#Hello2016! I took little break from posting here on the blog over the holiday season, and even though I was watching movies instead of writing (#confession) I’ve been thinking about how I can make IWatchThemGrow.com the best it can be for my readers this year. So, to kick off the new year, I have some winter photography tips for you, and I’m excited to be starting a new blog post series I’m calling {Moments Captured}.
Our lives are made up of moments, so when you start noticing those moments and take some photos to capture them, you’ll create a wonderful collection of memories that truly reflect your family’s life experience.
This series will focus on photographing a specific, everyday moment in a way that captures the memory, the details and the beauty of that moment.
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{Moments Captured} Watching Snow Fall
It’s been nearly two years since we had any real snow around here, and these photos remind me of the peaceful beauty of snow falling, and the cozy warmth of home. Do you get snow where you live? If you do, I think you’ll agree that when your child spends a few minutes looking at the window to watch the snowfall, especially the first snow of winter, it’s a special little moment that deserves to be captured.
Watching snow fall is a great moment to capture in photos for three big reasons:
- The mood is pretty special. It’s a moment of awe, wonder and excitement for little ones who don’t see a lot of snow.
- The light is fantastic! It’s a bright, even, natural light, with your child standing right by the window in the light.
- With your child happily captivated and relatively motionless, it’s a great opportunity to get some portraits and detail shots.
Convinced? Good! Now here’s some tips on how to do it!
5 Winter Photography Tips for Capturing the Special Moment of Watching Snow Fall
1. Get into the mood
First of all, think about the mood of this moment – peacefulness, beauty, excitement, etc – and then think about how you might capture that mood in your photos.
- Look for the facial expressions that capture the mood of the moment – mouth open, excited smile etc.
- Do you want bright photos with overexposed areas, or would darker images with underexposed areas better capture the mood?
- Should the photos be colorful or more muted? Color would contrast with the snow and be more cheerful and exciting, while muted colors would be more serene and peaceful.
2. Set the scene
This isn’t a formal or planned photoshoot, you’re capturing a real life moment as it happens. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a couple quick actions to improve your photos.
- Random items in the scene can take away from the focus and beauty of your photos, so try to remove any distractions. Although, certain things could also be a part of the story, like a bunch of toys left on the floor when you child stops playing to watch the snow. So think about what takes away from the mood and story, and what adds to it, before deciding what to clear away.
- You can also add some interesting contrast by adding warm colors and cozy textures to the scene that contrast the cool color and feel of the snow. Try adding a blanket or pillows to the floor or nearby furniture.
3. Create different looks
- Set your exposure for your child (their face) and let the snow/window be overexposed.
- Get a silhouette photo by exposing to the snow, with your child in the shadow.
4. Compose the moment
- Use the window to frame your child for a nice composition.
- Take photos from a side angle and use the window as “white space” that your child is looking towards (this is great for catchlights in the eyes!).
5. Sneak up close
- Get in close for some details while your child is still – close ups of eyes, hair, hands, feet, clothes etc.
And my last little tip is to edit your photos to enhance your vision and the mood you’re after. Straighten lines and remove distractions by rotating and cropping. Brighten, darken, add or remove contrast, bump the color saturation a touch or desaturate — just play around with whatever settings you have available to make your photos amazing!
Okay so now that you know why and how to capture this precious moment, all you have to do is remember to grab your camera when it happens! You could make a mental note, but a better reminder would be to Pin or bookmark this post (#shamelessplug) and keep a list of the everyday life moments you want to capture.
I’ll be sharing more moments to photograph in future {Moments Captured} posts all throughout the year, so be sure to check back in at iwatchthemgrow.com, or better yet join my weekly email newsletter and never miss a post!
Enjoy capturing the moment!
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