She {hearts} Focus On: Photographing People

by Sarah on August 12, 2011

I would not call myself a “Professional” photographer. More like a hobbyist who loves to take photos of my kids and for friends and family. I am self taught for the most part and still learning every day. I read Focus On: Photographing People in a week. A lot of the stuff I did know already, but there were quite a few things that were new to me.

I throughly enjoyed reading this book. It was very easy to read and understand. I loved that it was broken up into Chapters and had a sort of “guide” to it. That way you could kind of skip around and find exactly what you needed. Now I am going to share a few tips from the book that should help you this Fall.

How to capture the perfect back to school photo:

1. Get in closer – The closer you get, the more emotion you can feel pouring from the photo.

2. Focus on the eyes – The first thing your audience will look at is the eyes of the subject. Be sure to get them in focus – perfect focus – and you’ve won half the battle.

3. Watch your background – When taking photos of people, your subjects are most important, so ensure that the background doesn’t detract from your photo. You can do this by moving your subjects (putting them in front of a clean wall instead of a messy bookshelf) or moving yourself (changing your perspective).

4. Interact – Engaging with your kids and making them laugh will create memorable photos. Sometimes the best photos are the most candid.

5. Think of the environment – Obviously, you want to focus on the kids, but if you can include the school bus or classroom in the background, this will help tell the story for years to come.

I hope these tips were as helpful for you as they were for me. If you want to read more and learn more about photographing people check out this book, it is worth it.

{heart} It

Purchase “Focus On Photography People” on Amazon for $13.57 or B&N for $10.97

She {hearts} Freebies

We are giving away one copy of Focus On: Photographing to a She {hearts} It reader!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us where/how you are going to take a photo of your kids on the first day of school. If you don’t have kids tell us who you would use the tips from the book on.

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Article by Sarah

Sarah has written 17 awesome articles for She {Hearts} It!

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{ 71 comments }

1 Kimberly August 12, 2011 at 6:41 am: I am going to take a picture of my daughter next to the school bus
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2 Kimberly August 12, 2011 at 6:42 am: FB fan of Focal Point
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3 Kimberly August 12, 2011 at 6:42 am: FB fan of She Hearts it
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4 Kimberly August 12, 2011 at 6:43 am: Email follower
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5 Jessie August 12, 2011 at 8:22 am: I always take a photo of the kids by the front door and then I take them to school and I take one of them in their new class room.
6 rachel August 12, 2011 at 9:38 am: i like to get the traditional on the porch before school shot…with backpacks and lunchboxes and everything.
7 Becky August 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm: I am currently subscribed. I would love a copy of this book!
8 Becky August 12, 2011 at 4:45 pm: I am a fan of she {hearts} it. My little guy isn’t old enough for school, but my sister-in-law always takes her boys pictures sitting on their front porch.
9 Becky August 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm: I tweeted about the giveaway. :)
10 Audrey August 12, 2011 at 5:49 pm: Oh man, I just found out my son starts preschool at the start of Sept. Not a big deal, you’d think, but it is four days a week and he has to ride a bus. His first bus ride. His first transport not by a well known family member. I’m so nervous! The photo of my little nearly 3 year old getting onto the bus, if captured perfectly, will stick with me forever.
11 susanlanai August 12, 2011 at 6:09 pm: We’ll be right in front of the classroom!
12 susanlanai August 12, 2011 at 6:10 pm: I’m an email subscriber.
13 susanlanai August 12, 2011 at 6:10 pm: I’m a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
14 susanlanai August 12, 2011 at 6:11 pm: https://twitter.com/#!/susanlanai/status/102154809544687617
15 Selena August 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm: Well my daughter is far from ready for school so I don’t have an answer for you about that but I would still love to be entered in the giveaway!
16 Selena August 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm: I subscribe via RSS feeds.
17 Selena August 12, 2011 at 8:47 pm: I am a fan of She Hearts It
18 Ivy August 12, 2011 at 10:14 pm: I don’t have any kids. . . but, I would take pictures of them through the entire morning. . .brushing teeth, breakfast, etc. .. Ok, I so will be the annoying mom with the camera! :) But, that is ok!! :)
19 Erin August 13, 2011 at 4:50 pm: I am going to take pics of my friends daughter at the front door with her new backpack and lunchbox and her excitement while getting ready for the bus!
20 Tricia August 14, 2011 at 8:56 am: I always take a photo of the neighborhood kids waiting at the bus stop. Looking back it’s amazing to see how much they have grown!
21 Some Lucky Dog August 14, 2011 at 11:57 pm: I’ll be taking first day of school photos of my grandson at the bus stop!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
22 Some Lucky Dog August 14, 2011 at 11:58 pm: e-mail subscriber
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23 Some Lucky Dog August 14, 2011 at 11:59 pm: I’m a facebook fan (Cindy Brooks)
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24 Some Lucky Dog August 15, 2011 at 12:01 am: I like Focal Press on facebook (Cindy Brooks)
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25 Some Lucky Dog August 15, 2011 at 12:03 am: tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/someluckydog/status/102968396357959681
someluckydog at gmail dot com
26 Rui August 16, 2011 at 12:37 am: I’d use the book to help me take some portraits of my elderly parents.
27 Sandy August 16, 2011 at 3:36 pm: My sons are way past riding the school bus but I remember well those first day of school photos! I would use the tips in the book to get some great photos of my granddaughter.
28 Lauren C August 16, 2011 at 4:47 pm: On the first day of school I would take a picture of Chloe by her school, at the house, and on the way.. I am always taking pictures and would love to win this book.. thanks for the chance:)
29 Lauren C August 16, 2011 at 4:47 pm: I am now a fan of She Hearts It.. Thanks!
30 Lauren C August 16, 2011 at 4:48 pm: I am also now a fan of focal Press:)
31 Julie B August 16, 2011 at 8:23 pm: I don’t have kids. I would use the tips on photographing friends and family. Next time I visit my parents, who are now elderly, I’d like to take some good pics of them.
32 ArtsyBookishGal August 16, 2011 at 11:03 pm: I like to photograph families and kids so this would offer some great pointers!
33 ArtsyBookishGal August 16, 2011 at 11:04 pm: Tweeted it: https://twitter.com/#!/ArtsyBookishGal/status/103678441592848384
34 ArtsyBookishGal August 16, 2011 at 11:05 pm: Like She Hearts it on FB (Amy Sondova)
35 ArtsyBookishGal August 16, 2011 at 11:05 pm: Like Focal Press on FB (Amy Sondova)
36 monica August 17, 2011 at 1:38 am: I take a pic of my “baby” big, 9 year old in front of the same school sign each year… sigh. Times flys. and BTW, i love this blog… LOve. you are so right about about so much!
37 Nicole August 17, 2011 at 6:51 am: I would most certainly use these tips to get intimate pictures of my extended family. We get together quite often and always take the same group/posed photos…it is tired and boring and never reflects their personality and emotion. I would love to know how to take great photos of them inconspicuously.

ngallo58 at gmail dot com
38 Heidi K. August 17, 2011 at 8:49 am: I would use the tips from the book to take better photos of my adorable nieces and nephews!
39 Kathlien August 17, 2011 at 11:33 am: Every year I take a picture of my kids on the front steps all dressed in their new clothes, with their new backpacks and lunch boxes. It’s the only time of the year they look excited to go to school!
40 Ashley August 17, 2011 at 11:36 am: I don’t have kids yet, but I take all of the pictures in my family so I would use the tips to improve those photos.
41 Hannah August 17, 2011 at 12:48 pm: I don’t have kids of my own, but I do have lots of nieces/nephews and they come visit for month every summer. I would put the tips to great use at the zoo, aquarium, etc. Thanks for this giveaway!!
42 Melissa Phinney August 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm: I would take a picture of my daughter on our front porch the first day of school, because that’s where I always had mine taken as a kid and it holds good memories.
43 Melissa Phinney August 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm: Subscribed to she hearts it via email
44 Melissa Phinney August 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm: Fan of She hearts it on facebook
45 Melissa Phinney August 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm: fan of focal press on facebook
46 Melissa Phinney August 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm: http://twitter.com/#!/SAPsMaMa/status/103926987294392321
47 sherri crawford August 18, 2011 at 9:24 am: i’ll take a picture of her before and after school on the first day
48 brooke August 18, 2011 at 7:27 pm: kids first day of school picture: on the front steps!
49 Jessica August 18, 2011 at 8:32 pm: I would love this book for tips on how to shoot children, as a beginning photographer. Thanks!
50 Amy August 19, 2011 at 9:21 am: I took a pic of my kids 1st day of school on our front porch.
51 Branson August 19, 2011 at 10:48 am: I have a kid, but he is too little for school yet! Always looking for tips to photograph him better though :)
52 Branson August 19, 2011 at 10:49 am: I tweeted :)
53 Jenna D' Photography August 21, 2011 at 1:20 pm: I don’t have kids myself, but would use it to improve my photography skills for my professional portrait sessions, specifically young children and newborns!
54 Jenna D' Photography August 21, 2011 at 1:21 pm: Already a subscriber via email.
55 Jenna D' Photography August 21, 2011 at 1:21 pm: Already a fan of She {Hearts} It! :)
56 Jenna D' Photography August 21, 2011 at 1:22 pm: Now a fan of Focal Press too!
57 Alyssa August 22, 2011 at 5:50 pm: I don’t have any kids, but I would use the tips to take better photos of my family and friends. :]

rebelbellevintage@gmail.com
58 Faythe @ GrammyMouseTails August 23, 2011 at 10:47 pm: I would love to learn how to take better pics of my grandkids when I see them (which is not to often) so I have great images to relive those precious memories.
59 Faythe @ GrammyMouseTails August 23, 2011 at 10:49 pm: I get she {hearts} it emails (gramousetails ATgmail)
60 Faythe @ GrammyMouseTails August 23, 2011 at 10:50 pm: I like she hearts it on FB (Faythe A)
61 Faythe @ GrammyMouseTails August 23, 2011 at 10:51 pm: I am a fan of Focal Press on FB (Faythe A)
thanks for a chance at a cool prize!
62 Mocha Dad August 25, 2011 at 11:00 am: I took a first day of school pic of my kids in the front yard.
63 Kittenish August 26, 2011 at 1:48 am: I don’t have kids. I’d use the tips to help me take photos of my family and my boyfriend!
64 Kittenish August 26, 2011 at 1:50 am: I’m a Fan of “she {hearts} it.”
Jennifer Doe
65 Kittenish August 26, 2011 at 1:51 am: I’m a fan of Focal Press.
Jennifer Doe
66 Kittenish August 26, 2011 at 1:54 am: I subscribe to your feed via RSS with Google Reader.
67 Kittenish August 26, 2011 at 1:55 am: I tweeted about this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/kittenishbooty/status/106982687729926144
68 Leah August 26, 2011 at 4:57 pm: I so can’t wait to take a picture of my sweet 3 year old greeting his preschool buddies with high fives and the biggest of smiles! : )

Thanks so very much for this wonderful give~away! : )

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
69 Leah August 26, 2011 at 4:58 pm: I subscribe to your delightful blog via e~mail and Google Reader! : )

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70 Leah August 26, 2011 at 4:58 pm: I just “liked” Focal Press on FB (Leah Friedman)! : )

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71 Leah August 26, 2011 at 4:59 pm: I also “like” she {hearts} it on FB (Leah Friedman)! Thanks again! : )

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