Those Unexpected Moments

Sometimes the best photographs are ones that have no planning at all.  The moment comes and you are lucky enough to have your camera ready to catch the shot.  It could be spectacular lighting, a dramatic scene or an exciting event.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to the unexpected.  Depending on the situation you may only have a moment to capture the scene.  For fleeting moments it is important to have a strong understanding of your camera so you aren't sitting there fiddling with it while the scene passes you by.

When my niece was still very young I had one of these brief moments.  She was playing on the floor of my parent's living room while I was sitting to the side taking some pictures.  In an instant she went from excited giggling to a very peaceful calm demeanor.  She turned her head and looked straight at me.  I had just enough time to take the picture before she looked away and started to play again. 

I'm always on the lookout for these situations.  They happen more often that you might realise.  Pretty much any time families get together there are little moments, that if captured, can create lasting memories.  In a lot of cases these moments make for the best shot you will take all day.  When involving people these moments are usually full of emotion.  As a photographer if I can capture the emotion of the moment for my clients they will be all the happier with the final product. 

To improve your chances that you can capture such a picture make sure you have a camera with you.  I know it sounds silly but I bet it wouldn't take long to think of a situation where you thought "If only I had my camera".  I know I've had such experiences.  It doesn't have to be a DSLR, it could be a point and shoot or even your phone.  As mentioned before the other important component of catching these situations is a strong understanding of your camera so you can quickly take the picture.

Taking better pictures of children

One thing that my mentor, Howard Berg, told me when we were shooting weddings was "Get out of the six foot bubble."  What he meant by that was, change your perspective.  Kids are a prime example of where that works great (although it should really be incorporated in all subjects).  Since the majority of adults are taller than kids, most pictures tend to be shot at a downward angle.  While this is easier for the person taking the picture it isn't necessarily the best angle to capture your subject.  Kids see the world from a lower viewpoint and getting down on their level can bring new interest to your photos.  Another added benefit for the child that is a bit shy is you aren't towering over them.  This lesson was learned in my three years as a children's studio photographer.  Aside from the fact that I'm just a generally terrifying individual, the fact that I'm 6'3'' tends to make me a bit intimidating to smaller kids.  Removing the height element tends to make them get used to you faster.