(Almost) Professional Photography

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the beautiful spring winter weather and headed to the start of Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day with sunshine, clear skies and the temperature in the 70’s. My son and I found a spot on one of the well-manicured lawns, and as he started to walk around, I began to people watch.

I’d always known the Arboretum was a hot spot for local photographers to bring their clients, but I hadn’t noticed was how many parents are learning to take photos on their own. Scattered around the gardens were moms taking pictures of their little girls in tutus, newborns laughing on blankets, and toddlers waddling in the grass.

Why didn’t I ever think of this before??

Over the past year, we’ve been taking studio photos of my son every 3 months leading up to his first birthday. Each studio session involved a large purchase to get the photos we wanted, long wait times that interfered with naptimes, and backgrounds that began to get repetitive. While I love the professional photos, I don’t always enjoy all the hassle that comes with studio photography.

So, I did a little foot work and found some great locations around Dallas that would be a perfect setting for taking some casual shots this spring and summer. Then by following a few of these quick photography tips, you can get some great shots too!

1)      Avoid dramatic shadows and direct overhead sunlight. The best times to capture photos in natural light are before 11am and after 3pm. This helps prevent facial shadows, squinting, and the sun being a part of your background.

2)      You don’t always need to pose. Sometimes the best shots are casual scenes where your children are interacting with the world around them. When taking casual action shots, camera positioning is important, so don’t be afraid to crouch down to get in line with your child!

3)      Pay attention to the scenery in the background of your frame. Is there an object that appears to come out of your child’s head? A dog peeing in your shot? Photoshop can sometimes clean up mistakes but it’s easier to move locations or wait for distractions to move.

4)      Snap, Snap, Snap! I assume you’re shooting digital (if you’re not, you should be!), so don’t be afraid to click away on your camera. There’s nothing worse than taking 1 or 2 shots that are perfect! Only when you get home, you find a funny facial expression or closed eyelids.

Great Photography Locations: 

Cottonwood Park – 1321 W. Belt Line Rd., Richardson (near Belt Line & Coit) : If you’re looking for a quick park to grab pictures in, this is the spot! A simple rock dam, wooden bridge, and stone walls make great backgrounds to snap pictures of your child playing or feeding the ducks.

Lakeside Park – On Lakeside Dr., Highland Park (near Preston & Armstrong) : Lakeside, Davis, and Prather are three of the more popular parks in Highland Park. Lakeside Park has a long walking path with great stop-and-sit spots for pictures, a scenic waterfall and water garden, as well as a wonderful wooden bridge crossing over Exall Lake to a statue garden (as seen above).

Celestial Park – 5501 Celestial Rd, Addison (south of Montfort & W. Belt Line) : A 4 acre park tucked back in a quiet Addison neighborhood. This park features several unique photo spots that would be great for toddlers or older children. Take advantage of inscribed poetry steps (as seen above), a human sundial garden, and a jogging path with wooden benches perfect for photography.

Looking for something a little more daring?

Dallas Makerspace Wiki is a great source for more modern and urban photos. They provide sample photos and locations of graffiti walls, historical sites, and the Dallas skyline.

And don’t forget! You can get a quick overview of picture-perfect photography at the upcoming Project Mom event in Dallas this April. This event features a breakaway session that will cover how to take advantage of all those buttons on your camera, utilize artificial and natural lighting, and edit your own photos.

What are some of your favorite spots to catch great moments with your little ones?