| My mum hates being photographed! I'm not that | | | | When you're shooting, take lots of photos. I take as |
| fussed about photographs of myself either. As I age, | | | | many as I can with the promise that I'll keep only the |
| my face doesn't always refect the age I feel inside | | | | best and anything that the person absolutely hates |
| and many photos catch me looking less attractive | | | | will be deleted - no questions asked. After all, I want |
| than I'd like to look. I have every sympathy for my | | | | to do this again and building trust in me as a |
| mum who is obviously years older again than I am. | | | | photographer is really important. |
| However, chronicling the women in our lives, our | | | | Look at me! |
| mums, mums in law, grandmothers and aunts is an | | | | You will find that the best shots generally have the |
| important part of recording our family history. This | | | | person looking direct at the camera - this isn't to say |
| mother's day or some time soon, grab the special | | | | you won't get great shots when they're looking |
| woman in your life, sit them down and take a | | | | elsewhere but you can improve your chances by |
| portrait that they're happy to look at. It's not difficult | | | | having them look at the camera as much as possible. |
| when you know these few tricks for capturing them | | | | When photographing, fill the frame with the person's |
| at their best. | | | | face. The closer you get, the more detail you will |
| Where to look | | | | capture and the more intimate the resulting portrait |
| Most people look better looking up at the camera | | | | will be. Check the results from time to time to make |
| rather than looking down at it. Even someone with | | | | sure they are well lit and check again every time you |
| no double chin will get one when looking down! | | | | move position, because the light will change - |
| Looking down at the camera also accentuates a | | | | particularly when you are out of doors. |
| person's nostrils which isn't always flattering. | | | | Costume change |
| When taking a photo, position your mum so you can | | | | If time permits, have mum change clothes half way |
| stand higher than she is - this usually means that she | | | | through the shoot to a different colour so you get a |
| needs to be sitting down. Find a place indoors with | | | | different feel to your photos. You might be surprised |
| good natural light and shoot inside or find a shady | | | | how some colours work better with certain skin |
| spot outside. For our pictures of Anne here we hung | | | | tones. If you have the space to work, move around |
| some dark curtains from a front porch to shield the | | | | to get a different perspective of your mum, but |
| worst of the bright and uneven sunlight and shot | | | | always take care that the background isn't cluttered |
| outdoors. | | | | and that it remains unobtrusive. |
| Use a Tripod | | | | Fixing the images |
| Using a tripod will ensure that the camera is still when | | | | Once I've downloaded and chosen the best shots it's |
| you take the shot - if not, focus on keeping it | | | | time to clean up the photos on the computer. Any |
| steady - especially if you start clowning around and | | | | skin blemishes are removed using the Photoshop |
| you need to laugh. Jokes are good - in fact anything | | | | Elements healing brush. To lessen the effect of |
| that works to make mum relaxed will help lots. I | | | | wrinkles a good fix is to make a duplicate of the |
| usually take a friend who is a bit of a wag with me | | | | image layer and to blur this duplicate with a small |
| and she makes comments and asks questions of the | | | | Gaussian blur. Then selectively erase the top layer to |
| person I'm shooting. By the time a few minutes have | | | | reveal the sharper features underneath leaving the |
| passed the person being photographed forgets I'm | | | | blur over the wrinkles. Finally, adjust the opacity of |
| even there. | | | | the top layer to blend the two for a great result. |
| Keep those hands busy | | | | Using a warming filter will give a portrait a warm pink |
| Having something for your mum to hold or to rest on | | | | glow which is very flattering to skin tones. In |
| works well as it gives her something to do with her | | | | Photoshop Elements, to do this, choose Filter, |
| hands. I've used an empty picture frame, a chair | | | | Adjustments, Photo Filter and choose a Warming |
| turned backwards, a book and even a sledge | | | | filter (85). You can set the density of the filter to |
| hammer (don't ask me to explain the significance of | | | | control how strongly it is applied. Other tools that I |
| that one but it worked) when shooting. | | | | like to use include the lightening brush to lighten a |
| You can use anything from a flower to a stuffed toy | | | | person's teeth slightly and I'll often use the saturation |
| - whatever helps to take mum's attention off the | | | | enhancing brush to brighten their eyes. Err on the |
| fact that you're photographing her. | | | | side of caution though, the edits you make should be |
| Makeup Please! | | | | subtle and gently enhance the photo - you're not |
| Ask mum to wear some light makeup - while you | | | | performing cosmetic surgery! |
| can remove obvious blemishes later on, the even skin | | | | If your mum gets just one photo that she loves of |
| tones you get from her wearing makeup can save | | | | herself from those you've taken - you've given her a |
| hours of fixing on the computer and really will | | | | wonderful gift. Best of all, you can bet she'll be happy |
| improve the portrait a lot. | | | | to pose for you again next year. |
| Take lots of shots | | | | |