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Do you remember those treasured family photographs of great grandma in her Sunday best, or of your dear Pop-pop in his top hat and tails? I always loved the shots of my grandmother as a child, riding a pony or posing with her sister. You could pay a good deal of money to a professional photographer to create an image of your children that is reminiscent of those vintage family heirlooms. Or, you could do it yourself.
Don't think that you can? Haven't you been taking snapshots of the little tykes from the minute they were born? It's just that easy. Any 35mm camera will do. The trick is in the black and white film. You will need a photo processor that will develop black and white film, but they can be found pretty easily.
Think about what clothing you will be using; calling them "costumes" might motivate your children if they cringe at the sight of a camera. A timeless wardrobe is the goal here. A christening gown for the infant,a simple white slip style gown, a cowboy outfit, or short pants with suspenders are all easy to acquire items. The idea is to avoid anything that looks modern: such as t-shirts with words or logo's printed on them, sneakers, or even blue jeans.
The setting too, should be simple. The background should be void of modern aspects, like telephone poles, or vehicles. Choose a place that could be the same as it was 100 years ago. A meadow filled with wild flowers, a pumpkin field, a sunflower garden, an ornate fountain, a picket fence, a lake (void of boats) or a dirt road framed by trees all would be an ideal vintage-looking setting. Even an apple tree with the children posed underneath holding a bushel basket would make a great shot.
Indoor poses might be a bit more difficult to pull off, as most homes are riddled with modernizations. Use natural light, turning off your flash if possible, sitting the children in the sunshine of a window, or in a bright room. Watch out for televisions, kitchen appliances, computers and such, in the background. Timeless props might be a fireplace, a wood stove or a rocking chair.
In the olden days, it took long posed minutes of being still to get a clear image, and so most older photographs will show a somber face. This is one aspect you may prefer the more modern image: a smile. The click of the shutter takes but a millisecond now, and with all the fun of dressing up, your kids will most likely be giggling anyway.
Have fun with your project; after all, you are preserving the moment, and why bother if it isn't a happy one?
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