Photography Tip - Get closer! (North Idaho Photography)

One of the things I love most about being a photographer is that I have every images of my family that I love. For the most part when I am taking pictures especially of Dylan I am in photographer mode making photographs and not just taking snapshots. Being that I am a photographer it has become second nature to me to know exactly how to make great images, but for most people this is not the case. So I am going to start doing a weekly post on photo tips to help others get great images of their own family.

This week's tip is to get closer. Most people stand way back from what they are taking a picture of and leave a lot of space around their subject in the photo. You end up with a lot of clutter detracting from your tiny main subject in the middle of the photograph or something like this image here.

Here you see all the messy clutter in the background and the dogs rear end in the foreground. All of this takes away focus from the subject. Instead fill the frame with your subject. This takes out all the distracting background and really focuses in on that great expression or action. You end up with a image that really shows what you were trying to take a picture of. Which is not a messy house or dog rear, but of a baby learning how to walk. Something more like this.


Here is another good example.

There is an arm in the frame at the top taking away from the great smile. As well as both hands being cut off. A quick zoom or crop edit give us this great image.


So next time you go to take a photograph of your loved ones take a second zoom in or move closer fill the frame with what drew you to take the image in the first place. If you practice this enough it will start to become second nature and you will have some great images of those expressions you will want to remember forever.

One side note: you can also fix this problem by cropping your image later on the computer. Sometimes this is necessary as you only have a few seconds to capture the image before the expression goes away. Just be sure to pay attention to your images when you load them on to your computer and fix them then.

See more of Amy’s work at www.amyschmidphoto.com. Become a fan of Amy’s work on Facebook.

The Importance of Wedding Photography! (North Idaho Wedding Photographer)

I felt a need to write this post after talking to a few brides lately. I don't think for the most part that people realize how big a role photography plays in your wedding day. Probably because unlike everything else you do not see the results of the photography until after the day is over.
Your wedding is going to be one of the most important days of your life. It is something you are going to remember for the rest of your life. After all the champagne has been drunk, the last guest has left, and the flowers have wilted all you are going to have left of the day you spent months, or even years planning is a dress you will never wear again and photographs that you will always cherish. With a wedding there are no second chances or do overs. No matter how carefully planned there are always glitches. You want a photographer that is professional and knows what they are doing. That can handle anything thrown their way and still get the shot, never missing a moment. You are going to be so focused on the day ahead of you, that there are moments that you will miss. Your photographer should be there to capture those moments for you. Not only will they get it all but they do it in beautiful timeless images that you will forever treasure.

Many people do not put as much value on photography when planning their wedding and end up with an experience and images with they are greatly disappointed. Trust me I know from experience. Not only was the quality of the images not great, but the experience left me tired and cranky on my wedding day. Having been there I know what a bride needs and wants on her big day. My style of photography is non intrusive. I am always there, but you do not really notice me. There is no everyone look at me and smile. I do portraits but they are casual, quick and painless. You end up with high quality, professional, and archival prints, albums, and canvases that will last all the generations to which they are passed.

North Idaho Labradors Retrievers - North Idaho Pet Photographer

A few weeks ago I did a photo shoot for North Idaho Labrador Retrievers. This is a kennel started by my in-laws Kevin and Diane Schmid. They specialize in breeding and training shed antler hunting dogs. It has been really neat to watch them build this business and train the dogs. It is amazing to me that the dogs can be trained to actually find shed horns. Right now they have Camo, Bow, and Arrow that they are training and will keep for breeding. They also have Hunter and Scout that they are training and available for purchase. The shoot was to get images to start building their web page. Which is now up, though still under construction some. The website can be found at northidahoantlerdogs.com. This job really made me have to think back to school as it required me to use a lot of photoshop skills that I had all but forgotten. I don't think I did too bad considering it had been a few years since I had done a lot of this kind of stuff in photoshop.

Dylan: One Year Old! (North Idaho Children's Photographer)

Well we finally made it. Dylan is now one year old. What a year it has been. It was quite a birthday week for our little man as well. He had two birthday parties. The week started out in Spokane where he had his first party with the Schmid side of the family at Chucky Cheese. He had a great time. Having his first pizza and a cupcake.

Then three days later we were on the road to Tilamook for his actual birthday, where he got his first happy meal. The next day in Tillamook he got to go to the beach for the first time and crawl around in the sand and get a little wet. We also did his one year pictures there. He loved crawling in the sand. We put him down and off he went. Then the next day we had his second birthday party. He got lots of presents and his very own cake to eat, smash, and play with. He also had a blast with that.

This last month he has been doing a lot of new things. He snorts, waves his arms, and bounces when he get excited. He says num when he is eating or when he wants a bite of what you are eating. It is very cute. He is starting to learn the word no. It didn't take too long. I would tell him no and then he would instantly start crying and put his face down on the couch if he was near it. At one year old he is wearing 24 month clothes, which he has mostly been wearing since Christmas. He also got his first haircut, which was a little too short in my opinion. It is growing back much faster than I thought though. All in all he is definitely looks just like a little boy and no longer a baby. Which I guess is appropriate now that his is a toddler and no longer an infant.

Dylan: Eleven Months!

One more month before Dylan turns one. Hard to believe, but not really for me. It seems like he has been with us forever. He is now starting to try to stand by himself, but not quite there yet. He is eating as much as ever. We have not found anything that he won't eat and eats more than some adults. He makes me laugh all the time now. He is getting into everything and is starting to learn what no means, not that it does any good. This months pictures were squeezed in during our road trip last weekend. They were taken at my parents place where I grew up. I wasn't going to use these because I didn't get very many, as he was being a little fussy. But he is now practically bald after his first hair cut. Cory got a little carried away and now Dylan has no hair. Oh well it will grow back.

I love how his big blue eyes stand out here.

Senior Photos: Warren!

Warren is a high school student that we met not long after we moved here. He started working part time for us at the store not long after. Now he is a little on the short side and looks younger than he really is, but I was still concerned when people started asking if he was mine and Cory's son. Did I really look old enough to be his mother? It has become some what of a joke with us. We some times call him Dylan's brother. Well he has finally made it to his senior year. Both his mom and I have been after him to get his pictures done. A few weekends ago we finally got out to do them and it turned out to be crappy weather. We got about a half hour in before it started to rain. So we will have another session soon. I just thought I would share the first bunch we got because for the amount of time we had and the weather there was actually quite a few keepers in the bunch. I was quite pleased how well they turned out considering the circumstances.

Newborn: Jaxson Wyatt Hopkes!

Well last week I became an aunt again. My sister in-law gave birth to a baby boy Wednesday. Jaxson Wyatt Hopkes was born at 6:13 pm. Weighing in at 8lbs 10oz and was 22 3/4in. He had good timing in so many ways. It was his doctors first day back from vacation and I had planned on a trip over there this last weekend. Now I am a little biased here, but he is a pretty darn adorable baby. He is also the best baby I have ever been around. He sleeps all the time and when he does cry it is no louder than a new born kitten. Pretty unfair considering that Dylan did not sleep and screamed constantly for the first five months or so. We did a quick shoot while I was there. Being his aunt I had a very hard time narrowing these down so there is a few more photos than normal.