The one major investment we made when we found out we were expecting our first daughter back in 2010 (in addition to buying baby stuff), was a new camera. I am not talking a $100 camera, like we have bought in the past, and were disappointed with the photo taking capabilities and quality, but a camera that cost around $500. I never thought I would spend that much on a camera, but we wanted to have a way to document my pregnancy, welcoming our daughter in the world and all the firsts
Having never taken a photography course before, I never paid attention to lighting, backgrounds and proper use of a camera and its features. I was more a point and snap type girl. But, this can only get you so far. And, after having an investment in a top of the line camera, I wanted to make sure that I was taking photographs properly, and would be proud of them, when i shared them with family, friends and my children down the road. So, before welcoming Savannah in July 2010, I bought photography for dummy books, joined online forums and watched how-to videos on You-Tube. You would think with all this that I would be a professional photographer. Quite the contrary. I found myself trying too hard, incorporating too many rules I had learned, or simply fumbling with the many features of the camera, only to capture mediocre photographs. I began to get disappointed with my photo taking skills and ended up letting my husband handle our photography needs. But, after welcoming Savannah, I found myself wanting to capture specials moments with her, now that I was a stay-at-home mom. I picked up the camera again and did what I was used to, point and snap, hoping to take a few good photos out of a bunch. This was all well and good, until we welcomed Arabella in 2011. Now more than ever, I wanted to be able to take photos that could be cherished for years to come.
It wasn't until I was sent How to Photograph Your Baby DVD by Nick Kelsh, that I truly began to appreciate the camera we had bought and learned how to take photos correctly. Even though it has only been a few weeks since receiving this DVD, as well being given access to Nick's new website, with useful forums, daily tips, etc. I am feeling more at ease with the camera. I find that letting moments happen, rather than trying to take the girls poses, works well, and really creates a photograph that garners wall art. You should see our walls, which we have covered with the girls' firsts, their bonding as sisters and just goofy faces they make. These are the pictures I hoped to have taken and be able to add to the photo albums, and now thanks to Nick's DVD and tips, I am loving being behind the camera, and taking photos again.
Some of my favorite tips from Nick Kelsh, that come directly to my
inbox daily, as well as can be viewed on his website (once you sign up
for a membership) include:
Practice, Practice, Practice / April 30
I’ve never heard anyone apply the
word practice to photography, but I have to believe it’s worth a try. If
you decided that you were going to spend ten minutes a day stretching
your photographic skills and really, really concentrating on it, I think
you would amaze yourself. If you shot the best photograph you could
every time you picked up a camera, your photographic growth chart would
look like the trajectory of a rocket.
Considering the Horizon / April 20
If you casually let the horizon
line in a photograph land where it may, you’ve put yourself at the mercy
of one of the boldest graphic elements that will ever appear in your
pictures. And it appears so often in photographs, you need to be in
charge of it and use it to your benefit. It’s generally considered that
the worst place you could put the horizon would be smack dab in the
middle of the frame—exactly between the top and bottom of the frame. It
feels like somebody simply couldn’t make up their mind about where it
should be,….
Be Willing to Bail on Your Idea / April 17
When things appear to be going
wrong in a photograph—by that I mean, something you don’t want to
happen—things may actually be going right. It’s perfectly natural to
have a rigid idea of what you want a picture to be. Lots of great
photographs are made by photographers with a preconceived vision. But
it’s important to let all that go of that when things unexpectedly shift
in front of your camera. I photographed the girls in this photograph
for the book Siblings I did with the author, Anna Quindlen, several
years ago. I wanted a picture of a group of….
Real People Doing Real Things / April 10
For people-photographers there will
never be a substitute for real people doing real things. I’ve told
thousands of people to look into my camera before I pushed the button,
but I know the essence or what we do and why we do it will always be
found with real people unaware of our cameras. When I was in college I
interned at National Geographic Magazine. At the time I was enamored
with the photographs of Richard Avedon. Avedon made a career of
photographing people in front of a white background looking into the
camera. At the end of my internship,….
Aren't these great tips? If you are not camera savvy like I was, or just want to learn more about your camera and how to capture those special moments with your children, why not check out Nick Kelsh's website and order his book or DVD, How to Photograph Your Baby? His DVD has made all the difference in the world with my photo taking abilities, and I am so glad I had a chance to review his DVD.
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Click here to order How to Photograph Your Baby on DVD for only $24.95, in addition to other instructional DVDs and books.
---GIVEAWAY---
One lucky reader will win a copy of Nick Kelsh's DVD, How to Photograph Your Baby, along with a year's membership to his sister website. To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this DVD from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.
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