My friend, Danny Clark, issued me a challenge the other day.  I was scheduled to shoot a party and on my way there we were talking and he gave me this assignment...take 5 pictures where the predominant color is a shade of red.  So, I got close!  I have 4.  It was pretty easy actually because the wallpaper was pink and the rug was red.  I punched the color on these and worked with some overlays to make them even more red.

The one below is kind of a cheat.  The pink is all part of an overlay and not in the original shot.  I just liked it so I had to make it fit into my assignment.

Danny, thanks for the assignment!  For all of you out there practicing with your cameras, assignments are a great to way to learn and challenge yourself.  If you are looking for an assignment, why not try one of my Monday Lessons?  I think a good starter would the lesson on expressions.

Objective:  to learn how to diffuse your flash so that you can improve the look of your images taken using a flash.

I get many complaints from clients about how the flash on their camera makes the images look ugly, flat, contrasty and harsh.  This is all true but there is a solution!  Today I am going to teach you how a little piece of inexpensive equipment, a flash diffuser, can dramatically improve your images.

The main problem with flashes is that the light source is small, strong and placed right on top of the camera.  For those of you who have been to my studio, you might have noticed that my lights are big boxes with white fabric over the front.  This makes the light broad and the white fabric diffuses it thereby making it soft.  When we talked about shooting in open shade we talked about why it was so nice- it's because it is big, soft and open.  So, how do we make the light on your flash bigger, softer and better positioned?

We diffuse it!  There are many companies that make little devices that velcro onto your flash to help you diffuse the light.  Here is a sampling of the products made by Lumiquest, which are available at most good camera stores.  Good meaning they keep a good array of equipment and accessories.  In Houston, you can see Lumiquest products at either The Houston Camera Exchange or Houston Camera Coop.

All of the above diffusers are used with detachable flashes.  I know they look a little scary but they are really nice  once you get to know them just like a cool new friend.  You do not need to be a pro to use these.

The diffusers that I use are made by Gary Fong.  I use the Lightsphere and the Whaletail.  Gary also has a cool diffuser made just for people who have pop up flashes.  It is called The Puffer.  If you have a flash that you take on and off, you would use the Lightsphere.  If your flash pops up, you use The Puffer.

All of these diffusers have one thing in common, they make the light softer and broader.  They diffuse it.  The ones that attach to the detachable flash also raise the light up and bounce it, which makes it even softer.

The very best part is that you don't shoot any differently really.  You just attach the diffuser and set your camera as you normally would.  This is especially true in the case of The Puffer.  Gary has an awesome video on The Puffer here.

Here are some example images.  I took these in my living room last night.  There was NO available light.  I used the Lightsphere and set my camera to AV mode (aperture priority).  These are straight out of the camera- not enhanced or retouched at all.

These first images are with the Lightsphere.  What I want you to notice most is that the shadows are soft and the colors look warm and natural.

Hot Wheel problem you say??  No, not us.

These are taken without the Lightsphere.  The shadows are harder and the whites are more bleached out looking.  The whole image feels more harsh.  You can see a classic flash shadow on the right of Finn in the first image.  In the second one the pillow blocks the flash, and because the flash is not soft and broad, it cause a dark shadow on his face.

This picture is cute and the shadow is not so bad but the colors aren't as nice as in the diffused ones.  He was far enough away from the back of the chair so I didn't get the dark shadow.

Shocking as it may be, Finn decided he was tired of me taking his picture and he didn't want to sit still any longer.  So, many thanks to my Chihuahua, Phoebe, for letting me finish up with this side by side.  This set of images shows with and without diffusion.  The left is shot with the diffuser and the right with the flash alone.

It makes a huge difference doesn't it?  I never use flash without a diffuser. Once you get used to it being there, it just becomes an awesome tool that you can't live without.  If you have the same flash frustrations that I so often hear about, please give it a try.  I think you'll love it!

Your homework- don't fear the diffuser!  I am inspired and fueled by your awesome comments about these lessons.  Please keep them up and show me some of your images!

Class Reminder:  I am doing a workshop at my studio on Saturday May 10th from 10 am until 4 pm.  The class is about taking better photos of your children.  We are almost full as I type so if you are interested in the workshop, please register soon!  Call us to sign up- (713) 255-2882.  This class is intended for non-pros who like to shoot for fun.  You will need to have a digital SLR (no point-and-shoots please).  The class is limited to 15 students to ensure a lot of photo TLC and personal attention.  The cost is $100 per person.  Give us a call if you have any questions.

I just finished working on this image for a recent maternity client.  I love it!  She's considering doing this as a gallery wrapped canvas for her nursery.  I love taking images like this and creating wall art for nurseries.  Isn't it amazing to think about how much has changed regarding women and how we celebrate our pregnancies in our generation?  My Mom and I talk about what it was like for her when she was pregnant and having children.  She's always marveling at how much "cool stuff" we have now!    Trends do come and go but I am happy to see that the maternity photography trend is still here and going strong.

Nurseries and children's rooms are great places to hang larger images.  I have these new frames at the studio by Paige Pea that look great in children's rooms.  They are colorful and sort of "shabby chic" and look really amazing in larger wall groupings.  If you'd like to see the frames in person just give us a call and we'd be happy to show them off to you.

This week I thought we'd take a break from the more technical aspects of our cameras and try something fun.  Today I am going to talk about getting great expressions out of your children and how to approach your photography in a new way.

Objective:  to learn and experiment with new techniques that are aimed at capturing fun and genuine expressions from your subjects.

If you have ever been to my studio and watched me photograph kids you might have noticed that I never ask them to smile.  Kids are real in every way and when they try and fake a smile it looks really, really forced and not at all real.  This is not bad news at all.  You just need to change the way you look at the dilemma.  The best part of this is that when you do get a big genuine smile it is truly that- BIG and GENUINE.  It is the kind of smile that is full of life and personality and make you smile yourself just looking at it.  The other bonus about little kids is that they don't mind being silly or even looking silly.  In fact, they think it's hilarious and they are (for the most part) more than willing to share some really fun expressions with you if you're game too.

I always ask kids to show me their silly face, their mad face, their super happy face, their sad face, etc.  I laugh and make the same faces back and that gets them into it and they start laughing in between.  It is in those in between moments that you can get some real gems.  I happen to also like the silly faces too.  I also really appreciate the serious faces and I can't resist a pouting or crying face either.  Don't get too hung up on them looking right into the camera or having a perfect smile.  In fact, some kids are downright serious and that is just who they are.  In that case, that is something to celebrate, appreciate and photograph.

Last week we were in Colorado.  The house was full of kids (7 under 7 to be exact).  I was sitting in the study with three of the kids.  The light was great so I grabbed my camera and started asking them to be silly.  They were all 3 so it was pretty easy to go that direction.  Here is Finnian.  I asked him to make a sad face and then a mad face and then he let out a huge belly laugh.

I think one of the big tricks here is that you have to be silly too.  Instead of making them "sit still" and "say cheese", you are just letting them be who they are in a fun and silly way.  It's fun, I promise.  You may even discover your own silly side in the process.

Zoe was all smiles- in between, at the beginning and at the end.  She reacted the most to me making funny faces at her.

Steven (my husband) always says that he never heard me sing before we had kids.  Now you might find me singing, doing silly walks with Finnian (yes, like Monty Python) or pretending to be a Star Wars character with Sayer.  Kids have an amazing way of bringing that out of us.  Not only do they not care if you look crazy or silly, they want you to!  They love you for it.

All that being said, don't turn away from the serious faces too.  If your 8 month old is sitting happily playing on the rug and the light is nice, you may just let him be and take some pictures just as he is.  Here's a little serious in between moment of Zoe.

Here are a few other shots from that day just to give you some ideas.  One thing I love to do is ask kids to scream as loud as they can, kiss each other, jump around, dance, and so on.  It might be hard at first to manage the technical aspects of the shooting while also shooting fast trying to get the in between moments but, with practice, I think you'll start to get comfortable.  I also like to be close.  It never hurts to be at tickling distance when all else fails.

Who would have guessed that when I asked Zoe to kiss Alexander, he would also take that opportunity to pick his nose!?

Dancing!

Falling down and rolling around

So, what's your homework?  Go play, make ridiculous faces and noises, let your kids scream at the top of their lungs (and laugh at it), dance with them, say forbidden gross out words to your boys to make them belly laugh...GO BE SILLY and take your camera with you.  The worst thing that can happen is that you have an awesome time and the pictures aren't so great.  If you get some good ones, please post them in the comments area.  I love comments and can't wait to see what you come up with.

I just designed a birth announcement for little Keegan.  This is the cover.  Isn't he beautiful?  I love designing birth announcements.  Every one that I do is unique in the sense that I start fresh with each one.  I love the challenge of trying to design something that really fits with the images and the personality of the family.

I love this shot of him.  So pretty!  It never ceases to amaze me.  Someday this little baby will be a grown up man.  I know it's so simple and it probably shouldn't amaze me so much but it always does.  The journey that we make from baby to adult is just incredible.

Happy Saturday!