if you have been following along with my photography for awhile now, you surely know that i am known for my light, bright, and airy images. i am known for creamy bright whites and soft neutrals, often purposefully overexposing to achieve my style. while my photography style has been a passion of mine for quite some time and has awarded me some wonderful recognition in the photography community, i decided to be brave this week when i accepted the fact that my photography style was no longer making me happy. in fact, it was making me dread photography and it was ruining my creativity. it finally came to a point that when i realized that changing photography styles was going to be the only way to save my photography.
knowing that my love for photography has always gone hand and hand with my defined photography style, i decided it was time to be fair to myself and allow myself to change. there were many reasons why i decided to go in a new direction and when i nervously posted an image with my true vision on instagram this week, i didn’t know the reaction it was going to get. a few minutes after posting, i started to breathe. my following was going crazy, saying how much they loved the new look. many were praising my new style and, because my community is so loving and tight, many lovingly asked what made me decide to switch and encouraged me to continue sharing images with this new style.
do you have a photography style? here is when you can say that you’ve found your photography style.
The Truth Behind Changing Photography Styles
.jpg "The Truth Behind Changing Photography Styles | Bethadilly Photography")
did you know i wrote an eBook last year called the styled photographer? check out why many photographers are saying it has helped them to find a style that is truly unique to them, making them happier with their photography and more consistent with their images.
for the past 6 months or so, i have felt that my photography style was ruining my photography. while i was so proud of being highly known for my bright and airy images, i faced the fact that it just wasn’t my passion anymore. i was burnt out with seeking out the best light and it was taking a toll on my love for photography. then my daughter was born and i felt this pressure to not only photograph everything about her, but to photograph it according to my photography style that had become so popular. i was making the mistake of photographing for my style, not for myself.
there was a big problem between me and my style. finding the perfect light everyday was just not possible, especially with a young baby. most days i found that the light was best when she napped or the when she was the happiest, the light was awful. picking up my camera was supposed to be what made me happy, but instead it was deeply stressing me out. more importantly, i was missing moments with my daughter because the light wasn’t “good enough.” yep, i decided not to document certain beautiful moments because of light. light! how ridiculous is that?
i was tired of it. i felt disappointed in myself. i was tired of watching my husband have a perfect moment with my daughter and not photographing it because “it wasn’t my style.” shouldn’t photographing your family always be your style? why was i feeling like the light had to be perfect in order for the moment to be deemed memorable? it was time for a change. i deserved the change and so did my photography. and so did my family.
it felt refreshing to finally say, “i don’t want to be known for light and airy anymore.” it felt refreshing to finally post pictures that were truly me. it felt refreshing to see my daughter do something adorably cute and want to pick up my camera, even in the lowest light. it felt fair. i was finally being fair to myself and allowing my passion for photography to evolve into something new.
in a way, my style is still the same. i am still drawn to images that are honest and organic. i am just being more thoughtful about how i choose to use light and how to honestly depict skin in my images to make my photography reflect what i actually see.
it has been freeing. changing photography styles has been so very freeing.
no longer am i saying, “i can’t photograph our outing because it doesn’t have bright whites and creamy light.” now, my style is my style. it is truly me and depicts my everyday as i honestly see it. changing photography styles has allowed me to photograph my daughter more because i can photograph her anytime i want, not just at high noon when the light is the brightest. it has allowed me to photograph more things, including the adventures i take outside of the home.
now, when someone praises my images and my style, i am truly proud because i am happy with my photography again. i think, as creatives, we feel the need to keep doing something the same way because it’s what we know. we tend to put our feelings aside and not listen to ourselves when we are feeling uninspired. and that’s when we completely ruin our passions for photography.
listen to me, change is so good. i once heard a quote that said the worst thing you can do for yourself is stay the same because you should always be growing and evolving. you should always be learning and getting better. that’s how i feel about my photography. my photography style has simply evolved as i have evolved as a photographer. and finally saying it out loud and sharing the images that i am truly passionate about has made me so happy. changing photography styles saved my photography.
thank you for reading this.
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when it comes to dressing kids for photos, photographers know exactly what works and what doesn’t work. when i am shopping for clothes for my daughter, i am constantly thinking of photography in mind and rarely buy things that wouldn’t photograph well. to be honest, clothing can make or break a photo. i am in no way saying that the clothing you choose for your children has to be expensive because it doesn’t. in fact, dressing kids for photos isn’t about where you shop, it is about what you shop for. when choosing clothing for your kids to wear for photos, whether it be while looking through their current closet or shopping for some new pieces, here are 5 things for you to keep in mind when selecting their wardrobe.
when i became a mom, i became a better photographer. read more about how motherhood strengthened my photography.
5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos
.jpg "5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
this post is to serve as basic rules for dressing kids, not wear to shop. but since many of you will email me asking where i buy my baby girl’s clothes i will just mention it. i really like buying things at target (janie & jack is darling), as well as marshals and tj maxx. from time to time, i really like carters items.
ok, now that we have answered that inevitable question, let’s talk about the 5 secrets.
1. No Logos
absolutely not. no, not even a tiny logo. resist the urge to buy clothing with logos on it, it is so distracting in an image and will take the focus away from where it should be, on your child. do not dress your child in anything that has writing on it, it forces the viewer to read the shirt which just ruins the photo in it’s entirety. think, plain jane. less is more. simple. timeless. make sense?
2. Avoid Harsh Colors
while fun, loud colors should be avoided because they can place color casts on your child’s skin and create inaccurate skin tones. this is because the color is so vibrant that it reflects on the skin, turning the skin into a similar hue. think : bright red shirt = red tint on skin. it makes editing a nightmare, and who wants that!? don’t get me wrong, color is fine but avoid bright colors such as neons and hot pink. you will be thankful you did.
.jpg "5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Keep The Tone of Your Photo in Mind
when dressing kids for photos, photographers usually have a photo in mind that they are going for and dress their child accordingly. in my images, you will often see my little girl dressed in very soft whites, cream, or soft florals. this is because, not only is that my style, but because i want the viewer to notice her before they notice her clothes. for me, the photo is about my little girl and not about what she is wearing. that being said, i am very thoughtful about what clothes she does wear so that they will go unnoticed.
in the image above, i wanted the viewer to focus on the moment and not our clothing so i picked very basic neutrals so the clothing didn’t overshadow the moment between my daughter and i. in the photo below, i knew i wanted to place my daughter on our unmade bed that had white sheets and a cream headboard backdrop. because i knew the scene in itself was going to be very plain, i intentionally dressed her in a soft floral onesie so she wouldn’t get lost in the background.
.jpg "5 Photographer Secrets For Dressing Kids For Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
4. No Shoes or Socks
if you are photographing your child at home, please take off their shoes and socks. there is something so innocent and childlike about bare feet that really makes for an honest image. please don’t overthink footwear when dressing kids for photos and, instead, disregard putting anything on their feet at all. shoes tend to be noisy and dirty, so they can be distracting in an image. of course, there are some really lovely shoes out there that are just plain adorable, but for the most part skip the shoes. (unless you are photographing outdoors in an area that obviously calls for footwear, of course or if the shoes help to tell the story in the image better, such as a worn pair of favorite shoes.)
5. Only Choose Low Maintenance Items
there is nothing worse than having to interrupt a moment to situate a child’s outfit, for the fortieth time. if the pants need to constantly be pulled back up, don’t dress your child in them. if the shirt has a collar that won’t stay put, choose a different shirt. please do yourself and your photographer (if not you) a favor and dress your kids in clothing that is low maintenance and doesn’t need fussing. it will only frustrate you and your child as you try to keep the outfit intact.
easy, right? it is all about choices. this doesn’t mean throwing out everything that your child currently has, but to be mindful about the items you add to their closet by keeping photos in mind. i am not saying that a completely adorable photo of your child with a logo’d shirt shouldn’t be cherished, but for the purpose of getting better photos of your children keep these tips in mind when dressing kids for photos.
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every photographer should be using the reference view in lightroom, it is a game changer when it comes to editing. for most photographers, having a consistent editing style is a big struggle. they feel like their exposure is all over the board, their white balance isn’t consistent, and their images don’t look like they belong together. when you struggle with consistent editing, you are creating a portfolio that is all over the board and lacks cohesiveness. if you are looking to make your images more cohesive and create a portfolio that is more harmonious, you need to start using the reference view in lightroom.
need help learning how to edit? read more about how i learned to edit in lightroom + photoshop.
Why You Should Be Using The Reference View In Lightroom
.jpg "Why You Should Be Using The Reference View In Lightroom | Bethadilly Photography")
How To Use The Reference View
1. edit a photo from beginning to end. this first photo will be the photo you reference, so be sure that you nail your edit and it’s exactly how you like it.
2. with your final edited photo selected, click the R | A button at the bottom of your editing view screen in the develop module of lightroom.
3. make sure the image that you edited is on the left side (reference), because that is the image you are going to reference. if it isn’t simply there, drag the photo into the reference side by selecting the thumbnail and dragging it up and into the reference box.
4. select a photo you want to edit next and drag it into the right side (active).
5. begin editing the active image, while referencing the reference image. be sure to reference your edit image as you tweak your white balance, exposure, contrast, etc. having your images side by side allows you to ensure that your edits are the same, or very comparable.
it’s important to note, i like to edit my images in loupe view because i want to see my images as big as i can. once i get my image closely edited, i will pull it into the reference view so i can ensure that my image matches my first image and make the final small tweaks.
.png "Why You Should Be Using The Reference View In Lightroom | Bethadilly Photography")
using the reference view in lightroom is so helpful to me, as it allows me to ensure that my edits are cohesive which helps to ensure that my collection of images flow together effortlessly and harmoniously. i love using this feature when i have images that were taken on the same day, but in different light or from a different angle. for example, the images i am editing above were taken moments from one another, yet they need different edits because i changed my angle and used the light differently. even though i have to edit them differently, i want the end result to look the same. seeing them side by side helps me ensure that i am creating the same cohesive look, despite using different editing sliders, or amounts of each slider, to achieve that look.
have you tried batch editing? here is a step-by-step guide to batch editing that will help speed up your editing.
lightroom has so many wonderful features that help us become better and more efficient editors. as of right now, i believe the reference view in lightroom is only available for creative cloud members as an update. if you are a creative cloud member, be sure to take advantage of this new update so you can begin seeing the advantages in the reference view.
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welcoming a new baby into the world is a sacred time for a couple and the moments shared are intimate and private. for my husband and i, we asked that our time in the hospital be respected and did not allow visitors to meet our baby until after we arrived home. we knew that we would never get those first moments with our baby back again and wanted to ensure that our time was just that, our time. some people are fine having visitors, and that’s okay too. it’s a personal choice of the parents. because we decided to keep our first moments to just the three of us, but i still wanted to get photographs in the hospital, i was responsible for taking my own hospital photos. if you aren’t interested in hiring a photographer to take photos for you and plan to take them yourself, here are some great tips for taking your own hospital newborn photos that really made it easy and successful for me, even after a c-section. *note, c-section mamas, you must put your recovery first and listen to your restrictions. you will do your baby no good if you hinder your recovery by getting brave as you take photos. that being said, it’s still possible, just be mindful.
want to wait until you get home to take formal portraits? here are 10 tips for photographing your own newborn.
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5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Pack The Right Gear
as you are packing your overnight bag for the hospital, be sure to pack the right gear to photograph your baby. aside from your camera, i would recommend bringing a 50mm lens for portraits and a wide angle lens for small tight spaces. hospital rooms can be small and having a wide angle lens will be your lifesaver. as always, packing extra batteries and memory cards is recommended. it’s easy to fill up a memory card taking first pictures of your little one, without realizing it. while not mandatory, consider bringing a wireless remote to simplify taking the first family photo.
it’s a great idea to also pack a list of must-have photos you would like to take. once your baby is born, your mind becomes a little distracted and it’s easy to be forgetful. having a photo list handy will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you get all the photos you really want, with no regrets.
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
2. Use The Hospital Bassinet For Baby Portraits
the hospital bassinet is a life saver when it comes to taking your baby’s first portraits for a few reasons.
- your baby is safe and secure in the bassinet, allowing you to focus on photographing them
- you can move the bassinet around the room to help place your baby in the best natural light
- most bassinets have clear sides, allowing you to photograph from a variety of angles to get detailed photos of fingers, ears, toes
- most have a white sheet in the bottom that acts as a natural reflector and is a neutral backdrop
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Use The Hospital Sheets As A Neutral Backdrop
if you are looking for a nice white backdrop to photograph your baby on (and if the bassinet doesn’t have one), pull off the comforter on your hospital bed…there are bound to be bright white hospital sheets underneath! with the help of your partner, lay your baby on the bed and take photos of him/her there. because there are no sides on the bed, be sure to have your partner watch and spot the baby while you photograph. safety should always be your first priority when taking your own hospital newborn photos.
while we are talking about safety, always wear a camera strap when photographing a newborn from above.
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Take Turn Taking Pictures
okay, so i took 99% of the hospital photos of our daughter, but there was one photo i really wanted of me and her that i asked my husband to help me with. i really wanted a portrait of the two of us, showcasing her in my arms and my visible baby bump. it was important for me to document what i looked like after giving birth. for some moms, they don’t want to document this and feel self conscious but, to me, it’s beautiful. please hand off your camera and allow your partner to take pictures as well, it’s important that you are in photos with your tiny baby too. your baby will want to know what you looked like as a new mom, so taking pictures of your baby with each parent is a must. have your partner take pictures of you breastfeeding, cuddling, doing skin to skin, and resting.
are you worried about the limited hospital light? be sure to read photographing in hospitals : achieving good photos in any light.
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
5. Use The Meal Tray As A Tripod
hopefully your hospital has a meal tray that raises and lowers, they are amazing! i did not bring a tripod with me to the hospital, but instead set my camera on the meal tray that was in our room for having meals in bed. the meal tray is an excellent tripod because it has wheels on it, allowing you to move it around the room so you can position it anywhere. if your tray is like mine, it can be raised higher and lower as well, which gives you full control like a tripod. consider bringing a wireless remote with you as well, they are so affordable and will make taking a first family portrait so easy.
taking your own hospital newborn photos is so easy and the images you take will be cherished forever. for those of you who have been successful with taking your own hospital newborn photos, please share your tips with us in the comment section below. let’s help one another take the very best photos we can of our new babies.
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need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "5 Hacks For Taking Your Own Hospital Newborn Photos | Bethadilly Photography")
exposure. it is something that is a little tricky to master when just beginning your journey with photography, but over time it is something that you will effortlessly think about when you pick up your camera. as i picked up my camera for week 5 of the bethadilly 52, i kept exposure in mind. when i think about exposure, i think about having an image that is well balanced in light but also captures important detail. for my photo this week, my dog was sleeping in our bed and i quickly, yet quietly, went to find my camera to capture this sweet moment. because this photo is happy and fun, i knew i wanted a brighter exposure. but i was also careful not to go too bright because i wanted to still capture the wrinkles in the bedsheets and the texture of his soft fur. thank goodness this little guy is used to the sound of my shutter clicking and i was able to take this photo without disturbing him in the slightest. because i used my wide angle lens, i was able to shoot from above effortlessly with my feet planted on the ground.
to join in on the bethadilly 52, where we take one photo a week using the hashtag #thebethadilly52 on instagram, check out the prompt list.
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The Bethadilly 52 Week 5 – Exposure
.jpg "The Bethadilly 52 Week 5 - Exposure | Bethadilly Photography")
this photo was achieved using : nikon d750, sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens.
my settings were : ISO 400 | f/2.8| 1/25ss
. . .
to learn more about exposure, be sure to read 5 tips for achieving proper exposure.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
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Joy Huber - Beth! I did notice and I loved it!!!! And you were brave. I’ve been struggling a bit with style as well… seeing fulfillment in darker images with more dramatic light and shadow… trying to embrace it. I look forward to seeing how you settle into your new found style. Best ❤
{beth} a-dilly - thank you so much, Joy! style can be tricky, but when you finally find it, it can be really inspiring again!
5 Reasons To Embrace Shadows In Your Photography - bethadilly - […] learning to embrace shadows encouraged me to take on a new photography style that represented me better. read about that story here. […]