Tips for mums: W5 Using domestic light.

Week 4 was about trying to switch off on camera flash, but now the days are getting shorter, there isn’t enough natural light, so what to do?

Week 5 tips is therefore abouth using domestic light :).

Once as my boy was watching his favourite story on my computer the light bulb in my head flashed. The light is everywhere around us and because the sun is down, it does not mean we have to pack our cameras and say good night to them as well or switch on the flash!

 

Here is the image, which started it all. He was watching a short story on YouTube. I left as much white background on the website as possible to get enough light for me to photograph. I did not care how grainy the image will be, just wanted to capture his expression.

Look for the light everywhere; fridge, table lamp, bedside lamp, monitor light, tablet basically any light strong enough to create an image.

Hugo loves playing on our bed, there are 2 bedside lamps which I pointed at him, so the background would stay dark

Table lamp on the shelf about 1m high

Table lamp on the ground

Most of the time I turn these images into B&W because the directional light creates deep shadows so there is nice contrast perfect for B&W images. :)

Try out:

 

try taking pics of you children while watching story, opening fridge or playing with torch :). Upload your favourite to my ZuHuda Photography Facebook page and I will re-post my favourite one.

Evie

When a mum tells me 'we trust you and I know we will want all presented images' I get those butterflies in my belly.
 
Trust is the most important element I need to feel free. It is then when my work is the best because I photograph for mum and for myself and I do step outside my comfort zone. I always do different things and experiment a lot knowing that there will be plenty images to choose from.

Kat & James, thank you for your trust, it was my absolute pleasure to photograph you all and can't wait to do our indoor session! Sending hugs to Evie and ... dear Rabbits, next time you will be in pictures too!!!

Tips for mums: W4 Pop up flash vs natural light

One of mums asked if I use flash in my photography. To be honest, I don't use on camera flash at all. I do use studio lights for fine art portraits but not for everyday life photos.

On camera flash is not only distracting and not very pleasant for a subject (no, it is not harmful) but it also creates flat images. Most cameras come with a pop-up flash and you need to turn it off as it can be set as a default. It is very easy to see, if the built in camera flash has been used. You can see very hard shadows behind the subject, white spot in the middle of the eye.

Quick snapshots to show you the difference

On the first the light nicely fell on his face adding to the mood of the image . On second the face is flattened out.

On the first you can see the texture of the fur, the light in her eyes is the reflection of the window.

 Why Natural light

• I prefer natural light because you can be photographing almost paparazzi like and capture the mood much better without your child noticing you. Once you use flash, your subject might be distracted and ''the game is over '. 

• Also I like the soft shadows and streams of light which add to the image mood and also create the 3D effect. With flash, everything is flattened.

At first try photographing close to the window, but not in the room where the sun is shining directly in, use the other side of the house then. What if she/he is playing with her favourite car in some dark part of the room? Take the toys closer to the window and let her/him play again, once they forget about you start photographing and you will get lovely candids beautifully lit.

I was sitting back to the window

I was sitting in the middle of the room and asked Max to look out the window

 
If the images you are getting are too dark, change ISO in your camera to the higher number until your picture is light as you want it. With higher ISO you will get a grain, but it is better to have a grainy picture and natural image than dark or blurred.
 

Cobweb

I can honestly say I hate spiders. I am terrified of these creatures and will scream the house down no matter how small they are. Every autumn I collect conkers and keep them in every room during the whole year. However I have to admit that I do admire their work.

 

Tips for mums: W3 Please don't say 'Cheeeeeeeeeese'

We love photos of our happy children, we love them smiling, giggling, laughing. Big smile, cute smile, naughty smile, we love them all, don't we?! hmmm, let me see.

My son started a nursery school recently. As we were waiting for the gates to open couple of mums took their phone out one of them called at her daughter 'Say cheeeeeese!' and the other one 'smile at meee!' Girls did as they were told and happy mums snapped the photo. I am not surprised at all. I remember at our school the photographer shouted at us 'say cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese' and all I wanted to do was roll my eyes at him :).

But what do you actually get when you ask somebody to say cheese? Mouths formed into what appears to be a smile-like shape but in children's case most of the time eyes closed mouth wide opened with teeth clenched together. To me this is not a smile.

I first time (and last) ever asked my son to say 'Cheese'. I hate it...!

...and the real belly laugh. Love it...!

So after all this long intro this weeks tip is: MAKE them smile, laugh, giggle. Say something silly, sing a nursery rhyme with wrong words, sneeze, make funny noises, tickle then step back and pretend you are going to tickle them again quickly snap the photo. DO whatever it takes to make them smile just DON'T say SMIIIILE or CHEEESE. I promise, it is worth the effort.

EXERCISE:

Make your child laugh and share the picture with us. Upload your favourite to my ZuHuda Photography Facebook page and I will re-post my favourite one.