In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, finding a nice field of bluebonnets is a real treat – and sometimes difficult. With our climate alternating between some rain to drought, we aren't always blessed with fields blanketed in bluebonnets and other colorful wildflowers. Head to the Texas Hill Country, and it's an astounding difference. But not all of us want to spend time in the car chasing after flowers.
Here are a few tips I used to photograph my niece last year (shown above) in a secluded little patch of bluebonnets:
• If you can, find flowers off the road. Unfortunately, you have to know they are there and you're most likely to see them along the highway. Just use common sense ... don't put your kids or yourself in danger near traffic.
• Wildflowers need sun to grow, so if you're taking photographs in the harsh sunlight of mid-day or early afternoon, you've got to work a little harder. Place your subjects with their backs to the sun as much as possible, and use a "reflector" or your camera's flash to brighten up their faces. Try to avoid having your subjects face into the sun, which can cause squinting and also harsh shadows in the eyes and under noses. If possible, take photos earlier in the morning or near sunset, when the angle of the sun is lower and the light is much more flattering. If you want to try using a reflector, any white surface (the photo above was taken with an unused 11x14 artist's canvas) or even dull silver object, such as some car windshield sun shades. In the photo above, the reflector was held by my sister at camera right, at about a 45-degree angle. There are still some areas of slight overexposure (too much light), but I think it works because her sweet face is in even shade.
• Normally, you don't want to shoot down on children to get the tops of their heads because that doesn't make for interesting pictures. We usually see kids that way! But for wildflower shots, to make it look like there are more flowers, shooting at a higher position will make the flowers and your kiddo(s) the focus instead of a bland horizon or highway or utility poles, etc. I got lucky with the photo above because the flower-covered kill sloped upward behind my niece. But having a stepladder can go a long way in a flat field.
• I prefer candid shots (like the one above) because the expressions are genuine. With two kids, I like to have them interact a little together rather than look into the camera. You can also introduce a prop for them to play with. If you'd rather have them looking at the camera, don't have them say "Cheese!" Whoever thought that was a word that created a natural-looking smile is crazy!
• To help active kids want to stay put, you can use an aforementioned prop or take a chair for them to sit in. Something rustic (maybe their size, maybe adult-size) can add a little something to the images. A blanket can make the ground more comfortable and make it easier to corral more than one kid.
• My kids have a camera pointed at them a lot. When they're not in the mood, I don't force the issue. Make it fun! For older kids, this might mean letting them grab your camera to take some shots of you. For wee ones who can't be trusted with delicate electronics, show them photos as you go along ... make goofy noises and faces. Never make photos a chore. Roll with the punches and let your kids be kids. Some kids of any age just don't like to pose, so don't make them. You'll end up with more natural-looking photos that will remind you exactly what your kids were like at that moment in time. For a photo-taking excursion, include activities your kids enjoy so that it's not a chore for them. Don't forget to have fun yourself!
If all this sounds like too much, you can always hire a pro! Call me at 817-675-1143 or e-mail todd@toddovermanphoto.com to set up a photo session before the wildflower season is over!
