1. Momtography 101
An introduction to
capturing your family story
with
Marcie Jessee Photography

2. Why do YOU take
pictures?

3. Before fancy gear, before
the exposure
triangle, before
homemade studios and
photography props …
there is LIGHT.
And when you
understand and love light
then your photography
will improve and grow
like never before.

4. Why is LIGHT so important??
Shutter Speed
Your camera NEEDS
light to do a good job
 The amount of light
your camera can see
determines the shutter
speed of your picture.
VERY important for
catching those fleeting
first smiles. Not to
mention for making
nice sharp, clear
pictures!

5. • Same ISO, same aperture but notice the difference in
shutter speed!
Picture on the left is taken with the curtains closed at a
shutter speed of 1/15.
Picture on the right is taken with NO other change than
opening the curtains and you get a shutter speed of
1/250!

6. Why is LIGHT so important??
Exposure!
Putting your subjects in
poor light can make for
underexposed images (your
pictures are dark) or
overexposed images (the
brights and whites are
blown out and too bright).
Good light helps achieve
better exposure (esp. if
you’re shooting in Auto) and
shows off natural skin tones
and shades of color.

7. Why is LIGHT so important??
To make your
pictures look
good!
Good light is beautiful –
it gives your hair
highlights, makes your
eyes light up and makes
the trees and grass
come alive with warm
color.

9. What is good light?
• Facing the light source parallel, or to the side (depends on the
look you want) or backlight with a reflector.
• A lot of light around you

10. Catchlights
• Catchlights are a good starting indicator if you have
good light or not.
• If your subject is facing the light, OR facing away from
the main light source with a surface reflecting light into
their face, then you will have catchlights.

11. Indoor DIFFUSED Light
• Diffused light is what you are looking for!
Diffused light is found when you have light
present but not direct and blaring. DIFFUSED
light is bright, but non shining directly into
your home.

12. • Tip: Turn off all your overhead lights. They just
compete with your natural light and can add
unpleasant shadows and highlights.

13. • Tip: Be aware of where
the light falls in your
home during the day.
What room has the best
light? What time of day
do you get great light in
your living room or
kitchen (or other spaces
you use the most). Go
the whole day with the
lights OFF and the
curtains OPEN to really
notice the light!

14. Side/angled to the light Parallel to the light

15. • Notice the different shadows and good and
not-so-good light that are created by standing
by a large window on an overcast day:

16. What a difference light makes!

17. To flash or not to flash?
• Get to know your
camera. If your
camera always
gives blurry pics
and you are giving
it all the light you
can, then by all
means use the
flash. You will
regret years worth
of blurry pictures
more than you
regret using the
flash.

18. • IF your camera is
capable of being
used in Manual then
learn how to use it!
This will help you get
around the problem
of always relying on
the flash in low-light
situations. That way
when you use flash it
will be YOUR choice,
not the cameras.

19. Outdoor Light
• Diffused light outdoors is also called “open
shade”
• This could mean you are standing in the shade
of a tree or building WITHOUT a
barrier/roof/trees overhead.
• Diffused light is easy to find at sunset because
the low light creates long shadows for
standing in.

21. Overcast Days
• Overcast days provide
even light everywhere.
You won’t have to
worry about harsh
shadows. The plus side
is you can take pictures
anywhere, anytime.
The downside is that
you miss out on the
beauty and interest
that happens when
you incorporate light
into your pictures.

22. • Use overcast days for those tricky kids photo-
ops: Playing at the park at 1 p.m. is MUCH
easier in overcast light! Blow bubbles, ride
bikes, go on a hike take advantage of the even
light and do something picture worthy!

23. Lighting situations to avoid!
• Dappled
Light

24. Direct Sunlight
• Direct Sunlight

25. Composition
• Composition: The organization of all your
elements in your photograph

26. On their level
Make it a habit of always shooting on your child’s
level! If they’re on the floor, get on the floor so
your camera is on level with their face. If they’re
on the stomach on the ground, then you do it too!

27. Perspective
Notice what a difference a
better perspective makes
in these two pictures.

28. Perspective adds interest
• When you are
composing the shot
YOU determine
what perspective
you will capture. Try
shooting from above
or standing on
something to get
high up.

29. How about
laying on the
ground? Ask
yourself: Can I
tell this story
differently by
changing my
perspective.
Get creative!

30. Rule of Thirds
• The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in visual
arts. The rule states that an image should be imagined as
divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced
horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and
that important compositional elements should be placed
along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of this
technique claim that aligning a subject with these points
creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition
than simply centering the subject would. (Wikipedia)

31. Fill the frame
• Close in on the action!
Determine what you want to
capture and fill the frame with
that (not the rest of the empty
pool or the other strangers in
bumper cars!)

32. Space
• Decide: Do you
want to fill your
frame, or does
the background
enhance the
picture and help
tell a story?

33. • Add interest to
your pictures by
adding another
element like
leading lines: Lines
that draw the
viewer to your focal
point and add
interest and
movement.

34. Another
technique for
added
interest is
creating a
frame-within-
a-frame:

35. Watch your behind
• What’s in the
background? This is
important for indoor
and outdoor
photography. Can
something be
moved? Cleaned up?
Do you need to
change your
position?
• Get rid of
distractions!

36. Watch out for bad composition
Chopped body parts and poles or branches growing out from
their head … not the best composition  Become aware of how
you’re filling the frame and what’s in the background when you
are composing your shot.

37. Storytelling
What is it? Literally telling a story through pictures. A
photograph has the ability to convey emotion, mood,
narrative, ideas and messages – all of which are
important elements of story telling. This method can
be used for just one picture, or a series.

38. • When to use it? To capture memories that
happen over time that are connected, like my
daughters first year of school:

39. • Long-term
storytelling (like the
year-long
Kindergarten story)
requires thinking
ahead and
remembering.
Short-term
storytelling could be
a family vacation, or
an afternoon with
your children.

40. The important thing is you
don’t just get poses, you
don’t just get a slew of
candids … you tell a story
so that if there were no
words, you would still
have a beginning, middle
and end.

43. Storytelling doesn’t have to be of major life events. It is
powerful to tell the small, everyday stories that happen in
your home. Stories that reveal personality and interests or
stories that illustrate a day in your life.

44. Tips for making it great:
Plan ahead (for long-term).
Be prepared with your camera!
Capture different angles
Get pictures of the details
Write the story that goes with it!

45. Candid Photography
• What is it? Taking
pictures without
your subject
noticing. In candid
photography no
direction is given to
the person you are
taking pictures of.

46. • When to use it? Children playing together, little
ones getting into trouble, parties, holidays –
anytime when it is important to catch the action.

47. • Tips for making it great: Take your camera with
you! Have it out and handy at home. You never
know when you’ll have a “candid” moment
• Don’t use flash. It kills the moment when they
realize you are intruding

48. • Create a candid:
The easiest way to
get a faux candid
is to ask the
people you are
photographing to
interact (I usually
tell my husband to
do something
funny to get the
kids to laugh).
Why? Because
sometimes
choosing to create
a candid moment
creates a better
picture than the
picture you were
trying for!

50. Posing
• You are choosing the location and the light and
giving direction on how they should stand.

51. When to use it? Use sparingly with your kids
unless they are really good sports! You don’t
want them to get sick of your camera  Save
posed pictures for special occasions (Easter or
Christmas outfits, a snapshot when Grandma
visits, first day of school pictures, a new haircut)

52. Tips for making it
great: Don’t
expect 3-and-
unders to pose
for you. Position
them in great
light and make
them laugh and
smile and shoot
quickly

53. • I Recommend posing older children as little as possible
– they usually overdo it so it looks cheesy and stiff
because they are trying hard to do what you are telling
them.

54. • The basics: Always give their hands something
to do.

55. • Always have their
“pairs” (two ears,
two hands, two arms
etc) separated with
one slightly in front
of the other (usually
having them put one
foot forward solves
this problem)

56. Posing a parent and child
• I have one RULE that I stick to when posing a
parent with a child: Have the parent be on the
SAME level as the child. This could mean
crouching, sitting, laying down or holding the
child so their face is on level with your own.

58. A simple in-home backdrop
One LARGE
blanket, two
chairs and two
clamps.

59. • Textured blankets
• White (color casts and
timelessness)
• Heavy (don’t have to
worry about wrinkles)
• Easy to clean (baby pee
and poop) watch for “Dry
clean only”
• Bean bags and boppy’s
• Trash bags
• Heavy duty clips
• Keep it simple

60. • Watch for wrinkles, color casts, shadows and
sitting right up against the backdrop.

61. The First Year
• The first year is FILLED with photo opportunities.
Not only the milestones like crawling, teeth and
solid food, but the amazing growth and change in
your baby. Watch as they change in pictures with
a photoshoot just for them every three months.

62. Hospital
• Utilize the window
light!
Pictures to get at the
hospital: Family
picture, mom, dad, bab
y in the going home
outfit

63. Newborn: First pictures at home
Setup: The blanket/boppy combo described
earlier or a simple white textured blanket.
Lighting: Parallel to a large window

64. Tips: When your baby falls deep
asleep find whatever room has
the best light and get started.
Make sure your house is really
warm. A naked newborn is not
happy when they are cold.
If there are older siblings hanging
around have dad take them out
so you can take your time and
not feel stressed.

65. 3 Months
• Set up: One simple white textured blanket.
• Lighting: Parallel to a large window.

66. 3 Months Posing
• On their back (from above and the
side)
• On their tummy (from the front
and the side)
• Change your camera angle from
horizontal to vertical to get even
more variety.

67. 6 Months
• Set up: Outdoor if
possible or indoor
with simple white
textured blanket
(LARGE)
• Lighting: Parallel
to light source, or
in diffused light
outside

68. Posing:
Sitting
(with their
feet facing
towards
you and
away)
• On their
tummy
(from the
front and
side)
• Headshot

69. 9 months
• Setup: A good age
to start outdoor
pictures because
they are more
mobile and don’t
want to stay on a
backdrop.
• Lighting: Outdoors
at sunset

70. Posing at 9 months
• Crawling (front and side)
• Standing while holding onto something for support
• Sitting (body facing you and away from you)

71. One Year
• Set up: Outdoors if
possible.
Balloons, birthday
cake, “big girl”
outfit, a chair or
stool or other prop
they can sit on.
• Lighting: Sunset (if
the baby is a
walker then find a
location with great
light at sunset
since you’ll be
chasing the baby
around for
pictures)

72. Posing 1 year:
Great age for (un)posed pictures. Plan a cake
smash, bring some fun props (balloons, chair etc)
and follow them around while you take pictures.

73. Milestones
• Milestones are often under YOUR control for
lighting, composition and (perhaps) posing.
• First smile, tooth, sitting up, eating
solids, crawling, walking, pigtails
• First day of school, lost tooth, learning to ride
a bike
• First date, car, dance
• Holidays: Special outfits, traditions and
memories

74. Now What??
Your pictures aren’t doing any good just sitting
on the computer !
Fill your home with LOVE. Surround yourself
with MEMORIES and JOY on every wall.
You will be amazed at the positive influence it
will have in your home!

75. Basic rules of design
Once you’ve chosen the photos to display choose how
you will group them.
To make it easy, think in terms of one of these classic
wall-art design shapes:
• Block : The outer perimeter of your pictures form a
square, rectangle or diamond shape.
• Mosaic: Pictures large and small cluster around three
images at the center
• Gallery: Frames are set in a row and aligned at the top,
bottom, or center.

76. More Tips for Design •Use your furniture as a
guide for picture hanging
height and positioning.
• In general, the art should
be about 75% the width of
the furniture it hangs
above.
•Tight spacing = 1-2”
•Normal spacing = 4-6”
•Hang your art at eye-level
so that when someone
walks into the room they
don’t have to look up to see
your pictures. If you are
creating a group, make your
center row of images at
eye-level. (picture from Familycircle.com)

77. Wall Art
Frame It
Benefits: A one-time purchase. The glass protects your
pictures. You can create a variety of looks depending on
the style of frame you choose.
Drawbacks: Can be expensive initially. Lots of holes in the
walls. (Image from Pottery Barn)

78. Matted Pictures
Benefits: Great for a diy project (or very affordable from a
professional). You’re not constrained by frame sizes .. you can
create images in whatever size you want. Very inexpensive
supplies.
Drawbacks: When you want to switch out the pictures you have to
do the project again – you’re not just switching pictures in a frame.
The pictures aren’t protected by glass. (Picture from www.iprintcanvas.com)

79. Canvas
Benefits: Lightweight
and easy to hang.
Classic and timeless
look. They’re really
cool 
Drawbacks: Can be
expensive

80. DIY displays
Benefits: You can
customize your art
to your style
completely. Usually
DIY projects are very
affordable.
Drawbacks: It takes
more time than
purchasing a picture
Pictures from: The Creative Crate, Photojojo, Martha Stewart frame.

81. Think BIG
http://jenbaltgalvis.com/blog/?p=3986

82. Your walls are bigger
than you realize. Fill
the space with large
pictures for an eye-
catching centerpiece in
your home.

83. Small is BIG in a group
Creating your own gallery or
mosaic wall is a great way to use
up frames you have lying all over
the house (spray paint them the
same color for a cohesive look).
Pictures from Martha Stewart

84. Large groupings of
small prints is also a
great way to show off
your family photos
without feeling self-
conscious about the
quality of the pictures
in enlargements. So
even if you’re just
starting your photo
journey get those
pictures on the wall!

85. More than walls…
• First year book
• School books
• Cookbooks
• Blog books
• Letters to Santa
books
• Birthday books

86. THANK YOU FOR COMING!
I hope you leave inspired and excited to tell your family story!
If you need help getting started I am offering a HUGE DISCOUNT just for You 
$25 off custom family or child pictures
Coupon will be emailed as soon as I receive
your response to the class feedback questionnaire 
(May not be combined with any other offer.)