I always say, that if I hadn’t become a photographer, I’d have liked to have become a florist. Here are some photographs of arrangements I did over the weekend in my home – I just love how flowers brighten up everything!
My super brilliant florist friend, Denise Porcaro of Flower Girl, likes to say, “Flowers and photography go together.” Don’t you agree?
It’s possible you’ve noticed that the University of Sarah isn’t updated as frequently as it once was, and if that is the case, I wanted to be sure to offer a sense of where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to!
As it turns out, I have been sharing my expertise in new forums, and am very excited to share them with you in the context of other online platforms (outside my own blog).
First of all, I began a regular contribution to A Child Grows in Brooklyn – a wonderful resource for parents, particularly those based in Brooklyn, New York, but serving savvy parents everywhere. My segment is entitled, “VEEPS,” A Child Grows’ special nickname for parents, which features photos of moms and dads, along with their likes and insights, which I glean in a brief interview accompanying our shoot.
It’s spring again. It came early in New York, and then I went to Colorado during a blizzard, which gave way to another frigid beginning-of-spring. I got to see the end of summer in Ohio, and the beginning of fall in London and Paris. (I am fortunate that I get to change perspective whenever I feel like it.) There was hardly any winter for me this year, with the extra long autumn that began early in London, and late back in New York, and a winter that sped into an early New York spring – a spring that seemed to last forever once out west, in the mountains, experiencing its birth all over again. Continue reading “Elongated Seasonsal Change”
Did you make it to last Thursday’s Photo Introduction Call for Moms: Developing a Creative Practice? We covered 3 recommendations for developing a practice, honoring your creative instincts and integrating photography into your family routine.
Continue reading “Beginner’s Photo Workshop for Moms (Call Series)”
Kids are amazing. You can feel their tenderness when you’re close, and you can see the independence of their spirit, even at a distance. Try creating a scene around your child, or rather, plop the child right into an unusual or beautiful scene. Don’t be afraid to step back and show the landscape – your child’s figure silhouetted against a special backdrop will forever conjure memories of when she was that small. Continue reading “Baby Photo Tip #6”
There certainly plenty of good reasons to use the flash on your camera – to ensure you have enough light, to make sure the light is pointed at the front of your subject, to stop motion, etc. However, I recommend experimenting with having the flash turned off. The coolest thing about shooting sans-flash is that you get to see exactly the way the scene looks with existing light – which means you can be deliberate about your composition.
Many a trick of the trade were developed in quite a surprising way – by mistake! Don’t try too hard to “get it right” because taking risks and being uncomfortable are the very things that will help you learn. Edit slowly at first, taking time and going through all the photos you’ve shot, and try to notice what captured moments create a sensation of some kind – good or bad. Take note of any photos you too quickly try to discard because of an imperfection; within them may lie the seed of something special. Continue reading “Baby Photo Tip #4”
Put on some music! Try creating a little portrait session in your living room with some music on, and notice how the music creates a flow for both you and your little subject. I recommend the Beatles or a live jazz recording from the 1960s or classical music – something you will enjoy more than the latest Elmo song – because it’s as important for you to find a rhythm with the camera as it is to amuse the baby. Allow the flow of the music to inspire you, and follow the instincts that surface about the moments you feel inclined to press the shutter. Over time, you may find you can achieve this rhythm outside with the birds chirping, or with no music at all. Continue reading “Baby Photo Tip #3”
Ever notice how trying to get your child to make a certain face through encouragement often leads only to a loss of energy on your part, and not very successful photos? I recommend taking the pressure off completely, so that by the time the child is four or five, she still acts natural in front of the camera, instead of taking on the habit of needing to force a particular face. Yes, this means you sometimes get serenity, seriousness, or even frowns, but it teaches your child that she can be herself while the camera is out, and no special facial contortions are required. Continue reading “Baby Photo Tip #2”
I’m starting a new feature on the blog, offering photo tips especially for moms who want to take better photos of their kids – inspired by the free photo teleseminar for moms I’m giving. (If you’re interested, click here to sign up!)
The trick is to get low – you want to be on the very same level as the child, as you would if you were sitting down to have a dinner conversation with an adult. This might mean putting the child on a couch or a bed, or it might mean you have to lie or sit or crouch on the floor. Yes, you’ll feel a bit ridiculous at first, but once you see that you have achieved the exact right angle to capture your baby’s most expressive faces, you’ll start to feel less silly on your elbows and knees. Continue reading “Baby Photo Tips – Tip #1”
