We had the most AMAZING Memorial Day weekend with our CONFIDENCE Workshop in NY! I can’t wait to post up some Behind the Scene photos for you! But first, I still need to show you Part 3 from the Seattle CONFIDENCE Workshop!
Here are some QUICK FRESH PHOTO TIPS to working with families!
I like to start by having the family sit on the steps together. I get the family-group type shots, and then I can start to pull them out individually. Having said that, there is no bullet proof order for working with kids. I try to listen to their energy and what they can handle and when they can handle it. If they seem like they are more comfortable next to mom and dad in the beginning, then we start there.
Below, I’m bringing the little boy (or “big brother”) forward to do some photos that are more focused on him.
When I’m working with families, especially kids, I’m working at ways to set up a scene that shows their personality or role in the family. Whether it’s the brave big brother who can stand on his own. 
Or the little sister who loves to dance and twirl.
I asked this little one if she wanted a photo of her pretty shoes. She nodded without hesitation. I suggested she sit down on the steps because that might help me get a better photo of her shoes.
And since she thought I was focusing on her shoes, her sweet, little mouth relaxed.
All the pressure of having to “perform” for the camera was gone. It was the Refuse to Say Cheese moment that I was looking for most. But how do you do that when a camera is staring them in the face? Idea: ask them if you can take pictures of anything besides their face. They will never know if you zoomed in or out for the photo below.
This one is “almost” my favorite!
But this one is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! (and it’s blurry too! Not all photos need to be sharp! Say “no” to the Sharpening expectation. There are some amazing moments in your blurred photos too!)
Thank you Seattle CONFIDENCE ladies! We will start sharing the NY CONFIDENCE Workshop, but I want you to know one more time—
Brian and I loved every moment we had!
For those of you following along, I hope these fresh photo tips spur some new creativity in you! I would even love to see your results! Post ‘em up on the SOARORITY forum!
xoxo,
Me Ra
p.s. Have you been wanting to attend a CONFIDENCE Wkshp? We had a couple hundred votes come in for the Fall City choices! We are so excited to tally them up and have already started making calls to see what locations can work in the cities you voted on! Make sure you are signed up for our Newsletter (see right margin) because we will release the Fall Cities and a Priority Registration to all our newsletter peeps first!
p.s.s. Would you hate me if I didn’t post a new blog tomorrow? I am drinking the kids in (all their snuggles, hugs, giggles, smiles, all of it) after being away for the last five days. I will be back Monday with a new week of posts!
I LOVE these photo tips posts. And again – to see what you were seeing is an amazing thing for me. Thank you!
And of course we won’t hate you if you don’t post tomorrow.
Go love on and be loved on by your kids. Have an AMAZING weekend!!!
xoxo
Oh, I love these tips MeRa. Your family images are fantastic. I think you did indeed bring out and capture their individual personalities! Perfect examples. I appreciate them.
As always, I LOVE your photo tips! My favorite is how to get the “refuse to say cheese moment”…..Thank You!
Wonderful!!! Thank you so much, I’ll be practicing all of these tips this weekend on my own kids.
wow… great article!!
I wish I read this before heading to see family last weekend!!!!
This is awesome advice.
I vote for no Blog tomorrow!! Have a wonderful weekend, get some rest, and give those adorable little ones a hug for me!! Love Ya!!
Thank you for giving me permission to take and keep blurry photos. I always just delete them and think, “Man, that would have been great if it were in focus.” This past weekend I took a photo that turned out blurry and after reading that it’s okay to have blurry photos, I realized how much I loved it. I think that should be your next photo contest…something with blurry photos. It truly has been the most challenging concept I’ve read on your blog.
I know you don’t need me to tell you so, but gosh you are talented! I’m trying to get more into taking pictures, as i’m falling more and more in love with life around me. I hope to be able to take photography classes someday and I wanna be like you! I have a Nikon L100, which doesn’t Always capture the magic that I want it to because it’s not as advanced. Well anyway, I hope to learn more from you. I’m enjoying just being able to watch what you do, so thanks for sharing!
Thanks for ALL your feedback! It’s so helpful to hear how these Photo Tips help! I know our lives are all busy, and you taking time to post a few words in the comments means the world.
A Photo Contest around the theme of Blur is a FANTASTIC idea! Lemme work on that!
And Lindsay, you are so great! I’m taking the day off, and your blog post on the SOAR! blog hits home with perfection haunting me! Errr! Why do we put the pressure on ourselves to be perfect?! So frustrating. I feel horrible about how little I’ve posted this week, but my spirit is thanking me for it, and my kids are loving it. “Go away perfection! You’ve never given me anything but dissapointment!”
[...] Me Ra Koh gives a great tip about asking a child if you can take pictures of anything besides their face (eg their pretty shoes). She says they will never know if you zoomed in or out for the photo below, and they will be more relaxed. [...]