Whenever I stand back and watch my kids having fun, I feel the strongest desire to capture their laughter or that furrowed brow in a little glass jar. Unfortunately, our kids are growing up quickly and I find myself forgetting what they were like just 1 year ago. Thank God for cameras! Looking at older pics of my kids helps me remember what they were like at different ages. I am so thankful that my hubby has an obsession with photographing our kids. While we are on vacation, he faithfully snaps picture after picture while I obsess over other logistics and details.
Not being too much of a photographer myself, I asked Bridget Stern, a Trekaroo mom, who is also a photographer specializing in child and family photography in the Chicago Area to share some of her tips with us. Don’t forget your camera when you head out next with the kiddos whether it’s to the neighborhood park or to Paris.
Tip #1: Take advantage optimal lighting conditions
The best time for pictures is sunrise and sunset because of the optimal lighting conditions. If you are able to shoot in the shade, this will give you great color and decreases the likelihood that everyone in the shot will be squinting because the sun is in their eyes.
Tip #2: Focus on your child instead of the landmark behind
Often, people will focus on the monument or landmark behind instead of their child. I would encourage you to make your child the focus of the picture with the monument or landmark secondary. In fact, if you are able to capture the expression on your child’s face, it will bring the photo alive and tell the story of your child’s experience. Get down to your child’s eye level and experiment with different angles instead of relying only on head on shots
Tip #3: Break out of the posed shot
Do not hesitate to shoot your child from behind, running to greet Mickey Mouse for the first time. You might be surprised at how the picture turns out. Maybe you’ll capture the excitement of the moment that a pose shot couldn’t. For example, when your kids are taking their first steps into the ocean, try to zoom in on their feet in the sand or in the water. Experiment! Take a picture, check it out and take another…and another.
Tip #4: Use the right settings
Young kids may not stand still long enough to get a perfectly posed picture so have your camera set to “action” or “sport mode” to photograph a moving child. This will do two main things: 1) increase your shutter speed to stop fast action and 2) reduce f/stop for shallower depth of field. If your kids will stand still, have your camera set to “portrait” mode instead.
Tip #5: Don’t be camera shy yourself
Make sure that the photographer gets into some shots too. I often forget to do this and come home with no shots of me in any of the pictures. If you are having someone else take a family picture at various locations ask them to take 3 or 4. Hopefully you’ll have one in which everyone’s eyes are open and, with any luck, looking at the camera.
Next 5 Tips for Taking Great Photos of Kids
Got some good shots? Submit your best photos to Trekaroo’s Summer Smiles Photo Contest 2009
Submit all photos by Sept 4, 2009
Would you vote an 18 year old to the school board? Did you even know that an 18 year old could run for public office? What about voting a 20 year old to be your mayor?
Jason Pollock, film-maker, writer, activist and twitter fanatic (@Jason_Pollock) just released a movie called “The Youngest Candidate” in partnership with Oscar winning producer Lawrence Bender (“Inconvenient Truth” and “Pulp Fiction”), Worldwide Pants (David Letterman’s Studio) and Balance Vector Productions. Here’s the trailer:
The film is about the few remarkable teenagers who have the passion to run for public office despite their youth, inexperience, and the cynicism directed towards them. This documentary follows four boys and girls who are coming of age through the electorial process. It captures their exuberant enthusiasm, unbending idealism, and the unfettered passion of youth. These brave young politicians face ridicule on every front, but persevere through to election day.
The topic that Pollock covers in this documentry is fascinating, but what I find even more intriguing is the preciousness of unbriddled optimism, passion, and idealism that comes with youth. Those of us who are able to maintain this through the curve balls that life throws our way are the ones who will be able to rise beyond ourselves. Unfortunately, these qualities are often beaten out of us by life circumstances or by well and not so well meaning adults well before we enter our teens.
As a first time entrepreneur chasing after a dream, I find myself identifying in many ways with these young passionates. Before starting Trekaroo slightly over a year ago when we decided to jump in with two feet, our hearts, our paycheck, and bank account, I couldn’t even begin to imagine the merciless challenges that would face us daily as entrepreneurs. Without the same unbriddled optimism that these teens possess to face the seemingly insurmountable, we would have given up even before launching Trekaroo. Recession or no recession, being an entrepreneur is both the most exhilarating and nerve wrecking thing I’ve ever done in my life. It is also a journey our family could never have persevered along without family and friends. Family who have indulged our dreams, sometimes blindly, but most of the time by biting back their fears and instead choosing to help us.
As parents, most of us want our children to believe that they can accomplish anything. We offer countless words of encouragement starting when our little ones can barely rollover. We make personal sacrifices to ensure that our kids receive an education that puts them in good standing on the path to success. Some of us practically sell our souls to provide our children with every opportunity to discover their unique talents and passions. At the same time, we also have a strong urge to shield them from any disappointment, ridicule, failure, and poverty. Essentially, we tell our kids to reach for the sky but as soon as we think the sky is too high, we pull down heavy rain clouds to drown out their dreams. What a paradox!
When I picture myself as a parent to one of these young candidates, I just know that I’d be the one trying to adjust my child’s expectations or attempting to talk him into a smaller dream. Of course, failure is painful. But as with most jourynes, it’s not the final desitnation that matters most, rather it’s about the lessons we learn on the road through struggling and overcoming challenges. The faith to embark on new and unknown journeys is something we are born with, but it is delicate. I believe that as parents, we should take great care to guard it.
“…we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope…” Romans 5:3
i just came across a website tonight that creates badges for Mama Scouts. they were created to give moms “props” for all the hard work motherhood requires, yet often goes unnoticed. my favorite was the one for “travel” and “diaper” given the stories from our worst poop travel story. i think all the parents who’ve shared deserve both of these badges for their travel war stories.
if you fit any of these descriptions taken from the Mama Merit Badge site, you probably deserve to get one of these fab badges…
Travel Badge
Travel
Ever been stuck on the taxiway for hours with a child who is potty training, a born dancer or a curious, shrieking climber? Run out of snacks and been stuck with a snarky attendant who is no help? Walk on to a cross country flight with 3 under four years old and visibly read the lips of passengers as they moan a cuss word that sounds like stuck? Been forced to take a sleeping baby from a sling so you can go through the metal detector? For those with wanderlust and offspring, your bravery and grit are honored with this badge.
Diaper Badge
Diaper
Everyone has an episode of diapering significance! Have you experienced poop paintings on the wall, poop dripping from the Bjorn in the grocery store, poop in the tub, poop up the back and into your baby’s hair? Have you ever performed gymnastics trying to keep other siblings from getting into poop? Has your baby ever peed into your mouth? Explosive poops, indecent exposure,or cloth diapering; this badge tells your story.
