Photography Tips for Taking Pictures of Your Beautiful Baby

 photography  8 Responses »
Feb 192013
 

Photography Tips From Erin Manning

Just before Bubbles was born my husband and I went to select and purchase a new point-and-shoot digital camera.  With a new little one on the way we knew there would be hundreds of memories, poses, and expressions we would want to capture in the first months of her life.  Having a new camera gave us slightly better quality prints over what we could take with our phones but it didn’t make us great photographers.

Photography Tips for Babies

Photography Tips for Babies

I think most of the pictures we took back then were pretty cute (see above) but in the course of two years we’ve definitely learned a lot.  Some was through trial and error, some was thanks to Pinterest (there are lots of suggestions for taking photos of your baby on there).  Much of it was just through lots (lots) of practice. Continue reading »

Winter Weather – Pin Me! Thursday Week 3

 photography, Pin Me, Pin Me Pinterest Thursdays, pinterest, snow, snow sculpture, snowman, weather, winter, winter weather  6 Responses »
Jan 122012
 

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Matter of Cents and I are pleased to bring you Week 3 of our Pin Me! Pinterest posts (say that three times fast).  This week’s theme is Winter Weather.
Winter in Kentucky doesn’t compare to winter in Maine in terms of severity.  While we’re supposed to get 2-4 inches here over the course of tomorrow and Friday, I’ve seen 12-14 inches (and then some) fall in the same time frame in Maine.
Not going to lie.  I prefer the accumulation here.
But there’s something so peaceful and so beautiful about a fresh snowfall.  It’s a silence that you can’t describe unless you experience it yourself.  And the way trees look draped after the first storm – so pretty.  Here are a few of my favorite pins that highlight winter weather (including one from my hometown!).
This little guy loves the snow, too!
(It’s so entertaining to watch animals try and figure the white stuff out.)

I loved making snow sculptures when I was a kid – but nothing this great!
(We had a snow sculpture contest every year in high school.  My class never won.)

And who doesn’t love building a snowman?
(I remember building an entire village of Smurf snow-people one winter when I was like six – no lie.  Blue spray paint and everything!)

After the season’s first snowfall in Maine.
(Isn’t this pretty?  For Mainiacs, it’s just not Christmas without snow.)

I’d love to walk down this street!
(This reminds me a little of the first few Narnia scenes in the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.)

Speaking of the Narnia movies…
(The wonderment of winter through the eyes of a child – in this case, Lucy.)

Would you like to share your take on Winter Weather? Please link up below! We’d love for you to add a link to this post and the one at Matter of Cents, if you would, please. Please add your link below so everyone can see your favorite winter weather pics!

Goin’ to the Chapel event – Week 1: Choosing a photographer

 Giveaways, goin to the chapel event, photography, Reviews, wedding  1 Response »
Jun 072011
 


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Most folks who have planned a wedding will tell you that one of the most important aspects of planning their wedding was selecting their photographer.  Obviously you want someone who is going to capture all moments of your wedding and reception, both big and small.  Someone who has an eye for the little details, who will fade into the background and snap great pictures without you tripping over them, who can calmly guide your friends and family into posing without causing sighs or tears.
Engagement Photo by Damie Ann Photography
Here are some questions you’ll want to ask yourself when choosing the best photographer for you:
  1. What kind of photography do you prefer?  Whether you like the thought of mostly classic, posed shots or you prefer more candid photos, or even a combination of both, you want to know what you’re looking for so you can find someone that’s a good match.
  2. How long do you want them for?  You may just want them for the service and then a few pictures before or after of the bridal party.  You may want them for pre- and post-photos, and the ceremony plus the reception.  Or your may want someone that will capture all the moments from the first day forward and have them take your engagement photos, bridal shower, wedding, reception and everything in between.
  3. How many pictures do you want?  Some photographers may just try and capture the key moments or posed pictures, and others will basically hold the trigger down and take 1000s of shots.  Decide how many images you want to be able to pick from so you can articulate that with the photographer.
  4. Do you get along?  That may seem like a strange question, but you want to have a good rapport with them so that you feel comfortable asking for what you want.  They may be the professional, but this is your day!
  5. What is your comfort level with “the technical stuff”?  If you’re going to need someone to do more than hand the image disk over to you, consider that when you’re interviewing.  You may want someone who will also crop, color, do corrections, make prints, and create albums.
Engagement Photo by Damie Ann Photography
 After you’ve decided what you want, here are some tips for signing someone that fits the bill:
  1. Start early.  Many of the best photographers have booked their schedules years in advance, so once you know your date(s), you’ll want to get on their calendar.
  2. Ask for recommendations.  Check with family, friends, aquaintences, colleagues – anyone whose opinion you trust that’s recently used a professional.  Be sure to refer back to your list of questions, though, because being the top pick of someone else doesn’t automatically make them them right for you.  It’s a good place to start, though.
  3. Check their work.  Ask to see their portfolio, look at their website and ask for references.  When perusing the photos keep your own wedding in mind.  For example if you are having an outdoor wedding but their indoor pictures are stronger than their outdoor one, you might want to keep searching.
  4. Conduct interviews.  Hold a phone interview with your list of favorites to further narrow it down.  Use the list of the above questions and ask them of the photographer to see if you really do match up.  Some additional questions you may want to ask:
    • Do you have backup equipment, and is it the same quality?
    • When will my proofs be ready?
    • Do you mark your proofs?  If so, is there an extra charge to receive unmarked proofs?
    • Have you worked at my particular location before?
    • Do we get to keep our negatives?
  5. Meet them.  Once your list is narrowed down to the top two or three finalists go and meet them in person.  You’ll get a better feel for their personality, can check out their equipment and may see more recent examples of their work in their studio.  You’ll also get a sense of their professionalism; is their studio well-kept or are notes and appointments scattered around?  You want your photographer to be organized.
  6. Sign a contract.  Negotiate the price (everything is negotiable, no matter what the “list” price is), solidify the details, specify the photographer (this is important; some larger studios may just send whomever is available that day and not the person you’ve met and worked with), double-check the date, include the engagement, shower and any other parties if applicable and then get it all in writing.  This isn’t class pictures that can be redone fairly easily; this is your wedding, so it’s a one-shot deal.
There are so many things to consider!  Hopefully these questions and tips will help make it go a little more smoothly for you.

If you’re in the northern Maine area you may want to consider one of the Goin’ to the Chapel event sponsors, Damie Ann Photography, for any of your photography needs.  The engagement photos above are her work.  And if you’re not in the area but are looking for someone to do editing work on existing photos (black & white, coloring effects, corrections, adding text, etc.) she also offers that service.