Take your own Front Step Photo!
UPDATE! May 6, 2020~ Thank you to everyone who participated in this fun project! I am making a $200 donation to No Kid Hungry Massachusetts on behalf of all of you! ALSO!! The winner of the free family session would like to donate their session to a front line worker and his/her family.
Please nominate someone you know who is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis by May 15th, 2020.
I will draw a name on May 17th!
Please nominate someone you know who is working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis by May 15th, 2020.
I will draw a name on May 17th!
(If you do, I will make a donation to No Kid Hungry on your behalf, give you a great discount on a future session
and enter you to win a FREE session!)
and enter you to win a FREE session!)
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Yes, it is important to document this unique time in our lives. However, with stay-at-home measures in place, it is neither ethical nor safe for professional photographers to continue with these sessions. While the original sentiment was excellent ( donate to an organization, get a family photo on your front step for free, document this moment in time), and successful ( $500,000 donated!), it is time for a new approach. Here's mine.
1) Take your family photo.
Whether on your front step, in your back yard, by the pool, in the trees, or wherever you like, take a photo of your "quaranteam" (those in our household with whom you are staying-at-home. Please DO NOT invite friends and family from outside of your household to join you for this!). Below I explain how to set your timer and create a "tripod" if you don't have one.
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2) Choose your favorite.
These photos are for you. They do not have to be perfect - clearly, nothing about 2020 has been perfect! Your favorite photo just needs to make YOU happy. (A perfect example is my own family's image on this page. Oh the shadows, the harsh lighting, the posing... but you know what? 2 out of 3 of those people didn't even notice...)
3) Send me your favorite.
Email me your favorite photo by May 4, 2020. Use the email: Melanie@MelanieGuerraPhotography
You can also post them to your Instagram account with the hashtags #takeyourown2020 and #safeonthesteps.
You can also post them to your Instagram account with the hashtags #takeyourown2020 and #safeonthesteps.
4) Then I will...
*Donate $5 on your behalf to No Kid Hungry. They are working in collaboration with organizations nationwide to feed children who otherwise rely on school meal programs to eat three times per day. They are my heroes.
*Send you a coupon for 25% off an entire family portrait package. Yes, that's the session fee AND your print/product order. We can do this session once stay-at-home measures have been lifted. Coupons will be sent after May 5th, 2020.
*Enter your name into a drawing for a *FREE* family session. Drawing will be held on May 5th, 2020 and winners will be notified immediately. Winners will not receive the 25% off coupon (because you won't need it!).
*Send you a coupon for 25% off an entire family portrait package. Yes, that's the session fee AND your print/product order. We can do this session once stay-at-home measures have been lifted. Coupons will be sent after May 5th, 2020.
*Enter your name into a drawing for a *FREE* family session. Drawing will be held on May 5th, 2020 and winners will be notified immediately. Winners will not receive the 25% off coupon (because you won't need it!).
A quick tutorial on setting up your photographs
You've got this!
1) Choose the spot for your photo. Remember that very bright sunlight creates harsh shadows and can wash out faces, so choose a place with (evenly covering) shade or take your photo early in the morning or late in the day. Lunchtime is not the best.
2) Get everyone but yourself posed and ready. If you're on the steps, you can try parents sitting on a step or two above the kids. If you are standing, don't stand in a line, try to stand in a cluster. Tall ones in the back, short ones to the front. Leave a space for yourself that's planned, don't just add yourself to the side.
3) Whether you are using a camera, phone or tablet, you should have a built-in timer. Most can be set for 3 or 10 seconds. I highly recommend 10. Once you have set your timer, hop into your spot and SMILE!
4) That's it!
Here are my tips for finding the timer:
1) Choose the spot for your photo. Remember that very bright sunlight creates harsh shadows and can wash out faces, so choose a place with (evenly covering) shade or take your photo early in the morning or late in the day. Lunchtime is not the best.
2) Get everyone but yourself posed and ready. If you're on the steps, you can try parents sitting on a step or two above the kids. If you are standing, don't stand in a line, try to stand in a cluster. Tall ones in the back, short ones to the front. Leave a space for yourself that's planned, don't just add yourself to the side.
3) Whether you are using a camera, phone or tablet, you should have a built-in timer. Most can be set for 3 or 10 seconds. I highly recommend 10. Once you have set your timer, hop into your spot and SMILE!
4) That's it!
Here are my tips for finding the timer:
- For iPhone/iPad/iPod
- For Samsung
- Another article for iPhone or Android
- For digital camera
- If you are using a camera and have a tripod, you're set.
- If you are using a camera and do not have a tripod, rest the camera on a flat surface - rocks, a table, steps. Look through the viewfinder and be sure you like the angle - you should be at shoulder's height or a little higher of the tallest person. Make sure all heads, hands and feet ( if you want them) are in the shot.
- For phone or tablet, this quick video has simple ideas using things you may have around the house. Another idea is to put 2 even stacks of books on a table at your desired height, and then wedge the phone or tablet in between the stacks ( so the books become bookends!), with the camera sticking up and facing forward.
HAVE FUN! I can't wait to see your smiling faces!
