An In-Depth View | Dallas Fort Worth Custom Photographer

The Nitty Gritty:

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 50mm f/1.8
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure time: 1/500 second
ISO:200

People & Places:

I really wanted to capture Mackay in a very professional way at a random time in our lives.  It’s easy to take the kids out on their birthdays for a photoshoot–but only once a year?!  I wanted to change that with this shoot.  And the great American Flag wall in Deep Ellum was our location.

The Problem:

I was trying to photograph MY OWN CHILD!  I know so many other photographers run into the same problem trying to photograph their own kiddos.  Okay, so every other photographer runs into this problem.  It is close to impossible.  Second problem?  The 100 plus degree weather outside.

The Solution:

The first struggle was to get the child there HAPPY.  Which meant I had to stay happy.  Which also meant her face was going to have an ice cream cone painted on it, and her feet were going to be covered in old shoes.  WHATEVER!  I had to let go of complete control, and looking back now–I’m glad I could capture those little details that make Mackay–Mackay!

Mixing it up was a must for us.  I couldn’t bring her own toys to catch her attention, or make the same high pitched voices.  I had to do something DIFFERENT.  Comments I get from other parents after our photoshoots is that the kids don’t even know they are being photographed–they are too busy having fun.  Isn’t it weird that as the mother of my own child, I was completely stumped with how to help her have fun?  So I brought food–themed to the shoot, so they could be in the pictures.  The snacks were fun and new, and helped combat the heat.  And that messy face?  Priceless.