What do you give a mother who has everything – like you, f’rinstance? How about a photo? No, not one of you, or a flower, or a sunrise; we’re talking a photo of a child, or a mother and child, or even several generations of moms and their children.
It’s a question posed by Tamara Lackey, creator of Tamara Lackey’s Capturing Life Through (Better) Photography and known for her photographs of children and families in poignant (and funny) moments.
She suggests “interaction is such a significant part of portraiture.”
Tamara Lackey's happy accident
What happens unexpectedly, Lackey says, can sometimes be spectacular in what she calls “a kind of spontaneous intimacy.” Case in point: the baby boy and his dog pictured here, with the child draped over the animal. It’s a classic shot but she recalls there being nothing accidental about it.
“The shoot was going really well until the boy started exhibiting signs of being ‘done.’ The onset of a tantrum was looming – and I kept the camera ready. Within moments, his temper got the best of him, and he flipped himself over the dog. A wonderful moment was captured and no babies or puppies were harmed in the making of this photo.”
Here are some of her tips to help you create your best Mother’s Day photos.
• Say anything but “cheese!” Use silly expressions to induce genuine laughter and eliminate that “stale cheese” smile.
• Keep snapping photos after the first shot. Many times the best photos are taken in the seconds after the “smile” photo.
• Parents should show they are having fun. Kids have radar that signals the adults are stressed out about trying to take the perfect photo.
If you want to check out more tips and tricks on creating that perfect shot with the tools you already own, check out Lackey’s new educational series here. Created in partnership with Rex Ballard, cinematographer, producer, and a director of photography (DP) for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, her Capturing Life Through (Better) Photography includes a 90-minute DVD, 100-page book and a quick reference guide.
Tamara Lackey's website
Just who is Tamara Lackey? She’s an award-winning professional photographer, international speaker and best-selling author. Her collection of instructional and edutainment resources include the best-selling book “The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography,” instructional DVD Inside Contemporary Children’s Photography, and the “Tamara Lackey Style Book.” Her work has appeared in Vogue, O – The Oprah Magazine, Food & Wine, Town & Country, and featured in Rangefinder, Professional Photographer Magazine, Professional ImageMaker and on The Martha Stewart Show and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Oh, and for those who don’t like waiting until the last minute, Mother’s Day is May 8.
About Don Long
