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Fed Is Best- How I Learned This Important Lesson

Niagara Newborn Photography
Can we all just agree that ‘fed is best’ 💖
From the time your sweet newborn is placed on your chest, all you want to do from that moment on is keep them safe. As a first time Mom you might feel the weight of all of the decisions you have to make for your baby and worried about making the ‘right one’… I understand because I have been there too. So to help you feel a little less alone, here is my breastfeeding story…
Before Amalia was born I made the choice to breastfeed, and luckily after a few struggles we were able to find our groove and she was thriving on ‘liquid gold’. At the same time I was struggling with postpartum anxiety and trauma from her birth. I started to find breastfeeding isolating and my inability to leave her for more than a few hours fed my anxiety. I decided it was time to introduce formula for my mental health. When I asked the midwives they said they wouldn’t recommend a formula and that breastfeeding is best. This was WRONG, and made me feel like I was wrong to stop breastfeeding for the sake of my mental health. So I kept on breastfeeding while struggling with feeling isolated and with anxiety. In time I followed my instincts, and with courage I weaned her at almost 10 months. She finally slept through the night and I began to heal.
Fast forward 4 years to Alexander. There was no way ANYONE was going to tell me that breastfeeding is best for me, because I knew in retrospect how much it had affected my mental health. I made it very clear that if breastfeeding meant sacrificing my mental health again then there was NO WAY that I would be doing it. I prepared the bottles and my breast pump- and tossed aside the idea of nipple confusion. Let me explain that I was happy to breastfeed again, but only if I was mentally healthy enough to do it.
When Alex was born, he did breastfeed very easily and because it was a different birth experience, and I wasn’t a FTM, I was mentally healthy. I decided to breastfeed him for a few months- while also using a pumped bottle- and then slowly introduced formula. I didn’t ask a single person what they thought… because I knew what was best for me and my baby. You will too… just follow your own instincts.
xo Nadia
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How To Capture Magical Moments of Your Children This Holiday: Some Helpful Tips!

Niagara Newborn and Family Photographer

There are so many beautiful moments over the holidays, and we can feel like we want to document them all so we can always remember and relive them! Wouldn’t it be SO helpful to have a professional photographer there to capture all of these moments for you!? 😉

Since I can’t be there with you, I will be there for you with these helpful tips for making the MOST of your photographs this Holiday season! xo Nadia

 

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1.  Document the moment… not of your children looking at the camera <3 It’s in these fun and natural moments, like opening a gift, lighting the tree, decorating cookies, that we’re able to capture the emotion and feelings and THAT is the key to creating magical photographs!

2. Enjoy it and take it all in…and only pick up the camera when you want to and it feels fun! If you feel like you always have to be taking photographs then even if you capture the most beautiful photograph, you will have missed the moment that makes that photograph meaningful <3

3. It’s all in the light… natural outdoor or window light is the key to creating the nicest photographs. If you can, position yourself to take photographs where the window light is falling on your children.

4. Get in the photo… Mama, get in the photo! It is so important now, and for times to come, that you are in the photograph too. You are the centre of your family, and all of the LOVE, so create photographs that capture just that <3

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What Is A Preview Party?!

Let me capture the beautiful story of your family, and create art from your life.
A large part of your experience with Dreams and Tales Fine Art is that you complete your portrait session experience by creating timeless keepsakes for your home, and those you love. I provide professional and quality fine art prints, albums, framing, canvas wraps, and more. The importance of printing your photographs has been lost, along with your digital photographs on your computer! It is my goal to help you create a finished piece of art with your beautiful photographs so you can enjoy them every day.

A preview party is how I help ‘make this happen!’ 🙂 After each portrait session takes place, I will schedule a Preview Party for you to view your photographs, and help you to choose and design the fine art products that you have been dreaming of for your home, or gifting family and friends.  This while either take place in your home, or throughout the pandemic this has taken place virtually.

If you are interested in learning more about my portrait collections and fine art products, OR if you have had a session with me in the past and would like to book a Preview Party then please get in touch! It is never too late to order your fine art prints and products!

xo Nadia

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Take Better Photographs of Your Children: Part 4 of 4 – Niagara Newborn and Family Photography

Nadia Trapasso Green, a Newborn and Family Photographer based in Niagara Ontario, wants to help you capture beautiful moments with your children while she can’t during Ontario’s third Covid-19 lockdown. All you need is your phone, and you will learn all about Composition in this 4 week blog series!

*Trying out these tips and tricks, then use the hashtag #dreamsandtalesfineart #parentswhoclickdt

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Last week we learned about Depth of Field, a key element in taking your photographs to the next level. I chose to focus on 3 main aspects of Composition (rule of thirds,  depth of field and viewpoint) because most parents are taking photographs of their children with their phone…so this let’s us set the technical aspects of a DSLR aside for this blog series!  Each week we’ll break down a element of composition, and assign you a task to try out! Last but not least, we will be looking at Viewpoint…

  1. Viewpoint:  The position from which you photograph the subject. Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.
  2. How to Use: When photographing your child(ren), consider, 1. The angle at which would compliment them best, 2. The message you are trying to convey when photographing them. Are you simply hoping to capture a beautiful portrait of your child, or are you hoping to capture them during their play. Each situation would be better served by a different viewpoint.

    As you are photographing them, try different angles, heights and positions until one just feels right! I like to use my ‘360 degree method’ by moving completely around the subject you are able to photograph them in many different way; lighting, backgrounds, etc will change and create different perspectives.

    Example:

           

     

    Sources: https://sites.google.com/site/photographycompositionrules/viewpoint-1

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Take Better Photographs of Your Children: Part 3 of 4 – Niagara Newborn and Family Photography

Nadia Trapasso Green, a Newborn and Family Photographer based in Niagara Ontario, wants to help you capture beautiful moments with your children while she can’t during Ontario’s third Covid-19 lockdown. All you need is your phone, and you will learn all about Composition in this 4 week blog series!

*Trying out these tips and tricks, then use the hashtag #dreamsandtalesfineart #parentswhoclickdt

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Last week we learned about Rule of Thirds, a key element in taking your photographs to the next level. I chose to focus on 3 main aspects of Composition (rule of thirds,  depth of field and viewpoint) because most parents are taking photographs of their children with their phone…so this let’s us set the technical aspects of a DSLR aside for this blog series!  Each week we’ll break down a element of composition, and assign you a task to try out! Next up, Depth of Field…

  1. Depth of Field: The zone of acceptable sharpness within a photo that will appear in focus. In every picture there is a certain area of your image in front of, and behind the subject that will appear in focus. This zone will vary from photo to photo. Some images may have very small zones of focus which is called shallow depth of field. Others may have a very large zone of focus which is called deep depth of field.

Three main factors that will affect how you control the depth of field of your images are:

1. Aperture or F-stop

2. Focal length of the lens on your camera

3. Distance from the subject to the camera– this is the on we will be working with for this week’s task!

 

How to use: When photographing your child(ren) if you are hoping to create a classic portrait look and focusing primarily child’s face or a full body photograph, then it is best to create more shallow depth of field.  Position yourself closer to your child than you normally would, allow the camera to catch focus on their face (or even their hands/feet while playing) and notice how the background falls away (ie. is blurred). This allows viewers eyes to be drawn to what you are focusing on in your photo, and creates a pretty visual effect.

Try it out!

 

Example:

 

 

Source: https://digital-photography-school.com

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Take Better Photographs of Your Children: Part 2 of 4 – Niagara Newborn and Family Photography

Take Better Photographs of Your Children: Part 2 of 4

Nadia Trapasso Green, a Newborn and Family Photographer based in Niagara Ontario, wants to help you capture beautiful moments with your children while she can’t during Ontario’s third Covid-19 lockdown. All you need is your phone, and you will learn all about Composition in this 4 week blog series!

*Trying out these tips and tricks, then use the hashtag #dreamsandtalesfineart #parentswhoclickdt

***********************

Last week we learned about Composition, a key element in taking your photographs to the next level. I chose to focus on Composition because most parents are taking photographs of their children with their phone…so this let’s us set the technical aspects of a DSLR aside for this blog series!  Each week we’ll break down a element of composition, and assign you a task to try out! First up, Rule of Thirds…

  1. Rule of Thirds:

The rule of thirds is one of the main “rules” in art and photographic composition and stems from the theory that the human eye naturally gravitates to intersection points that occur when an image is split into thirds. In the rule of thirds, photos are divided into thirds with two imaginary lines vertically and two lines horizontally making three columns, three rows, and nine sections in the images. Important compositional elements and leading lines are placed on or near the imaginary lines and where the lines intersect.

How to Use- When positioning your child(ren) in your camera frame, position them along these lines and where the lines meet. This will improve your photograph by helping to draw eyes to the important elements in the moment captured instead of just the subjects (ie your children). It helps to create a more natural and emotional photograph by telling the story of the moment.

Give it a try!

 

Example-

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

 

 

Sources: http://jeniandthekiddos.blogspot.ca   www.erincobb.com

www.learnprophotography.com

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Take Better Photographs of Your Children: Part 1 of 4 – Niagara Newborn and Family Photographer

In this 4 part blog series you will learn how to take better photographs of your children, using your phone! I will be focusing on composition, rather than the tech aspects because I believe this is an excellent starting point for parents to begin! It is the quickest path to creating better, and more beautiful, photographs of your children using your phone!

Soooo let’s get started…

Part 1:  Understanding Composition

1) What is Composition?

First and foremost, “composition” describes placement of relative objects and elements in a work of art. Consequently, composition is a key aspect of a good work of art. Good composition requires good balance. It is best to make sure all the elements present are necessary for the idea or story you are trying to pass on.

2) What is Composition in Photography?

Composing an image means arranging elements within it in a way that suits the core idea or goal of your work best. This can be achieved in portrait or still life photography by arranging elements by actually moving the objects or subjects. In lifestyle photography it involves anticipation, since the photographer doesn’t usually have the choice of moving his subjects himself, but has to wait for them to take the most suitable position within the frame. Another way of arranging elements is by changing your own position.

Composition is a way of guiding the viewer’s eye towards the most important elements of your work, sometimes – in a very specific order. A good composition can help make a masterpiece even out of the dullest objects and subjects in the plainest of environments.

Source: https://photographylife.com/what-is-composition-in-photography/

 

Please see the examples below of each Rule of Composition that we will be learning about! Until, then please visit my website to view my gallery and see if you can identify the rules of composition used in any of my photographs! Send me a message and let me know!

xo Nadia

Examples:

  1. Rule of Thirds
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
  1. Depth of Field

  1. Viewpoint