Twin Photo Shoot: Taking Pictures of Your Multiples
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Professional freelance photographers
A freelance photographer, while perhaps significantly more
expensive, might be the right choice if you're looking for a
more artistic, longer-lasting photograph and/or if you're
looking for a more customized image and finished product. When
my oldest child was four and my twins were two (and baby #4 was
on the way), I wanted a professional photo taken of the four
(five) of us during that time. I wanted the photo to be a piece
of art - and since I wanted my very pregnant stomach tastefully
showing, I didn't think that the middle of the mall was the
place to have the picture taken.
I found a local photographer whose style I loved. Because she viewed her photographs as art, she wasn't happy sending them home with a customer unless they were perfect - not only by her standards, but by the client's standards as well. One of my twins was not real cooperative during the session, and she assured me that if I wasn't thrilled with the final results, she'd redo the session at no extra charge.
If the photographer you choose does not use a digital camera, you'll have to wait for proofs to determine if she got anything that will work, so be sure to inquire as to her retake policy should you not be satisfied. Honestly, most professional photographers are so good that, while you'll initially worry, you'll probably be suprised in the end by how fabulously their shots of even an exasperated child turn out!
Using a freelance photographer allows you almost complete customization of your final result, making it a wonderful choice to capture a special time in your children's life or to provide someone with a wonderful gift. Nowadays, many photographers can transfer an image to canvas so that it resembles an oil painting, some can have the image transferred to the outside of a purse, and some even do their own hand etching on the image after it's printed so that it is even more an original work of art.
If you think that a freelance photographer is the right choice at any point in time, check to see if any of your friends have recommendations. Or, when you notice a display of a photographer's work that matches the feeling you'd like your own photo to convey, note the photographer's name, phone number, and website if provided. Then contact him personally to determine whether or not he's truly the right photographer for you. Prior to finding the photographer who took my family's photo, I admired some beautiful shots displayed outside a well-known children's boutique in town. I called the photographer to set up a session, and she informed me that she didn't really enjoy working with two-year-olds! Even if you love their work, it's important to make sure it's a good fit on all fronts before donning the studio doorstep with everyone dressed to the nines.
Become your own photo studio
This is an option parents sometimes overlook because they
don't altogether trust their own photo-taking abilities. In the
age of digital cameras, parents can take the most wonderful
photographs - candid or posed - of their children. The photos
can then be edited with editing software, and printed either at
home or by a professional printing service. Many times, the
best photos are obtained this way because there is no pressure
on anyone. The captured images show true happiness, mischief,
or beauty.
Technology has come so far that there is no reason to rely on a studio to capture every month of your child's life. Thankfully, you can choose the times when you'd like someone else to photograph your children, and the rest of the time you can do it yourself with fantastic results - regardless of your level of photography experience. Now, if only you had time to organize all those photos!
About the author: Elizabeth Lyons is the author of Ready or Not…Here We Come! The REAL Experts' Cannot-Live-Without Guide to the First Year with Twins. Visit her web site at www.elizabethlyons.com.
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