5 tips to take family porch pictures during quarantine | coronavirus family photos
Porch pictures during quarantine - it is all the rage. And, I understand the reasoning behind them. This is an unprecedented time and we are all stuck at home together. Photographers around the country started offering “Porch Sessions” as a way to give back to their community. This movement then became a way for photographers to make money in a usually busy time. Many photographers around the globe are struggling financially because they fall into the small business category that is now suffering. If there are social distancing rules in effect, how can photographers safely (and ethically) conduct photo sessions where they come in contact with many families? For my business, personally, I am having to cancel newborn sessions due COVID-19 because it just isn’t safe. There is no way I would potentially pass on this virus, even though I am asymptomatic, to a newborn’s weak immune system. But, we are all looking for something to do these days, so I am here to offer you some tips to take your own family pictures on the porch FOR FREE!
The lighting is evvvvvvverything. Do not attempt to take pictures on your porch during the time of day when the sun is beaming down directly into your front door. It is not a good look. Everyone will be squinty and you will hate it. Instead, wait until mid morning or mid afternoon when the sun has set just a bit and isn’t directly overhead. You want to try and avoid any crazy shadows or any really bright, splotchy patches of light. So, here is what you do. Watch the light on your porch one day. Watch to see when it is nicely shaded without crazy light. Plan to do your pictures during that time of day. If it is a cloudy day, that is an added bonus!
Clean off your porch. Anyone want a picture covered in yellow pollen? Nope. Take a hose to that mess. De-clutter (even if that means you throw everything out of the picture frame just to throw it back in when you’re done). Boom.
Let everyone get a little spiffed up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been rocking some t-shirts and the same yoga pants 2 days (ok, fine, 3 days) in a row. Take this as an opportunity to get spruced up a bit. Maybe even take a shower and do your hair? Whaaaat?! Fancy. ;)
Find a time that works best for your family. Don’t plan to do all of this when you normally have naptime, or when your kid’s teacher decides to host their 3rd Google Meeting of the week, or when your husband has a conference call. If it doesn’t get done today, I promise you will have time to do it tomorrow.
And lastly, set your phone camera up on a timer. Use this as an engineering challenge for your kids. Where can your phone be placed to get the whole porch in frame? If you have a digital camera, even better! Now is a great time to learn how to use the timer feature. I recommend setting it for at least 10 seconds, and if you have a burst function, it will take multiple pictures in a short time frame.
That’s it folks. An easy peasy way to take some family porch pictures for FREE during this quarantine. In addition, if anyone decides to use these tips and you want me to edit a photo for you, go ahead and send it to info@amycarterphotography.com and I’ll be happy to snazz it up.
Happy shooting!
-Amy
