focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/80
aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 1600
flash: none

Having a camera on hand can help you capture images of everyday life. Photographing children means you should always be well prepared to catch those moments when they do their silly things that just melt your heart. Be sure to have space on your memory card and keep your battery charged.

I caught Sophie going through a friend’s wallet and the look on her face is of innocence, as if she was saying “I didn’t know what I was doing! I am innocent!”

Laura is a Vancouver portrait photographer. Visit Dolce Life Photography.

The Rule of Thirds is a basic principle used in photography as well as in other visual arts. It is a simple concept and although there may be exceptions, adhering to this compositional guideline will improve your photos easily and instantly.

Imagine your frame is separated into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, as in the figure below.

The 2 horizontal lines can act as guides for horizons and the two 2 vertical lines can be used for other subjects. The points at which the vertical lines meet the horizontal lines may also act as your points of focus.

If you place your subject along the lines of the thirds or at the cross hairs, you will end up with a compositionally better image.

Which of these images are more pleasing to your eye?

Example 1:

Example 2:

As you can see, Example 1 does not adhere to the Rule of Thirds as the subject is at the centre of the image:

Example 2 follows the lines more closely, which results in a photo that feels more balanced:

The next time you frame your subject, try implementing the Rule of Thirds in your shots instead of framing your subject dead centre. You may be surprised at how much your photography has improved.

Laura is a Vancouver portrait photographer. Visit Dolce Life Photography.

focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/125
aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 200
flash: none

Here is an example of using a shallow depth of field to draw attention to one particular part of the photo, my daughter’s feet. I like this photo because of the colours, the positioning of her feet (something she likes to do) and her outstretched arms. I shot this on our bed that’s near a south-facing window using only natural light. Because I had enough light coming in, I was able to use a low ISO for less noise.

This photo was taken last summer when Sophie was not yet 4 months old. Ah, how I miss those quiet days when lifting her feet in the air was as active as she would get!

Laura is a Vancouver portrait photographer. Visit Dolce Life Photography.

focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/60
aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 800
flash: none

I like to shoot children in their environment and although I won’t make them say “cheese”, I do like for them to look into the camera sometimes so that viewers might have a deeper connection with the subject of the photograph. To get a young child’s attention, I usually just call her name while making a few other embarrassing noises and snap away for the few seconds she looks at me!

I suppose that those strange noises might be a reason for her look of bemusement. She’s probably wondering why her mother is acting like a monkey.

Laura is a Vancouver portrait photographer. Visit Dolce Life Photography.

focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/40
aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 200
flash: none

Just 13 hours old, and she was already the star in our photographs. We didn’t take our video camera into the delivery room (I wouldn’t allow it!) but Daddy had the camera at the ready and took some precious shots of Sophie after she had just entered the world. Looking back at these photos is amazing and I am so happy that we have them to cherish. Memories fade and emotions are forgotten but through an image captured just right, we can relive those wonderful moments from our past.

I am thankful for photographs.

Laura is a Vancouver portrait photographer. Visit Dolce Life Photography.