly.
She is a loving mother and she loves to capture all of the cute things her kids do with her fancy camera. One day, she sees her kids doing the most adorable thing. And she knows it is going to make for photo GOLD.
The ideas start brewing for a photo shoot. The wheels are turning in her head. She has outfit ideas, Pinterest boards, and big dreams. And she knows that this is the photo shoot that is going to win all of the awards and all of the adoration from her photography friends. She hopes that Instagram is prepared for the brilliance she had in store.
And then she pulled her camera out and all of the dreams came crashing down. The kids started whining. Our fearless mom-tographer bribes and begs. She threatens to take away Christmas. She contemplates dragging them along and forcing them to be cute. And then she gives-up because the stress of making the big photo dream happen is just all too much.
Have you been there? Because I have!
But I also have really great news for you: your photo dreams can totally be a reality. Sessions with your kids don’t have to be painful. In fact, they can be downright FUN. With these five easy steps, you will be on your way to mom-tographer success and the kids will be begging for more time in front of your camera!
You don’t have to fly to Hawaii for this (but if you do, can I come?!).
But really, kids are pretty easy to please. Taking them somewhere as simple as a creek, a local park, or on a little stroll through your own neighborhood can be a great adventure. All you have to do is set the tone with your own adventurous spirit!
Frame your excursion as an opportunity to explore. Have everyone find “treasures,” encourage them to run and play, and use your imaginations to transport you to exciting far-off lands.
I will caution you to limit the time it takes to get to your adventure. No one likes being stuck in the car and if you force them to do so every time you want to take a picture, they aren’t going to be happy about it. Work to find locations close by that allow you to capture the fun so that most of your time is spent playing rather than waiting to play.
Giving children choices empowers them. And a child with power is a happy child.
Now, am I saying to let the kids run the show and lose control of them? Of course not! What I am saying is that loosening your grip on the vision for the shoot and letting the kids have their own ideas about what should happen can actually earn you more cooperation in the long run.
For example: you have a color scheme picked-out of the clothing you want the kids to wear at a particular location. Rather than telling them exactly what to wear, give them some options within that color scheme.
In much the same way, let the kids try their own poses and facial expressions throughout the shoot. It only takes a few seconds and yet can make them feel so much more confident and proud as you continue to take pictures. It also shows that you believe in and respect their ideas which makes them that much more likely to reciprocate.
Being in front of the camera isn’t easy. Be sure to shower your kids with praise when they are being photographed! And if you ask me, there is nothing wrong with a good old fashioned bribe every now and then. If a little piece of chocolate is going to get me the picture I want, it’s more than worth it!
Rewards don’t have to be extravagant. In fact, it’s often the simplest rewards that go the longest way. I have been known to carry around a bag of Dum Dum lollipops…kids will do backflips for those things! If there are food allergies, keep little rubber pencil toppers or cheap trinkets with you to reward good behavior.
And really, I find that verbal rewards are really the best way to get kids to cooperate in front o the camera. Telling them that they are doing such a good job and that they look so cute makes them beam with pride. So dole out high fives and words of affirmation often and you will likely have happy subjects most of the time.
I really like to be in control of a given situation (Type A personality all the way over here!). However, the most amazing stories unfold when you give the kids a little room.
It can be as simple as putting your kiddos in some pretty light with an activity they enjoy. Then step away and let them have at it! When you do this, not only are you giving them something to do that they love, but you are allowing them to be themselves and are able to capture authentic moments of happiness. By not directing the scene too much, you are really showing their unique little personalities…and they are having a blast!
In the same way that letting the kids share their ideas about a photo shoot shows that you trust them, taking a step back shows that you want them to be themselves. Documenting that shows that you value who they are and often leads to the best pictures with the most perfect expressions.
If you ask me, kids were put on this earth for the sole purpose of playing. It’s how they learn and grow and discover. And as a mom, few things are better than witnessing the joy of my kids as they play together.
If you want genuine laughs and smiles, nothing brings it about more easily than play. Of course, play styles vary between kids so this requires some observation on your part. Pay attention to what your kids love to do and then plan a shoot around that.
Perhaps it is playing in the yard or maybe it is drawing for hours on end. Simple play items like dress-up clothes or bubbles can make for the most fun photo-worthy moments!
My little boy seems like he is perpetually moving. Any game or task where he can be active is going to be the most fun for him. So I know to get great pictures of him I need to give him big spaces, make my shutter speed nice and fast, and then let him move all around.
More than anything, I want to look back on my photos with my kids someday and have wonderful memories behind the images. I don’t want them to remember dreading my camera and I don’t want to remember all of the stress in making my photo dreams come true.
Instead, I want us all to smile looking at those pictures. I want us to cherish those photographs because we had so much fun making them together. Now I know that I can still make the pictures of my dreams and enjoy the process with my children.
And you can too! Keep being that optimistic mom-tographer and use these five tips to help get the kids on board. I know you will make photographs that make you proud and your kids will love them, too.
The post Getting great photographs of your kids (without getting stressed) appeared first on Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time.
Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time
Introduced alongside Sony’s first full-frame mirrorless cameras in 2013, the Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA lens was the first fast-aperture, “standard” focal length prime lens available for the FE mount. The 50mm prime lens has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with many new lenses in this focal range introduced by lens manufacturers over the last half-decade. Sony themselves now offer four different 50mm prime lens options for the FE mount. Beyond the FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA lens, there is the entry-level Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, the premium Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA and the Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens.
Have you ever wondered how your favorite photographers stay inspired?
Do you wish that you could have access to their unending ideas and creativity?
Well guess what? We know the secret: COMMUNITY!
Over at Clickin Moms, we are always thinking of new contests, games, and exercises to strengthen our photographic skills while having fun and making friends. One of our favorite traditions is the monthly forum contest. We announce a theme and the Clickin Moms members share all of the ways that they were inspired to capture it.
There could be no more perfect theme for the Clickin Moms community than “Friendship.” Clickin Moms is a place where we create bonds over our shared passion for capturing moments beautifully. As always, our members rose to the challenge and created images that warmed our hearts and inspired us.
Today we are sharing some of our very favorites for you to enjoy here and we know that you are going to be just as inspired as we are by the amazing artists of the Clickin Moms community. We are thrilled to congratulate Sarah Boccolucci for her winning shot (above) that has earned her a live Breakout session from Click Photo School!
Do you want a chance for your work to be featured on the Clickin Moms blog and to be eligible to win a live seat to a Click Photo School Breakout Session? Then join us for this month’s forum photo contest by sharing your best photos for this month’s photo contest theme: Holiday.
Are you not yet a member of Clickin Moms? As a Clickin Moms member you get access to contests like this, thousands of free tutorials, and so much more. Nothing would make us happier than for you to join us!
The post 37 Photos that capture the joy and love of friendship appeared first on Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time.
Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time
I’ve always appreciated the art of photography. As a mother of two young children, my appreciation turned to a mission to document this fleeting stage of life.
I daily captured their growth and development and gained in confidence with each picture. But like so many beginner photographers, I wanted more from my photographs.
Armed with basic experience, my D3200 camera, and a Nikon for Dummies book, I took a leap of faith and switched my dial from auto to manual. Then I joined Clickin Moms and that’s where my photography really took flight.
I started on the forums and was amazed by the talent I found there. And everyone was so friendly! After a few breakouts and my first Click Photo School class, I had upgraded my camera to a Nikon D750 with a Sigma ART 35mm lens on it (still my favorite combination to this day!).
I dove right into offering family photo sessions in my local community. Inspired by the talent I saw at Clickin Moms, I worked hard to become a Click Pro myself. Today I am proud to be running a successful photography business and owe so much of that to the Clickin Moms community.
Starting out on your own photography journey can be very daunting. There is so much to learn! All of those buttons and menus and rules can be overwhelming. And don’t get me started on Photoshop and Lightroom! You have all these big ideas for your photos but it can be so hard to get them out of your head and into your camera.
Ask any photographer out there and she tell you that she felt the same way. There were times when I was disheartened and wondered, “Am I ever going to get this?!”
But there were also some great ‘AHA!’ moments on my learning path. These are the moments that have been the highlights in my journey. Be sure to do these things and you will be well on your way to all of your photography goals.
Understanding the exposure triangle is key if you want to make your vision come to life. Learning to shoot in manual is the best way to fully understand your camera and have full control over your exposures.
You can learn to shoot in manual mode through a book, workshop, YouTube tutorials, or any other way that works best for your learning style. Practice adjusting your ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to get the results you want.
I promise that it will feel like you are fumbling at first. This is normal! But the more you practice, the easier it will become.
PRO TIP: Turn on your histogram and highlight blinkies in camera. When you check the back of your camera, you can see visual representations of your exposure.
The histogram confused me at first, but it doesn’t need to scare you! All you need to know is that the shadows are illustrated at the left of the graph and the highlights are illustrated at the right. All of the points in between are the midtones. If the graph is too high in any one section, make adjustments with your camera settings.
The highlight “blinkies” are another great way to quickly check your exposure in camera. These will be activated when the highlights are overexposed, blinking to warn you that there is no detail in this part of the file. You can make changes to your camera settings if these blinkies are on in an important part of the frame.
I love light, I see it everywhere. Once you start to see light, you can’t stop (and won’t want to!).
Whether it’s hazy back light or harsh shadows in midday sun, I have learned to love all types of light. That said, different light requires different kinds of shooting techniques. As photographers, it is up to us to study the light so we know how to photograph it best.
PRO TIP: If your camera is struggling to focus when backlighting, try using your lens hood! It can block some of that direct sunlight and will help your camera find areas of contrast to focus on more easily.
Composition is simply where you place things within a photograph. Good composition happens when you place your subjects in such a way that it draws the viewer into the frame. The difference between a snapshot and a photograph is often intentional composition.
Ask yourself if you want your subject to fill the frame or if you want to show a lot of the environment around your subject. How do those different set-ups change the way you see your subject? Are you drawn to one over the other? Why?
PRO TIP: Use the rule of thirds. This simply refers to placing your focal point on one of the lines that divides the photo into thirds. Our eyes are naturally drawn to these intersections in a picture. Putting your subject here (either when shooting or when cropping later) will make the frame feel balanced and intentional.
I cringe when I look back at my early work and can see clearly that my white balance was off. But most people have no idea what white balance even is!
White balance refers to making the colors in your photographs look natural. Depending on the light source and reflective surfaces in a given scene, the camera can read the colors inaccurately. It is up to the photographer to see and correct this.
You can adjust your white balance in camera by using preset white balance settings or dialing in white balance with custom Kelvin settings. Or you can adjust your white balance in post processing. Either way, you will need to train yourself to see what kind of color is correct so you know when it requires adjustments.
To train my eye I use an Expo Disc and I highly recommend it! I can now tell by quickly checking the back of my camera if my white balance is off.
TIP – Correct white balance is how the eye sees color. You will want golden hour images to be warmer and blue hour images to be cooler.
You will always want to strive to get the best images you can straight out of camera. But I believe that editing your photos is a chance to put your own unique artistic stamp on your work.
I always start my editing by making sure I have my exposure and white balance just right. If these are not on point, none of the other adjustments I make will look the way I want them to.
I then find the preset I think best suits my image and adjust from there. This allows me to edit quickly but still tweak things from the preset so that the edit is uniquely mine.
PRO TIP: Play with the sliders in Lightroom to understand what they do. Then you will know just which slider to move when you need to make an adjustment to a preset!
Have you ever tried to talk to a non-photography friend about lenses or cameras or editing programs? Did you see her start to doze off while you were talking? This is why it is so important to find community!
With the Clickin Moms community, I have found a place where I can talk all day about photography and everyone GETS IT! Even better, I am always surrounded by inspiration and am always learning from amazing artists.
PRO TIP: When on the Clickin Moms forums, head over to the tutorial section where you will find exclusive lessons written by professionals. They are divided into easy-to-navigate categories so you can find just what you need.
The reason I have progressed so quickly from beginner to pro is that I became obsessed with the art of photography. I practiced every day and read and watched everything I could on the subject. I studied other photographers’ work so I could find my own artistic style and personality.
What began as documenting my family became a way for me to be creative in the midst of being a mum. I allowed myself to see in a new way. I trusted that my way of seeing the world was worth perfecting.
Photography came to me. I grabbed it with both hands and it has unfolded easily and beautifully for me. That’s not to say I haven’t worked hard. I put in plenty of hours of work! But rather than struggling against where I am at, I have embraced the journey.
And I am still learning and growing everyday! Clickin Moms gives me a place to continue my journey and the resources and relationships there have been key to me becoming the photographer I am todya.
Find your own way in photography. It is a wonderful journey and no matter what your path looks like, it is one worth following.
The post Auto mode to Pro in 16 months: A Clickin Moms journey appeared first on Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time.
Clickin Moms blog: Helping you take better pictures one day at a time
