I love few things as much as I love photographing newborn babies. My preference is for the real life stuff ~ swaddling, soft blankets, and a basket here and there, an heirloom or a favorite book. Little Miss Laid-back was perhaps the most content newborn I’ve ever photographed ~ a little food and a little shhh’ing, and she was good for whatever. Need her to sleep? She was out. Sit in a rocker with her sister? She was cool with that, too. Maybe it was having a relaxed mama and a doting family around, or maybe she just really enjoyed that warm fall air, but she was definitely a go with the flow baby.

One of the best surprises of this session was being greeted by Little Miss L’s big sister in a princess dress that she had chosen herself ~ a carnation pink confection worthy of any dance recital, Disney trip, or tea party in these parts ~ and that was perfect for photographs.

Together and separately, these partners in cute made a really fun morning of photography and soaking up the little girl atmosphere that my home (at least for a few more months) lacks. Not that the basketballs and Wolfpack t-shirts that dominate my decor aren’t cute in their own way, too. But there’s just something about little girls…

From the tiny bundle that “posed” so cooperatively

From the Big Sister outfit that I could not have planned better myself,

To the care that Big Sis showed when she *finally* got to hold her little sister

Thank you for inviting me into your home to photograph such a fun session.

One of my absolute favorite activities is researching (and especially buying) new photography gear. There are few things that I enjoy as much as unwrapping (they are always well wrapped), setting up, and playing with a new lens or camera. 2012 is expected to be a very big year for new pro Canon equipment, with a new 5D/6D camera widely considered to be a matter of time and some new versions of workhorse L series lenses likely to come out as well. I check in occasionally with the gear gossip on CanonRumors.com and on photography forums, and I think about how much fun it is to get some fancy new stuff.

So now that the fall crazy is over (I think I’m down to ONE more 2011 session to blog), I thought that it would be fun to do a little series on photography for mamas (and daddies), following up on the Clickin’ Mamas workshops that we did in 2011 (and amenable to being read in the comfort of your climate controlled home, rather than in the sweltering/freezing temps that mamas have endured at our workshops so far).

Please feel free to leave comments here or on my FB page with your questions, your opinions, to let me know how useful this first installment is (or isn’t), to suggest future topics, etc. All of what follows is my opinion ~ there’s no photography gospel, but hopefully we can have a little fun talking clickin’, cameras, etc.

Beth’s Mini Guide to Buying a New Family Camera:

One thing that people talk a lot about that really is *not* a factor to worry much about: How many megapixels does the camera have? As long as you’re over about 5-6MP, that spec is not especially useful. Sensor size has more to do with image quality than megapixel count alone does, and you can actually get lower image quality by cramming too many MP on a small sensor. As a frame of reference, my first DSLR had 8.2MP and made nice 24×30 prints given that the file was good to start with. I took a workshop years ago with a man who made billboards from his images out of a camera with fewer than 6MP. Also, more megapixels = larger files = more taxing on your computer and more space required to store. Fine if you need them, but more isn’t necessarily better.

The Two Main Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy:
1) What is the main purpose of buying a new camera? (The more specific you can be about what you want to be able to do with your new camera, the better)
and
2) How much time do you want to invest learning how to use your new camera?

Some possible answers to Question #1:
* To get a camera that takes a picture immediately when I press the shutter button
* To get a camera that takes better pictures in _________ (gymnasiums, low light, dance recitals, etc.)
* To get close-up shots when I’m in the stands at my kid’s ballgames
* To get a camera that will allow me more control over the settings
* To get a camera that will allow me to get decent pictures on auto

Some possible answers to Question #2:
* 5 minutes and I’ll be drying my hair at the same time ~ did I mention that it needs to take good pictures on auto?
* Realistically, I’m willing to spend an hour or two learning a little about how the camera works while the battery charges.
* I see this as a major hobby and want a camera that will grow with me as I learn for at least a year or two.

The answers to these questions will help you get the best value for your budget when you buy a new camera.

Camera Phones:

Where Camera Phones Shine: I love my camera phone, and it’s (shhhh) a Droid model.

Source: http://android-apps.com/articles/report-htc-droid-incredible-to-receive-android-2-2-starting-august-18/

I nearly always have my phone with me, and that’s its strongest point. It lets me photograph little things that I would miss otherwise. I also love that a few clicks let me send a photo of D to Facebook, grandparents, etc. ~ so the fact that it’s there and it’s easy are big points in its favor. If you have an iPhone, extra cool points for getting to make Instagrams.

Drawbacks/Considerations: On the one hand, I truly believe that the photographer is the most important element in producing an image, and that any camera is just a tool. I have a fairly old film camera that I am really happy with in terms of image quality, and I’ve honestly seen loads of bad photographs from really capable cameras. I also love the collections of iPhone images that show just how much you can do with a camera phone. But my experience is that the image quality from my Droid in most cases doesn’t compare to snaps out of almost any real camera, and the more challenging the conditions, the worse my camera phone does. It doesn’t help the camera’s performance that the situations where I want it ~ those when I don’t have a real camera handy ~ are usually tough in terms of the subject (moving children) and the situation (often low/bad light where I have little time and little control). But if the proof is in the pudding, I’d say that the images out of my camera phone are instant pudding at best ~ good for having captured moments that I’d have missed otherwise but bad in terms of image quality.

On a related note, most of us just don’t back camera phone images up (I’m a fanatical backer-upper, and I am not great about it with my phone, either). The portability that makes camera phones great also makes them even more vulnerable than other cameras to image loss (whether through memory failure, loss of the actual phone, or accidental drowning/smashing/washing/etc. Bottom Line: Great for quick shots of little things that you’d miss otherwise; not a substitute for a family camera in my opinion.

Point and Shoot Cameras:
(For my purposes, we’ll say that any small camera with a single lens that cannot be switched out is a p&s; prices range from $50-$600ish depending on features.)

Where P&S Cameras Shine: I think that these are the unsung heroes of photography today. If you want a portable camera that is meant to take good photographs on auto right out of the box, P&S cameras are a good option. Imo, DSLRs get the attention, but point and shoots come in a huge range of price points and offer all sorts of combinations of features that make them a great option for families. The best ones are in the price range of entry-level DSLRs and offer similar image quality and manual control. In that price bracket ($500-600 or so), you’ll get good low light performance, the ability to shoot in auto, semi-auto, and manual modes fairly easily, and very good image quality in a very small and portable package. In the $200-$400 range, you can find good image quality, a nice range of features, and cameras that are meant to be shot primarily in auto modes. Almost any of them will take better photographs than a camera phone while still being easy to throw in a purse, diaper bag, beach tote, etc. To me, that last concern is a big one ~ I’m mostly past the diaper bag phase (for a little while anyway), but I usually have a giant mom purse and a snack bag with me when I am out. I really have to think hard about whether to add an additional bag to carry my DSLR. And don’t even get me started about taking it on a plane.

Drawbacks/Considerations: The two main potential drawbacks, which vary with price and model, are shutter lag and sensor size. A long interval of shutter lag is a big problem if you’re photographing children and is probably the most common complaint that I hear from people looking to upgrade their cameras. The term refers to the time between your pressing the shutter button and the camera’s snapping the picture, and if your child is more than about 5 days old, you know that it is really annoying. You can find the shutter lag in the specs of cameras that you’re considering (quoted as a fraction of a second), but my advice is to try actual cameras with your actual children to see whether a camera you’re considering is fast enough. Some things that slow P&S cameras down ~ auto face/smile detection and red-eye reduction. Turn those off to see the best case scenario for a camera’s shutter lag (provided that you’re willing to leave the off in real life). Some P&S cameras have done a great job of controlling shutter lag, and others have a bad case of it. Very generally, less expensive cameras have a longer lag time. The smaller sensor size of P&S cameras is their other main possible drawback. The smaller sensors do affect image quality negatively (particularly in challenging circumstances like low light). The main question here is, again imo, is the image quality good enough for what you want to do? (That’s true for any camera.) In many cases I believe that the answer is yes, particularly with mid-range and higher-end models, given their other advantages.

Next installment: Entry-Level DSLRs

I had a great time yesterday meeting lots of Triangle mamas and their little ones at the first Fit Mama Fest held at the new Stroller Strides storefront space at Cary Towne Center (near Dillard’s). Jen, the owner of Stroller Strides of Raleigh, has done an awesome job transforming the space into a kid- and mama-friendly area for exercise, play, and yesterday’s big event.

If you’re a local mom, be sure to check out the Stroller Strides of Raleigh Facebook page for more information about the workout schedule, Body Back (a new fitness program to help mamas get back into shape months or years after having little ones), and kid-friendly events going on all the time. This organization and its events are one of my best local “finds” since becoming a mom ~ I’ve met lots of people I count as good friends (and co-conspirators as we team up to thwart tantrums in the mall).

Thank you to all of the moms who entered the drawing at my table yesterday. I’m excited to announce that Crystal won the A. E. Wiley Photography portrait session drawing, which includes a session and a matted, signed 8×10 Signature Print. Crystal ~ I just sent you an email with the details and am looking forward to photographing your little ones!

Here is the play by play of D choosing Crystal as our winner!

The entries:

Making his selection:

We have a winner:

Showing off his choice:

Double-checking ~ Reminiscent of Florida in 2000:

I’m still catching up on blogging my sweet, busy, crazy fall of portraits (and weddings). I have known P + J since we were all young, cool, and out after 8 PM on more than one Saturday night each month (quarter). It was such a treat to catch up with their growing family and to photograph sweet M when she was a brand new bundle. (For the mamas-to-be who are reading, one of the keys to great newborn portraits is to schedule them ~ with the date TBA of course ~ before your baby is born so that you don’t miss that two week window when your baby is still sleepy-curly.)

Sibling shots are often one of my favorite parts of newborn sessions ~ I love the challenge of navigating the New Sibling Invasion and the psychological stuff that it can bring (Jonathan and I are both oldest kids, after all), and I find that some of the most tender moments that I get to photograph occur as a big brother or sister is contemplating the newborn that just arrived… to stay.

I have to say that my favorite newborn sib shot of all time is one from this session ~ read on to see the image and the reason why it gets a super superlative.

But first, meet The Divine Miss M

Her fun-loving family

And her delightful big brother

And the shot that made me tear up when I shot it ~ Big Bro S is pretty attached to this blanket, but M was fussy, and he thought that his new baby sister might need it. So, with his parents watching (but with no prompting whatsoever) and me scrambling to get my camera focused without intruding, S offered M his special blue blanket.

After an incredibly busy fall in which sessions, orders, and Christmas cards edged blogging out more weeks than I’d like (I really don’t want to know what week of the 52 Project I’m on), I’m excited to start 2012 with a juicy wedding blog post for an awesome couple whose wedding I photographed this fall ~ and whose album I’m working on right now.

Amanda and José’s Rose Garden Wedding and reception at Caffé Luna in downtown Raleigh truly incorporated the best of everything to celebrate their marriage ~ a perfect fall day, rose bushes overflowing with blooms, food that was to-die-for, and especially family from near and far that came to support A+J, to offer toasts that were among the most touching (and in some cases hilarious) that I’ve heard, and to *dance.*

Here are some of my favorite images from their day. It was a privilege to photograph your wedding, and I’m enjoying working on your album.

Getting Ready at Amanda’s (antique filled) childhood home.

Color and smiles dominated the sun soaked reception at the Raleigh Rose Garden in Downtown Raleigh.

I love it when the bride and the venue are flexible enough to allow me a spot where I can catch the first moment that the bride sees her groom…

And the first moment that the groom sees his bride…

And grins like crazy.

And from their fantastic reception at Caffé Luna in Downtown Raleigh ~ great food, great toasts, and some serious dance moves.

A great shot of Amanda’s dance with her father ~ by my awesome second shooter, Libby Hubscher of Gallant Fox Gallery:

Little Miss Curiosity is one of my favorite little people. She is sweet, cute-turning-beautiful, a talker, and most of all a lady of action. When I first met her, she reminded me of a gazelle ~ all legs and growing grace. At our session, she investigated Yates Mill, from the water to the leaves to the decking to the mill to the rocks, very thoroughly during our session this fall. I love photographing children at this age ~ she is just a tiny bit younger than my son ~ partly because it’s the time when their personalities really start to shine, partly because I love the challenge of getting a mix of expressions sans cheese, and mostly because it’s a precious stage where the last little bit of “baby” is giving way to toddler, and portraits offer a chance to hold on to the baby while looking forward to the emerging little person.

One of the coolest things about our planning for this session was that LMC’s parents brought up getting some shots of Mom and Dad in addition to our main focus of capturing some toddling adorable. I try to talk all parents into doing a few of these ~ how easy is it to be caught up in parenthood and to forget that you are married rather than partners in Raising Baby, Inc.? ~ so it was great to know that couple shots were also a priority. The last shot is one that I especially love because it is just fun to photograph a man who adores his wife. For myself, it is a little too easy to get lost in the day-to-day of running a household and a business, and I treasure the reminders that I actually am in love with this other person who lives at my house. The taller one too, not just the little one. Probably T and M have more perspective and don’t need these reminders quite the way that I do, but anyway I like to catch a guy looking like he is the luckiest man around because he found *this* woman and convinced her to marry him. Fortunately M looks like that a fair amount, so I got several opportunities.

As an aside, T has great portrait fashion ~ these are definitely on my 2011 list of best family photograph outfits. Everyone looks comfortable, stylish, like “them,” AND they mesh well with the environment.

So, without further writing from me, here are a few of my favorites from a recent session at Yates Mill (where all of the mill restoration and most of the tornado repairs seem to be complete).

K, her mom, and I started planning this session over the summer at one of my favorite places ~ the Starbucks at Crabtree Valley Mall. We decided to wait for a little cooler weather for our photo shoot and were rewarded with a great day at the Raulston Arboretum. K and L had a great mix of ideas and goals for the session and allowed me plenty of creative freedom in photographing K’s senior portraits ~ one of those truly collaborative experiences that you just feel great about before, during, and after.

I have to give a nod to K about choosing fantastic outfits that photograph extremely well ~ a great mix of colors in well fitting clothes that really flatter. And awesome red shoes. Possibly I need to have her come and make over my wardrobe. And here’s what I love about K’s mom, or two of the things at least: 1) she has raised two daughters who are great students, incredibly polite and pleasant to be around, and who act like being all of that is No Big Deal; and 2) she has found a graceful place where she is the mom but she doesn’t have to make all of the decisions. I saw a lot of kids and a lot of parents in my “former life,” and what you guys have is a Very Big Deal. Hat’s off, plain and simple.

So, I know that K and especially her dad are excited to see some of her senior portraits. Thank you for being patient ~ I hope that you enjoy a few of my favorites (and K’s) from her session, and thanks so much for the opportunity to make these photographs.

{As always, please feel free to use these images for email, Facebook, etc. Please leave them as they are, with the watermark intact. They are sized for efficient loading via the Internet and will not make acceptable prints.}

I am processing a bumper crop of newborns, seniors and families that I photographed in September, but Amanda and Jose are headed out of the country shortly, and I wanted to get the tiniest of sneak peeks up for their families as soon as possible.

Their lovely wedding had a fabulous combination of perfect fall weather, abundant roses, and a fun and happy family ~ in short, it was a real celebration. Thank you so much for letting me share in your day.

I promise a full blog post soon (and lots of posts for my patient September families), but I wanted to share just one of my early favorites with you as you head to lands far, far away.

By the time that I sat down at D+R’s kitchen table to plan Mr. Personality’s one year portrait session, I knew that theirs is a family that has its priorities in order. I got to meet several generations within minutes of getting to their house, saw military honors tucked neatly into discreet displays, and noticed that Grandpa’s first year series photographs and an array of other family snapshots were on the walls.

So it wasn’t any surprise, really, that Mr. Personality very cooperatively walked, ran, smiled, giggled, and then smashed a cake in a photogenic way.

I’ll say officially that I’m jealous of the day-to-day that W has with his (doting) grandparents and aunt, and of the fun and easy way that you all have with each other. That kind of love is a treasure, and enjoying it every day is priceless. The love that you have in your home is obvious, and it is a privilege to document it in portraits.

I have to give a quick shout out to D, who planned W’s birthday party, celebrated a b-day of her own, and hosted a baby shower all at the same time that she was the mastermind behind getting great outfits (and the awesome smash cake) together for Mr. Personality’s one year session. It’s a testament to your work beforehand that the session was so much fun to photograph.

And so, for those of you who are scrolling, Mr. Personality’s one year session…

When your mom looks like this

And your dad looks at her like this…

The odds are that you are going to be part of a pretty happy family

Where people cheer your big moments

Enjoy the little moments just being with you

And will always offer a shoulder to lean on

And an introduction to the best things in life

Happy first birthday to a very lucky little cake-faced angel boy.

Well, this is a bittersweet post to be sure. I have known Little Miss Sweetness’s parents for quite a while (again, B, thank you for not being in any classes that I taught), and I have been photographing her since she was born. These are her one year portraits ~ which means that we have the fun of going through a year’s worth of sessions and designing her one year album ahead, but also that I will probably get to photograph her a little less frequently now that she is a big girl. Which I’m a bit bummed about ~ not the big girl part, but the less frequently part.

Maybe the most fun in doing baby’s first year plans, to me, is getting to watch what changes and what is constant. Babies hit the developmental milestones in a blur, going from wrinkly newborns to sitting up to walking so fast that it is hard to catch a breath. But it never ceases to amaze me that so many of their facial expressions remain constant even as their baby faces give way to toddler faces. (And if you want to speed that transition up, get them a hair cut. Unbelievable.)

So, I know that Little Miss Sweetness’s mama is waiting to see a sneak peek, and you guys were so patient to handle not one but two hurricane-induced reschedulings. Here is a little glimpse into LMS’s one year portraits, complete with a little look back.

Little Miss Sweetness was a beauty when she was teensy

With a name full of meaning

Who grew into a china doll and posed perfectly for one of my all-time favorite portraits

And is now a gorgeous little girl who knows where her toes are, loves “Twinkle Twinkle” and still has parents who seem to kind of like her