- Ask Us About This Safari
- Day Safari Time of Day Day Safari
- 3 Hours Duration 3 Hours
Three hands-on workshops which provide the background to achieve simple, pleasing portraits using window light and affordable lighting equipment.
Quick Details
Candid Photography of Your Kid
This DC photography workshop, conducted right in a playground, looks at basic techniques of informal child portraiture and candid action shots.
Being your family’s photographer is a very important job. Only your photos will truly capture the most important milestones and intimate moments in your children’s lives (and potentially the best material to embarrass them later in life!). Take your knowledge and understanding of your camera equipment to the next level and gain a better understanding of how to create flattering lighting conditions for your family portraits. Learn some tips and games to keep your child smiling when you really want to get that shot and they don’t.
Bring your own children as models, or photograph the other children who attend. Instruction will be given on posing, background selection, lighting, composition and exposure, and on how to use all the features of the camera, including F-stops, shutter speeds, ISO uses, and rapid shooting modes.
Limited to just 6 photographers, this session is taught by professional child portrait photographer Lauren Ackil at a playground in upper northwest Washington DC.
Any camera is fine, even a smartphone, but for best results, we suggest a digital SLR, or one of the new ILC (Interchangeable Lens Compacts) cameras, with a standard 18-55 lens and a medium telephoto range of 55-200mm, or a versatile zoom like the Tamron 16-300mm lens. Another helpful option for those over 50 is a tilting LCD screen that allows you to shoot from a low angle without actually getting low! Also suggested, but not required, is an external flash unit like a Canon Speedlite or a Nikon Speedlight that mounts on the camera’s hot shoe. Lauren will teach you how to use it on its Manual Mode for rapid flash that keeps up with your camera’s rapid shooting.
We also recommend that each photographer with children or grandchildren bring a parent/guardian who can attend to the child (children) during the first 45 minutes, the instructional phase of the workshop. Another option is for the spouse/guardian to bring the kids at the beginning of the second hour. The second hour will be devoted to picture-taking, under the instructor’s direction.
In the event of rain, the safari will be postponed to the next available date.
-
- Camera
- Lenses
- Extra memory cards
- Extra charged battery
- Accessories such as filters, remote release
- Weather appropriate clothing
-
Meet at the Forest Hills Playground at 3250 Chesapeake St. NW Washington DC. Here is a map!
-
Lauren Ackil is a freelance photographer offering corporate, family, architecture, and real estate photography services in the greater Washington, DC area. A former Capitol Hill staffer and government affairs consultant, Lauren turned her love of photography into her profession after becoming a mother. Her first photography classes were with David Luria as one of his early Washington Photo Safari students. The confidence gained during those photo safaris inspired her to complete a professional photography program. She earned her photography certification from the Washington School of Photography and is a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Multi-lingual in English, French and Spanish and a mother of twins, Lauren loves connecting with people from all over the world and of all ages. She is passionate about taking photos and equally passionate about helping others learn how to fully utilize their photography equipment.