Doing your own family photos presents some challenges, especially with a baby, but it also has a lot of advantages, like hello, it's free. DIY family photos is not something I recommend for just anyone. You need experience/knowledge, a good quality camera (we used my Canon T1i), a tripod, and some Photoshop skills sure don't hurt. While I wouldn't quite call myself or Shawn a professional photographer, we have both been paid for this hobby that we love and we've been doing it for years. Maybe we're semi-pros. I know my hubby sure is talented with the camera and with Photoshop.
When taking your own family photos you of course have to use a tripod or some other level surface to hold the camera. For families with babies or small children this adds a kink into the normal photo-taking process. Normally when taking photos of a baby there is someone holding the camera and/or someone else near the camera to get the baby to look in the right direction and smile. A tripod placed a few yards away just isn't that interesting to a baby. I thought the beeping from the timer might hold his attention a little bit, but no such luck. So, while attempting to get your baby to look at the camera you may end up with a photo like this:
or this:
On the pro side, it's okay to have photos like this because you have all the time in the world to get the good photo. The only people whose time you're taking up is your own, unlike with a hired photographer who is on a schedule, or may just have some place else to be. Along the same lines, you will never have to forfeit getting a great shot due to weather, lighting, or time. If you don't get that shot today, just go back tomorrow, or next week.
When you're doing your own photos you also have complete control over day, time, and more importantly, location. In fact, you could do as many locations as you want. For example, it was my idea to do some photos in the library like the one at the top of this post and this one:
Not to say that a professional photographer wouldn't let you choose a location, I'm sure most would.
Another thing you won't get when taking your own family photos is professional opinion and instant feedback. We had my camera set on a tripod for most shots (in the last one it was on a stack of books), and used a 10 second timer. Every time a photo was taking one of us had hit the shutter button, hurry to get into position, wait for the shutter, then go back to the camera, review the shot, and set it again if it wasn't good. With a hired photographer you know the shot is being taken at the right moment, when everyone is in their place and looking in the right direction, if the shot wasn't good you'll know without getting up, no running back and forth necessary. Then again, isn't your own opinion of how you look in a photo more important to you than what a photographer thinks?
Oh, probably what some people dislike the most about professional photography is the turnaround time. I've heard of people waiting months for their wedding photos. When you take your own family photos the turnaround time is whatever you make it. We took these photos on a Saturday and, I believe Shawn had them done the following Monday. I think I even had the top photo on facebook Saturday night.
That's pretty much it. If you've done this before, did you have the same challenges? If you haven't and you decide you're not up to the challenge, we're available!
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