At the end of the year, I like to make slideshows for the team so I approach MHW with that in mind.  Here are a few things to try and capture this week:

• Be prepared – Remember to charge your camera, bring extra batteries so you don’t have any problems during the game, make sure your sd card has lots of room for photos.  Bring an extra SD card in case you need it or you have problems with the card in the camera.
• Bring your camera with you to all the games so you can capture the story of the entire week
• Before the game – I like to wait until all the girls are ready and then quickly go around the room, taking pictures of each of them and then letting them be goofy and do some group photos.
• Kids and parents -  It can be lots of fun getting shots of the parents tying skates, putting on helmets etc.
• Action shots –  Remember you are going to have to speed up your camera’s shutter speed so the photos won’t be too blurry!  Set it to at least 400 iso
• Get down close to the action – try not to take all your photos from the same place.  Try going behind the net too!
• Include the coaches in your shots…I love getting shots of them as they talk the players in between periods, hi-five them after a goal, etc.
• Get a group shot of the parents in the stands.  We spend 6 months together and make some friendships.  Try and capture that!
• Look for unique shots.  How about a shot of all the kids standing at the gate waiting to go on the ice?
• If your teams make it to the finals, once the game is over you will be able to get a team photo of them on the ice if you are quick enough!   Try to get down to rink level so you can get up close.
• Once you are back in the dressing room, take 2 photos of each player with their medal…you always want to take 2 to make sure you get a good shot of each of the kids.  Also, take a look after each shot to make sure no one blinked.

Have fun!

I found an article online that has 10 really good tips to help you get things organized and outlines things like:

• how to properly rename your photos so you can find what you want
• how to rotate all those photos that are tilted and not easy to quickly view
• the importance of keeping your original files but how you can also resize them for emailing
• suggestions on some good Photo Managers, and most importantly
• backing up your hard drives.

Read more on organizing your photos >>

FRESH/CHARGED BATTERIES – Probably the most important step

- remember to charge your camera’s batteries.

- If you use AAs make sure to buy a few packages of new batteries so you don’t have to worry about the camera dying half way through your holday season.

NEW CARD

-Make sure your digital card has lots of room on it. There is nothing worse than shooting away and all of a sudden getting the message your card is full!

- I usually put an empty card in so I can take lots of photos without worrying about it. I also have a spare in case there are problems with the main sd card.

MAKE A LIST

- Think about what photos you want to take this weekend.

- If I am going to be seeing extended family I will often make up a little list of who I want to get photos of.

PORTRAIT IDEAS FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

- YOU AND YOUR PARENTS – When was the last time you had a photo of you and YOUR parents? They will be thrilled to have an updated photo!

- UPDATE YOUR FAMILY PORTRAITS – Remember to get someone to take family portraits of your family together.

- YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN – Moms – Make sure you get lots of photos with you and your children. My clients comment all the time how they have lots of photos of the kids with daddy but hardly any of them with the kids. Its the same in my family!

- 3 or 4 GENERATIONS? – This is the perfect time to get 3 generation or even 4 generation photos! Find a nice spot in front of the tree and remember to take a few so you get that one nice one!

- ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN – This is a great time to take a family portrait of all the grandchildren. I like to do a few of them sitting nicely together and then a few of them doing whatever they want. Make sure you do the sitting nicely ones first THEN let them get crazy! If they don’t want to cooperate, tell them you will let them do whatever they want IF they let you take 4 nice photos of them together. Works every time!

- YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS – When was the last time you had a photo of you and your sister/brother? Always nice to have and yet something we often forget to do, especially once we all become parents.

 REMEMBER YOUR VIDEO CAMERA TOO!

Remember to charge your video camera battery too and to make sure you have lots of room on the video tape/hard drive to shoot lots of video.

BE READY

Keep the video and digital camera visable and easy to get at. Sometimes in the rush of the day we forget to take advantage of all those wonderful photo oppportunities!

And finally, all families seem to have that one person who is the designated photographer. Remember to give that person a hug this Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Lorena

Start a family tradition.

Find a spot outside in your yard and take a photo of them before they leave for school.  Every year I photograph both of my kids on the front steps on the first day of school.  Brand new clothes, new backpack, etc.  I like to do a few of my son, then my daughter and then a bunch of the 2 of them together.

For those of you whose kids are starting kindgerten or grade 1, dont be shy about taking your camera into the classroom with you.  Don;t worry, you won’t be the only parent with a camera and the teachers are more than used to it!  I have wonderful portraits of both of my kids sitting at their desks on the first day and I am so happy to have them!

So, tips for tonight:

- charge your cameras batteries or if it uses AA batteries, go buy some new ones

- make sure you have lots of room on your sd card – you want to be able to take lots of photos because who knows what opportunities for photos lays ahead.  I had one parent tell me the teacher actually posed with each of her new students on their first day of school!

- if your child is going to school with a friend, remember to get photos of the 2 of them together.  I have shots of my son on his first day with his best friend and 7 years later they are starting junior high together tomorrow!

- try and get someone to take a photo of YOU with your child….Moms…we are notorious for not getting photos of US with our kids.  Tomorrow would be a good day to do it

Have a great day tomorrow everyone!

Lorena

Both kids on their first days of kindergarten!

My daughter finished grade 3 and my son is off to junior high next year and it makes me a little sad to think his days in elementary, where school is still “fun” are over. 

We are very fortunate to have had both our kids go through grade 3 with the same teacher.  Mrs G is an amazing teacher and with both kids school years, she helped them create some amazing art.  Those 7 years went by so fast, I am feeling very blessed that I took the time and spent the money to have my favorites professionally framed.  I have several pieces from both of my children’s grade 3 years, proudly displayed in our home.

Here is a set of 4 prints that my son did in his grade 3 year.  If you have something like this tucked away in a drawer or keepsake box, maybe think about pulling it out and getting it framed.  Every time I look at these pieces I get a smile on my face!