Home Photo Session Tips/Suggestions?

Nonna2Dreja

Nonna2Dreja

New member
Okay, so as some of you may know, my daughter is a single parent....My husband and I try to help her with her two children (ages almost 3yrs old and 18 months old) as much as we can....We are not financially rich people, by any means, but we are rich in our love for our family....:thumbup: I have paid for my Grandchildren to have their pictures taken at Olan Mills, but can't afford to do it more than a couple times a year....

Please can you share some tips/suggestions for taking photos at home? For instance can you suggest things that you have used for backdrops for indoor photos, photo props that you have used and that sort of thing?

Thank you so much for any help!
 
I have an inexpensive backdrop stand made out of PVC pipe that I use, it cost me less than $10 for the materials at Ace Hardware. I found the info on making it over at 2Peas, it's easy to put together and take apart for storage. Then for backdrops I have a cheap white queen size sheet, a black suede-like curtain panel and a couple of yards of red fleece that I got at Joann Fabrics. I plan on buying some more of the fleece in a couple of different colors to use since it is pretty inexpensive too. I've also heard of people using big vellux blankets too, I think you can usually get them at like JC Penney's on sale for quite cheap.
 
Shawna, Thank you so much for your help and for the link to the backdrop stand....I will definitely check it out....:thumbup:
 
What a great thread! I have never gotten my girls pic done professionally, and have really wanted to set something up like this.
 
I do take my son in for professional pictures because I love the experience of it, but I have done lots of at home photo sessions. I just use someone to hold up a flat sheet as my backdrop. Make sure to find a place where you can use natural light, if possible. My old place didn't have anywhere that I could so we had to use lamp light and thus I have lots of big shadows in mine, but all well. Going outdoors in the early morning or evening would work great, too. Cloudy days are good if you are not sure how to find the right light. HTH!
 
you can buy muslin and use dye to color it yourself and use as a backdrop. i haven't done this yet, but its a lot cheaper than buying ready-made backdrops. i have used my dark blue vellux blanket before. works nicely! however, its about 6 years old and getting worn out, lol. i love that blanket :cry: sheets work well too! i don't have a stand nor have a made one. sometimes i just drape the blanket over something like the couch or a chair or something.
 
These are great suggestions for a studio-type look. You can also take great shots by seeking out neutral spots in your home... I have a chair that I use quite frequently. Walls can work, too- especially if they are painted a color other than white (which shows too much texture, imo) Here are a few examples of shots I have taken using areas in my home:

t_IMG_3020_2.jpg


t_IMG_2981.jpg


Good luck!
 
Taking a little field trip is always fun too. Take the kids to their favorite park. Let them walk around on the grass and trees. Also a place that has fun architecture. Arched columns, water fountains, things like that. Those are just some of the things I have tried.

example....this is the SOCS and I cropped it later.

DH000016.jpg
 
Thanks so much Corey for the tip on purchasing and dying muslin....I hadn't thought of doing that....:thumbup:

Thank you also Robin for your tips and for sharing your pictures of your adorable children....Unfortunately I have so many pictures of my Grandchildren sitting in one of our chairs that my family members probably think that the kids are never are allowed out of them....LOL

Thank you Rae for sharing your picture of your adorable children on an outing....I will definitely keep that in mind when the warmer weather gets here....
 
I find my favorite shots I do myself are ones I take outside. A backdrop of nature is always beautiful. Check out THIS photography website. I really love her stuff and she does tons of outside sessions. Good luck!
 
Laura, Thanks so much for your help and for the link....She does beautiful work! I can hardly wait for warmer weather so I can try to get some good outdoor shots....:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top