One of my frequently asked questions is “How do you photograph the “moment” and document it so well ?”

Hmmm, it always makes me think…how do I photograph the moment?  Especially, indoors in bad light.  I usually always have my camera ready sitting somewhere it is easy to get, but here is the truth… A lot of my “in the moment” shots suck.  My kids move pretty quick (as most do)  and I have a pretty dark house.  Now, I have a camera that pretty much can shoot in the dark and Photoshop skills to make them seem like there was perfect light, but sometimes they are just missing something.  This is where the set-up begins…sometimes a “moment” needs a little help.

I have a total weakness for jammies.  I love them for me, but I really LOVE them for the kids.  To me a clean baby or kid in jammies means comfort and love and everything I am supposed to be doing right as a Mom.  A bit dramatic, but true for me. I know that when they are grown, I will want to remember how happy we were on jammie days.  Anyways, this December I bought an especially cute jammie for the baby with Santas on it.  I knew by next month they wouldn’t  fit and it won’t be Christmas anymore, so I needed some good pictures fast.  I had been trying to get some really cute shots of the busy little man all month.  Really, everything I had taken indoors was nothing to Facebook about, if it is not Facebook worthy, then I am not happy with it.

Then something happened to bring me the perfect mini session I had been waiting for.

Our gardeners trimmed our trees and left a huge mess in our yard.  I went out to inspect the mess and the baby followed and instantly started having the best time…. in his jammies….in perfect light.  I grabbed my camera gave him a few ornaments to set the scene, then I just let him play.  I never asked him to look at the camera,  so the shots I have of him looking at the camera, he is doing it because he is “telling” me about all the cool stuff he is doing.  Messy yard+cute baby in my favorite jammies=happy me and awesome pictures!





Still here?? So here is your assignment:

Keep your kids in their jammies and let them outside.  For example, you  could go to the doughnut store and eat outside,  put a blanket down on the grass and let them have a tea party, just make sure it is something that will really engage them.  Keep you camera near with you, but never tell them what to do, just snap while they do what they want, all while be perfectly them in their most comfortable of clothes.

Bonus Assignment for Pros and almost-pros who have Photoshop

Play with your edits.  Use at least 4 completely different editing styles, especially ones you would not normally do (example: vintage, b/w, vibrant) and post them on a blog or on facebook. I found that while trying to figure out my “style”, that when I posted pictures I kept going back to look at certain ones my eyes were drawn to and that those certain edits ultimately became my signatures.

If you would like to link your jammie  pics feel free to send me an email or just post them on my facebook page!  I would LOVE to see what you come up with!! Just hashtag #CompositionUniversity
https://www.facebook.com/Jennerrose

Hope you have a fantastic Holiday!!!

~Jenny