This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Little Skye Boutique, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #embracechildhood http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
December is a crazy month for a photographer. Everyone is requesting holiday photo sessions, and those that aren’t are asking for advice on how to best capture festive photos of their kids on their own. After all, how great is it to receive an adorably thoughtful photo card from someone you care about? Personally, it brightens my day to open the mailbox and find a little ray of sunshine. So, since everyone wants to know, I thought I’d tackle some of my most frequently asked questions on capturing that perfect shot, even with fidgety toddlers!
It’s all about the background.
The most important aspect of your photo is going to be your scene. You want to make sure you are framing your children in an appealing way, and you definitely don’t want distracting objects in the background. Chances are, you have at least one great spot in your own back yard, but if you don’t then a local park is always a good bet! I love using my back yard because it is is full of lush greenery, with almost not view of the neighbors behind us. Greens are a great background, but if you aren’t able to do that then a building face, like brick or stucco works well too. Just make sure your background isn’t too busy – you don’t want to see the whole neighborhood in your holiday photo!
My mom’s back yard has a cute old chair that I love using in my photos. It blends well with the background, and it give Kaia something to do with herself besides just standing there looking at the camera. It is set off in a little alcove of shrubbery, which makes it even more perfect!
And then it’s all about the clothes.
Once you have your stage picked out, it’s time to talk about what to wear! Depending on where you live, this can go any number of ways – from greenery to snow, so you need to dress accordingly. You wouldn’t want to be dressed for the wrong environmental elements because that can clash with your backdrop. If you have snow or are going outdoors where it’s cold, dress your kids in layers with cute knit hats, scarves and boots while keeping the heavy coats out of the picture. Our winters are very mild, so we don’t have to worry about freezing outside as much as some. My big three to think about when choosing outfits are: pattern, texture, and coordination. Kaia’s outfit featuring a Paper Wings dress from Little Skye Children’s Boutique is the perfect example of a great photo outfit – it has patterns, textures, and it coordinates with the image as a whole.
I love the flow of the dress, the ruffles at the hem, and the fact that it matches almost any color palette. If you aren’t familiar with Little Skye, you should be – they are stocked full of unique outfits and dresses that are stunningly picture perfect! I just love the whimsical, creative flair they have, and best of all Kaia loves wearing them! Read on to the bottom for a special offer!
Use the environment.
The world around you can be a great prop! If your children aren’t quite sure what to do with their hands, have them pick leaves off a bush – not only will they stay put, but you are also bringing a natural element into your shot to give it more dimension. And, when they’re focusing on that they won’t be worried about being nervous in front of the camera!
Don’t forget to (not) pose!
This may sound a little odd, but the secret every great photographer knows is NOT to ask your clients to post. Posing is the quickest way to take human nature out of an image, and when people (especially children) are asked to stand in certain ways with certain gestures, it can start to look forced and a lot of times downright unhappy. Instead of posing for the camera, let them jump, dance, and be natural. One thing that I do before I snap is to let them “get their wiggles out” by jumping/wiggling/etc in place. Once they have that free movement going, their smiles emerge and I can really capture some amazing moments!
Now that you have some great tips, go ahead and capture those magical holiday photos! Are you ready for a special offer? Head over to Little Skye Boutique now for something special! All Paper Wings for Little Skye and Blu Pony Vintage for Little Skye purchases through 12/15/2015 receive a Free Shipping & a $25 gift card valid on future purchases for every $100 spent when you use code BLGLS2015. How cool is that?!
