9 Top Tips for Capturing Great Holiday Photo's!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has enjoyed the festive season and are continuing to enjoy our Summer weather (well in the southern hemisphere anyway!) While many people are back to work today (including me!), many of us still have plenty of holiday time left - so here are my 9 top tips for capturing great holiday photos (and these tips can be applied to any situation!)

Tip #1 Have your camera out and ready to go!

While this may sound obvious, there is nothing worse than desperately wanting to photograph something but finding that your camera or smart phone has a flat battery or the camera card is full or your smart phone is out of memory!

This happened to me Christmas Day! We have a tradition every Christmas morning that we video our son opening his Christmas presents - about 1 minute in - my iPhone was full!! Luckily my husband was able to take over on his phone! I'm pretty good at making sure that my camera is always ready to go but now I will also make sure my phone is ready too!

With a little forward planning it does not take much to make sure all is good to go. With my camera, I always down load the images and back them up as soon as possible after taking the photos (usually the same day). That way I know the images are safe and I can remove them from camera card. I also recharge the battery after every session, then I know my camera is good to go at any moment! I'm going to make sure I back up and download my iPhone images regularly so that I don't run out of memory again!

Tip #2 Capture Moments not Poses

Capturing moments is by far my favourite type of photography. Capturing moments allows the photographer to let personalities shine through and really tell a story about what is going on, the relationships between the people being photographed and the feelings and emotions behind each image. The image above and below are "moment captures" and both images tell very different stories!

Tip #3 Click Before and After Set Poses

While Tip #2 is all about capturing moments not poses, there are times when you will want to take posed images. I really enjoy taking photos immediately before and immediately after the posed image as I find that these images are more relaxed and again show personality!

Posed Photo

Immediately after the Posed Photo

The examples above demonstrate how taking another photo immediately after the posed photo can make a real difference. While the top image is OK with everyone looking at the camera and smiling, I prefer the second image as more personality is coming through the images - much more fun!!

Tip #4 Fill the Frame

Get in close! It is so important to fill the frame of your photos with your subject. Images of your subject in the distance (unless of course this is deliberate - but that's another Blog post!) just won't give you great images. Frame your images nice and close in camera for the best results!

The above image would not have had nearly the same impact if his face was way back in the background.

Tip #5 Don't Hesitate, Press the Shutter!

Hesitate and you'll miss the shot! Capturing the best images means you have to be ready to click the shutter without hesitation! While the age of digital photography allows us to take many images without the worry about wasting a roll of film, taking hundreds of photo's in the hope of getting a couple of good shots is a waste of time - you have to go through them all to find them! A much better way to take photo's is to be deliberate in your approach and be ready to click the shutter! A moments hesitation is a moment gone and an inferior image is the result. Capturing these images of the kids jumping in meant that I had to click the shutter at that decisive moment!!

Tip #6 Work With Kids, Not Against Them

By far the best way to photograph kids is by working with them! Kids love to have fun and I promise if they are having fun, they will work with you! The images below were the first images I took that day and my son let out a big groan and told me to put the camera away!! Within a minute they were eating out of my hand as I encouraged them to jump into the water and I'd take their photo and show them!! They loved it!!

Tip #7 Tell a Story

Tell a story with your images - let viewers know what was happening. The images will also remind you of what was happening! Here's a great story from our swim .....

The kids thought it was fantastic every time River joined us in the pool - my son spent considerable time coaxing him in for a swim! I probably would have forgotten if it weren't for these images.

Tip #8 Make Sure You Are In Some!

I am most guilty of this - I tend to feel much more comfortable behind the camera, not in front of it! But I want my son to remember that I was there with him having fun not just taking photos all the time! With selfies all the rage right now, this is my preferred method of getting myself in images! Other methods include using a timer or asking someone to take the photo for you.

A very rare photo of me! Complete with photo bomber in the background! Love it!

Tip # 9 Put Your Camera Down

Yes I know this is a post about tips for holiday photos! I think this is an important tip though! I can be guilty of having the camera out a bit too much and I need to remember to put it away! So while I may have my camera out nearly every day, I have taken the pressure off myself to capture everything all the time and have allowed myself to capture some of the time.

I hope you have enjoyed my tips! I would love to hear some of your tips for taking great holiday photographs - please comment below. I would love to see some of your holiday images too! Please post them below!

Until next time - happy snapping!

Larissa x

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About Larissa Hill

Larissa is based in Melbourne, Australia and is a child and family portrait and lifestyle photographer. Larissa is married with one son, a dog, 2 cats and a huge tropical fish tank! Larissa enjoys all things photography, SCUBA diving and snorkelling, reading and hanging out with family and friends. Larissa's website showcases her photography - www.larissahill.com.au

Personal Child and Family Post

It was such a beautiful morning this morning as my son and I walked to school - the sun was shining, we spotted 3 kookaburra's on the electric wire (no pants on fire!) and watched as 2 of them caught their breakfast! This morning was much like another morning on this day 6 years ago ...

Today is a significant day for me, as is the 10th of October every year! Today is my son's birthday and today he turns 6!

Here is my newborn son - Yes - 10 pounds 7 ounces! Big Boofa!

All of us who are parents know that the journey of parenthood is like a giant never ending roller coaster ! The highs and lows are endless and we've certainly had our share. Every year at this time, like I'm sure many parents do, I reflect over the past years and the many years leading up to his birth.

Less than a week old

My husband and I are one of the couples where falling pregnant did not come naturally. We tried to fall pregnant for several years and ended up needing to explore other options which led us to our journey with IVF. Trying to fall pregnant was an incredibly emotional time of our lives, facing infertility and the possibility of not having children. I still do not know how I would have ever coped with that outcome! I had started an alternative life plan - if I was not pregnant by my 40th birthday - we were moving to Far North Queensland for a couple of years to work on dive boats!

Just after his 1st birthday - cheeky boy getting into everything including the heating ducts!!!

Thankfully for us, IVF worked, and before my 40th birthday!! I was thrilled to find out I was pregnant - I clearly remember finding out - I had been to the IVF clinic that morning for a blood test (as I had embryo's implanted 2 weeks earlier - those 2 weeks after implantation are like no other 2 weeks a woman experiencing IVF can ever live through!). It was the first blood test I had where I had not started menstruating, so there was a little glimmer of maybe bubbling away in the background! I did not let those bubbles rise to the surface though - too much disappointment!

Hanging with my dog on a camping trip, just turned 2

I was at work and my mobile rang and it was lunch time - I looked at the number and I knew it was the IVF clinic - they NEVER called me this early - it was always mid afternoon. I didn't answer it, I was in the staff room, I was feeling a little freaked! A message was left - is scoffed the rest of my lunch and went to the quiet room at work. I listened to the message - please call back - I called back. I was pregnant! Ecstasy! I was bursting! I called my husband! Jubilation!

First trip to the snow! Just before his 3rd Birthday, with mum, grandma and grandpa.

The first few weeks after a positive blood test and undergoing IVF, the pregnancies are very closely monitored. There were weekly blood tests for the next few weeks plus a scan at 7 weeks to check for the heat beat. Seeing and hearing the heartbeat for the first time was amazing! I was instantly bonded with this child growing within me, I was in love, I am a mother …. finally. Until ……….

Yep - a massive Cars fan! Just after his 3rd Birthday

I started bleeding. Oh no! It can't be happening! Having had a miscarriage already around the same time of pregnancy, I new what this looked like. The same bleeding, the same time. Ecstasy to the deepest hole in hell in the space of 5 seconds. I need to be admitted to a psychiatric unit, I can't stand this anymore. Coincidentally I had my final check up with my IVF specialist the next day. Don't jump to conclusions, it might be OK (really? Bull!$%#). We arrive to see the IVF specialist, I look and feel like crap, I've done nothing but cry for the last 12 hours and I haven't slept at all. The IVF specialist is stressed too and ended up being quite rude which was not helpful!!! Off for an emergency scan ……

Love our mum and son hugs at bedtime, my favourite time of the day (or night!) Around 31/2

The sonographer is tense, my husband is keeping a brave and stoic face, I'm just a mental case of sadness, despair and hormones. There is my baby - did I see it move? No, just my imagination, no, it moved - Oh! there's the heartbeat! Really! Is it really there? It is really there - my baby is still alive, bouncing around. The source of the bleeding can't be found, but the baby is fine, just fine, looking healthy and fine. So I cry again, and sob and try and compose myself. I'm exhausted, but feeling so relieved, so very relieved.

Dinosaurs have been and continue to be a big feature in our lives! Just after his 4th Birthday

I find a fabulous obstetrician and I am still monitored closely. The pregnancy continues fairly uneventful until my 14 week check up where we receive our 12 week scan results. Only one umbilical artery found at the 12 week scan. There should be two. What does this mean? It might mean nothing, or it might mean kidney and or cardiac problems for the baby (won't know until 24 week scan), could mean the baby needs to be born at 28 - 30 weeks as the baby wont receive enough nourishment in utero. Should I be worried? No said the obstetrician, I shouldn't. Yeah right!

Father and son! Just after his 5th Birthday

Us! Great Barrier Reef - aboard Calypso out of Port Douglas - I'm in this one! (The boats photographer took these images)

I was in denial. I had entered the bizarre 2nd trimester where I no longer felt sick and felt quite good. Thankfully I could feel the baby move by around 17 weeks, so I took some comfort in that. 24 week scan day arrived and I was nervous, but at least I new my baby was alive and I would cope with what ever was coming my way. I told the sonographer that I was a nurse and that I wanted to know what they were seeing and to not hide anything from me!! So here we go again, what are we going to find out this time? Ummm, well, there are actually 2 umbilical arteries! Pardon? Yes, there are 2 umbilical arteries! So there is nothing wrong? No, there is nothing wrong. For goodness sake! Thank goodness but really!! I don't need anymore of this roller coaster ride!!!

This is his bad man gangster face (we were at a gangster and flappers party in Cairns!) Just after his 5th Birthday

Thankfully the rest of the pregnancy was very routine - no more surprises, no more strain, no more ups and downs and round and rounds. Until the birth - but that is a story for another day - maybe the 7th birthday!

While life has not turned out exactly how I imagined (unfortunately no more children for us, but we feel very blessed indeed to have our amazing son in our lives), each and every day I am so grateful that we have a beautiful healthy son to share our lives with. His zest for life is awesome and each and everyday he brings so much joy and laughter to our lives. You have changed me, I am a better person because of you.

Happy Birthday my beautiful, amazing wonderful son. Your dad and I are very proud of you and the brilliant young boy you have become. We love you to the moon and back, all around the universe and back a hundred million times!

Happy 6th Birthday!

If you enjoyed reading my blog, please sign up so that you will get notified when the next one comes out! Head on over to my website www.larissahill.com.au and sign up to my newsletter too - you will never miss a thing!

I would love to hear your comments and experiences with your pregnancies and falling pregnant! Feel free to share in comments below!

If you are struggling with fertility issues, have experienced miscarriage/s and are feeling pretty crap - my heart goes out to you as do my positive vibes. There is hope in your future and you will come through the other side, you will get there, hang on! Life is meant to throw us curve balls that smash us in the face. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not coping, please seek help.

Here are some useful links -
http://mivf.com.au/fertility-treatment/ivf-counselling-support/ivf-patient-suport-groups
http://ivf.com.au/fertility-treatment/ivf-counselling-support/ivf-resources
http://www.sands.org.au
http://infertility-support.meetup.com/cities/au/melbourne/
http://pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
http://www.bubhub.com.au/directory/find/miscarriage-grief-loss-helplines

It's all in the family!

I have been very lucky as child and had the opportunity and privilege of spending a fair bit of time growing up with my cousins. We don't see as much of each other these days but I was thrilled to be asked to take some beautiful images of my cousin, his (soon to be) wife and their two gorgeous children!

For me, family is number one and I love seeing parents and children being with each other just hanging out and having fun. This is what children will remember as they grow!

Their little boy reminds me of his dad at a similar age - love seeing the genetics at work!

Its not clear who the baby girl resembles - at the moment she is a beautiful mix of the mum and dad.

I love my job!!

Children change and grow so quickly and photography is a wonderful way to capture moments in time. 

Spring is a perfect season for photography! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming! 

If you would like to capture your family's moments and create beautiful heirloom prints for your home, check out my website and contact me today!

Until next time - Happy Snapping

Larissa x

Quality Matters and a Freebie!

Hello!

Welcome to my July Blog and for those of you living here in the south eastern states of Australia, I hope you are managing to stay warm! We are certainly experiencing an Arctic blast at the moment which has proven to be awesome for the ski slopes! My family and I are very excited about this as we will be hitting the slopes of Mt Buller in a few weeks time and the start to the ski season has been the best I can remember!! I hope that the weather doesn't decide to get too warm all of a sudden and melt it all before we get there! This issue

I want to share with you a few bits and pieces about Larissa Hill Photography that you may not be aware of. Larissa Hill Photography information packs are available at your request. These information packs contain everything you need to know about booking a photography session with us. The information pack includes what to expect when a photography session is booked, prices of individual prints, canvases, photo books, display boxes, greeting cards, our popular photography packages and more! If you would like an information pack sent out to you, click this link here! Quality is also covered in the information pack and why choosing a professional photographer will the reap rewards of beautiful images.

Larissa Hill Photography use professional photography labs who have been carefully selected for the high quality prints and other products that are produced. Archival quality materials are used and the workmanship of products are outstanding! 

Run of the mill printing lab

Here are some images that help explain the difference in quality and workmanship. The first 2 images to the right are of a canvas I printed a couple of years ago from a run of the mill on line retail printing outlet. The canvas image is OK and is not printed on a canvas but some sort of vinyl (which may deteriorate over time), again is OK, but the quality of the framing is the basics - the bare minimum - and they put the string on the wrong way around! I tried to get in touch with them to let them know and organise some string to go on the right way but in the end it was too much effort and hassle so I gave up!

Quality of materials
and framing are inferior

The next 2 images below are of a canvas I printed earlier this year when I was researching professional photo labs - the quality of the framing is amazing! There is obviously much more workmanship in this product and the image is printed on true art canvas which will last for many many many years. This is an example of a framed canvas but I can assure you that the unframed canvases are of equal quality. 

For me these differences in the quality are important. If we are making the effort and spending the time and money to create beautiful and memorable images, the images deserve to be printed on the best quality materials that will last and last!.

Professional Printing Lab

The issues of quality are also evident in the quality of the prints including the archival quality paper used and the colour matching technology that reproduces prints that are true to the colours of the digital files and images. The end result is a pleased photographer as their images are represented as intended and a happy and grateful client who receive impressive quality products of the highest standard.

Quality of materials and
workmanship are far superior

Other News!

Winter Warmer Promotion!

I know it is still a long way off until Christmas and most people would be cringing at the thought of thinking about Christmas right now BUT …. We have a fabulous opportunity for one lucky family to receive a FREE mini session at our exclusive Christmas Mini Session valued at $120. To find out more, click this link! This is a great way to update your family portrait with a Christmas theme. So click this link now and find out how YOU can be in with a chance to receive this mini session valued at $120 for FREE!

Referral Program

Our referral program is well under way and I am pleased to say that the feedback I have been receiving about it is very positive! The referral program is designed to thank clients for referring family and friends to Larissa Hill Photography! More information on our referral program can be found by clicking this link!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to stay warm and lets hope the snow doesn't melt! Have a great weekend what ever you are doing …

Until next time …Happy Snapping!

Larissa x

Why Choose a Professional Photographer?

There is the teeniest of smiles 
behind this shy girl's hand!

Why choose a Professional Photographer? This is a very good question and one that can easily be answered. There is more to being a professional photographer than owning a nice camera - in fact a good photographer will be able to take a great photo with any sort of camera. The iPhone is a great example of this where there are countless groups on Instagram and Flickr etc that showcase amazing photographs taken with smart phones. Good cameras however allow a good photographer to expand their creativity to produce stunning images.

Professional Photographers acquire skill and knowledge and have practised and practised and practised. When these elements are brought together, the final result equals high quality and appealing images. Professional Photographers will "Capture the Moment". While this is a term many professional photographers use, there is a reason so many professional photographers use it! This is what photography is all about. This is what the education and practise creates - a child's fleeting expression, the hint of a smile from the shy teenager, the toddler who won't sit still, the amazing light, attractive and dynamic composition, emotions, expression, camera settings, using natural light …. great photographers bring all these elements together in an instant to get that shot!

It takes skill and knowledge 
to "capture the moment"

The quality that a professional photographer brings to their images cannot be underestimated. Timeless and classic images don't happen by accident. Professional Photographers will have the right equipment, will prepare for days before a shoot and will ensure the people being photographed are comfortable, are at ease and produce images that are flattering not embarrassing (unless this is intended of course!). Once the images have been captured the photographer processes the images. Good photographers shoot in RAW format, which is like a digital negative. Instead of developing film negatives in a dark room, photographers using digital cameras process the digital negatives using a computer program. Again skill and knowledge is required to effectively create and enhance these images using specialised programs.

For me, as a professional photographer, my reputation is most important. My photography business relies on my good reputation and on word of mouth. Most of my new clients are referred from current clients, which is the greatest compliment! It means they are talking about my business in a positive way and like their experience enough that they want their family and friends to share their experience.

This is so true -
you get what you pay for

By choosing Larissa Hill Photography you will experience a unique and tailored photography experience. Larissa Hill Photography creates works of art for your walls. From our first conversation through to the delivery of your prints, we will be sharing a journey and a creative process. Your photo session, right from our first meeting, will be fully tailored to your vision with our interpretation and style influencing the final product. Larissa Hill Photography creates timeless works of art for your walls. My clients have a level of commitment, invest in time and money, have an idea of where their images will go and what they will look like. To achieve these results more commitment in time from your photographer - Larissa Hill Photography - is required. 

The above quote is quite apt! Yes clients can pay for a cheap photographer and be handed their images on disc. Unfortunately, most people who purchase discs never print their images, and if they do it will be at somewhere cheap. While these places are fine for snap shots of holidays (I use these places for my holiday snaps!), for wall art only professional printing labs will suffice. It seems a shame to spend so much energy producing the images to either have them hidden on a disc for no one to enjoy or printed in a way that the colour of the images is not true and the quality of the paper or canvas is such that it deteriorates or fades over time. Larissa Hill Photography use professional printing labs for all prints, canvases, photo books and other products. The papers used are archival papers and if cared for properly will last for generations - these images are intended to be family heirlooms.

If you are interested in engaging Larissa Hill Photography please check out my website and please contact me via the contact page. I can also be contacted via email (lhconsulting@optusnet.com.au) and via Facebook.  - I look forward to hearing from you and how I can help create art for your walls.

I will leave you with this quote - "A photographer went to a socialite party in New York. As he entered the front door, the host said 'I love your pictures - they're wonderful; you must have a fantastic camera.' He said nothing until dinner was finished, then 'that was a wonderful dinner; you must have a terrific stove.' " - Sam Haskins

Until next time

Happy snapping!

Larissa x