finding your very own photography style is a journey.  many photographers claim a photography style simply because the style is popular or trending.  they pick styles solely based on popularly.  but before long, they become burnt out with their photography because they are shooting for others and not for themselves.  they are not developing a style for themselves, but instead are adopting one and trying to fit in.  finding your very own photography style is something that only you can do.  it is a personal choice and each photographer’s style is personal to them.  it is something that takes some thought, time and practice.  so when can you say you’ve found your photography style?

are you one of the many photographers that is struggling with finding a style that is your very own and fully represents your vision?  be sure to read the styled photographer, which will take you on a journey of finding your own photography style.

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When You Can Say You’ve Found Your Photography Style

Your Portfolio is Cohesive

as you are perfecting your photography style you will start to see your images flow together better and better.  instead of visually looking like they are mixed and matched, once you have found your photography style your images will all relate to one another, despite the subjects within the frame.  a cohesive portfolio means that you consistently use light the same way, your white balance and exposure all match, and you give a perspective that is unique to you.

Others Know Your Work

this was the most defining moment for me when finding my photography style.  very consistently, i will have someone reach out to me and say, “i would know your work from a mile away.” or “i know your work, even without your watermark!” or “i instantly know a photograph is yours!”  this is music to my ears, and i am so appreciative and thankful whenever someone tells me this.  it is in these moments that i know i have found my photography style because, not only does it mean something to me, but it is impacting others.  when others easily recognize your work, you have found your photography style.

You Know When To Pick Up Your Camera

once you have found your photography style, it’s amazing how knowing your style helps you realize what moments you should photograph, and what moments you don’t feel inspired.  this feeling will be different for everyone, as everyone has their own unique style.  for me, i know to grab my camera when i notice pretty light or when i am provided with soft tones, whether it be my subject or a location.  alternatively, i know that i can pack a light photography bag when we go on an outdoor outing because i have learned that, while it’s beautiful, nature isn’t something that inspires my photography.  knowing what inspires you comes with finding your photography style, and you will continue to perfect this over time.

Editing is Streamlined

i feel like once i found my photography style, i could edit in my sleep.  as you pinpoint your style and know what that looks like, you know how to achieve that style in post processing.  one you have found your photography style, you will edit roughly the same way each and every time.  for me, i use approximately the same few sliders every time i edit in lightroom because i know what edits support my style and using sliders different in each photo would make my portfolio look jumbled.  by editing consistently, you will create images that flow effortlessly from one to the next.  you will know you have found your photography style when you feel like your editing is streamlined.

You Feel Connected With Your Photography

this is the biggest one and, again, this will look different for each and every photographer.  once you find that your photography truly speaks to you, that you are consistently happy with the work you create and you feel that passion ignite when looking at your images, you have found your photography style.  you will know this when you look at your work and you are truly happy with it.  yes, it’s natural to be overly critical of ourselves.  but finding your style means that you are portraying who you are and what your passion is through a photograph.  naturally, these photos should connect with you on a personal level.

finding your photography style is a journey, and a personal one at that.  if you are ready to find your style, but aren’t sure what steps to take be sure to join me in the styled photographer, as i give you activities and insight on finding a photography style that is true to you.

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more often than not, the very first things my clients say when inquiring to hire me as their photographer is…”i just love how natural your photos look!”  the days of studio portraits of everyone looking at the camera are long long gone and today mothers (because, lets be real, it’s the mothers who hire us) are looking for photographers who can capture the honest and true emotion elicited from their children and family.  they are looking for candid photography.

it’s no secret that children grow in the blink of an eye, making it more important than ever that we photograph each and every little thing about them.  skip the photos of them staring blankly at the camera and focus on achieving photographs that contain natural and honest moments of them being their true selves.

need some ideas on what activities to do during family sessions?  check out my 8 Tips for Photographing Natural Family Photographs to inspire how you plan and organize your next family session.

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Candid Photography : 7 Tips for Achieving Natural Photos

1.  Whisper Secrets

one of my favorite props to achieve a natural looking photograph is to have my subjects whisper secrets to one another.  this helps to take their focus off my camera and instead place their focus on one another.  even better, funny secrets.  having them tell funny secrets encourages laughter and an element of surprise that is so much fun to photograph.

2.  Forget Everything You Once Knew About Taking Photos

i absolutely cringe when parents stand behind me while i am photographing their children yelling, “say CHEEEEEESE!” or “look here!”  if you want to truly capture honest emotion, you must forget everything you once knew about the perfect portrait.  today, the perfect portrait is one that is honest and true.  it is not a photo that contains a fake and cheesy “let’s get this over with” smile.  once you relax and realize that successful photographs don’t have to contain the subject looking at the camera, you will be much more successful.  because my clients know my style of photography is candid and natural, they don’t pressure their children to look at the camera with fake smiles.

are you having trouble attracting the right clients for your business?  it may be because you don’t have a clear photography style.  finding your photography style will help you attract the clients whom you want to work with.  be sure to check out my eBook “the styled photographer: a guide to finding your unique photography style” to pinpoint and develop your own style.

3.  Do An Activity

one of the most important things to remember about candid photography is that, even though the moment may be natural, it is important that you help set up or encourage the moment.  for example, have your subjects do an activity together to encourage a natural moment.  remember, your clients don’t know how to “look natural” so it is important that you help them do it.  have them walk together down a road, lift their little ones in the air, or tickle on another to help achieve a natural moment.

 4.  Be Inconspicuous

most of the time, achieving candid photographs involves being sneaky and inconspicuous.  i often prompt my clients to do a certain activity, like lift their little one in the air or tickle, while i stand back and document the moment with my camera.  sometimes it is the moments in between the prompted activity that contain the truest emotion, so be sure to photograph all the time.  it’s during the moments that clients feel comfortable and relaxed that the most candid photographs are achieved.

with newborn clients, i often stand outside of the room to give them space, yet document the moments as they come.  peeking around the corner and photographing from afar is a wonderful way to capture true life.

 5.  Encourage Laughter

there is nothing that will create a more true photograph than laughter.  when one gives themselves to laughter, their entire body, from head to toe, reacts.  this reaction is your key to candid photography.  while your job is to be a photographer, tap into your inner comedian as well.  encourage laughter throughout your session by telling jokes, saying funny words, making funny sounds, etc.  not only will laughter help you create natural looking photographs, but it will also encourage your clients to loosen up and get comfortable.

6.  Play the “Look At…” Game

without fail, i play this game with all of my clients during each session because it is one of the easiest ways to encourage laughter and, in turn, achieve candid photography.  i start out by having the entire family look at me and then i tell them, “look at….MOMMY!”  after a fit of giggles from the little ones (which i photograph, of course), i say, “look at….DADDY!”  and so on and so forth.  we keep playing until we have looked at everyone in the family and end with them all looking at me again.  that final photograph contains relaxed and happy smiles, instead of forced awkward smiles.

7.  Encourage Interaction

i always tell my clients, “if you leave my session tired and sore, your photos are going to look amazing!”  my sessions are hands on and contain activity.  i love to encourage interaction between family members because it helps to encourage client comfort, which results in successful candid photography.  by having my clients cuddle close, lift their kids in the air, hold hands, and give plenty of kisses, both my clients have fun and relax in front of the camera and i score some amazing natural photographs.

when you hand a mother a photo of her child laughing, with their nose crinkled up and their eyes full of happiness, you are giving her something she will cherish forever.  instead of photographs of children looking straight at the camera, smiling because they were told to, focus on creating situations that elicit honest emotion and photograph the emotion.

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the arrival of a baby is one of the most memorable events in one’s life.  and because it is so special, many new parents hire a photographer to join them in the hospital following the birth of their child.  since babies rarely arrive on their due date and everything about a newborn is so brand new and unpredictable, your planning and organization as a photographer is more important than ever.  as you prepare for your the arrival of your next tiny client, keep the following tips for photographing a hospital newborn session in mind.

for even more tips on how to photograph newborns after they arrive at home, be sure to read my 10 tips for photographing a lifestyle newborn session to help you prepare for your session.

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Tips for Photographing A Hospital Newborn Session

Be Prepared To Be On Call…Just Like The Doctor.

because newborns are on their own schedule, planning the exact date for your in hospital newborn session will be a little tricky.  make sure you communicate, communicate, communicate with your clients at all times.  to be safe, be sure to be careful when scheduling other clients during the two weeks before and two weeks following the newborn’s due date so that you are prepared to head to the hospital when you get the call.

Know How Soon You Should Arrive.

again, communication is key as you prepare for your hospital newborn session.  be sure to talk with the parents about how soon they would like you to arrive at the hospital.  would they like you to arrive immediately following the birth to capture the first few hours, or would they like you to arrive the following day so they can get a little sleep?  be sure you know what they expect of you so that you arrive at a time that is comfortable for them.

as you are talking about an arrival time, be sure to talk about lighting.  would your clients be okay with artificial hospital lighting only if their newborn arrives in the middle of the night, or would they rather wait until the next morning to take advantage of the natural light?

Be Patient and Schedule Enough Time.

new parents are going to be happily overwhelmed with their tiny little one, so make sure you set aside enough time at the hospital so that you don’t rush them through their photography session.  keep in mind that there will be other people interrupting your session while you are there, such as the nurses, doctor, and lactation consultant.  while the parents will most likely restrict personal visitors during this time, hospital staff will definitely be coming into the room from time to time to take care of them.  be sure you plan accordingly, as it is important for the parents and baby to still be cared for throughout the session.

i typically allow for approximately 3 hours to photograph an in hospital newborn session, allowing time for feedings, changings, little breaks for mom and dad, and visits from the hospital staff to occur throughout.  your number one job as their photographer is to keep the environment relaxed and reduce any stress that may arise.

Don’t Forget the Family Portrait.

while the star of the session will definitely be their tiny newborn, be sure to remember to capture a portrait of the new parents with their baby.  this will be their very first family portrait so it is very important that you remember to take it.  here is a little checklist of photographs you will want to take:

• individuals of newborn
• details of newborn (toes, hands, face, feet, etc)
• mommy and baby
• daddy and baby
• skin to skin
• family portrait
• baby in hospital bassinet
• pullbacks of the hospital room

Bring the Right Lenses.

having the right lenses in your camera bag will help to ensure that you are prepared to get the photographs you plan to achieve.  for in hospital newborn sessions, i bring two lenses with me: a zoom lens and a 50mm lens.  i recommend bringing the following photography gear with you to the hospital:

• a 50mm lens : this is a great lens to help capture portraits and little details of the newborns, like their toes, face, hands, and feet.  i love to shoot with my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens because it is also really good in low light situations, which is great for hospital photography when light may be an issue.
• a zoom lens : i love to bring my nikon 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 lens because it allow me to get a wider angle shot.  i love to incorporate the hospital room in it’s entirely into some of the images because that room is a very memorable place to the new parents.  it is the room where they spent their first hours as a family of three.  and because hospital rooms have limited space, this lens also allows you to still get great photographs, even if you are in a tight space.
• a tripod.  tripods are a great tool to use to steady your shot when you are in a low lighting situation. just in case the hospital room is a little darker than you thought, having a tripod comes in handy.

Keep Birth Announcements In Mind.

your clients are going to be really excited to see their photographs, especially because they will be some of the very first photographs of their little one.  most parents will also be planning on creating and sending out birth announcements following the birth.  be sure you plan accordingly to ensure that you get a baby portrait for their birth announcement.  if the baby is calm when i arrive, i photograph their individual portraits first so i know they are completed and out of the way.  for the babies who are fussy when i arrive, i photograph the portraits of baby with parents first to not only capture those lifestyle moments, but to give the baby time to be cuddled and calmed.

keeping birth announcements in mind also means being sure that you edit in a timely manner.  i generally edit and deliver my client images within 2-3 days of their session.  i edit quickly because i know my clients are anxious to see their first family portraits and will be eager to send out birth announcements.

photographing a brand new family in the hospital is so special and you should be honored that your clients chose you to be apart of their first moments.  by keeping these tips for photographing a hospital newborn session in mind, you will help prepare yourself for a successful session and ensure that your clients are prepared as well.

be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials.  it’s free!

need some photography tips + inspiration?  check out what posts are trending below!