Five hot tips on taking photos of kids who hate having their picture taken

July 22, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Summer is here. Kids are out of school. Families take vacations. You swim, play in the park, take road trips and go camping. There are endless opportunities to take photos of kids, especially your own kids: frolicking in the waves, blissed out by the campfire or lying in a field of daisies. This is the time of the year when children are freest to do what they do best–be a kid.

But what if you’re the parent of a kid who hates having their picture taken? I understand, because I am that mom. Left to her own devices, my daughter rarely stops moving and will do her best to look anywhere but at the camera. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks with infrequent or limited success like mounting a cute Pez container on my camera’s hot shoe, bribing her with various edible and non-edible treats, and making jokes about an [imaginary] bird pooping in my head (however using the word “poop” does work, at least once or twice). There have been plenty of times where I just gave up and went outside to take pictures of real birds who I have good success capturing with my camera, despite their flighty ways.

Don’t despair. There is hope! Take it from me, the mom who struggles on a regular basis to get “a good shot” of her daughter Here are five hot tips that work!

Shoot like there’s nobody’s watching

What would happen if I stopped worrying about whether my daughter smiles for a photo? What if I quit begging, pleading and bribing her to please look at me? Why do I feel like I need to sell my soul so my kid’s eyes will be in the picture? These are questions I’ve asked myself a lot in the past six months. I know it’s said “the eyes are the window to the soul,” but I’ve discovered the truth is I can catch the essence of my daughter when she’s not watching me, not dutifully looking at the camera. The “trick” lies with me, not her. When I shoot with my own eyes, and stop caring about hers, those are the moments I get some of my best “captures.”

Make them laugh

Saying “cheese” never works, unless you like cheesy, fakey photos. And do as I say and not as I sometimes do because “Look at the camera” rarely works either. I’ve also tried “Where are my eyes” from time to time. That usually ends with her reaching out her arm and pointing her index finger in the direction of my eyes…which covers her face. The way to get natural smiles, easily, is to forget about any and everything having to do with SMILE. Tell a joke. Get goofy (you too mom). Ask her to tell a story or you tell one, “Remember the time the cat chewed holes in your shoe?” Or ask her not to smile, no really I mean it, don’t you dare smile.

Think out of the box

Or under it and over it. Almost every “tips” article I’ve read talks about getting down to kid level, like kneeling or lying down on the floor. And that works, but also think about shooting from above, from behind and from a distance. BONUS tip–Sometimes shooting with a longer lens, like 85mm-105mm, helps you get”closer” than you might shooting with a 35 or 50mm. Being stealth is what it’s all about, especially if your subject is camera shy or downright camera averse like my kid. This resonates with me too. When someone sticks a camera lens right in my face, I know I’m not my most photogenic self.

Embrace worse for the wear

Yes of course she looks cute in that adorable dress her grandmother bought her, but I can guarantee you’ll get better shots if she plays dress up instead of getting dressed up, even if all you do is give your kid a pair of sunglasses to put on. What kid doesn’t love sunglasses? Plus, she puts them on and her eyes “are covered.” She feels safe in that comforting, “I can’t really see you and you can’t really see my eyes…so, we’re cool” sort of way. Try not to worry so much if her hair is messed up (and my girlie is the Queen of Messy Hair), whether her shirt clashes with her skirt, or even a smidge of yogurt on her lips or snot under her nose–it’s all part of kid-charm, plus there’s always Lightroom and Photoshop for the really egregious boo-boos. In fact, sometimes, the best part of the shot is mismatched socks, hair flying wildly about and pants that are on backwards. You can save coifed and color-coordinated for the Santa photo booth.

The bottom line? When my daughter is in her own fantasy land (instead of mine) is when I get the best photos. I’m not sure at what point in life we get so concerned about the right outfit and the perfect smile, all poses and matchy-matchy. It’s kind of a shame, really. Because it doesn’t get any more authentic than when you shoot kids in their element.

Find the story

Do you really need all of your kid in the shot, or maybe just a close up of just her tiny feet in bunny slippers? Could you crop out half her face, just shoot her from the neck down, take a picture of her hands drawing? And now for the big kahuna of questions: Does it really matter if your kid looks at the camera? As it turns out, no. If you look through this post, there is only one photo where you can see my daughter’s eyes–well, an eye and it’s underwater at that. So much for all my attempts to get my daughter to look at the camera and not make a silly face. That said, even though I now know this, I still keep trying more than I’d like. Thankfully I am solidly on my way to recovery.

In the past six months since I started my 366 Project, I have learned a lot about photography. Some of the things I’ve learned have come from trial and error, a LOT of trials and a lot of errors. I once joked (but it was “for real” and not a joke) that all it took was three shots to get a good picture of a bird and 53 shots to get a good picture of my daughter. You know who else has my back? Other photographers, particular photographers who are moms like me, so a shout out to my beloved Mamas with Cameras who have given me encouragement, shown me creative angles (literally) and are always inspirational.

Rock the shot!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Note: I used her exclusively because I have a ‘her,’ but everything in my post applies whether you’ve got a boy, a girl or more than one of either.

Go nuts at CB’s Nuts in Kingston, Washington

July 14, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

We huffed, puffed and pedaled for peanuts last weekend at CB’s Nuts in Kingston, Washington. In fact we pedaled so hard, for a moment, I thought I saw smoke bellowing out of the bike’s rear tire. Had that been the case, we were in the right place because CB’s Nuts is housed in an old fire station. But wait–that smell–it wasn’t smoke at after all. It was peanut butter!

CB’s Nuts started in a Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come” sort of way, except Clark Bowen (the C.B. of CB’s Nuts) got his brilliant idea at a baseball game–he didn’t build a baseball field. Armed with a bag of fresh roasted peanuts he bought from a vendor on the way into a Mariners-Orioles baseball game in Baltimore, Clark realized how much the smell and flavor of peanuts said “baseball” to him, and how there was nothing like this in his hometown of Seattle. It wasn’t long before he pushing a small roaster near Safeco Field and selling warm peanuts with the goal of making enough to pay for tickets to the game and beer.

Time passed and Clark, now married to Tami, became increasingly interested in “old fashioned” roasting equipment and techniques. In fact making peanut butter with the nuts they roasted only started when they received a large shipment of peanuts that arrived sans shells, sort of a When life gives you peanuts, make peanut butter moment. CB’s Peanut Butter puts the A-1 into artisanal because there is only one ingredient in their peanut butter–peanuts. Yep, that’s it. Just really delicious, expertly roasted and ground peanuts.

Oh, and back to those pedal-powered peanuts. As it turned out, someone had hooked up the grinder backwards–no wonder we were making smoke and not peanut butter! But that didn’t stop us from picking up a jar to take home and tasting samples of fresh peanuts. CB’s Nuts, by the way, isn’t just about peanuts and peanut butter. You can find pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews and hazelnuts. So…you know, GO NUTS!

CB’s Nuts are sold at PCC Natural Markets, Whole Foods and a number of other retailers. But if you want to pedal for peanuts, head over to their retail store in Kingston at 6013 NE State Highway 104, just west of Kingston Ferry. A fun place to visit for kids–and adults–who like peanut butter. Although the main roasting operation is no longer at the fire station, a few batches of peanut butter are still made there using a 100-year-old roaster Clark restored (an Adam’s Peanut Butter’s original roaster from Tacoma in the 1920’s).

If you don’t feel quite ready to brave the Edmonds-Kingston ferry lines, you can sit a spell…on a section of the original Seattle Mariners dugout from the Kingdome days! Plus you can sit on it with a local microbrew from the cooler or an ice cream in your hands. And a bowl of peanuts, of course. If, after that, you’re feeling a bit more like a slug than a slugger, there’s always that bicycle. Just remember, you might want to work out at the gym for a few weeks first!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Kids love the cool pools: Port Townsend Marine Science Center

July 8, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Look Mom, my finger is getting a hug!

That’s what my five-year-old said when first the anemone and then the sea urchin gave her tiny finger a squeeze at the Port Townsend’s Marine Science Center. Kids love the cool pools! And adults do too. At this seaside aquarium you’ll find interactive, hands-on exhibits–literally. PTMSC is a fantastic place to get up close and personal with countless sea plants and animals of the Salish Sea. On site, visitors will find touch tanks, microscopes, and a hydrophone to listen to whales off shore. There is also a fully articulated Orca skeleton (one of only six in the U.S.) available for viewing. Port Townsend Marine Center also offers low-tide beach walks, summer camps, and classes, including Plankton and Crab Lab; Introduction to Marine Mammals; Tails to Scales; and, Birds of Shore and Sea.

Founded in 1982 by two teachers, Judy D’Amore and Libby Palmer, the center was initially run entirely by volunteers. I first visited the science center in the early 90s and it has changed over the years. Volunteers, now number more than 100 and the touch tanks are much more accessible and user-friendly than when I visited over 20 years ago.

We had a fantastic time poking and prodding sea cucumbers, clams, urchins, anemone, barnacles and even one sand dollar (the first time I’ve ever seen one alive). My daughter squealed with delight watching the tiny sea creatures retreat into their protective homes or wrap their tentacles lightly around her fingers.

The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable and in the summer they employ several AmeriCorp volunteers. I peppered one with a number of questions and she was so enthusiastic and knew so much about the marine life we were touching (thanks Zofia!).

Then we meandered over to the Natural History Exhibit where we learned about the history of ancient marine life and got to check out a full-sized Orca skeleton. There were a lot of interesting “see, do and learn” opportunities here, especially for kids grade school age and older.

If you find yourself in the Port Townsend area, make sure to visit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center! They are located at the water’s edge, below Fort Worden, at 532 Battery Way. Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Admission prices: Adults $5; Kids $3; Members–free. And take a look at their website: http://www.ptmsc.org.

Want to find more cool things to do in Port Townsend? Check out Visit Jefferson County and the Enjoy Port Townsend for ideas and the latest happenings!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 Project: Four things I’ve learned during my fifth month

June 30, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Tomorrow I reach the half-way point for my 366 Project! 183 days of photos taken–183 left to go. And you know what? I’m having a blast. I really enjoy the challenge of finding something photo-worthy every day. Here are four things I’ve learned during June, my fifth month taking (at least) one photo every day.

I can take pictures of my kid. This month I pushed myself to try to get more photos of my daughter. And I did. Nine photos made it to my photo-of-the-day, a huge accomplishment for me! I discovered a few tricks to help her feel more comfortable and willing to get in photo-mode to begin with, and I tried to drop my expectations that she look at me or smile. What I want to capture is my daughter in her element, and I think I was pretty successful…and that felt good.

I can’t go too long without a dose of nature. On the days where I was solely photographing my daughter, I missed photographing the natural world. Rain, shine, wind, calm, animals, plants. Being surrounded by nature makes my world go round. And what a beautiful world it is!

There are so many different ways to frame a shot. I can shoot close-up or crop my photo and catch every tiny feather in an Anna’s Hummingbird, or I can widen my view with a panorama. I can shoot straight at my subject or looking down at them from above. The angle I choose totally changes the mood and the “story.” I’m enjoying experimenting: with crops, macro, wide angle, different lenses, times of day, light. It’s fun to look at a shot and see what “grabs me.”

Maybe I can make money with my photography. This is something I’ve wanted to try most of my life. So…I got my business license! Beth Shepherd Photography, LLC was born, just like me, in the month of June. People reinvent themselves all the time, so why not me? Photography has been my love for most of my life. I wish I’d followed my passion decades ago but since I’m still alive and able, why not now?

Here’s June:

Rock on!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Missing Maggie: The role pets play in our lives

June 24, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

A year ago today I said goodbye to my beloved cat, Magnolia. I miss Maggie’s companionship and her sweet, gentle spirit, and I think about her nearly every day. Spending 20 years with any living being is a very long time. So, yes, this is a post about my cat and a post about pets in general, and the ways they change our lives and us.

Maggie, at 20

I know all my readers aren’t cat lovers, or maybe even pet lovers–pet ownership is not for everyone. But for those of us who’ve let a pet into our home and heart, there is nothing in this world like the love we give to them and get back in return. And some of them, like my Maggie, make an imprint on our souls that remains with us for life. I’m not saying people in our lives don’t fill a deeper, more significant role because for most of us (though not all of us), they do. Yet there is something completely unique and irreplaceable about the bond between pets and the people who love them.

This is why animals are often used to heal and help, why people train dogs to guide those with sight or mobility challenges, or bring cats and dogs to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities for people to caress and hold. Studies have even proven our stress melts away and our heart rates slow (as do our pets!), when our pets are near.

I think pets bind families together too–their care, their antics are often a major topic of conversation. They give family members something to rally around. I’m sure I’ve spent more hours of my life talking about my cats than almost any other topic and I don’t feel the least bit embarrassed to say it out loud. I read the news, try to stay up-to-date on current events, take an interest in my husband and daughter’s daily doings, make time for friends and have many interests I’m passionate about, but those cats…they are a force in my life to be reckoned with!

Maggie (and Madison who passed away 5 years before her) was with me through several major surgeries, when I was housebound for a couple weeks. She was my companion through many years lived alone and a few break-ups that really threw me. She didn’t seem to mind when I soaked her fur with my tears. Maggie slept in my bed every night, and then the bed I shared with my husband. She joined us at the dinner table most evenings and her constant chirps, mewps and brrrps, back and forth with us, felt like a conversation. She was with me from the day I met my husband, through ten years of our relationship, our failed and then successful adoption, the death of my father, my sister and two of my closest friends. Honestly, she was my right-hand gal for most of the significant events in my life.

So when Magnolia died, I was bereft. Our house felt eerily empty and for days I was sure I would see her out of the corner of my eye, making her way across the kitchen or sitting out in the garden she loved so much. I made it almost a month without a cat in our house and then when I didn’t think I could stand it anymore, I went out and brought home two kittens. These two are nothing like Maggie. They are more crazy, destructive and much less tolerant than she was, even as a kitten. Sometimes that makes me miss her all the more. Mischievous behavior aside, I am happy to have them around, and they are only one-year-old, so if they make it to 20 like she did, I’ll probably have a different tale to tell.

If you have a senior pet at home, give them an extra hug and a treat for me today. Even when they miss the litter box, chew up your favorite shoes and wake you up in the middle of the night, our pets bring immense joy to our lives. And here’s to you Maggie Moose–I was 20 years lucky to have you by my side.

In memory–Maggie–forever in my heart

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

It ain’t easy being Dada: Happy Father’s Day

June 19, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Any man can be a father but it takes a special person to be a dad.

Father's Day

Being a dad is a complicated adventure. When to nurture and love? Where to set boundaries and rules? How to instill morality and values? How to know when it’s time to have fun and when it’s time to draw the line. Before you’re in the thick of parenthood, you imagine days with your child at rapt attention as you share the wonders of the world. You daydream about laughter and smiles, spending hours of playtime together.

But being a dad means you will also experience tears and tantrums. You will have to grit your teeth through difficult days and dole out tough life lessons. You will wind up making decisions you know are right but that your kid won’t be happy with. Being a dad ain’t easy! That’s why I have so much respect for the men who really commit to fatherhood and give it their all.

To my husband and all the amazing fathers out there–you rock the Dada role! Where would our kids (and us moms) be without you?

Happy Father’s Day!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

What’s in the picture for my birthday? Decadence, delight and daring

June 15, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Today is my birthday and I’m upping the ante on my celebration. The tragedy this past week, one of way too many in recent history, reminds me that while I might bemoan my aches, wrinkles, or expanding derriere, I am lucky to get another trip around the sun. So I’ve decided to ring in the day of my birth with a decadence, delight and daring.

Four candles No, I’m not 4

Decadence: Not much explanation needed here. There will be wine. And dessert. Both go hand-in-hand with birthdays, mine anyway. But I also made an appointment for a pedicure, a rare treat for me. There is something decadent, especially for moms, about sitting undisturbed for an hour, unable to do anything while someone pampers you!

Delight: Surprises. I delight in surprises and I know a few are in store. For one, I don’t know where my husband is taking me to dinner other than it’s “someplace new.” There might be a present involved, who knows? My daughter has also said she has a couple surprises for Mama. Granted, she’s five and doesn’t have the best track record as a surprise-keeper, but I think she might have one or two things up her sleeve she hasn’t told me about.

I’m also going to spend an hour or so of uninterrupted time with my camera, in one of Seattle’s lovely locales. There’s nothing like some peace and quiet, a pretty scene and my trusty camera to put a smile on this girl’s face.

Daring: Long ago, maybe ten years now, my husband gave me a silver paperweight inscribed: what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? I’ve done one or two daring things, like adopting a kid and becoming a mom in the fifth decade of my life (both daring and daunting at times).

So this year I decided to do something I’ve wanted to do for most of my life. I filed for my state and city business license, formed my LLC (Limited Liability Corporation)….and Beth Shepherd Photography made the switch from fantasy to real life! I realize it’s a bit late in life to start a new career, but Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote Little House on the Prairie at the age of 64 and Grandma Moses started painting at 76! Why not become a professional photographer in my 50s? Maybe I’m just a late bloomer? I don’t where this path will take me, but I’m glad I’ve dared to walk down it.

LLC Certificate

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Hopscotch your heart out in Seattle’s Central District

June 10, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Live in Seattle (or visiting)? Looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend? Come on over to my Seattle neighborhood, the Central District, and hopscotch your heart out on Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. because Hopscotch C.D. 2016 is happening!

We’ve had a blast the past few years: Yard sales, free hotdogs, bouncy house, music…and as much hopscotch fun as you want. So HOP TO IT! Come join the festivities.

This year’s event is sponsored by Centerstone, a Seattle nonprofit who helps Seattle residents in need meet their basic needs and get on the path to self-sufficiency by providing food and immediate financial relief to pay energy bills and avoid eviction.

2016 Hopscotch C.DD. festivities include:

1 mile hopscotch route through the neighborhood (*route map coming soon)
Free lunch from Dante’s Inferno featuring hot dogs, toppings galore, and chips
Live DJ in Centerstone’s courtyard
Kid Zone featuring a bouncy house, face painting, Play Street toys and activities, temporary tattoos, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and playground in the Firehouse Park adjacent to Centerstone
Flavorful cuisine from local food trucks (available for purchase)
Free tours of Centerstone’s historic firehouse building

Evening festivities (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Live music featuring Lady A, Meter Music, and JeMonica
Beer garden
Live entertainment with comedy, a magician, hooping, break dancers and more!

Centerstone is located at 722 18th Ave. Most of the main events take place across the street at the Firehouse Mini Park at 712 18th Ave. (18th Ave. just north of E. Cherry St.). You can also get more up-to-date information and route maps for this year’s event on the Hopscotch C.D. Facebook page—HERE. The one-mile Hopscotch course winds through the nearby neighborhood, going as far south as 18th and E. Union S.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Additional event sponsors: Swedish Medical Center, Vulcan, Sound Oil, Sprage Israel Giles, Peterson Sullivan, and Capitol Hill Housing

366 Project: Four things I’ve learned during my fourth month

June 2, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

When I first started my 366 Project, I worried whether I’d make it through the first month, taking pictures every day. Here I am four months later and still at it! I am loving my project and find the more I shoot, the more I discover about photography and my own strengths and limitations. What I’ve learned this month:

Those darn birds: Okay, I confess I am downright addicted to bird photography. Especially this month. Even though my garden is going gangbusters and occasionally I coerce my 5-year-old to get in the frame, I am absolutely obsessed with those birdies. Chickadees building a nest in our birdhouse, flying back and forth to feed their growing family; ducks and geese at Lake Washington; bold little hummingbirds flitting about, and all the usual suspects: robins, finches, jays, sparrows. The air is filled with song and my shots with feathers.

Think outside the box–or inside it: My yard is really tiny, 18×40. It is surrounded by a fence. I used to feel as though I was living inside a box, which motivated me to grow plants everywhere I could, around the edges, up the fence, and fill the middle with planter beds. Ironically, being constricted to a small space encourages me to find interesting angles (shoot the flower from the side rather than straight on), to look at details (ladybug on the rosebud) and pay attention to the tiniest of subjects (a feather on the deck). At first glance, the “view” seems small…but when you really LOOK, the possibilities are limitless!

Inspiration is all around me: Honestly, if I ended up being stuck in my tiny yard for the next year, there would always be something interesting to shoot. Plants, birds, my cats…something new is growing, blooming and dying. There are fascinating colors, shapes, movement, and I love to capture all of it. That said, I am truly blessed to live in a breathtakingly gorgeous city: Seattle. Everywhere I go I am surrounded by beauty, both the natural and man-made world around me.

Share the journey: My photographer communities, Mamas with Cameras 365/52 Week Project Wonder Women and 365Project, INSPIRE me to grow and be a better photographer. Seeing the amazing shots my fellow photogs take gives me new ideas and challenges me to find new angles (literally). I am certain I would not be shooting every day without the commitment I made to shoot and share.

And with that…here’s May!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Favorite things: Baby birds!

May 28, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Baby birds! What’s not to like? Fuzzy, geeky, peepy balls of cuteness. I love this time of year, when everywhere you look there are feathered babies leaving their nests, trying out their new wings, walking in the awkward way baby birds do, swimming on top of the water with little spurts of speed, exploring the new world around them. Here are a few pictures I’ve taken of baby birds, mostly for my 366 Project. Baby goslings down at the edge of Lake Washington, a baby robin sitting on a wood chair in our yard, a baby finch being fed seed from his papa or mama, two baby Anna’s hummingbirds resting on our neighbor’s clothesline, and one Bushtit sitting on an obelisk in our garden. And for extra credit, see if you can find all four members of the finch family in the last photo!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth