tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361251099864607419.post7384766378436165254..comments2024-03-18T01:15:17.741-07:00Comments on Better Family Photos: Sophia's Birthday360 Rumorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173469932778454315noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361251099864607419.post-31259097995978866842012-11-15T11:16:39.298-08:002012-11-15T11:16:39.298-08:00That's an interesting discussion that I though...That's an interesting discussion that I thought to post about more than once.<br /><br />I started taking photography seriously (started with technique) a while after my first daughter was born, I wasn't able to get as good photos of her as I wanted, and now I regret that I didn't learn photography earlier to take better photos of her when she was a new born.<br /><br />I rarely take my camera with me when we're visiting families, there are a few yearly events and certain outings where I take my camera to save memories of my family, and I know I'd be using the camera for a very little while, I hate taking photos of the same subject with a zillion different backgrounds, I usually want 2 to 3 photos of each family member and group photos if possible, and that's how I do it, only favorite photos stay, all others are either not shot, or deleted at home.<br /><br />Other situations include taking out the camera when I see one of the girls wearing a new dress that I like, a new hair cut, etc...<br /><br />But I agree to the concept of sharing the time with your families (whether this will make them better or not) instead of playing with the camera all the time or looking at the phone all of the time. Some times I wish time would turn back and we'd all get rid of the damned smart phones and the 24/7 online presence and social networks.mshafikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09178862453786826299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361251099864607419.post-39474747340872101982012-11-15T10:56:42.612-08:002012-11-15T10:56:42.612-08:00Hi Ken. Thank you very much for your sincere and ...Hi Ken. Thank you very much for your sincere and thoughtful advice. Indeed, I have also received this advice from another reader with a son of similar age as yours. I absolutely agree, and I know I am prone to this mistake. Believe it or not, I was even worse when my son was a baby :)<br /><br />In the last year or so, I've thought more about how I am taking photos. As you said, these are supposed to be family photos. And when I take photos, my purpose is not to win prizes or impress people. It's to preserve memories of the fun we had together as a family. But the irony is that if I spend more time taking photos, there is less of that fun to be preserved as a memory, which defeats the purpose.<br /><br />So, recently, I have tried to tone it down. At this party, my priority was to be the dad, and not the photographer. So, I was doing glitter tattoos for the kids, playing with the kids (ours and our friends'), joining in the games, talking to the guests. But without doubt, I was still spending too much time taking photos (compared to most parents) and I most definitely could have been more involved if I weren't the one taking photos.<br /><br />That's why I had been thinking -- perhaps we should maintain a list of parents here who would be interested in taking photos for other parents on the list during birthdays and such. That way, everyone gets quality time AND quality photos. I'll have to think about how to organize that. hmmm.<br /><br />Thanks again, Ken. Your advice is always welcome!<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Mic360 Rumorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173469932778454315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361251099864607419.post-44792310396857300292012-11-15T10:04:03.232-08:002012-11-15T10:04:03.232-08:00Nice photos of your adorable daughter and her frie...Nice photos of your adorable daughter and her friends! <br /><br />Just a friendly reminder as a parent of a girl and boy, now aged 30 and 32. Sometimes it's best to just have fun with your children instead of taking photos! Maybe take a group shot or two, or when the cake is presented. I'm not saying that you are overdoing it, because I wasn't there, but often I often see parents -- mostly the Dad -- spending much, if not most of the time, at these special events trying to document them instead of enjoying the one-time experiences that each represent. In some of those shots your precious daughter almost seems to be saying, "Dad, please put that camera down and pay attention to me!"<br /><br />I used to carry up to 20 lbs. of camera gear when my children were as young as yours. I also had an 8mm video camera when they first came out in the 80's. (Do people ever watch the hours of video they capture?) <br /><br />I eventually had a change of heart, not to mention a drooping shoulder, and began to use a P&S, back then the Nikon L35, Canon ZoomXL, Olympus XA, then two APS film cameras, then two digital P&S. (I replaced them when they were lost or broke.) SLR film use ended around 1998 with the Canon Elan IIe.<br /><br />The use of P&S instead of more bulky SLRs freed me up to pay more attention to my kids -- and also gave my wife a photographic tool that she was more comfortable with so I might actually appear in a photo or two! Some of the photos taken with these simpler cameras are quite good, technically and aesthetically.<br /><br />The name of this website is "Better Family Photos." This begs the question, "When should I take family photos, and what are WE AS A FAMLY gaining or losing by my doing so?" <br /><br />Today, I think that my kids appreciate the nice shots they have of themselves when they were younger, but I wonder if I might not have been a better father if I had spent less time taking their pictures? They turned out OK, I would say even GREAT, so who knows?<br /><br />Anyway, I appreciate all that you do in creating and maintaining this site. <br /><br />Cheers.Ken Brakebillnoreply@blogger.com