Time to Play: Photographer

By Michelle Cox, Owner of Lipstick to Crayons

In my book, Autumn claims the prize for the season chocked full of the most vibrant colors. And as an amateur photographer, it also stands out as my favorite season for getting colorful pictures of my family outdoors.

If you’re planning to head to the pumpkin patch or take hike to see the changing colors of the leaves, why not also take this opportunity to get some great shots of your family? With a little planning, you might get a picture that is worthy of a holiday card, and you can save yourself a fortune on professional photographs.
One of the best parts of photographing your kids or your whole family outside at this time of year is that you don’t need colorful clothes to get colorful pictures. In fact, I think it works best to dress the kiddos (and Mom and Dad) in white or black turtlenecks with jeans or khakis. That way, their beautiful faces and the glorious tapestry provided by nature are the focus of the picture. Plus, you don’t have to break the bank buying everyone matching holiday sweaters.

When taking the pictures, remember these few simple tips:

• Make sure no one is hungry, thirsty or tired. Schedule the outing at a time that works best for your kids.
• Along the same lines: Don’t start the photo session as soon as you arrive at your destination. Give your children a few minutes to climb on the pumpkins and run along the trail or they’re unlikely to cooperate for photos. But, have your camera ready because these spontaneous moments could deliver some great pictures.
• When it’s time to start shooting, get down on the ground with your children and shoot from below their eye level. This will give your pictures a different and unique perspective.
• If you can, sit the kids on or among the pumpkins, between a couple of trees, on a fallen log or in the middle of a pile of leaves.
• Consider having the kids look at each other or at something else in the frame like a row of pumpkins or a pot of mums. Looking right at the camera isn’t necessarily required for a great shot.
• Don’t hesitate to ask a bystander to snap a few shots of your whole family. Often, kids will be more cooperative for someone they don’t know.

Remember to relax and have fun so that when you get that perfect shot, you’ll also have great memories to go with it.

Michelle Cox is a former print journalist turned PR pro, turned freelance writer/communications consultant with 20 years experience. As a supplement to her professional writing/PR activities, she navigates confidently in the social media world, maintaining a Web site for moms, www.lipsticktocrayons.com, which includes product and travel reviews, parenting articles, giveaways and lots more. She also has a personal blog, and can be found on twitter @michellemcox.

Michelle is a wife and mother to three children – ages 14, 11 and almost 2. (She likes to say she has a teen, tween and toddler). Her freelance business allows her to enjoy the great balance of being a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, while also making time for running, some amateur photography and scrapbooking.