The holidays are always filled with memorable moments. Some of my favorites are of my kids helping me in the kitchen and decorating the house for the holidays. The uncontrolled laughs and flour-dusted clothes are as memorable to me as the smell of cookies baking in the oven. I grew up with hobbyist photographers who, luckily, shared their love of taking photos with me and made me feel like having a camera in hand was as normal as wearing a watch. Because of that, I raised my kids the same way. Photographing everything my adorable and yet mischievous sons were doing has helped me preserve their childhood in a way I hope will be cherished for a lifetime.
Know Your Light
The biggest thing when taking a photo is knowing your light. This doesn't mean you need complicated light setups, but it just means to pay attention to the way the light falls in your home and know the best time to head outside. Maybe the early morning light paints your counters with warm sunlight and, with that knowledge, you can take some adorable photos of your kids eating chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Also, knowing that an hour before sunset or right at sunrise will give you the softest, most flattering light will keep you from heading out at noon to compete with the bright sun. Once you start to be aware of what light is in a room, you can start seeing things in a thoughtful way.
Get Close
Get close to the people you are taking the photo of, allowing only what enhances the story in your shot. One of my absolute favorite images I have of my youngest son, Moses, is when he was just a toddler taking a bubble bath. We had plopped tons of bubbles on his face so he had a beard like Santa Claus, and when we showed him what he looked like, he just lost it and started uncontrollably giggling. Knowing the giggles and the sudsy-covered face were what I wanted to remember, I snapped a photo of him without him even knowing. The combination of how he fills up my frame and the fact there is nothing else in that image except his joyful little face makes it an iconic photo of Moses for me. In reality, my tub had bath toys and random shampoo bottles everywhere, but that would have added nothing to the image.
Real Moments
I have always believed that, while points A and B are beautiful, it's the moments traveling between the two that create the most emotional images. So, if you are going to bake some holiday cookies, it's the mess of ingredients spilling over and icing-filled fingers that create the story. Perfection can be boring, and if you are like me, it is never actually reality. I always want to capture the connection in the image, so if Moses is peeking over at his brother laughing or if Jonas is sneaking a spatula of cookie dough, then that is what I want to remember. I never focused on the idea that both kids needed to be looking at me to make the image perfect, because I wanted to remember the moment as it was happening.
Be Prepared
Oftentimes, moments just happen, and that spontaneity is fun and perfect to capture subjects just as they are. However, you can also sort of plan ahead in a way that will help your image. For instance, when I know we are going to be Christmas tree shopping, I will take the extra few minutes insuring the kids are dressed a little better. I don't mean fancy clothes that will make everyone uncomfortable, but I will avoid huge logos on shirts or I will make sure that they have a few layers and a few accessories on. I am always a huge fan of bright colors and patterns, so I will also plan out my locations according to the great sweaters I picked up (holiday sweaters from the Gap, anyone?). When my boys were seven and eight, they were starting to catch on to my crazy antics and I had this idea of using a rowboat for the Christmas card photo that year. So, when I started to tell them we were headed to the lake and we were going to be taking some fun shots of them, Jonas looked right at me and asked what sort of crazy outfit I had planned and if he would be wearing teal pants. In my defense, the pictures of them in that rowboat are some of my absolute favorites, and they survived wearing flannel in the middle of August.
I am so thankful for the images that I have chronicled throughout the years, especially now that both of my sons are in high school. The images I have of them always open up the floodgates of all the memories, and for every one great image I have of a small snippet in time, I have millions more that weren't photographed but are remembered. So, grab that great photo, and then remember to put the camera down to enjoy the moment!
6 Easy Take-Aways
- Check your light source. Turn off fluorescent lights in your home and look for the best window light. Try to have your back to the window whenever possible. When headed outside, be mindful of the time of day.
- Grab the camera and shoot when people don't know and are not posing.
- Be aware that people don't need to stop and smile—that sometimes the best moments are in-between posed shots.
- Get close. Focus on your subject and try to get rid of any outside distractions that will take away from the emotion of your photo.
- Be mindful of logos and words on shirts, but also have fun with patterns and layers of clothes.
- Be present.
The Expert:
Alison Conklin
Owner & Photographer
Alison Conklin Photography | alisonconklin.com
