Index

A

accent light, 92, 93

action shots, 25, 41, 152–154, 226

alphabet letters, 204, 206

ambient light, 107, 160, 164–168, 177

antique markets/malls, 209

aperture, 105, 107, 160, 163–165. See also f-stops

ATJ prop cart, 202, 204, 209, 215

atmosphere, 220

authenticity, 10, 11–13, 236–241

available light. See ambient light

B

babies. See also newborns

clothing changes, 193

keeping attention of, 237

lighting, 89

naked, 33, 89, 192

posing, 226

in studio, 183

working with, 29–31, 212

background stands, 138–140

backgrounds

black, 149–152

considerations, 134

gray, 149

lighting, 93, 143–145, 147

white seamless, 136–157

base exposure, 163, 164–165, 176

Beauty Dishes

examples, 132–133

overview, 100–102

using, 106, 110, 147

bird’s-eye view, 222, 223

black and white photos, 91, 210

blankets, 27, 34, 210

boom arm, 114

boxing gloves, 202–204, 205

boys, 39, 41, 207, 233

building blocks, 210

Bumbo, 29, 30

“Butterfly” lighting, 123–126, 152–153

C

camera angles, 220–226

camera shots. See also photos

action shots, 25, 41, 152–154, 226

groups. See group shots

portraits. See portraits

test shots, 163, 164

cameras

client cameras on set, 219

recommendations, 79–80

renting, 79

sync speed, 79

candy, 17, 34, 208, 242

capes, superhero, 204

catchlights, 123

child photography

authenticity and, 10, 11–13, 236–241

common mistakes, 50–51

considerations, 4

developing your style. See style

props, 198–215

children

babies. See babies

boys, 39, 41, 207, 233

clothing, 27, 33, 188–198, 246

communicating with, 17

developmental stages, 27–48

difficult, 20–24, 244–246

gathering information on, 16–17

girls, 38, 39, 42, 43, 191

interaction with parents, 48

middle child, 45–46

as muses, 63–65

newborns, 27–28, 173–175

oldest child, 43–45

personality traits, 18–26

“the poser,” 24, 25

posing. See posing

preschoolers, 34–35, 180–182, 226

sassy, 20

school-age, 35–38, 180–182

shyness, 17, 18, 243

siblings, 43–48, 232–233

slow to warm up, 18–19

styling, 188–198, 250–251

toddlers, 32–33, 226, 229, 237

tweens, 38–40, 233, 254–255

“the wild card,” 25–26, 27, 244–247

youngest child, 46–48

clients. See parents

clothing, 188–198. See also costumes

babies/toddlers, 33, 188, 189, 193

color in, 194, 195–198, 255, 258

cost of, 193

details, 193

do’s and don’ts, 192–193

dress-up, 210

exaggerated elements in, 191

getting kid’s buy-in, 190

groups of children, 193–197

hats, 207

layers, 192

multiple changes, 193

newborns, 27

selecting, 188–191, 198

shoes, 193

sports uniforms, 192

standouts, 197

worn by photographer, 246

color

in clothing, 195–198, 255, 258

mid-key lighting and, 89

cords, PC, 80, 81

costumes, 202–209, 214–215

C-stands, 138–140

cutters, 104

cyc walls (cycloramas), 140–143

D

Day in the Life series, 180–182

developmental stages, 27–48

diffusers, 94–98

directing photo shoots, 216–247

camera angles, 220–226

capturing expressions, 235–241

challenging kids, 244–246

common problems, 243–244

considerations, 216, 218

creating atmosphere, 220

director profiles, 221

Lucy studio shoot, 252

managing energy on set, 242

posing kids, 226–235

preparing for, 219–220

prompted reality, 236–241

rules, 218–219

Samantha studio shoot, 258

showing relationhips, 230–233

unexpected elements, 246–247

discipline, 244–246

dolls, 210

dress-up clothes, 210

Dropbox, 62

E

editing photos

importance of, 268

for style, 59

tips for, 56

emotion, evoking, 6, 8, 55, 213

equipment. See gear

estate sales, 209

Evernote, 62

exposure

base, 163, 164–165, 176

photographing on location, 161–165

white seamless backgrounds, 145–146

exposure checklist, 161–165

exposure pentagon, 105–107

exposure triangle, 105

eyebrows, 247

eyes, 123, 244, 247

F

family dynamics, 43–49, 232

family photos, 6, 176–179, 273–274

feathering light, 118–123

feet, 229, 247

fill light, 92, 93, 99

flags, 104

flash

benefits of, 78

considerations, 72–73, 94, 95, 111, 166

lighting on location, 160–166

manual mode, 78, 80, 163, 177

mixing with ambient light, 160, 161, 167

off-camera, 72–73, 78, 160

on-camera, 72, 73

PC cords, 80, 81

PocketWizards, 80, 81

power of, 105, 107

proximity of, 105, 107

sync speed and, 79

flash meter, 109

flash power, 161

food, 29, 33, 208, 211, 242. See also candy; snacks

f-stops, 105, 107, 108. See also aperture

furniture props, 198–202

G

gaffer tape, 114

garage sales, 209

Gator-foam, 101

gear. See also lighting gear

camera bodies, 79–80

lenses, 79, 176

lighting. See lighting gear

on location, 172

PC cords, 80, 81

girls, 38, 39, 42, 43, 191

gobos, 101, 104

grids, honeycomb, 102–104, 106, 127–129

grids/grid spots, 127–129, 132

grip equipment, 114–115, 126

group shots

lighting, 119–122

styling, 194–197

H

hair, 193

hair light, 92, 93

haircuts, 193

hands, 228, 247

hats, 207

high camera angle, 222, 223

highlights, clipped, 109

home décor stores, 209

honeycomb grids, 102–104, 106, 127–129

I

inspiration, 62

ISO setting, 105, 107, 161

K

key light, 86–92, 93

kicker light, 92, 93

L

LCD screen, 109

Legos, 210

lens flare, 130, 147

lenses, 79, 176

letters, alphabet, 204, 206

light. See also lighting

ambient, 107, 160, 164–168, 177

amount of, 134

background, 93, 143–145, 147

concentrating, 100–104

considerations, 72

distance from subject, 108–114, 134, 161

feathering, 118–123

fill, 92, 93, 99

hair, 92, 93

hot vs. cold, 77

keys of, 86–92, 93

kicker (accent), 92, 93

measuring, 105–108

natural, 72, 94, 105, 181

quality vs. quantity, 105

sunlight, 94, 181

light banks, 96

light modifiers, 94–105, 120

light sources, 74–80, 108–111

light stands, 106, 114

lighting. See also light; studio lighting

for action, 152–154

blink of light, 167

catchlights, 123

common mistakes, 134–135

key of, 86–92, 93

on location. See location lighting

Lucy photo shoot, 251–252

modifying light source, 94–105, 120

Samantha photo shoot, 255–257

from side, 154

soft vs. hard, 111–113

spotlights, 132–135, 259–261

studio. See studio lighting

subtractive, 104

lighting gear, 70–81. See also gear

Beauty Dishes. See Beauty Dishes

C-stands, 138–140

diffusers, 94–98

example of, 106

flash. See flash

gobos, 101, 104

grip equipment, 114–115

honeycomb grids, 102–104, 106, 127–129

light stands, 106, 114

lights, 74–78

monolights, 75, 95, 106

Octabanks. See Octabanks

PocketWizards, 80, 81

reflectors, 98–100

speedlights, 74, 77

strobes, 74, 76–77, 106, 111

V-flats, 98–100, 101, 104, 106

location lighting, 158–183

checklists, 160, 161–165

equipment, 172

exposure, 161–165

families on location, 173–176

flash techniques, 160–166

lighting styles, 165–172

overview, 158

studio vs. on location, 167, 172

Lucy photo shoot, 249–253

luggage, 207

M

manual mode, 78, 80, 163, 177

midtones, 89, 194

MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), 271–272

monolights, 75, 95, 106

mouths, 244, 247

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 271–272

music, 220, 240–241, 242

N

natural light, 72, 94, 105, 181

ND (neutral density) filters, 111, 176

neutral camera angle, 222, 223

neutral density (ND) filters, 111, 176

newborns. See also babies

at home, 173–175

working with, 27–28

notebooks, 62

O

Octabanks

overview, 97

seamless, 106

Up and Over setup, 123–126

working with, 94, 95, 97, 106, 110

one-light silhouettes, 129–131

P

pacifiers, 210

Panda Eye Effect, 123–124

paper, white seamless, 138–139

parents

assistance from, 33

bringing own camera to set, 219

consulting with, 16–17

interaction with children, 48

as props, 212

PC cords, 80, 81

pets, 212

Photek Softlighter, 98

photo shoots

directing. See directing photo shoots

laying groundwork for, 16–17

music during, 220, 240–241, 242

photographers

clarifying intention, 8–9

common mistakes/solutions, 266–275

delivering/installation, 273

editing/printing work, 268–269

imitation, 55

professionalism, 266, 267–268, 275

providing direction/opinions, 267, 269–271

photography, 62, 63. See also child photography

photos. See also camera shots

black and white, 91, 210

Day in the Life series, 180–182

delivering/installing, 273

editing. See editing photos

groups. See group shots

portraits. See portraits

postproduction, 78, 80, 155–157, 163

printing, 268–269

test shots, 163, 164

Pinterest, 62

PocketWizards, 80, 81

portraits

authenticity and, 10, 11–13, 236–241

capturing “the real kid,” 11–13

evoking emotion, 6, 8

groups. See group shots

overview, 6–11

same pose, different year, 234

vs. snapshots, 6–7, 11

white seamless, 136–157

window-light, 111–113

posing, 226–235

basic poses, 227–229

camera awareness, 230

cheesy smile, 243

overview, 226

relationships, 230–233

same pose, different year, 234

postproduction, 78, 80, 155–157, 163

preschoolers, 34–35, 180–182, 226

printing photos, 268–269

professionalism, 266, 267–268, 275

prompted reality, 236–241

props, 198–215

blankets, 27, 34, 210

food as, 210–212

over-the-top, 214–215

parents as, 212

pets as, 212

as symbols, 213

toys, 34, 210

where to find, 209

R

reality, prompted, 236–241

reflections, 123

reflectors, 98–100

relationships, 63–65

Rembrandt lighting pattern, 127–129

respect, 17

rubber gun, 207

S

Samantha photo shoot, 254–261

sandbags, 114

school-age children, 35–38, 180–182

shadow transfer, 94

shoes, 193

shots. See camera shots

shoulders, 247

shutter speed

considerations, 107

described, 105, 160

photographing on location, 163, 164–165

sync speed, 79

shyness, 17, 18, 243

siblings, 43–48, 232–233

silhouettes, 129–131, 256–257

skies, surreal, 168–172

smartphones, 62

smiling, 243

snacks, 29, 33, 34. See also food

snapshots, 6–7, 11. See also portraits

softboxes, 96, 106, 108

Softlighter, 98

speedlights, 74, 77

sports uniforms, 192

spotlights, 132–135, 259–261

strip banks, 98

strobe lights, 74, 76–77, 106, 111

strobe pack system, 76–77, 106

studio lighting, 82–114. See also light; lighting

action, 80

basic, 104–105

checklist, 107

common mistakes, 134–135

considerations, 94

feathering light, 118–123

grids/grid spots, 127–129, 132

key of light, 86–92, 93

light as a window, 111–113

limiting variables, 107–108

main lighting scheme, 93–94

measuring light, 105–108

mood, 86–92

moving light, 108–114

one light, five ways, 116–135

one-light silhouette technique, 129–131

in relation to subject, 108–111

Rembrandt lighting pattern, 127–129

spotlights, 132–135, 259–261

subtractive lighting, 104

“Up and Over” lighting, 123–126, 152–153

studio shoots

Lucy, 249–253

Samantha, 254–261

stuffed animals, 210

style, 52–67

developing critical eye, 54–56

editng for, 59

experimentation, 66–67

figuring out what you’re drawn to, 57–63

find your muses, 63–65

learn by doing, 66

working on, 54–56

styling

groups, 194–197

kids, 188–198, 250–251

tweens, 254–255

subtractive lighting, 104

sun flare, 181

sunglasses, 204, 207

sunlight, 94, 181

superhero capes, 204

Surreal Skies look, 168–172

symbols, props as, 213

sync speed, 79, 107

T

test shots, 163, 164

through the lens (TTL) metering, 80

toddlers, 32–33, 226, 229, 237

toes, 229, 247

toy trains/trucks, 210

toys, 34, 210

trunks, 207

TTL (through the lens) metering, 80

tweens, 38–40, 233, 254–255

U

umbrellas, 95, 147, 167

“Up and Over” lighting, 123–126, 152–153

V

V-flats, 98–100, 101, 104, 106

W

websites, 79, 101, 181, 199, 209

white seamless background, 136–157

window-light portraits, 111–113

worm’s eye view, 222, 223

Z

Z-boards (Zebra boards), 101

Zebra boards (Z-boards), 101