Watching these two and the love they have for each other has been so sweet. Olivia prayed and prayed for a little sister, and I’m so thankful that God answered that prayer. Even though there is almost six years between them, I have no doubt they will grow closer throughout the years.
Right now, Vivi lights up when Olivia walks into the room, and Olivia loves to match Vivi anytime that she can. Olivia likes to feed Vivi and choose her clothes and bow for the day. Vivi follows Olivia all around the house by army crawling and doing her best to keep up. I want to make time to document their relationship over the years and give them something to look back on when they are older. One thing I have discovered that I love is taking pictures. There is something so fulfilling when you come up with an idea and carry it out to see the finished product. I wanted to share some tips on how we go about having a successful photo shoot even with smaller kids.
Pay Attention to Lighting
One thing I try to do is always plan ahead and see when my lighting will be the best, especially if I am shooting outdoors- I never want it to be too bright outside so I normally pick a time when its overcast, earlier in the morning, or later in the afternoon. This gives me more flexibility when I am editing my photos. It is always easier to brighten up a photo but if it is too light- it is really hard to correct and compensate for that. Also- choosing an earlier or later time is usually a better temperature option for your little ones. The last thing you want is to go out in the heat of the day and have them sweating and crying. If you are taking pictures inside, you want to pay attention and see when light is best in the area you are taking the pictures in.
Plan Out Your Outfits Way in Advance
The second thing I do is choose outfits ahead of time. If we are missing anything or something is in the dirty laundry, this gives me plenty of time to get it all washed, ironed, and ready. I also go ahead and plan accessories and shoes while I am at it. When you have multiple kids, it is much easier to have things planned out in your head and all ready ahead of time.
Pay Attention to Details
Next I plan the details- where will we take the picture? Do we need a backdrop like the teepee I used here? What little details would make the picture even better (like the doll or the basket of flowers)? These are all things I take time and think about so that I can envision the whole scene ahead of time and achieve the look I want. When I first started taking pictures, I would hastily throw my kids in a pic and then after the fact come up a million things that would have made my picture even better. Now- I take my time (weeks even) to really think through the vibe and the look I want for my pictures. When I look at these pictures, I truly love everything about them, and I know it’s because I took my time with even the smallest details.
Lastly- Have Fun!!
Make it a fun experience for your kids! If it is always a chore or a negative experience- they will learn to hate picture-taking and your job of snagging some good shots will become that much harder! I’m so not above a lollipop when they do well or have a good attitude =)
I have been wanting to a little girls only photo shoot for a while, so when we received this teepee from Little Dove Shop (purchased on Amazon) it made the perfect backdrop. We chose some matching dresses from Old Navy- they have some cute affordable matching outfits for families. Then we gathered up our favorite doll, picked some fun wildflowers, threw them in a basket and we were ready to go!
Leave a comment and let me know how your picture taking goes!
-Lindsey
