The closer the better

Look for details when photographing kids.  Can you capture the determination of a child learning to crawl, or the curiosity when exploring a new object.  The closer you can get the better.  Get down on the level with your subject so that you can get a new perspective.  Life happens outside, get out and take the camera.  Think outside the box when you are working with the kids.  Keep the shutter clicking, those kids can be so cute, you don't want to miss that "it" picture.   You might like what you come out with, if not, you can always take your tradition photos, too.

The Self Portrait

It is not as easy as point and click when you need to frame the shot, and then run to be in the shot. I got it in my head that I would take some maternity pictures in my makeshift studio set up. I had some ideas and I wanted to try them out. So I placed a small stuffed animal where I would be in the final picture, I focused the shots, and click, and 10 seconds later the shutter clicked. Needless to say many of the pictures did not come out as I wanted. However, there were a few that turned out just like I wanted, and one that I thought was a lost cause is now my favorite.
Here are a few of the ones that I was able to take that were in focus and turned out just as I wanted.



My advice for anyone doing self portraits is to have your ideas ready, your batteries charged, and don't try this on an empty stomach. In my case there was a lot of up and down to get the right pose, compounded by the fact that I am 39 weeks pregnant was not helping my case. I think the pictures will be ones that I will treasure for years to come, so it was worth the effort.