Capturing the Everyday- by Jill Marzion

Jill Marzion is a family photographer located in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In a short time, Jill’s little hobby of photography transformed into a full-blown passion for capturing all of the beautiful details of life. Visit Jill’s studio website to see more of her professional work.

Like many of us, I used to only break out my camera for the “big stuff.” Birthday parties, holidays, graduations, you know the drill. While those moments are important and worth documenting, my world completely changed when I purchased my first DSLR. All of the sudden, the mundane seemed magnificent and the ordinary moments seemed extraordinary.

Here are a few tips so you can start capturing the everyday:

Make it a habit.  Bring your camera with you everywhere and have it ready.  I always carry a spare battery in my bag and keep plenty of SD cards.  It’s like a seatbelt: once you are in the habit of using it, you feel naked without it!

Post your pictures somewhere.  I have a personal blog that I keep as a little diary of our days.  Try a photo-a-day challenge on Instagram, it is a fun experience that will help you get in the routine of shooting.  I loved it so much that I collaborated with others to start a 365 project: @my_365

When in doubt, whip it out.  I have so many images at Target, the bookstore, grocery shopping, etc.  At first it felt a little strange, but what I capture from different locations is a great reminder of our day-to-day life.

Capture children in their element. Brushing teeth, playing with the iPad, reading, relaxing, helping make dinner, counting their money, painting nails, etc.  Anything that they enjoy doing, photograph it! These are the moments that we cherish as parents and your children will adore these snapshots when they are older.

Simplify by getting rid of clutter. Clutter is a big distraction in photos so if you take 5 minutes before you start shooting to pick up the space you are in, it will make your photos 10 times better!

Give directions and ask questions.  If you’re looking for something specific, don’t be afraid to give some directions. If I want a genuine smile from my 8 year old, I will tell the other kids to tickle him. I will ask certain questions to evoke different emotions from them. Ex. “What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?”  As they think, I have the camera ready to catch that emotion.

Think outside the box.  If my toddler is relaxing watching his favorite show or eating lunch, I am moving all around to get different angles of him.  I shoot from the side, above, in front, etc.  Don’t be afraid to try new things! Some of my favorite shots break the “rules” of photography and I still love them.

Focus on details. Think of all the teensy details that you love about your children. Bellies, curls, eyelashes and baby toes. Shoot, hands and feet can tell a story themselves!

Be you!  The more I shoot for myself and what I love, the better my photos are.

For more photography tips from Jill, check out her post 6 Key Tips for Composing Your Photos. To check out more amazing work from Jill Marzion visit her blog and Instagram.