The Art of Mom-tography (otherwise known as, "How to get Great Memorabilia: Cheapskate Mommy Edition")

Mom-tography: a term of my own imagining that encompasses all things home photography while trying to look closer to professional photography. Also see, fauxtography.

Photo credit to Jessica McBride

If you've found this blog entry maybe you're pregnant and gaping at the monumental price of newborn photos and wondering how your great grandparents ever afforded the eleventy billion children they had. Maybe you have a baby of whom you want to take special photos like your friends' professional photographers do of their children but don't have the money (or the desire to spend it perhaps) to get it done. Maybe you're a super awesome Grandma or Auntie or BFF that wants to help a frazzled mom in your life capture the moments that might be passing her by. Whoever you are welcome to fellowship of the fauxtographer.

Let me preface all the advice I've pieced together with the fact that I am in no way a photographer. By trade I'm a paralegal, so not even a little photographic ;) . I happen to know many true photographers and they are so wonderful at what they do. Photography is a true skill that warrants the hefty price tag under the right circumstances. The professional photography of our wedding for example was a good buy:

Photo credit to Chris Siddall Photography

But then there are times you want great pictures for occasions that do not warrant the hundreds to thousands of dollars that a professional photographer would ask. Times like Easter or Valentine's Day when you want new photos for your spouse's desk or Grandma Grandpa's ever growing shrine to your sweet army of mini-yous- these are times that call for Mom-tography. You may be thinking, "I can't do that." or "I don't have the time." but you can! That neurotic broad deep down will probably have an eye-twitch that sends out SOS in morse code thinking about all the ways a real photographer would do it better. Tell her to settle down, trying it is better than not trying in every way- you CAN do it! Your kids might even have fun (my big turkey girls love to play "models") while you make your own new hobby ;) .

I started doing Mom-tography after K was born. There were so many photos of my girls together I wanted, but I wasn't willing to end up in debt to get them. So after having studied the professional photographers in three shoots E had had done in the months prior for her birthday cake smash and Christmas I was bound and determined. I was sure I could turn out something passable without shelling out all the money if I tried. I was always a good student! Now I'm sharing all the lessons I gleaned (mostly from Jenna Napier!) with you, feel loved my dear!

Photo Credit to Jenna Crystal Photography

For a Mom-tography shoot you will need:

• a camera. Whatever you have on hand is fine, I did the first six or so on a point and shoot digital camera and they still turned out awesome. I've since bought a lower grade DSLR because I love fauxtography so much!
• a backdrop. I've used blankets, flat sheets, yards of fabric I bought at Walmart and my wedding dress. The world is your backdrop oyster mama! I've found some good places to set up my backdrops are in rocking chairs (great for littler littles), against my oldest's easel, and suspended from the ceiling with hook and eye screws.
• good lighting. I tend to set my girls up about two feet from our front picture window in the mornings because we get wonderful sun exposure. Outdoor shoots are also great because you get full sun exposure!
• cute kids. Thank goodness you made some just for this occasion!
• patience. I'm told wine is a good substitute in the absence of it.

It's often nice to have:

• props. The introduction of a prop can break things up esthetically, add visual interest and entertain your kiddos. Hats, headbands, soft toys are all good examples of easy to find props.
• help from someone the kids find hilarious!

Once I've gathered all my supplies and set the backdrop up the way I want it I try to get the girls excited about the fun activity we're about to partake in. I let my big girl help me pick her outfit from some pre-selected choices (my brain would likely explode from what she would choose organically) and match K up as well as I can. Then I sit them on the backdrop/false flooring I've set up and shoot away (usually on continuous mode, you'll get a ton of pictures that you have to ditch and that's okay- you'll get some gems too!). Tips I would give you to make the most of your first shoot would include:

1.  Have a list of "Must Have" photos in your mind and make sure to shoot those FIRST. By the end of your session your kid(s) are going to be getting tired of playing model for you and will be less cooperative, so its better to get important pictures in first. If you can't get them at first don't worry about it- preserve your backdrop and come back to it after naptime or even another day. Unlike professional photographers you won't be billing yourself more money to re-do a shoot you're unhappy with, you can always come back to it!
2. Get down on your little one's level when you're shooting. It will eliminate the amount of non-backdrop background you need to crop out.
3. When using babies who aren't sitters yet as models you have multiple options for posing. If you want to lay them on their backs, simply drape the backdrop material under them and shoot overhead. If you want a tummy time pose I find it looks better to place baby on a nursing pillow that has been draped in a sheet or cloth similar to your backdrop. It elevates their heads more and just generally has a better esthetic to it. If you'd like to sit them up I might suggest you try the previously mentioned rocking chair technique and steady them in the corner of the chair or against an older sibling. Always be right in front of your baby if you choose to put them in the rocking chair!
4. When you go through your photos for the first time you'll be tempted to start deleting right away. Don't do it lady! Scroll through your whole reel first and then revisit what you want to remove pre-editing.
5. Consider creating a file on your SD card for each of your photo shoots for organizational purposes. I want to go cross-eyed thinking of the chaos that would be held  on my SD cards if I didn't have them organized.
6. Share your photos with me! I want to see your artistic triumph, your crazy outtakes, share them! 

I hope this blog post has found you well! I hope its given you ideas for fun home photography projects with your littles or fur-kids or friends and family. If you've read this and felt deflated and like you don't think you could do this or that it looks too hard, know that I'm saying this from a place of love- you're crazy. Managing your family everyday with all the craziness in your everyday life is tough, staying sane even tougher, but this is so doable and can be such a bright spot for you if you end up enjoying it. It doesn't have to be perfect even thought you'll probably make it that way! And maybe it won't be for you, but you'll still know you can do it. If you've got questions leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. I know you've got this OCD Mama, you're one tough broad!