Scopin' Out A Photo Shoot Location

In the next few weeks, I'll be taking some family portraits of some real-live families. They're gonna do their hair and put clean clothes on for me to take their picture. I'm a bit freaked out. In fact, I'm breaking into a sweat right now just thinking of it!

I dropped by my favorite local camera shop and talked to Nick...he's my buddy. He's a cussing, straight shooting, tell you the picture is crap kinda guy. I love him. Honesty rocks when you're genuinely trying to improve.

He had all kinds of hints and tips for me - he was a pro portrait photographer for 15 years back in the day. I left full of knowledge and insight...and more fear than when I went in. Who do I think I am?!? I can't do this!

I find that the best way to beat that put-me-down voice in my head is to simply grab my camera and take some pictures. Hubby and I loaded up the kids and went to a local park that is THE spot to take photos. I figured I'd scope it out and try to figure out some good spots to take the disasters, I mean photos, of my lovely friends and their families.

The kids were my models....very reluctant models. Isn't this a pretty spot?

Clara's thrilled, you can see it in her eyes.

This picture is a good one for me to play with...all those deep, rich colors in the background and then that stark white shirt. Personally, I think it looks nicer to have more muted colors in a natural setting like this. But people really seem to like the white shirt look in their pictures, so I'd better figure out how to deal with it.

Note to self...cool tree, bad time of day. That bright background is too distracting. My eye is always drawn to the sunlit patch of grass first, the person second. Not good.

Okay, release the captives! We had the kids each bring a bag with them to collect the goodies they found...rocks, sticks, leaves, etc. They had such fun exploring!

We get great (although a little to0 staged and posed for my taste) shots of the two big kids each year with their school pictures. Sammy's another story. I like to update her photo on the wall each year too. I was determined to get a good one of her this trip. She was being quite the little punk though! For the longest time, she just would NOT look at me...

And then she took to making silly faces...

And then finally...I gotcha, you little turkey!

I've been having a tough time getting a decent picture of my Ben for the longest time. He does this cheesy fake smile, that makes his eyes look a little dead. But get the kid outside? With a great stick? And mention shooting a bow and arrow in Scouts? And this is what happens....

This park is absolutely gorgeous. I hope we don't lose too much of the fall color before our shoots!

We had to cut our trip short because a storm was rolling in. Thomas was ready for a nap, so I didn't mind so much. However, I felt so bad for the wedding that was in progress at the park! By the time we got home...torrential downpour! Isn't the sky neat?