Super Heroes, Space Explorers and Butterflies

Last month my neighbour and good friend approached me and shared a great idea she had planned for Father's Day. It basically combined a little photography with driveway chalk creations and of course all six of our kids. I could hardly wait to get started! Before I get into details of our project, here are some of the greats photos we captured!

How cute are those?? We were both so happy with how the photos turned out and a little tired when everything was cleaned up and put away. The entire process took about 3.5 hours from start to finish but it was well worth it...especially to see daddy's face light up when he opened his gift on Father's Day.

Here are some great tips and lessons learned from two creative mommas:

Plan for extra time! We were lucky to have an entire afternoon set aside but neither of us anticipated it taking so long!
If possible choose a driveway that has recently been paved. The darker and smoother the surface the better your photos will turn out. We asked our neighbours the night prior if we could use their driveway and they were more than willing to help.
Choose and set aside the outfits you want your kids to wear. We did this at the last minute so it was a little rushed. I couldn't find what I was looking for so I ended up having to borrow a shirt from my neighbour. Be sure to choose outfits that compliment each other and show contrast against the dark driveway. Also, have sunglasses on hand. Although it wasn't sunny, it was still fairly bright out making it very difficult for the kids to open their eyes and smile for the camera.
Plan something to keep the kiddos entertained while you are setting up and drawing the pictures. It took us over an hour to do all the illustrations. My youngest two had their naps while the older kids watched a movie.
Even better...invite the older kids to help out! For example, my neighbours two oldest boys did most of the colouring while she and I outlined the pictures.
Be sure to purchase bright, bold coloured chalk. It should emphasize "bright, bold colours" right on the package. The pictures will look much more vibrant and realistic. My neighbour picked up a small package similar to this one: http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/48ct-sidewalk-chalk/6000078877090.
Using one of the kids to position certain drawings may help with perspective. For example, we asked one of the boys to lie down in position to draw each of the astronaut helmets. We also found that once all the kids were in place we needed to add some more detail in order to fill in the empty space.
Leave plenty of room around each image. You'll find when you're standing on the ladder taking the pictures you need plenty of space around your subjects in order to crop other things out when editing (such as the grass at the side of the driveway). We managed to draw 4 scenes on a four car driveway, but 3 would have been ideal.
Be sure to work with another adult - especially if working with small children. Our kids ranged from 13 months to 10 years old and there were 6 of them! We definitely couldn't have done it without each other. The second person really comes in handy when it comes to placing each child in the correct position. Kids never sit still for long and don't forget you're standing on the ladder trying to take the photo. Having someone down below to make last minute adjustments really helps!
Although this activity seems like it would be super fun for the kiddies, be sure to have some small treats available in case they're not completely cooperating...Yes! I'm encouraging bribery -ha! Sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. I even brought dog biscuits out for Cody!
Get rid of the evidence! Considering the photos were going to be used as a gift for Father's Day, we were sure to wash away all the pictures. We used our neighbour's hose and sprayed down the entire driveway...it was dry well before both dad's returned home from work.
Have a rain date - we were very lucky with the weather that day. We had great conditions! The sun was actually behind the clouds most of the afternoon which made for perfect lighting. As a photographer I'm always looking for optimal lighting in order to get the best photos!
Consider making a collage of your photos rather than developing all of them. I chose my favourites and made an 8 by 10 photo collage to give to Jord on Father's Day. I framed the collage using a frame from the dollar store. The entire gift cost only a few dollars!