Lighting is your best friend! November Photography Tip {Asheville Baby Photographer}

Tiny fingers fumbling to grasp onto the worn ears of a stuffed bunny rabbit, feathery soft eyelashes gazing down at those unreachable toes, and that forget-me-not toothless grin that perks up at the sound of your voice. . . these are just a few of those special moments in your child's life that you want to be able to photograph as authentically as possible when your favorite baby photographer can't be around. :)

Today's post is especially for you as I'm sharing some of the basic key elements to taking spectacular pictures of your child without all of the professional gear and cameras.

Lighting is what differentiates a good picture from a great one. Light and shadow set the mood. I could spend a whole blog and then some just on lighting, but for now let me start with the easiest solution . . . have your child face a window, turn OFF any overhead lights, lamps &amp your flash.

If you are trying to capture your child's natural expression, set up his or her toys in front of a window that gets indirect sunlight. With you as the photographer, put your back to the window and sit or lay on the floor, then have the child face you and the window directly. Doing this causes a catchlight to be in their eyes giving them that extra sparkle and glimmer in the tone of their face.

Get on their level or even floor level. Take close up pictures of the toys they are playing with and what interests them.

Stand directly above them and shoot down at what they are playing with. Varying the angle creates interest. Only include what is important in the scene.

The key to capturing beautiful everyday life photos is telling a story. Has your child just mastered using his pincher fingers? Then take pix of just his little fingers holding that itsy bitsy cheerio! You don't have to include the whole child, the high chair, the kitchen and all the laundry on the counter that still needs to be folded. Get in close and take a picture of what matters. Again, if possible, move close to a window to get those soft shadows.

No window around or just a lack of good natural lighting? Turn off the overhead light and bring over another light source as close as possible, like a lamp.
- Soft white light bulbs are best so they don't cast that yellowish tint.

- The color of the shade is important too. This will only work well with a white or off white shade.
- If you are on the floor facing your child, place the lamp on the floor next to you either to the
right or left.
- Depending on the size of the lamp, you may need to elevate it a little on a stack of books.
- Look at the shadows. If they are harsh, pull the lamp away from the child to create soft shadows.

This just takes practice playing with the best looking lighting. This is where you create your own

style. I love a catchlight in both eyes with a soft shadow on one side.

In spur of the moment situations, don't sweat it, go ahead & turn on your flash. You don't want to miss a special moment just because the lighting wasn't perfect! But when you catch your sweetie doing that uber cute thing again that only lasts for a second, you can make it a professional grade photo by getting as close as possible to the action and taking it from the angle that tells the story from their point of view.

Next week: Update on our son Luke and our journey towards getting a service dog for him.

welcome