What is YOUR learning style?

My book, Photographing Children, has two distinct tracks to learn about creating better photographs of your children. My intention was to write a book that is geared to less technically-oriented readers who want to learn to turn an average snapshot into a more fine and dazzling portrait. This journey is about learning to see the light and to use it effectively and sculpturally. It is also about using more dramatic composition and eliciting a wide range of expressions from children, as well as finding more interesting backgrounds.

Most books on photography, and even on photographing children, elaborate about all the camera bells and whistles and digital tricks. Many people pick the books up in the bookstore and start seeing references to f-stops and color temperature, only to feel intimidated and put it right back on the shelf.

Photography needn't be so dreary!

I wanted to inspire the reader to see that it can be fun, relaxing and un-intimidating learning to create better photos of their children! When I teach photography to parents (mainly Moms) I will often have them start off using automatic mode on the camera.

Then I teach them to see, feel and LOVE light...light in the afternoon, light coming in through a window, and so on. Then we look at some of their favorite photographs, noticing how they are composed and why we are drawn to them so that we can incorporate that into their images.

In my experience as a teacher of other professional photographers, I have noticed over the years that many don't see light and make use of it in a creative way. They automatically use a flash and zap away any possibility for a beautifully "sculpted" portrait.

I have attempted in my book to show the value of using natural and available light, and classical composition.

However, if you find that you want to go a step beyond and learn more about your camera, lenses, and settings, you can follow that track through the book as well. I found a contributor, Allison Tyler Jones, who was able to add that information in a simple and friendly manner.

The photographs in the book range from very contemporary and fresh to the more classical and refined, and much in between. Readers can identify with a style that might come close to theirs.

The nice thing is that you can choose your path in reading this book, and continue to use it as a resource and inspiration as you gain confidence in your photography!

Enjoy!