How To Win A Modeling Contest

Does your child have what it takes to win Lexington’s Star Kids Modeling Contest?

I’ll bet he or she does! There isn’t a single child we’ve ever photographed that has not been beautiful and worthy of being called so. Winning a modeling contest isn’t so much about perfect looks and flawless skin as it is about showing off and capitalizing on your child’s particular beauty. Here are a few tips on preparing for, picking out, and producing a photography session that will send your child’s image right to the top of the list!

1. Style Matters

Reality

Imagination

There are two distinct styles for Star Kids Modeling Contest: Reality and Imagination. It matters not only because they are judged separately, but because you want to choose the style that best suits your child’s look and personality. Is your son a real dreamer who likes to play pretend and perform for you at home? Then the Imagination style will allow us to capture him in his best moments. Is your daughter down to earth with a quiet smile and a tendency to talk rather than play? Then the Reality style will present her in a much more suitable way. When deciding think less about what you want to see, and more about what’s going to best showcase your child.

2. Planning Ahead Makes A BIG Difference

This might be common sense, but don’t go into your portrait session completely unprepared. You’ll want to make sure that your child’s outfit fits the background/set you doing. Talk with the photographer (call the studio and ask who your photographer is going to be) and discuss the session with them – that helps a LOT! Get your son or daughter plenty of rest the night before his/her session (trust me, this one is huge!). For all these details, check out our video learning center (choose the “preparing for the shoot” video).

3. Act the Part…

Regardless of which style you choose, it’s important that your child is really fitting that style to make it really work. This is beyond the personality and outfit we’ve already mentioned, this is about having your child pose and act appropriate to the scene. For Reality images, this means more traditional poses, less big goofy smiles and more soft natural faces, and strong eye contact with the camera. For Imagination images acting the part is extra important – let your child’s imagination really run wild! If she’s a mermaid, do your best to encourage her to imagine herself as one and discover the ocean world; if he’s a cowboy, we’re looking for rugged poses and snarls. The very best thing you can do is to really let the photographer set the pace of the session and to encourage your child in the same way.

4. …but Be Natural

As important as it is to “act the part,” what you must be wary of is the tendency to be fake. One of the most destructive thing a parent can do for a child’s portrait session is to tell them, “now make sure you smile really big!” Kids stick out there chins and give us a great big “CHEEEEEEESE!” … which is cute, but it’s not going to win a modeling contest. Likewise, if your child is being forced to behave a certain way he or she is more likely to freeze up and not look right at all. You have to let kids be themselves; if they are goofy let them be so, if they are shy that’s okay – the important thing is to let them be them. All kids are beautiful, but not all in the same way – you want to let your child’s individuality really come through in the portraits.

5. Show Off Your Child’s Best Features

Like we just said, it’s very important to showcase your child for who he/she naturally is. To bring out their natural beauty, we want to highlight their best features. Not every 18 month old is doe-eyed; if yours is, then we’ll make sure we spotlight some close ups, but if not then pick whatever distinguishing features your child does have and highlight those instead. This is where picking the right pose comes in to play: the photographer will photograph your child in a number of different poses, from a number of different angles; it’s ultimately your job to pick the pose that gets submitted to the contest. You’ll want to pick the one that really spotlights your child’s best features.

6. Uniqueness vs. Perfection

As far as picking a pose goes, your photographer will help you and give you suggestions as to which he/she thinks is the best pose, and often that’s enough. But you’ll have to make a judgment between a more candid, personality filled image and a more posed, traditional looking image. I hate to tell you this, but there is no “right” answer, it’s a judgment call – and the winning portraits will often have both. Typically, however, you need to have the perfection in place before you have the uniqueness. What I mean is, you may see a shot that “is just so your child!” but it may not be a great pose, or may show his/her face in a less than ideally flattering way. Well, as much as you love that shot, don’t submit it to the contest – buy it for yourself at home. Look for the poses that are primarily good poses/looks, and secondarily have a unique flair about them.

Another word about uniqueness: many times the modeling contest will result in a number of people in the same few poses…because they work. A pose that isn’t often seen, though, will stand out in a judges mind. Anything you can do to have the judges remember your child or look at his/her image for a few extra seconds is an advantage. So, if there is a pose that you haven’t seen much before and it’s got the markings of perfection (mentioned above), then it might be a good one to choose.

7. For Goodness Sake–Have Fun!

This may seem trivial (after all, it’s a competition, right? We want to WIN!), but you have got to have a good time! There’s nothing good that comes from a portrait session with a miserable child. So if they’re not having fun it’s essentially a bust. Did you watch that video on our learning center yet? No? Okay, watch it now by clicking here. One of the most important points is to relax and tell your child that this is a fun thing, NOT a big serious deal…because it’s not. Star Kids is a casual, relaxed event that is intended to raise money for UK Children’s Hospital – it’s not pageantry. Though there are some substantial prizes, it’s more about fun. So, relax and have fun, and let your child have the time of their life doing it!

Working the Magic

How we accomplish some of the gorgeous images at the Portrait Shoppe

Over the years we have had thousands of comments and compliments about our images, particularly about our Imagination Style. Imagination is one of the truly unique areas of the Portrait Shoppe; it is our niche here in Lexington, something that nobody else does quite the same, and in many ways it has become a defining style for the Portrait Shoppe. But creating a beautiful imagination image isn’t just about buying some fun whimsical props and simply posing the child within that scene. We really play with the children, let them explore their new environment, and let their own imaginations dictate the events and poses that we achieve. A child’s imagination is 1,000 times more powerful than we adults remember, and that’s what we have to tap into to really produce stunning, beautiful images…and sometimes it takes a little of our own imagination too.

Take a look at this image:

Isn’t she beautiful?!?! Well, this little angel was only three months old. She had a wonderful session with us in our garden baby bassinet (which is perfect for that age). She was happy and smiling the whole time…until we changed her into the dress. As is always the case with kids, when they pull the plug on a session you are pretty much finished – there’s just not much you can do with a crying child who doesn’t want to have his/her photograph taken. Here’s where the innovation of the photographer kicks in.

Little Alexandra Grace (LOVE the name!) was miserable after we brought her back into the studio. The only place she wasn’t crying was in mom’s arms. Poor thing, she was tired! Babies have an especially short window of awake time in which you can get their photographs. But rather than throwing in the towel (which is so easy to do), Shelly, the photographer, got creative.

She moved the bassinet and sat mom down on backdrop. Then she put a green blanket over her arms and lap and set the now sleeping Alexandra down in her arms again. Then she decorated mom with flowers and ivy so that she became the new set! Check out this work in progress:

(That’s Ashley putting on the finishing touches). So, Shelly could have simply called the session when Alexandra started to lose it and walked away the great images she got from the first half. But she didn’t, and it was worth it! Mom was thrilled, Alexandra was happy to finally be asleep, and the images in the dress are amazing!

Can’t tell, can you? That’s the whole idea. So next time you’re faced with a screaming child or a moment that looks like its over, put a little creative thinking to use and see how you work with the issues instead of having them work against you. And who knows what beautiful material you might produce!

4 quick tricks for getting great Paw-traits

We’re right in the middle of our Paw-traits Modeling Contest. For those of you who don’t know much about it, it’s Lexington’s 2nd Annual Dog Modeling Contest, all to raise funds for the National Canine Cancer Foundation. It is hosted by ourselves and PetSuites of Lexington and it runs all the way through March 31st! To learn more about it Watch This Video, Read This, and call us at 859.277.6671.

Well, as we’ve been photographing all these dogs, we’ve noticed a few things that may help when you want to snap a great photo of your own furry friend.

1. Save the play for after the photos.

Your dog likes you…I mean, really likes you! And he wants nothing more than to be in your lap. And if you engage this highly loving creature in some physical play before you try and get pictures chances are you wont get him to stay still long enough to get snap the photo. So muster up your own self-control and save the rough housing until after your photo session is done.

2. Keep treats handy.

Dogs respond incredibly well to extrinsic motivation (a.k.a. bribery). So keep a handful of treats available to bribe your dog with – chances are she’ll stay still if she knows she’s getting something for it. The thing you have to remember then is, make sure you actually reward your dog for her good behavior! If you don’t she won’t have any reason to keep sitting. WARNING! If you keep treats in your pocket so your dog won’t see them, just make sure she doesn’t smell them out, or you’re done for! And whatever you do, DO NOT bring out her favorite ball or toy!!! (See trick #1)

3. Play with camera angles.

Dogs don’t photograph the same way as people; they look great from some really funny angles and terrible from others. Use a variety of angles and focal lengths when photographing your furry friend and see what works and what doesn’t. Keep in mind that the most classic dog images from the art world are often with the dog looking off to one side.

4. Pay extra special attention to the background!

It’s ALWAYS crucial to watch your backgrounds in portrait photography, but with dogs you should take extra care because their fur will blend in to the background if it’s similar in color. Try and choose a background with vibrant color that isn’t found in the dogs fur, or against the opposite light/dark background from your dog’s fur (e.g. if your dog is black, try a white or light colored background – NOT black!)

Above all else, have FUN! And make sure your dog has fun too! After all – they’re worth it! Enjoy your adventures!

9 Halloween Photography Tips

So it’s Saturday evening, your kid’s all dressed in full Halloween garb and about to hit up all your neighbors for sweets and holiday goodness, and you want to commemorate this oh-so-adorable event with a few pictures. Here are 9 tips from the photographers at the Portrait Shoppe that may help you capture the mood and feeling of All Hallow’s Eve in your portraits:

1. Know what your subject is

There will be no end to the things you can shoot at Halloween: from jack-o-lanterns to scary decorations to kids in costume. Figuring out exactly what it is you want to photograph will make your photographs much more pleasing to look at and easier to understand. Halloween is a time of color, emotion, and its full of all sorts of interesting subjects – take them one at a time , pick one to be your main focus in each shot, that way each one will stand out boldly.

2. Find interesting details to focus on

All good images have something in them that holds the attention of their viewers. Rather than taking all wide shots from 5 feet up, find the details that make the moment memorable. For example, instead of having the kid hold the pillow case of candy up by his head, have him reach in a grab as much as he can and hold it up by his face. That is a much more emotional and exciting photograph! Find the little details about her costume that really make it special and use those as your focal points. Everything you’ll see on Halloween will be full of detail – like the point about picking your subject, don’t try and focus on too much at once.

3. Fill the frame to increase drama

Zoom in! (But please, whatever you do, DON’T use the “digital zoom” on your camera!) Get in close and fill the frame with your subject. This helps to crowd out unwanted distractions in the background and it heightens the drama of the portrait. Whether its people or objects, getting in close will usually at a good punch to your shot.

4. Experiment with fresh camera angles

It’s probably the case that the day after Halloween, photo sharing websites will be filled with images of pumpkins and ghosts with winter coats on that all look very much the same. Make your images stand out by finding fresh angles to shoot from. Try getting super low or super high and see what difference it makes. And if you really feel bold, angle your camera a little bit. The key is to experiment; some angles will be absolutely terrible, some will be a breath of fresh air – play around and see what you like.

5. Pay attention to the background and surroundings

A great picture of your child in costume can be totally ruined by the TV on in the background, or the dishes in the sink peaking out from behind her head. Remember, even though you may only be focused on how cute she may look, your camera is picking up everything in its field of view. Move your subjects in front of a simple background, or one that doesn’t have a lot of distractions in it. If you can, remove everything from the scene that doesn’t belong in the “period” of the costume: for example, there were no wristwatches in the medieval period, nor were there bookshelves in neverland. One other thing to consider in your surroundings and background is color – something too similar to the costume may blend in to your subjects, but something too different may clash. A little attention to these things ahead of time will result in images that really pop.

6. Turn off your flash (if you can)

No holiday is more dramatic, edgy, and dark than Halloween. Photographing your little ghouls under bright lights or the flash of your camera will severely dampen the effect of this mood that characterizes the holiday. If you can, photograph them in natural light – sunset lighting is AMAZING for these pictures! Make use of interesting light, such as candles, to add a really cool mood to your pictures. Just remember to tell your subjects to keep still while you get the shot!

For those who have cameras with the capability: 1) increase your ISO – the larger your number the more sensitive your image sensor is to light and the darker conditions you can shoot in without having to slow down shutter speed. 2) slow down shutter speed – choosing a longer shutter speed lets more light into your camera. On the downside you’ll see any movement in your shots blur (which might add to the spookiness of the image but could also ruin it). Consider using a tripod if you lengthen your shutter speed. 3) use a larger Aperture – this widens the hole in your lens and lets more available light in. It will also lessen the depth of field in your shots.

7. Jack-0-lanterns

A special note about photographing Jack-o-lanterns: it is particularly tricky to get the full effect of the eerie glowing inside. Instead of just the one candle you keep in there normally, it’s probably a good idea to use 2 or 3 for added light. Then set your camera down on a tripod or something sturdy (table, chair, etc.). Don’t forget to keep your flash off!

8. All about the attitude

“Hey, look here and smile!” Come on, how many superheroes want to pose like a little kid? Do you really think that a witch is going to try and look pretty for you? This may be your kid’s one big chance in the year to bring out their inner actor – let them perform! Ask them to go overboard with attitude…trust me, you’re kid knows how to ham it up! Encourage this by addressing them and interacting with them as though they really were Spiderman, or Peter Pan, or Aurora the princess. Kids LOVE this stuff – let them be completely enveloped by their character, and make sure your shots capture the energy they give!

9. Tell the story

Finally, don’t just take random photos throughout the night – chronolog the event through your images. Take the before shots of the kids getting into costume; take the after shots of the kid asleep at the Halloween party. Try to get some candid moments of the trick-or-treating and please don’t forget to catch the excitement in their faces when they get their first piece of Halloween candy! Photograph the moments, not just the stuff – your images will stand out from the crowd!

Eye Level

Chances are, no matter how much you love photography (or just taking pictures), when it comes to photographing children something seems, well…off. It’s cute because the kids are cute, but there’s something about it that doesn’t look quite right and you can’t quite put your finger on it.

More times than not the trouble is not your camera, the pose, the composition, or the lighting (although that’s public enemy #2). Public enemy #1 when it comes to photographing children is your eye level.

The world was not intended to always be viewed from 5 and 1/2 feet high; children are not flattered by that camera angle – looking down on top of their heads with their necks craned upward and their feet disproportionately small. It is much more natural and aesthetically pleasing to view your subject at his/her/their own eye level.

When you’re photographing children, get down to their eye level.

It’s really that simple.

When you drop the height of your body to shoot your subject(s) on his/her/their own eye level, you will be amazed at how drastically it affects the quality and attractiveness of your photograph. When the perspective changes, everything about the photograph changes. This is the single most significant change you can make to your photography of children.

More importantly, this helps you to enter their world rather than forcing them to enter into ours (which we ask of them constantly throughout their day). It helps you engage your young subjects on a personal level and in a way that communicates to them that they are important. It helps you relate to them on their level, in that moment, and you are able to better capture all of the emotion and spirit of that moment in a memorable photograph.

You know what the best part about this tip is? You can put it into practice immediately! You don’t have to upgrade your camera or go to classes to improve your photography – just start with this. Get down on your knees, or for babies lie down on your tummy. However you do it, get into their world and get down to their level; you will notice instantaneous improvement in your photographs.

Try it out, and lets us know how it goes – post your ideas and success stories below!