18 Nov 08 Fantastic Family Holiday Photos

When it comes to family photo opportunities, few events can top the holiday season. These special moments were meant to be cherished and to grace fireplace mantels and scrapbook pages for years to come. Here are a few tips to help you capture the essence of your subjects and the authenticity of the moment.

Stake Your Claim: If you’ve ever watched a wedding photographer at work, you’ll realize there is often a very specific plan in place, and this includes knowing which photos will happen in which locations. Even if your entire family will remain in one place for the day, decide which setting(s) will be most appropriate for photography.

For example, you may decide to take photos in front of the family fireplace or near the Christmas tree. Are there items that need to be removed that would prove distracting in the background? Will you need to set up chairs, and if so, who will sit where? Feel free to grab a pen and jot down a few ideas. This forethought will greatly assist you in getting those fantastic photos because your subjects realize that you have a plan and will get the job done efficiently. Little ones will more likely cooperate as well because the process will flow quickly. You don’t need to be a drill sergeant, but being deliberate and having a vision will help tremendously.

Elevate Your Status: When it comes to shooting large groups, it helps to be creative. One inside trick used by professional photographers involves a chair. Grab one and stand on it! You’ll be able to accommodate larger groups and create a portrait that’s more visually interesting using this technique. The novelty of this approach may also keep your subjects captivated long enough to ensure everyone is smiling when the shutter snaps!

Take a Tripod… Here’s a chance to pick up a present for yourself! A tripod is one of the most valuable and affordable accessories you can have in your photo toolkit. A tripod will instantly improve your photographs by stabilizing your camera and eliminating ‘camera shake.’ In addition, having your camera attached to a tripod allows you to better focus on getting smiles from your subjects as your attentions won’t be so divided between balancing the camera and posing your subjects.
You can learn more about the quality tripods we offer here: http://tinyurl.com/68l85t

…And a Remote Trigger: Make the most of your tripod by adding a remote trigger, which will free your hands and allow you to interact with your subjects while shooting. Imagine how much easier it will be to recognize those perfect moments with a remote trigger in hand; your focus can remain on your subjects, and you’ll be in perfect position to record that one image when all eyes are open and on you! Here are some we recommend: http://tinyurl.com/55kxa5

Perfect Timing: Make sure you understand how to use the timer on your digital camera. Toss your camera’s manual in your bag and review it before setting up your photo shoot. If you can’t find your manual, don’t worry. Just do an online search for your camera model and add the words ‘delay timer’ to the search. You should be able to retrieve instructions to use immediately.
Take a couple of test shots to make sure you’re comfortable with the process. Delayed timers are actually quite simple to use in most cameras.

So much effort and love have gone into getting your family together during this very special holiday. By taking a few minutes to prepare, you’ll ensure that your photographs reflect that very sentiment and serve as a continued reminder long after you ring in the New Year.

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07 Nov 08 Cooperative Kids Make Magnificent Photo Moments

by Laura Oles, Digital Photography for Busy Women

Children are notorious for being less-than-fully-cooperative when it comes to taking pictures. As the mother of twin boys, I marvel at how two kids who share the same DNA can still go opposite directions the moment my lens is in view. My theory is that this is a hidden skill kids learn in kindergarten—‘Picture Avoidance 101’—something taught between snack and recess.
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, now is the time to prepare a plan so your kids are the picture of cooperation when the time comes to take family photos. Take these techniques on your Thanksgiving trip, and return with some fantastic family photos:

To Go Faster, Slow Down: This may sound counterintuitive but it really does work. When you’re trying to arrange a photo of your children with other family members, our instinct is to hurry and try to get everything done as quickly as possible. If you can remain calm and unhurried during the posing process, little ones are more likely to sense that calm and remain in the same state of mind.

Bring on the Bubbles: Many professional photographers keep canisters of bubbles in their studio, and for good reason—they are a great way to elicit natural smiles from children while keeping them looking toward the camera.

Mean What You Say: If your kids had a quarter for every time they hear “just one more picture” when you’re snapping those shots, they’d probably have enough money for a Toys-R-Us bender. Let them know ahead of time what to expect by asking them to stay still for five photos in a row. When it’s time to say, “Just one more,” take the last shot and keep your word. Your kids may cooperate more in the future knowing that what to expect and when it will be over so they can go back to playing Freeze Tag.

Forget Perfection: Everyone might pose perfectly and they might not; the more people you have in a photo, the trickier it can be to achieve perfection. That’s okay. If someone is looking away or one of the little ones is a bit fidgety, don’t sweat it. You’ve still captured the true essence of your loved ones and the authenticity of their smiles will show though. And that, my friends, is true picture perfection.

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30 Apr 08 Be Ready “Before The Moment.”

Be Ready “Before the Moment”

The greatest moments in history are captured only when the photographer is ready “Before the Moment,” intuitively pressing the shutter before that “definitive moment” occurs. Our goal is to design inventive carrying solutions that help photographers capture these moments.

Think Tank Photo makes camera bags, belt packs, photo backpacks, and photo accessories for Professional Photographers so that they can Be Ready “Before the Moment”

–taken from thinktankphoto.com–

If we don’t have it in stock, we can get it!