Summertime and the livin is easy...

Or, not. Summer can be a very active time, with vacations, camps, activities…or trying to find activities for your older kids to do instead of sitting inside all day. The latter can be extremely exhausting if you are constantly weighed down by the thought of them wasting away in some capacity.

Just writing this makes me think about how we go from crazy summer, to school shopping, right into the holidays. So when do things slow down? We need to make a conscious effort to stop running all over the place and learn to take longer, deeper breaths. We need to slow down enough to enjoy the life we have and the people in it. Or, am I just talking about my own experience?

One solution to the summer madness, is to pause long enough to be more observant of the world around you. The sounds of the environment change every season. Birds chirp earlier in the morning, and crickets and frogs send you off to bed at night. You can also hit pause by using the shutter release button on your camera. I love looking at summer images, especially the ones that show the details and tell a story.  Life is different for just 3 months out of the year, and there are fun ways to think about capturing it.

A few tips for summer photos:

1. Decide which light tells the story of your image the best. Early morning light as you head out on a hike or bike ride; harsh afternoon light as the kids run through the sprinkler; or golden hour (evening light) when the sun creates a magical world of gold.

2. Perspective and your subject…what will you photograph and how? If you photograph the same things every summer, then it might be time to change your perspective. Instead of capturing the hundredth firework that you will never print, turn the camera around and get a picture of your kid’s watching the fireworks… lit by the grand finale. Start looking at your activities a little differently, and learn to appreciate them in a new way. 

3. Capture the perfect sunrise/sunset on your phone. Every phone has the ability to manually change the exposure, so tap on the sun (brightest area of the photo) and watch the drama happen. Everything should get a little darker and a little richer. However, don’t go too dark. Keeping it realistic is always a good idea and a breath of fresh air.

I would like to share one of my favorite summer shoots. I keep coming back to these images, year after year. Why? Because everything unfolded perfectly. Yes, the lighting was perfect. Yes, the kids got along. But, more importantly, the parents stepped back and allowed the activities to unfold. We ran through fields and laid in them (and checked for ticks), and we climbed the nearby tree. These images will always be in my portfolio, just like the ones that you capture of your family and friends should be in yours.

Enjoy the summer, and take a pause more often and think a little differently on how you approach your subject!!