Kim Ponsky Photography » Cleveland Portrait Photographer

Almost Two Cute Two Shoot!

Kim — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:43:47 +0000

No, I didn’t become a photographer because I failed my grammar tests in school…!
It’s been said “It’s double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you’re blessed with twins.” Well, that may be true, unless you’re a photographer tasked with editing photos of adorable identical twins like Mr. N and Mr. B! During the twins’ photo shoot in our studio, some creative strategy had to be enacted to get those nearly two-year-olds to stay in the studio, let alone in the vicinity of one another– Elmo singing on my iPhone, held between my knees while I held the camera, & sea shells I brought back from a vacation last winter both did the trick! That was the easy part… then came editing the photos. I had to make sure I didn’t give their mom pictures of only one little guy (but come on… would she really know the difference?? :-) just kidding!!) In the group photos of the brothers together, there was no problem telling them apart… Mr. B is a bit bigger! But in their individual portraits?? Oh, good luck! All of us in the office gathered around the computer for what felt like hours until we found what we were looking for… A little bruise on Mr. N’s forehead, and a tiny little blemish next to Mr. B’s right eye– thank goodness!! They’re not so identical after all! All I know is that those little guys had us laughing long after the photo shoot was over– they were so adorable, so expressive, and just so cute!! Two-year-olds can definitely run the show, but they are so much fun! Hopefully Mr. B and Mr. N will come visit us again soon!

Two Much of a Good Thing!

Photographing Toddlers

Kim — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:07:22 +0000

I love photographing kids! People ask me how I can do it all day, every day, but I love it! Kids are unpredictable, funny, expressive, and just fun… what’s not to enjoy about capturing all of that?!? Over the five years I’ve been a child photographer in Cleveland and DC, I’ve developed a style that seems to work for me, the kids, and the parents. For me, photographing kids, especially toddlers, is as much about my interactions with the kids, as it is about my photographic technique… After all, if the kid doesn’t like me, he/she is not going to relax and let their guard down enough to enable me to capture portraits that truly represent who they are. That’s my goal… to produce a photograph that captures the essence of the subject. If he is serious, then let’s see that. If she’s a performer, I want to show that… Pensive, thoughtful, sweet, coy, mischievous, goofy… whatever the personality is, I want to show it! So how do I go about doing that…?
First of all, I want the kids to not feel intimidated by the large camera I’m holding. I want them to be interacting with me during our photo session. I begin by allowing them to warm up to me, and getting to know them. Are they shy? Do they like peek-a-boo? Will they start crying if I make a scary face? Once I get a feel for what makes them tick, we can start taking the pictures. If we’re in the studio, I need to work with them to keep them where the lights will reach… Playing games, distracting them, sometimes (often) making a fool of myself!! When we’re outside for a natural light, on-location session, the photo shoot has a whole different feel. This is my favorite type of shoot for toddlers because they can go where they want! I follow them wherever they go, and they feel free to explore, climb, play and have fun. Outside, we can get the most variety and the most natural expressions in the portraits, and often with the least amount of hesitation from the kids. The at-home photo session is another great option for toddlers– they are most comfortable in their own environment, and often have so much fun showing off all of their toys, blankies, and favorite places.
Wherever we take the pictures, one thing always stays the same… that is my approach. I always want to make sure the kids have fun. Having photos taken should not be like going to the dentist for a kid! They should have a great experience so they’re excited next year when it’s time for their anual portraits. I work to become their friend. To learn about who they are. I litterally get down on their level (mentally and physically). Doing this not only yields better images, but allows the kids to feel comfortable, which to me makes all the difference.

Toddlers are so much fun!

Happy Little Baby

Kim — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:36:04 +0000

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing 4 month old baby M and her parents. What a happy little girl! She was all smiles… well, maybe until the very end. We got some beautiful baby and family portraits!

And they’ve lived happily ever after…

Kim — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:15:02 +0000

This lovely couple came into the studio a few weeks ago to have their portraits taken… They’ve been married for 60+ years! What a pleasure to talk to, and what an inspiration! He spent his career working as a judge, and she as a teacher… impressive pair! They intend on putting their photos together in a book to give to their great-grandchildren… I suggested adding text to the book– words of wisdom– on work, love, marriage, life, etc… It should turn out to be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

The Fun Continued at Shaker Square Playmatters!

Kim — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:30:11 +0000

With a completely sold-out day of mini-sessions at the Shaker Square Playmatters Toystore last weekend, we had a very busy Saturday! Thanks to the help of my boyfriend and my mom, we had so much fun! Stories were told, songs were sung, and jokes were shared… The portraits from the day really captured the kids– from sassy to sweet… happy to sad. Our next stops bring us back to the Avon store, and then on to a back-to-back appearance in Solon! We can’t wait to get some more great kid portraits!

Here are some of my favorites from this past weekend at Shaker Square…