Mother’s Day Kid’s Homemade Brunch Photos

My brother-in-law arranged for all the kids to come over and his kitchen to make brunch for their mothers. Each brunch meal was catered to each mother's favourite breakfast food.

Your employer is not your family

Tech workers have no job security. You’re serving a “tour of duty” that might last a year or two, according to the founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, who is the co-author of a book espousing his ideas, “The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age.” Companies burn you out and churn you out when someone better, or cheaper, becomes available. “Your company is not your family,” is another line from Mr. Hoffman’s book. ~ Congratulations! You’ve Been Fired By Dan Lyons

Photographing families

Photographing groups of people -- families -- is challenging. Invariably one person will blink or move. Kids can't help but move. The trick is to be patient and catch them at the right moment. But often I'll end up with the kids just right but with the adults are out-of-place usually trying to get the kids to smile.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 55 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I took these photos during Father's Day. Bhavna's aunt organised a fete to honour the fathers. I thought it might be interesting to take some pictures with the fathers and their kids and grandkids.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 48 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I used a Paul C. Buff AlienBees™ B800 Flash Unit inside an Extreme Silver PLM™ Umbrella covered with PLM™ White Front Diffusion Fabric. I positioned the light on a 10-foot General Purpose Light Stands about foot away and directly in front of the subjects but for some of the shots, I placed the light off to one side.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 48 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I used a Sekonic L-358 FlashMaster light meter to set the camera shutter speed based on the aperture I chose for these portraits. This is my first light meter, and I'm still getting the hang of things. The light meter certainly makes adjusting the camera settings and flash unit power much easier. I set my camera in manual mode set the light-meter to the D5100s fastest flash sync speed take a reading from near my subjects and voilà! I know what aperture setting to use on my camera for the shot.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 42 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I don't have an extensive collection of lenses. For this shoot, I started with my AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G ( the images are in reverse chronological order ) with an aperture of f/8 but later changed to my 18-55mm at f/5.6 for the larger group shots. I sold the 50mm f/1.8 earlier this month. I didn't use it much, and I think a lens with a longer focal lens will be more flattering for portraiture.

The D5100 has an APS-C sensor so the 50mm with the crop factor produces the same view as a 75mm on a 35mm full-frame sensor. I think 75mm is just to short for portraiture. I prefer prime lenses so I plan to buy a AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G soon. With the APS-C sensor, the 85mm will offer the same view as a 127mm on a 35mm full-frame sensor.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 36 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I started shooting in the late afternoon just before sunset. I had to adjust the power of the AB800s and adjust my camera settings accordingly. This light-meter made this process quick and painless, but I have a better understanding of the hard work a professional wedding photographer must have to do.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 46 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 46 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 42 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 40 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 32 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 28 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100