Life in Lape Haven

Author - Kishona

How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids – Part 4

November 20, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 2. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

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Here it is – the last of my tips and advice for getting better pictures of your family. Hopefully you’ve been trying some of them out and seeing a positive difference.

Now that we’ve got everyone acting naturally, situated where they need to be, and you’ve figured out how to frame an interesting shot, what else is left?

Just a FEW MORE POINTERS

(Sorry, no catchy title to pull these together)

#1. BE BRAVE & LEARN TO SHOOT IN MANUAL MODE

I know I said that you could use these tips no matter what camera you have, but this one, well, you kind of have to have a camera that allows you to adjust settings, such as Aperture, Shutter Speed, & ISO.

I understand that the technical side of photography can be intimidating, but once you have even a basic idea of what those things do, you’ll see that it’s not as scary as it seems.

Your pictures will never be the same again, and your confidence as a photographer will grow exponentially.

While every camera’s settings and how you adjust them are different (check your manual or look online for tutorials. Canon has a ton on YouTube), the 3 main exposure factors to your shot are the same. They each deal with how light enters your camera, but in different ways. When you adjust one, it affects the others.

For some very good technical definitions and explanations, check out Photography Life’s articles here: Aperture, Shutter Speed , and ISO.

In my mind, this is how I think when looking at my settings:

APERTURE:  Controls my depth of field. Do I want everything in the picture to be in focus, or do I want just my child’s face to be sharp and the background to be blurrier?

You know that cool effect with lights looking like blurry circles, “bokeh”? That’s accomplished by using a higher aperture. The confusing thing to some people is that a higher aperture actually means a lower f-stop number on your settings.

A higher aperture (lower f-stop, such as 2.8) lets in more light. A lower aperture (higher f-stop, such as 10) lets in less. When I need just a little more light for my picture, I can adjust my f-stop to a lower number, as long as I know that the background may get blurrier the lower I go.

 

SHUTTER SPEED: Allows me to capture motion. The shutter is what opens at the front of the camera to allow light in. However long it’s open will depend on how much light and information get into your picture.

Shutter speed is measured in fractions of seconds to full seconds. When my boys are running around outside, I need a fast, short shutter speed to freeze their motion without blurring.

When you want to capture something in lower light, you need more time to gather more light, so you would use a slower, longer shutter speed. With a slower shutter speed, you may want to use a tripod because the slower shutter will also create a blur effect on anything moving or if you move the camera. It’s harder than you may think to stay perfectly still for a half-second.  Slower shutter speeds usually don’t work well with busy children. Haha.

 

ISO: Adjusts the camera’s light sensitivity. Remember buying actual film for your camera way, way back in the day? (No? Well, then I feel old.) ISO is the number you looked for when buying your film – 100 to 200 for a sunny day, 400 for lower light, and 800 for sports.

Sometimes it was called the film speed. That’s because the higher the number, the more sensitive your camera is to light, so less light is needed, and you can capture the image in less time (faster shutter speed).

In low-light settings, you might need to up your ISO (800, even 1600) to give you more light so that your shutter doesn’t stay open too long, trying to allow in light. Changing your ISO to a higher number will allow more light but will also cause more “noise” or a grainier looking picture.

When you have a nice, sunny day or will be using your flash, you can use lower ISO (100 or 200) and get a higher-quality picture. In fact, generally it’s best to use the lowest ISO you can for the light you have.

 

All 3 factors – aperture, shutter speed, and ISO – play off of each other, so when you adjust one, pay attention to the other two. In most cameras, there are priority modes for adjusting only one of the three (with your camera automatically adjusting the other two) and a full-out manual mode, where you adjust all three. I tend to stick with the priority modes where I adjust the main factor that I want to focus on.

NOTE: Using manual settings is NOT the same thing as MANUAL FOCUS. You can use manual settings and still use the automatic focus on your camera, which is very helpful when your subjects move around a lot. It’s like the best of both worlds!

Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 2. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

Rookie mistake – he has the lens cap on!

#2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

You have to. Just like anything else you learn in life, the best way to get better at taking pictures is to practice and experiment.

Not every picture you take is going to be a masterpiece. They can be poorly lit, blurry, have something distracting in the background, or just be off somehow.

That’s okay! Thankfully with digital photography, we have nearly unlimited shots. We can take pictures, delete them, and take new ones. Study your mistakes, practice some more, and keep learning.

 

#3. EDIT TWICE

Even the best photographers rarely use a picture straight out of the camera, and they don’t use every picture they take. So you, too, are allowed to edit.

Edit #1 – There are so many programs available today that are affordable and easy to use for photography editing. I’ve used several in the past, including Photoshop, the Windows Live Photo Gallery program that comes with Windows, and Lightroom. I LOVE Lightroom because it is easy to use, but you can do a lot.

And don’t worry. You really shouldn’t have to do a whole lot to your pictures. (Don’t neglect good lighting or adjusting your settings because you think you can fix it in editing.)  Most of the time, pictures just need a boost to the brightness, maybe a tweak to up the blacks or contrast, and balancing out the colors to look more natural, and you’re done.

Don’t go CRAZY! Edit in moderation. Some editing fads are just that – FADS. Years from now, they will make your photos look dated. Go easy on the vignetting (that darkening of edges) and don’t make every picture of your baby one with selective color (besides, gray babies with intense green eyes can look kind of creepy).

EDIT #2 -EDIT HOW MUCH YOU SHARE – You don’t have to post every single picture that you take.  (Oh, she looked to the side. Oh, now she looked to the other side. Oh, she kind of smiled.) Pick your best (“But he’s so handsome in them all.” Sure, but PICK YOUR BEST), share those – and only those, and people will think that you always take great pictures (Sneaky, huh? But smart!) They’ll also thank you for not overloading the newsfeed with pictures of your cuties. (I wouldn’t share every version of the above picture of Elijah – just one.)

Is every picture that I take fabulous? Hahaha! NO. Some are bad, and others are downright awful. I don’t share those. I delete them! And learn from my mistakes (see #2).

 

#4. PRINT SOMETHING!

Please! How many pictures do you have that you’ve never had printed? There are some that you’ve never looked at again once they’ve been offloaded from your memory card.

What good is taking pictures that you never enjoy again? That adorable shot of baby with auntie would be better in a frame or even on your refrigerator instead than sitting, forgotten in the virtual files of your computer or phone.

And I KNOW that grandparents love getting printed copies of their grandbabies’ pictures.

So order prints or a photo book. Make a mouse pad or throw. Put your princess on a mug or keychain. Do something with your pictures!!!

I watch Shutterfly for coupons on prints and get 101 4×6’s at a time for the just the price of shipping. There are tons of other online options for prints, or you can usually take your memory card to Walmart or a local pharmacy and have prints done.

 

#5. DON’T START A BUSINESS

One last point. As you get better and better at taking pictures, you may be tempted to think, “Hey! I could do this for a living.” Might I say that just because you do well at capturing pictures doesn’t mean you should start a business? Seriously.

I have had people tell me that I could be a professional photographer, and I always tell them, “Nope, that’s not going to happen.”

For me, it’s not my passion. Sure, I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, but it wasn’t until I had children that I really began researching and practicing to get better. That tells me that my children are my passion, not photography. 

I’ve seen how hard professionals work, the time they have to invest, and the frustrations and pressure they face.  If it’s not 100-percent your passion, you won’t enjoy all that. Even if it IS your passion, some of it isn’t fun.

Right now, I enjoy taking pictures. I get tremendous satisfaction in seeing a picture turn out even better than I thought it would. But I am not called to be a professional photographer.

I will say this, though: Since I have some skill in this area, I have used it to bless others, as a way to minister and use my talents. I have done pictures for family and a few friends as gifts to them when I feel God’s nudging.

So use your talents and gifts, but unless you are completely certain that God is calling you to begin a photography business (Or any venture, really), don’t do it.

Just enjoy capturing your family’s everyday memories well.

Okay, that’s it! Hopefully I’ve shared some helpful things that will improve how you’re taking pictures. As you start practicing with this new advice, and you begin to get some great shots, please feel free to share them with me. I’d love to see that what I’ve shared is being helpful. 🙂

Some of the resources in my learning adventure come from the following: Picture Bliss Photography (my sister-in-law is my go-to gal for tips), Photo Shop by Allison (she introduced me to my first Canon, and she’s a great teacher), and Photosanity.com (this photographer has free video tips for parents).

You can also check out my Pinterest board, Picture Fun, for more great photography blogs, tips, and ideas that I have collected over the last few years. It has everything from posing ideas, how to set up DIY backgrounds, more detailed info on using manual settings, and more.

Find out how we capture a great family picture – every time!

Top feature picture (the “taking a picture” photo) courtesy of Picture Bliss Photography.

How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids – Part 3

November 19, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 2. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

This week, I’ve been sharing tips and advice that I’ve discovered or learned over my years of practicing photography to help you take better pictures of your children. I’m not a professional, but I do enjoy getting the best possible photos I can of my family, and I’m always practicing and studying to get better.

So far we’ve talked about being natural and getting everyone where they need to be to get a nice picture.

Today is all about FRAMING YOUR PICTURE.

We’re not talking about getting your prints up on the walls, although that’s important. This “framing” is all about composing your shot, thinking about what the focus of the picture is, where you place your child or other subject in the image, and what you include or don’t include along with your subject.

#1. Don’t Kill Your Story, But Sometimes FILL THE FRAME

Each picture that means something to us generally has a story behind it, and sometimes that story is visible in the picture.

The photo from your 4-year-old’s birthday party wouldn’t be quite the same without the cake in the frame when he’s blowing out the candles. Sometimes you need the extra details or space around your subject to really capture the feeling or moment.

However, sometimes zooming in and filling up the whole picture with your child can bring you “into” the story even better. You capture the details and expressions more clearly without any distractions.

Using your zoom, moving in closer physically, or even cropping the picture later, you can fill your picture with your subject and bring interest to the shot.

Note: When photographing people, whether you are up close or far away, you want to FOCUS ON THEIR EYES. Most cameras have a grid or red squares in the view finder to show you exactly what’s in focus. So for most of your pictures, you want to make sure their eyes are in focus, or if they are farther away, at least their face is your focus. Their eyes will tell the story better than any other part of them.

 

#2. APPLY THE “RULE OF THIRDS”

This is probably the most basic composition technique that photographers use, and it is super simple to apply. However, the resulting images will be immediately more well-balanced and more interesting.

As the name implies, this rule has you mentally splitting your photo into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. This gives you nine sections on a grid, and four lines that intersect at four points in your picture.

By setting up your picture with your child or the important parts of your picture (such as your child’s eye, if you’re close up) on one of the intersecting points, you create a more pleasing and interesting picture (people have done studies and everything about this).

So rather than centering your child smack-dab in the middle of your picture, move them to the left or right a bit, and suddenly your picture looks better. Sounds crazy, maybe, but it’s true.

Now you don’t have to always do this, especially in taking portraits or group shots. It’s really more of a technique or “more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.” (Thank you, Captain Barbossa) 🙂

 

#3. KEEP SNAPPING, and know when to stop

I’ve watched people taking pictures of their kids go through all the fuss of setting up a nice shot – lighting is good, kids are smiling and interacting, their down low to get a better angle – and they take shots VERY, VERY SLOWLY, then pause to check each picture on the camera after taking each shot.

PLEASE don’t do this. You will miss great photo opportunities if you take too long and especially if you look away constantly. If you have a digital camera, and your kids are being cooperative, KEEP SHOOTING. Move around, talk to them to keep them focused, but KEEP SHOOTING. This is definitely important when you are trying to take pictures of tiny little ones that move constantly, or bigger little ones who will only sit still for so long.

Will you get some bad pictures doing this? Yes! I guarantee it. There will be half-blinks, complete blinks, ones where the child turns their head at JUST the last second (Josiah is good at that), and some where they aren’t all looking in the same direction.

That’s okay. There is a magic button on the camera or on your computer that will allow those to all go away – DELETE THEM. Because mixed in with some of those not-so-stellar shots will be great ones, beautiful ones, funny (but in a good way) ones.

Kids move quickly. You need to keep up.

Plus your children will only be content to be photographed for so long, especially if they have to sit still, but even if you are just capturing candids while they play.  So snap a ton, then know when to back off and stop.

You don’t want your children to hate the sight of you with a camera because they fear the torture of having to pose for you or because you aren’t interacting with them as they play – you’re just taking pictures the whole time.

Sometimes, you need to put the camera down for their sake and yours.

Get your pictures, then go play.

If you do that, you’ll have no trouble with #4.

 

#4 GET INTO THE PICTURES

I know from personal experience that the person who always takes the pictures is the one who is in the fewest pictures. We’re busy capturing the moments for everyone, but when you look back at the day, it looks as though you weren’t even there. I mean, we KNOW we were, but what did we look like when our baby started walking?

So many moms are okay with NOT being in the pictures because we’re worried about how tired we look or our messy hair or our smudgy make-up or our weight or whatever our insecurity is. But here’s the thing:  We have to stop and remember that someday, our kids are going to want pictures of us, no matter what we looked like at the moment. They want to see us enjoying the memories we made together.

My Grandma Charlotte hated to have her picture taken, and she was good at avoiding the camera. So, stubborn girl that I am, I made it a point to capture her as often as I could. I got good at stealthy shots and worked toward making her more comfortable with the camera. I’m so glad that I was persistent because since her death a couple of years ago, those few good pictures of her are priceless and any – yes, ANY – picture of her is treasured.

Learn how to use your camera’s timer and set it up on a tripod. Hand your camera off to someone who’s at least decent at using one. If all else fails, sure – take a selfie with your crew. But get in a shot or two!

Even if they aren’t perfectly composed, wonderfully lit, or amazingly flattering, your family will love every picture with you in it!

BONUS: Make it a point to get good, professional pictures at least once a year (or as often as you can). People think that I take professional-quality pictures, but I still contact my sister-in-law (Picture Bliss Photography) every so often and make an appointment for family pictures.

I know my limits. Using a tripod and timer for family pictures works fine at family functions and Christmas, but when I want really, really nice pictures, I call her. I understand that it can feel expensive, but if you want truly fabulous photos, you need someone with experience, better equipment, and more skill, and it’s worth it. Plus, you can always watch for specials, such as seasonal mini-sessions, or go in with your siblings on a full family shoot.

 

To review today: know when to zoom out and when to move in close to fill the frame; keep snapping, focusing on the eyes; try out that “Rule of Thirds” thing; and don’t be missing from the pictures.

Tomorrow I’m finishing up this series with a few more bits of advice, including dipping my toe into explaining “manual” mode!

Top feature picture (the “taking a picture” picture) courtesy of Picture Bliss Photography.

How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids – Part 2

November 17, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 2. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

I am NOT a professional photographer, but I love taking pictures. I have been researching, watching, studying, and practicing, practicing, practicing so that I can capture better pictures of my family. This week I’m sharing tips and advice that I’ve learned on my journey to improve my photography.

In my first post, I talked about tips for just letting your children be themselves and for you to be yourself. If you missed yesterday’s tips, you can catch up here.

Today’s tips are all about

POSITIONING YOURSELF & YOUR SUBJECT for SUCCESS!

 

#1. SEE THE LIGHT

Any photographer will tell you that good lighting is imperative to a good picture (Even in super artsy pictures with huge shadows, they are still relying on lighting).

There is so much a person could say about lighting, but for a short and simple version: your subject needs to be facing the light or having the light reflected onto them. If they aren’t in the light, you won’t see them.  Also, you want to see that little twinkle in their eyes, and that only comes from the light reflecting in them.

Pros often use reflectors, usually silver, to help balance the light coverage on their clients and minimize shadows. I’ve used a piece of white posterboard or foam board, my silver car windshield sun shade, or – my favorite – a piece of foam board covered in a thin, silver, thermal “space” blanket from one of Brad’s half-marathons. Haha. You just have someone angle it to catch light and bounce it back onto your child’s face where you see the worst shadows. Of course, this isn’t something I’d do for every picture, just special ones.

I love using natural light, which means I do a lot of shooting outside. However, staring into the sun isn’t pleasant. You end up with squinty-eyed subjects, and bright sun can actually cause your picture to have major shadow issues or be overexposed.

So when you are OUTSIDE, look for open shade. Open shade is an area where the sun isn’t hitting directly, but that is also not so shadowed that it’s dark. Think of a place where tall trees or buildings cast a big shadow over the grass, instead of standing directly under the branches of a tree. Does that make sense? (Also, be careful of dappled light, where the sun is shining through the leaves or branches and creates spots of light and shadow over your children.)

Below are some examples of pictures taken in direct sun versus in open shade. These were all taken one afternoon when we were playing outside with sidewalk paint. (Some of the pictures aren’t the best, but they do show the difference in the lighting.) 🙂

This is why many photographers like an overcast day over a super sunny day and also why they tend to shoot earlier in the day or toward the evening when the sun isn’t directly overhead.

What about when you’re inside? Open the curtains and blinds, and let the sun shine in.

I have to say that I LOVE my living room window because it lets in such perfect light for a huge part of the day. I just have my boys face the window, and I’m good to go.

These pictures of my adorable nephew were taken in my living room, using the natural light through the window. I think I had my hubby holding the “space-blanket reflector” for me for those last two pictures, where Aiden was in the wagon.

And while I’m talking about light, I’ll go ahead and mention flashes…I guess. I prefer not to have to use my flash, honestly, and when I do, it’s only to supplement natural light, such as when the sun is behind my son, and I need some extra light in his face.

Indoors, I will turn on every light I can before I resort to the flash because it causes people to blink (and my family is plagued with “blinkers”), it can give you shadows everywhere, and it can overexpose your shot, especially if you are very close. Plus, flashes only go so far. If you are in a huge auditorium, trying to capture a picture of someone clean across the room, your flash is not going to do you any good.

Yes, you can get a bigger flash, such as the kinds you see pros using at indoor weddings and events. However, they usually have a diffuser (a white cover that softens the light), and most importantly, they know how to use the flash well.

Lack of light is easier to manage once you learn how to shoot in manual (if your camera allows you to do that), and we’ll get to that later this week.

 

#2. MOVE AROUND AND GET DOWN

While you don’t want your subject to move much during the shot, especially once you’ve got the lighting working for you, as the photographer, you definitely need to move around. Taking 20 pictures from exactly the same spot is just plain boring.

Try different angles, and with children, ALWAYS GET DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL at some point. You can shoot standing up, but I guarantee you that when you crouch down or even go belly-to-the-ground when they are playing, you will get better, more interesting shots.

When my boys are on the floor, so am I. I climb up the slide or get into the bounce house (if I’m allowed). I always take a step-stool with me when I plan on doing a lot of pictures because sometimes you just need to get higher up to get the whole story into the shot. And this summer, I even went wading in a creek to get some creative pictures for my cousin’s senior pictures (the results were so worth it).

Don’t be afraid to try a new angle for a better or more interesting picture.

 

Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 2. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

Sometimes when you go wading, you find a water sprite. To get this, I had to get into the water.

A note of caution: Be aware of what’s flattering. Some angles are just not great for pictures, such as “up-the-nose shots” from down below. People tend to look better when they look up into the camera or directly into it, rather than down.

 

#3. WATCH THE BACKGROUND

This is probably the first rule I was told when I started my job at the newspaper, and they were training me to take pictures when I covered a story.

It seems like such a simple tip, but it’s HUGE!

We’ve all seen those pictures online that become jokes because of something in the background. It might be a random photo-bomber (hard to help sometimes, and sometimes fun for a picture). It could be a branch or pole that seems to come out of your subject’s head. It could be a really messy counter or trash piles across the field.

A few weeks ago, as we were hurrying out the door to a costume birthday party, I snapped a picture with my phone of Josiah in his knight costume. Unfortunately, he was standing on a chair by the kitchen table, and the table was covered with the remnants of costume-making. Since we needed to leave immediately, I didn’t have time to clear it all off, so I took the picture anyway, knowing that background was going to bug me. It does. Thankfully, we got some better pictures later in the evening where the background doesn’t take away from my sweet little hero.

Keeping an eye on the background will help keep the focus on your subject instead of random distractions behind them. If you need to, shift your shot a little bit (remember, you can move), or do a quick tidy-up. (I’m not saying don’t show real life, but if you don’t want it in your picture, move or move it if you can!)

Bonus: Other things that can be distracting in family or group shots: Watch pockets, cell phone holders, baseball caps, glasses, etc. Guys especially like to have papers, pens, and random items sticking up out of their shirt pockets, and I am always having Brad remove his cell phone holder from his hip. For hats, I just have my boys push it up a little bit, so their faces aren’t shadowed, and when someone has on glasses, have them tilt their chin up or down a tad to avoid possible glare.

So in review, good lighting is essential to a good picture, variety (of angles) is the spice of life, and beware of distractions, even in the background.

On Thursday: It’s all about what you’re focusing on in the shot.

Top feature picture (the “taking a picture” picture) courtesy of Picture Bliss Photography.

How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids – Part 1

November 16, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 1. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

Over the last few months, I have had several different people ask me if I’m a photographer, as in a “professional photographer,” since I’m always taking pictures.

That’s rather flattering because, no, I’m not. I’m a mom with a nice camera who loves to take pictures of her children, and while I have been really trying to learn how to get better photos, I am not a pro…so far from it. To have someone think that the picture of my child at the playground was the work of a professional – WIN! That makes my day!!!

Because I’ve been working on improving my photography, I’ve also had other moms ask me about my pictures, trying to figure out what I was doing differently than they are to capture the photos that I do.

I know why they’re asking. It’s why I’ve been learning and practicing: Pictures are important to us, especially as moms.

We love the professional pictures for babies, weddings, and seasonal family photos. But professional photographers aren’t there at every milestone, birthday, or beautiful moment. They aren’t there for the everyday – that rare moment when your children are being sweet and reading together, that time when your toddler upends the spaghetti plate on his head, or when your little girl loses her first tooth.

For me, the “everyday” is what life is made of. Those are the moments that I want to remember the most. 

So, unless you can hire a full-time photographer for your household (Wow! Can you imagine?), the only way to capture your everyday life is to do it yourself.

And you want to do the best that you can, right?

With this in mind – and looking ahead to the holidays, which present so many wonderful photo opportunities – I’ve decided that over the next four posts, I’m going to be sharing what I think are the most important tips and advice I’ve found for taking great pictures of your family. These come from what I’ve learned through scouring online photography blogs and tutorials, talking with and watching my friends who are actual, real professional photographers, and what I’ve discovered through trial and error. Plus, most of these tips will help you no matter what kind of camera you are using, even if you’re just using your phone! I’m sure there are many others that could be included, but these are the ones that have helped me the most.

Ready?

To start with: Natural is ALWAYS better.

Believe it or not, my top suggestions have nothing to do with lighting, the technical aspects of using a fancy DSLR, or framing your shot (those tips come later). These are all about being natural and real and having that mindset before you even pick up your camera.

And rather than make you wait to the end of the post for a big finale, I’m starting you off with my most favorite tip out of all that I’ve gathered and the one that’s done the most for my pictures:

#1. DON’T ASK YOUR CHILD TO SMILE!

Seriously. Stop saying, “Smile” or “Cheese!” – at least for most of your pictures. Saying their name or “look” has gotten me so many more beautiful shots with natural expressions, smiling or serious, than that forced “I am smiling” grimace you get, especially from younger children who have “learned” to smile.

You may also run into the “Diva cheesy smile and crazy pose combo” with your slightly older kids. (I was that little girl, too, so I’m not saying you don’t want a few of those, but trust me, you don’t want all of her 8-year-old pictures to have that look!) You want your child to be able to look natural sometimes. (And don’t get me started on “duck faces.”)

If you really want a natural smile, try being silly or telling a joke.  As a parent you have a distinct advantage over a pro in this area anyway, since you KNOW what makes your child laugh or grin.

When we were getting Elijah’s 1-year-old professional pictures taken, we got the best smiles out of him when I said, “Ow!” and pretended to be hurt.  (Gee, thanks, son.)

If they just aren’t in the mood to smile, or overall not in the mood for getting their pictures taken, trying to force them to smile is only going make things worse, which leads me to my next tip.

#2. LET THEM BE THEMSELVES

Just like not forcing them to smile constantly will help, letting them do their own thing sometimes is huge.

My nephew is notorious for avoiding you if he knows you’re trying to get a picture of him. He will look everywhere but toward the camera, and he’s definitely not smiling. However, one day we discovered that the trick to getting a great picture of him was to let him do something that he thought was “silly” for the picture. As soon as he was doing something “silly,” he was asking me to take his picture. So, I used that. He crossed his feet in a “silly” way, and I got my most favorite picture of him to date.

Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 1. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

I took this picture in a way that cropped out his “silly” crossed feet. Sneaky Aunt Kishona!

Of course, getting a great picture of your child doesn’t require them looking at you at all. When I first really started learning to use my camera, I spent a lot of time just taking pictures of my boys playing. They knew I was there, but I didn’t say anything. I just let them do whatever they were doing when I grabbed my camera. I don’t wipe off faces, change them into matching outfits or “dressier” duds (I make sure they are dressed, though!), or brush their hair. I let them be my boys.

There is also something to be said for letting your child make suggestions of what he or she might want to do in a picture. Let them pose, or do their favorite new trick, or show off a toy. Why not? As long as they aren’t doing things that are dangerous or inappropriate, let them have fun. It makes the pictures that they might not want to do worth it if they know they can do ones that they want to, also.

Life in Lape Haven: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids, Part 1. Simple tips and advice for taking better photos of your children, no matter what kind of camera you use.

Elijah wanted a picture with his Baby Bear.

As I mentioned last week, whenever we do family pictures with all of my siblings and our children together, it’s become a tradition to do a silly picture at the end. The kids (and adults) love it. It’s a simple thing, but they’ve always turned out so wonderfully. They are usually my favorite pictures of the day.

 

#3. BE YOU. SHOOT YOUR WAY

Technology has made picture-taking something that everyone does, and something that everyone shares. It can seem overwhelming when you see beautifully composed and filtered Instagram shots, Pinterest-worthy photo set-ups at a 2-year-old’s birthday party, or Facebook vacation albums for everyone from your favorite celebrity to your kids’ babysitter.

While you can definitely learn by studying other people’s work or techniques, don’t pressure yourself to make your pictures look exactly like someone else’s. Use your own creativity. Find your own style.

For example, my father-in-law used to do work as a professional photographer, and his children all learned from him. His oldest daughter has taken over the family legacy as Picture Bliss Photography and does beautiful work with weddings, babies, family sessions, and seniors. Oftentimes, her younger sister is her assistant.

Funny enough, though, the three of them don’t shoot exactly alike. They all have their own “eye,” style, and creativity.

So do you.

My hubby took the first picture below, and you can see that my hubby likes to look for the quirky angles and attempts unique shots, mostly just to be silly. However, sometimes they turn out pretty cool, like this one. The second picture is one I took during the same match, and you can tell that my style is totally different from his.

So, we’re good with letting your kids be themselves and allowing you to be yourself. Tomorrow  – it’s time to get into tips for setting up a shot.

Top feature picture courtesy of Picture Bliss Photography.

Continue to Part 2 here.

TELL ME: What do you do that makes your child smile?

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

How to Take Better Pictures of Your Kids Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4

Simple Ways to Spark Joy in Your Children

How We Capture a Great Family Picture Every Time

4 Reasons Why Bedtime Is Our Best Family Time

November 12, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: 4 Reasons Why Bedtime is Our Best Family Time

(This post may contain affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you use the link. Thank you for supporting our site.)

A day in the life of a mom (or dad) can be hectic, unpredictable, and distracted.

From the time you are getting everyone up, ready for the day, and out the door for whatever you need to be doing until you’re back at home, tidying up, doing homework, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed, there can be days where your quality time with your family doesn’t really get to happen until bedtime.

At least that’s how it works for us, but that’s okay because it is usually our very best family time.

Why?

#1 – Bedtime is the one time when all four of us are present without distractions

My hubby works four 10-hour shifts a week, with a 9 a.m. start time. This means that he doesn’t generally get home until nearly 8 p.m. (or later) most nights. With Elijah in school and having a stricter bedtime now, time with Daddy during those days is limited.

However, by bedtime, we are all there. We’ve turned off the television, we put down our phones, and we focus on sharing time together.

(And I will be honest, sometimes I’m a late-comer to the party. There are days when I can’t work on writing or editing pictures until Brad is home, so when it’s time for getting the boys ready for bed, he’ll take the lead and let me work until they are ready for me to come join them. I try not to miss it, though, because it is such valuable family time.)

The boys take turns getting to pick the bedtime story each night, which means we can pretty much guarantee an argument every few days about whose turn it actually is to pick the book. J

We all snuggle up on Elijah’s bed to read our story. If we’re in a time crunch because they took longer brushing their teeth or dawdled while getting into their pajamas, I’ll read. I’m a much faster reader than Brad, and I’m quite good at summarizing as I go along, just in case Elijah has picked a particularly lengthy book. (Now that he’s learning to read, however, I have a feeling I may get called out on this little trick sooner or later.)

Of course, if Elijah hands me our copy of Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss, there isn’t much even I can do. We’re going to be tongue-twisting our way slowly through that one. (But we still love it!)

Life in Lape Haven: 4 Reasons Why Bedtime is Our Best Family Time

A 3D bedtime story.

Sometimes it’s hard to get through a book quickly, though, because…

#2 – Bedtime is when the boys are the most talkative

My boys are always pretty talkative. (I think they get it from their mother.) However, at night time, they are even more so. Maybe it’s partly a technique to stall the inevitable “going to bed” part of the bedtime routine, maybe it’s because they know they have our full attention, or maybe it’s because they have started processing their day by then. I’m not sure. I just know that when we’re trying to get them to settle down, they are trying to start all kinds of conversations.

We try to allow time for this in our routine because we want them to know that what they have to share is important to us, no matter what they want to talk about. We chat while they’re getting faces washed and teeth brushed. We chat while they are changing into jammies and picking out tomorrow’s ensemble. And we chat before, during, and after their story, their Bible reading, and their prayers.

Which brings me to our third reason…

#3 – Bedtime is when we spend time in God’s Word and in prayer as a family

While we pray with our boys throughout the day, bedtime is when we really get to, again, do so without distractions and all together.

We read a story or passage from one of their children’s Bibles or use our Kids’ Bible App to study the Word together, and then we each take a turn praying.

From the time our boys could talk, we started leading them in simple prayers, just saying, “Thank You,” to God for family and praying for safety and good sleep. With just a little guidance, before long they start to pray on their own very easily, and now, sometimes they surprise us with their words (in a good way).

We end our bedtime routine with a song, usually “Jesus Loves Me,” although they can request whatever song they’d like.

Then it’s time for kisses and cuddles, which is our last reason.

#4 – Bedtime is when my boys are the cuddliest

From snuggling on our laps during a story to laying down on Mommy during prayers to giving tons of good night kisses and hugs, our boys are especially affectionate as they wind down from the day. Josiah will even flat-out lie and tell you that “I didn’t get a hug!” when you know you just hugged him after you tucked him in, right before you said, “Good night,” and turned to leave his room. Another stall tactic, maybe, but another hug, too.

Life in Lape Haven: 4 Reasons Why Bedtime is Our Best Family Time

Watching how quickly my boys are growing, I know that our bedtime routine will someday change.  Soon they’ll be able to get ready completely on their own. They’ll be able to read to themselves and won’t always want us to read them a bedtime story. At some point, we definitely won’t be able to fit all of us comfortably on a twin-sized bed because they’ll no longer be snuggled in our laps.

However, I pray they never outgrow spending time with us before bed, even if it looks differently. I pray that they will value reading the Bible together and praying as a family. I want them to be able to talk to us and share about their day, their concerns, and their questions. I never want them to be too big to give me good night hugs and kisses, even if it’s done before they head off to tuck themselves in.

Mostly I pray that Brad and I are always redeeming the time now, while they are young, taking advantage of our best family time, realizing how important it is that we don’t miss the beautiful moments we have with them. These are the moments that will make spending time with us more important to them later.

When is your family’s best “Family Time”?

Tried It Tuesday: 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, & Accessories that I LOVE

November 10, 2015
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Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the links.

Elijah was pretty excited when he realized today that Thanksgiving is not very far away. He’s looking forward to the “big feast,” he said.

For the last two years, Elijah has enjoyed contributing to the Thanksgiving “feasting” by making a dish to share with our families: fruit cocktail with marshmallows.  However, in the last few months, he’s been asking to expand his culinary skills in the kitchen. Apparently he wants to be able to do more than empty a can of fruit into a bowl and stir in some marshmallows. So, we’ve been working on that.

I don’t blame him. The more recipes I’ve learned to make and the more techniques I’ve perfected, the more confident and excited I am to try something else in the kitchen.

As I’ve built my culinary repertoire over the years, I’ve also built my stash of kitchen gadgets and accessories. Some of them I never would have tried on my own; others I just had to have.

So for today’s Tried It Tuesday, here are 11 of my favorite gadgets and accessories that I have tried out in my kitchen:

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.1. The One Second Slicer – This one was a Mother’s Day present that Elijah picked out. He’s kind of a sucker for the “As Seen On TV” items, thanks to infomercials, so I was a little doubtful of how well or how often I would use this. However, it has been a pleasant surprise. It’s a much less-messy way to dice tomatoes, for one. Plus my boys love to watch when I use it, so it keeps them entertained…until they start fighting over who gets to help me close the lid down. The fact that I can use the base as storage is nice, and it cleans up rather easily. Good job, Elijah!

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.2. The Ove’ Glove – I received this amazing little oven mitt a few years ago at Christmas. My mother-in-law liked the one that she had, so she got one for all the girls. This glove is made to withstand heat up to 540 degrees and has silicone strips on the outside for a good grip. I use this thing pretty much every day and would like to get another (hint, hint, Hubby). The only caution is not to get it wet or steamed up. Water conducts the heat then right into the glove.

3. Stick Blender – My stick blender (also called an immersion blender) was one of those items I had been watching for after seeing the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, use one when she made her fabulous broccoli cheese soup. I wanted to make the soup, and I really wanted a stick blender. When I found one that came with a food processor attachment, too, I grabbed it, since I didn’t have a food processor either. Haha. That broccoli cheese soup has since become a staple of our fall and winter menu, and I have found many other uses for the blender, including pureeing up fresh pumpkin for donuts, ice cream, cookies, and of course, pumpkin pie. The food processor has also seen its share of action, so it was a worthy purchase all the way around.

4. Silicone Baking Mat – When I make a wish list for Christmas, I generally have a few kitchen items on the list. My baking mat was one of them. The state of my non-stick baking sheets was not pretty, and since I already used parchment paper often, I knew that I would use a mat just as frequently. I was right. Cleaning them has always been easy, too.

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.5. Ice Cream Maker – My first ice cream maker was a cheap one that I found on clearance at Walmart. It was the older style that requires ice and rock salt and makes a ton of noise. However, once my husband had tasted real, homemade ice cream, he was hooked. When he found a deal on a refurbished Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker for $30, he bought it to surprise me. The freezable bowl replaces the ice and rock salt, and while it’s still not quiet, it’s nowhere near as noisy as my older one. And the ice creams we have enjoyed! I actually think my hubby might love this appliance more than I do.

6. Flirty Apron – Every cook needs a good apron, sure, but we girls like a pretty one while we’re at it, too. I saw these adorable aprons on Facebook one day from FlirtyAprons.com and showed Brad the ones I liked. Lo and behold, Valentine’s Day, my sweetheart gifted me with one, along with some awesome chocolate ice cream, proving that he really did know how to make his girl happy. My apron has even doubled as part of a costume or two for our boys’ birthday parties.

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.

7. Pizza Stone – This is another of my Christmas wish list items and another item that I think my family is very glad that we have. Homemade pizza is so much easier now that I don’t have to cook it on those not-so-great non-stick baking sheets that you can’t cut on. The crust is awesome, we can serve the pizza directly off the stone, and the stone cleans up easily.

8. Ice Cream Scooper – I bought this not for our ice cream habit, but actually to help with scooping out cookie dough and filling cupcake pans. I especially like using it for cookies because it goes so much quicker!

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.9. Ice Cream Spade – Another present from my in-laws, this is THE ice cream server in our house. The shape looks weird, and you won’t end up with a cutesy little scoop, but it cuts through frozen-solid ice cream better than anything else. If you can’t tell, we like our ice cream around Lape Haven, so this item is a MUST.

 

10. Rice Cooker – I don’t know that I ever would have bought us a rice cooker, honestly. I don’t have tons of storage in my kitchen or pantry, so I like to have items that multi-task. However, when the lid to my small cooking pan got bent (thank you, little boys who like to play in my pans), making rice became a struggle because the lid didn’t fit tightly. When I mentioned perhaps buying a rice cooker, my parents gave me one that had belonged to my grandma. I had to Google the manual to figure out how to use it, but once I had the basics (it really is EASY), I have been turning out some pretty tasty rice.

Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - 11 Kitchen Gadgets, Appliances, and Accessories that I Love.11. Kitchen Aid Mixer – I love my mixer. It is probably my very favorite appliance in the kitchen. Of course, it is also the most expensive appliance in the kitchen. However, my very first Kitchen Aid stand mixer was one that Brad found on Craigslist for only $30. Yes, $30. It worked just fine, but the “OFF” switch didn’t work. That meant that I had to plug it in to start it and pull the plug to stop it. But it was still a game-changer! I was suddenly able to make homemade bread easily, and if I was mixing up something, I could step away for a second if I needed to, and it would be doing the work for me. Of course, I use it for cookies, cakes, and icing, but I also use it for making whipped cream, shredding chicken, and I’ve even made butter in it. So much fun! Last year, there was a great deal on Black Friday, so I got an upgrade to a new Kitchen Aid in time for lots of Christmas baking.

TELL ME: What are some of your favorite kitchen tools?