One of the first things I am asked when people look at the portraits I take of my children, is how do you get a young child or children to pose, sit still, and cooperate when taking their picture? I have a lot of ways that I make taking pictures fun for my kids, I also have a studio in my home so if they are having an off day, no big deal, we will just try again another day. I remember especially with my older children, the stress of having portraits taken, the Christmas card photo, the family portraits. How many times I was rushing with multiple children for an appointment, set weeks before, never knowing what their mood would be, then if we had to wait, they got cranky and they definitely felt all the stress too.
I always loved photography but really got into it when it all went digital and several years ago after the birth of my fourth child, and one or two more studio experiences, I decided to take my own portraits. In the beginning, I just used my Canon DSLR and a Speedlight, I had some backdrops I made and I also took pictures outside. I never took a photography course in school or college, as I am mostly self-taught. I have a good eye for what I want and I love using props, especially with little ones. It was not very long before I upgraded my camera and with the help of a photographer friend bought some great lights. She helped me make the decision to go for some very good lights for my studio instead of starting with a basic set and then upgrading. I am so thankful to her and others who helped me make some great choices. I love my lights. I quickly began outfitting my studio with loads of different color seamless paper backdrops, fabric back drops, props, posing tables, and much more. I have seen myself grow so much since I started and I have such a passion for photography. My home is full of portraits of my children, our family, our pets, my flowers, my gardens, and beautiful scenic shots of the mountains we live in or the beaches we vacation on. Every time I see them, I smile.
So maybe you are looking to get started in digital photography. There are a lot of questions you might have. It would be nice to have a resource at your fingertips that could help you learn the basics and then some. I recently was asked by Kim Binfield, if I wanted to review a iPad App called “Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials”
PORTRAIT CLASSROOM is geared towards parents, hobbyists, and aspiring pro photographers who want a hands-on guide to taking better pictures of babies and children. For those who have bought a DSLR camera but can’t get photos any better than their point-and-shoot camera, or if they are using their DSLR on ‘green’ auto mode, then this App is for them!
Users of PORTRAIT CLASSROOM will learn how to get professional looking results with their existing camera equipment and learn about additional photography gear, software, Photoshop actions and other resources, much of it inexpensive, that can further enhance their portraits. A number of the tips included in the App can also be applied to point-and-shoot cameras.
I downloaded the App on my iPad 2 and it was so easy to use. I can see this being an excellent tool for the person wanting to get started in baby and child photography. It has tutorials that take you through all the steps from set up and lighting through to image editing. Lots of resources for photo actions, equipment, suppliers, props and more. A glossary is provided to look up any terms you may not be familiar with. This App is a great reference to have at your fingertips. Lots of great tips and advice that will have you feeling more confident as a photographer.
