Laid Back Kind of Perfect

I thought about titling this post "How to get your kids to cooperate during family pictures". It felt way too much like a marketing ploy and didn't really feel like me.....so I canned that title.

That being said, here is the best way to get kids to cooperate during family pictures: stop caring.

I know....it sounds very counter-intuitive. I promise it works. As parents, we actually kind of know that it works because we do it everyday.

When your child doesn't want to play soccer with the rest of the family, you likely didn't try forcing his arms and legs into a soccer-playing position or insist that he join in, be happy, and like it (well, maybe you did, but you probably realized afterwords that you sounded a bit dumb).

When your child doesn't want to do family pictures, it's ok. Bribery works for some, if it's the right type (I don't suggest chocolate cake mid-shoot unless you're doing a cake smash session). For others, bribes and threats can just make the situation worse, because it creates pressure to perform.

Children don't need to perform to get amazing family pictures, in fact sometimes it's best when they don't. As long as you are partnered with a photographer accustomed to working with children, your job as a parent should just be to enjoy some time with your kids and let the photographer worry about the rest.

Here are a few other tips for photographers and parents. 

1. Give children something to do. A photogenic prop can be great as it gives children a purpose. Interact with the child while they play, make silly sounds, etc. and soon you'll have a natural picture of a happy child. 

This can also work without a prop, tell them to kiss mom, to hold onto a wall, or any other simple instruction. A happy child is a busy child, so get them busy doing something that will assist with the pictures.

2. Let them play. I think portraits of kids playing are so fun. Try getting them to spin, then snap a shot when they fall down, dizzy and laughing. Let them throw a ball or even try to tag the photographer. Letting them play is an easy way to get them happy about pictures.

3. Bring something to catch their eye. As cool as my camera is....children actually aren't fascinated by it. That's why I bring help. A small red doll, a large hand puppet, even a brightly colored cloth can help me capture the attention of little ones long enough to snap a picture. 

However you get your little ones to cooperate during a photo shoot, make sure to stop by somewhere and get them ice cream on the way home. They've earned it. 

Till next time, 

Introducing, Jake

So.....I kind of love fall and I wish this season would last forever. I love the beautiful weather, I love the gorgeous warm evening light (so good for getting photos), I love the hint of fog in the morning, the changing colors, everything.

One thing I've always loved about fall is getting to go to school (yes I'm that person). I always loved showing off new school sweaters and the smell of fresh pencils.

I'd like to introduce my guy senior rep for this year- he kind of looks like Clark Kent :) Try not to swoon. (He'd kill me for saying that!)

Thanks Jake for working with me this year! Stay tuned for his senior portrait party, and some awesome senior pics will be doing in the snow in the coming months (brrr! Let's not think about it ever getting cold).

Rockabilly in Style

I loved themed shoots. They can make for some pretty epic photos. Pretty much, I love the creativity allowed in themed shoots.

I started out shooting this cute little family outside, which was fun for the whole three minutes of beautiful weather we had. Then a windstorm came out of no where and pushed us inside.

Luckily we were able to get some old-school rockabilly photos in an old building downtown.

Friday Night Lights

Hanging out yesterday at a couple senior shoots, listening as onlooking friends laughed about boys, and school drama, and plans for the weekend, I realized how different a world high school is.

These cute senior girls have one final year in the crazy land of high school, then they'll be off to adventures in the great wide world doing things like they do them now, with a personal sense of style.

Happy Friday, high schoolers; and all you others out there- enjoy life in the lights.

Four to One or How to Save the Moment

As a photographer, I get that family photo shoots run the gamut of emotions. Some clients are so excited to get their pictures taken I get hugs (usually from cute children so it's not awkward). Some clients just show up because someone (read mom) forced them to come (btw this is more often than not dad).

And then some clients just do NOT want to be there. They can't be coerced, bribed, or convinced to smile or even to look at the camera. I have a bag of tricks for these clients ranging from making silly sheep noises behind the camera to photo-bombing my own pictures with a hand-puppet named OWL.

For the most part, I can get a smile, sometimes a full on giggle.

But for the rare, unhappy baby sometimes you just have to give up on cooperation and instead capture some mommy-cuddles instead.

Because I believe in making photo-shoots fun for the whole family, but if they can't be fun they should at least include cuddles.

Here's some highlights from a very loving, cuddling family.

Happy Birthday Bill!

This fun couple is out serving away from family. As it's Bill's birthday today, I decided to do a throwback to their family session I did before they left. It's amazing how far I've come....but still these grandkids are just cute.

Happy Birthday Bill!

Congratulations are In Order

Thanks for all those who participated in the senior mini-session giveaway. Kasi Jensen is our lucky winner, congratulations!

For all other participants, I have a special deal to thank you for participating, just contact me so I can get it to you, thanks!

Till next time,

Senior Giveaway Reminder

Thanks to those who have entered the senior mini-session give-away! I'm so excited to be able to work with the lucky senior who wins this giveaway. I'll be choosing the winner THIS FRIDAY, September 12. Entries must be received by Friday at 7:00 PM to count. You can enter up to three times:

1. Like Photobymemories on Facebook
2. Comment on the Senior Giveaway photo on the Photobymemories Facebook Page
3. Enter your email and say hi (or whatever you want to say) in the contact box to the right

It's that easy! Someone'll get a photo shoot, 8 digital edited images, and print release FREE!!

Love me some free swag :)

Skinny Minnie and Chunky Monkey

These two darlings are less than a week apart and are both so adorable.....around here we have nicknames for these types of babes. 

Skinny Minnie and Chunky Monkey- adorable to a tee. 

Seniors in Style

Senior portrait photography is all about capturing the unique style and attitude of an individual on the cusp of life's adventures. Each senior is so different from the way they style their hair, to who their friends are, to what their life story is all about. Senior portraits, carefully composed, capture a moment in time and (if you're lucky) they capture the beautiful essence of brimming hope and life.

Before we get into this fun senior shoot, don't forget to enter to win a FREE SENIOR SESSION for you or a friend. Entry details can be found on my facebook page or on the blog.

Take a journey with me and let's explore the different styles and moments captured in this personalized small-town senior session.

My subject for this shoot was full of personality! She's a hat-wearing, back-yard loving girl who is either wearing funky shoes or rockin' bear-feet. She has a favorite park where she tip-toes across wet-rocks to cross a small creek and hangs out on bright-red benches. She's a senior's senior who has seen good days and bad and has great empathy for others and an amazing vision for the world around her.

We started the session with some simple lifestyle pictures in an oft-frequented orchard. Catering to my subject’s love of hats, we found a fun, natural way to incorporate one of her favorites.

In this image (still in the orchard) I flattened my histogram while keeping a low aperture, resulting in this beautiful, vintage-style image that stands out from the rest for its muted color tones.

Next we move to the city-streets where a lone stair-case with amazing textures and shadows catches this senior miss mid-laugh. This beauty needed practically no editing- everything in it spoke naturally for itself. 

In this image, I was inspired by the gray stone of the building and sidewalk and the deep catch-lights in the subject’s eyes. Everyone has dark days and to me there is great beauty to be found in the difficult seasons of life. I wanted to capture the beauty of gray skies with this image that speaks to my subject's own difficult times and to the hope she has looking to the future.

My subject is a bit of an artist and is remarkable with side-walk chalk. Though we didn’t have time to capture one of her masterpieces, she did want to have her graduation year “chalked” onto a downtown brick wall- this image is a classic-style senior portrait. 

As a barefoot, blue-jean, small-town beauty, we had to capture the simplicity of life right now for my subject. This image reflects her laid-back home-town style with great up-town charm and simplicity. 

A rose might smell sweeter next to a natural lol-style smile. The focus on this was set to highlight the subject’s nearest eye and that GORGEOUS flower in her hand, the style was set to match the warm sun in her hair and warm laugh on her lips.

I love this final image most of all BECAUSE my subject requested this location and this pose. She loves the red benches to be found in her favorite park and the laid-back look of laying down, feet up in the air enjoying the soft-summer breeze. This picture was so natural, just her in her element. The red of the benches and the green of the garden around inspired me to pop these colors to increase the feeling of the fun kid-style warmth of summer.This photo is literally just as unique as the girl who conceptualized it. 

So…what style is your favorite? Subdued and modern? Rustic and vintage? Bright, bold and happy? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you and get your inspiration for upcoming senior photos! My personal favorite style is simplistic- I like to capture the natural beauty of an image and get it as close to the way it looks through my eyes as possible. It feels more sincere to me, more authentic. 

Talk to me, tell me what you think, and till next time,  peace out, all!