It's harder than you think...

Taking pictures is harder than you think.  You really have to be passionate about photography and what it is your photographing to be good at taking pictures.  It's technical.  It's creative.  It's being aware of your surroundings.  It's understanding light.  It's...so many things...  But more than that, if you take portraits, it's being able to work with people.  Whether it's babies, children, teens, families... 

It was finally warmer this weekend.  I had a few extra minutes before dinner was done cooking, so I grabbed my camera and told Brilynn and her friend, Meagan, to come outside for some pictures.  So here's what I quickly learned.  Most people don't know how to act or "pose" for a camera.  I can tell them where to stand or sit...but what else am I supposed to tell them?  To smile?  Say "cheese"?  Lol!  To jump in the air?  To walk away from me?  Is it up to a photographer to do all of this directing?  Then I say to myself, "Well, this is why I enjoy taking pictures of babies and children...they just do their own thing."  But that has a new set of problems!  What if they never look at you?  What if they're never still?  What if they cry most of the time?? 

Every day I get out my camera I have more and more respect and admiration for the many photographers out there who have mastered the art of lifestyle photography.  Making pictures look like they naturally and effortlessly happened.  I will learn how to do this.  It will just take practice.  Every picture I take gets me one step closer to being a "good" photographer. 

Here are a few pictures of Brilynn and Meagan: