Our Tips For Taking Keepsake Family Photos

July 30, 2020/in PhotoShoot, ideas, Interesting

Taking Keepsake Family Photos

Nowadays, almost everyone’s phone is equipped with a decent camera. People take photos of one another and of themselves at any old time of the day. Candid photos are nice to browse through every now and then. However, having proper family portraits taken by a professional are excellent keepsakes that you can look back on and pass on to your children and grandchildren.

Tips For Taking Keepsake Family Photos

If you want to capture milestones, take advantage of loved ones being in the same location, or you simply want to immortalize the present moment for future generations, here are few tips you can use to create beautiful family photos:

Hadley and her family

Dress using a similar theme

One way to elevate your family photos from the ordinary candid shots to encourage everyone to dress up a little more than usual. Decide on a color palette that you can all agree on. Be careful to choose muted, non-distracting colors that will flatter everyone’s skin tones. You don’t need to dress up in costumes or wacky attire, but rather give everyone some loose guidelines like wearing denim, or outfits in predominantly cream or light blue colors.

Family photographer Adelaide

Go natural

You and your family’s future generations will look back on your photos and will want to know all about you. Make it a point to look like yourselves, wearing your usual style of clothing and only a light layer of makeup. Avoid trying a new hairstyle in the week or a few days prior to your portrait session. You might end up with something you regret, and the way you look in that moment will be immortalized forever.

Little Family 🙂

Choose a photographer you are comfortable with

Professionals experienced in taking family photos will put you and your group at ease during your photography session. You may want to choose someone who has experience working with very small children, so they know how to get a good shot even with a fidgety baby in the group. The right kind of photographer will also be able to calm your nerves and elicit laughs and smiles from everyone in the group during the shoot. Be sure to have a chat with your photographer before you agree on services so you can see if they are the right fit for you.

Fussing family

Use levels

Make the photo visually interesting by providing a set-up that has two to three “levels’ all the participants can take turns shifting around on. Put a lower layer, with young children sitting on the floor or grass. Seated in the middle, you can have the head of the family, parents, or any grandparents holding infants. Finally, your top layer can consist of older children and adults standing around the rest of the family.

Duncan Family

Include those who can’t be there

If you have loved ones who can’t be physically present for the photo, there are still ways you can include them in the portrait.

For family members who have passed away, some people like to hold on to a framed photo of them, or even photoshop them in. Others wear a special dress, hat, or accessory that represents their family member. Even if they aren’t present to pose for the photo with you, there are still ways you can pay tribute to them and make them feel they are part of the memory.

Family together

If you are wondering when the best time for family photography is, the answer is: right now. Your children will grow up in a flash, your parents are advancing in age, and commitments may take you or your loved ones far and away from each other. Don’t worry about picking out fancy outfits or posing in front of a fanciful set. Find the right photographer and take your portraits now, so you can keep your memories for a lifetime.

Are you looking for family photography services in Adelaide? We’d be happy to help you capture your family’s special moments. Contact us to learn more and have a chat!

5 Things to Avoid When Taking Photos of Newborn Babies

October 20, 2020/in PhotoShoot, Interesting

Things to Avoid When Taking Photos of Newborn Babies

Newborn photography is something that excites many parents. Photos of babies are beautiful mementoes, and they can also make great gifts for when these children are older. However, it can be challenging to pull off these types of photos. Here are some mistakes people make when photographing newborn babies and how to remedy them.

5 Things to Avoid When Taking Photos of Newborn Babies

Mistake #1 – They shoot in poor lighting

One of the common errors that beginners make is that they shoot without regard for exposure and lighting. Since cameras record differences in light, illuminating a subject is the quickest way to improve picture quality.

Photo editing software can do many things; they can crop photos, modify the background, and even remove red-eye in subjects. However, no software can solve lousy lighting. Although there are tools that can adjust lighting, a post-processed photo will still look subpar to one taken in good light.

baby mirella

Mistake #2 – They want to capture a ‘perfect’ photo

Like anything that has to do with young children, it is a lot of work trying to photograph babies. Newborns, especially, will not hold a pose unless when asleep. Even then, they might shift around. If you are aiming for Anne Geddes-level pictures, know that there is a lot of planning involved.

The best photos are taken when the little ones are not posed awkwardly. They are just sitting, sleeping, or playing as they would, and the photographer only captures them as they are. Let your child go about his or her business, and snap the photos without overthinking.

baby shoot

Mistake #3 – They are not always ready to shoot

Seasoned newborn photographers are always ready with backup cameras, batteries, and memory cards. It will be a letdown if you miss important moments like your baby smiling, laughing, or seeing something for the first time.

Experience is the only way to learn how to avoid the special moments, which is why the better photographers out there can charge quite a bit more for their work, while cheaper photographers may not have as much experience and/or equipment under their belt.

Happy bub

Mistake #4 – They rely on DIY too much

Though it is perfectly fine if you want to document your child’s everyday life, there are moments when hiring a professional is the better choice. For example, if you are sending birth announcements, a professional photo that your loved ones can frame is the best option.

Birthday or holiday cards are also better if professionally shot. In the end, you will be the one to compile all of these in albums, so you should get something classic which you can look back on fondly.

Happy bub in the grass

Mistake #5 – They do not make backups

Backing up your data is essential for work and school documents, but you should extend that to your photos as well. Losing your photos is definitely one of those things to avoid when taking phtoos of newborn babies! These photos show memories that you cannot otherwise retrieve. If you lose your only images of an event, these are gone forever. You can revisit the place and retake those photos, but the memories you will have are different from the original.

Conclusion

Taking photos of a little bundle of joy is a way for a couple to capture a brand-new stage in their life together. Thinking of these things to avoid when taking photos of newborn babies will make sure you’ll have a stack of images your client can display for years to come.

Capturing a baby’s first moments is priceless, and SvenStudios can help you with that. We work out of Adelaide and specialise in newborn photography, and we have been accredited by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography while also being a registered teacher! Get in touch with us today to learn more.

Tiwi Islands Engagement shoot – Jane & David

September 10, 2018/in Engagement

Jane & David
Tiwi Islands Engagement Shoot

Tiwi Islands Engagement Shoot

Since expanding my operations to the Northern Territory, in particular Darwin through my website https://svenstudios.com/darwin-wedding-photography/, I’ve been super keen on heading up to the Northern End of Australia to shoot again. So when Jane contacted me via my instagram feed, I jumped at the chance on shooting in the most remote area of Australia I have yet visited.

Jane and David were awesome hosts for a 2 night stay on the islands, where they both work in the local community, and in exchange for their wonderful hospitality I was to shoot a bit of an engagement shoot while galavanting around the island!

The first day

After having spent a few days in Darwin – taking photos of the lovely beaches and the amazing sunsets Darwin has to offer, I head out to the Tiwi Islands on a ferry to meet Jane and David whom were both working, so once I arrived I was picked up by David, then had a bit of time to explore the community before they both knocked off work. It was rather surreal witnessing the Liberal coup where former Prime Minister Turnbull was ousted for Scott Morrison in such a remote part of Australia, from within an Aboriginal community – it felt quite distant an unimportant.

It’s this remoteness I think appeals to both Jane and David who both hail from Sydney originally that makes them love this place. The culture and sense of community surrounding them where they live is obvious in that everyone knows one another, when driving about, everyone waved and one another and the entire town felt very laid back.

Once Jane and david had finished their work, we went on a shot expedition to a small wood with lovely tall trees, through which the sun was beating down in typical Northern Territory fashion, so I made use of it!

On the road

Walking through the bush

Dancing

On the road

Hugs

Engagement ring

Walking together in the forest

In the forest

Smiles

On the road

laughing

We then head out of town for a bit to a lovely secluded beach beyond the so called ‘international Airport’ of Wurrumiyanga to make use of the fading sun. I found it quite funny that it was classified as a major airport when considering flight paths and ability to launch my drone as the airport consists of only an airstrip – that is apparently sinking into the ground – and a small shed. But anyway, the beach was stunning and out of range from flight limitations anyway.

Kung Fu!

Walking along the beach

On the beach together

From above

Tiwi Islands Engagement

The next morning, the plan was to get up at sparrows to make use of the sun rising over the local bay – while avoiding the giant croc that apparently inhabits the water around the area 🙂

Smiling David

Smiling Jane

Sitting together

Tiwi Islands Sunrise

Shortly after breakfast we were on the road to a delightful little natural spring waterhole were we stopped to have lunch and go for a dip. I was assured there were no crocs around the place here, but the water was so incredibly clear that nothing would be able to sneak up on us anyway. 😛

Jumping in together

Waterhole hugs

Amongst the wattle

By the late afternoon we had reached our campsite for the night, a long white sand beach at the northern tip of the island. We spent some time fishing from the rocks, however caught more rocks than useful fish, then made use of the spectacular red cliffs and sunset for some more photos, all the while dodging the millions of hermit crabs scuttling along the beach, and keeping a wary eye out for crocs.

Sun set on the rocks

Twirling

Running together

Family portrait

Sun set on the rocks

Sun set

On a rock

On the final day, once we returned home to town, we spent the afternoon waiting for the Darwin-bound ferry fishing on Jane and David’s boat. It was the first time I had experienced fishing on a boat, and Jane managed to land a huge 90cm Barramundi! Which we released, but she also caught herself a smaller one which David filleted up and gave me a fillet for dinner that night 🙂 I also managed to catch quite a few other fish – including some good sized snapper! All in all, my weekend in the Tiwi islands was not one I will soon forget!

Thanks so much to Jane and David for having me photograph them on the Tiwi islands – It’s a place I would never have thought of visiting otherwise, but I’m so glad I had the opportunity!

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement – Maryam & Scott

April 30, 2016/in Engagement, Wedding, Wedding preview

Maryam & Scott
Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Engagement

The amazing autumn colours of the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens were the backdrop of Maryam & Scott’s engagement shoot, and I must say it was a fantastic choice. We walked around the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens for around an hour, dodging the hundreds of tourists that also had the same idea and took advantage of the wonderful yellows and oranges that mother nature had provided. Once the gardens closed at 5pm, we headed to Veale gardens on south terrace for a couple more shots and a bit of a dance! Maryam & Scott had some friends with them, along with family members so we had a bit of fun with the situation 🙂

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens

The Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens are a marvellous site in the Adelaide Hills, opened to the public in 1959 after having been in development since 1911, the gardens sprawl an incredible 97 hectares with a huge diversity of native and imported plants and trees, it’s a beautiful place to visit and take it all in.

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens

Amongst the green

Group shot

Autumn colours

Lovey dovey shot

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens Proposal

Walking by the gazebo

Kissing under a tree

Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens

Engagement ring in flowers

After, Maryam & Scott asked be for suggestions for a second location to take photos in between Mt Lofty and their house in Mawson Lakes, so I suggested the Veale Gardens. I knew from multiple previous weddings I’ve covered as a wedding photographer here always turn out great, so we headed down there 🙂 While there, we got out a small handheld stereo and had a bit of a dance! Was a lot of fun 🙂

Veale Gardens Engagement

Veale Gardens Dance

Veale Gardens Birds

Veale Gardens Dance

Adelaide Parklands Family Photoshoot

June 28, 2022/in PhotoShoot, Family, Photoshoot

Mum with sons family portrait in front of puddle

Adelaide Parklands Family Photoshoot

I head out to the delightful Veale Gardens on south terrace recently to meet this loving mother and her two sons who had asked me to conduct a simple little Adelaide parklands family phtoshoot with them!

We began in the small carpark behind the Pavillion Restaurant, which alowed us to start with the gum trees and have a more Australiana backdrop to their first photos. As the weather hadn’t been fantastic lately, there was plenty of puddles to use, while the greens were lovely and lush throughout.

We then head over the hill, walking along the man-made river that courses throughout the Veale Gardens and using some of the vantage points I know have worked throguhout my many years of using this same area for portraits while covering weddings.

The aim of this Adelaide Parklands family photoshoot was to simply capture some nice family photos for Mum to put up on the wall, in particular some individual portraits of her boys, while also having a bit of fun together, and I think our little walk about the park ceratinly achieved that!