Photo Tips: Teaching your children to use a camera — a great snowed-in activity

Lately I’ve been teaching my 4-year-old daughter and her best friend to use my camera, yes my big pro camera. I highly recommend doing this, working with your child to learn to use your camera as an endeavor of exploring art.

The biggest tip I can give you is to put your camera on a tripod and keep it at their level.

* Show them how to compose the photo using the zoom or moving the camera or the subject
* Focus by pressing the shutter half way down.
* Take the photo
* And be sure to tell them to never, ever touch the lens.

Why would you want to teach your child to use a DSLR or a point-and-shoot this way? Well, the short answer is the photos come out better (check out what the girls did). The longer answer is that for one the tripod gives them time to compose, and slowing down the process makes photography a really different activity. Furthermore, using the best tools in the house can be empowering to kids.

I would love to see the photos they take, please share them with me!

Photo Classes are back!

I will be teaching photo classes again this winter and spring. Photo of me by Z My first class will be on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. near Wolf Trap in Vienna. Join us as we go over the basics of using a camera, getting good photos in different lighting situations, stopping motion, and separating your subject from your background. If you just got a new camera for the holidays or use yours on program all the time, this class is for you. This class will include instruction, practice time, and review of work. The cost is $45.

I will be teaching a short 4-week class on editing your images with Photoshop; please let me know if you are interested. You must have access to Photoshop. My plan is to hold two-hour classes over the course of four Saturday mornings in February and March. The cost will be $95.

Please email me if you are interested in either or both classes jessica@portraitplaytime.com.

Stay tuned, more classes to come!

Are you a serious photographer with a DSLR who wants to learn something new every month? Join my good friends from ShootSmarter.com for their Friday Photo School. One hour of instruction by some of the best photographers around. Check it out at fridayphotoschool.com. The first class is today at 1 pm on using your flash.

Fundraising: The Double Whammy
Help two great organizations with one photo session.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day one day early by doing a photo session that will capture the love in your family. We are fundraising once again for the kids at Arlington Academy of Hope and then we can submit one photo to the family photo contest I announced last month. Click here for more details about the AAH fundraiser and here for more info about the photo contest.

We also have two other dates for Family Photo Sessions. Maple Avenue Market, the great new market in Vienna, will be hosting two nights of photo sessions, Tuesday February x and Tuesday March x. Each night we will have six sessions from 6 - 9 p.m. Email me to sign up.

Hope to see you soon either behind your camera or in front of mine.

Hope to see you soon either behind your camera or in front of mine.

Jessica
Portrait Playtime…we put kids first.

703-860-2222 (landline)
240-481-3918 (cell)

Click here to make a reservation

What will help your Pooch take the perfect portrait?

Carol’s Canine Cookies
Each dog will receive 50% off on
Carol’s Canine Cookies
with their portrait session and
will have the opportunity to be
featured on her new website.

Reservations are strongly recommended!

The Sitting Fee:
$25 sitting fee for 15 minutes
$50 sitting fee for 30 minute
$75 sitting fee for 45 minutes

(More Information)

Click here to make a reservation

What will help your Pooch take the perfect portrait?
Carol’s Canine Cookies These canine cookies will make any dog sit up and beg for more.

Each dog will receive 50% off on Carol’s Canine Cookies with their portrait session and will have the opportunity to be featured on her new website.

Reservations are strongly recommended!

The Sitting Fee:
$25 sitting fee for 15 minutes
$50 sitting fee for 30 minute
$75 sitting fee for 45 minutes

(More Information)

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Reservations are strongly recommended!

Click here to make a reservation

The Sitting Fee:
$25 sitting fee for 15 minutes
$50 sitting fee for 30 minute
$75 sitting fee for 45 minutes

(More Information)