Make the most out of your snow photos!The snow is here and here to stay for a while. Truth be told I didn't mind that it arrived a little late. I am not a cold weather gal. I do love taking photos in the snow however. I love how the snow provides a simple white backdrop to highlight the subject. Shooting in the snow can be tricky so here a few tips!
I hope these tips help you capture some great photos in the snow! Want more tips make sure to subscribe to the blog/newsletter for the latest tips and tricks. Want to learn how to shoot in manual mode or more information on Snap Shops Workshops? If you put these tips to use I would love to see your photos. Post them on my Facebook page! ~Monique
I am like a broken record, but seriously how is it Christmas already! I have been slacking terribly on blogging, but with Christmas upon us I thought I would share my tips for capturing Christmas morning. I tend to only shoot a few key photos on Christmas morning and then I put my camera away. I hate being stuck behind the camera missing all the fun. 1. Prepare a few days before: Prior to Christmas, make sure you take note where you are going to take your Christmas morning photos. Is there clutter? Do you need to move furniture out of the way? Is the room well lit. Make a list of shots you want to get. Also, the night before, make sure your camera is ready to go. Don't forget to make sure you have extra batteries! 2. Check your settings: Adjust your White Balance BEFORE you start shooting. This is where step one can come into play: you can practice a few mornings before to make sure you will get it right. All cameras are different,but you can often find your White Balance in the settings. Typically indoors Incandescent and Tungsten work well. Also, remember to adjust the ISO to let in as much light as possible and make sure your shutter speed is at LEAST 1/125. 3. Use natural light: Open up all the blinds and curtains, so you can use that natural light as much as possible. Turn your pop up flash off if possible. Create a Story: The story for your kids might begin the night before with cookies for Santa. Position yourself so that you can capture them coming around the corner to see the presents under the tree. Document family, expressions, and what Christmas morning means to your family. 5. Get down: Get on a child’s level to capture the morning from their perspective, especially when opening gifts. 6. Capture the details: Don’t forget the little things like ornaments, discarded wrapping paper, lights on a tree, and little hands opening gifts. 7. Put your camera away : After you have captured the photos you need (thanks to preparation and that shot list), put down your camera and enjoy your family. Merry Christmas!!! In the next few weeks I will be using my downtime to post some of my favorite photos from the sessions at the end of the year. I tend to like and wait until all the Christmas cards and photo gifts have gone out, so I don't spoil any surprises ;) Don't forget to mail me your Christmas card to be entered into the drawing for a free session in 2016!!!! Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. Needless to say the craziness of Summer has begun. 2 years ago if you had asked me if I would be running to something 4 or 5 nights a week I would have told you are C R A Z Y! I said, "I would never do it!" Well guess what? Between my kids and myself lately I am doing it. Some weeks its only 2 or 3 nights and others its 4 or 5. The reality of it is 2 boys in sports, 1 in (2) sports, that there is going to be practices and there is going to be games. Then you add in my commitments and it is crazy town! A good crazy, but non the less our calendar is full. I have so many sessions waiting to hit the blog, but I thought I would return with a few tips on photographing all those sports! 1. TAKE YOUR GEAR Take a few extra minutes to check your equipment before you leave home. Make sure your battery is charged and your memory card is in place (with lots of room to add new photos). A camera with a decent zoom is a must! 2. KNOW YOUR CAMERA'S SETTINGS Shooting in manual mode will definitely give you more control, but if you shoot on the automatic modes of a dSLR or a point-n-shoot, know what the Sports mode does. I like to call the Sports mode “The Running Man”. In Sports mode, a few things will or won’t happen – your camera is operating differently than when it is just on automatic (green square). By using the Running Man, you are giving your camera a lit bit of information about what you are trying to do.
A little disclaimer – all the images in this post were shot on Manual, not Sports mode. Shooting in Manual modes, gives you more control over the settings to help control tricky shooting conditions and gives you flexibility to adjust the shutter speed, ISO, and depth of field. If you want to learn to use your camera this way consider my Snap Shop Workshop. 3. CONSIDER THE TIME OF DAY Soccer games usually are in the morning so take note of where the sun is and make sure the sun is to your back when shooting. This will ensure you have your shutter speed on it’s maximum without having to worry about exposing for the faces of the players if you were shooting into the sun. Shooting a late day game is a little easier as you usually don't have to worry about the direct sun, but also position yourself so that you are not directly facing the sun. 4. INCLUDE THE BALL The eyes and the ball are two of the most important compositional elements in a shot. The shot has more feeling when you capture the expression on the players face. However there are times when you can't get both in a shot and it still works. 5. TAKE SHOTS THAT TELL THE STORY The group huddle, cheering from the bench, high fives, the look on the players’ faces when a goal is scored…these are all integral parts of the story. Capturing emotions adds to the story! These pictures are just as important as the action shots…perhaps even more so! They show team camaraderie and bonding, which is what the kids tend to remember anyway. Thank you for stopping by today. I hope these tips will help you when capturing your athletes on the field this summer!
~ Monique I really wanted a catchy'er title for this post, but it wasn't happening. So as I begin to prepare for the upcoming Snap Shop Workshops I thought it might be fun to share a little tip with you guys. This was a photo from a recent trip to the Waterpark where keeping your camera out of the water is chore! One of my favorite things to do when photographing children is change my perspective. To create a more dramatic shot, experiment with different angles. I have shot from just about every angle I can think of. You wanna laugh? Try watching a 9 month pregnant lady rolling around on the ground, yep that was me! But I digress. Try photographing your subject from a lower or higher point of view. This can give you added perspective and create fun and striking images. I love to shoot from a higher point of view. I get to capture those big sparkly eyes and smiles that I adore. Well there you have it, super simple. Like ridiculously simple, but it makes for a great photo.
If you want to learn more join me in my up coming Snap Shop Workshops on February 21st. WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS? I would highly recommend Monique Curry’s Photography workshops! Monique is a natural teacher. Her passion for photography and love for sharing this talent is extremely evident. She customizes her workshop to meet the wants and needs of the participants. I have always admired those clear, crisp images I see all of FB and the internet and would think that is IMPOSSIBLE to take those kind of photos, but soon after the workshop, I was realizing that I TOO could take those pictures! It is not an easy process, but rather one that I felt supported in and encouraged by Monique! Her constant availability and wealth of knowledge, not just on “workshop day” but days and months following, has increased my confidence and helped me to work toward achieving better pictures of those everyday moments that mean so much and go by so quickly! Monique is patient, caring, knowledgeable, non-judgmental and lots of fun! I’m not going to lie, it isn’t easy, but it is so rewarding to see the hard work pay off and get that “perfect” shot! Her workshop was the ticket I needed to switch that button from auto to manual and let me tell you, I am not going back!! ~ Stacy B Hands up if you got a new fancy DSLR camera for Christmas ? Or maybe you have had your camera for a while and have not the slightest idea how to use it. Are you overwhelmed with all the buttons? Is your fancy new DSLR camera still in full auto, just like it was when you first opened the box? Are you frustrated that the pictures you snap of your kids haven’t improved since you bought it? Then Snap Shop Workshops is for you! Want to learn more about upcoming classes?
By submitting your information below. You will instantly receive an email with all the details about the upcoming workshops on February 21st, 2015! Everything is still brown, muddy and wet but Spring is in the air. I have missed a few posts I wanted to get out to you guys but behind the scenes I have been working on lots of new things and taking a few workshops. Thank you for stopping by today! I could not do what I do without YOU! Want to stay connected? Sign up for my monthly newsletter. |
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