Warthan Farms | Jennifer Warthan » farm wife | mama | photographer

I know I’ve covered this before but believe me when I say it is the Number One thing that lands in my inbox (Second thing? Pinterest notifications. Love me some Pinterest!)

Typically if I’m not working, I have my two little ones with my allllll day. This means we get our pick of times to take pictures. If they’re coloring or helping me bake, of course I don’t hesitate to take a picture no matter the time of day. But for today’s assignment, we want to focus on getting great, frame-able, shout-it-from-the-rooftops-worthy pictures so we waited and waited and waited until about 7pm. This is when the light is getting softer and yummy and coming at a wonderful direction to light up little faces. You don’t want harsh, overhead light.

Speaking of harsh, overhead, yucky light: Turn off your flash. You heard me. Off. That pop up flash is no one’s friend. Neither is the Auto setting. Turn your camera to Aperture Priority or Program mode if you aren’t familiar with shooting in Manual.

With that out of the way, let’s talk clothes.

Before we started shooting, I had a basic idea of what I wanted… clean, bright, simple. You don’t need to spend a lot and please, please don’t put your babies in matching outfits. Images look infinitely better when clothes simply coordinate rather than being matchy-matchy.

To show you that you don’t need to spend a ton, I put M.K. in some overalls that we’ve had forever and Avery Ruth in a dress that once belonged to Shelby. Two pieces of clothing – nothing intricate or fancy – just two items. Check out how they are not only the same “style” (honestly, I think they’re both OshKosh) but how the faded blue overalls picks up the blue in her dress.

(Little man is STILL carrying around these bottles from this post – at least they coordinate too!)

My point with the clothes? They help create a look and a mood. If I’d wanted light, airy, whimsical? I may have put Avery Ruth in a little tutu dress. If I’d wanted softer, warmer, cozier images? Then I’d have chosen soft, textured fabrics and muted neutrals.

 

Here’s a piece of advice I’ve repeated often… Get down, Mama! The above image would have a totally different feel if I’d been towering above her. But lying on my belly, I can see her sweet look of concentration.

Don’t make them look at you.

Let them be themselves. How would you feel if someone pointed a camera at you and loudly shouted your name over and over and over again? I think that photoshoot would be over pretty quickly. 

Just. let. them. be.

Keep things simple. I’m all for props and I see my friends have these prop-filled sessions and everything looks flawless – I can never seem to make them work.

I like finding something simple like this railroad tie – or very often our creek – to give them something to do (Avery Ruth is big on balancing these days) and add a little – just a little – to the photo. Add a billion brownie points if it’s something sentimental to you.

Here’s just a basic slide. Nothing special, but it gives them a way to interact with each other rather than me barking orders at them to “hug” or – the absolute worst – “say cheese”. I doubt anything could look LESS flattering than the “say cheese” face.

I’m going to love this picture forever because it’s THEM. It’s not forced, it wasn’t obtained through bribery, it’s just my happy babies.

To recap:

- No flash and no Auto Mode (and if you know me well, you know I’m making a face as I type those words)

- Wait until the sun is low (or diffused by *light* clouds)

- Create a vision in your head of what you want your pictures to look like. Pinterest (told ya I love it) is great for inspiration!

- Coordinate your children’s clothes but don’t dress them identical to one another. If you wouldn’t go out to dinner matching, then don’t do it for photos.

- Get down on their level. In fact, try all SORTS of angles – them lying on their backs with you directly above… them at the top of the slide towering over you… get creative!

- Don’t force it. You might have to be patient for the right moment to come along, but it will. It always does.

- Keep it simple and uncluttered.

- Outlaw “say cheese” at your house… just as I’ve done on the farm.

 

Oh hey look – someone got the Coordinate Memo…

I can plan a LOT out but there’s no way I could have planned that so perfectly!