Search Results for: blog confessions of a snap happy parent

Snapping School Photos

When I was in high school taking senior class photos was a big deal. Seniors were the only ones who had the privilege of appearing in the school yearbook in living color (the rest of the annual consisted of boring black-and-white shots). What’s more, the picture-taking sessions took place at a professional photo studio rather than in the corner of the school cafeteria. These days senior photo shoots are more elaborate than ever. Most professional photographers specializing in senior portraits offer packages that allow a student to choose from 15 to 40 different poses per session. In addition, students have … Continue reading →

Tips for Snapping Super Summer Photos at the Beach

Summer is here (unofficially) and that means many snap happy parents will be toting their cameras to the beach to snap frame worthy shots of their kids frolicking in the sand and surf. If you plan to document your kids surfing and sculpting sand, then consider the following tips: Bye-Bye Boring Shots: Liven up your scrapbook by taking action shots of your friends and family members. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to the beach, get a game going, and then snap away. Drop to your knees to get interesting angles of your loved ones in action. You can also … Continue reading →

SNAP! Making Mother’s Day Memories

If you are a mom and the official family photographer then getting a photo gift of your children for Mother’s Day is probably not in your future. Unless it’s a framed shot you took yourself. I’ve had a few of those over the years. Don’t get me wrong. I am very appreciative of the thought that went into the gifts. For example, a couple of years ago my mom got me a beautiful sterling silver frame for Mother’s Day. Naturally, she didn’t want to present me with an empty frame (or worse, leave the sepia shot of a random mother … Continue reading →

Pumpkinpalooza—-Attack of the Parental Paparazzi

How did your little pumpkins fare during last night’s rush to land the chocolate mother load? My little monkey made it through the night just fine. It was this morning when the nightmare began—2:28 A.M. to be exact. That’s when the goodies my daughter devoured the night before wanted out of her tummy and back into her Hello Kitty trick-or-treat bucket. I’ll spare you the gory details, but, no, her current ailment was not brought on by the few pieces of Halloween candy she ate; she also has a 103-degree fever, chills and body aches so chock this one up … Continue reading →

Snapping Frameworthy Shots Of Your Kids

We have been experiencing record high temperatures in our neck of the woods. Last week we were back in the 80s—-that’s 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. Naturally, this led to all kinds of excitement around our home. My daughter and I spent the majority of the week outdoors. We grabbed our kites and headed to the park where I was able to capture more “summertime” magic on film. I love taking shot of my daughter at play, especially when she’s outdoors. Believe me; it’s much easier trying to get candid shots of 3-year-olds when they … Continue reading →

Online Popularity Contest

A warning to parents: Excessive use of Facebook = depressed kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that equation to be 100% true. So, all you moms and dads with Facebook obsessed kids: Be afraid. Be very afraid. I am not on Facebook. Consequently, my second grader has no clue that the social networking site exists. Thus, zero exposure to Facebook = darn happy kid. Despite this fact, I will try to remain humble and not turn this post into an exercise in self-validation. Rather, I will just stick to the facts. According to the AAP, a link exists … Continue reading →

Prepping for Easter Pictures

Easter is a week away, which means that even the most reluctant shutterbugs will be reaching for their cameras. Holidays bring out the snap-happy in all of us. Even if you don’t take pictures on a daily or weekly basis, Easter is typically a time when we want to at least try to document special memories. The problem is succeeding. If you don’t take aim with your camera on a regular basis, you might be rusty, and your Easter photos will show it. To avoid snapping ugly holiday pictures, consider the following tips: Lighting: Try to take as many Easter … Continue reading →

Preparation is Key

Regardless of whether you are photographing your favorite four-legged friend or you’re taking aim at your four kids, preparation is key to a successful shoot. Factors, such as lighting, background and camera angles should be considered before you start pressing the shutter button. Another factor to consider is attire. These days, outfit choice is an issue that is not exclusive to humans only. Dogs and cats have access to a variety of adorable ensembles, from sweaters to slickers, ponchos to pretty dresses. Whether you are taking a picture of your newborn or your fur baby, you want to select clothing … Continue reading →

Don’t Say “Smile”

“Cheese,” “pickles,” “pony,” and “pizza;” those are just some of the many words my dad used to force my brothers and I to say in order to get us to smile before snapping a photo. Personally, I don’t find any of the words to be particularly funny, though one’s mouth does contort into a forced grin of sorts when exaggerating the syllables. If you are a parent, then you know the lengths you’ll go to trying to get your kid to smile for the camera. Unfortunately, a forced smile never looks as good as a natural one. I know this … Continue reading →

Capturing Sweet Smiles

Valentine’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean you should stop snapping sweet shots of loved ones. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than catching a glimpse of a framed photo of my young daughter smiling brightly on our favorite beach in Hawaii with the sun setting behind her. The photo is nearly two years old, but it still puts me in a good mood each time I see it. Snapping a frame worthy picture of an unpredictable child can be challenging, but if you go into the session remembering a few key tips, you should be … Continue reading →