Backgrounds - Keeping it Simple
By zadore | April 21, 2008
No, you don’t need to go out and get fancy backdrops to create a nice portrait of your child(ren). We simply go back to a couple of posts ago where we talked about positioning the camera at eye level instead of shooting downwards. Once you master that, your job becomes easier in finding simple backgrounds to use in a portrait.
One of my favourites is a plain sofa where you can sit the child. Always ensure the child is sitting in the middle of one cushion and that there are no creases or lines ’growing’ out of their heads. This is also a great spot if it’s in front of the TV as you can get a candid look if the child is looking away from the camera.
Other great backgrounds that are simple and plain are the ceiling and your window curtains. That’s right- the ceiling. If you get a spouse or friend to lift the child up in the air while making faces- don’t forget to make it fun- you can usually get a great photo by standing behind the person and photographing when the child is up in the air, hence having the ceiling as a background. Timing is important here, so be ready to shoot as soon as the child is up.
Window curtains work similarly and may require someone to hold the child up. You can also use a sofa or love-seat to stand the child by the window. There are two great benefits to photographing the child by the curtains - first, you get a nice simple backdrop and two, you get great natural lighting from the window.
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So look around the house and see if you can identify other simple backgrounds which you can use to photograph your child. I bet there are more than you would think…so next time no cluttered backgrounds in your child’s nice photos. 
Next Time: Basic Lighting
Topics: Backgrounds, Composition, General | No Comments »
Composition - the Rule of Thirds
By zadore | April 4, 2008
Often I see photographs of children where the child is placed dead-center within the photo. Center heavy photos usually create ’tension’ and you get the feeling that something should be holding the subject in place.
For example, this photo is center-heavy, meaning that the child’s face, in particular the eyes (main focal point) are placed in the center of the photograph.
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Following one simple rule will improve the composition of your photos almost all the time. The rule is called ’Rule of Thirds’ and it’s fairly simple to follow. Whatever the main focus of your photograph is place it at the intersection of the lines that would divide the frame in three equal parts horizontally and vertically. In other words, divide your photo in nine parts by drawing two lines vertically at equal distance from each other and from the border, and then drawing two lines horizontally at equal distance from each other and from the border. Where the lines intersect, is where you should put your main subject (green circles below).
In the above photo, by drawing the four lines and moving his eyes to the top right intersection like this…
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…you will achieve a photo that’s not only more interesting, but also more pleasing to the eye.
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There are two ways of achieving this kind of composition:
In camera at the time of the shot. Do this by determining where the child is best positioned within the frame. If he/she is facing left, then place them on the right and viceversa. If there is a distractive background to the right, place them on the left. Eyes are usually best positioned on the top intersections so that you can capture the rest of the face.
TIP: With most digital cameras, pressing the shutter button halfway will lock the focus. What you want to do is place the child in the middle of the frame, then press the shutter halfway to lock the focus, and then moving the camera slightly to place the child within the frame. Just remember - LOCK, PLACE, SHOOT
Using software such as Photoshop Elements. In the above example, I took the centered heavy photo and digitally cropped it differently so that his eyes were in the top-right intersection. There are many tools out there for photo cropping and other digital enhancements, and some are fairly cheap or even FREE!
TIP: If you are sure you are going to crop the photo later, then take a step back and give the photo more room to manipulate once in the cropping stage. Try positioning the photo in the different intersections to see which works best.
As with any rules, there are exceptions. Use this as a starting block to unleash your creativity. Once you’ve mastered it then it’s time to see how you can break the rules and still get great results.
Next Time: Backgrounds- what to avoid.
Topics: Composition, General | No Comments »
Getting Down to Business
By zadore | March 21, 2008
We’ve all done it. It’s easy, practical and quick. Stand in front of the child as they make the cutest expressions and just click away. And we tell them to do it again. And again. And we ’stand’ there getting the priceless shots so that when our spouse gets home we can show them what precious little bug we have.
It is a subconscious thing. We, as adults are used to doing things standing up. We talk to other adults standing up, we wash the dishes standing up, so it is natural that when we photograph our children we do it standing up.
So here’s what I would suggest. Try getting down to eye level with your child. That means that if they are standing, you should sit. If they are rolling around the floor then try lying down with them. This will give your photographs a perspective of their own ’world’. I often sit down cross-legged so that I have the ability to turn around when the rascals make a run for it. Don’t forget that children love having the grown ups visit their physical level. It is often recommended that when talking to children you ensure that you are at eye level because that’s when they truly connect with you. So when photographing them, you have the opportunity to play and connect with the child as well.
Even when you are out and about at a park or at the beach, don’t be embarrassed to sit with your child so you can get nice shots. This is me at a Toronto park back on Canada Day. The little guy had just began to walk and was gaining the courage to stand up and go go go.
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I hope this helps in getting some different perspective photos of your little ones. Later this week, we’ll talk about composing your photos by using a very simple rule.
Ciao for now.
Topics: Composition, General | No Comments »
Welcome to Learn Baby Photography
By zadore | March 19, 2008
Hello to you all who stumble upon this blog. It is my hope you come back and visit often.
This is a place where you will be able to get tips and tricks on how to photograph your baby or toddler. With almost every parent being the owner of a digital camera nowadays, photographing young children has become an addiction. This often results in computer hard-drives with countless photos, many of which never get printed.
Allow me to tell you a bit more about myself. My name is Phil Lameira and I am a professional photographer specializing in photographing young children and also in maternity portraits. I have been photographing babies and toddlers for many years, mainly as a hobby but have eventually turned it into a successful business. Nothing brings me more pleasure than seeing a parent’s reaction to a beautiful photo of their precious little ones. I take joy in not only being able to spend time photographing their children but also in providing them with lasting memories.
My business, Zadore Photography, has a goal of providing memorable photography through on-location photo sessions. All the sessions are done at a place of choice by the parents, usually home, which allows for a more natural and fun environment. The result is a set of photographs which are not only visually attractive, but also put themselves within the context of the child’s environment and personality…just as if they were taken by the parents themselves.
And that’s where this website comes in. I am often asked by parents how they can improve their own photos of their children. They often show me photos taken on their own digital cameras and ask how they could make a certain snapshot look a bit better. The truth of the matter is that even with a point-and-shoot camera, it is possible to achieve great photos. All it takes is a bit of vision, a bit of guidance, and a really, really cute child.
Starting within the next few days I will start providing some of the tips and tricks which you can use with your small digital camera or even your cell phone to start achieving photos you can be proud to print and hang on the wall.
Talk to you soon.
Phil Lameira
www.zadore.com
Topics: General | No Comments »