Today’s Friend Favorite is SUCH A TREAT!  I had no idea who Shelly was until my Latte Fairy forwarded her info…and I am so glad she did! I am a HUGE photo fan!  I truly love and appreciate a true photographers skill and talent.  There are some great cameras out there that let some of us fool ourselves into thinking we can take a nice picture, but honestly, when you want the real deal, the timeless photo that will bring you back to the memory making moment in a heart beat….it takes a professional’s eye and skill.  I have 2 photographers that hold my heart strings.  One photographs my children and family each year (you can see posts on her here and here and here and here), and one flew with my husband and I to Hawaii to photograph our wedding (I have not written about this favorite yet, but certainly plan to ~ but here is 1 photo from our wedding!).  I think of both as being a part of our family for the photos and captured memories they have given me…..and I am now adding Shelly to this circle of favorites.   Though we have to admire her from afar as she mostly photographs for editorial and advertising clients. BUT she does do parties, and families upon request…  So there is hope!

Please, please check out her site.

Visit the Parties section, the Kids, Places, People…the photos will make you think you are looking at a magazine, the images are all so fun and stunning!  They made me want to throw a party, or hop on a plane, travel with my amazing family and get out to see the world, to live life fully and completely!  (At this point last year, Hayden had already been on her first plane and I was packing up for 2 more trips….sorry Piper! I’m depriving  you…) You can also check out a very cool photo essay for her client, Islands Magazine on Hawaiian cowboys. Thank you, Shelly for sharing your beautiful photographs with us, such a wonderful escape!

(And be sure to check back in 6 weeks when she re-launches her website filled with new photos from Bora Bora, Molokai and Sun Valley, along with kid, food/cookbook, and people imagery.  So fun!).

Meet Shelly Strazis

“Shelly Strazis is a photographer, among other things. A world traveler, a stand up paddle board fanatic, and a good party giver.  She delights in the details, good lighting and the connections between people, places and things.  Sought after by national magazines and advertising agencies for her creative style and energy, Shelly’s work has appeared in numerous national publications and ad campaigns including  Sunset Magazine, Coastal Living, Entree, Parents, Lexus Magazine, Bank of America, Vera Bradley, Apple, & Walmart.”

5 Favorite Ways to Photograph Kids

1.  Get down at their level.

I never wear any super nice shirts or pants to shoots, because most of the time I end up laying on the ground shooting. Once I was even hanging out a window when the sprinklers came on! Something down at that level just seems to capture their energy and personality. There is more of a connection and it will show in the images.

2. Quit taking the forced/posed frozen smile images.

Play around get natural and off guard moments, yes even the grumpy ones. Sometimes it can be so tough shooting a child and every-time they see the camera that stiff forced smile rolls over their face immediately and it reminds me of a Pavlov’s dog. Then over the years of images that you have of that child growing up, their expression will all be the same.  So don’t tell your child to smile every-time they see a camera. Capture their essence. Get them distracted with toys, friends, pets, etc and then shoot the real giggles, dog face licks, and even tears.

3.  Be spontaneous!

It’s only digital these days and you don’t need to worry about the cost of film and processing like the old days.  So have fun and shoot a lot!  (or as much as they will tolerate) Sometimes on my shoots it can take a few minutes or as I use to say back in the film days “rolls” for the subject to relax and then the fun, creativity, and magic starts to flow.

4.  Vary you’re framing.

Ok, no more kid smack in the middle of the frame!  Crop in!!! Get face parts, body parts…it’s ok for the frame to cut into their head. Next time you are reading a kid’s magazine at the doctor’s office, look at the images in there and see how they are framed and cropped.  What angles did they use.  Remember that kids have four sides to them, they aren’t 2 dimensional. Also, pull way back and get a beautiful environmental shot that puts their lil size into scale.

5.  It not all just shooting the kids.  Shoot some still lifes too.

That might bring a big smile to their face years down the road when they stumble across a photo of their favorite blankie, pet or stuffed animal that is not around anymore. Think a rumpled bed, a tea party set up, a child’s hand pushing a race car down the track.  So don’t forget to shoot some of their favorite things too.

To plug in with Shelly, follow her on Twitter!

AND!  This is so cool…Shelly is giving away 1, 11 x 14 photo from her website, the winners choosing.  I love that!  I can think of more than a few that I would love to display in my  house!!

Super easy rules:

1. Follow Shelly on Twitter.
2. Follow My Favorite Everything on Twitter or Facebook or Daily Emails.
3. Vote for My Favorite Everything on Top Mommy Blogs, your clicks are your vote!

Enjoy your Easter weekend everyone!  Take some great Easter photos of your Littles!

*** Thanks for the fabulous photo tips Shelly!