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5 Tips for Taking DIY Photos at Home!
[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]We are coming up on a year of quarantine now and while we have likely settled into a lot of new normals, there are some things that I definitely still miss! One of the big ones is taking lifestyle photos of newborns or families in their home. Part of being a photographer is my love for capturing and preserving those special memories. We all know that the kids grow up too quickly! So I wanted to share some ways that you can take photos at your home until the time when the world is safe enough for me to come take them for you!
Tip 1: Find the Best Quality Camera
Try to find the best quality camera available to you; this is likely an iphone! When I am not using my professional camera, I try to grab my husband’s iphone because he has a better quality camera on his phone than mine! No matter what camera you have to use, you can make it work for some great photos!
Tip 2: Dress for Success
I can’t say how many times I have wished my children were wearing something different in the photos I took. Now, if you are going for the candid, as-is look, then no worries! I also love capturing those mismatched, self-selected outfits of toddlers. That is great too. But if you are wanting something that looks a bit more polished, give some thought to the family outfits and how they will look together.
Tip 3: Find the Light
This is a big one. Maybe the biggest one. An important key to good photos is good lighting. You do not need professional studio lighting for your diy photos. Finding a big window or sliding door can work wonders! Take a minute when setting up your photo to see how the light is falling on your subject’s faces; this is important. You want your subjects to be lit up (not faces in shadow), without being blown out. If you need to diffuse the light to make it softer, try pulling a sheer curtain over the window or draping a thin fabric over the light source. This may take a bit of playing with to get the light right, but I promise it will be worth it!
Tip 4: Have fun!
You know that my photography focuses on genuine emotions and authentic interactions. I love a “holiday card photo” as well, but the photos that pull on my heart strings are those that have real emotion. In my opinion, nothing beats photographing that deep laughter of a toddler, or the love between a parent and baby. Try to bring out those silly personalities through song, tickles, or whatever works! This is where you have the advantage: you know your family best! You know what is likely to elicit the emotion you would like to capture.
Tip 5: Edit the Results
A lot of what goes into professional photos is the editing and the style of the photographer. This may be more challenging for your diy photos, but can be done! Phones have editing features built in where you can play with things like crop, brightness, contrast, saturation etc. Some also have the lightroom app on their phones which opens up a lot of options. This may take some time to figure out what you like if you want to edit your photos. Alternatively, this is something that a professional could help you with if you want to hire someone for editing services.
Have confidence in yourself! I hope you have a good time learning something new. Finding time to build joy in your life is important; photos are one way to bring that joy in our homes. I would love to hear about any success stories you have! Please tag me @apriltrettelphotography on any photos you post using these new skills![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”931″ media_width_percent=”70″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]
April is a birth photographer and certified birth doula in the Pasadena/Glendale/Los Angeles area. Interested in birth services? Let’s connect!
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