What I Learned About Photography From 10 Minutes Outside in the Snow

So we live in Southern Virginia, where when it does snow, it's only like for 6 inches or less. So of course the kids are excited about being outside in it!

I really wanted to take the kids outside in the snow. I knew that we only had 10 mins. because my two year old doesn't want to get wet or cold. So I had to be fast. I am not going to lie. Getting two kids to "pose" in the snow was not going to happen. So I made them do stuff.

I had them clap the snow, I had them run in the snow, throw the snow, jump in the snow. That way I had specks of light and snow fluff everywhere. It appears to have snowed more, but it was only two to three inches!

Here are 6 things that I learned to take my photography to the next level in only 10 mins!

1. PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR SHUTTER SPEED

Because it was mostly white all around, that was a lot of light coming into my camera. Then I had the morning light coming in on one side of my little town house yard. I kept having to go from shade to sun. That is why shooting manual is SO important to learning how to adjust your camera fast! Click this video for more information:

Here, I had my shutter speed to 1/250 and my aperature at f3.2 and my ISO was at 100. (Some of you might be saying, "What are you talking about?" And that's okay. I consider my camera is a tool. Once you learn how to use it, then you will be able to "build" any image.

Here, my shutter speed was slow enough to show motion.

Here is another example of my slow shutter speed. It really shows her moving!

2. USE "CH" OR "CONTINUOUS HIGH" MODE ON YOUR CAMERA TO GET THE IN-BETWEEN MOMENTS.

Each of these shots were taken a split second from each other. My Nikon D750 takes 8 shots a second! But beginner DSLRs only do about 4! But you can still get a good number of shots taken. I NEVER take my camera off this mode unless there is a special circumstance. The In-between moments are the best way for me to find the best take out of so many scenes. Especially while working with kids!

to learn how to do it on your camera see this video:

This first image is one my son making a surprised face. The very next second later, he has a more grimace type of face! So a second really makes a difference!

3. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "PERFECT" SHOTS, JUST PERFECT MOMENTS.

If I submitted these photos to a College teacher, they would find stuff wrong with them I'm sure. For example, my son isn't quite in the "rule of thirds" (here is a video explaining that) and there are the random yard crap in the background.

My daughter below is completely out of focus! And her eyes are closed! (My focus miss her eyes by a millimeter!)

Why do I keep these photos? Because of the way that it makes me feel. The way that each child's personality comes out. My son is more stoic and pensive while my daughter is crazy!

4. SHOOT INTO THE SUN!

Most photographers would tell you that shooting into the sun is a big NO NO! Most of them would say to find soft light in the shade. But I am not afraid. I love how the sun was lighting up the snow from the back.

I did some creative cropping to the "before" image (which is another reason why I shoot RAW) and I didn't use must resolution compared to shooting JPEG.

I love the end result of the "After" image below.

"Before" on another image

"After" on the same shot, just black and white with a lot of contrast to show the show.

"Before" my daughter in the flare of the lens and the sun.

"After" with some creative cropping, so that you don't see the crap in my yard!

5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET MESSY!

In order to get this shot, I had to have my daughter throw a snowball at me! It barely blazed my $2,000 camera! But I wasn't afraid. I always use a UV protector (contact me for more details on this) on my lens and the more expensive your camera is, the more weather proof it is! SO COOL!

6. DON'T FORGET THE DETAILS

Even though, we didn't have very much snow this year, I still want to remember my little son's booth and mittens.

I hope that as I continue to post about the things that I am learning, that you are learning along with me!

Happy Shooting!

Christal

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