WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO.

Hayes Peterson 9/15/17 Hayes Peterson 9/15/17

Tips from the Studio

Portraits for Young Families

When shooting portraits for families with smaller children, the first and definitely most important rule for organically capturing that youthful glow, is also a simple one: have fun! The best way to get that genuine, goofy laugh or toothy grin from kids is to let them enjoy the shoot! Child-friendly environments like parks and beaches, which are generally open, scenic areas with plenty space to bounce around, along with a high-energy and interactive photographer, can make all the difference between a pouty portrait and a smiling snapshot.

Try a more relaxed style shoot! Accepting a more candid, or casual and natural, outlook on family shoots and really taking a secondary role with directing the session allows not only the kids, but the parents as well, to get in their comfort zone, which makes for a more authentic look and enjoyable experience.

Although location, time of day, and the length of the session are all variables that factor into every shoot and how often you’ll have to adjust, when taking pictures with little ones, a high shutter speed is essential for catching those in-the-moment smiles and giggles that truly bring out the look parents want. Setting a relatively higher speed to your camera’s shutter allows it to capture the light information faster, but will also result in a darker photo, so you’ll want to keep an eye on your ISO and and aperture.

Timing is key when working with a high shutter speed and rambunctious subjects, so make an effort to highlight any sentimental interactions, unique details, and all the laughs and goofiness. Also, be sure to consider all your light sources and take advantage of softer light for a less sharp contrast.

As for any specific gear that we recommend for a family shoot, a 24-70mm or 24-105mm lens will definitely be the first choice. Since they both give such a wide range, letting you zoom in and out from a further distance, they help save time switching lenses since the session will be much more active.

Get the parents involved! Especially when you need a more cooperative shot, including mom or dad to help direct can not only result in that perfect picture you wanted, but improves the overall experience, allowing everyone to contribute in a fun way.

Last but not least, and this goes for any photo session, try and get some behind the scenes! If you have the equipment, a little video of the shoot can make the experience all the more memorable.

Hayes Peterson 8/21/13 Hayes Peterson 8/21/13

Ian + Traci's Wedding - HP Studios

Ian and Traci's wedding - HP Studios

It's so much fun sharing in what is arguably the most important day of one's adult life. I got to share in Ian and Traci's wedding this past weekend and it was just that. Ian and Traci met through mutual friend Tommy Spencer. Tommy worked with Traci and Ian used that to his advantage in getting to know Traci better, and yadda yadda yadda they got married August 18th 2013. Tommy got ordained and was their minister for the service. It's always rad to get a really personal ceremony, and Tommy was perfect for for the job.

A really big CONGRATS to the newlyweds! You guys are awesome!

Flowers by Tannis at Adolph Jacksons Flowers

Venue at Mcmenamins Grand Lodge

Hayes Peterson 5/29/13 Hayes Peterson 5/29/13

Win Your Choice from Snapknot

There's still time to enter this great give away presented from Snapknot.com If you're a photographer and don't already have one of these cameras, then you for sure know about them and may be on your buy list. SnapKnot is giving you a easy way to put one in your camera bag.

I'm Saving up for the Canon but this would be an awesome win for anybody. Enter, and good luck.

Big thanks to the SnapKnot wedding photography directory for offering this great camera giveaway!

HP Studios