Last week we took Ella to Disneyland for the first time.  Of course I brought my giant camera.  I bring it everywhere we go.  Getting good photos of a one day trip to Disney is difficult.  I’m going to share my method of photography in chaotic situations.  Maybe this will help you next time you’re trying to take family photos in an active setting.  Or maybe you already know this stuff.

Any parent that has taken their children to Disney is familiar with how stressful the day can become.  It’s easy to turn a happy event into a nightmare.  That’s why it is important not to stress about photos.  You guarantee yourself a lot of frustration and angry family members if you ask them stop and pose a bunch of times.  Let things happen naturally.  You are going to Disney after all.  There is no reason to worry about getting a great shot.  The odds are stacked in your favor.  You will see many good family photo ops throughout the day.  If you find that you’re getting tensed up about your photography you should read Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond Seeing.  It will teach you to work with what’s in front of you and have faith that the universe will provide you with beautiful photos.

Here is an example of going with the flow.  We are getting ready to leave the hotel and Ella just put on her fancy princess dress.  She is so excited that she starts striking all kinds of poses.  The problem is she’s in the worst possible place in our hotel room to take a picture.  The background is super cluttered.  My brain tells me to move her somewhere else before trying a photo, but I feel if I move her the magic bubble will burst and Ella won’t be in the mood for posing anymore.  The answer:  work with what’s in front of my face.  The glare from the window makes a nice highlight and creates some separation between Ella and the background.  Also, if I zoom out far enough I can catch a nice silhouette of Maria working in the next room.  Perfect! Read the rest of this page »