Every photographer wants to get happy, exciting photos of children. Kids are such stimulating subjects, with their constant movements and wild expressions. But while it is enjoyable to watch them play and run, once you turn the camera towards their direction, most children will hide their faces or lose their natural emotions. What should you do to keep the magic from disappearing, then?
Children photography is different from other forms of photography. For one, you are shooting somebody who gets bored very easily. You will only have a minute or less to capture that perfect expression. You can’t spend hours directing them or telling them what to do. You also can’t persuade them to do the things you want. It takes a balance of patience and luck to get the perfect photograph.
You also have to think of the child. They may get intimidated from your camera gear, so don’t bring too many large and distracting things. You need to make sure that the child is at ease with you and your camera. Talk to the child and make them comfortable around you. Don’t ask them to pose too much; give them freedom to do whatever they like. Also, give them props such as their favorite toy or an interesting object. This will usually make them forget that there is a camera trained on their face, allowing them to be natural in front of the lens.
While taking the photograph, get down on your knees. It is best to get an eye level photo, so that it looks more personal. You can even take candid photos; this way you don’t have to constantly ask the child to look at your camera. Be creative in the ways you distract them. Kids photography requires you to think out of the box.
Some days your subject can be unwilling or difficult to work with. Give them a short break, or if it is no cost, allow yourself to postpone the shoot for some other day. If the shoot is no longer enjoyable for the child, you won’t be getting any good photos of the kid anytime soon.
You will learn that shooting a child is a new learning experience, every single time. Getting that perfect photo that really gets a child’s essence is something priceless. This may not be the easiest form of photography, but it can be very fun, for both you and the child.
Children Photography Singapore – Making Photoshoot Fun for Your Child
Maternity Photography Singapore – The J Family
Sorry folks for not updating for a while. It’s been a super busy start for 2013.
For this post, let me introduce the J Family. Why J Family? No, their surname is not J, but rather, their first names all start with the letter J. Before the shoot, I chatted with Joanne and Joshua to warm them up and make them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Getting to know them better also facilitates better shots that brings out their unique character and feel.
They shared that they are going to name their baby boy Joseph. They are from New Creation Church, so the origin is obvious 🙂 Coincidentally, the makeup artist that was assigned, is also from New Creation Church. So everyone had a good time getting to know one another while prepping for the shoot.
Joanne wanted her maternity shoot to be done outdoors, but could not decide on the location. In the end, we chose to go to Marina Barrage (a few days after the Scott’s shoot).
Below are some images to share.
Makeup by: Yilee
Regards,
Darren (123 Photography)
Email: info@123photography.com.sg
Website: www.123photography.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/123PhotographySingapore
Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013
With year 2012 coming to a close, 123 Photography is grateful to have met many wonderful clients this year. 123 Photography started operations officially over a year ago, and we are thankful for the valuable feedback and compliments over our work, motivating us to keep doing better.
A rough count showed up to 50 photo shoots this year, with 25 maternity photography, 10 newborn photography, 6 kids photography, 5 family photography and 2 baby shower photography, a satisfying number considering no advertising was done for the first half of the year. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the clients who went on to introduce our services to their friends and families.
Looking forward, we are committed to capturing more unforgettable moments and create cherished memories in the years to come.
Hereby, 123 Photography would like to wish everyone a Prosperous Year 2013.
Scott Family From Australia
Photography is glad to be chosen to create Trea Scott’s family portraits, as a memento for their life here in Singapore before going back to Australia for good. The request was to have Singapore skyline as backdrop as well as places depicting the essence of Singapore. After taking the various preferences and factors into consideration, Marina Barrage and Club Street were chosen.
Coincidentally, the makeup artist that was assigned, was later discovered to be a good friend of Trea, what a small world.
Below are some images to share.
Makeup by: Yilee
Regards,
Darren (123 Photography)
Email: info@123photography.com.sg
Website: www.123photography.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/123PhotographySingapore
Make your Baby’s Portraiture Last
Our fondest memories of growing up are not only at their most beautiful when cherished, but also when they’re captured. Not only do we love telling and hearing stories from when we were kids; more than anything else, we also take pleasure in taking a trip down the memory lane by browsing photographs of our past, carefree years of childhood. The same is true for our babies once we become parents. We can now fully grasp and appreciate the idea of making priceless keepsakes through snapshots that capture how our kids look from when they were born and then saving it for later, when they’re old enough to look back on it. This concept of timelessness that transcends generations is the basic reason why more and more people are discovering the beauty of baby photography—because really, is there anything else more adorable and cuter in the world than baby pictures?
Professional photography for babies is not only enjoying tremendous popularity as a trend these days because of the accessibility of studios and expert photographers offering these services but also mostly because of the playful, creative quality that radiates from the beautifully-shot pictures being produced. Ranging from dramatic to quirky humour overtones, capturing baby pictures is a unique way of preserving the youthful, individual charms of infants. Doting parents are usually presented with a variety of options on how they would like to have their babies be photographed. In some cases, parents can decide or are encouraged to go and develop a concept of their own, and then these ideas are later enhanced for a more cohesive output. As a family activity, it is also a productive and fun way to bond and spend time together; babies are exposed earlier to being trained and adapting to people. Through artistic styling and conceptualization, baby photography has evolved into a well-loved medium for parents wanting to preserve the vivid details of their most precious ones’ early years.
Time is indeed fleeting; before our very eyes, children are growing up faster than we ever wanted them to be, and although we could never really slow down their advancement in years and ages, what we could do now is to start preserving their memories early, so that we will not miss anything significant. For all of these, baby photography is definitely the answer in making the most out of the fondest memories we would like to keep forever.
Making Photo Sessions Fun for the Whole Family
If you want family photos that really recreates the dynamics of your family, then it might be time to do away with the idea of “posed” shots. Gone are the days when family photos had to look serious and stiff, because now, your family photos can be as fun and colorful as you want it to be. Sure there are still a few photography basics that you need to keep in mind to be able to compose good shots, but as most professional photographers will tell you, it’s much easier to get good pictures with fun photo sessions. If you want to make family photography an experience for the whole family, then here are a few tips to help you out.
Play around with different concepts
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box if you want to make family photography fun. Play around with creative concepts that can help express the different personalities of the family members. If you have to use costumes or props, don’t be afraid to go all out. Just remember to not let the concept get too out of hand because you’ll still want to keep the look cohesive to be aesthetically pleasing.
Present a relaxed environment
Next, make sure to shoot family photos in a relaxed environment. If you’re not quite happy with the set in the studio, you can try taking the shoot outdoors. Look for a quiet park where the family can feel relaxed for cheerful sunny pictures. Or if the family feels more comfortable in their own home, then you can develop your concept from there. The point is to shoot photos of the family where there won’t be too much stress or else it will show on the prints.
Be candid
Last but not the least, you might also want to give candid shots a try. Instead of asking them to pose, have the family members talk to each other about their happiest memories of being together. Then take your shots inconspicuously and see what comes out. Sometimes, the only way to get great pictures is to ignore the camera completely.
Fun family photography need not be a cause of stress, especially if you have ingenious ways to get your subjects to open up. Always remember that the secret to great family pictures is to take photos of your subjects at their happiest moments. Just be creative, relaxed and let them do their own thing.
Maternity Photography Singapore – Onsite photo-shoot with Biker Mama
Sometime back, I received an email enquiry asking for a maternity photo-shoot with a special theme. Shirley wanted to have a photography theme with her beloved bike, a Suzuki Hayabusa. During her wedding, the bike was utilized for the march-in at the dinner banquet. This time round, in taking pictures to commemorate the pending arrival of a new member to the family, without a doubt, the bike has to be involved as well.
Initially, the photoshoot was to be at a workshop. But due to unforeseen circumstances, the location was changed to her dad’s factory at Defu Lane. It’s really a blessing in disguise, as the place resulted in the photos having a unique character and rustic feel to them.
Once again, this proves that good photos does not need a “proper” studio contrary to traditional beliefs. A place that has meaning and is most comfortable for the clients has so far created the best results in my experience.
Below are some images to share.
Makeup by: Yukiko Lim
Regards,
Darren (123 Photography)
Email: info@123photography.com.sg
Website: www.123photography.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/123PhotographySingapore
Maternity Photography & Newborn Photography Singapore – Mom Zoey & Baby Arora
Zoey was one of the earliest mom-to-be who found me through my website. Through our phone discussion, she signed up both the maternity and newborn package without hesitation. She has a bubbly nature which made my job easier as she was smiling and laughing throughout the photo-shoot.
Below are some images to share.
Regards,
Darren (123 Photography)
Email: info@123photography.com.sg
Website: www.123photography.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/123PhotographySingapore
Maternity Photography Singapore – To Be or Not To Be Nude in Maternity Photography
Should a mother-to-be go for nude maternity photography? Is it really necessary to do such pose? What is it in nude pregnancy photography that makes it popular and commonly used pose? To whom should one pose for this kind of photography?
These are some questions asked when it comes to nude maternity photography. A lot of people consider that being naked in a photograph is a form of art. It is also a way of expressing oneself in front of the camera. However, this form of style has different meanings since the message of a photograph depends on the person viewing it. No matter how a nude photo is professionally done, the end user is still the one deciding what the meaning of the photograph is. A nude photo may actually look extravagant and outstanding to some, but it may also look recklessly-done for other viewers.
Since being nude in a photo means a thousand words, those involve in it should know the real meaning of what they are doing. In the case of pregnancy photography, the subject of the photo, which is the future mom, needs to consult the professional photographer chosen in order to know the dos and don’ts in this style of photography. There are actually hundreds of pregnant women who opt to go for nude pregnancy photography since this can be a form of expressing their love for their little one by caressing their bump in an emotional way. In addition, all the effects, such as lighting and background can work perfectly together if the subject bares it all as this highlights the tummy.
Aside from all the emotional aspects of nude pregnancy photography, another edge of this kind of pose is that it gives the mother-to-be the feeling of being sexy. Carrying another human being certainly adds to the weight; plus, the curve will not be the ideal one. With this, posing for the camera without any clothes can give some confidence boost to the mother-to-be.
On the other hand, posing nude in front of anybody is a big no. Though there are professional photographers who are really taking nude photos of pregnant women, there could be some photographers who tend to be malicious. With this, pregnant women who wish to take a photo of themselves without any clothes on should look for a trustworthy professional photographer to avoid any unwanted incidents in the sessions of a maternity photography.
Maternity Photography Singapore – How to Look Great for Your Maternity Photoshoot
Being pregnant is considered as one of the most joyous phases in a woman’s life. It gives a different kind of feeling that no money can buy. More and more pregnant women are open to the idea of maternity photography wherein they can flaunt their growing tummy. Be one of these women who enjoy posing for a maternity photo shoot session.
Our overall goal is to take amazing pictures without giving any stress to the mom-to-be. Preparation is one of the keys in order to make your total experience worthwhile and stress-free session. Look great on your photos through following the steps below:
1) Decide on the storyline or theme of the photo session: Looking at great photos with stories behind it makes it more engaging to the viewer. Start with deciding where you want to conduct the photo session. It could be at a certain outdoor location or simply at home.
2) Choose the right outfit: Your outfit will depend on the chosen theme. For instance, your preferred theme is something related to nature. The location will be a garden or the ocean. Opt to choose earth colors such as green, yellow and sky blue outfit. Go for colorful clothes to add life to the pictures if the backgrounds you are going to use are plain. On the other hand, use plain colors if you are going to go for colorful background. Take in consideration your own sense of fashion and type of photos you want to create. If you are a pregnant woman who loves adventure, you can consider topless or nude shots. There are great photographers that can help you come up with artistic nude pictures of pregnant women.
3) Avoid wearing tight clothes before the shoot. This applies to bras, waistbands and socks. It will create unwanted marks on the skin that are visible in the photos. Remember, maternity photos usually show off flesh and skin.
4) Bring with you tube tops, halter and other fitting tops that can enhance the shape of your growing belly. The highly recommended color of tight fitting tops is skin-tone that has adjustable and removable straps.
5) Clean your nails prior the shoot. Your hands and your belly create an amazing angle for maternity photos.
The most important thing in every maternity photo session is you have to stay relaxed and calm. Maternity portrait highlights the mom and the baby bump. Look great on your photos. Discuss your plans and expectations with your photographer. Maternity photos are great to start a collection of amazing pictures of your baby.