by Stephanie
I know many of us are intent on documenting our everyday
lives and the people we love. We take pictures of our children, our
grandchildren, our parents, our siblings, our pets, and our surroundings. I
also know many of us are working on becoming more comfortable stepping out from
behind the camera….as scary as that is….and turning it on ourselves. But how
often are we capturing those two things together?
Through a recent self-portrait workshop, I was introduced to
Thea Coughlin and her work she calls Across the Room. After studying at her
photos and contemplating her approach, I began challenging myself to think of
ways I can capture the everyday life of my family, but with me included.
Often I have to resort to pulling out my tripod (gasp!), but
many times I can find a near by chair or table as well. I set my timer or I use
my remote and fire away.
Just like with a self-portrait, there are challenges. How do
I make good composition choices, especially when the house is a mess and there
is clutter everywhere? How do I keep the spontaneity in the situation with
having to set up my camera on a tripod or table? I don’t have all the answers right now, but I
continue to work on it. And I know that my children will appreciate being able
to look back 5, 10, even 20 years from now to see me with them in the every day
moments of life.
So as you go about this season of joy, remember to capture
some moments that include you and your loved ones enjoying it together!
13 comments:
i like how you included the "hows" with the spontaneous compositions that you're going after. i'm just now playing around with self-portraits, trying to get used to me taking my own picture---it's hard, but just like you, i think it's important for my kids to look back and see me in photos, too. a wise post, stephanie.
Timely, Steph, very timely. I've spent almost two years in self-portraiture classes so I'm very comfortable shooting myself. This was interesting to read because it's not that often (but more than before) that I get into the shot with people. It's either them or me, haha. So to speak. I'll keep this in mind and work at getting in there. Thanks. Very much. Helpful.
I like this! I have lots of pictures of just me and lots of pictures of just them! I need pictured of us! I'm going to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!
I like this! I have lots of pictures of just me and lots of pictures of just them! I need pictured of us! I'm going to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!
i really needed to hear this today. i've always been so inspired by your beautiful self-portraits. and i love this idea! because when my girl is away at school, i'm often at home alone in the day. so instead of just shooting the thing i'm doing, i could set up to shoot me doing the thing i'm doing. wow. i never thought of that before. such great inspiration today. thank you!
I agree, it is difficult to capture ourselves and spontaneity in the picture at the same time. You've given me something to think about. Great post!
Such great advice, Stephanie! I have album upon album of family photos and where am I? Behind the camera. But a few years ago I started asking someone else to take photos (even complete strangers) so I can be in them but someone else isn't always around, as in your photo of your family together. I do make it a point of setting up the tripod at Christmas but it needs to be done more than once a year. Such great and timely advice at this time of year when we are all gathering with families but it's something we need to continue to do throughout the year. Thank you for this inspiration!
This is the one thing that really makes me cringe....I was never like this when I was younger, and even modeled a few times. But now, I break out into a cold sweat at the thought. I did for my 50th birthday take a first time selfie, those are hard, but it pretty much ended there!
This is a great idea, Stephanie! {And I love the peek into your family life!} This idea appeals to me much more than the individual self-portrait thing, not so much because I mind being in front of the camera, I run out of patience with all the takes and retakes that it takes {a bit redundant there, no?} to get a shot off that I like. I think I'll try this for our holidays this year. And ... Merry Christmas to you and your sweet familly!
Yes that is so huge to be in the photos with your family. Something that I wish I had learned earlier.
Great idea of including yourself in the photos. My kid's laugh and say that someday they'll be able to show a slide show of my photo's and everyone will know exactly where I was standing at the time.
Ok you have inspired me to jump in the shot!
love your post…your gorgeous shot of you and your family! thank you so much for the reminder to for us to step-into-the-frame…and be seen. with that said…i think i'll be putting a remote for my camera on my christmas list this year. :)
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