Lissa Rae
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Ten Tips for Better Photos

6/17/2018

5 Comments

 
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Hello hello! Welcome back to my blog!
This week I want to talk to you about one of my passions, photography! When people find out that I’m a photographer, I almost always get asked, “Will you teach me how to take good photos?!”

Well guess what? Today’s your lucky day! Below I have compiled a list of ten useful tips to help you create better photos!
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 1- Get to know your camera


Regardless of whether you’re using a DSLR, a point and shoot, or your phone, learn to use the different modes and features that your camera has available.


2- Compose using the rule of thirds

Imagine a tic tac toe grid (or a hashtag) laying over top of your photo.
To create a composition that’s visually appealing, place the focal points of the image on one of those lines, ideally where two of the lines meet.

If you're using an iPhone, you can turn the grid feature on for your camera by opening your settings, going to camera settings, and turning the grid on.

* This tip also applies for selfies!
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3- Blur the background

A question I get a lot is how I create images with blurred backgrounds!

To create a blurry background, you’ll want to create space between your subject and the background. The further away your subject is from the background, the more blurry it’ll become.

Next, the easiest mode to achieve a blurry background with is Aperture Mode. This is AV on a Canon, and A on a Nikon.

Next, lower your aperture (the f-stop). The lower your aperture, the blurrier your background will be!

Lastly, step back and zoom in all the way. This compresses the photo and blurs the background.


Fire away!

To create a blurry background on your phone, many phones now have modes that will use software to blur the background. You can also use the app Airbrush and use the “blur” feature to create the illusion of depth of field.

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* This tip also applies for selfies!
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Blurred background created using Portrait Mode on my iPhone.
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Blurred background created using a low aperture on my Canon 6D.
4- Leave space around your subject

Something I see a lot in photos are limbs being cut off by the frame. I’ve seen so many great photos taken, but the frame cuts the subject off at their ankles. 

Allow space around your subject to create a more comfortably composed shot!
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5- Pay attention to lighting

There’s nothing quite like trying to get a good shot smack dab in the middle of the day. The sun is glaring down creating huge shadows under the eyes, nose, and neck. YUCK!

When you’re shooting outdoors, cloudy days are your friend! They will diffuse the sunlight and give you soft light instead of harsh shadows. My favorite time of day to photograph is the evening, right before sunset. This will give you great light without crazy shadows. If you have to photograph in the middle of the day, look for shade!

When photographing indoors, big windows letting in natural light will give you the best lighting. Avoid fluorescent lights or bathroom lighting if possible.

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* This tip also applies for selfies!

Another lighting issue I see often are photos that are either overexposed or underexposed. That means that they are either too light or too dark. Either one of these issues will cause you to lose details in the photo! Avoid this by making sure you have your exposure correct for the scene you’re photographing. If you’re using your phone, tap on the part of the image you want exposed properly and that will adjust your exposure.

Advanced tip: One of my favorite looks to photograph are photos with soft, ethereal, glowy light. This can be achieved by placing the light source BEHIND your subject!
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6- Focus on the eyes

When photographing people, you want the eyes to be in focus! Look for catchlights (the white light reflecting in the eyes) in the subject’s eyes and focus on the eye that is nearest to you.
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7- Don’t over retouch

This one is HUGE! When it comes to retouching, less is more. There are plenty of apps that give you the option to smooth out your skin, but avoid going overboard. Too much smoothing will make you look blurry and plastic!

Don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that retouching your photos is a bad thing, I am a big fan of editing out my acne in my photos. Just remember that less is more!

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* This tip also applies for selfies!
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Before retouching.
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Too much retouching.
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Just right.
8- Wait for the right moment

This is a tip that has come especially in handy for me when following my toddler around with a camera. It can be easy to rush a photo, but waiting for the right moment will make the difference between a good photo and an amazing photo!

Have patience and wait for that picture perfect moment.
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9- Change your perspective

Get creative with perspective! Try taking a photo from either high up or low down, see what happens! When photographing children or animals, try crouching down and getting on their level. 
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10- Keep lines vertical and horizontal

An important technique that will help take your photography to the next level is keeping the lines in your photos straight.

For example, when you take a beautiful photo of your friend at the beach, make sure the horizon line is straight! This is an easy fix that can even be made after the photo is taken. Most photo editing softwares give you the option to adjust your image rotation in the "crop" settings.
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Crooked lines in the background. Notice the horizon line and the trees.
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Straight horizon line and trees.
BONUS TIP - The best camera is the one you have with you

Growing up, my dad always told me that the best camera is the one you have with you. If you see an amazing moment, don’t hesitate to photograph it, even if the only camera you have on you is your phone. 

Lewis Carroll said that ““In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” This also applies to photos! Some of my favorite photos are ones that I took on my phone because I didn’t have my DSLR with me, yet I am so grateful to have captured the moment.
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Taken on my husband's Google Pixel phone.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope it helped you and that you now feel more confident with your camera! I’d love to see some of your photos that you take after reading these tips! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave them below!
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5 Comments

25 things I learned in my first (almost) two years as a mom

6/5/2018

6 Comments

 
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25 Things I've Learned As a Mom
  • If breastfeeding doesn’t work for you, that’s okay. What’s most important is that you and your baby are healthy and happy.
  • It’s easy to lose yourself in motherhood. Find something that you can do just for you, to keep sight of yourself.
  • If you find a friend whose baby naps at the same time as your baby, hang on tight. Those are worth their weight in gold.
  • Costco diapers are my favorite for day time, they’re good quality and inexpensive. For night time, I prefer Honest Diapers. They’re the best I’ve found for keeping baby dry.
  • Between diapers and formula, a Costco membership will save you so much money!
  • It’s hard balancing motherhood and being a good wife. It’s important to continue to date your spouse and find time to focus on each other.
  • Don’t be afraid to seek help for postpartum depression/anxiety. It’s important that you’re healthy and happy so your baby can be healthy and happy. If you do seek help, make sure you find someone you’re comfortable with, who really gets to know you and your needs before prescribing anything.
  • If your kid likes Soothie pacifiers, get a Wubbanub. They’re much easier to keep track of and you won’t lose them as often.
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Eli and I at the splash pad. Summer 2017.
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Mother's Day 2018
  • Do your research on Wonder Weeks. It will explain so much about your child’s mood swings.
  • Every mom does things a little differently. What’s important is that different doesn’t mean wrong!
  • Enjoy the short amount of time you have while your baby is immobile. Once they start crawling, walking, and running, they become a tornado of destruction.
  • Don’t underestimate the power of getting ready and putting on some makeup. It’ll make you feel more like yourself and put you in a better mood.
  • The Mother Goose Club is great and your kid will love it. But be prepared for many sleepless nights because you have obnoxious songs about dinosaurs or rainbows stuck in your head.
  • Fruit pouches are the best! An easy snack and my kid is obsessed. Target’s Up&Up brand is the cheapest. 88 cents a pouch.
  • To elongate your shopping trips, make sure to bring lots of snacks for your kiddo.
  • Cutting your kids hair will make them look approximately 10 years older. Consider yourself warned.
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Zoo trip! May 2018.
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October 2016.
  • Find a good brand of dry shampoo and rock the messy bun. My favorite is Dry Bar.
  • Invest in a Zoo Pass, a membership to the children’s museum, or something of that nature. It’s a great way to get out of the house. Eli and I go to the zoo a couple times a week.
  • Take all the pictures, even if you don’t look “presentable.” Babies grow so fast and each moment is so special.
  • When grocery shopping with kid, park as close as possible to the cart return. You can easily buckle your kid in, put groceries in the car and quickly put away the cart without worrying about your kid.
  • There’s an app called Baby Bubbles. It’s ad free and just plays music while your kid can pop bubbles on your phone. It’s AMAZING for keeping your kid occupied during long car rides or plane rides.
  • Don’t get too attached to your food or beverages. What’s your’s is also your kid’s.
  • High waisted pants are your friend. They hold in mommy tummy.
  • Find a group of fellow mommas who support you fiercely and encourage you. Mom life is hard enough as it is, going it alone is never fun.
  • Don’t take yourself too seriously. We’re all figuring this mom thing out as we go.
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6 Comments

Grow family photos

5/30/2018

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Karlie Jean's birth story

3/20/2018

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Michelle's Maternity Photos

2/3/2018

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This cute momma is due in March! I can't wait to meet her new addition to her adorable family!
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Costa Rica

2/2/2018

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While when I was in Costa Rica I had a chance to get behind the lens again and it reminded me just how passionate I am about it! ​

Today I've been working on editing my shots from Costa Rica, and I'm so excited to show you some of my favorites!
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Vatcher Family Photos

2/6/2017

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I was so excited to photograph my first family in California! They're such a cute group and it was a blast!
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Pacheco Family Pictures

11/6/2016

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This was my first session back after my maternity leave!  The Pacheco family decided to have their pictures done at Jolley's Ranch up Hobble Creek Canyon in Springville, Utah.  I absolutely love how they turned out! 
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Krissy and Devin's Formal Session

7/30/2016

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Krissy and Devin got married today in the Mount Timpanogos LDS temple!  Here's a look at their formal session at Thanksgiving Point from last month!
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Congratulations Krissy and Devin, I wish you all the best!
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Caitlyn and Cody's First Look and Formal Session

6/17/2016

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For Caitlyn and Cody's first look and formal session, we decided to head up to Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City.  This was my first time shooting there and I absolutely loved it!  It was a beautiful setting to photograph formals.
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Cody's reaction when he turned around and saw Caitlyn in her dress for the first time was adorable!
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© COPYRIGHT 2018  ELISABETH BISHOP.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
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