This weekly photo challenge is deigned to complement our free online photography basics classes. Each week we will set a different theme and your homework is to go out and photograph a collection of images related to that theme.
You can start this challenge whenever you like and do the different themes in any order you see fit. Think of these challenges as a photography workout. Don’t just do them once and not revisit them. If you do start these challenges as you begin our online basics classes then in a few months why not revisit older challenges to see how much better a photographer you have become.
Also try to think outside the box as much as possible. Photography is as much about creative interpretation as it is about technical prowess.
If at any time you’d like a critique of your images then please feel free to email us.
The reason you probably want to get better with your camera is that you want to take better pictures of your family without having to pay the likes of me. The truth of the matter is that photographing your own family can be the hardest thing in the world no matter what age your subjects are. I’ve photographed other photographer’s kids because they’ve had enough of mummy taking the pictures and my own wife won’t let me photographer her at all!
But you do have two distinct advantages that as a professional photographer I cold never have. The first is that you have a camera (on your phone) that you have with you almost 24 hours a day.
The second is that it’s likely that you’ll be there for most, if not all of your children’s major life events.
Before everyone had a digital camera on their person most family pictures were taken on holiday as it was the one place you always took a camera. I think back the the photos of my childhood and ones that I will always remember were taken on British beaches and in holiday camps.
When creating your own family images think about the really special places you want to remember. Is there a park you always visit or a family friendly restaurant you regularly frequent?
I think it’s always nice to capture elements in a picture that will age. These can be anything from clothing styles to home decor. There’s nothing better than looking back at pictures and exclaiming “what on earth possessed us to buy that sofa?!?”
You could even get creative with your photos like Jason Lee’s series of photos of his daughters Kristin and Kayla
Dave Engledow’s series World’s Best Father is another fabulous example of what a little creativity can produce.
Find out more information bout our family portraits.
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