Your Story/ Change Your Perspective

Spring has truly sprung and my hope is that you are all heading outside with your cameras to capture the fun of finally being out and about with the kids again!

A quick tip to improve those shots: change your perspective!

Try a new perspective for a fresh new look.  Get down on the ground to photograph your baby.  Shoot up at your teenage son to make him appear taller and more masculine.  Climb a ladder or some steps to get a bird's eye view of your kids.  Or even turn them (or you!) upside down!

Always look for a new perspective.

This works in life too.

But that's a deeper topic for a different day!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Your Story: How To Take a Great "Selfie" (A Lesson from a Tween Pro)

While at a recent portrait shoot for the talented and beautiful tween actress, Gracen Barnhart (see her Fan Page Here), I listened to her lovingly tease her mom about how unskilled mom is at taking self-portraits with her phone ("selfies").  I laughed as Gracen grabbed the phone from mom and said "Here. Let me do it."  Then caught a sweet mother-daughter moment between them.

It occurred to me that, like Gracen's mom, Tammy, most of us moms could use a few tips on how to take "the selfie".  Even me!  I mean, I'm great with my DSLR and when I'm photographing others, but selfies with my phone?  Uh oh.

I asked Gracen to share with us her "dos and don'ts" for taking a good selfie.

Here's what she shared:

First, the Do NOTS:

1) Don't shoot the picture from below you or it will go up your nose and give you a double chin. 

2) Do not take the picture using anything but natural light.

3) Do not take the picture with both hands.  It is better when you only have ONE hand in the air.

4) Don't leave a lot of space above your photo  This makes your face look wider.  If anything, crop your photo just a tiny bit to not get your entire forehead.

5) Do not have any items in the back round of your photo, which can pull attention away from you.

Now, the DOS:

1) Do take the picture from above eye level or directly across from your eyes. 

2) Do take the picture with the hand opposite of your part of hair.

3) Do use a plain wall/background to take your selfie in front of.

4) Do take the picture not just of your face, but include your shoulders and neck in the photo.

5) Do look directly at the camera not the screen with your picture on it. 

Thanks Gracen!

I'll give it a try, and I'd love for you to as well!

Share your selfie here in the comment section, or on my FB page at Jen Lebo Photography!

I'll share a selfie there today too!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Your Story/ Simple Portrait Tip: Get Closer

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I love St. Patrick's Day for a few reasons.  First, I'm half Irish (despite looking 100% Italian).  Second, I love any reason to steal kisses from my loves!

And so, in the spirit of all things "Kiss me, I'm Irish", I thought I'd offer this fun little tip for creating wonderful family portraits.  

Get closer!

What a simple little trick, and yet it invites such wonderful images.  Getting closer leads to laughing, hugging, maybe tickling, and hopefully even a kiss or two.

I always encourage my families to get closer, and closer still.

And those images are always their favorites- and mine too.

So get closer and enjoy where it takes you!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Your Story/ Won't You Join Me?

The pieces are coming together for our "Day with Jen" and I'm so excited about it.

And I'm offering ONE MORE SPOT at this special price for you.

Call me and grab it!

You do NOT want to miss out on the fun!

* Helpful lessons and group work on learning the basics.

* "On Location" exercises to practice what we learn.

* Door prizes for all participants (over $250 in prizes)

* SWAG bags for all

* and more!

Call or email today!

Spots are limited, especially at this special price!

We're going to have a blast!

Jen

Your Story/ Better Your Mommytography

Show of hands, how many of you got a new camera for Christmas this year?

Awesome!

How many of you haven't even tried to use it yet because it's too complicated to try and figure out?

Not awesome.

Having a good DSLR is a blast!  You can throw that bad boy on "auto" and it will get you some decent shots.  It's almost foolproof.  But decent might not be enough for your kids.  After all, they are the cutest kids on the planet, right?  (I know mine are!)  

I thought it might be fun to offer you a few simple but effective tips on how to take better pictures of your kids- how to improve your Mommytography.  So I put together a FREE Guide for all my moms (and dads!) out there.

(Click here to view a sample of the guide)

You can get a FREE download of this Guide just by subscribing to my JLP Monthly Newsletter, Coffee Talk, at the top of this blog.  

So grab your copy and pick up a few great tips and start using that camera today!

Oh and as for taking it to the next level and getting that camera off "auto"?  Read the Guide to find out about the workshop I'm offering too!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Your Story/ What Makes you YOU?

Welcome to the first Monday blog post of 2014, where we focus on "Your Story"

How can there not be one photo?  Seriously?  All these photos of soccer games, and first days of school, the spring play and before church on Easter Sunday, and nothing?  Not one photo of me, of my interests, of what makes me Me?

Have you checked?

Are you noticing the same thing in your endless file folders of photos?

WHERE ARE YOU?

As we spend our days collecting the cherished memories that make up our families, let's not forget about us.  Photograph the personal passions of your life.  You don't hesitate to photograph those basketball games, so why not capture the 5K you're training for, or the new blanket you just knitted.  Big or small, think about what you enjoy doing, and catch a few photos, even if it's just with the phone.  You'll be so glad you did.  And so will your future grandkids I bet.

What are the passions in your life?  What makes you YOU?  Shoot them and share, either in the comments below or on my JLP Facebook page!  It'd be so fun to SEE what you love!

Keep smiling!

Jen