Easy Peasy Christmas Picture

It's super easy to take a picture that looks like this!

(1) Do it during the day! If you can, try to find an angle where you can put your subject in front of the tree but also still have window light falling on your subject's face. You really need that natural light, as opposed to household lighting, if you can. It's so beautiful and clear!


(2) This step is key!! Put your subject far (at least a few feet, if not more) in front of the tree. Do not back them right against it. The farther away your subject is from the background, the blurrier your background will be.


(3) If you have a zoom lens, zoom in all the way. That might mean you have to move your body back farther away from the subject to get them in the frame. Back up if you need to, but use that zoom to its fullest. You're creating more depth of field this way, to get that blurry background we all love.


(4a) Lower your f-stop. You want to make your aperture wide open! If you don't know how to use full manual settings, try this super simple way: Put your camera on the AV setting. Then, use your controls to select the F area on your menu screen. Make that number go as low as it can. For some of you, that may be 1.8. For others it may be higher. It just depends on the lens you have. If yours only stops down to 3.6, 5.0, whatever, that's OK! The smaller the number, the better the blur, but if your lens won't go that low, just rock what you got!

Side note: AV mode lets you control your aperture, but automatically adjusts your other settings for you!


(4b) If you don't want to mess with doing anything manually, you can put your camera on the Portrait setting (sometimes looks like a face). Follow all the other steps, and and your camera will try to create that depth of field on its own. {It's always better to control your camera if you can, though. You're much smarter than it is!} ;)


(5) Now shoot away and check your results! If you feel like your subject's face is too dark, try moving him side to side and watch the light to see where it falls. Try again, and keep making adjustments until you find the perfect look you're going for!





Good luck! I hope you'll share with me how it goes!

Aria {Cypress, TX Newborn Photographer}

This sweet baby couldn't have been any more perfect!  

The "B" Family {Cypress, TX Family and Child Photographer}

As always, I LOVE seeing this family! I can't believe it's already been six months since the twins were newborns! Aren't the boys and big sis just as precious as ever?

 

 

The "H" Family {Cypress, TX Family Photographer}

I always have fun when I get the chance to photograph friends and their families! They're such a cute bunch!

The "S" Kids: A Mother's Day Surprise! {Cypress, TX Children's Photographer}

When I got a call from their dad telling me he wanted to surprise his wife for Mother's Day with some updated pictures of the kiddos, even though I was "technically" booked up, I immediately agreed to the session. How could I turn down a husband trying to do something so sweet for the mother of his kids?? :) Major brownie points in my book for that idea, and EXTRA brownie points for:

- managing to get one almost 3 year old and twin 10 month olds packed, out of the house without his wife knowing, and on time completely prepared for the session
- being wise enough to bring his mom along for help
- going shopping before hand for the kids' session outfits (aren't they cute?)
- letting someone ELSE at the store help pick out their coordinating outfits ;)
- having his own idea for props/clothing that had special meaning to his wife and him
- getting them changed again, back at home, and evidence hidden before their mom was any the wiser
- did I mention that he managed to get 3 little ones under the age of 3 out of the house undetected on his own??

It was pretty fun being part of this top-secret project, I admit. I'm really looking forward to meeting Mom and seeing the whole family for Christmas portraits in the fall!

 

 

The "B" Family {Cypress, TX Maternity Photographer}

It was such a pleasure to meet this sweet family, as they anticipate the arrival of their daughter in a little over a month. This child will be so blessed. Her parents have the most beautiful connection with each other!

The "E" Family {Tomball, TX Family Photographer}

I used to teach with this sweet mama, until we both moved in separate directions. It was so great catching up, and finally getting to meet her husband and beautiful children!


 

 

Happy, happy birthday beautiful C!! 

The "C" Grandkids {Tomball, TX Children's Photographer}

These little cuties' grandma contacted me about doing a session of them all together, and I was so happy to be able to help. Despite the crazy, chilly May evening, the kiddos were sooooo well behaved and so incredibly sweet!

Baby Q {Cypress, TX Child and Family Photographer}

I first met beautiful Quincy and her mom a little over six months ago for her newborn session, and was so thrilled that they came back to mark her 6 month milestone. This time they brought Daddy along and it was so much fun to watch the interaction and love between this sweet little family.

Caitlyn, Class of 2013 {Cypress, TX Senior Portrait Photographer}

This sweet girl is truly as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside ... and that's saying a lot because she's really beautiful, isn't she??  She's also athletic, hardworking, smart, family-oriented, I could go on and on. Yeah, she's pretty awesome. :)

It was a complete joy spending the evening with Caitlyn and her mom, and I'm so thankful they chose me to take her senior portraits!