When the breakdown moments are keepers too!

As a professional photographer, I know to just keep clicking away when it could end up being a funny moment captured with kids. Most of the time they are some of my clients favorite images so I want to make sure that I get the shots for them. They are those breakdown photos that are just too good and funny to get rid of!

You definitely want to remember these too because it really adds to the story of the day, time, or situation. No one got hurt, it's just a little temper tantrum that is over in seconds.....well, minutes anyway! ;o)

Above is little Parker and he couldn't walk so well in his little Uggs and was just so upset by that! I'm surprised I got the shot because his mom and I were laughing so hard at the way he was trying to walk. Look at those chunker munker legs!! Don't you just want to eat him up?!

Also, here is Colin who is a gorgeous free spirited kid and he was so not cool with having wet jeans on and not to mention his hands were sandy and it was driving him crazy! His mom ordered a print of this and told me she couldn't resist and had to have it. All was fine a minute later when he was able to get his jeans off and I think there was chocolate involved too. Doesn't that make everything better? :o)

To capture your kids personalities (and I mean ALL of them), don't forget to keep snapping when some of those funny moments happen. Place them in the album with the others you took that day and see how the story unfolds!

A little inspiration....

I subscribe to a website called The Daily Motivator and here's a recent quote from them that was so appropriate for me right now, so I thought I'd share it with you!


Each setback provides an opportunity to recover. And each
time you recover, you grow stronger.

The route to your goal is not a straight line. There will be
many times along the way when you find yourself off course.

When that happens, it can seem like your destination is
unreachable. Doubt, fear and apathy will take hold if you
let them.

The key is not to let them. For as hopeless as the situation
may feel, there are actions you can take that will enable
you to quickly get back on track.

Much of the substance of achievement is in becoming skilled
at making a quick and solid recovery. Each setback gives you
the chance to practice and strengthen and refine that
valuable skill.

Know that whatever has slowed you down can provide you with
a way to move more effectively forward. Quickly get back up,
and feel the new strength you've gained.

**Click HERE if you'd like to get inspirational quotes emailed to you from The Daily Motivator**

July's Image of the Month

Tips on Capturing July 4th's Fireworks!!

Above is a picture that I took in Spain at New Year's 2010. See below for more images of fireworks!

Here are 8 tips (without getting too technical!) that will help take some of the guesswork out of trying to capture the fireworks this holiday weekend:

1- Arrive Early

Get there early if at all possible so that you can find your best location with the least obstructed view of the show. This not only includes people and crowds, but also street lights and trees that could end up ruining your chances of amazing images (and of course watching the action live too!).

2- Position Yourself Wisely!

Position yourself up-wind of the fireworks so that you have less haze obstructing the fireworks in your images as the previous set blows away.

3- Use a Tripod

Using a tripod is best, but not always practical for the occasional shooter. With the combination of low light and fast action, your result will be best and create sharper images if your camera is on a steady surface like a tripod. You can also get creative and use a flat rock or your cooler or a sturdy chair!

4- No Flash!

Make sure your flash is off so that it won't ruin your shots.

5- Play Around!

Try different modes on your camera to get different looking images as well as test to see what mode you're liking the best. There are a few to choose from like landscape, night mode and a lot of cameras have a fireworks mode built in. Check to see which modes you have before heading out so that your prepared when it gets dark!

**Take a small flash light or use your cell phone light to adjust the camera settings in the dark!**

6- Don't Forget the Details

Get creative and take images of the crowds to remember how many people were there or the great spot you found. Taking pictures is not just about capturing great images, it's about telling stories. So take pictures of everything of interest as well as the firework display to remember the story of your July 4th!

7- You'll need Extras!

Don't forget your extra batteries and memory cards!!

8- Focus! (One last tip that I'm adding this year!)

It helps if your camera has selective focus and you can focus on something stable in your background or foreground and snap the shutter when the fireworks go off. This way you'll be ready with a slower camera than a professional one and you'll get amazing images of the exploding fireworks! (note the image above I focused on the cathedral and below I focused on the skyline buildings).

Have a GREAT time and a safe holiday weekend!! Don't hesitate to let me know how it goes! :o)