Vivian Killin Photography

Colorado Couples & Family Photography

  • Home
  • Info
    • About Vivian
    • FAQ
  • Portfolio
    • Blog
      • Couples
      • Families
      • Wedding
    • Client Galleries
  • Inquire

Palo Alto Family Session

Families November 29, 2018

Austin used to live with these girls and seeing them all grown up is so weird and exciting. Hearing the younger one speak full sentences is so bizarre!

I’ve been loving all my family sessions lately!

Shooting: My card would jam when I tried to take photos really quickly — come to find out the write speeds of my memory cards weren’t fast enough! When I originally bought these cards, I thought I had gotten good ones because I did my research. I have 5 or 6 memory cards right now and when I realized that they’re all the “slow” ones, I was frustrated at myself but Austin reminded me that I had to learn somehow. Plus since they’re the “slow” ones, they weren’t expensive at all. And I can still use them on my crop sensor camera with no issue. I think when I shot the wedding I didn’t have this issue because I was using a 5d Mark IV so I had a CF card that gave me extra write speed.

I switched from AI Servo to One Shot halfway through because the Servo focus wasn’t changing fast enough to catch up with the girls (but isn’t that the point of Servo)? And at one point they were jumping off a table so I knew where I wanted them to be in focus so I used One Shot. I need to read more about the focus modes to decide what works for me. Also I’m trying to use back button focus but I’ve read that a lens that needs microcalibration sometimes doesn’t work well with back button focus. So much to learn and read about! Also I think I should use a 35mm for family sessions because I like walking pictures, and I need a slightly wider angle, even though I LOVE a 50mm on a full frame and there’s much less distortion.

I also need to start shooting at a MUCH faster shutter speed! So I captured a bunch of somewhat blurry pictures that I really wish had turned out perfect because the expressions are so great, but also sometimes blurry pictures are fun because they capture movement?

Also I think for moving pictures I should start out farther away and then crop so I don’t end up quickly missing the bottom of a shoe or missing the top part of someone’s head.

Austin was there with me to entertain the girls and make them laugh so that was helpful!

Editing: I had Austin pose in different spots so I could take test shots. The place that had the most beautiful light had cars/houses in the background though! And I tried to clone out the cars but it was a huge struggle so I only did it for one picture. I also find it much easier to edit in the style I like when there’s sun. Even though this was a sunset session, the trees did shade quite a lot. I do think it’s better to do family sessions where there’s shade though, since there are kids who don’t want to run around chasing light. Or I can start a session earlier if I know there’s going to be shade so that we can then move to a sunny location once the sun has set more.

This was the most challenging session to edit thus far because of my own fault but I learned so much!!

Here are some slightly blurry ones that I still love! Blurriness makes it look more like film right??

I struggled with white balance here and also really didn’t want to edit out the cars (you can see that I tried in the very first photo in this blog, and the light was really interesting because of how the sun filtered through the trees) because I tried and failed miserably.

Looking for a family photographer? Inquire!

SHARE:
Redwood City Family Session »
« Bay Area Food Photography – Ramen 101

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Hayward Family Session
  • Byers Newborn + Family Session | Coltin + Phawn
  • Holyoke Colorado Family Photos | Sara and Logan
  • Menlo Park Family Session

Trackbacks

  1. Menlo Park Family Session | Vivian Killin Photography says:
    December 19, 2020 at 2:00 PM

    […] asked me what my favorite type of session is, and as I wrote in my recap blog a couple weeks ago, family sessions are so fun for me because I get to capture authentic joy, chaos, and love. Seeing their son hold […]

WELCOME TO THE BLOG!

I’m so glad you’re here! I hope you’re filled with joy as you look at pictures of strangers.

CATEGORIES

  • City
  • Couples
  • Engagement
  • Families
  • Film
  • In-Home
  • Outdoor
  • Personal
  • Wedding

ARCHIVES

Vertical photo post featuring the incredibly stunn Vertical photo post featuring the incredibly stunning Lindy and her beautiful venue and florals and the talent of their vendors!!! 

Last year I got to photograph a wedding ceremony by some pretty redwood trees, and this year I traded those for aspens. Clear creek inn and the town of Georgetown are so cute!!

Also, a champagne toast at the end of the ceremony is a great idea 💯

Now I will delete this app again, go into my editing cave, and see this beautiful inside and out couple on my screen every night! You can see some more previews in my story highlights

Venue: @clear_creek_inn 
Florals: @boulderblooms 
Makeup: @calliekayartistry 
Hair: @rachael.thehairologist
Congrats to Lindy, Zach, and their little girl!!! Congrats to Lindy, Zach, and their little girl!!! These two got married on Saturday in Georgetown, and the predicted all-day rain thankfully stayed away 🎉

I was delighted and honored that they moved their wedding from Kentucky to Colorado (where they live now) and asked me to photograph their nuptials. One of my favorite parts of weddings is seeing all the family and friends love on each other and the couple—Lindy and Zach’s community is amazing and I love that I got to meet them. I get to photograph the best people 💕and it’s clear from the way that people talk about these two that they are especially thoughtful, gracious, and welcoming. 

For now here are a few horizontal photo previews!

Venue: @clear_creek_inn 
Florals: @boulderblooms 
Makeup: @calliekayartistry 
Hair: @rachael.thehairologist
I had fun hanging out with this new family of 5, e I had fun hanging out with this new family of 5, especially because one of the kids shares my love of photographing families 🥰
Before the Ryders moved out of Colorado, we took s Before the Ryders moved out of Colorado, we took some family photos at Reunion Park, where they announced their third pregnancy almost two years ago!

🥹🥹I have photographed this family 7 times since we moved to Denver 3.5 years ago! Each time I leave feeling so much joy and gratitude that I get to know them ♥️ miss you all
It is always so amazing to see someone you know be It is always so amazing to see someone you know become a parent for the first time 💕 it literally makes me squeal with joy 😂

Swipe to see Tewla adjusting to her new life sharing (or getting bumped out of?) the #1 main girl spot in the family
Find me on Instagram!

© 2022 vivian killin photography, llc

THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS