Inspiration- Taking Creative Photos

Have you ever wanted to make a collage of photos in your house and realize...wow...all of my photos look exactly the same. Everyone is smiling, looking right at the camera with their arms around each other. Well now is the time for some INSPIRATION!  Here are some tips on taking Creative Photos:

1. Be Natural

Some of the best photos that I take are the "shots in between".  Capturing candid photos is by far my favorite. For example, the photo below completely captures how crazy life probably is for this family! With the little boy swinging in the air and the big brother trying to get his dad's attention and the mom just cracking up, this is perfect.

photo via Pinterest

 Although this may not be "natural" (perhaps it may be so that they don't lose kids!), they are in motion interacting with one another. This is one reason I love taking wedding and engagement photos, -there is another person for them to interact with; which results in natural shots! So natural candid photos happen when there is interaction!

photo via Pinterest

2.  Different Angles

 In "How to take a better Photo" I talked about the orientation of the subjects in the photo. This type of angle involves where the photographer is in relation to the subject.
Try taking a photo from below and you can get an effect like this shot I took of my brother in law:

Taking the photo from above [grab a ladder, someone's shoulders, a chair] is a great angle and also very flattering for most people. Goodbye double chins!

3.  Use Props

Even something as simple as the bride and groom lighting a paper lantern can make a stunning portrait. Using props adds another dimension to the photo. Whether it's a couple underneath an umbrella, your kids spraying each other with the hose or splashing in puddles, or playing a board game, creatively using props in a photo can turn out great!

4. Find Inspiration Online
Sometimes just browsing the web can spark the good old imagination. Through Pinterest and other sites I have found some great ideas and poses that I've loved using! Here are some photos I've taken that have been inspired through others:

Smooshing a baby's cheeks with kisses

A dramatic picture of a bride looking out her window.

I hope you've found yourself some inspiration from this article! I'd love to hear your ideas for taking creative photos and see any examples that you love. 

Photo Gift Ideas from Raft Media

Many times photo gifts can be the perfect present...for ANYONE! Here are some reasons why...
1. They capture a memory...this counts as priceless
2. For the person who has "everything"..they don't have this photo on their wall
3. You can print a 5x7 photo for around $0.40 at Costco
4. Even if they have a million pics of their baby, dog, themselves, etc there is ALWAYS a better/more creative/more flattering picture that you can take of them
5. You can make killer gifts like these ones... [many of these are from my Pinterest]

Idea #1: Use a Map as the Matte for your photo. Especially cool if the map is from where the photo is taken!

photo via pinterest

Idea #2: Use Newspaper as the matte for your photo. This one is also especially cool if the newspaper is from the day the photo is taken...such as a wedding day.

photo via pinterest

Idea #3: Take an old frame, put a nail/screw/bolt even on each side of it, hang wire/twine/string across it and use clothespins to clip photos on it. I did this with a bunch of wedding photos and LOVE it!

photo via pinterest

Idea #4: Make your own wood frames for your photos. I used old pallet wood cut evenly. [There are two pieces of wood on the back horizontally holding it together]. You can paint the wood or leave it natural which is my favorite. Then you hang the photo frame on the wood [I did dollar store frames] and VOILA! awesome, inexpensive gift.

photo via pinterest

Idea #5-  We Met- We Married -We Live. Use photos, or a map in this case, to document these 3 life changes in one frame. Hearts are cute to cut out of the matte but you can do any shape!

photo via pinterest

Happy Holidays everyone!

-Audrey C

Raft Media's Best of 2011

Make sure you go visit our Facebook Page to vote for the Best of 2011.
Here's some of the featured photos! What an amazing year it's been.

Taking a Better Photo this Holiday Season

The Holidays are the perfect time to snap some shots at home this year. Whether it's your puppy dog, your kids on Christmas morning, or of your friends at an ugly sweater party, shoot away! I always regret not taking enough pictures of my everyday life and the Holidays.
There are a couple of easy things you can do to take better photos this year! Or perhaps it can be a resolution for next year ;) You don't need to have an expensive camera, these tips can be done with any point and shoot.

The first rule is: THE RULE OF THIRDS


So imagine the frame of your camera split into thirds horizontally and vertically. Your photo will be more appealing to the eye if the subject of your photo either is in one third of your frame. (vertically in this case below)

Or the focus point of your subject (commonly their face), is at one of the 4 intersecting points. The photo below captures their faces at the upper right intersecting point.

It's also possible to crop your photo so that your subject is in one of these positions as well if you didn't think to take the original picture using this rule!
*[Now I'm not saying it's not possible to take a good picture without using the Rule of 3rds, there are always exceptions to the rule!*]

The second rule is : CAPTURE GOOD LIGHTING


Good lighting can make or break a photo. There is dramatic backlighting you can use at sunset, or soft morning light that will make your outdoor early photos just glow! But for the typical everyday photo whether it's indoors or outdoors you want good lighting so you can get clear, crisp photos of your subject!
Indoors: Using Flash is always a last resort for getting natural looking photos. (Unless you have an external flash and can "bounce" it off a wall...this is more advanced). So if you can turn on lights, open the window blinds and curtains or adjust your camera settings this is always best! If it is dark inside your camera will adjust to offset this and this may result in a grainy or off-colored photo.

This photo of me was taken indoors with no flash. I was facing a window that had mid-morning sun coming through it!
Outdoors: Now this is my favorite place in the world to take photos. An hour after Sunrise and an hour before Sunset is what is referred to as the "Golden Hour". This is when the sun is low enough so that you can take photos most anywhere without harsh shadows and it just seems to "glow" outside!

Photo taken during the "golden" hour in Boise, Idaho.
If you are outside taking photos during the day, try to take them in shade so that your subjects don't burn their retinas out looking into the sunshine or they are shadowed by having their backs to the sun.

The third rule is: STEADY YOURSELF


Having your photo steady and also your subjects steady will help your photo turn out crisp and beautiful. If you are taking photos of moving people or things, you can still keep the camera steady on your end [tripods are useful, or simply holding your breath], but you can also adjust your camera settings to either "sports" or to increase your shutter speed.

Photo taken at my friend's wedding when her & her husband were headed to the getaway car. I adjusted the shutter speed to be faster so they wouldn't be blurred.
There are so many other rules and tricks to taking a better picture but just these three for now! Happy Holidays!

{Samila + Admir} | Engaged | Boise Idaho Photography |Raft Media

Ever since Adnana's wedding this past summer I have had the pleasure of doing some shoots for her friends and family. Through this I have learned a couple things about Bosnian women!
#1 They are drop dead gorgeous. All of them.
#2 They love their sky-high heels :)
It was the perfect fall day for engagement photos. [Perhaps a bit chilly but that just meant we got rosy cheeks!]

I love her shirt! They brought roses for their shoot also, very classy.

This is my favorite, she wanted slightly vintage editing and this shot worked perfect for it.

This couple is seriously photogenic. They look so great together!

Climbing in the trees. This just has "love" written all over it!

The Boise Train Depot is a wonderful place for engagements, very romantic.

I love the backdrop of Boise, what a beautiful city.

This girl has amazing eyes, this one just draws you in!

Hiding under his coat to keep warm. So sweet.

{Kajdic Girls} |Family Mini Sessions | Boise Idaho Photography |Raft Media

This was officially the first ever Mini Session Marathon that Raft Media has done!
A super chilly morning in Eagle + three families +  2 little cutie pie girls = so.much.fun
Now if you're thinking the gorgeous couple in the first couple of photos look familiar they are! Selvi & Adnana got married this last summer & I had the pleasure of capturing their special day. So welcome back newly weds!
The two other families the "H family" and the "T family" are Adnana's cousins (well the wives are!). I have come to the conclusion that all of her family is unbelievably nice!
Penelope and Ava are the two super adorable little girls in the photos. The older one Penelope had the funniest little sass to her and refused to smile. Swinging from mom and dad's arms was too fun to NOT smile though :) Gotcha!
So the first Mini Sessions were a huge success. This is a great option for families who just want a few family photos and have another 2 or 3 families who can share the session with them! Contact me if you are interested in booking one!

{Kailey} |Boise Senior Photography- Raft Media

Bubbly... Sweet... Confident... Beautiful... Brunette
This would me Miss Kailey. She came prepared with her right hand lady Sara to help with hair/makeup & outfit changes. I hadn't spent any time with Kailey before but the first thing I noticed was her bright smile with the cutest chiseled dimples.
Wandering through the park, we caught the stunning light from sunset, got to play in the water and climb in trees. Towards the end of this shoot I realized this girl has eyes to kill! Where did they come from?! Maybe her cheeks hurt from smiling, but the first and last image here came from the last 10 minutes of her shoot.
Such a fun evening with Kailey & Sara. I wish I could have been taking pictures behind me to catch Sara's antics to get Kailey to laugh. She was telling jokes, dancing... pretty much a one person show :) Now there is a great friend.
Congrats on your Senior Year Kailey~

Her American Eagle Ad photo

I love this tree..it's huge!

Sunset + Fall Colors =Perfection

Eyes to Kill!

{Megan+Colin} |Engagements

Ah the beautiful crisp fall evenings and love is in the air! Megan and Colin are getting married this next summer and I have the honor of photographing their wedding. I couldn't wait to take their engagements to get to know them a little better!

The chemistry between this couple was so cute. The laughing, hand holding, and smiles were contagious.There's something about engaged couples that just makes my heart happy!

And then there is Mya, Megan's beautiful daughter. She was telling me about her new zebra clothes she got and her fashion show birthday party coming up. Too stinking cute. 

I'm so excited for this soon to be family, and love the special moments I got to capture~

Love in the City 

Mya's expression in this photo is priceless. Right when they kissed, she had the sweetest expression on her face and made little kissy lips herself.

Oh the fun they have together!

So special