Professional photography is expensive. What if you are trying to take good photos of your kids but cannot afford a professional photographer? People have at least one holiday family picture per year, birthday parties, or special events. These occasions can be stressful for you and the kids with all the bright lights and judgmental eyes. You can have a professional shoot at home by yourself or with another adult helper. There are several tips on how to do a professional photoshoot at home.
Using a professional photographer gives your guests the best experience during the shoot. Those who have to take their pictures can probably understand how it would feel when you hire a professional. If you want to look good in your wedding album or if you want to impress your family and friends, hiring a pro is undoubtedly worth it. Today, there are various reasons why people nowadays prefer not to use professionals for their shoots at home. Making sure that the photoshoot will be unforgettable is easy as long as you follow these tips below:
Plan and Prepare
When seeking how to do a professional photoshoot at home, you must keep in mind that this event will last only a few minutes, so plan to make sure everything falls into place. It may take some time to take photos in front of a camera, but you need to know when the right time is and find the perfect home for the shoot. Depending on your taste and preference, ensure you look out for a desired property such as a waterfront property: lookout for ideal tree trimming service and generator where the need is in readiness for the photoshoot.
If you take pictures instead of letting them do it, it is best to be prepared with your camera and anything else that may come in handy during the shoot. It will also help figure out what angles work well for different people, so everyone’s picture will look good enough to keep. Be sure to take photos of loved ones who are missing the event because they could not attend. This way, they can still see how great everything turned out later on when seeing their photo album. Getting a skin rejuvenation treatment from a dermatologist will help you get a glowing face for your photoshoot.
If taking pictures of your children at home is mainly for your use, then make sure to prepare for this type of shoot by getting everything ready ahead of time. If you photograph them during or after breakfast, then have their clothing ready that morning before they eat anything, so outfit changes are not required unless necessary. On the other hand, if you are taking pictures before bedtime, then have the kids bathed and in pajamas ahead of time so that all you need to do afterward is some essential hair brushing and toothbrush.
Research on Poses
Another tip on how to do a professional photoshoot at home is looking for ideal poses. Practicing how to pose in front of a mirror can help you position yourself in front of the camera. Try not to have stiff body language because that will ruin your photos. You must also show different expressions so everyone’s picture with you would be memorable. If possible, do some research on poses and facial expressions that look good in photos. Before your shoot, try out these poses in front of a mirror so you will have an idea about what feels comfortable for you when the big day comes. Do not frown or laugh if it does not create a natural expression because this may cause discomfort for other people waiting their turn.
If you are camera shy, there are some tips on improving this trait when having photos taken at home. Do not look directly into the lens when someone takes your image because this will make you look awkward when looking at it afterward. It will also take away all the concentration from other people in front of the camera since they will be looking elsewhere.
Use a White Backdrop
When looking for ways of how to do a professional photoshoot at home, getting all the items needed is vital. The white muslin cloth works great because it is inexpensive, durable enough for several uses, and does not crease easily. You can set it up in less than 5 minutes using tension rods and clips. They are available in many different sizes, from very small fits only one person doing solo shoots to very large sizes for photographing families or small groups.
Use DIY Camera Stands
For the photographer on a budget seeking how to do a professional photoshoot at home, build your camera stands using PVC tubing and assembled shelf brackets. Put some sandbags on both ends of each stand to hold them steady, then place the stands behind the muslin backdrop that you have taut enough so that it will not fall if bumped into by little ones.
Ensure There Is Adequate Lighting
Take advantage of natural light. You might feel tempted to use that big lamp or overhead light that you have in its fullest position, but try to keep it in a lower setting. Add in some lamps to help brighten things up if needed; do not go overboard! Experiment with different settings for lighting until you find a good fit that uses more natural light and less artificial light, which will help save on your electricity bill and provide a fascinating effect.
Another thing you should look out for when looking for ideal ways of how to do a professional photoshoot at home is the light available. Natural light is excellent but not always available when you need it most. If your window does not allow enough light during winter months or at nighttime, you can buy all kinds of lighting equipment, ranging from expensive strobe lights to less expensive continuous light bulbs with reflectors and umbrellas.
You could also consider adding a flashlight. When doing your shoot at home, try mixing different lighting types because this will allow you to have more options in selecting the type of light that works best with your situation. For instance, if you are taking pictures during the day but it is heavily overcast outside, try adding a flash to your picture not to look too dark or moody. It is highly recommended that you pre-light your wet.
When photographing indoors at home, try positioning the shot before taking the actual picture. Try placing your subjects in front of a window facing east or west so that it is lit with warm sunlight either right after sunrise or right before sunset, respectively. By doing this, you will be able to see how shadows form on their faces and what distractions exist in the background by seeing everything clearly through your camera lens.
Take Multiple Shots
You can never have too many pictures to choose from. One shot with the right pose, expression, and lighting is fantastic! Two shots with two different poses, expressions, and lighting can be even better than one! When looking for how to do a professional photoshoot at home, do not be afraid of taking hundreds of photos, especially when you have appealing landscaping features because you will delete most of them anyway after choosing the best ones. Besides, it is more work for kids if they are forced to take dozens of pictures of themselves. Let them run around freely between each photo session so that they do not become bored out of their mind sitting still on a stool or in their car seat for hours while you are working your camera magic.
Make It Fun and Lively
Another essential hint when looking for how to do a professional photoshoot at home is scheduling photo shoots at bedtime or late afternoon; this is when they are most relaxed and sleepy, yet still awake enough for some great photos! During peak hours of the day, when kids are hungriest and tiredness levels peak, do not try to accomplish your photoshoot. During those peak times, children become crankier and irritable than ever and will give you the least desirable expressions on their faces.
Ensure everyone has fun. This is the most important tip and should always be remembered whether taking pictures indoors or outdoors because photos with happy memories shared by everyone will last forever. Although this may sound very obvious, it is often forgotten when photographing kids and adults alike!
Use A Wide Angle Lens
When looking for how to do a professional photoshoot at home, photographing families of 4 or more people (or even if it is just a few members), use a wide-angle lens. This is better instead of zooming in with your telephoto lens; otherwise, you will end up cutting off the heads of people standing too close together.
If everyone stands at least 4 feet away from the backdrop and you zoom out to 10mm, then everyone can fit in your photo as long as they are about as tall as a 3-year-old. Instead of photographing them high up on top of a stool or chair, get down low and photograph them eye-level with the ground; this will make their eyes look larger and more engaging. Photographing kids from above makes them look like toy dolls, not real-life human beings.
Use A Reflector and Umbrella
The reflected light is great because it softens shadows on faces that can be harsh looking without enough lighting or when there is too much contrast between your subject’s face and the background.
If you use a reflector, stand facing your subject and have them look straight at you so that the light reflects off the white surface of the reflector onto their face. If there is too much contrast in lighting between their face and the backdrop, then tilt your reflector towards your backdrop to bounce more light onto it instead of onto their faces.
Use A Tripod
Another tip on how to do a professional shoot at home is always to keep the camera on a tripod when taking pictures. This will allow you to take pictures even during low lighting situations without using a flash, making your photo look harsh and flat. Using a tripod will make you take time to set up the shot and compose it well because nothing moves as quickly as with your bare hands, such as when taking pictures without a tripod.
Take Pictures During Off-Hours
When planning how to do a professional photoshoot at home, it is vital to consider the timing. Most people are busy during peak hours of the day and will not be willing to take pictures at those times unless they are getting paid for it. So, schedule photo shoots for early mornings before breakfast time when all kids are still sleepily hanging off their mom’s or dad’s teeth, or schedule them for bedtime after bath time when they are most relaxed and sleepy yet still awake enough for some great photos!
Get Creative!
Another thing you should put in mind to help you with how to do a professional photoshoot at home is the importance of creativity. Do not forget that shoots are supposed to be fun for both you and your kids, so play around with different ideas until something unexpected happens that makes for great shots! For instance, if one of your ideas does not work out as planned, then try another one until you hit the jackpot!
After taking pictures, always edit them using photo editing software on a computer. This will allow you to make your edited photos look even better than they were when you first took them by removing distractions in the background, brightening colors, and bringing out shadows on faces.
When photographing indoors, always wear something different from what everyone else will be wearing to easily recognize your place in the picture. For instance, if you are photographing your kids at home during breakfast time, then wear a bright red shirt to stand out from the crowd of other family members who would probably all be wearing different colors.
Sometimes the best way to take great photos is to add some props or decorations to the photo! This could be anything from an appealing HVAC unit in your living room, a fancy hat, wearing beautiful earrings, using an exciting vase full of flowers, an Amish gazebo or even something as simple as a book. Little details like this can bring the photo together and make it look extra special! Do not overdo it, though, because if you go overboard, it can take away from the photo’s focus.
If you are photographing kids inside your home or setting up pictures somewhere around your house, always keep blinds/curtains closed to discourage random strangers from popping by your house to say hello. With blinds/curtains closed, you can set up the shot before taking it without anyone accidentally coming into the picture unexpectedly.