Making Memories

Paul Kennedy specialises in capturing your family’s memories. Parenting Daily talks to him about putting children and adults at ease during portrait sessions, the rise in popularity of ‘baby bump’ shots – and how you can get the best from your holiday pics this summer…

When did you start taking photos?

I bought my first camera at the age of 16. It was a Minolta SLR and cost me 200 Irish Punts. It was great for teaching me how to take good photos, but experimenting back then cost me a great deal in film! I now work with a Nikon D7000.

What sort of work do you specialise in?

I do all sorts of work, but I prefer to take portraits. Family portraits are great because they’re often a lot of fun and you know that you’re capturing a moment in the family’s life.

How do you get families to relax – and get them to pose for the camera?

I always make sure there are lots of props for the children. Kids are unpredictable, but often they are easier to pose as they’re not as self-conscious as adults.

I start off by suggesting families look at a folder of pics from magazines, catalogues, etc, to show them the sort of poses we can do. That really helps – it’s much easier to show people poses, rather than tell them.

In terms of the location, I’m happy to do whatever the family is comfortable with. Some like to be in a studio, others are more happy at home. And often they want to go to a special location. In that instance, I’ll always go and check it out first to find out the best places for the shoot.

Are there any trends you’re seeing at the moment?

I’m seeing a lot of pregnant women who want ‘baby bump’ shots. These are lovely, because it’s a nice memory for them of a very special time in their lives. In addition, it’s also nice to make them feel good about themselves; it’s a special time for women, but sometimes also difficult for women to feel comfortable about their bodies.

Why should a family use a photographer rather than take pics themselves?

I would always encourage people take family photos themselves. And for everyday shots of capturing moments, today’s technology means that the pics are good. And if they’re not, you can delete them and do them again!

But a professional photo shoot, you will get so much more – you’re paying for the time, the expertise, the equipment and post production with a pro photographer.

And what are your top tips for taking great holiday pics?

Don’t shoot into the sun or you’ll get harsh shadows that aren’t attractive. The best times to take good photos are early evening or mornings.

And never use the zoom facility on your camera’s phone or the picture quality will be very poor. If you need to get closer to what you’re photographing, take a few steps forward!

Family portrait sessions with Paul Kennedy range from £30 to £249.

To find out more, visit http://www.paulkennedyphotography.info/index.php