***

Capturing the perfect picture of a baby can be a challenging but rewarding task. Baby photography is often lumped under the classification of children’s photography, but baby photography is an entirely different animal altogether. Children are generally easier to work with as they can be instructed, but a small baby (which for purposes of this article we will define as under one year old) has a mind of its own.

As with children’s photography, it is important to understand the development stage the baby is at in order to get the best smiles. The following are some tips for taking great pictures of babies at varies stages of development.

Up to Ten Weeks: At this stage there isn’t a whole lot the baby can do but lie in a prone position. Compared to later stages, the baby is not too active at this point, so as long as the baby isn’t fussy, pictures are fairly easy. Try laying the baby on its back and focusing the camera at the baby’s head.

Four to Six Months: Now the baby can hold her head up, lie on her tummy, and prop her head up. The baby will watch and follow objects, reach for objects and grab. At this stage try placing the baby on her tummy, drag a toy in front of her to catch her attention, and pull it back to the camera. The baby’s eyes should follow it and she will be looking straight at the camera when you snap the picture. The baby’s lips are very sensitive and you can sometimes induce a smile by tickling the baby’s lips with a small soft toy or tissue.

Six to Nine Months: Baby is now very alert and notices everything around her. She can typically sit up, craw and even pull herself up to a standing position holding on to objects such as a chair. At this stage the baby may respond to a gentle tickle which can be used to product a quick smile. However, you need to be fast because the laugh will be very short lived. You also need to be quick with the entire photo session as the baby’s mood can change rapidly. A six to nine month old can be happy one minute and crying the next.

Nine Months to a Year: At this stage the baby responds very well to just about everything. However, with teeth coming in she can have periods of irritability that can’t be resolved. She will also demand constant attention and the need to be entertained every waking minute. This entertainment can come from you or from a toy. Try playing peek-a-boo around the camera. Imitate the child’s vocal sounds. Give her a prop to hold or play with. At least one of these methods is more likely than not to product a joyful smile.

One year to Eighteen Months: At this stage the line between baby photography and children’s photography starts to blur. The baby will easily play with you at this stage. This means throwing ball, swinging an object, climbing on just about everything. At this stage some babies will also be shy with strangers so you may need the mothers help more at this stage than any other. Give her a toy to play with and then ask for it back. Try throwing a ball back and forth with the parent. Use a long feather duster to tickle the child and pull it back directly toward the camera.

***

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com, if you want a portrait session.

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  For more information on children’s photography visit Mary Kim Photography at http://www.marykimphotography.com.

***

In a world full of built-in flashes and cameras with automatic everything, it’s easy to forget how rewarding natural light photography can be. Although getting great results without studio lighting equipment can be more challenging, using natural light can make you a more skilled photographer and often creates some truly stunning images. Many of photography’s greatest minds swore by working with the environment rather than manipulating it. If you are up for the challenge, here are a few things to remember before shooting:

Control Your Light

You may not always be able to control the clarity or level of natural light, but you can always change how it interacts with your subject. For example, when you take pictures in your house, you can open or close the curtains or blinds to change the amount of light coming into the room. This is also a great tactic for creating targeted directional light. If you’re in a room with two light sources like windows, you can always cover one side to get the focus and direction of light that you want. Try moving around buildings and structures to see how your movement changes the way your pictures end up.

Watch Out for the Sun

Though it sounds reasonable that the best time to attempt natural light photography is when the sun is brightest, high noon is actually quite the opposite. The bright and sharply directed light found in the middle of the day can lead to hotspots, high contrast, and stark shadows. If you’re looking for these qualities in your images then noon may be a good time to shoot, however if you’re interested in soft portraits or subtle color scales you’ll find much better results in the early morning hours. Morning air and light has a crisp clarity that is hard to describe, but you’ll immediately see the difference in your pictures. Additionally, you’ll find that overcast days are perfect for the natural lighting of subjects; images will be bright but free of harsh directional shadows.

Control Your Speeds

If you use a film camera instead of digital, you should use a medium range film speed like 400 to make sure you’ll be able to shoot in most lighting situations. High and low speed films are incredibly situational and may end in your working around available light rather than with it, which can be time-consuming and cause missed shots. It’s a good idea to choose a shutter speed for the day (you’ll soon get good at judging this with some practice) and only adjust the F Stop or vice versa. The fewer things you have to worry about during your shoot, the more “in” the moment you will be.

Shooting with natural light can be one of the most fun or most frustrating experiences a photographer can have. As you use work more regularly in natural light photography, you will see more successes and less mistakes. As always, remember to keep it fun and everything should turn out just fine.

**********

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

If you are interested having your photos professionally shot -

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves taking pictures. Shop online and see our selection of metal picture frames and wood frames. Visit our picture frame shop website or call 1-800-780-0699.

***

Children’s photography can either be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience or a difficult and challenging one. Here are seven tips to achieving the former and avoiding the latter.

1) Choose a proper setting. One of the more recent trends in children’s photography is using a natural setting rather than a studio setting. A park, beach or mountain setting not only provides a better backdrop but will make it more fun for the child. To the child, going to the studio may feel a little like going to the dentist’s office. Of course a studio provides for a more controlled environment, but in a natural setting you have a better chance of capturing the child smiling on their own. Let them play and explore the world around them. This will provide for some great candid photos rather than posed ones. Of course if you are using a studio setting there are still several things you can do to make your pictures amazing.

2) Get to know the child. Successful children photographer is about getting the child to work with you, not forcing them. To do this they need to like you and trust you. Although there are exceptions, most children would rather do a thousand other things than get their picture taken. They need to see that the experience is going to be better than they had first though and that you are not the dentist. Talk to them. Ask them how old they are, ask about their school, ask about their favorite things to do in the summer. What you learn from the child can help you as you start to take pictures. For example, if the child is small you may want to ask what their favorite animal is and then use that animals sound to grab their attention when they start to lose interest. Children establish relationships much faster than adults. With only a few words you can build a relationship with a child that will help them trust you. Keep the conversation going and interesting as you start to take pictures.

3) Let them choose a pose. This is especially important when the session is first starting. Let them sit, stand, look at the camera any way they want and snap a few pictures. Maybe the pose is a good one, maybe it isn’t, but let them pick a pose or two at the start. After they have done that they will typically be much more willing to let you have a turn telling them how to sit or stand. If they start to become frustrated, let them pick a pose again to loosen them up and then go back you instructing them. Children’s photography takes patience and that sometimes means yielding a little control.

4) Make it fun. Children’s photography is a different animal, and needs to be fun for the child. This is much easier in an outdoor setting but can work in a studio as well. This also ties into the previous point of letting them choose a pose. Maybe they want to stand on their head, maybe they want to have a picture of them jumping in the air. Whatever loosens them up and gets them to smile.

5) Go to their level. Don’t tower over small children. Stoop down and talk to them. Let them see and talk to you at eye level. This also applies to how you talk to them. Talk to children in a fun tone and more like a friend would talk to them rather than an authority figure.

6) Use props. Stuffed animals, squeaky stuffed animals, feather dusters, noise makers. These are all essential in grabbing and holding the attention of a small child. The smaller the child, the more important it is to have a good inventory of props at your disposal.

7) Respect the child. Let them guide the session. If they are hungry it isn’t going to work, if they are tired it isn’t going to work. The smaller they are the more difficult it is going to be to force them. Don’t try until they are ready. Children’s photography is about getting great pictures of children and that happens most easily when they are working with you instead of against you.

***

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com, if you want a portrait session.

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

For more information on children’s photography visit Mary Kim Photography at http://www.marykimphotography.com.

Still life photography has many uses. Perhaps you want to take a picture of a beautiful shell or perhaps take a picture of a product that you’re selling on eBay. Other reasons for learning still life photography may include selling still life photograph downloads at microstock sites or to food magazines. No matter what your reason, still life photography is a great skill to learn.

Unless you are photographing specific products or pictures for a magazine assignment, the subjects for your still life photography are endless. Despite common belief, still life photography isn’t limited to just pictures of apples and grapes. Even something like artfully arranged spools of thread can be interesting and visually appealing. Microstock sites like Shutterstock and iStock that cater to commercial users have a high demand for all sorts of still life, often of very simple objects, like a cup of coffee or a key.

People often times think of still life photography as a lot easier than other types of photography like sports or landscape photography. With stills, you often have full control over the composition and can arrange the inanimate objects exactly how you want them.

And sometimes, good quality still life pictures can be even more challenging to photograph. That’s because they are close up so it’s easy to spot imperfections like a blemish on a piece of fruit that would usually pass unnoticed.

Despite its challenge, using basic photography skills and the following tips, you can create quality still life pictures.

Lighting for Still Life Photography

Professional photographers usually use a soft box or a light box to shoot their still lifes. Although soft boxes can help out a lot, they still aren’t absolutely necessary to get good results as you’ll see shortly. However, if you do want one, you can find a soft box online or you can easily make one using instructions you find online. The purpose of these lighting tools is to provide even light on the subject.

You can also get a good quality of light by setting up your photo shoot outside. A high overcast or bright sky can create a natural soft box effect without having any of the harsh shadows.

Composing Still Life Pictures

When composing your photograph, you need to arrange the objects in a pleasing composition. You should consider using classical composition techniques like the “Rule of Thirds,” “Leading Lines” or “Frame within a Frame” for ideas of how to best compose your pictures. Artfully arrange the objects, and use your imagination. For example, if you’re taking a picture of an apple try taking a bite out of it to give it some added interest.

Fill the Frame with Your Still Life Subject

When taking still life pictures, always remember that your subject should be the only thing that you see in your viewfinder or LCD screen. You need to remove any distractions or clutter from the background so you can have a clean and up close image. If you have a backdrop or background you don’t like don’t worry about it because it can be easily solved. The light box or soft box will solve this problem, but if you’re taking pictures outside and have a distracting background simply place a piece of white foam board behind your subject and you’ll be all set. If you want a sharp image, make sure to use macro mode or you can end up with a fuzzy image.

Look for a Good Angle – and Shoot!

Instead of shooting from your height, hold the camera so that it is level with your subject. You should also try shooting from a variety of different angles. Hopefully you can start applying these still life photography tips immediately so you can start seeing a difference in the quality of your still life images.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

If you are interested having a portrait session with me -

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. If you’re looking for 11×14 picture frames visit our online picture frame shop or call us at 1-800-780-0699.

If you want to improve your pictures of children, here are a few tips and tricks that will help you get children pictures truly worth framing.

Usually the best pictures of children tend to be candid photos, but if you are taking a formal portrait, always practice with your camera first so you’re ready.

When taking candid pictures of children outside, use an optical zoom or a telephone lens for best results. This allows you to fade a bit into the background. The more obvious you and the camera are, the more apt the children will ham it up or freeze and the less likely you will capture natural expressions. And you will need to be patient. Let them get used to you being there with your camera. Eventually they will relax.

Focus on the Subject in the Picture. The most interesting pictures focus on the subject rather than trying to get everything nearby into the shot.

When taking pictures of children outside, it’s best to use “sports” mode or select a high shutter speed like 1/500 and a wide aperture. The larger aperture will blur the background when photographing from about 10 feet away from the child. You can also do this with portrait mode, but the great part of using manual settings is you can blur the background and freeze the action.

If your camera has burst mode, this is also a good one to use with active kids. Burst mode will take several pictures in rapid succession, so you can later choose your favorite.

If you’re taking pictures inside and have good indirect light, use your camera without a flash to avoid distracting the children.

Be especially carefully when using a flash when you’re photographing babies. Before using flash with anyone, consult your camera’s manual for the maximum safe distance. With many cameras it will be at least three feet.

One of the best ways to pose a baby is in the parents arms. When posing children, always put safety first. When photographing a child and parent, show relationship by having them look at each other or at the same thing. To get baby to look in the same direction as the parent, shake a gentle noisemaker like a bean bag or small rattle.

When photographing toddlers, be ready to work fast. Take lots of pictures, so you’ll be sure to get some really good ones.

One of the very best ways to photograph a child of any age is to wait for when the child is engrossed in something that is really interesting to him or her and then shoot away.

Always focus on getting pictures of the baby “firsts” like the first step, first birthday, bike ride and all of the other important moments.

Finally, before taking a picture of someone else’s child, unless the child is in public in a group, like marching in a parade, ask the parent for permission. It’s legal to take pictures of people, including kids, without permission, but put yourself in the parent’s shoes. Most parents would prefer being asked.

Preschool age children can be quite cute when interacting with other kids their age. Look for those buddy photo ops like when two little ones are holding hands or helping each other with a task.

As you can see taking better pictures of children isn’t really complicated but it does require some time and forethought.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

If you are interested having a portrait session with me -

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves photo frames. Shop online and see our large selection of picture frames in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes like our popular 5×7 picture frames.

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There are many things you must keep in mind when attempting to schedule a pregnancy photography session. This is a very exciting time within a mother’s life and the need to document such an event should be very monumental. To ensure that this event goes smoothly most maternity photographers recommend that you schedule your pregnancy photography shoot between thirty-one and thirty-six weeks if possible. The reasoning for this is before thirty-one weeks, your belly may be too small to be showing your pregnancy. If you cannot schedule your pregnancy photography shoot during this period, ensure that the maternity photographer is kept abreast for you do not want to run out of time during this monumental time, which you want documented.

Prior to the pregnancy photography session, make sure you remove clothing, which contains elastic. Elastic leaves marks on your skin, which will most definitely show up in pictures. If you forget this fact do not worry, the maternity photographer will more than likely remind you of such before performing the maternity portraits.

Ensure that you and your maternity photographer discuss the overall style of pictures you want. Do you want to wear your clothes during the photo shoot? Do you want to show your skin on the photos? Is someone else going to be in the pregnancy photography session with you such as the father of your child or a beloved family member?

If you want someone else to be present in your pregnancy photography session, both of you must choose clothing that will not take away from the photo shoot. Keep in mind that your stomach with your unborn child cradled inside is the main subject of the photo shoot therefore, jewelry or bright objects should be left off until the photo shoot is over.

Discuss with your maternity photographer what you should wear during the photo shoot. Some women choose to pose topless or even naked. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can wear clothing that shows off your belly.

Keep in mind that these portraits are going to be pregnancy portraits so you are allowed to bring some items with you, which you have purchased, for your unborn child. These are very cute props, which can be added into the photo shoot. Most maternity photographers will have some items present at the photo shoot if you do not have your own items or if you merely forgot them.

During your baby portrait photography session, you will want to avoid placing lotions on your stomach before the maternity photographer begins the session. The lotions will cause light to bounce off your belly during the photo shoot but you can moisturize other parts of your body if you want to.

Your hands will be a focus of the photo shoot so make sure you give yourself a manicure or pay for a professional manicure. Do not forget your toes in preparing for this special day. Some items to remember to bring are brushes or combs as well as changes of clothes. Lip moisturizer will be a great addition to your face during the photo shoot.

Allot ample time for your pregnancy photography session. You do not want to rush the maternity photographer through the photo shoot. Most children photographers are use to taking their time with photo shoots. Performing these photo shoots are more times to none a one-time deal and cannot be re-shot. Congratulations and good luck to you, and your new child. Enjoy yourself while documenting this very important time in your life as well as your unborn child. If the maternity photographer performs a great job for you and your unborn child, he/she very well may become your maternity photographer as well as your family photographer.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com, if you want a maternity portrait session.

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Be sure to check out BabyPregnancyPhotography.com for comprehensive information on children’s photographers. To find all the advice and insights that you may need about children’s photographers at your fingertips, Follow the links right now!

***

Baby photography gives you a way to get photographs of your baby looking its best. While your baby is always cute and probably even beautiful, getting a photograph or two of them are the professionally can make them seem even cuter. Not only that, but you can look back in a few years and smile knowing that you got a high quality photo of your child while they were still so small.

Nothing can replace the photographs that you take of your little one at home on your own. There are so many precious moments throughout a child’s development, and you likely want to get each and every one of them immortalized in photographs. These types of photographs are always the best to have, as they can bring up memories years down the line that you had totally forgotten about. Not to mention the fact that you can show off those photos to the child once they’re older as well.

Baby photography covers something different from that. While getting photographs of individual memories and events that will probably never happen again is something that everyone likes to do and can solidify your bond with your child, having a professional photograph taken of them are while they are still a baby is something every parent should have done. These photographs make your baby the absolute focus of attention. They also accentuate all of the cute features of your baby’s face. Children develop quickly, and babies develop even faster. It’s important to get a photograph of them when they’re young so you never forget what they look like.

You find the photographer who specializes in baby photography, or you can go to a family photographer to get the picture. The way you choose is up to you, and of the photographers were charge different amounts. There’s no way to really tell whether a specialized baby photographer or family photographer will cost more. Check prices around, and get suggestions from other mothers as you know to find reputable photographers in your area. This way you can be sure that you will get quality pictures at prices that won’t make you cringe.

It’s important not to underestimate the power that these types of photographs can have on you. While they may seem inconsequential now, 20 years down the line you’re going to wish that you had gotten more pictures of your baby, and even professionally done photographs of your baby well. Every moment of a baby’s life is precious, and in a few years down the line they look completely different. Baby photography is very real industry, for very good reason: because memories don’t last forever, but photographs can last as long as you want them to.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography
Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com, if you want a portrait session.
408-717-3670     415-763-7643

A photo is worth a thousand words. Your baby is worth much more. Let us show you how to get the best from your baby photos. Baby Photography

***

If you want to improve your pictures of children, here are a few tips and tricks that will help you get children pictures truly worth framing.

Usually the best pictures of children tend to be candid photos, but if you are taking a formal portrait, always practice with your camera first so you’re ready.

When taking candid pictures of children outside, use an optical zoom or a telephone lens for best results. This allows you to fade a bit into the background. The more obvious you and the camera are, the more apt the children will ham it up or freeze and the less likely you will capture natural expressions. And you will need to be patient. Let them get used to you being there with your camera. Eventually they will relax.

Focus on the Subject in the Picture. The most interesting pictures focus on the subject rather than trying to get everything nearby into the shot.

When taking pictures of children outside, it’s best to use “sports” mode or select a high shutter speed like 1/500 and a wide aperture. The larger aperture will blur the background when photographing from about 10 feet away from the child. You can also do this with portrait mode, but the great part of using manual settings is you can blur the background and freeze the action.

If your camera has burst mode, this is also a good one to use with active kids. Burst mode will take several pictures in rapid succession, so you can later choose your favorite.

If you’re taking pictures inside and have good indirect light, use your camera without a flash to avoid distracting the children.

Be especially carefully when using a flash when you’re photographing babies. Before using flash with anyone, consult your camera’s manual for the maximum safe distance. With many cameras it will be at least three feet.

One of the best ways to pose a baby is in the parents arms. When posing children, always put safety first. When photographing a child and parent, show relationship by having them look at each other or at the same thing. To get baby to look in the same direction as the parent, shake a gentle noisemaker like a bean bag or small rattle.

When photographing toddlers, be ready to work fast. Take lots of pictures, so you’ll be sure to get some really good ones.

One of the very best ways to photograph a child of any age is to wait for when the child is engrossed in something that is really interesting to him or her and then shoot away.

Always focus on getting pictures of the baby “firsts” like the first step, first birthday, bike ride and all of the other important moments.

Finally, before taking a picture of someone else’s child, unless the child is in public in a group, like marching in a parade, ask the parent for permission. It’s legal to take pictures of people, including kids, without permission, but put yourself in the parent’s shoes. Most parents would prefer being asked.

Preschool age children can be quite cute when interacting with other kids their age. Look for those buddy photo ops like when two little ones are holding hands or helping each other with a task.

As you can see taking better pictures of children isn’t really complicated but it does require some time and forethought.

***

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

If you are interested having your photos professionally shot -

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves photo frames. Shop online and see our large selection of picture frames in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes like our popular 5×7 picture frames.

Nearly every camera on the market comes equipped with some sort of zoom function. What’s ironic about this gift of modern technology is that camera zoom is almost always used either incorrectly, or not at all. Many photographers starting out consider the zoom to be for “far away things” and never understand the impact using a zoom correctly can have on their images. With that in mind, here are some great ways to use your zoom lens or function the next time you’re out shooting:

Crop, Crop, Crop

In a perfect world, no piece of photography software would have to come with a “crop” feature. If you don’t know the term “cropping” it refers to removing all of the extra stuff in the image that the photographer should have avoided when shooting the picture. Rather than cropping the junk out of the background afterwards, make use of your camera’s zoom and fill the frame with only the important parts of the image. Pictures of family get togethers are infamous for this as most photographers don’t fill the frame with the subject and instead take a picture consisting mostly of the background.

Stand Back

No camera lens reflects the actual subject with 100% accuracy. In every kind of lens there is a tiny bit of distortion, and this can and should inform your decisions with your camera zoom. For example, taking portraits with a zoom lens from a little farther away will give you much better results than putting the camera right in someone’s face. Give it a try the next time you take a portrait style picture. Take a few up close then take a few with the zoom and see which your subject likes more.

Nicely Spy on Your Loved Ones

If you happen to have a powerful camera zoom or great lens, it may be time to try your hand at being sneaky. Obviously, it’s not a good idea to invade the privacy of your friends and family, but candid pictures are a great way to capture people you care about as their natural selves. When you are far away with the camera, people tend to be more comfortable and act “normal” so you’ll end up capturing some great images that you would have otherwise missed.

A zoom isn’t just a tool to use when you’re far away. Use it to improve your composition, make your subject comfortable, and steal moments that you could have never captured. A lens that is capable of zooming is a wonderful tool to help you in your quest to become a great photographer, so have fun finding new and creative ways to use it. You’ll love the results.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

If you are interested having a portrait session.

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames.com and loves taking photos. Shop online and see our selection of wooden antique picture frames now. Visit our online picture frame shop or call us at 1-800-780-0699.