6 Tips For More Natural Photos Of Your Children

Would you like some tips on taking more natural photographs of your young children? Do you chase them with your camera phone and shout things like, “Look here, Lottie!” or “Big smile now, good girl!”? Do you want to avoid fake, cheesy smiles or your kid running away from the camera? Want to know how I get authentic expressions and natural looking images of children? Well then, read on! I’ve put together some of my favourite tips for you:

  1. Ask them to jump up and down on the spot as fast as they can. Match their excitement and happiness, and give them lots of encouragement. Let them jump a few times and then say STOP abruptly! Take the photo once their feet land back on the ground and chances are you’ll get a super happy expression like this:

black and white photo of happy smiling child

2. When you are taking a photo of your child, have someone stand right behind you and get them to play peek-a-boo with your little subject. Your ‘assistant’ can also pull funny faces/sing/act silly!. Works every time ;)

little girl picking flowers in the park

3. For a change, don’t ask them to look at the camera. Photograph them when they are playing, either alone or with someone else. Get down on their level. Camera unaware images are ALWAYS natural looking.

two children playing with small toys

4. Embrace the mood! Not all pictures of children have to be happy, you know! Children have a HUGE range of expressions and many different moods. I always find moodier images to be far more interesting than a happy photo. It makes you wonder… What are they looking at? What are they thinking? So capature all expressions!

moody black and white image of girl looking out the window

5. If you have a family pet, take photos of your child when they are with the pet. This works great with a dog especially, as they can run together outdoors, but also works with other pets. Again, a child looking at/intereacting with the pet will always illict natural expressions.

young girl with tibetan terrier dog

6. Almost all kids love to be outside. They tend to love exploring and enjoying nature. I love to take photos of children when they are lost in a moment outdoors, be it smelling a flower, climbing a tree, or blowing dandelion petals. Just let them do their thing and you will get wonderful, natural photographs.

girl blowing dandelion petals outdoors

I really hope you found these tips helpful! Do let me know, and if you know someone with small children, feel free to share this blog post with them.

Peace and love xoxo

10 Tips For Being Photographed at Home | Stockholm Portrait Photographer

I photograph a lot outdoors, but did you know I also photograph people in their homes? It’s kinda great actually because people tend to be more comfy and relaxed in their own place. It’s a win-win :) So, here are some practical tips for being photographed at home…

  1. Don’t stress about cleaning! Your home does not need to be spotless. There will be no cleaning inspection performed ;) What you can do, however, is declutter a little in the areas where most of the pictures will be taken - that’s usually where the best natural light is, which in most homes is the living room and master bedroom.

  2. Wear something comfortable. Your photographer should provide you with styling tips, but the main things to remember are to keep your outfits simple, not too busy, and comfortable.

  3. Plan some activity. If you want a lifestyle feel to your photo session, think about something you/the family can do, for example, playing cards, baking, having a BBQ in the back garden, eating watermelon on the front porch - something that reflects you/your family.

  4. Include your pets! I love when families include their family pet. It just adds a whole new dynamic to the images! And if your dog gets a sudden boner in the middle of the photo session (yes, it has happened!!), we will just wait it out ;)

  5. Make sure you get some shots of your kids as they play. Just let them be. They will get lost in their own make-belief world and this is the perfect time to get some great candid shots.

  6. Switch off all the overhead lights. When a photographer comes to your home, they want to be able to see where the best natural light is, so let them explore and find the best spots. Overhead lights can create unflattering shadows on the face, so keep them off and let the photographer find good natural light.

  7. If you have babies or toddlers, get out a few of their favourite books or toys. They can be great props, but can also be used to keep their attention during the shoot.

  8. If you think the main bedroom will be used for photos, go with a white duvet set, if possible. This is a great neutral setting and will help reflect the light.

  9. Make your couch look cosy! If your couch is in an area with good natural light, don’t be afraid to add extra throw cushions and maybe a couple of blankets to make it extra cosy. It will be a great spot to get some relaxed photos.

  10. If part of the session will be in your garden/yard, be sure to do a little tidy there, putting away anything that might be distracting in the photos

If you would like to have a photo session at your home (your regular home or your summer home), feel free to mail sandra@sandrajolly.com or drop me a line via the Contact page above. I promise, it would be a very jolly experience!

Peace and love xoxo

Social Media Profile Pictures | Stockholm Photographer

Would you love to update your social media profile pictures? Want a professional image of yourself - something beautiful, timeless, and natural? Something other than a selfie perhaps? I don’t only photograph children and families, you know :) Just last week I created some beautiful headshots of a client (I usually photograph her family), but this time she wanted a portrait session just for her, and we got great results! :)

Never underestimate the importance of having a great portrait of yourself. One day, that and memories, will be all a loved one has of you.

There’s nothing wrong with doing something that’s all about YOU. You deserve beautiful images of yourself. Images that you would be proud to share on all your socials :)

If the time has come for new social media profile pictures, or you simply want great portraits of yourself, I would love to be of service! You can get in touch via the Contact section above or mail sandra@sandrajolly.com. You are also welcome to share this with anyone you think may be interested :)

Peace and love xoxo

60 Seconds Portrait Session! | Stockholm Portrait Photographer

On your marks, get set, SHOOT!!! Now, I typically complete my portrait sessions in 45 minutes to one hour. Sometimes, however, for whatever reason, you only get a fraction of that time. That’s what happened here. The sun was just about to dip below the horizon and I knew my little subject didn’t want to hand around, so I took a deep breath, aimed my camera, cracked some bad jokes, and ended up with a series of portraits the mom absolutely LOVED!! Yay!!!

I’m like the ultimate sniper - cool, calm, collected, eyes on the target at all times, and ready to fire! ;)

If you would like to hear some of my bad jokes and get some beautiful portraits at the same time, drop me a line via the Contact page above or mail sandra@sandrajolly.com. Don’t be a stranger ;)

Peace and love xoxo