6 Things I learned Photographing a Newborn for the First Time

As a rule, I don’t photograph newborn babies. I like looking at great photos of cute babies and kids as much as the next guy, but the subject doesn’t really get me excited to pull the camera out unless it’s my own kids. This weekend though, I did agree to photograph my wife’s cousin’s newborn girl as a favor on the condition that my wife would do all the posing and help with the setup, props, and clothing choices.

The pictures turned out decent and we got a few that I’m happy with and that the mother likes. After one newborn shoot, we are definitely nowhere near professionals with this subject, but we did learn a few things that I think could be useful to someone getting into this area of photography.

The Ultimate Timelapse Guide

Even with the onslaught of motion controlled timelapse videos that have become a popular trend in the last few years, there is something about watching ordinary traffic, growing plants, or stary landscapes sped up and matched to music that just never gets old.

4 Useful Photography Simulators for Learning your Camera

Photography is a visual medium and many aspiring photographers are visual learners. I wanted to share a few resources that help teach photography principles in a visual way.

15 Photography Clichés to Avoid

In some ways I miss being brand new to photography. New photographers are often content taking pictures of just about anything. Hopefully by the time you start to become an intermediate photographer, you’ll start moving past the low hanging fruit and you either start finding more original subjects to photograph, or photograph the following things in a more interesting and unique way. I’m not saying you should never photograph the subjects on this list. I’m saying that if you do, keep in mind that these are some of the most photographed subjects among amateur photographers. Look for a way to photograph these things in a more creative way, using professional techniques and you will make better photographs.

1. Flowers

Flowers are pretty. They are also pretty dang common. They are very often the first thing a new photographer will photograph after unboxing their brand new DSLR. Flowers are usually close and convenient and full of color and interesting shapes. Often shots of flowers just end up being busy and boring. Try working on the composition to eliminate extra objects or unneeded shapes. Find a different angle and pay attention to the light. Also, read this post from Improve Photography on 21 Tips for Creative Flower Photography.

Photographing Waterfalls – Get that Silky Smooth Look

Watkins Glen National Park, Watkins Glen, New York

There are a few images in my portfolio that always seem to provoke people to ask the same question. Those images are of waterfalls and the questions I always get is: How do you get silky smooth water when photographing waterfalls? Here’s some tips to get smooth water in your shots.

5 Tips for Underwater Photography

While planing for a recent trip to the Maldives, I knew I needed to brush up on my underwater photography knowledge. Trying to capture images underwater presents a whole new set of challenges. While underwater you have to deal with low-light and refraction, changing camera settings… oh and BREATHING. I certainly still have much to learn about underwater photography, but in my research and experience I’ve come up with 5 tips for anyone interested in taking images in the deep blue.

Using Natural Window Light to Photograph Children

Taken with Panasonic GH2. 1/160, f/1.7, 20mm

Hello! It’s Mark’s wife Misty again. Just dropping in to talk about one of my favorite ways to take pictures of my own children – using natural window light. This quick photography tip is perfect for moms who are trying to capture the cute antics of their kids through the day while still wanting a nicely lit photograph.

The Best Focal Lengths for Portraits

Because photography is an art form, you could argue that there is no right or wrong focal lengths for taking portraits. While I agree that the best focal length is the one that gives you the results you desire, there are focal lengths that are generally more flattering to the human form than others. We will discuss wide angle, medium, and telephoto focal lengths and the pros and cons of each when photographing portraits.

Wide Angle 

Generally, a wide angle lens is not the first one I’ll reach for when shooting a portrait. Anything in the 10-25mm focal length on a full frame body tends to distort the subject the closer they are to the lens. A wide angle will exaggerate prominent features and make them appear even larger. It’s definitely not the most flattering focal length, especially if you are shooting close to your subject.

A wide angle lens can be essential though if you are looking to capture someone in their environment. Think about how much more compelling your photo of a F-16 fighter pilot would be if you captured him inside the cockpit of his jet and the image was wide enough that you could see the canopy around him and the some of the controls. Sometime a wider focal length will help tell a better story because it gives context and location to the subject.

Shot at 17mm with a Aquatech underwater enclosure. The wide focal length allowed the camera to be really close to the subject and still show the pool floor and water surface.

10 Tips for Getting Kids to Smile for the Camera. #3 is my Favorite.

One of the most difficult things to do in photography might be getting kids to smile for the camera. Even the best photographers sometimes struggle to get a natural smile from young children. Here are some tips for getting kids to smile as well as some things to remind the parents before the shoot:

Understanding the Three Focus Modes on your Canon Camera

If you are shooting with a recent Canon DSLR, you will notice that you have three autofocus modes: One-Shot, AI Servo, and AI Focus. Here is a brief explanation of what each of these modes does: