Mary Lynne Ashley - Dont Say Cheese! - Photographing Babies and Children in the Studio

Dont Say Cheese!

Photographing Babies and Children in the Studio

Mary Lynne Ashley

Copyright

DONT SAY CHEESE!

Photographing Babies and Children in the Studio

Copyright 2013 by Mary Lynne Ashley

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio, television, in person or online reviews, no part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher or author, except where permitted by law.

Although the author has made every effort to ensure the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and the author was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been capitalized.

http://www.aspiringphotographer.com

First Edition

All photographs copyright 2013 Mary Lynne Ashley

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my biggest fan, Farnum Johnson, whose enthusiasm for my work embarrassed me more times than I can count. Dad, I love you and I miss you.

Acknowledgements

So many people have contributed to my growth as a photographer, and in turn, to the creation of this book. My clients and their children probably deserve the most credit, because without them I would have had no one to help me learn any of this first-hand. I have made dear friends along the way, and have enjoyed watching many children grow from tiny newborns to big school-aged kids.

Others deserving a good deal of credit are the photographers who spoke at the Photographing Children and Families conference I attended back in 2001 in Biloxi, Mississippi, offered by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Speakers at that event included Bev and Tim Walden, Susan Michal, Lizbeth Guerrina, Angela Carson and Dennis Craft. They opened a world of possibilities to me and inspired me in a lasting manner. Since then, Ive studied with incredible photographers and business professionals such as Sandy Puc, Vicki Taufer, Tim Kelly, Julie Klaasmeyer and Lori Nordstrom, whose classes all played a part in helping me grow my skills and my business.

My photographer friends who I have met through various organizations and associations have also been a tremendous help in so many ways, especially Wendy Schicktanz, Joan Brady, Terry and Pat Moore, Chris Waldron, Coleen Swanson, Leah Severson, Melissa Howell, Bree Edris, Randy Stueber, Tricia Muehlbauer and Tom Sluder. A special thanks goes to Bree Leonard, who took the photo in this book of me with a camera in front of my face, my friend Deedle Murray who modeled for that photo and also helped edit this book, and to Stephanie Haggerty, my former studio manager. In addition, Ive learned an enormous amount from the photographers who frequent the online forums in which I was actively involved, specifically ilovephotography.com and pro4um.com.

Additionally, Id like to thank the individuals who have studied with me and those who have read my blog. I sometimes learn the most when Im sharing what I know with others.

My children, Will and Kaya, inspire me in countless ways every day. As with many female photographers, my interest in childrens portraiture was sparked by their very existence. My parents, brother, many close personal friends and clients-turned-friends have also been big supporters of me and my work.

Finally, a huge thanks to all the gorgeous children whose portraits fill the pages of this book.

Table of Contents

?

Preface

Ive been calling myself a professional photographer since 2001, although back then I was probably a little bit of an impostor. I had the good fortune of moving across the country from Virginia to Colorado at the same time I was starting up my new business, so as far as anyone here in Colorado knew, I actually was a photographer. When I started my business, I bought some studio equipment, found out it was not what I needed, got rid of it, and bought myself some more equipment. Then I had to try to figure out what the heck I was doing!

I spent hours years, actually learning to photograph babies and kids in the studio by trial and error. And for those first few years I stressed out a good deal whenever someone would come to me for photos of their babies and kids. I was completely winging it, and am lucky no one figured me out! Now, after attending numerous seminars, spending countless hours studying photography online, and photographing hundreds, if not thousands, of babies and kids, I do know what Im doing. Im not quite sure when I transitioned from novice to competent professional, but somewhere along the line it happened. I even managed to become a Certified Professional Photographer and to earn my Master Photographer degree from the Professional Photographers of America. I couldnt have imagined I would accomplish that when I was starting out.

Ive learned from so many other photographers along the way, and now its time for me to give back by sharing what Ive learned.

Please be aware that links within this book to products sold through B&H are associated with my affiliate account and that my children and I will benefit if you make purchases through those links. Itd be great for me if you chose to make purchases through those links, but you certainly may want to shop around for the best prices, and I would encourage you to do that. None of the other vendor links in the book are associated with an affiliate account, only the B&H links.

If you have questions or feedback while youre reading this guide, please feel free to contact me. You can find all my contact information at the end of the book. I am also available for private photography lessons and consulting, both in person and via Skype, so please contact me if you are interested. If you enjoy the book I would sure appreciate it if you could take a couple minutes to create a review on Amazon.

Mary Lynne Ashley

Introduction

No sweat. Youve scheduled a portrait session with a two-year-old. The mom has told you her child loves being in front of the camera, is always good, and that it will be a really quick and easy session. How hard could it be? If youve been through it once or twice, you know the answer to that.

You may have picked up this book because youve already tried to photograph children in the studio and found it challenging at best. Many people will abandon their dream of photographing children after a few sessions once they realize whats really involved, and that its not quite the piece of cake they envisioned. Some people will tell you how easy it is to photograph children, but Im wondering if theyve actually ever done it. Photographing children can be rewarding in many ways. But easy? Not so much! My hope is to make it a little easier, and to help you create more natural-looking studio images.

Seems like an oxymoron, doesnt it? Natural photos of kids in the studio. A studio environment certainly isnt a natural environment for kids, but I still think it lends itself well to creating beautiful, natural-looking images. There are lots of reasons I prefer to photograph children in the studio. These reasons include: