outdoor photography

What a wonderful summer this has turned out to be!  I trust you all are enjoying the warm, sunny weather and time with friends and family.  I am looking forward to August and any new adventures that may arise.  Are you still looking for a little fun for the kids this summer?  Check out some great ideas here on the Family Fun Calgary website.  Summer is such a short season, so take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending time with family participating in fun activities.

As we approach September in just a few weeks, keep in mind that it is a busy month with going back to school and starting many other activities.  September is also a favourite time for many families to have their family photos done out in the fall colors.  Remember, summer came in with a bang (a rather late bang no doubt) and fall does the same every year with the leaves starting to change in early September and the beautiful autumn glow in full color before we know it.  September & October dates are already starting to book up so call or email today to book your session!

Unsure of what to wear or how to look for fall family photos?  Here’s some easy tips your whole family can use.  Some parents like to go all out when it comes to taking back to school photos with their kids.  This is a great way to preserve memories with your kids. Check out these ideas for more back to school photo inspiration!

 

 

Summer is finally here, and long, pleasant days are the perfect time for fun-filled photos. The natural greenery and plant life paints a beautiful scenic background for any outdoor pictures with family, friends, loved ones, or individual headshots.  Here are some summer photo opportunities that you may want to consider:

Family Reunion Photos

Do you have a family reunion this summer?  Hiring a photographer to take professional shots of your immediate and extended family is one way to preserve memories for generations to come.  Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, cousins – everyone will be there all at the same time.  What better way to remember that special time with family than a group shot of all of you together?

Grandparents Day Photos

Grandparents’ Day is on September 7this year!  Book your session for July or early August to give them a gift they’ll really treasure – photos!  If it’s one thing we know about grandparents, it’s that they love to show off pictures of their grandchildren!

Engagement Photos

Need engagement photos, or planning for an upcoming wedding?  Summer is the perfect time to capture some photos of you and your fiance to include in your wedding invitations and to have as keepsakes.  Coordinate with your photographer the perfect locations for you to do a photoshoot.  Pinterest is a great place to find some fun engagement photo ideas.

Here are 8 tips on what to wear for engagement photos:

1.  Be Yourself.  A good photographer will capture your personality.  Don’t come nervous or stress over what to wear.  Find clothing that is comfortable and that you know you can be relaxed in while photos are being taken.  If you plan to wear makeup for your wedding day, get a trial done the day of your engagement photos so you have an idea of how your face will look photographed.

2.  Complement Each Other.  Please don’t wear identical matching outfits, but try to pick outfits that coordinate with each other.

3.  Show Your True Colours.  Black is slimming, but you don’t want to create a photo that might come across as depressing, especially for engagement photos.  Find colours that pop and that reveal your true personality.

4.  Comfort is Key.  We are all aware of the photos where you jump up and the photographer captures the shot mid-air.  Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move whenever you decide on a spontaneous pose.  Summer dresses are often very comfortable as well and can bring a hint of formal into your pictures.

5.  Dress On The Same Scale.  If one of you dresses casual, and the other very formal, you could have a problem.  Try bringing a formal outfit and a casual outfit and discuss beforehand what you will wear.

6.  Play Off The Location.  If you have a location in mind, take into account the colours surrounding it, and try to coordinate accordingly, as best as you can.

7.  Switch It Up.  Bring multiple outfits to liven things up.  Taking too many photos in the same outfit can be draining and boring after awhile.

8.  Consider the Season.  This is fairly obvious, but make sure you check the weather the night before or the morning of to make sure you will be dressed for the right temperature.

(source:  http://www.shannoncollins.com/2013/04/ten-tips-what-to-wear-for-engagement-photos/)

Wedding Photos

The majority of weddings happen in the summer, especially in Alberta, given that summer is one of the only times you’ll experience nice weather!  There are so many different wedding photo ideas, some of which we have included here.  Discuss with your photographer any ideas you might have, or leave it up to them – that is what they are good at!

To Book a Summer Photo Shoot

Contact Miko Photography today to book your summer photo shoot!

With warmer weather melting snow, the ground is beginning to reveal the potential for new growth, new colours, and a refreshing break from the winter blues. Dealing with spring cleaning, whether it be indoors or outdoors can be a seemingly overwhelming task with dusting, painting, organizing, planting, and much more.  However, we too often forget the fun times spring presents for kids.  Puddle jumping, bike rides, sports, and sunshine are a few of the favourites, and let’s not forget, it is getting the kids out of the house.  Win-Win!

Remember the days when you were a child and happened across those “beautiful yellow flowers” that appeared every spring which you truly believed were the most beautiful plants you could lay your eyes on, brought a bouquet to your mom, and felt that surely she would love them too? Of course, as you grew up you realized those over-populated yellow treasures were a weed, but we know that children enjoy them and you can’t deny how cute a child is when they bring you a big bouquet of dandelions.  Kids love them, and as far as weeds go, they are some of the prettiest, and make for impressive, fun, and adorable photos.

This month we are offering a promo for dandelion mini sessions…..  Only $99 includes an 8×10 and 2 5×7 prints of your favourite image! If you are interested in one of these sessions please give Jana a call as soon as possible at 403 451 9769.

Click here to view previous posts about Dandelions

Have you ever dreaded a photo shoot simply because you don’t know what to wear, how to pose, or how to smile? There could be many reasons you don’t feel comfortable behind the camera, but we’d like to give you some simple tips to make you feel more at ease and confident for your next photoshoot.

Here are 10 tips:

10.  Watch what you wear
Just because you have that colourful floral blouse, doesn’t mean that is the best option for your photos.  Styles change, and although we want your photos to represent your personality, consider instead a solid-coloured shirt to suit your personality.  When you look back on that photo in a few years, you will be less likely to regret the outfit you chose.

Also, avoid stripes or crazy patterns.  V-neck blouses and dark colours are sure-fire slimming secrets.  Get a good fabric that follows your silhouette without being too clingy, and keep in mind that clothes that are too loose and shapeless will only make you look  bigger and sloppy.

9.  Avoid severe hairstyles
Do you want another picture like you had in the 80’s?  I didn’t think so.  Ensure you avoid messy, tangled hair when preparing for a photo shoot. While it’s often easy to pull back your hair into a ponytail, and there are so many classy updos, hair that is pulled tightly back can look very severe and harsh in photos.  We encourage you to let your hair down.  This will soften the curves of your face and also frame your face if you are in a busy setting.  You could also consider a partial updo, keeping it loose and maybe pull a few strands down so they give it some body and personality.

8.  Watch where you stand
A professional photographer can help you with this one.  Choose an interesting background.  It could be a pretty outdoor scene to stand in front of, or look for a wall with interesting texture or colours.  We love fall because the naturally beautiful outdoor settings makes stunning backgrounds.

While you want the scene to be interesting, try not to choose a location that is overly busy that will distract from the subject matter – YOU!

7.  Choose your light
If you are being photographed outdoors, aim for a time in the early morning or late afternoon to early evening (depending on the season).  The light is more flattering at those times.  If you are being photography in the middle of the day, find a shady spot for the best results.

If at all possible, avoid using flash on your camera.  If you can’t get around it, try covering your flash with a small piece of paper or translucent plastic for a softer result.

6.  Strike a pose
Whether you knew you were in for a photo shoot, or just spotted a camera-happy friend, there is good reason to be ready with a bit of a pose!

Ladies – we are going for an “S curve”.  Place your back foot angled almost 90% from pointing at the camera and place your weight on that foot.  Your other foot should be pointing somewhere in the direction of the camera which will naturally make your shoulders at about a 45% angle to the camera.  A slight bend in the front foot is also a nice touch and don’t forget to maintain good posture in your upper  body.  This pose will make you look taller and slimmer and though you may not feel it, relaxed!

5.  Make your arms look thinner
One of the main areas we are most self-conscious in when it comes to taking photos is our arms.  Here’s what you can do to make them look slimmer:  Give them a little big of an angle; a hand on the hip gives a nice curve and helps you avoid having your arms squished against your body.  The gap between your torso and your arms will show the curve of your body and keeping your elbows angled behind you will minimize the size of them.  A shawl can also help if you would rather not show your arms.

4.  Hide a double-chin
This may feel strange, but to hide a double chin, first straighten your neck, keeping your shoulders relaxed.  Then push your chin out and downward.  If you try this in front of a mirror you will see the difference!

If you can, have the person taking the picture be a little higher than you, maybe stand on a chair, so they are shooting down on you – a much more flattering angle!  For the best and truest image, the photographer should take  a few steps back and zoom in as long as they are able to get a good shot using optical zoom.

3.  The secret to a photogenic smile
Here’s a secret from the modeling industry:  Push the tip of your tongue behind the top front of your teeth.  This will avoid that stiff smile!  Your facial muscles will relax and also help you avoid a double chin.

Smile with your eyes – think of something happy and pleasant, and look straight at the camera.  Avoid the vacant, fake smile.  Your smile doesn’t have to be huge, just genuine.  If you’ve been smiling too long, your facial muscles will look fake, so stop and puff up your cheeks for a second before smiling again.

And please…even when you are caught off guard and possible would rather not have your photo taken…smile!!  It will be better than a grimace or a goofy look any day!

2.  Breath out
If possible, ask your photography to count to three before taking the picture.  Close your eyes and breathe in.  Then, just before the shutter clicks, breathe out, open your eyes, and smile.  Your face will look relaxed and your smile will be real.  Your body will also relax as you exhale!

1.  Hire a professional!
If you really want quality shots, you will hire a professional.  The tips we stated above are just starters.  A professional photographer will know so much more about the way you should smile, we encourage you to hire one today.

To book your professional photo shoots, please visit here. We would be happy to help you look your best in photos!