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| Taking portraits in my home studio allows me to capture more smiles. |
Sometimes, my camera feels more like a
permanent appendage then a extra piece of equipment. When I found out
I was pregnant with my son, I knew my camera would be a constant
companion in a different aspect as I recorded my growing family.
And so my home studio began. I've taken
professional-level photos of my son every month since he was
born—much more often then most people are able to get their
pictures taken in a studio. Inside our home, I can take pictures when
he's happy and take breaks when he's had enough. I can take pictures
where he's comfortable and when I have the patience to catch his
toothless grins.
But you don't have to have a
photography background to create a space to record your own memories
in between trips to a professional. With a few items you may already
have in your home and a few low cost pieces, creating a DIY home
photo studio can be simple.
Choose the right space. Before
you even begin, consider where you will set up. You'll need enough
room to move around comfortably, sure, but you should also choose a
room with plenty of light—enough light where your camera doesn't
try to use the flash. Plus, there may even be a few spaces in your
home that don't even need a backdrop, like a plain wall with a wood
floor.
Find a backdrop. Think
about what's going to be behind your child—you don't want something
that's busy, you want the subject to be what stands out. For infants,
head to a fabric store and pick up a few yards of a textured
fabric—fur is one of my favorites (though it does tend to cling to
clothes). For older kids or groups, you will probably need something
wider then a bolt of fabric. Thick bedsheets or shower curtains
(fabric not plastic so it doesn't reflect light) can work well, or
you can find some basic backdrops at pretty good prices on Amazon.
You don't need a special stand to hold the backdrop up either—suspend
a clothing line, clip it onto a shelf, or for smaller kids, drape it
over a table or counter. Just make sure the backdrop is thick enough
that you can't see through to what's behind it.
Getting the lighting right. If
you choose a well lit space, you may not need any additional lighting
at all. But if you need more, try using household lamps, with one on
each side of the setup. To mix it up, use a lamp off to one side for
a more dramatic lighting effect—desk lamps that angle work great
for improv studio lights.
Choose a few props. I
take several different poses when I take my son's photos every month,
just making sure that I have one that's suitable for a first year
frame. But I often use a few different objects to add a little
creativity, plus objects help show how big he's getting when there's
something else in the picture to compare him too. I have a few
friends that take monthly photos with the same object to show their
child's growth over time. I often use things I already have around
the house, or spend a few dollars on something new.
Be patient and recruit help. The
reason I love taking my son's portraits myself is that I don't have
to fit smiles into a half hour appointment window. I can take
pictures on his schedule, when he's his happiest. It's often
difficult to take pictures without a little assistance though, having
someone else to make him smile as I take pictures is often a big
help.
Capturing
pictures of your kids in a home studio allows you to freeze memories
in between trips to a professional. And creating your own space for
photos can be easy and inexpensive with just a few basics.
