Tip #1: Ornaments are for the mantelpiece

Here's the thing about your camera: it's not an ornament. It's a piece of equipment! It was designed for use, not display.

It’s kinda like a motor vehicle. Now bear with me here. Last year, my mother-in-law passed away. My husband was left in charge of wrapping up her estate. Part of that, was her vehicle. So, of course, we sold it, so that the money could go into the estate (why, afterall, would two of us need three vehicles?). My son was distraught! When I asked him why, he told me that he was upset I wasn’t keeping the car for him. He’s, ahem, seven. Yes. Seven.

So, I explained to him: you can’t have a vehicle just sitting around. It’s gotta be driven. That’s what it was designed for.

You have to drive you camera. Regularly. There is no other way to improve your skill. You can study every book, every course, and be the best “Photoshopper” in the world. But if you are not regularly picking up your camera, you will only ever be an average photographer.

This is in part my MO behind my new blog (I am a serious blogging addict, because I have another blog as well, about my journey with my Trisomy 18 daughter, who passed away this year, at the age of 16 months). You see, I am challenging myself to take a picture everyday. I have pinned it under the title of “joy” (further challenging myself): but perhaps for you it’s as simple as just taking a photo every day. Or maybe just one a week.

Then, and this is as important: look at your pictures. What do you like? What don’t you like? How could that picture have been better? Is there something distracting in the picture that you could’ve omitted out to have made it better, like a pole sticking out your daughters head?

What regular picture-taking will also do, above making you more mindful of your skill of taking pictures, is that it will make you more familiar with your camera (more about that in another weeks tip). If you drove you car once (yes, back with the vehicle analogy), would that make you a good driver? No. You know how after you’ve been driving for years, you don’t have to think about ABC (which side again was the clutch?), or gears (is reverse up or down?), it simply comes naturally. So it is with your camera.

You must pick up your camera. Regularly. Promise to take a picture. Today. Go on... go on... do it NOW.. look, if you’re still reading this, I’m not sure if it’s sunk in properly :)

Happy snapping until next week.....

Be a better Photographer: Weekly photography tips

I'm no guru on the matter... but having been "doing" photography for well over 12 years, I have learnt some stuff along the way. I'm not going to get nitty gritty with heavy photography jargon.... partly because some of it goes straight over my head, and partly because as valuable as that stuff is, if you've just started out with photography, that stuff ain't gonna matter just yet (or possibly ever!).

My worst thing when I first started out was... well... not knowing where to start. From the outset, my husband was throwing out technical jargon at me, and I just didn't know what he was talking about... and at one stage, I thought "what's the point... maybe he'll be the photographer... not me". But, thankfully, I loved it too much to quit (and I'm simply NOT a quitter by nature).

I realised quite early that you can have all the "know how" in the world... but without a good eye, all that know how may be wasted. The other thing about photography, is that if you have an interest in photographing people... you're gonna have to enjoy them. I'm lucky: I love people, I've always had a relatively good eye... and I was stubborn enough to want to know more... and more... and more... and that is never going to change. I continue to try push my boundaries. It's one of the MO's behind my new Joy-365 blog.. but more on that in week one's tip.

So, I wanted to share some simple, yet effective tips on how you can get better. It may mean you'll just take better pictures of your dog. Or perhaps it'll mean that you realise that it's something you'd like to pursue as a career... and well, then you need to do some more serious soul searching (and, of course, some course searching).

I hope you'll join me along the way. If you're a professional already: well, maybe these tips aren't for you. This is for Aunty Mavis, who wants to be better, and just wants some simple, real, easy to understand language, on how to be a better photographer

{Mommy Goggles} - Child Photographer Durban Ballito

You know, being a photographer is a great career! I love taking pictures of tummys, babies, and kiddos. I do especially enjoy the kiddos- and parents reactions when they see their beautiful pictures. I often get asked how I get other peoples children to smile/ look so good/ not pull funny faces.... but here's the funny thing about what I do: it's practically impossible to get decent photos of my own children!!

I have been doing some serious coaxing on them lately: practice smiles, no funny faces, catching them off-guard... anything to get a decent picture.

And on this particular occasion I succeeded in getting some great pictures of my eldest. Not many, mind you, but in my defence, I only took a few anyway. And look at my handsome boy! I can't believe how grown up he is becoming. He is a smart, sensitive and caring boy. He's 7 going on 18 though, and there are days I wish I could just press pause, or maybe even rewind to the sweet little boy with dimples who would do anything to please his mother... he is rapidly growing up, and I know in no time at all will really have no time for me whatsoever *sniff*

So proud of him (as I am of all my children)!

{Harris Family - Take 2} - child newborn maternity photographer Ballito Durban

I just couldn't resist posting a few more, now that mum has her gallery up, and has seen her pics.

Beautiful family, hey?!

{Harris Family} - Child Newborn Maternity Photographer Ballito Durban

This was a long awaiting shoot... the weather has not been kind to us, plus we've had a few run ins with pink eye, flu and the like. So it was with much anticipation that we finally got around to actually doig the shoot!

And the weather was super kind to us this time... maybe a bit TOO kind... boy was it a warm work out.

This sweet little brother and sister were just adorable. I had so much fun with them. Children are funny things- because they're often hesistant when they first meet me- unsure of this strange lady, and all her equipment. But by the end, we're having so much fun, I have to remind myself to stop!!

Mum and Dad, I hope you all had as much fun as me... and I sure hope you like your sneak peek! I had a real hard time choosing which pics to post... there are too many more nice ones where these came from (and I wanted to save some of the best for your eyes to see first!).

Enjoy!

Such a serious face here... but I got amazing smiles too! Don't let this pic fool you... she was FULL of smiles!


This poor "Ellie" was being jumped on and thrown on the floor by little {S} (instigated by me, of course)... so much so, that it had to end in a cuddle! And little {T} was having fun in the tree with Dad... perfect photo op!


We had so much fun lying on the floor, then jumping, then on the floor again!


Can't wait for you to see the rest!

{Isabella - 12 days young} - Newborn Photographer Ballito Durban

One of the things I love most about what I do is seeing how my clients interact with each other. Pregnancy, and a new baby are such special moments in a family's life... and I get to capture some of those precious moments, that are gone before you know it.

Isabella came into what already seemed to me to be a loving family. She is adored so much- and there were some lovely tender moments that I got to capture.

I really felt quite privileged to take her first official shoot. She decided that alot of what I wanted to do, she was quite simply not going to join in on.... a little princess already! But I was sneaky- and still got some amazing shots... so hopefully, for now, I had the upper hand. As it so happens, I think she is mostly going to have the upper hand... she has Daddy wrapped around her little finger already... a dynamic that never changes (just ask my Dad!).

And here she is: princess Isabella. Beautiful. Charming. And with a serious mop of hair... at only 12 days young:



I love peeling toes... SERIOUSLY! How cute is this?



And I just love this very tender moment.... and then there were three!