Little Bunny is Two and a Few Tips for “Mom-tographers”

Mommy moment.  My littlest is two today.  She brings joy, cuddles, sweetness, and love to our house every day and we are so thankful to God for this precious little girl.  He is so good to give us such a good gift.

Sarah Gray Photography | Tallahassee, FL Mom-tographer

Sarah Gray Photography | Tallahassee, FL Mom-tographer

On a side note, a friend texted me yesterday and asked if it would be a good day to take her daughter outside and snap a few valentine’s pictures.  The day was overcast and nice but difficult to tell if it would rain or not.  My reply to her was a definite, YES!  In fact, her text is what prompted me to take my birthday girl outside and snap the above pictures after her afternoon nap.

Overcast days are great opportunities for picture practice with little ones for several reasons.  There will be a nice, natural diffused light thanks to mr. cloudy which means that you don’t have to worry about weird shadows ruining your photos.  Even with a great overcast sky there are still a few things you can do to improve the pictures you take of your fast paced child.  Biggest tip – have them look UP.  Take a look at the picture-quad up there of my little girl.  Notice how the top RIGHT photo is cute as can be but there are still some dark “raccoon” areas around her eyes and shadows under her chubby cheeks.  This is because I was squatted down and looking straight across to her through my camera.  Usually, getting down on a child’s level to photograph them is a good thing, however, when you can take advantage of a beautiful overcast sky, by simply having them look UP you’ve done three things, 1) eliminated the shadows around their eyes, nose, and cheeks/jaw;  2) you’ve easily brightened their entire face and softly lit it with diffused skylight / cloud-cover; and 3) my favorite… you’ve allowed for a beautiful catchlight to enter their eyes as in the very first image of this post and the bottom RIGHT picture in my photo-quad.  By just getting above your child and looking down to them as you do all day as a parent, you photograph their small frame from the perspective you see it daily  and, on an overcast day, you’ve got a dang good picture to show for it.

So, get out there mom-tographers!  Grab that DSLR that you got for Christmas and try photographing your kiddos on an overcast day… there will be plenty of them in the coming months.

I leave you with a little video of us singing happy birthday to our birthday girl.  I love her little “hand dance” at the end of the video.  Gosh I love this girl.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/50CZzoSNtR8]

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sarahgrayphoto

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Maternity • Newborns • Babies • Family
Photographer based in Tallahassee, Florida
Master Baby, Family, and Maternity Photographer awarded by @napcp

Mom post here:

I am teary eyed as I type this. Today was the last Elementary Chapel for this 5th grade class (my son’s class). During this “Legacy Chapel” they passed the leadership plaque down to the 4th graders as they prepare to be next year’s lower school leaders.

I am so proud of our current 5th graders. This class has navigated more than anyone would have ever imagined and they have a unique bond amongst each other on this side of those collective pains. They started Kindergarten the year of the pandemic and have seen firsthand the hurt of sickness and death in this fallen world.

Still, they are joyful, playful, hard working, and compassionate in a way that constantly surprises me. No doubt that God has great things in store for them; and our school community is beyond blessed to have each and every one of them and their families as a part of it.

Class of 2033, let’s go!

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18410931094177652
Mom post here: I am teary eyed as I type this. Today was the last Elementary Chapel for this 5th grade class (my son’s class). During this “Legacy Chapel” they passed the leadership plaque down to the 4th graders as they prepare to be next year’s lower school leaders. I am so proud of our current 5th graders. This class has navigated more than anyone would have ever imagined and they have a unique bond amongst each other on this side of those collective pains. They started Kindergarten the year of the pandemic and have seen firsthand the hurt of sickness and death in this fallen world. Still, they are joyful, playful, hard working, and compassionate in a way that constantly surprises me. No doubt that God has great things in store for them; and our school community is beyond blessed to have each and every one of them and their families as a part of it. Class of 2033, let’s go!

What my portfolio doesn`t tell you about me

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18034824026639685
What my portfolio doesn't tell you about me

When was the last time you looked at an old family photo and thought, `I wish fewer people were in this`?

Probably never.

That is exactly why I always say yes when families ask whether they should include the grandparents, the cousins, the aunt and uncle who are only in town for a few days.

When you are not sure, say yes anyway. We will find a way to make it work.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18089342786206860
When was the last time you looked at an old family photo and thought, 'I wish fewer people were in this'? Probably never. That is exactly why I always say yes when families ask whether they should include the grandparents, the cousins, the aunt and uncle who are only in town for a few days. When you are not sure, say yes anyway. We will find a way to make it work.

A few things I want every family to know before a multigenerational session.

Start with the group shot - always. I photograph the full group first, before anything else, so every person in attendance (including the ones who drove the farthest) knows the most important image is already done. From there, we move through smaller groupings with a lighter energy.

Tell me about mobility before we choose a location. If a grandparent or family member has any physical considerations, I need to know before we land on a spot. There is always a way to create beautiful images that honor everyone present - I just need to know what we are working with so I can plan for it.

Mornings are almost always better for the little ones. Babies and toddlers are near-universally happier before the afternoon hits. When multiple generations are present, timing the session well makes a real difference in the energy of the whole group.

And if there are any family dynamics I should be aware of - specific pairings that need extra care, or groupings you would prefer I not suggest - please tell me. It keeps everything moving warmly, and it protects everyone from an awkward moment in front of the camera.

Planning is how multigenerational sessions go well. I am always happy to talk it through before your session date. Contact me through my website, link in bio.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18006521186857125
A few things I want every family to know before a multigenerational session. Start with the group shot - always. I photograph the full group first, before anything else, so every person in attendance (including the ones who drove the farthest) knows the most important image is already done. From there, we move through smaller groupings with a lighter energy. Tell me about mobility before we choose a location. If a grandparent or family member has any physical considerations, I need to know before we land on a spot. There is always a way to create beautiful images that honor everyone present - I just need to know what we are working with so I can plan for it. Mornings are almost always better for the little ones. Babies and toddlers are near-universally happier before the afternoon hits. When multiple generations are present, timing the session well makes a real difference in the energy of the whole group. And if there are any family dynamics I should be aware of - specific pairings that need extra care, or groupings you would prefer I not suggest - please tell me. It keeps everything moving warmly, and it protects everyone from an awkward moment in front of the camera. Planning is how multigenerational sessions go well. I am always happy to talk it through before your session date. Contact me through my website, link in bio.

Memberships and Affiliations

Sarah Gray Photography | Professional Photographer of America Member
Sarah Gray Photography | The Motherhood Anthology Member

Sarah Gray creates timeless and joyful images that are designed for living room walls and photo albums. A tallahassee photographer, Sarah Gray also serves Thomasville, Crawfordville, St. Marks, Gainesville and throughout the panhandle of north Florida and south Georgia.

email us | sarah@sarahgray.com

telephone (850) 321-0208

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located in tallahassee, florida