The legacy of siblings has never ceased to diminish in my family. My greatest hope as a mother is that my two children remain a foundation of family legacy after I’m gone. The hopes I hold for my two are as strong as ever. So, in honor of National Siblings Day, we celebrate!
Though not federally recognized (like Mother’s or Father’s Day), the governors of 45 states have officially issued proclamations to recognize Siblings Day in their state since 1998. Sibling Day is celebrated April 10th and was founded by Claudia Evart, to honor the memory of her brother and sister, both of whom died. The Siblings Day Foundation was incorporated in 1997 and achieved non-profit status in 1999.
I love photography, but there’s always more to learn. Even more so is learning how to shoot my two very different kids – what their best angles are, how to catch their attention and what minimum shutter speed my crazy boy needs!
Here are 5 Photography Tips to capturing your babies together and happy!
1. Give Clear Directives: Photographing siblings is like using all your parental communication skills at once. When giving your children directives, be extremely clear and give only one instruction at a time. “Give him a hug” can result in an image of arms flying and covered faces. Instead, use directives like, “Put your head on his shoulder” or “Get cheek to cheek.” Simple directives will help create the image you’re looking for.
2. Contain Them: Photographing siblings is much easier when they’re contained. Without the stress of one running off, you can focus on encouraging engagement for a fun, lively shot. While they’re enjoying a ride in the wagon, dip in the bathtub or pool or in a playhouse together, use that opportunity to capture some touching images.
3. Use the Continuous Shooting Mode: Most cameras have a continuous shooting mode setting. Use it! Moments between siblings happen fast. They go from wildly in love to all-out war in a matter of minutes. Use the continuous shooting mode to capture all the moments in between. You’ll love looking back at those images later on.
4. Keep Shutter Speeds High: To avoid blurred chaos, keep the shutter speeds high when shooting siblings. Many DSLR have a Shutter Speed Priority setting (Tv on Canon) that make it easier. On the flip side, document movement of older kids jumping on a trampoline or running together to create a different feel.
What tips do you have for capturing amazing pictures of your babies together?
Danielle
April 10, 2014 at 2:13 pmVanessa – It broke my heart (and many others, I know) that you had to abruptly halt your beautiful 365 project. I very much enjoyed all the wonderfully cute images of your two incredibly adorable kidos. I’m vary happy to hear that you’ve decided to begin anew and excited to see what great stuff is to come! You are a sincerely inspirational mama!
Thank you! 🙂
Violeta
April 15, 2014 at 1:48 pmI LOVE seeing pics of your adorable kids!
Jana
April 10, 2015 at 2:46 pmThank-you so much for the tips! LOVE your pictures! Your children are so beautiful!
Vanessa Bell
April 12, 2015 at 11:05 amThank you Jana! So sweet of you!