My First Entry

December 29, 2007 - I set up this blog just over a year ago, and never really got around to using it until this morning. It was kind of fun to read this, my first entry, when I was just starting out, thinking maybe I can actually make some money with this hobby that I love!

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I read someone's blog today and decided it's time to start my own! I have been saying for a long time that I want to start writing in my journal more often. I guess this is a step. The plan to to write about photography and post a few pictures from each photo session, along with some thoughts - things I liked about the session, things I learned, and things I will do better next time.

Over the past three weeks, I have had five sessions with different children/families, some of which came from my "FREE portrait session" posting on Craigslist. They have all been fun and educational, great practice and successful, as far as I'm concerned. The families I have worked with have been very appreciative, relaxed and fun.

My goal is to capture kids being themselves, just playing and not being forced to sit and smile. So even when we are in my little home studio, I do very little instructing and let the kids just have fun and run around the room. I try to let the parents know that they don't need to stress if their child doesn't want to sit and smile. I can still get some nice shots.

My session yesterday was with Sasha and his parents. He is a very cute two-year-old with plenty of energy. We three adults decided quickly that Sasha was ths boss and we let him lead us around the park. It was very cold out, but that didn't seem to bother Sasha. We watched the birds ("lulus") and he fed them some of his "doodoo," which his mother was quick to tell me means bagel! We then came back to my apartment and hung out in our office, which I have turned into my small studio. I don't know why, but kids love it in here. When I told Sasha's mom about a girl who kept asking if she could come back another time, she told me it was probably me the kids like and not just the room, which I really hadn't thought of was very nice to hear!

We unfortunately had trouble getting any family shots, as Sasha would only sit by himself until we counted to three, and that only works a few times, but I got some cute shots of him "swimming in the pool" that was my white background and just having fun. I think we all had fun!

Things I learned during this session:

1. Always bring tissues to the park in case subject begins to blow snot bubbles.

2. Asking kids to say "cheese" really works.

3. Two-year-olds know how to turn on the TV. Sasha was the third little boy who headed right for the TV and knew exactly which button to push!

4. One child isn't necessarily easier to photograph than three!