Improve Your iPhone Family Photos in 3 Unbelievably Easy Steps
Make the most out of your mom life moments with better pictures! When I had my girls it became immediately apparent that I was going to be a photo taker. I was / am one of those women that takes a zillion photos to capture the moment. I want to hold onto it forever. I want to have access to the things my terrible memory would otherwise almost certainly make me forget.
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I am the person that gets so excited about a great moment I am living I will take photos of everything even knowing it won't translate later. Case in point, have you ever been to Las Vegas and stood outside the Bellagio to watch their water show? Being there is such a magical fun moment, even YouTube videos don't do the experience justice. This video is a good try though and who doesn't love Billy Jean by Michael Jackson?? In any event, I would come out of watching that 5 minute show with about 40 photos. Ha! Photos of water in air doesn't do justice to the experience.
So when the girls were born I knew I wanted to learn how to take photos without having to invest in a big camera and without having to learn a whole new hobby. I just wanted to take good photos, like, NOW.
I wanted to learn how to quickly, in the moment, capture it. Make it pretty and something I could proudly share - to share the experience and the moment - to my family on the other side of the continent.
I have been a long time follower and admirer of two women, Ashley Ann from Under the Sycamore blog (those are her Instagram photos above) and Kristin Rogers. Both produce beautiful work in the form of photography, blogs and sharing meaningful moments. They capture the moments of the day in a way that brings more meaning to it, perhaps. Or perhaps it highlights the most meaningful moments. Ordinary becomes extraordinary. I follow along and learn from them in all these ways. I want to have that in my life too. I want the beauty of the ordinary to shine.
At some point years ago Ashley Ann opened up an online photography course including modules specifically for the iPhone. Something I was just looking for! Technical direction, community support and feedback all around! All without breaking the bank.
Since I have taken the course literally I get told all. the. time. that I make the most beautiful photos. I am better than normal, I can admit that. And I have learned a few things. I think it is totally worth it to take the course - I mean I give this sucker out as gifts! (I'm not kidding!)
Below are 3 vital takeaways to start from.
STEP 1. ZOOM IN
Why oh why do we have to see the entire landscape if you really just want to see the people?? The faces? The expressions?? With too much stuff in the photo you miss you on the good stuff. Rather the good stuff gets over looked. Look at the black and white photo below of the girls sleeping on the floor together. Doesn't your heart just melt? The sweetness ooozes out, right? What if the photo below was taken with all the other stuff around? Would you want to see the nightlight next to the bear? Or the books and clothes by their side? Would that have added to or taken away from the photo? The point of the photo is how sweetly the girls were sleeping together. That's all I cared about. That's all I wanted to capture.
By Zooming in you capture the important stuff, like how sweetly the girls are sleeping together and leave out the other unimportant stuff, like clothes and books on the floor next to them.
STEP 2. BRIGHTEN IT UP
Brighten it up baby! You can use the standard photo editing app on your phone or you can upgrade for a few bucks. I solely use Camera + app for all of my editing. I have tried other apps that come highly recommended and simply find this one to fit with me. I can easily brighten things up, pick my favorite filter (Boost), crop and go! Oh and if I am on the computer, then I definitely use PicMonkey.
STEP 3. RULE OF THIRDS
This is a very easy way to create a photo that is completely amazing and captivating. Honestly, to explain it I had to go back to Ashley Ann (love her) for how to explain it correctly:
“The Rule of Thirds means you want to aim at placing your subject on the top, bottom, right, or left third…or near one of those intersecting points. Basically anywhere but the center.”
So with the rule of thirds in mind, I moved the lifeguard stand and post from the center of the photo to the side and wa-la. An amazing pic - right?? I wish I had the original to show you the real impact. Point is, forget the center, try to put things to one side or another. See what happens!
Wouldn't this photo look weird if the lighthouse were in the middle of photo? Much much better with it off to one side. Don't you think?
With three of these things in mind (Zoom In, Brighten Up, Rule of 3rds) you can absolutely use your iPhone to take some great shots.
Then when you are ready for more Ashley Ann has that awesome and affordable SnapShop course. Not only does it teach you about capturing the moment and the storytelling behind it but HOW to do that. She tells you about the harder stuff like composition and cropping too. It's a community and there's wonderful feedback too.
If you sign up for her SnapShop the course that will truly help you make the most the camera you always carry around you will get a special discount as a Mompreneur on Fire reader.
Sign Up Here: Not kidding it's amazing!
Special Treat: Enter Code: SSOnFire to receive a $10 discount from the course!
FUN SIDE NOTE!
By the luck of the draw, I was so so pleased to have the opportunity to talk with Kristin Rogers for my podcast. Talking with her was so inspiring. I think the others agree as her podcast has been my most downloaded and most read to date.
Click on the her image here to go to that specific post. We talked about so many wonderful things. Just listen and take my word for it!
I am still working on Ashley Ann to say YES! for an interview! I think she is super busy and a little shy! But I am keeping up hope and will let you know when the YES! comes!
Click On Photo To Hear more about my interview with Kristin.
