A Blog On A Stick: June 2009

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Photo Tips: Photographing Babies

I'm planning on answering all of your great photography questions, but wanted to do the photographing babies section done first.

Since so much of photography is seeing, I found a great little video to show you with Carrie Sandoval who is amazing with brand new babies.

She briefly discusses lighting, but I think sometimes that's the hardest to get right (well, that and trying to keep the baby from pooping all over you) Since I'm assuming you're photographing your baby indoors, you want to position your baby beside a window in your house that doesn't get direct light. Think of direct light as the kind a cat would want to nap in--super, super bright light. We don't want that kind. The most ideal window is a north-facing window, but any window that's getting nice, soft non-direct sunlight will work. Walk around your house and try noticing which windows get that yummy light throughout the day.

*shot by a non-direct light window in front of black fabric.

If the window is dirty, that's even better! The dirt will help diffuse the light and make it even softer. If all your windows have direct, harsh light you can always try hanging sheer curtain that are almost see-through. You can position your baby however you'd like (check out the video for some tips!) but make sure your subject is getting side light from the window and not direct light. The shadows on the other side of face gives it depth and makes it more interesting.

Check out Carrie's blog (as well as her Baby As Art blog) and video for great positioning ideas. I love to see some of your pictures after trying this out!

Monday, June 22, 2009

HodgePodge

When I think of this blog, I think of a conversation. Sure we're miles apart but I want to hear from you and pretend you're dying to hear from me. When you get out of the habit of blogging, your first post back is like making that awkward phone to an old roommate or friend. So be those friends that just hop back into it, okay?

Okay.

So our little puppy Max has moved onto another home. There were many issues, one of the main being that Kate turned out to be allergic to him. Let's just say dogs are not in the Jacobson's near future. My kids have done fantastically with it, which might suggest a teeny bit of their non-attachment to the dog. It's a whole thing. Just don't talk to Blake about it.

So, being insane, we tried again with a cat. Ding! Ding! Ding! Cat works great. Cat is terrorized by kids and forced to watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars every morning.

"Seriously, Star Wars again?"

If you have or are getting a furry pet, get one of these. They have them for dogs as well and they are aaaaamazing.

"Word."

So I'm supposed to be writing this photography tips article. Why? Because I'm a sucker for free things. Here's what I'm thinking every time I go to sit down and write this article.

(static)

(crickets)

(dead silence)

Sooooo....do you guys have any ideas? Any questions about photography? Also, what would you do if you got free stuff out of it?

We have logged some serious pool time. My kids are still always naked, but at least there's a good reason behind it.

There have been many, many epic army men battles. Maybe it's being a girl, but it brings new meaning to the word mind-numbing for me. I try to be a good sport, but how many battle formations is a girl supposed to be able to take?