Ideas for Pics - 1 Year Old Apple Picking??

[annnewjerz]

I was asked by a co-worker to go apple picking with them and their DD (1) this weekend and they asked if I could bring along my camera to get pictures of her around the orchard.

This will be my first real attempt at shooting real, live, people...rather than just stationary objects. Any cute ideas you can think of for the orchard? Obviously - I was thinking a picture in the pumpkin patch, maybe sitting around a bunch of mums, helping her Dad pick some apples, etc. but I have even less experience with kids that I do my D60!

Also - any tips for shooting rascally little kids? She's a sweetheart, but since it'll be her first trip to the farm I know she will be running all over and hard to keep still for a shot.

 

[Quicklabs]

The best advice I can give is to keep it candid and close up. I hope you'll post some of your shots.

 

[annnewjerz]

The best advice I can give is to keep it candid and close up. I hope you'll post some of your shots.

I will most definitely try! I didn't plan on actually "posing" her...was just planning to snap some pictures of her playing around the farm and stuff, unless her parents asked for some posed pictures in which case, who am I to say no?

If they come out alright (which I'm hoping them will) I will definitely post some. The weather is supposed to be great here, mid 70's and sunny all weekend. I love sharing and would love to get some feedback on how to improve for the next go-around (now that they know that they can give me their DD to use as a guinea pig for my shooting and end up getting some pictures out of it, I'm sure they will ask more often).

 

[AndrewWG]

I would try for a shot of Mom or Dad with her walking away from you through the orchard, both carrying a basket of apples and holding hands. For a 1 yr old, this may not work. Even a small baskey may be too heavy. Perhaps just holding one apple, or in between both parents, holding their hands with the parents carrying baskets of apples in their other hands? Other than that, it would be cool to have a pic of a small childs face, holding a big apple up to their mouths. This one I would crop TIGHT. Just the face.

 

[PoohJen]

Yes, as the others mentioned, just be ready to keep going and take lots of candids, be flexible and get down on the ground and dirty if you have to!


For shot ideas, I have a beautiful group of shots framed on my wall of my (now 16)son apple picking when he was close to 2 years old. (unfortunately, pre digital, and i don't have a scanner)

I remember being down low on the ground to take the shots of picking. He was able to stand and is reaching up in a low grove to pick an apple, surrounded by leaves/apples/branches. Having said that, 2 other pics are from his waist up, so he may have been held up high to pick the apples.

What is striking about these is (1) his curiousity and (2) the wonderful, close up background of being surrounded by lush leaves and apples with bits of sunlight streaming through. One pic has him reaching out to pick, another pulling the apple to pick, a third of him studying the apple in his hand and finally, the fourth is taken from slightly above him, his eyes looking up toward the camera as he holds the big apples to his mouth, taking a bite. Too cute, and I love the sequencing (even though it really wasn't just one sequence, just a bunch of candids over the course of the morning)


And, yup, I've got great pumpkin patch pics of my kids when they were young! I find it helps you can clear a small spot out for the child to squat in among the pumpkins (not in the patch per se, but in the pumpkin "pile").

Have a fun day, and happy shooting!

 

[Wingman]

I just went apple picking with my family this weekend, the first time with my XTI. I had a real heck of a time with the full day sun and the shadows from the apple trees.

Take the take to see what is happening and use your fill flash if you need to.

And have a good time.

 

[sherry7]

I hope you post the pics you take. From looking at the pics you post on here, you have a very good eye.

 

[annnewjerz]

Just wanted to let you all know I would probably post them in a separate thread. Had a great time, the cutest little model and couldn't have asked for a better first time taking pictures of a person rather than a stationary object. The pictures came out better than I thought they would and while there is still lots of room for improvement, with the minimal editing I am able to do with Picasa, I am happy with what I got.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and hopefully I used some of them - there were over 400 pictures today so between culling the crap and editing what I liked - it was an exhausting day, but I'm sure they will love the pix I give them.

 

[sherry7]

Just wanted to let you all know I would probably post them in a separate thread. Had a great time, the cutest little model and couldn't have asked for a better first time taking pictures of a person rather than a stationary object. The pictures came out better than I thought they would and while there is still lots of room for improvement, with the minimal editing I am able to do with Picasa, I am happy with what I got.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and hopefully I used some of them - there were over 400 pictures today so between culling the crap and editing what I liked - it was an exhausting day, but I'm sure they will love the pix I give them.

I'm looking forward to seeing the pics.

I wish I had a talented friend...my son's senior pics would probably be ALOT less expensive.