Shutter Buddies Review and Giveaway!

Posted by DrewB on May 16, 2012 · 55 Comments

I know a common problem a lot of you have while shooting your kids is getting them to smile. Not the cheesy cheese smile. A real, genuine smile. I asked Shutter Buddies (the maker of those super cute lens props and one of our awesome sponsors) if I could try one out when shooting my kids.

I got the kind with the squeaker, which I love. It’s super helpful to get a baby (or even a dogs) attention! Kennedy is already pretty easy to get smile, but when I used my Shutter Buddie it helped make it even easier!

Now, Brayden is another story. Brayden is so easily distracted that I normally get pictures like this.

When I put the Shutter Buddie on my camera I was able to get great eye contact from him. I love that!

I used it on a couple of clients as well and I love the eye contact I got from this beautiful 4 year old.

I love how I can just throw it in my camera bag and if I’m having a hard time with a client (or one of my own kids) I can throw it on and I know I’m guaranteed a few great smiles!

And now you can have your own Shutter Buddie! They are giving away one to a lucky Mom*tog! Here’s how you can enter:

- “Like” Shutter Buddies on Facebook.

- Come back here and leave a comment on this post saying that you’ve done so and tell me which Shutter Buddie you’d love to win.

It’s that easy! The giveaway will close Friday night, May 18 at midnight PST. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 21.

And if you can’t wait to win one, Shutter Buddies is giving all Mom*togs a 20% discount! Just use the code “MOMTOG20″ at checkout. You can order Shutter Buddies here and here.

Enjoy and good luck!

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55 Comments · Filed under Giveaways, You Need This

Happy Mother’s Day + A Sale!

Posted by DrewB on May 13, 2012 · 11 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom*togs! We have the hardest job in the world. But, isn’t it the most rewarding? I hope you all got a full nights sleep and well behaved children all day long (I got the sleep, but not so much on the well behaved children part!).

In honor of Mother’s Day I have put the UNmanual and UNposing Guides on sale. 40% off until Monday May 14 at midnight. The code is “momsrock”. Because we kind of do. Enjoy!

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11 Comments · Filed under Photography

iTography

Posted by DrewB on May 10, 2012 · 10 Comments

I was once super resistant to iPhone pictures. I used my iPhone for snapshots if I didn’t have my big camera or my point and shoot on me. But, then I became addicted to Instagram (you can follow me at drewbphoto, but only follow me if you want to see a zillion pictures of my kids) and I realized that there are some amazing iTographers (I just made that word up. I like it!). I would get frustrated because I couldn’t get my pictures to look as rad as their pictures. I decided to challenge myself to become a better iTographer. Rather than just snapping away I began to really pay attention to composition and lighting to get the best picture possible. Nothing wrong with snapshots. The iPhone is so convienent it’s great to take those everyday snapshots. But, you can make those snapshots look super rad.

Here are a few tricks I’ve learned along the way:

1) I love shooting backlight images. But, shooting backlight with your iPhone camera is hard. I’ve found that I get the best results when shooting with the sun behind me rather than my subject.

2) Shooting in low light is difficult as images can become blurry from the subject moving and camera shake. To help prevent camera shake press the camera button (shutter) and hold it until you are ready to take the shot. Take a deep breath and release the shutter when you want the image to be taken. When you just press the shutter it can create camera shake.

3) Did you know that the iphone has an AE/AF lock? Tap your subject and hold down until you see the blue box pulsate. Release your finger and you will see “AE/AF Lock” at the bottom of the screen. This will keep your shot in focus and exposed correctly even if you move the camera. Compose your shot and take the picture! If you tap the screen again the AE/AF will unlock.

4) Better yet, if you use the Camera+ app you can lock your focus and exposure separately. This is extremely helpful when taking backlit images. The first picture I took just the normal iphone camera. The second I took with the Camera+ app. No editing done to it!

For the exposure, if your subject is too dark, set the exposure to the darkest point in the picture. That will lighten your subject up. If your subject is too light, set the exposure to the lightest spot in the picture. That will darken your subject.

You can also adjust your WB with the Camera+ app, but I haven’t found that particularly useful.

The app is only $.99. I promise it will be the best $.99 you’ve ever spent.

5) The best filter app I have found is MagicHour. I love it because you can download filters (for free) and you it will show you how all of your pictures look with that particular filter. You can also recreate the filters if you don’t like a certain thing about it. For instance, if I don’t like the texture I can recreate that filter without the texture. It’s super fun!

6) Treat your iPhone camera just like a real camera. Use the rule of thirds. Shoot from down low and up high. Try silhouetted shots. Get creative!

7) If you need to get to your camera fast (which happens a lot with unpredictable kids) and your phone is locked, hit the home button twice and that will make a camera icon appear. Click that to get to your camera faster!

Happy shooting!

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10 Comments · Filed under Photography, Tips & Tricks

She Loves Him

Posted by DrewB on May 9, 2012 · 10 Comments

It’s crazy how much these kids love each other. He just looks at her and she starts cracking up. Nothing is better than the sound of their giggles. I love how they are the bestest of friends. I realize that might soon be coming to an end with Kennedy gaining more independence. But, I’m loving how in love with each other they are right now.

*** Canon 5D Mark II, 50 1.2

F 2.8, 1/100, ISO 2000 (Brayden’s room is EXTREMELY dark)