36: Aaron Thompson on Making Family Photos in Good Times and Bad


Today on the show I’m talking with Aaron Thompson. Aaron is a father of three who owns many, many cameras yet is brand agnostic. He’s a portrait photographer based in Utah who has done a wide variety of photography and film work. I discovered his work on Flickr and asked him to be a guest on the show. I’m so glad I did. We talk about the first digital camera he bought for 1000 dollars that could do so little compared to what we’re used to now. Aaron talks about why he loves photographing his children in their real and sometimes sad or sick moments. We talk about taking photos in hard times, why he doesn’t delete photos and how he feels about using both DSLRS and  mirrorless cameras. Enjoy the show.

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The Family Photographer 35: Alex Lindsay on the Value of Old Family Movies

This episode is an interview with Alex Lindsay. Alex is the father of four, insanely good at lip syncing and my dear brother. He’s also a regular guest on Mac Break Weekly with Leo LaPorte and the founder of Pixel Corps which provides internet broadcasting, augmented reality, and virtual reality services to all kinds of big shots. Plus, he worked on Star War episode one the Phantom Menace which my nine year old son thinks is pretty great. He’s the reason you’re listening to this podcast because even before I knew what a podcast was or how to listen to one he was saying, “Hey Jen, you should do a podcast about family photography.”

The Family Photographer 34: Brandon Price on Photographing His Son’s First Year


Today’s show a conversation with Brandon Price. Brandon is a missionary living in Ukraine with his wife and adorable son who photographs their life beautifully.

On today’s show we talk about how he first fell in love with movie making and still loves making movies of his life. Brandon tells the story of the adoption of his son and how he came to have wonderful photos of the moment he and his wife met their son without having to be behind the camera.

We talk about how Brandon photographed the happy, frustrated, and worried moments – all the different ups and downs – in this first year of being a parent. We also talk about his switch from Canon to Fuji camera system.

Find Brandon on Instagram

 

Brandon talked about his love for making films as well as still photos. Here are a few of his family films.

 

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The Family Photographer 33: Sandra Coan on Creating Your Dream Photography Business

Todays guest is Sandra Coan. Sandra is a mother of twin boys who photographs families and newborns on film in her Seattle studio. Sandra is been in business for seventeen years and loves sharing what she’s learned with other photographers.

On today’s show, Sandra tells us about the path she took to discover what she does. She didn’t start shooting film in a studio. she did some photojournalistic weddings along the way. Sandra also talks about finding out who her people were – the people who wanted exactly what she wanted to make – and how to communicate with them. If you are starting a photography business or run one now, you’ll love listening to Sandra’s enthusiasm for business and also for helping others have as much success and fun as she’s having with her photography business. Even if you have no interest in ever starting a photography business – you’ll still love hearing from someone who has created a life they love so thoroughly.

Watch Sandra’s Creative Live Class. Check out LadyBoss Workshop.

Listen to my conversation with Sandra about studio lighting on TWiP Family.

 

the family photographer podcast with Andrea Moffatt

The Family Photographer 32: Andrea Moffatt on Telling Our Family Stories

This episode is an interview with Andrea Moffatt. Andrea is a mother of two boys who loves to photograph her family’s stories. She recently created a break out for Click Photo School titled, The Stories that Make Us.

Our conversation starts by Andrea telling us about how she captured her family’s experience of the recent solar eclipse.

family photography podcast with andrea moffatt

Andrea talks about how and when she likes to free lens or use a lens baby. Recently she used it after she dropped off her son at his first day of kindergarten. Another time she used it was when she was worried about a sick child.

There is lifestyle photography, what Elena Blair does, and the photojournalistic photography of Kirsten Lewis. Andrea uses a documentary approach and she consciously adds her own experience to the photo.

Andrea and I both live in the Pittsburgh area and enjoy taking our kids to the zoo here. We’ve both photographed our kids with the polar bears there. As Andrea has learned more about making photos and telling stories well her photos of the polar bears have gotten better.

 

Andrea and I both love reading. We talked about a lot of books in this episode. Here are some.

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Some Writer by Melissa Sweet

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

More about Andrea: Website, Instagram, Click Photo School

We start a new project tomorrow. Join in!

The Family Photographer 31: Elena Blair on Beautifully Posed Family Photos

I’m thrilled to share this interview with Elena Blair. Elena is a mother of three who photographs newborns and families in the Seattle area. She loves sharing what she’s learned about making family photos and running a business and has created many resources for family photographers. Elena recently recorded a great class on Creative Live titled Lifestyle Family Photography – Posing and Direction.

In this podcast interview with Elena Blair, we talk about why she feels family photography is important. Has it ever seemed to you like wedding photography or commercial photography is real photography and family photography is just this little thing we like to do? Elena feels strongly that family photography isn’t less important than other genres.

Elena shares with us how she thinks about posing families. She’s not talking about stiff or formal posing but she does pose her families. This conversation isn’t just for people who photograph other people’s families. You can use her posing ideas when photographing your own family, your brother’s family or your parents.

Elena talks about the moment she stopped posing newborns and what inspires her when she photographs newborns now.

Find out more about Elena: Website, Instagram, Facebook

A big thanks, as always, to my sound editor, Suzanne Llewellyn, for putting all the pieces together and making the show sound great.

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The Family Photographer 30: Rebecca Wyatt – Capturing Magic on Halloween

It’s Halloween! Do you have your kids’ costumes ready? Me neither. But I am prepared to take great photos, thanks to my conversation with Rebecca Wyatt about capturing magic on Halloween. Rebecca Wyatt is a family photographer and mother of four. Over the years, she’s figured out how to make great photos while her kids enjoy Halloween.

On Halloween night, kids get in their costumes and the last thing they want to do is pose for a photo. They want to start the serious business of trick or treating. Rebecca says, don’t get in their way. Let them have fun. Instead, let them dress up a day or two before Halloween. They’re excited about their costume and will be happy to get into character. Take them outside in good light and get some portraits. You can even take them to a location – a firehouse for a fireman, or a cemetery for your ghost or skeleton.

When the night of Halloween comes, get a quick photo of your kids with their friends and them let them enjoy the night. Look for opportunities to capture their excitement. I sometimes get photos of neighbors reacting to my kids’ costumes. My kids also love proudly holding up their favorite candies.

We usually start trick or treating when it’s still light out, but before long it’s dark. Look for interesting lighting for your photos after dark. Rebecca suggests using flashlights and streetlights for interesting effects.

I love getting photos of the kids pouring out and sorting their candy. My kids spend some time trading candy and eating some before it’s time to brush their teeth and get to bed.

Rebecca Wyatt now has a breakout in the Click Photo School titled Real Life: Capturing Life’s Moments as Only You Can.

Leave a comment for a chance to win Rebecca’s breakout!

The next Week of Daily Photos Project begins November 29. Sign up for information about how to be a part of the project.

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The Family Photographer 29: Xanthe Berkeley on Making Family Films

Today’s show is a interview with Xanthe Berkeley. Xanthe is a mother of two boys who lives in London. She loves making photos and films of her life. She also teaches others how to make every day films of their lives.

In today’s conversation Xanthe talks about why she loves making films, and how she makes them. If you are familiar with her work, you will enjoy hearing her talk about how she doesn’t crash when filming herself biking.

We talk about the music she uses in her films and why you can’t just use your favorite tunes in the films you post on Facebook. xanthe’s makes films every weekend – She talks about how she keeps it fresh and challenges herself. We talk about the courses she’s teaching these days and what she enjoys most about teaching people how to make time capsule films. This conversation really encouraged me to make more little movies of life – even if I don’t have time to edit them at the moment. I hope you too are inspired by this conversation with Xanthe Berkely.

Find out more about Xanthe and see more of her work: Website, Instagram, Online Courses, Twitter, Facebook

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The Family Photographer 28: Yan Palmer talks about Love

It’s an interview with Yan Palmer. YAY!

We talk about:

  • A photo of a student’s mother that made her think of her mother raising ten children
  • The photos she wished she had with her mom
  • Why she is not taking new family sessions or teaching her workshops these days
  • Her podcast: The Love Love Love
  • What she was asked at workshops every time (posing, gear, pricing) and the other questions she really wanted to answer
  • What I could learn from my son’s yard sale success
  • Desiring suffering and giving birth as a powerful metaphor

This conversation had me thinking for days. I hope you enjoy it.

I talked to Yan before – you can hear that right here.

Listen to Yan’s podcast: The Love Love Love.

For 10% off Teethkiss use THIS LINK. (We said on the show it was a coupon code but this link is what will work.)

More about Yan: WebsiteInstagram

Thanks as always to my sound editor, Suzanne Llewellyn, for putting it all together and making it sound great.

 

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