10 Great Pieces of Camera Equipment for the New Year

By: Simon Bond

The equipment you use in photography can do much for the types of photos you create. The purchase of an additional lens can unlock new areas of photography for you that were otherwise not an option. There are lots of pieces of equipment you can buy for photography beyond the camera body and lens. In this article, you will learn how to accessorize your equipment. Interested in that? Read on and discover ten great pieces of camera equipment you could buy to boost your creativity!

LED light stick

There are many items you can use for light painting. A simple flashlight, your smartphone, or a glow stick, to name just a few.
A few years ago a new product entered the market though, and it’s changed the game. There are two companies you can look towards if you want to get hold of an LED light stick yourself. The choice of the product then is the pixelstick and the magilight.
These are both LED light sticks, and each product has its good and bad points. The bottom line is they both allow you to program light patterns that then transmit through a series of LED lights. They allow you absolute control of the light painting, and therefore give you maximum creativity!

An LED light stick can be a lot of fun to use.

A glass ball for camera equipment?

Yes, that’s right! Those who have read articles written by me for digital photography school will know I often use a crystal ball for my photography. The product has been rebranded in recent years, and in photography circles, it’s now known as the lensball.
This is a great piece of camera equipment, that’s relatively inexpensive. How many camera lenses have you bought for less than fifty dollars? That’s what this product represents – it’s like an external lens optic that you can place almost anywhere within your scene.
Are you looking to buy a lensball? You can do that from lens ball, or refractique. These are rival companies that offer a similar package, they’re more expensive than some others on amazon but come with better quality glass and other items that make the package better-suited for photographers.

A glass ball works just like an external lens, or put simply, a lensball.

Tripod

This item might just be the most creative item you’ll ever buy for your photography.
Other items you can buy will give you an extra option in your photography, a tripod, on the other hand, opens up a host of new ways for you to photograph.
Take a look at some of the photography techniques that need, or benefit from, having a tripod. Now it’s worth investing in a good tripod, one that’s sturdy enough that it doesn’t move during the exposure. If you’re traveling and want something smaller and less heavy, then the Gorillapod or a carbon fiber, lightweight tripod from K&F Concepts might be for you. See a reviews on the Gorillapod here and the K&F Concepts tripod here).

• Light painting – The use of products such as an LED light stick for creating interesting light patterns in your photo requires a tripod because it’s a long exposure.
• Long exposure – Lots of creative landscape photos use long exposure. This could be to flatten seawater, create silky white water at a waterfall, or to produce traffic light trails in a cityscape image.
• Digital blending – While it’s possible to take a set of bracketed images with your camera handheld, it’s much better to use a tripod. Digital blending works best with a set of bracketed images of different exposure values.
• Cloning – Set up your tripod and clone yourself or an inanimate object across the scene your camera is recording.
• Infra-red – Unless you convert your camera to infra-red, you’ll need to use a filter for this form of photography. That will mean a long exposure.
• Self-portraits – The next step up from the handheld selfie. Get your camera set up on a tripod, and properly place yourself within the scene!

Use a tripod and take multiple photos to clone yourself!

Filter set

Now, of course, this is more than one item! However, they’re so small, that for this article, I’ll treat them as one piece of camera equipment.
It could be said that in the days of post-processing the need for a bag of filters is not there anymore. You want to get your image as correct in-camera as you can, though, so having a handy set of filters to facilitate this is always good.
These are some of the filters you should consider.

• Circular polarizing filter – A must for any outdoor photographer. Use a circular polarizing filter to increase the vibrancy of your scene, and to intensify or reduce reflections.
• Graduated neutral density filter – Great for landscape photography, where you want to balance light in the foreground against light in the sky.
• Neutral density filter – The weaker ND filters are often used with strobes to allow the use of higher apertures, while still keeping within the flash’s sync speed for shutter speed. The stronger ND filters allow you to practice long exposure photography during the day. This one by K&F Concepts is an adjustable 2-32 ND filer in one.
• Infra-red filter – A fun niche area of landscape photography is infra-red. Using a filter allows you to take this type of photo without adapting your camera.
• Colored filters – These can be used to add color to your sunsets, produce sepia photos, or to enhance your black and white photos.
• UV filters – UV filters are essentially clear glass that absorbs the ultraviolet (UV) rays. While they can reduce the effect of haze, they’re mainly lens protection.

There are some filter sets available such as those by NISI.

Drone

The bird’s eye view provided by a drone is a great angle.

A drone is the ultimate new toy for any photographer!
The sky literally is the limit! The bird’s eye perspective you’ll be able to achieve will be unique.
Take care to learn how to fly these before attempting the more ambitious photos. This costs a lot of money if you lose it through the battery running out or losing its signal.
You’ll also find an increasing number of countries tightening up the certificates you need to fly them. In addition to this, you need to know where the no-fly zones are. These are typically around airports, but other sensitive locations can also restrict drone flights.
Which is the best drone out there? It’s really hard to look past the DJI Mavic drones; they’re very portable, which is a huge plus. Read some reviews on DJI’s drones here.

Reflector disc

Another small and inexpensive item that can add to your photography is a reflector disc.
You can use this to reflect sunlight onto your subject, or in conjunction with a strobe set up. These reflectors fold up into a small space in your bag, but then open up into a larger disc for maximum reflective effect.
They come in different sizes, and you can get rectangular or circular shaped discs. In addition to that, you can get silver, gold or white as a reflective surface that will make your subject warmer or cooler from the reflected light.

Rogue flashbender

There are quite a number of lighting modifiers you can use with a flash, the Rogue Flashbender Kit makes the list here for its versatility compared with other products.
The concept is fairly simple.
You attach the flashbender to your flash, and then use the white surface to bounce light onto your subject. The flashbender panel itself can be manipulated into various shapes, giving you the following options.

• Bounce the light – The primary use of the flashbender is to aim the flash upwards, so you can bounce light off its white surface. This softens the light, giving you nicer light on your subject.
• A softbox – Through buying an additional translucent panel that can be attached to the flashbender, you can soften the light even more.
• A snoot – Shape the flashbender into a cylinder and wrap it around your flash to convert it into a snoot, now that’s versatility.

The full kit can give you even more options, such as using color gels to alter the color-tone of light.

Smartphone apps

While not physical pieces of gear, they’re just as important for the modern photographer. The information they can give you on-the-go is vital. There are many apps out there. Some are specifically about photography, while others are very helpful to photographers like weather apps.

• Photographer’s ephemeris – Knowing where the sun is in relation to your main subject is very important. Get this planned ahead with the Photographer’s Ephemeris.
• Snapseed – A nice app for editing your photos on the go.
• Photoshop express – Everyone knows Photoshop, and with this app, you can edit your photos on a smartphone or tablet.
• Windy – This is the best app out there for knowing weather conditions on the ground, and ahead of time.
• Photopills – Like the ephemeris, Photopills gives you all the information you need to know on the celestial bodies in the sky. This also comes with information about the Milkyway, making it essential for astrophotography.
• Camera+ 2 – The leading app for using your phone as a camera.

Lightbox

A lightbox is essential for any still life photography.
You’ll need some form of lighting to get the best results, with off-camera flash working best.
This piece of camera equipment will allow you to get the best product photos. You can also do some food photography with it. The aim of this is to get even light throughout your photo, with no strong shadows. It does this by bouncing light around the white surfaces that surround the box.

Product photography with a lightbox is better.

Business cards

Having a set of business cards that you can use to build up your contacts is just as important as any other gear you might have as a photographer.
There is nothing like those face-to-face meetings with people to gain potential business, whether that’s being hired or selling prints. These can be inexpensive, or you can go for the more designer business cards.

• Moo – These are the best quality cards you can get. You can get your photos printed on the back, and each one can be a different photo. That means when someone takes your card, they’ll also be taking a look at a portfolio of your work!
• Print shop – A cheaper option is to head to your local print shop. A lot of these will create a design for you, and may even print one of your photos on the back of the card.

Business cards made by Moo are of top quality.

Which camera equipment is for you?

There are many items you can buy for your photography.
Which item is for you?
Perhaps you’ll focus more on buying the right lens for your photography style. However, there are other items you can buy that will give your photography a creative boost.
Have you ever tried any of the items on this list, or are you tempted to buy one? As always at digital photography school, we love to see your comments in the comments section, together with any images you have.

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5 Tips for Better Winter Landscape Photography

By: Christian Hoiberg

Born and raised in Norway, my opinion might be slightly biased but winter is my favorite season for photography.  Sure, it’s a cold and harsh season but there are so many opportunities to capture beautiful winter landscape images both during the day and night.
I haven’t always been a fan of winter photography, though. In fact, it took me several years after purchasing my first camera before I brought it with me on skiing and hiking trips. Needless to say, it didn’t take many trips before I was hooked and began looking forward to next winter. I quickly realized that photographing during winter is in many ways different than any other season.
There are several new challenges you need to handle and, quite often, everything is white. How do you handle that? Here are five tips to capture better winter landscape images.

1 – Look for Color Contrast

After a few days of heavy snowfall, the landscape here in Norway is completely white. White trees, white lakes, white mountains and normally a white sky. When everything is white, it’s quite challenging to find a focal element as nothing really stands out.
During days like this, you should be searching for elements of color that stand out in the otherwise white landscape. Here’s an example of a house captured the morning after a heavy snowfall.

The red cabin is what makes this picture interesting. Without it, the scene lacks a focal element and the viewer’s eyes have no place to rest.
I find red to be a particularly pleasing color in situations like this but search for any dominant color. Perhaps there’s an autumn leaf laying on top of a thin layer of snow, or maybe it’s a few skiers wearing red jackets. Just find a dominant color in the otherwise white landscape and use that as your focal element.

2 – Bright is Better than Dark

When you’re not able to find a colorful focal element that stands out in the frame, overexpose your image. If it’s snowing and there’s no contrast in the sky, winter images can often benefit from being a stop or two brighter. Just avoid clipping the highlights.

This isn’t something I always do but whenever it’s a whiteout I tend to lean that direction. The slightly overexposed image enhances the whiteout and helps convey just how cold you were when taking the picture, yet it still shows a sense of calmness.

3 – Choose a Cold White Balance

You can either choose White Balance in camera or in post-processing if you’re photographing Raw, a cool color balance is often the most suitable for winter scenes.
Unless it’s a colorful sunset, there’s no reason to use a warm White Balance. Snow is white and the shadows are cool. Using a cold White Balance will help enhance the winter mood while keeping the image more realistic.

4 – Photograph During Bluehour

Winter is a season with lots of opportunities throughout the entire day; even a sunny winter day is worth taking your camera out for. However, during the last years, I’ve begun to appreciate the blue hour more and more.
The moments before the sun rises or after it sets creates a magical, soft light in the winter landscape, especially near the mountains. This is a time where you should be out with your camera. Even if it’s freezing cold and you’d rather stay at home underneath a blanket, you’re doing yourself a favor by going out with the camera at this time of day.

If I was only able to choose one time of the day to go photographing during winter it would be the blue hour (well, night-time and aurora chasing might be preferred…)

5 – Bring Extra Batteries and Keep Them Warm!

The last tip is perhaps the most important when it comes to photographing cold climates in general – bring extra batteries. Batteries drain much quicker in winter and if you’re like me and use Live View for most shots, you need to bring at least a few extra batteries – just in case.
I tend to keep at least one spare battery in an inner pocket of my jacket to keep it from draining or failing in the cold temperature. I’ve also found that doing so will result in the battery lasting longer when you do start using it.

A self-portrait I took on a hike in rough conditions last winter

Lastly, related to keeping the batteries warm, you need to stay warm as well. Always be prepared and rather bring a layer too many than too few. You always want to have the opportunity to dress down, especially if you’re going on a hike.

Over to you

Do you get winter weather where you live? Get out and take some winter landscape shots and share them in the comments below. We’d love to see them.

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Important Things to Consider When Photographing Winter Scenes

By: Jeremy Flint 
              

Winter is a great season for photography and a magical time of year to be outdoors. Photographing winter scenes can be an exciting opportunity to capture some unique and wonderful images, particularly when a familiar scene is covered in a blanket of snow and takes on an entirely different perspective. Here are some considerations on how to photograph winter scenes:

1. Make the most of winter’s longer dusks and dawns

In spite of the colder temperatures, one of the joys of winter is that the sun tends to linger longer at dusk and dawn. It also remains lower in the sky throughout the day, providing great light.
If you can brave the elements and venture outside to capture these magical moments during the winter, you are more likely to have a productive shoot and be rewarded for your efforts. One advantage of photographing at dusk and dawn in the winter is that sunrise is much later than in the summer, and sunset is earlier.

Winter landscape, Oxfordshire

2. Find contrast

When photographing winter scenes such as snow, there are usually displays of strong contrast between subjects and colors that can make for striking images. For example, the whiteness of snow stands out really well against the darkness of a tree silhouette and combines beautifully with a colorful sun.
Alternatively, warm winter skies work really well with the cooler tones of snow. Look to find and photograph these types of contrast in your images, and the results will be more visually stunning.

Oxfordshire, England

3. Shoot bright and colorful scenes

Make the most of the winter light and shoot brightly-lit scenes. The bright white snow adds a certain beauty to a winter scene and can make a dull subject more interesting. A great time to shoot colorful winter scenes is when the sun is shining.

Yosemite, USA

Seek out colorful vistas that may include an animal, a tree, people, a house, a building, or even a snowman. Capture their warm colors in the glowing light. You may find you will need to overexpose a touch if your pictures are coming out slightly dark to make your images slightly lighter.

Iceland

4. Bring plenty of batteries

Batteries tend to lose power and run out faster in colder weather, especially when photographing winter scenes.
Be sure to fully charge them before you set off to maximize your shooting time and keep spares in a warm place, such as an inner pocket.

5. Keep warm

One of the most important challenges with photographing winter scenes is keeping warm. It is amazing how quickly your body temperature can fall when standing still photographing in the cold.
Wear layers to keep the heat in (thermal and wool base layers work really well). Wrap up warm with gloves and a hat and consider hand (heat) warmers. These are great for heating your hands after they have exposed them to the elements, especially if you have to remove your gloves to navigate the camera buttons when taking photos.
There are winter gloves designed specifically for photographers. The thumb and forefinger flip back so you can keep your hands warm while photographing. Consider investing in a pair if you will be in snow and cold a lot.
Also, bring snacks and water to stay energized and hydrated.

6. How to photograph snow:

Snow brightens the landscape and makes everything outdoors look amazing. However, photographing snow does come with its challenges. Here are some useful tips worth considering when photographing snow:

• Setting White Balance to “Cloudy White Balance” or setting your Kelvins to the warmer spectrum will help to make up for the bluish-tinge snow gets. This is particularly evident on overcast or cloudy days when you may get a blue cast to the snow in your images.

Iceland

• Overexpose when shooting snow so that the snow is white rather than “grey”.

Snow can trick your camera meter into underexposing when using your camera’s automatic metering system.
In order to achieve the correct exposure, you will need to compensate for this by adding positive exposure compensation (overexposure) of 1 to 2 stops. The raised exposure value (EV) will help the snow to appear whiter rather than a dull grey. Then your images will be more accurate and a better representation of the snow-covered scene that you see as a result of this.
This applies whether you are capturing falling snow or after it has settled on the ground.
Also, consider using a polarizer filter – this can cut glare and reflections off the snow when it is sunny. It can also help you to see through streams of water better because it cuts through the reflections on top of the water.

Yellowstone, USA

Winter can be a brilliant season for photography, whether you are capturing photos close to home or at more distant exotic locations. Don’t be deterred by the challenges faced when photographing winter scenes. Get out there and have some fun with your camera this winter, and use these tips to capture some great photos you can be proud of.
Share your winter images with us below and any further tips you may have.

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Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Women

If you ever run out of ideas, get stuck in creativity or simply need some guidance when shooting female subjects, you may use following posing samples as a “posing cheat sheet”. Many pro photographers use such a technique when preparing for and during the photo shoot.
The poses in this article are selected as initial reference. I would advise to look at the poses together with your subject, especially if she’s inexperienced. During a photo shoot don’t hesitate to discuss with the subject which pose is or isn’t working in any particular situation. It’s usually very productive and you both will feel more confident in what you are doing.
OK, let’s start, one by one.

1. Very simple portrait pose to start with. Have the model look over her shoulder. Note how unusual and interesting a portrait might look, if shot simply from a different angle.

2. In portrait photography, hands are usually not visible or at least not dominant. However, you might get creative by asking the model to play around with her hands trying different positions around her head or face. Keep in mind, though: No flat palms, and the hands should only show their sides!

3. You might be familiar with composition rules like the rule of thirds. In a similar way, pleasing effects can be created by using diagonals. Also remember that you don’t need to always hold your camera on a perfectly even level. Don’t be afraid to tilt it, you might achieve some interesting and unusual perspectives.

4. A really nice and lovely pose with a model sitting. The knees have to touch each other. Shoot slightly from above.

5. Another open and inviting pose with the model lying on the ground. Get down and take your shot nearly from the ground level.

6. Just a variation for a pose with the model lying on the ground. Both hands might as well be resting on the ground. Works very well outdoors, on the grass or in a wild flower meadow, for example.

7. A basic easy pose, yet looks absolutely stunning. Get down and shoot nearly from a ground level. Then try to move gradually around the model while making shots. Also ask your model to change head and hand positions.

8. Another easy yet gorgeous pose for all body types. Try different hand and leg positioning. And remember to focus on the model’s eyes!

9. A really lovely pose. Works well in different surface settings: The model, for example, might lie on a bed, on the ground, in the grass, or on a sandy beach. Shoot from a very low angle and focus on the eyes.

10. Gorgeous and easy pose for a model sitting on the ground.

11. Another simple and friendly pose for a model sitting on the ground. Try different directions and angles.

12. A wonderful way to demonstrate the beauty of a model’s physique. Works very well as a silhouette when shooting against a bright background.

13. A simple and casual looking pose. Lots of variations are possible. Ask the model to twist her body, experiment with hand positioning and try different head turns.

14. Another very simple and elegant pose. The model is turned slightly to the side, hands in back pockets.

15. Leaning slightly forward can be a very attractive gesture. It is a subtle way to emphasize upper body shapes.

16. A sensual pose. By holding the hands above the head body curves are emphasized. Works with fit body types.

17. Endless variations are possible for posing in full height. This pose is just the starting point. Ask the model to slightly turn her body, change hand positioning, change head and eye directions etc.

18. A relaxed pose with the model standing upright and supporting her back against a wall. Remember that the model may use a wall not only to support her back, but also to put her hands on, or resting a leg against it.

19. Note that full height settings are very demanding and work well only with slim to athletic body types. Posing guidelines are simple: The body should be arched in an S shape, hands should be relaxed, while the weight finds support on just one leg.

20. An exquisite pose for slim to athletic models. Many variations are possible. In order to find the best posture, tell the model to slowly move her hands and twist her body constantly. When you see a good variant, ask your model to hold still and take some pictures. Repeat for a full set.

21. An absolutely romantic and delicate pose. Any kind of cloth (even a curtain) can be used. Note that the back doesn’t need to be completely bare. Sometimes as little as a bare shoulder could work pretty well.
So, there’s something for you to start with. Hope you will find at least couple of poses to work with in different shooting scenarios! Keep in mind that each of the initial sample poses is meant to be only a starting point. Each pose has endless variations! Just be creative and adjust the pose as needed (for example, try different shooting angles and ask your subject to change hand, head and leg positioning etc.)

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How to Take Beautiful DIY Newborn Photography With a Smartphone

By Hillary Grigonis

Related course: Wow Factor Photography

Hiring a professional newborn photographer doesn’t always fit into the budget. This is why many parents turn to DIY newborn photography.
Newborns grow quickly, making photos a must even if you snap them with a smartphone. But newborn photography that you see coming from a professional studio isn’t always safe to try at home.
With a few newborn photo shoot tips, you can snap your own baby pictures. And get results that don’t look like a Pinterest fail.

DIY newborn photos won’t look like the images coming from a professional studio. Besides the differences between a professional camera and a smartphone, newborn photographers are old pros are wrapping babies in snugly, cute positions that are both safe and cute.
I encourage new parents to budget for professional photos. Once they are grown, you can’t put a price on those early memories. But, if newborn photos are not in the budget, DIY images are much better than the alternative — no photos at all.

Common DIY Newborn photography questions

Is it OK to Take Pictures of a Newborn?
DIY newborn photography won’t look as great as hiring a professional. But, all babies should be photographed, and it’s okay to take your own if you can’t afford a pro.
The key is to use safe, simple poses and leave the complex shots to the pros.
Can a Camera Flash Hurt a Baby’s Eyes?
Research has shown no relationship between a camera flash and a baby’s eyesight — so it’s safe to use. But natural light, such as window light is often better for taking great newborn photos.
What Equipment Do I Need for Newborn Photography?
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are the most versatile, with the best quality. That doesn’t mean you can’t take pictures with the camera that’s already in your pocket.
While those cameras are best, if you have to choose between buying diapers and buying a better camera, buy the diapers. And use the camera that’s already in your pocket, a smartphone.
When to Take Newborn Photos?
Newborn photos are typically taken between seven and 14 days old. There’s nothing wrong with taking them earlier or later. In the first week, newborns are still getting the hang of things and typically still have that umbilical cord stump.
After 14 days, it’s harder to get those sleepy newborn photos, as newborns start to become more alert.
How Do You Take Good Newborn Pictures?
Good newborn photos are a result of good lighting, posing, composition, and exposure, among others. To learn how to take good newborn pictures, keep reading.

DIY newborn photography with a smartphone: 9 essential tips

9. Keep the Newborn Safe During the Photoshoot

Those cute photos that you see of newborns holding their own head up in their hands in the “froggy” pose? They aren’t real.
Photos like the froggy pose and other complex shots are composite images. To keep the baby safe, the photographer’s assistant held the baby in place. Then the assistant was later Photoshopped out of the image.
The same concept applies to images where the baby appears to be dangling from a hammock or another prop.
DIY newborn photography is only safe when using poses that the baby can also DIY. Never place the baby in a position that they can’t hold themselves.
The two safest poses for a baby for DIY newborn photography is placing the baby on his or her back or side. Go ahead and search Pinterest for those newborn photo ideas as inspiration. Use safe, simple poses that the baby can hold without assistance.
The same concept applies to using props. Never place the baby in a prop that could tip. Props also should be made of safe materials. That old box with peeling paint you found at a flea market looks cute, lead paint is not cute.
The safest DIY newborn photography pros are simple blankets, hats, and swaddles.

8. Use an Advanced Camera App for More Control

The camera app that comes pre-installed on your smartphone isn’t letting that built-in camera live up to its full potential. Consider using a more advanced camera app for newborn photography.
The app should let you adjust the focus, lighten or darken the image, adjust the white balance and more.
Several advanced apps will also let you shoot a DNG file instead of a JPG. This file is easier to edit later on, making it great for taking newborn photos.
Try using the Lightroom mobile app or Camera+ 2 to get more options than the built-in app on your smartphone.

7. Start With Window Light

Great photos need great light. And for baby photography, all you need for great light is a large window during daylight hours.
Large windows work best, but be sure to also choose a window that doesn’t have direct sunlight streaming in. If there’s a window-shaped spot of sunlight on the floor, then try a different window or a different time of the day.
Choose a window on the side of the building that’s not facing the sun.
Working with window light as simple as placing the baby and props near the window — but where near the window?
Position the baby so that the light falls in a natural position. The top of the baby’s head or the baby’s face should be towards the window.
Placing the baby’s feet towards the window creates unnatural, odd lighting. Sunlight is never coming from your feet.

6. Use Warmth and White Noise to Keep Baby Comfy

Newborns get cold easily. And, since most new babies appear to be swimming in their clothes, newborn photography is often done with the baby undressed. Before taking the photos, turn up the thermostat or use a small space heater. Be careful when using a space heater not to put the heater too close to the baby.
While the baby will need warmer temperatures than you do, it’s possible to make the baby too warm too. Aim to have the space around 80 degrees if the baby will be nude or lightly clothed. Aim for less warmth if you’re planning on using warm clothing or blankets.
Along with keeping the space warm, white noise will also help the baby stay sleeping for the shoot. Try using a white noise app, running a fan or space heater, or playing some soft music.
If the space is completely silent, the baby is more likely to wake up at sudden noises. If the space is already noisy, the noise is less likely to wake them.

5. Use Wraps and Props for More Variety

Clothes often look too big on newborns — not to mention hiding any cute fat rolls and other details. Instead of clothing, try a snug, fitting stretchy wrap.
Swaddling a newborn for photos is art itself, but try doing a basic wrap like this one. Wraps can also help if the baby is having trouble sleeping for the photos.
If you want to dress the baby, consider clothing made specifically for newborn photography.
Simple props can help draw more attention to the baby. A simple solid-colored blanket can make a great background. You can tape the blanket to a wall so that the blanket serves as both a ‘floordrop’ and a backdrop.
Hats and headbands are also fun and add a pop of color. You can tuck that hat away in the baby box to remember how small he or she was years down the road.

4. Gently Adjust the Baby’s Arms and Legs

The froggy pose with the baby resting his or her head on the hands isn’t a DIY pose. But the placement of the infant’s arms and legs can make a big difference in the image.
While you pose the baby on the back or side, gently move the arms and legs into a snuggly position. This can mean placing the hands near the cheeks or crossing the legs to show off baby toes.
Never force a baby into a position and always move them slowly and gently. If they are sleeping soundly and not resisting attempts to reposition them, adjusting the arms and legs can make all the difference in the pose.

3. Adjust Your Composition Before You Adjust the Baby

Getting a baby sleeping and nicely posed takes much more time than actually taking the photo itself. To get the most variety, take photos from different angles and with different crops before trying to move the baby.
Try and angle straight on to the baby’s face. Then try shooting directly above the baby, or shooting from an angle slightly above their face.
Take a photo that shows just the baby’s face, then one that shows the baby from waist up, then a full body shot.
Along with adjusting the angle and crop, you can also change the subject and try some macro newborn photography. Get in close to the baby’s tiny hands, for example, or feet.
If you get too close, your smartphone won’t focus properly, so if the image looks soft, back a little farther away. Smartphone add-on macro lenses can help you get closer and still lock focus.

2. How to Choose a Focal Point

On most smartphones, tapping the screen changes what the camera is focusing on. In most photos, that means you should tap on the baby’s eyes (or eyelids, if they are sleeping) to focus on them.
It’s okay to get creative with the focal point, especially when mixed with a creative composition. Try focusing on the baby’s toes, for example, the pouty lips, or that wisp of fine baby hair.

1. Use a Phone App for Editing

One of the biggest perks to smartphone photography is that the camera and the editing computer are one and the same. A little bit of editing can go a long way into creating great newborn pictures.
Sometimes, the same advanced apps that offer more camera controls offer editing tools too, like Lightroom. Other smartphone photo editing apps to consider are Snapseed and VSCO.
When editing newborn photos, keep it simple. Removing temporary flaws like infant acne or a rash is okay.
Avoid blurring the skin using an app — it looks fake, and babies don’t need that kind of retouching anyways. Try the healing brush tool to remove infant acne.
Use color tools to reduce skin redness. In VSCO, for example, use the HSL editing tab, tap on the red and increase the lightness to lighten any rashes or skin redness. VSCO also has a skin tone slider that can be helpful.
Filters are also easy, simple ways to adjust newborn photos on a smartphone. The exposure, highlights and shadows tools may also come in handy when working with smartphone newborn photography.

DIY newborn photography is possible with a smartphone. The key is to follow safe posing and props, and to keep the photos simple.
Use simple tricks like shooting by a window and keeping the newborn baby calm with white noise. This way, you can capture sweet memories of your little one.
Note: the images used in this article are not all taken with a smartphone. They are used to illustrate concepts in posing, lighting, etc.

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Let Them Run Around: Photographing Children

By: Rick Berk 

The girl in this photo was like the Energizer bunny- she wouldn't sit still! This photo was taken as part of a family portrait session. The posed shots were challenging because three young children didn't want to sit still. Once we allowed her to play in the surf a little, we got much better shots of her.

I am often asked by people, “What can I do to get my children to sit for a photo?” Children can be among the most compelling of subjects to photograph, and as a professional, one of the most profitable.  But children have this odd tendency to want to move around, and not sit still.  This can at times be frustrating when looking for that perfect portrait.  To combat this, as a photographer, a change in mindset is in order. Rather than trying to force the child to sit still, try allowing the children to move around.  Let them get involved in exploring their surroundings. No, you won’t get the traditional portrait of the subject sitting in front of the camera, but you may just get something better, more natural, and more fitting with the child’s personality.
Children can sometimes be the hardest subjects to photograph because they become self conscious in front of the camera.  The worst thing I’ve ever heard a parent say to a child when being photographed is something along the lines of “Let’s see a REAL smile!”  Parents think they are helping but saying such things makes the child wonder what’s wrong with the smile they just gave, and the next one will invariably be worse.  By putting children in their own element, allowing them to explore, to play, you elicit a more natural response that shows their true personalities.

This shot was taken in the child's own home. She was shy around the camera and wouldn't sit still for me. By allowing her to roam around, talk to me, get to know me, she let her guard down, and I was able to get some candid shots of her.

One of the ways to encourage children to be themselves is to put them in a setting that they’ll want to explore. A studio setting, while great for the photographer, can be a nightmare for children.  The lighting, the stands, the backgrounds are at times intimidating and at others distracting.  If a child is going to be distracted, have them be distracted by something that will make a great picture. Often, when I am approached by people to photograph their children, I’ll suggest a setting like a beach, a park, or even their own bedroom. These types of settings put them at ease. Once they are at ease, a variety of shots, including the traditional portrait, can be captured.
Another tack to take would be to schedule the session to specifically be a play session.  In the winter, with snow on the ground, a hillside with sleds can be an ideal setting for capturing children.  Bring a couple of sleds and let them have fun! Build a snowman! Have a snowball fight! In the summer, at the beach, playing in the water and in the sand provides a wonderful glimpse into children’s personalities. A pool will work just as well. Any park setting with a jungle gym is a great starting point for a children’s session. Let them climb, let them swing, let them get dirty.
Get the kids out and let them play!  Just be sure you are ready with the camera when they do.

In the winter, a snow-covered hillside can be the perfect setting for a children's session.

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