A few more from another shoot. CC if you don't mind. I have been practicing a bit.

[gsgary]

I agree that it's good to shoot a variety of subjects, but to call it creepy to take lots of photos of your kids? Um, no. I have taken probably at least 2,000 photos of my child because she is, frankly, adorable, and does a lot of cute things. Most of them have been candid snapshots, but still... Now, if someone was posting lots of pictures of ONE child that was someone else's (like dozens and dozens of pics), well, that might be a little odd.

she only takes and posts pictures of her kids. Thats it.

Maybe she needs some inspiration for other things to photograph? I know that I personally have a hard time finding interesting things to photograph in my house (or even my yard), but it's easier to find things when I go out for awhile. Parents of young children (especially moms) sometimes spend a lot of time in their houses, so the most interesting subject is usually the kiddos.

There is lots you can shoot at home, when its bad outside my studio lights come out
Playing with shadows

one of my cameras

Shot in the garden late afternoon

There are lots of things to shoot at home

 

[ThereSheGoes]

she only takes and posts pictures of her kids. Thats it.

Maybe she needs some inspiration for other things to photograph? I know that I personally have a hard time finding interesting things to photograph in my house (or even my yard), but it's easier to find things when I go out for awhile. Parents of young children (especially moms) sometimes spend a lot of time in their houses, so the most interesting subject is usually the kiddos.

There is lots you can shoot at home, when its bad outside my studio lights come out
Playing with shadows

one of my cameras

Shot in the garden late afternoon

There are lots of things to shoot at home

Yeah, I guess I personally have trouble finding things that I think would make an interesting subject in my house. I've done some macro in the past, but not recently.

 

[AMOMENT]

Here's the thing, I hate taking pics of stills. I am just not interested in them. I truly love photographing children and I have not posted any other pics of other children because unless I have their parent's permission to put their photos on the internet, I won't do it. Hence why you see lots of pics of MY children. Not too many parents are keen on letting you post photos of their children on a site they are unfamilair with.

I would LOVE to try and work on posed pics but I'm having difficulty convinving my two year old and 6 month old that mommy needs to work on something. lol. Alot of these photos are quickly taken because I am lucky to be getting any at all given how quick they turn on a dime. I put thought into the pic by seeing an opportunity for a great photo and DESPERATELY trying to catch it before my child moves. (not easy) Maybe I will ask around for some willing subjects to let me take some photos and share them on here. I'm pretty sure I will not get alot of takers. I have taken pics of many other children but I have never shared them on here.

I never use automatic, BTW.

Any tips on how to "deepen" my photos? By deepen, I mean intensify?

Also, any advice on how to get amazing shots when you are just learning and constantly changing positions? I have some willing OLDER subjects but I don't like the whole tripod/posed aspect of photography. (just my taste) I tend to like more natural and spontaneous pics. Maybe I'm just not ready for that.

I should slow down, you are right. I should slow down in taking my photos and in accepting that it takes time to learn. I actually don't post nearly half of what I take. I take about 300 photos every other day! =)

 

[MTVision]

Here's the thing, I hate taking pics of stills. I am just not interested in them. I truly love photographing children and I have not posted any other pics of other children because unless I have their parent's permission to put their photos on the internet, I won't do it. Hence why you see lots of pics of MY children. Not too many parents are keen on letting you post photos of their children on a site they are unfamilair with.

I would LOVE to try and work on posed pics but I'm having difficulty convinving my two year old and 6 month old that mommy needs to work on something. lol. Alot of these photos are quickly taken because I am lucky to be getting any at all given how quick they turn on a dime. I put thought into the pic by seeing an opportunity for a great photo and DESPERATELY trying to catch it before my child moves. (not easy) Maybe I will ask around for some willing subjects to let me take some photos and share them on here. I'm pretty sure I will not get alot of takers. I have taken pics of many other children but I have never shared them on here.

I never use automatic, BTW.

Any tips on how to "deepen" my photos? By deepen, I mean intensify?

Also, any advice on how to get amazing shots when you are just learning and constantly changing positions? I have some willing OLDER subjects but I don't like the whole tripod/posed aspect of photography. (just my taste) I tend to like more natural and spontaneous pics. Maybe I'm just not ready for that.

I should slow down, you are right. I should slow down in taking my photos and in accepting that it takes time to learn. I actually don't post nearly half of what I take. I take about 300 photos every other day! =)

My kid never poses but I do get down on her level and I try to get her to look at me. Portraits aren't that interesting if you can't see their eyes - usually.

Take your time. You can keep the flash down by raising you ISO. You don't always have to shoot at ISO 100. I've taken some great shots with a high ISO. You aren't ready for flash yet so just use the light available even if you have to raise your ISO.

Shooting other things than your children is great advice and it will make you a better photographer. It will also teach you a lot more than just rapidly snapping shots of your kids. Use a doll to practice on even. The only way you'll ever get beautiful "in the moment" shots is if you work on your photography. Composition is huge and taking shots of things other than your kids will help immensely.

Technically you don't need permission to post your pictures on here for critique.

 

[kundalini]

Here's the thing, I hate taking pics of stills. I am just not interested in them. I truly love photographing children and I have not posted any other pics of other children because unless I have their parent's permission to put their photos on the internet, I won't do it. Hence why you see lots of pics of MY children. Not too many parents are keen on letting you post photos of their children on a site they are unfamilair with.

I would LOVE to try and work on posed pics but I'm having difficulty convinving my two year old and 6 month old that mommy needs to work on something. lol. Alot of these photos are quickly taken because I am lucky to be getting any at all given how quick they turn on a dime. I put thought into the pic by seeing an opportunity for a great photo and DESPERATELY trying to catch it before my child moves. (not easy) Maybe I will ask around for some willing subjects to let me take some photos and share them on here. I'm pretty sure I will not get alot of takers. I have taken pics of many other children but I have never shared them on here.

I never use automatic, BTW.

Any tips on how to "deepen" my photos? By deepen, I mean intensify?

Also, any advice on how to get amazing shots when you are just learning and constantly changing positions? I have some willing OLDER subjects but I don't like the whole tripod/posed aspect of photography. (just my taste) I tend to like more natural and spontaneous pics. Maybe I'm just not ready for that.

I should slow down, you are right. I should slow down in taking my photos and in accepting that it takes time to learn. I actually don't post nearly half of what I take. I take about 300 photos every other day! =)

But wouldn't it behoove you to learn your skills with proper camera function, composition and lighting first? I bought a pink monkey, named him Winston, and practiced, practiced and practiced. I shot thousands of images trying to figure this out to become (somewhat) proficient with achieving the vision that was in my head on those very things...proper camera settings, composition and lighting. I didn't want to subject a person to my testing and bore the hell out of them. That's what practice time is for.

Until you become comfortable with a static object and can make it interesting, you have little hope to have acceptable outcomes with changing conditions. Unless of course, snapshots are acceptable for you. Just by taking 300 photos a day will not help. You have to have a purpose. Why are you taking 300 photos? Are you trying different apertures, shutter speeds, ISOs to see what those changes are making to your photos? If not, you're just burning through your shutter actuations and battery life to no apparent end.

I've read through some of the advice that's been handed to you. A lot of it is good. Try to implement some of it.

Just my 2¢. Good luck.



EDIT: Meg posted while I was in the middle of mine.

 

[MissCream]

My little guy never stops either but you can still practice proper techniques especially getting down to their level. Sometimes it works to be above them but not very often (i'll post an example of what I think works, it may not to others). You just have to keep shooting and take the advice given to you. I think my ISO was pretty high in these shots.


Untitled by Ms. Cream, on Flickr



Untitled by Ms. Cream, on Flickr

 

[MLeeK]

Unfortunately you are going to have to use something other than your children to seriously learn on or you aren't ever going to get past the snapshots. That certainly doesn't mean stop taking mom shots of them! As you are learning your mom shots will come out better and better too. But if you want to really learn, you are going to have to practice on something and if you don't have the skills to get your kids to play quietly while you think too, it's going to have to be something like a still life.
You either master the skills or you don't... It's up to you, but what you are doing isn't getting you anywhere.
The skill to balance the kids activity while getting the shot will come. MOST of us don't just have it at first. And it's harder with your own kids than it is with anyone else's kids too!

 

[AMOMENT]

Okay, operation take still life in full effect! I will begin and post tomorrow. Thanks! Advice taken.

 

[mrmills4]

I kind of like #5, and 6. I wish she was looking into the camera on 6 with a nice little smile. The first ones could be better if you got down to her level. Capture the smile!!!

 

[Tee]

I used to have a designer box of tissues that sat on my coffee table. As I would read photography books, watch tutorials and read forums, I would take hundreds of snapshots of that tissue box. I would change aperture, then shutter speed. I would purposely blow out the image and then look at my histogram to see what it looked like. I would dim the lights and practice with high ISO and study the grain. I would change my metering modes. I would spot meter on a dark part of the box to see what effect it had on the lighter parts. I would shoot close up, then far away while changing f/ stops to understand DoF. You get the drift.


I guess what I'm trying to say is after you put the kids to bed, put a candle or a book or even a box of tissues on the kitchen table and start practicing the advice being given here. You mentioned that you like shooting active kids. You're never going to improve unless you understand the dynamics of what you're doing. The "amazing shots" to learn while a beginner? Those come from practice.


I think it's awesome that you're putting yourself out there and asking for critique and I hope you continue to do so. However, you're getting the same advice over and over.

 

[AMOMENT]

I really am taking it. I took some stills today! I will post! They are so foreign to me that I'm a little nervous to post them. I can only imagine the heat I will take. lol. That's not to say that my photos of my kids are any better, but I'm more comfortable shooting people. I have a hard time making a leaf look artistic although I give credit to the many members on here who can do that.

 

[AMOMENT]

Oh and I know that I dont HAVE to have permission but for me, it is sort of an unwritten rule. Unless a parent of a child I photographed gives me actual permission, I feel wrong plastering their pic on the internet. That is why there are so many pics of my kids. I take pics of many different people but just don't put them on any sites.

 

[MLeeK]

Just remind people when you ask for cc and help to state exactly what you are working on and what you are doing. You don't want CC on "perfect" images, you want cc on what you are learning...
"today I am working on aperture and distance combined to achieve a very shallow DOF... here's my tissue box and this is what I did and why... am I correct?"