creative composition: tornado style

Remember a month or so ago when I said I was going to try and be more creative photographing my kids? Well, I did one post on it...got busy...and forgot! Something has really been bothering me lately with my photography; especially my Party of Three shots, but I couldn't put a finger on it. I think I had a light-bulb moment today.

One of my favorite photographers is Keli at Kidnapped by Suburbia. I follow her blog, I admire all of her pictures on Flickr, so I thought to myself...besides her super cool processing, what is different between her pictures and mine? I think I figured it out! She takes pictures as if she's quietly observing what's going on in the room. With many of her indoor shots, I feel a sense of calm and quiet...and I love how there's not always interaction between her and her daughters as she's photographing them.

I take pictures like a camera-wielding maniac, often times 6 inches from your face. I wave stuff around, I try to get TT to look up and smile............WHY??!!

I thought I'd try a different approach today.

See? Here I'm being a silent observer from the hallway.


Try focusing on something other than your child; just get them playing in the background.


Snap pictures of the little details, rather than 20 of the same shot of your child's face. (I'm totally guilty of this - LOL!!) ;-)


Here's something else I discovered. Usually I'll tidy up a little if I know I'm going to be taking pictures in a certain room. By doing this, my pictures can look plain and boring. AND staged. Look how all the clothes hanging in the closet behind Livia add a little color and interest. (When I saw TT coming, I almost jumped up to close the closet doors. I'm so glad I didn't! It is a child's room after all).


Something else that totally sapped my creativity...I got all caught up in facing the light, facing the light, facing the light. I usually have my back to a window, with my kids facing the light to get those big catchlights in their eyes. Look at the picture below. I love that little bit of side-lighting coming in from the window and falling on her left cheek, don't you? I would have missed that if I was between Livia and the light.


I went way overboard with facing the light.

Here I am again, low to the ground, observing from a ways back. I could have composed this differently; maybe closer to TT from the waist down. Just for a more artsy effect.


More of the little details.


I was trying to do some more creative shots like just hands, feet, etc...but I was using my 50mm 1.4 and my DOF was too shallow. (That's not a lens I normally use, and I need more practice with it). My shots were kind of a blurry mess, so I'm going to try again. (For those of you with the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L and the 50mm 1.4, do you notice your shots being softer with your 50mm?)

Don't be afraid to get a little hint of furniture in your shot, like the shadowy part of the dresser you see on the right side. It shows where you are in relation to your surroundings and looks like you are peeking in the room.


The next 3 pictures are how I normally take pictures. Livia facing the window, me right in front of her. I don't dislike them, but they don't reflect what I was practicing..."quiet observation from afar." ;-)


I wanted to include them anyway because I love TT's sweet little face. :-)


I've always liked getting down really low and shooting up at my subject. Just make sure your subject is somewhat looking down so you don't see up their nose. (Seriously). ;-)


Can you tell I like my Mickey Mouse idea? - LOL! There's a much better example of this here on Brooke's blog. Very creative!


And that's where my attempt at a different perspective ends.


I had all these ideas I wanted to try with Livia in the crib...


...but not surprisingly, she wasn't in there for a millisecond before plotting her escape.


Two of my blog friends that are exceptional at thinking outside the box when photographing their kids are Stacey and Naomi. If you photograph this way too, or know of a photographer who does, I'd love if you linked me to their blog in a comment. I'd love the inspiration!

For those of you that are new to my blog, I apologize that I'm not able to visit everyone back that leaves a comment. But please know how much I value every word! ♥
Have a wonderful Thursday! :-)