Vanessa Honda Photography

It was a chilly December afternoon when I got to meet the “F” family, but they quickly warmed my heart with their fun loving ways!  I always enjoy getting to capture the relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren… and this family was particularly fun and easy to work with!

I am truly delighted (even overjoyed) to see a weather forecast predicting sun for this weekend!  As much as I LOVE the rain  -and especially the resulting greenery – I don’t love having so many photo sessions rained out, and it seems to happen every weekend! But this weekend should bring sun – and that perfectly compliments the beauty that is Laguna Canyon!  I recently discovered the happiness that is shooting in the less manicured, rugged beauty of this canyon on this photo shoot:

I decided I would love to do some more work there.  The only problem is that the parking lot closes at 5:00.  That works ok right now when the sun still sets at an earlier hour and before daylight savings time begins.  But this is the last weekend before daylight savings time begins, so to take advantage of this beautiful location, I am offering very discounted mini sessions for spring – perfect for those Easter photos of the kids or you just want to update your family portrait at a reduced rate!  These mini sessions will last 20 minutes and include 1 full resolution digital file for only $100.

Call me at (949)553-2434 or email me to reserve you slot now!  Or you can visit my super duper new proofing site and reserve and pay for your spot online HERE!

I am often asked by clients or friends for little tips and techniques on taking better photographs.  Of course there are a lot of great places and sites out there to learn from – one of my favorite is www.betterphoto.com.  And it really helps to have a great camera too… but a great camera does not always a great picture make. And while having a dSLR that affords you more control over your settings and a quicker response time to boot, many of these tips will help you take better pictures with any camera.  These tips are from a photography class that I used to teach to new learners – so it may not be as helpful to more experienced photographers.  If any of these tips helps even one of my readers, I will be glad!

Know Your Subject

Probably the most important thing you can do to improve your photography is to know what your subject should be and to make it obvious (everyone who looks at the photograph should know what the subject is as well). For example, don’t have too many competing interests going on in one photograph, causing your eye to wander and jump all over the image.

The subject can be a person, people, an animal, a plant, a building, a color, or even a mood.

Unless you are quickly trying to document some action, before you start taking pictures, ask yourself, “What is it that I want to capture here?” and pre-visualize what you want the end result to be.  In other words, think before you start shooting!

Many of our other tips will help make your subject stand out better.

I am not sure what the subject of this picture is supposed to be, are you?

Here, I have isolated the subject by moving in closer and blurring the background.

Be Quick

This may seem like a direct contradiction to tip #1, but sometimes it is necessary to “Shoot First, Ask Questions Later.”  If there is any chance that your subject may run away, fly away, stop smiling or get tired of waiting for you to take the shot, just shoot a couple of shots right away.  Then if you get a chance, you can adjust your settings, & work on your composition, etc.

But you may not always get that chance, and I have gotten some of my favorite shots because I was quick at the draw and ready to shoot.

As you practice this you will get better and better!

If I had waited to get my settings and lighting perfect, I would never have captured this spontaneous image of Audrey, taken on the way to our car before the actual photo shoot began.

Move In Closer

When your subjects are the size of ants roaming on a huge background, it is hard to know what the subject really is—unless the background is the subject. Moving in closer can isolate your subject and keep the viewers eye focused on just that!

One way to practice doing this is to first take the picture as you normally would, then move in closer for a tighter shot. Then, move in closer still (or zoom in)to capture a detail such as just the eyes, or the inner part of a wagon wheel, or the very center parts of a flower.

Just take care to avoid getting so close you camera or lens can’t focus on the subject!  Macro lenses and settings are great for really close up shots.

When taking a 2nd or 3rd shot of a subject, don’t worry about cutting off the tops of heads or fitting the whole subject in the frame—sometimes details make more interesting pictures!

Audrey’s face fills the frame of this picture, leaving no doubt who or what the subject is.

Use depth of field to your advantage

Practice shooting with different apertures and see how the results affect your photos.  Using a smaller aperture (f-stop) will result in a smaller depth of field—lending you a sharp subject with the background, the foreground and everything else blurring nicely out of focus.  This can really help to put the focus on your subject and isolate a cluttered background as well.

Likewise using a larger aperture (bigger f-stop 3) will give you a greater depth of field necessary to hold everyone in a group in focus or make for a stunning landscape shot.

Babies toes are the subject of this photo, and while the rest of the baby is visible, the foot is the only part in focus,achieved by shooting wide open (with a very large aperture, or small f/stop).

Look at the Light

Practice studying the light you are working with and learn how to use it to your advantage.

For example, to create a dramatic silhouette, place your subject in front of a striking colorful sunset and your camera will likely meter for the bright sunlight tones and render your subject completely dark. You wouldn’t want to do this though if you wanted to see detail in your subject!  Generally even lighting provided by directional shade (under an overhang outside) will be most flattering for portraits. Window lighting can be nice as well. Generally on-camera flash is harsh and flattens your subject—avoid this if you can!

Silhouette created by strong backlight.

Shade from a tree or building overhang can create beautiful, soft, even lighting even during the middle of the day.

Get a Unique Perspective

To take your photos from ordinary to extraordinary, try seeing the subject from a different perspective or shoot from a different angle.

After shooting the front of a great architectural building like everyone else, try shooting from the base looking up, or shoot the rotunda or ceiling. Then try shooting from the top of the building or shoot through a window looking at the building sideways. Or from the top of a spiral staircase looking down. Look for elements of design within the frame.

Or try shooting your next portrait from on top of a stool or stairway looking down. Or put your kid up in a tree and shoot looking up.  Or instead of always having your subject look at the camera and smile, capture them from behind (walking away) or some other unique angle.

Take your camera off of Automatic!

Avoid Shooting on Full Auto Mode

Don’t shoot on Auto. This is an ‘idiot-proof’ shooting mode. None of you are idiots!

First, switch to the ‘P’ or Program Auto setting. This is also an automatic shooting mode, BUT in this mode you can override its behavior in order to make the resulting pictures look even better (ie. lighter, darker, more contrasty, etc).

If you want to control your depth of field, shoot on aperture priority (or AV mode) and if you want to control your shutter speed (ex. Faster to capture action and slower to get that flowy waterfall look) shoot on shutter speed priority (or tV mode).

Tell a Story

If you think about the pictures you enjoy looking at most, you will often find that is because they tell some sort of story.

Of course, this is easier to do when taking pictures documentary style, such as at a wedding or birthday party.  The course of events will naturally tell a story.

But each image can have a story to tell. Of course sometimes you just want to capture a likeness, but if you watch carefully, you will notice and capture the moment when your 2 year old blows her first dandelion in wonder or the groom tenderly kisses the bride on the forehead when he thinks no one is watching. And don’t be afraid of staging!

Storytelling images can depict action, convey relationships, or just make you wonder about the subject.

Compose Artfully

Composition can make the difference between an average shot and one that is truly interesting to look at.  Making an effort to keep the elements balanced, or finding lines that lead the eye around the picture or to your subject are some ways to make an interesting composition.  You can also try keeping the horizon level, play with perspective and work with the rule of thirds. Don’t always place your subject smack dab in the middle of the frame—off to one side or corner is often more eye-catching.  Also, think of ways to use negative space.  Rules of graphic design apply here—think of repeating patterns, contrasts, etc.

Avoid Distractions

Discern what you want your subject to be, and  shoot so as to avoid distracting from that.  Clutter in the background is one of the main offenders that can ruin an otherwise good shot.  Angle yourself so that your son with his new birthday gift doesn’t have a lot of competing wrapping paper, other toys, etc. in the background.  And take care that no trees or telephone poles are growing out of your best friend’s head at her anniversary party.

When you see distracting elements there are a few things you can do:

-Recompose by moving higher, lower or from a different angle yourself

-Move your subject (if you can)

-Blur the background out of focus with a wide aperture or pan a moving subject.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Nothing beats out lots of practice when it comes to perfecting your craft.  Take your camera with you to more places and activities.  Practice seeing the light when you don’t have your camera with you.  Practice seeing ordinary subjects in a different way.

Play with the different settings on your camera and use the LCD, your computer or prints to see the different results you get from different settings. Try taking a picture of the same subject with different shooting modes or camera settings.  Sometimes you can stumble upon surprising results when experimenting. For example, I once tried out shooting a sunset using a white balance set for Tungsten and Fluorescent lighting and was amazed at the beautiful colors and hues that resulted.

Try different kinds of lighting and see what you like best—buy a bunch of flowers or bribe your kids and practice shooting them in the sun, in the shade, using window light, available room light, flash, etc.

Once you get to know your camera well and have a feel for what different settings will do, you can focus on being more artistic in your captures.

I had the pleasure of meeting several pets and their people today at the Passionate Pet store and earlier this week.  Here is a quick sneak peak of images that caught my eye as I was downloading. I have yet to go through and edit most

of them, but I know some of the “parents” were anxious to see the cute pets.  I am working hard on the other images and should have a gallery up to browse later in the wek!

Today is Maren’s 8th Birthday.  Maren is my daughter Kate’s best friend.  Forever.  Two weeks ago, we took both of our families out to Irvine Regional Park in Orange, CA to ride the ponies and the train and to get a few shots of Maren for her upcoming birthday and baptism day and a few shots of the other kids as well.  But the main focus (besides having a blast with our kids) was getting some nice portraits of Maren for her baptism day.  For all of you portrait photographers out there – I don’t recommend bringing all of your kids along on shoots – especially when they are best friends with the subjects you are trying to capture.  They will a) want to be in all the pictures with their friends {Kate}, b) want to drag their friends off to other more worthwhile adventures, such as digging in the mud {Audrey}, or c) will be found running through the background of more than half of your shots {Jared}.   In spite of these disadvantages, I was very happy with the shots we were able to get – mostly thanks to the gorgeous background that is  Irvine Regional Park and the beautiful light there in the afternoon. Early spring is definitely my favorite time to shoot in Southern California.  Everything is so lush and green and beautiful. I know these are mostly slightly different variations of very similar shots, but the location was so lovely, and the subject even lovelier that I had to show at least a few…. and a couple of the bff (Kate) jumping into some shots as well, since there were more than a few of those to choose from….

More later from our grand adventures at Irvine Regional Park!

The cold, grey skies today had me dreaming of warmer, sunnier days and that reminded me of this fun and casual wedding I have never posted from last summer.  Adam and Jen were from Utah, but they wanted a beautiful beach setting for their wedding, so they brought all of their family out to Newport Beach to a casual beach wedding where they exchanged vows and played on the sand.  Afterwards they all headed to Fashion Island for dinner.  This was a fun, casual and relaxed wedding and I had a great time getting to know Jen and Adam.  And their two children were so adorable!  I wish them much happiness and many blessings in their new life together.  And while the grey skies today are a bit gloomy,  they carry the promise of rain to make all the hillsides green – and that will make for some stunning spring portraits later on.  So bring on the rain!

I have really enjoyed getting to know all of the caring staff at the Passionate Pet Store in Irvine, CA.  I had a great day of mini sessions there for Valentine’s a couple of weeks ago, and will be heading back to do some more free sessions there today for all of the dogs or cats who get adopted from the great adoption groups there!  I can’t wait to show the adorable dogs and puppies from the Valentine sessions, but first I am going to post some from the staff photos and a few of the “regulars” (the pampered doggy day care dogs) that come every day! Most of these pets belong to the employees at Passionate Pet!

Eva belongs to their resident dog trainer, Michelle.  She was so well behaved and even showed off some of her tricks for us!

Happy Valentine’s Day…I know it is a little late, but better late than never, right?  I thought this session would make the cutest Valentine’s day post ever!  Two perfect little cherubs that pierced my heart through with love!  Enjoy your pictures “A” and “D!”

And finally – my favorites of the day!

I know it may be hard to believe, but there are actually even more. To see these beautifully set to music as well as more pics, just click here!

Many more posts coming – I promise to try and post fewer images – that should speed things up!

Well, *H* and his sweet girlfriend were not engaged when they arrived for our session about a week or so ago, but they were when they left!  It had been rainy all week and the cloud cover looked thick and heavy as I approached the Laguna Beach Coastline, but just in time for their session, the sun broke through!  We had a great time at Victoria beach, and I always love when I get to witness the tender moment when a man asks his beloved to be his wife forever and the blushing or crying or exultant bride to be answers “Yes I will!”  When I was still in college, I had a job driving horse drawn carriages all around Salt Lake City.   I enjoyed working with the horses and getting to meet so many fun new people, but the very best memories are of the times I got to witness a marriage proposal, out under the stars in a secluded park or near the tinkling City Creek.  I get even more of a thrill when I get to witness  and capture such events through the lens of my camera  – to have that moment frozen in time to remember forever is a beautiful thing.  A big congrats to the future bride and groom!

Victoria Beach is so fun to shoot at!

They started off with a nice leisurely walk down the nearly empty beach…

Time for the big moment….

Time to celebrate!

We had to show off her gorgeous new ring!

And a perfect sunset to end a perfect day….

He’s a professional ball player. She’s a professional model… and so are the kids.  Can you tell?  The “Y” family came out to visit from Arizona last summer, and they were so beautiful and so natural in front of the camera.  But I could tell with this family that beauty was more than skin deep -this was a family that truly loved and cared for each other.  And the children were probably among the most polite children I have ever met.   I have a lot of new and recent shoots to share as well this week – I have been too busy shooting and editing to post much lately – but I wanted to give this family their due on my blog.  I’ll be back soon with some fun, recent stuff!