Hudson Valley Family and Newborn Photographer
Stephanie Lozano Photography
As we enter week 2 of “social distancing”, I thought I would write about a fun way to get everyone out and about, by creatively photographing your kids this spring, and in turn, document beautiful memories of the process! With everything going on around us, it’s easy to forget how much beauty is happening outside our window with the change of season. While any photos you can get of your kids are special, I wanted to share some tips on how to be intentional with your photographs. This will create a “storytelling” feel, with your viewer able to discern what your children are experiencing and feeling with springtime coming! If you are looking to capture all the seasonal feelings with your children in your images, here are some ideas I wanted to share.
-
Use color intentionally. What colors make you think of spring? The month of March, I associate with green because of St. Patrick’s Day. In April and May, I think of pastels and lots of pinks and blues. Think of color when you plan clothing for your kids. Reference the color wheel for colors that complement each other and photograph nicely together. Using color in your photographs will illicit emotions and feelings and create a more powerful image. Be mindful of the environment and backdrop you are shooting in when you plan your outfits and choosing colors!
-
Incorporate your environment as much as possible, and use themes such as growth and change. Springtime is when flowers bloom, snow is melting, and green leaves are sprouting. For kids, it can be an exciting time to explore all that is out there and changing! Head to a local park, or even just your backyard and capture the details of your children taking in these changes. Maybe have them smell a new flower, or touch a bud on a tree. This can be a great time to explore macro photography also, and get some great close up, detailed shots. Bring into your composition elements that you associate with spring.
-
Get moving. Warmer weather gets my kids so excited! Dress them in short sleeves or dresses and have them run into the wind, or in an open space. I love capturing movement, and after being cooped up all winter, and even in these current times of quarantine, it can feel liberating to run around in open spaces in the mild weather!
-
Don’t be afraid of the rain. Springtime and rainy days go hand in hand! Find some cute rain gear, and get your kids excited about the rain. Jumping in puddles is always a favorite! This gets them outside, and also creates some amazing photographs. Rainy days are awesome for pictures, don’t shy away from it! Water splashing photos are especially so fun and creative.
-
Details matter. Small details make for amazing pictures! And really give a feel as to what is going on. For example, in the photo below, my son is touching the melting forsythia branch. From that image, you see flowers are blooming yet there is still melting snow. It creates a juxtaposition of themes, showing elements of growth and change- winter turning to spring!
I hope this gives you some great ideas about planning creative photographs for your kids this springtime! It’s a great opportunity to explore nature and your surroundings, and teaching your kids all about the growth and changes that are occurring. Have some thoughts about what I wrote? Send me a note, and let’s connect to share more ideas!
xo-
Stephanie
