Thursday, August 23, 2012

Leaning Tower of Kids-a

I've just been waiting for a photography Pinstrosity to be emailed in! I knew they had to be out there somewhere. Being interested in photography myself (I know...who isn't these days...but I'm okay with it) I've poked around some photography boards on Pinterest and this photo is pinned all over the place:

The Original Pin
Photobucket
http://freshfromgod.blogspot.com/2011/02/gift-of-sisterbig-bear-lake-arrowhead.html
Cute, no? That's what Laura thought, but her "little models weren't quite as cooperative."

The Pinstrosity

Although this didn't turn out like the original, I love it and think it's a keeper.  No, it may not be one you hang on the wall, but this needs to go in an album Laura. Your kids' future spouses need to see this (isn't that the point of family albums...one of the "how devoted are you" tests for boyfriends/girlfriends). 

Taking pictures with children is challenging; their interest is very short and doing official poses can be a little tough. That doesn't make it impossible though, whether you're a professional photographer, a hobbyist, a snapshotter, an iphoner, etc. I have a few tips from my experiences and then I'll give you a great professional resource. 
  • With babies, it is easiest to photograph them when they are dead asleep. I know every baby sleeps differently, but often if you are slow and gentle (not that you're never not gentle with a baby) you can usually move them around. With this picture it might be easiest to have a sleeping baby because then you can position the arms and legs like you want them without the baby flailing around. 
  • Sometimes I show the children a photo of what I'm wanting to do. Sometimes they jump to it right away, and other times a little reverse psychology helps out ("I bet you guys can't do that. Let me see."), and then sometimes they just won't and you have to roll with that too. 
  • Sometimes I'll use a child's love for their mom or dad to help get a photo, telling them that we're getting a really special picture for their mom/dad and that you need their help to make it awesome. Kids like the word awesome and they like "helping". 

Those are my tips...worth everything you just paid for. Take them for what you will. If you do want a more in-depth resource and some really great tips check out How to Photograph Children by the Digital Photography School. They have great tips on the settings for your camera and tricks to getting better children's photos.

But...my biggest tip...don't do this:


                      

23 comments:

  1. Awww.. The look on the baby's face is priceless!

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  2. That is a super sweet picture even though it is not like the pin. And that awkward photo is just plain wrong....

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  3. The bottom picture with the family is hilarious!! And frightening all at the same time

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  4. This is actually really, really dangerous! A friend of mine who is a professional photographer says that in the top pro photo is likely a composite shot, so the mom's hands (safely stabilizing the baby and protecting it from wiggly siblings) are cloned out in editing. Don't try this at home--it's a good way to send your baby flying!

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  5. This one's great, except for the last photo, it's a little disturbing. I'm all for loving, tight knit families, but that's just a little too much! :)
    By the way, I love the new look for the blog!

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  6. I was thinking "Awwww!" but then that last photo happened and I was like "WTF??"

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  7. Deanna, I don't think this was a composite photo. If you look at the photographer's site, she has many, many pictures of the baby sleeping, and there are other similar photos from other families. I don't know, I think that baby was just a good sleeper and those girls were all about posing nicely for the camera.

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  8. That picture at the end!!! :') Why would any even think that was ok?!

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  9. Hahaha I just looked through your recent posts and couldn't help but laugh. lol I feel sorry for the people who tried all these pins and failed but it's so amusing to see what they did come up with!
    -Amber
    http://beautyguide101.blogspot.com/

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  10. What is wrong with those people????? I'm afraid of that last picture!! But it made me laugh!!

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  11. Ok, seriously my husband and I about died laughing at this post....and that was even before we scrolled all the way to the bottom...at which point another outburst of laughter sent us both into cardiac arrest. I am glad I lived to tell about it....and to see this post again! Seriously like one of the funniest things I've seen in my life!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  12. I think the best thing is to know and read your kids. No amount of cajoling will entice some kids to patiently lay still while younger siblings climb on top of them. Though I do have to say I love the attempt. "Oops" pictures sometimes get more attention in our house. I had my 2 year old and 6 month old dressed in adorable red, white and blue for 4th of July and got a cute picture of them together on the couch. Followed right after by a picture of my 2 year old making a face and pushing his sister over. That one's my favorite.

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    1. On something totally unrelated u have my name I'm Stephanie Hamilton maiden name is Farace and married is Hamilton only the most awesome have this name lol

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  13. OMG The family pic at the end - SO WRONG!

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  14. I like the tip at the very end, what the hey is wrong with people?!

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  15. The girls in the first photo have a big size difference, the little boy and little girl look close in size so she was probably yelling that she was squished (I'm the oldest so I know her pain lol) it is a cute idea but not for everyone and definitely not for the family on the bottom- what were they thinking?!?

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  16. The family at the end MUST be part of a nudest colony!!
    But it is still soooo wrong having all their body parts touching...Disturbing...

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  17. I love the photo of the kids! The girl has the look of "Uh, mom, what are you doing?" Boy is totally uninterested and the baby's look is classic! Definitely photo book worthy FOR SURE!

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  18. That bottom photo (awkwardness) is from the guy who shot the Royal Wedding, no joke, it was all over the internet after the Royal Wedding as people were taking it off his site and passing it around. So much so that he has taken down most of his families he photographed that way.

    It is just so... um... awkward.

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  19. I think the "pintrosity" is better than original... fresh, funny, cute... :)

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  20. I have never laughed so hard!!! Love it!!!

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  21. Ah! Those are funny yet sweet images! :) You just provided your avid readers with great picture poses.

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