Getting Creative With Your Shutter Speed

After I posted one of these images online, I had a number of emails asking me how I did it so I thought I'd share the how to here on my blog.

It isn't rocket science. It's using your settings to get a creative portrait. For me, it seemed obvious that if we were all going to be skating around we would want a few images that showed movement. The easiest way to show movement is to create a little blur. So, in order to do that, we have to slow down our shutter speed. In this instance, we were outside so there was a lot of natural light. I had the ISO at 100 and I knew from experience that I would want my shutter to be at about 1/40 or 1/50 to get the kind of blur that I want, so I lowered it to there. I didn't want the boys to go too fast as they weren't wearing helmets for aesthetic reasons. I told them to space themselves as I knew that I would be trying to capture their parents between the two of them to create a 'framing' effect. In order to get my exposure correct, I now had to adjust the aperture...there was WAY too much light to shoot it wide open, so I closed the aperture until the proper exposure was achieved which in this case was f11. I focused on the parents, braced myself and had the boys skate by while I shot. They did it three times in total and thanks to the wonders of digital technology, I could look at what we got and determine that the image I wanted to make had been achieved :) NOTE: your shutter speed will be slow enough to cause camera shake, so you must be sure to hold steady to achieve the sharp subjects in the centre. You must also ask your subjects to hold still :) I know from experience that I am able to hand hold at this setting.

Now, I was lucky here because the kids had a parent who was a photographer, but older kids are usually eager to help you create anything you can dream up. I always explain to them what I am trying to do and show them any results on the back of my camera if they ask.

Another option open to me was panning. I could have attempted to get the boys sharp by using similar settings and moving my camera with them while they skated by. In my experience, this is rather time consuming to achieve and so I made the call on this colder winter day to get everyone inside as quickly as possible and do this instead.

I hope this helps everyone in trying to create movement in their own images. If you have any other questions on how to achieve a certain look, be sure to ask me(either here in the comments or on my Facebook page). I'm going to try and post more photography tips from now on. And, if you have a mom's group that would like to have a photographer come and teach them the basics of using their digital SLR, I would love to have the opportunity to come and talk to them. Just contact me via the contact form and we can set something up.

Thanks,

~ Dana

Backyard Hockey Rink

I know that I rarely blog an entire session. This is mostly due to the time it takes to craft a full session blog post. You see...a session with me isn't like a normal portrait session. You don't just get 30-40 images(or less) to choose from. We work together to craft a session that not only tells a story, but shows the relationships that exist within your family. It is my firm belief that this cannot be done successfully in under 30 images. Nor can it be done successfully if we are not comfortable with each other. Enjoying the time that is being documented. That is why I never place limits on the time we are spending together. I'll know when we are done.

I know that I could probably take more sessions if I provided fewer images and less time per client session...but, the truth of the matter is...I don't want to. If I did it the way that everyone else does it, it would truly take the joy out of it for me. And, I have decided to keep the joy in it for me :) I'm going to be selfish this way :) I am hopeful that what results is wonderful sessions for the people who trust me enough to hire me. These people are not looking for a simple portrait session. They do not want just a photograph to put on their Christmas card. They want more than that. They want portraits for their walls, but they also want to see the glances, the little looks, the character and personality of all the people in their family. And, they want to see the beauty(and the humour) in it all.

This was a recent session in an amazing home with an even more amazing backyard skating rink. They are a hockey family. And a golf family. And...the family of a photographer(Leigha Graf). This was one of the more relaxed sessions I've had in awhile. It has also resulted in more images that I care to admit. Here are some of my favourites.

And, if you looked at all of that and want to see more full sessions on my blog...well, then...you better comment and let me know. Ha! What a lot of images. Overboard? Maybe. But, I don't care. It's how I tell the story of our time together.

Now, you can see why most of my clients add on a coffee table book. I pride myself on providing a story, but also enough pieces that stand on their own that you can print for your wall(or your Christmas card). What images would you print?

~ Dana

Family Day 2014

Just a few images from our Family Day spent in Banff National Park. We call that swing 'the swing of death' as it creaks and moans while you swing on it. Not to mention that if you fell off, it would surely be to your death. ha. Only a slight exaggeration. We are enjoying the warmer temperatures after that painfully long cold spell.

Hope you all enjoyed your family day with your family :)

~ Dana

Friday's Favourites: Family Photographs

I know I am a family photographer so I am a little bit biased, but...this week this gets a post.

It has been two long years since we had family photographs done. Of course, that year...we had 4 sessions. Two family ones(one was impromptu). One just kids. And one just adults. We were...well...a little family photo'd out. Not to mention the fact that my family constantly has a camera shoved in their face, so they had grown tired of the process a bit.

The other truth is...the last two years have not been easy ones. I know that I should have put a brave face forward and had them done anyway. And, the truth is that I half heartedly tried to...but nothing came to fruition. I didn't feel like remembering that time in my life. For some pretty good reasons and some pretty stupid ones. And, looking at the blog post of my new photographs, I'm wondering why I hung on to all that crap. And, the truth is that the hard times are there for a reason. They are there so you appreciate the good ones. And, I'm getting there with appreciating the good ones. These images are really helping me with that.

You see...the stupid things that held me back--mostly about the way I look and being unhappy about it, but not unhappy enough to actually do something about it. Seem pretty stupid when I look at these pictures. Look at how much love there is. Love exists in the chaos of life...even if you aren't happy with the way it looks. Sometimes even more so because of that.  And, I don't look that bad to me when I see the photographs. I look worse in my head. Which I know doesn't say much about my self-esteem, but there you have it. It is almost always something that strikes me after we have had professional photographs taken. So, I don't see the hair cut I'm not super happy with or the wrinkles or the ~gasp~ fat. This is what I do see:

My kids are not little anymore. And, that all at once breaks my heart and fills me with joy. They are honestly the most amazing kids I have ever met. True story. And, they are that way because of the relationship that Bob and I have. I'd say the way we love each other, but it's more than that...because sometimes we don't love each other that much(ha). It makes me sad that we skipped those years of having family photographs. Even though we have a million photographs of them, there are not very many of me with them. I am super duper bad at that.

soooo....this week, I'll urge you all to get your family photographs done. Pick a photographer you love. That helps a tonne. It also helps if you pick one who is used to photographing kids the same ages as yours(just saying...it's true. most photographers are used to photographing young kids when everyone is good about getting their pictures taken, but as kids get older it is harder to find photographers that can connect with them). Open up your home...this is the home we have lived in for the last 8 years. There is a good chance that we won't be living in it for much longer. I'm so happy to have photographs of the kids in their rooms and us in our kitchen/living room. Just chillin'  ;)

Last but not least the shopping list(cause I know some of you are wondering and this IS a Friday's Favourites post):

Jack and Georgia's outfits are almost exclusively from Zara with the exception of Jack's velour suit jacket. That's from H&M. Jack's watch is from The Children's Place as are Georgia's boots(they are super duper old though). My tops are both from Anthropologie. Bob is wearing J Crew from head to toe. The swing in Georgia's room is from Pier One. So is my winky face mug. The Dr. Who blanket is from HMV and the Star Wars bedding is Pottery Barn kids(again--super old). I think that's everything you might want to buy :) If not, just say the word and I'll let you know.

The photographs are by the amazing Leigha Graf. I will be sure to share the album with you when it's done. That is my preferred method of saving my own photographs. And, coming up soon, will be Leigha's session as well. Maybe I'll even share the whole thing.

And, finally...Grandma Gandzalas's Rolled Up Pancakes. It is one of those recipes that she knew by heart so this is how she gave it to Bob. Bob once spent an entire day just cooking with Grandma and getting all of her recipes. He keeps them on his iPhone(used to be his Palm Pilot, but times have changed). This is the one we make all the time. We listen to the a CD of Bob's mom singing and tell stories about how the butter used to drip from Grandma's, but how we are more health conscious than that. ha.

4 eggs well beaten 2 cups milk 1 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 cup flour to consistency

It should be fairly runny. The pancakes should be fairly thin. When they are hot, you spread butter on them and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll. Eat. Repeat. ;) We have also tried Nutella, but this is a modern version that we only do on special occasions ;)

Happy Friday,

~ Dana