And baby makes me a brother.......
“ A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.” – Unknown
Monday memories......
One year ago today. My how they grow........
Its always always so wonderful to be invited into someones home to capture some of the first images of a new baby. They grow so fast and its easy to forget they were once this precious.
How to get great family photos in Winter?
I used my stairs for this shot. There is a large window right next to them so all the light is natural.
Its cold! Even here in the Sunshine State we started out at 2 degrees this morning. Most people want to wait until the weather is warm to have their family photos taken outside. Although I totally understand that sentiment (I am a big fan of the right light, outdoor images and sunshine), there are many ways a great photographer can produce wonderful photos in winter.
In the comfort of a cosy heated room and without the use of a conventional studio you can produce lovely images. These were taken inside my home, which I happily use as my studio too. A window with natural light, a blank wall, a nice blanket or some curtains/blinds can all be used as a backdrop for your photos. This can be easily achieved in your own home too.
Alternatively, the light is gorgeous on a winters day. It generally produces a softer look to your photos, less squinting to contend with and the cold air can lend a rosiness to the cheeks. So if you are determined to have photos outside, pick a cute beanie, a warm coat and a willing photographer. You might get something like these.
Contact me here if you'd like to discuss winter photo options, or anything photo-ish in general.
Fine Art Prints vs Standard Photo Paper
I often get asked the difference between a standard Professional Photo Print and a Fine Art print.
Here are my thoughts....
My position on the products I sell, is that if you are framing it for your wall, always print on Fine Art Papers. If you are printing in bulk, for general use or a box of photos in your cupboard, normal photo paper is perfectly acceptable.
You should ALWAYS get images professionally printed. This is not meant to be a sales pitch, but why would you pay a pro Photographer to take your images and then print them on sub-standard kiosk printers? The difference in the end product is significant and I am happy to show you examples to prove it.
The choice of Fine Art vs Photo Papers comes down to personal taste. Fine Art prints can be very matte, low sheen and some people prefer the high contrast, glossy look of standard photo prints.
The following images attempt to show you the difference.
Photo print (left) vs Fine Art Print (right)
The first image is taken in consistent light with no reflection so you can see the photo print on the left and the fine art print on the right. Both look great. Colours are excellent and would be beautiful in the right frame. The Photo print has quite deep blacks and contrast and the Fine Art print is more subdued and smooth.
Photo print (left) vs Fine Art Print (right)
However, if you shift the angle (as above) somewhat to see a reflection of the light, you will see that the fine art print on the right changes very little but the photo print has a shine and is quite reflective. This is how the papers are designed and both are beautiful but if you plan to display your images behind glass in a frame, the fine art print will also reduce the glare significantly.
It is hard to appreciate the difference on a web page but I have plenty of examples to show my clients before they make their choices.
The following are some properties of each paper type to help you make your decision.
Fine Art
- Usually 100% Cotton rag but content can vary depending on brand and purpose.
- Acid Free, fine art paper is normally much thicker and is made from archival cotton rag. This results in a product that will last 75-100 years.
- Probably best defined as Matte paper but can come in many textures
- Galleries and Museums usually prefer fine art paper prints
- Require printing by professionals or specific fine art printers as the ink used are different and usually have a greater range of colours and blacks
- Fingerprints aren’t as visible but they may scratch easily and fine art prints should be framed as soon as possible to protect them.
Photo Papers
- Generally for high quality papers, photo papers are resin coated and fine art papers aren’t.
- Photos printed on very white glossy photo papers usually fade quicker due to the chemicals used in production (OBA’s if you are interested)
- Glossy and lustre/pearl papers have deeper and darker blacks and produce higher contrast, more saturated prints than matte paper but can be very shiny
- Coated papers are very smooth, shiny and results in a reflective surface. The end result of the photo often looks vibrant in color, crisp and sharp.
- Finger prints are more visible but will not scratch as easily as Fine Art
How to Prepare for a Family Portrait Session?
So you’ve taken the time to choose your family photographer. You have probably decided based on their talent and images on display, location and probably a little to do with the value they provide vs the cost of the packages. I get it. Its a lot to figure out. Once you’ve done your research, youre going to want to make sure your investment in time and money pays off – by producing some beautiful, It pays to be prepared and worry about the little things BEFORE your session. The session itself should be fun, relaxed and comfortable. The best way to ensure this is to be prepared.
Here are some tips from someone who knows………….(well a little bit at least)
What to do BEFORE?
- Clothing
o Plan your clothing in advance. Consider how you want your family to look like in your photos? Tip: Possibly bring a change of clothes for small children – especially for outdoor sessions (just in case).
o Above all, BE COMFORTABLE
o By all means, co-ordinate your colours, but you don’t have to be match, as long as your choices compliment each other. Tip: Avoid Bold prints and patterns.
o Other handy items to bring include Hairclips and elastics for long hair in case its windy. A small brush. Baby wipes. Lipstick/Lipgloss. A water bottle for a drink.
o Good comfortable, clean shoes.
- Grooming
o Only wear as much makeup as you normally would feel comfortable in. Too much will make you seem overdone and unfamiliar.
o Check for craked nail polish, dry skin,
o Does anyone need a haircut? If so, do it a week or two before the session.
- What else?
o Be rested. A good night sleep the night before, for everyone, is best and avoid hangovers or tired eyes.
o Pick a time that works with your families’ schedule. Especially if there are small children involved that will have sleeps during the day or get ratty in the afternoon. The photographer will advise good times of the day as well.
Think about what are you hoping for?
o Be aware that if you want sunrise or sunset lighting, you actually have to get up early of have your session late in the day. We can’t control the weather or the light on any given day, so keep you expectation realistic.
o Feed kids a snack beforehand and don’t offer treats during the session as an incentive – unless you want you kids to be chewing candy in the photos.
o Be prepared to get involved on the day. It’s often harder for adults to get enthusiastic about photo sessions but the kids will love it if mum and dad are having fun too.
o No Cheese! Let the photographer direct the session. Try hard to resist give your kids orders as it will result in them feeling like it’s a chore. A good photographer will get the best out of them and they’ll let you know if they need you to step in.
o Let the kids know beforehand that it’s going to be fun, not a chore. Tell them your photographers name and why you chose them. i.e Katrina’s pictures are so lovely and light and she’ll let you jump in puddles etc.……..
- What do you do together as a family? Do your ride bikes? Why not include them in your session?
- Do you have a family pet? Check with your photographer, as some locations wont allow animals but if you can, ask if they can be included. It’s not a family photo without your fur-babies.
- Does your child dress up? Are they interested in puddles and mud? Let them be themselves and incorporate these things into your session and the photos will show them having an amazing and fun time.
Make sure you communicate with your photographer and let them know if there is a style/pose/ location that you like. They cant read your mind but a great photographer will take your ideas on board and discuss your options before your session.