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Greetings, Friends!

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, there is a new interactive thread I’m starting weekly called #AskAliceShesNice! (but, you know that I’m nice already, right?) :)

The series will feature weekly photography tips and tricks, designed to help mommy photographers (and dads too!) of any level elevate their own photographs of their children.  Please feel free to ask questions, post topic suggestions you’d like me to cover, tag & share with friends who might find these tips helpful.

The first tip I shared last night revolves around lighting.  Great lighting is so crucial to great photography.  And because this topic is so vast, I will spend several weeks going over it and the different elements of it.

Tip:  Photograph during the Golden Hour.  The golden hour is when the run rises and when the sun sets…. the time of day when the light outside looks beautiful even, and there is no worry of harsh shadows or blown out areas.  It’s also the easiest time of day to photograph.

Bonus:  If you place your subjects in front of the light source (which in this case is the sun) and expose for their faces,  you can achieve that beautiful “glow” around their hair/heads and really make them pop.  It’s gorgeous.

Camera Settings & Specs:  Canon 5D MkIII, 85mm 1.2L, ISO 500, f/2.8, 1/1000th.  Shot at 8am.

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travelportraits
 Greetings & welcome to another #AskAliceShesNice where I share quick, easy & frequently requested photography tips to enthusiasts at any level!
This week’s topic is on Travel Portraits.  In lieu of Spring Break and many of my friends, family & clients wrapping up their family vacations, I wanted to share some tips on capturing these memories.
My Tips:
  •  1) First, make time for this.  This is the one time I try my very best to fully capture in my family’s lives.  Often times, I hire a professional photographer in the area for our annual family session.  There is just something so magical about taking my children to someplace new, and I love capturing it on film.
  • 2)  Step back & take in your environment.  Capture the details that make that place so special, and capture wider angles that show the people, architecture, and culture.
  •  3)  Lastly, make a tangible memory from these adventures.  We have stacks of coffee table books in our home chronicling our travels, and they are by far my family’s favorites.  My favorite consumer photo book company is @ArtifactUprising.  They print straight from your phone; it really doesn’t get easier than that.
Camera Settings:  Canon 5D MkIII, 85mm 1.2L, shot outdoors at ISO 320, f/1.6, 1/6400 at sunset.
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BUSYBABIES
Happy Wednesday and Welcome to another #AskAliceShesNice where I share quick, easy & frequently requested photography tips to enthusiasts at any level!
Reader Question:  How do you take pictures of super active babies?  She won’t keep still for a picture!
My answer:  Keep them contained!  Like my little Elise, some babies/toddlers just want to MOVE, and that can sometimes be challenging when photographing them.  Aside from bumping up your shutter speed and ISO if you’re in a low lit room, I would find a chair, a basket, or “magic stool” to keep them still for 5 seconds while I work my own magic with them.  Or, like baby Trip pictured here – the beautiful bathroom sink.  I especially love this because bathroom lighting mid-day can be pretty perfect, and there is water to keep them entertained and distracted!   And that just makes everyone happy.  (safety tip:  be sure to keep a spotter, i.e. mom, next to the baby)
Camera Settings:  Canon 5D MkIII, 85mm 1.2L, shot indoors at ISO 400, f/1.6, 1/250 on a sunny day.
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 ToGatherHeadshots
Happy Wednesday and welcome to another #AskAliceShesNice where I share quick, easy & frequently requested photography tips to enthusiasts at any level!
This week’s topic is on Head Shots.  This is outside my general baby and children subject matter, but I do enjoy photographing successful & driven women when I have the opportunity.  Generally, finding the light for flattering head shots is the easy part.  Posing your subjects so that you are capturing them in their most flattering angle is usually the most challenging part.  My 3 tips:
1.  Recommend color and wardrobe pieces that flatter their skin tones.
2.  Guide their expressions and loosen them up.  No one likes a stiff head shot.
3.  Tilt their heads, angle their bodies, and shift their shoulders to elongate their figures.  This allows them to appear slimmer, more confident, and relaxed.
A well-photographed head shot speaks volumes on your brand and business. Practice these tips with a friend so that yours connects with your audience the way you want it to!
Camera Settings:  Canon 5D MkIII, 85mm 1.2L, shot indoors at ISO 500, f/1.2, 1/200th at approximately 3pm on a cloudy day.
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I just adore being a mom of a preschooler. There is endless ideas for creative fun!

For Lyon’s class, I helped host a sweet Valentine’s Day party, complete with red treat bags, flowers, and candy.  I rigged up a very DIY photo booth (with very little expectation of these 3 year olds actually understanding what to do with it), and here are the results.  Pure JOY. You can’t garner better and more real preschool expressions than this.

Cathedral PReschool Valentine

Cathedral PReschool Valentine’s Day

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