We have moved into uncharted territory over the past few weeks. With schools closing, events canceled and the urge for all of us to be out as little as possible and avoiding contact with friends and family. I have to believe we are all looking for ways to support one another and make the best out of the situation we all find our selves in.

I have been trying to think of ways to help, and since photography is such a large part of who I am, this is how I can best help. You may be home with your kids and looking for something to do to pass a half-hour of the time. Maybe you had planned a trip to see their grandparents, but it had to be canceled. Now is a great time to capture some beautiful, candid, and sweet photos of your family and kids. We might not be able to see each other right now, but we can share great photos with friends and family and bring a smile to their face during this stressful time. When was the last time you took the time to capture a great photo of your child? Now is a perfect time : )

I have compiled a list of tips to help you capture the best possible photographs and you don’t need a fancy camera. The one on your phone can take beautiful photographs with the right light and a few helpful tips : )

Photography should be fun, so get out into your backyard play on the swings, look for flowers coming up in the garden, take a walk in the woods, maybe have your kids pick out fun outfits that they want to be photographed in, or capture baking cookies together to share with grandma. Be creative and I am sure you will be glad you took the time to capture some beautiful photos of your kiddos and family. Below are 5 Tips for taking great indoor photographs!

5 Tips for Indoor Photos:

1. When photographing your kids or babies, find the place in your house with the best window light. This could be a sunroom, large window in your family room, or maybe in front of your large sliding glass door.
   
2. Don’t have your child stand in front of the window. Doing this will create a blown-out background while your kid is dark and in shadow. Instead, Have them stand to the side and turn their face towards the window (light). This placement will cast beautiful light on them.
   
3. The second option is for you to stand in front of the widow, and they face you. This will create beautiful, even light on them.
   
4. Once you have them in great light. Try getting down on their level. It will add variety, and it is nice not always to have them looking up at you : )
   
5. Lastly, you might think it is a good idea to turn on all the lights to add brightness to your photo. This will create a weird color cast, though. Photographers call it “mixed-light.” Instead, turn off side lamps and over-head lights and use the window light we talked about : )
   
6. Ps. I am sorry about the terrible drawings but I wanted to get this post up quickly for you : )

Outdoor Photos with your Kids

Even though we should all be staying at home when possible, it doesn’t mean you can’t go outside and play in the yard, go waking on a nearby trail, or at least enjoy the sunshine on your front porch. Photographing your kids should be fun, so do something you enjoy together and capture it!

Below are some great tips for getting the most out of your outdoor photos and some photos for inspiration : )

5 Tips for Great Outdoor Photos:

1. Make it fun for your kids. Maybe have them find a favorite rock to show you. Look for birds that are returning this time of year. Play on the swingset or draw with sidewalk chalk on the driveway. Getting kids in action doing something they enjoy will always lead to real smiles.
   
2. Try the portrait mode on your camera. Portrait mode is designed to take great portraits, so don’t be afraid to play with the settings on your phone camera.
   
3. The best time of day for photos outside on a sunny day is two hours before sunset at “Golden Hour.” The light early in the morning or in the evening is soft and flattering light, especially for kids.
   
4. If you are outside in the middle of the day, look for “open shade.” Open shade means you are standing in the shade, but when you look up you can see the sky : )
   
5. And again, get down on their level. You don’t always want to be looking down at your kids while you are taking their photos!
   
6. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ASK!

I hope you can make the most of this time with your family and share your photos with family and friends. I am sure it will light up their day seeing a photo of someone they love! Please share this on your Facebook or social media and spread this post!

The picture above is a good example of early morning light. Have the light be hitting the back of your child’s head. This will create that beautiful “glow”

Printing Your Photographs

Last but not least, now that you have taken these great photos, don’t leave them on your phone! Print them to put in an album, hang on the fridge or frame them for the mantle. Your photos deserve to be printed! Bay Photo and Artifact Uprising are great print companies and will do a better job than CVS or Walmart. There are also apps to easily print your photos from your phone and even offer FREE PRINTS! Try out the Snapfish and Shutterfly apps.

If you have any questions please don’t be afraid to reach out and stay safe but enjoy this time together.