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Tips for Valentine’s Pictures
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Valentine’s Day reminds us to love and appreciate the people and things around us! It’s also a great time to capture some fun pictures and have a little fun with some props! I’m going to share with you some tips on creating fun Valentine’s pictures this year!
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Tip #1) Find the right props!
The stores are full of Valentine’s Day props. Find some props that will add to your pictures but not be the main event. You want your subject to stand out the most. Look for some simple props that will still make a statement and give your pictures a little pop for the holiday! Balloons and cute signs are a great idea!
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Tip #2) Think About Your Purpose
Ask yourself what are you making these for? Are you making them for Valentine’s Day cards, for Grandparents, Friends? Think about creating space in your image for some catchy words like “Be Mine Valentine.” There are so many cute little phrases for even including candy.
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Tip #3) Think About Your Location
Likley you’ll be taking these pictures in December or January to have them ready for February. Most of the trees and grass are not green at this time of year. Choose a non natural background if you go outside like a cool brick wall or even a barn. If you’re working in a studio consider using a white backdrop instead of a red one. Color casting can be difficult to work with using a red background.
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Tip #4) Plan for your lighting
In these pictures I used a mixture of studio lighting and natural lighting. While making cookies and outside I used all natural light. For the shots of the kids on the bed I used a studio light with a 5 ft softbox. This helps to spread the light and mimic natural light as if it was coming from a window.
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Tip #5) Move Around your Subject
You can get such a variety of shots if you just move around your subject. I was standing in front of, overhead, and to the side of my subject and the variety of shots I got was so different. It’s also interesting to see how the light can change the look of your images when you move around to different angles as well.
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Tip #6) Choose the Best Lens
For these images I used a variety of lenses. I was shooting with my Sony mirrorless camera and using my E-mount Tamron lenses. I used the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for most of my indoor shots. I liked that I could use the wider angle for certain shots but also get closer portraits in the 70mm range. While outside I knew I wanted to shoot portraits so I chose my favorite Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD. I love the look of the bokeh and I knew it would be perfect with the golden hour light I was working with. Lastly, I used the Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 for some close-up shots where I wanted to capture detail and bokeh, especially during the golden hour. The Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 also provided me with the flexibility to shoot various distances without compromising image quality, making it an invaluable tool for Valentine’s Day photo sessions.
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Tip #7) Have Fun!
Whether you’re working with a romantic couple or kids creating valentines or making cookies just remember that you’re creating something that someone is going to love and treasure for years to come. I can’t think of a better way to show love than through the gift of photography!
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