So the kids had Homeschool photos at the fancy portrait studio...of course 3 of mine were sick, so only 1/2 got to go(LOL)

While there, I looked at the pictures and pricing for regular pics and OMGOSH! There's no way I could even afford the "cheap" package at $240 X 7!! So we left with me thinking I could do this myself (or at least tryLOL) I did Camryn's photos since she was healthy(LOL) and will be six next week and I think they turned out decent, but was looking for any hints, ideas etc experienced mamas may have, thinking I just got lucky with the lighting etc. The last picture we did at a studio was 2 years ago and I am determined to get pictures of my sweeties on the wall, but would like to do it myself at home!

Here is my favorite one of the 8~
http://cierrajadedesigns.com/fpdb/images/Cam6BW.jpg

Some tips:

-If you hang up a sheet (or whatever) for a background, keep your child at least 5 feet in front of it. You don't want to put them smack up against it.

-Try sitting your child right next to a window. (Don't use one that has the sunlight coming through.) Be sure to turn off the flash on your camera! Try different angles. (Have them look towards the light...have them look towards the camera etc.)

-Go outside! Just be sure to look to see what is in the background. A cluttered background will detract from your subject. Don't let trees grow out of their heads or sidewalks run into their ears etc.

-Remember that they don't have to be staring at the camera and saying, "cheese".

-Try not to use your flash. The on-board flash tends to make a picture look flat.

:waving:

I take my kids pics. I don't have any great tips for you- I just keep taking and taking w/ my wonderful digital camera until I finally get one that looks good. :thumbsup:

We haven't had professional pics taken in 3 years... and people are always commenting on my awesome pictures on my wall. :D

Originally posted by myshiningstarz
:waving:

I take my kids pics. I don't have any great tips for you- I just keep taking and taking w/ my wonderful digital camera until I finally get one that looks good. :thumbsup:

We haven't had professional pics taken in 3 years... and people are always commenting on my awesome pictures on my wall. :D

Yup, Danielle's pics are always adorable! and quite nice.

Dina, I have seen several snapshots of your children (both single and group shots) that are worthy of a frame and some wall space, IMO. :)

I honestly prefer snapshots. I was just saying this to my SIL yesterday. Snapshots are real. Some people prefer portraits or at least want to have them done every so often. I used to all the time. I was just never so satisfied as I am with a snapshot.

Oh, Cindy/JCCMama takes really nice shots of her kids, too. But she aspires to be a photographer one day, too. ;)

My mil takes lots of photos of the kids and then when she has them developed she get the ones she really likes of them blown up (11x13, I think) and framed and they are all lovely.

I take my kids pics too. I feel like I can capture their personality better than some stranger can. I don't like the posey shots they do in most studios anyway. I think the picture you posted looks great. I like the way the light is hitting her face.

~Black & White film/pictures

~Natural props in their own setting(near a rose bush, by a stream, by the lake etc)

~Stay eye level with your subject

~Use flash outdoors, it'll lighten the face that the sun has cast a shadow upon. If w/in 5ft, use fill-in flash. Use this option also with cloudy days. You can use no flash also to get a soft look. Use full flash when subject is further than 5ft away.

~Get in close to your subject, but stay w/in 3ft from him/her/it.

~Take a picture of your subject off center, not always in the middle.

~When using a flash, make sure you know the range in which it will take a picture.

~Take vertical pictures

~Take picture early or late in the day

~Your subject shouldn't always look directly at you/the camera. Have him/her look slightly to the left/right/down/up, etc....

~Make sure you give directions to your subject(if a person LOL) Move in closer, lean in some, look slightly to your left, etc.


Okay, that's all I can think of. I like to match clothing with props. Say for fall, I might have Amber wear some reds/browns/orange and then put some pumpkins, squash or cornstalks in the background with some fallish colored leaves. Or Christmas time, have Amber wear red/green/gold and stand her in front of a nicely decorated tree or a beautiful fire place trimmed in holiday colors. One thing I have learned though, less is better. So for the fall picture, only two pumpkins surrounding he cornstalks.

thanks everyone!
I appreciate all your responses!: ) I was kinda caught up in the "school picture" kinda thing (the rest of the pics are here:

Camryn's 6 yr photos (http://cierrajadedesigns.com/store/piclink.asp?pageID=Camyn6yrPhotos)

so I need to get out of that! I think they turned out OK, I can usually pic out a good spot for pictures, but would like to be a bit more consistent...
So some specific questions for those that use digital...what settings do you take the pictures at and what size do you print? And where? Costco? Kinko's? Home? those picture maker dealies? I was thinking I'd like a gallery frame of each of the kids (with probably 4 pictures each?) and then a family one in 8x10 or so...the last "studio" pics were in 2002, so 2 kids are missingLOL I like snapshots framed to show personality, but I would like some more pose-ish ones too, for grandparents, and at least once a year for updated pics...Gee, I'm not asking too much, am I!?!LOL
I am writing everything down and I really do appreciate the info!! thanks so much: ) and feel free to post ones you've taken, I need insiration, I still have 6 kids to go!LOL

You know it helps that your kids are GORGEOUS! ;)

Anyhoo I think the pics I take are better than the studio ones (not tooting my own horn at all- when you take a billion a month you are bound to have a few good photos! LOL! There's my tip! LOL! Take as many as you and the kids can stand! LOL! :joker: ) But I am sooo brainwashed! My mother hardly ever had any photos of us much less studio ones so I swore I would do them with my kids :rolleyes: I need to stop! I am thinking of weaning myself because birthday and Christmas pictures for each kid x3 is a bit nuts lol!
good luck mama.. i think you photos are awesome!

I went googling (lol) maybe this will help?
Take Professional Photos of Your Kids—At Home (http://thedabblingmum.com/parenting/home_portraits.htm)

Photographing children (http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=92&pq-locale=en_US)

Shoot Your Own Child's Portrait (http://cameras.about.com/od/portraitsfamilyphotos/a/childpics.htm)

I've always thought that your sig pictures of you kids were so beautiful. I don't think you need any tips or that you or your kids could take a bad photo :).

Wow, those pictures turned out great. I agree with Kori. It doesn't look like you need much help.

I usually always get my photos printed from Photo Experts. They have great prices and they do a really good job. I always get 8x10's and 5x7s. I have a binder for each child full of the big photos and then I just switch them out of the frames around the house. I get 4x6's of everything I take that I even remotely like, lol. I a picture freak though :lol:. Another good place to get 4x6's is Mystic photo lab (http://www.mysticphotolab.com)

Photo Experts (http://www.pephoto.com)

Thanks again!:)
I think I look to closely at my own photo'sLOL I was thinking last night, when I see others photos/pictures on the wall, I never "inspect" them to see if the light is good etc, I just like looking at their family and enjoy that they display them. (I don't have very much on my walls, and it's really bugging me!LOL)

KD, thanks for googling (duh me I google everything, but never thought to do it for portrait hints!) and YES! that's it exactly....my mom never had pictures of me done (was the last of 6LOL) and I did a bunch when the boys were little and then planned on one a yr for all the kids and birthday pictures, but I never got around to it, then I did digital pics and our puter crashed and I lost most of them, so I'm backing up on CD's now! so now I fell guilty for the last 4LOL I don't have many pictures out (hailey is 4 and her individual picture is when she was 7 months old ACK!) So I'm bound and determined to get these kids on my wall/shelf!:D (and a side note, I hope you have that pregnant one on YOUR wall, I love it!)

Kori, I always love your pictures, those boys are just too cute and your whole family is photogenic!!! I have a couple kids that are and a couple that we really have to work on to get a not goofy faceLOL Thank goodness for digi cams and the delete option!LOL

Angela, those are great ideas, too...thanks so much. Autumn is my favorite season, so I love the pumpkin idea and HUnter even has a pumkin hat, so I see that in his future!!

Thanks again to everyone!!!:heart:
-Dina, off to read the articles!

Honestly, I just spent $25 for the boys each on the cheapest package from school w/ an 8x10 and am apalled. I really wasted that money. The pictures are horrific. :( I don't know why I have this thing about thinking they will want them when they get older when I know mine are way better. *sigh*

The picture in your OP is great. Lighting could have been better, but other than that, it is beautiful. I am big on natural lighting, too as someone else mentioned.

If you want like picture people type of pictures, just invest in a couple of solid color sheets (white and black, probably).

DH bought me a tripod for our anniversary and I am SO psyched to use it! (Okay, so I am not supposed to know b/c we're opening presents this afternoon, but I am already planning a photo shoot for our family pics this afternoon! LOL)

The simpler the better as for backgrounds unless you want the backgrounds to add something to the picture (like Angela mentioned, pumpkins or Fall themed things for Fall pics, etc.).

I love love love taking pictures. Getting the kids to cooperate is another issue. ;)

I'm already planning my pregnancy picture poses and hopefully my newborn baby pictures for the birth announcement. ;)

I'll try to take a snap of the boys school pictures and then the one I took of Caitlyn (b/c I wanted one for her on the wall, too) so you can see what I mean.

The sad thing is, our walls are completely bare right now! I have places to put the pictures, but haven't found frames that I liked, etc. LOL