Welcome to Lesson Eight: Capturing YOUR story.
When I look back at history (I LOOOVE history) I’m always drawn to photographs. Seeing what things were like “back then” is one of my favorites in life. Having grown up in an area where there is rich history of our Nations infancy stages, it’s amazing to see what a certain area looks like then and now. I love seeing the same streets and fields back then and comparing them to what they are today. The old cars, styles, dirt roads, trees, or lack of them. It’s incredible.
Photographs can tell such amazing stories, can’t they?
Where words fail, photographs fill in all the details we’d be missing otherwise.
Dana and I have always travelled and done weekend trips together visiting historic places, and perusing antiques stores together. It was just one of those things we enjoyed doing together. I’d always end up at the glass counter looking at tin-types of soldiers and families and natives posed, without smiles for their tin-type. Each photograph held such a story behind it that went with every single portrait. From the details of how the individual was standing or sitting, to what they were wearing, to how they held their hands, or wore their hair…each portrait told a story. Have you ever seen a tin-type being made? We had one made of Gracie when were were in Gettysburg using the same method as back then. It’s an incredible and fascinating process for sure and I highly recommend it.
Why am I telling you this story of tin-types you ask?
Well, I want you to think the phone on your camera as more than just a cell phone camera. I want you to think of it as a way to create art, a way to create your story, a way to capture YOUR history in this world.
Telling your story in photographs is important!
Not only is it important to photograph your story, but the story of the ones you love! Who knows what tomorrow brings?! So snap away, play, create art together using these amazing cell phone cameras, apps and editing tools! Print them out! Create books and display them in your home proudly!
How to capture your story
Take Self Portraits
Many photographers I know do weekly self-portrait projects. I’ve photographed myself with a remote shutter before and its a really fun project! I’ve also had Lily, my 4 year old at the time take some self portraits of myself! It was really fun and I’m glad I got in front of the lens!
- Use a tripod (yes, I use a tripod with my iPhone a lot!)
- Use a remote shutter or your iPhone watch to snap the shutter
- Have a fun photo shoot with your family members and have someone snap some images of yourself! Practice together! It can be a fun activity!
- Find fun lighting in your home or outside and play with that.
- Find neat backdrops outdoors and practice together! Think of fun places to venture out to and plan a fun place for self portraits!
Are you feeling moody? Sad? Happy? Excited! Adventurous? Add color, lighting, location, poses, clothing, editing….combine all those aspects into your self portrait!
Capture the Details
Details are my favorite to capture because it really adds to the story. Without details…I feel there is a major hole in the story! Imagine your toddler is trying to brush their teeth for the first time, standing on their tippy toes on the step stool over the sink. It’s an adorable shot (their full body)…but the photo I would love the most would be those little feet and toes! That’s my favorite. It tells a story…of that age…of trying to do things by themself…of toddlerhood and being in their bathroom together at bedtime. The detailed shot is whats the winner there. Think details…like bath time…the upclose photo of the baby curl with soap on it….all those little tiny details tell a HUGE story. So don’t forget them.
I always took photos of what I would want to see 20 years from now…not what would “make a good photo”
because quite frankly, who cares what anyone else thinks. This is YOUR story.
Use Color
Some of my favorite, most creative people to follow on Instagram, use color as a way to tell a story and create a bright gallery for people to enjoy. You too can use color to tell a story! Don’t forget to play around and use color to share your feelings, emotions, share where you are, what you’re seeing….color is a great way to share details small and big! In this photo it was a really warm day for the season and the sun was shining, music was playing and people were bbq-ing outside! I wanted to portray summertime was coming!
Use Pattern
You can almost spot pattern anywhere! Just like color, pattern can be used to add a lot of depth and dimension to your story! Think of all the colors and patterns you would see on any outing! I think if I was telling the story of going to the Zoo with my daughters…all that patterns I’d experience just walking there, from street markings, to the bamboo growing, to the buildings and animal murals….telling your story with color and pattern can add a major interest factor to your story as a whole!
Capture the Details with Lay-Flats
I LOVE a good lay-flat image! Lay-Flats have become SUPER popular with the rise of Instagram culture. Wes Anderson made it really popular with his quirky movies and eccentricities. What lay-flats do is give the viewer a really great sense of detail and mood. Color, arrangement and attention to detail help to emote and show the audience important items and can explain events, or share what kind of adventure is happening or about to happen! How fun is that?!
Keep it Simple
Over complicating things is never good. When telling your story, always remember to keep things simple in order not to overwhelm yourself. No need to “fuddie” anything up because you’re worried about telling your story. Telling your story should be uniquely you, so there is no need to stress or complicate telling it. Keep things simple. Shoot simply, meaning, start with a plan. If we’re going to the zoo, and I want to tell the story of that…how will I do that? Will I start by making a lay-flat of the cute zoo clothes I bought my daughter, (for example, her super cute panda bear shirt, tiger sunglasses, hot pink jellies, her elephant water bottle and a disposable camera)? Will I plan to spot out amazing posed locations during the trip with murals and bamboo? Or will I just go with the flow and capture documentary style and capture everything that just happens? OR will I do a combination of the three? The choice is completely yours-but one rule, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Here’s a few images from one day a few springs ago…I wanted to tell the story of the day and capture some Easter vibes as well….
Homework
Practice one of more of these above examples and post it to the Facebook group!!! I’ll be choosing my favorite post to win a FREE editing preset pack from my new preset collection launching March 20th! I’ll be choosing my favorite homework post March 19th so you’ll have a few days to get practicing!!!
