DIY lockdown photography Day 1
Oh gosh, what a crazy world we are living in right now! As a photographer, my heart goes out to all you expectant and newborn parents wanting to book sessions. I miss photographing families terribly, but more than anything, I miss capturing memories for them. So, this is where this guide was born - if I can't be there to do it for you, I want to arm you with a little knowledge to do it yourself. No big fancy cameras needed, each simple tip works whether you are choosing to shoot with your camera phone or DSLR.
Tip No.1: Finding and using the light
Find an area in your home lit by even, natural light (turn off all overhead lights). Master bedrooms work brilliantly for maternity and newborn shoots - a safe space to lay baby and a big enough area to capture the whole family (a family sofa works too).
Angle blinds and curtains to prevent bright sunlit areas - hot spots. Although these can be used brilliantly to capture amazing images, they are a little trickier to tackle. In the image below, the blinds are angled to shut out the bright morning light. The subjects are within a meter from the window, so beautifully bathed in good quality light. Moving back into the room, away from the window, brings deeper shadows, which can make it harder to capture sharp images. Dad and daughter are facing towards the light, so that their faces are perfectly illuminated. Think of the natural light as a spot light, turning your subjects towards it, so the important parts of them are lit (faces not backs).
Using the light in this way works whether photographing tiny newborns or beautiful bumps.
Finding and using light is a wonderfully complex element of photography. We have only scratched the surface here, but it will definitely help you on your way. Come back tomorrow, when we discuss what to include and not include in your images.
Stay safe
Jo xxx