MomShots

I was driving around with my boys today running errands when I drove past the teal blue warehouse.  I love that color and I still hadn’t actually stopped and shot my own photos there.  So I screeched to a halt and grabbed Gar to stand in front and pose for a few Momshots.  

I’m obsessed.

My kids are used to it.

I took a few and I realized that I seem to be in the mindset of feet as a perspective today.  Here’s my favorite from our little impromptu shoot.  I enhanced the colors a little bit in photoshop but not a lot.  That warehouse is really vivid.

Have you thought anymore about perspective?  You don’t have to shoot feet if you don’t want to.  But it is fun to mix it up and shoot from a different point of view than you usually do.

I was introduced to a new photographer today.  OK, not actually introduced.  She has no idea who I am, but I’m her new stalker.  Just kidding, of course!  She is a mom and a professional photographer, plus she has the good sense to also be named Jessica!  Again with the bad jokes…

Her name is Jessica Kettle and she is located in the Salt Lake City area.  She has one little boy name Max and has been working as a professional photographer for just over a year.  She has graciously answered a whole bunch of photography related questions on her blog that her readers have asked.  She has also recently been featured on a local news station where she spoke about the backgrounds she chooses to use when taking interesting portrait photographs.  Watch the video below and hear what she has to say about backgrounds.

 She talks about how we have to be on the lookout for cool back grounds as we go through our day.  When we start thinking about backgrounds, we might be surprised by the types of places we find.  She suggests to look for places that have color and textural elements that our eyes are drawn to.  She has some great examples in her interview.

I know that since I have started this love affair with photography, I have really noticed all kinds of strange places that would make for interesting backgrounds.  Every time we drive around, I notice places that would make a great background.  I need to start writing them down so I don’t forget! 

There is a warehouse on my way to Kristina’s house that has old, rusty teal painted exterior walls.  Many local photographers, including Kristina, who took the adorable photo below at this location, have used that site for some amazing photos.  I have only driven by it, but each time I do, I can’t help but imagine a little photo shoot.  I have also noticed people’s stairs, old brick walls, antique trucks, empty fields, big solid trees; the list goes on and on.  I find that locations kind of pop out at me now.  I think it is part of this obsession!

I have posted this photo before, but I will again since it fits so nicely with this post.  This is a photo I took of Uly in front of a covered baseball bleachers wall.  I love the rich red color and the vertical slats that add texture.  I also love that Uly’s shirt has some of that same shades of red in the horizontal stripes.

That is what we are looking for here, texture and color.  You can find that in so many ways.  It doesn’t have to be a wall.  It doesn’t have to be brightly colored or highly textured - just enough that it adds visual interest.  You don’t want to over power your subject.  You want to use the background as a compositional element that adds interest and complements your subject.  

I would love to see some photos that you have taken with surprising backgrounds.  Do you have any favorite spots to shoot?  Any good places in your neighborhood?  Any good suggestions or ideas?

I haven’t been using a DSLR camera for very long. I am learning everyday how to take better momshots, but from the ones I have taken, both on my Canon and on my Kodak point and shoot camera, I have noticed that the more simpler the background, the better the photograph. Its easier to get a simple background if you can throw the background out of focus by using an aperture like f/2.8 or f/4 with a portrait focal length you like best. But if you cannot or you are using a point and shoot camera, its best to keep the backgrounds plain or simple. this way you are focused completely on the subject. 

I have taken the more “artsy” approach on this one. When I was at a local carnival and noticed this angel wing detail in the side on one of the rides. I thought it would be kind of fun to put my daughter next to them and take a momshot. It wasn’t good lighting at the time, and is very busy, but to me it is kind of interesting to look at.

I am looking through my tons of Momshots and see that most of my photos have less than desirable backgrounds.  I mean garbage cans, car tyres, the list goes on…

Does anyone else have this problem?

Obviously the problem has to do with how I compose my photos.  However, 98% of my photos are of the snapshot variety.  The kind where you grab the camera and capture that silly smile or the goofy look.  This one is when my husband Ben was working on his car.  Gar wanted to help.  He grabbed his toy wrench and the longest screw driver in the tool box.

There are tons of things not technically correct about this photo.  Awful trash can background, strange framing, Ben’s leg in the shot, I should have crouched down a bit, etc…  I’m sure the list can go on.  I do like the lighting.  It was around the “Magic Hour” of the evening - that hour or so before the sun sets and the shadows are more muted, less harsh.  Plus the subject matter is just adorable.  Gar and tools are always a good mix.

So the question I pose is this:  How do you take snapshots or Momshots and capture the spontaneity of the situation but still have an appealing background?  

This is one of the BIG questions that Momshots aims to answer as we develop our photographic skills.  But since we are just learning, does anyone who reads this, have any tips?  Or alternatively; What is your favorite background to shoot in front of?  Are there backgrounds that you enjoy shooting in front of more than others?

I would love to hear any thoughts on this.  Please feel free to share.