Arizona Archives - Beautiful Matter

5 Tips: Better Family Photographs

Amanda — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 20:45:34 +0000

We are by no means photography “experts” and the internet doesn’t have a shortage of tips for better photography, but thought we’d share some tips based a recent trip to Sedona, AZ. Yes, having a good quality camera and lens is helpful but we wanted to share some tips for improving your family photos using any camera you have, even your smartphone.

Tip #1: Location

Try capturing the whole environment, in our case we had a lot to choose from in our environment. The foliage, the water, the rocks, and of course famous red rock. If you photograph more details of the environment you’ll have more to remember from your experience.

Another recommendation for the location is to interact with it. Splash in the water, jump, or even throw rocks while capturing the landscape. You are more likely to capture your subjects in a more visually interesting way if they are playing, having fun, and our favorite…just being natural.

Tip #2: Natural Light

Work with the light you have, don’t be frustrated if it is too bright, or too dark outside. In Arizona, we think early morning light is best but depending on where you travel it may not always be possible. If it’s too sunny, have the subject be in the shade for more even light. This ensures there aren’t harsh lights on their face creating harsh shadows or squinting. Alternatively, you can use the sun like a spotlight to feature your subject and make them shine…especially if you can utilize a dark background.

Tip #3: Traffic

Avoid the highest traffic spots for tourism or plan to arrive when, or before, the park opens. It seems simple but some tourist spots fill quickly so it is almost impossible to avoid people in the background. If you happen to be surrounded by a crowd of people, think of create ways to ensure they aren’t in the background. Zoom in, turn left or right…or get really good at Photoshop

Tip #4: Outfit

Consider what you wear for the environment. Do you want to camouflage into your environment and be one with nature or do you want your subjects to stand out? Wearing a contrasting color, for example, our little ones white shirt, is a stark contrast to the dark trees and makes him pop in the photos. Dressing in similar tones, not necessarily matching outfits, is helpful for a cohesive look unless of course you want one person to specifically be the focus for the day.

Tip #5: Lower Angles

Consider getting low, especially when photographing kids. When you get low to the ground with your camera you gain a whole new perspective and it gives the viewer a “unique” angle to seeing your kids, not what a 6 foot adult sees. The camera captures things you otherwise wouldn’t be able to see if you are at normal standing height.

The example here allowed us to frame up the mountain in the background and it even gives the subject a heroic-type appearance.

Summary

We hope these five tips are helpful for taking better photos of your family. If you have specific questions we would love for you to ask them in the comments below!

Examples

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Lake Powell on a Budget

Amanda — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 10:00:14 +0000

We love road tripping with the kids. Not only does it break up the monotony of daily routines but it also provides them with an opportunity to learn about their home state. Are you traveling with your children and only have a weekend to explore? It’s possible to see these incredible places. We challenge you to get out and see more of the beautiful state of Arizona starting with a visit to Page, Arizona.

When most people think of Page, Arizona they plan to spend the majority of time on beautiful Lake Powell. If you can rent a house boat, or any type of boat for that matter, or if you own one, then that will be an excellent way to explore the stunning rock formations and enjoy the cool water. But maybe your budget is too tight for a boat or you dislike being on the water. Don’t worry, there are plenty of short (better for children) activities for you to enjoy while visiting Lake Powell.

Lake Powell is about a five hour drive from the Phoenix Metro area. We did the drive straight through only taking a brief stop in Flagstaff for our toilet learning toddler. Since the children are most excited on the first day of travel we decided to avoid planned stops along the way and instead save a fun activity for the return trip. Our first free activity when arriving to Page, Arizona was a small hike to the Glen Canyon Dam overlook. Hikers beware, some areas are steep but most of the area is steps and there is a railing for support. Our seven and two year old were able to do it slowly however the heat was intense in June and we weren’t able to enjoy the overlook as you would during fall or winter. If you’re of decent health, bring water, good shoes, and a camera since the views will not disappoint. This short little hike helped to get the wiggles out after traveling and passed some time until we could check into our hotel.

If you get hot then the obvious thing to do next is get wet. We decided to check out Wahweap Beach for water play and swimming. If you’re planning to take this trip or visit any other National treasures we highly recommend the purchase of the America the Beautiful Pass. This pass allowed us free access to Wahweap Beach. If you’re not ready to invest in a pass, no worries, the cost is just $30 for a non commercial vehicle for seven consecutive days. Since we visited during the summer the parking lot seems to fill quickly so plan to head down to the lake early to secure your spot.

The swim area is excellent for children with plenty of sandy beach to build sand castles. The restrooms near the parking lot were well kept and perfect for changing. If you have kids, then you’re inevitably hauling stuff, please be advised that it is quite a long trek from the parking area to the lake. Now that our oldest is seven years old, he’s responsible to help haul stuff in his children’s CO op backpack from REI. Click here to see a similar one. Just down from the large beach area we found a smaller beach that was more secluded. The views were like nothing we’ve seen. The lake is cold. Your kids won’t mind. You’ll want to visit during the summer when the hot temperatures give you no choice but to dive right in with them.

Another fun family activity is a visit to the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. Due to the current pandemic situation the the visitor center was closed but typically tours of the dam are just $5. We did stop to film the dam and allow the children to see the area. There is no parking fee and the view is worth the quick stop.

You’re dying to see Horseshoe bend on this trip and you should. It’s definitely affordable! Use your America the Beautiful pass to get in free or plan to pay $10 per vehicle. Horseshoe bend is an excellent hike for children and families. The paved path was easy for our children. They enjoyed leaving their mark by building small rock piles along the way. Bring water and enjoy the peaceful desert walk in the early part of the day before the sun is blazing and Instagrammers take over.

If you’re looking for affordable lodging in Page I highly recommend the Best Western Lake View. We felt this location was a steal for just $70 per night. Granted, travel and tourism is down due to the Covid Pandemic so rates may change. The views from the hotel balcony were stunning. We spent the evening sitting around the fire pit with a pizza and the children enjoyed a dip in the pool and hot tub as well.

Going home always feels sad when you’ve had so much fun exploring a new place. Brighten their mood with a stop to see the Dinosaur Tracks discovered on the Navajo nation land. This activity was free and made our Dino-obssesed toddler’s dreams come true. You can tell from the video we experienced extremely high winds and some dust so sunglasses and a face covering is helpful if these conditions are present.

We hope our family video gives you a better idea of what to expect when visiting Lake Powell country. We’ve never taken a more affordable road trip with kids while still experiencing so much. If you haven’t already, please subscribe so you don’t miss our next family adventure!

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Breakfast at Paseo Vista Park

Amanda — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 12:02:20 +0000

We love slow weekends when we don’t have any commitments. We just wake up and go (sometimes before sunrise). We recently picked up some breakfast and headed out to one of our favorite little parks in Chandler called Paseo Vista Park.

This park has some interesting areas for photography. The playground was built using some recycled materials which makes for interesting backdrops and a fun play area for children. Our children loved playing in the construction materials used on the disc golf course. We had fun watching them climb inside the tunnels and captured some cute photos of them playing.

The park is elevated due to being built on top of a landfill so the morning views are simply beautiful. We consider this a fun and interesting little park for child and family photography. The plant life, as well as, the mountains, make for some beautiful photography backdrops. This is a busy park with a dog park, archery range, and large playground so if you want the best shots you’ll want to get there early. See some of our candid family photos below and leave a comment with your favorite picnic spot.
If you love park play and family time as much as we do we would love to photograph your lifestyle family session. Book your family session now by submitting a quote through the pricing calculator.

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Tonto National Forest

Amanda — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:08:35 +0000

We love taking the children on easy hikes all around the valley. One fun little hiking area is the Tonto National Forest. We live relatively close to this hiking area but when we visit there it feels like we are somewhere totally new and special. Like most young hikers, our children tend to meander and wander rather than hike, so we like finding places that are fun for them to explore without being so challenging that we have to back pack them. Walking is beneficial for all of us and hikes with children don’t have to strenuous. We also allow them to bring a few toys. Taking indoor toys outside provides a new experience for them.
If you’re as lucky as we were you’ll be rewarded with a visit from the wild horses who call the park home. There is something so majestic about seeing these beautiful animals wild and free. We were lucky to be in the right place at the right time. In fact, they crossed the road right in front of our car! Check out some of the lovely shots we took of these beautiful creatures and you’ll see the boys had a great time too.

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