They say as a photographer you should never work with dogs or children, but Margaritha (@MamaMargaritha) breaks that rule all the time. Her candid shots of her three sons have earned her a loyal following on Instagram and her blog and she posts regular photos of the mischief they get up to. She lives in Amsterdam and loves the city’s iconic canals and international atmosphere.
Read on for some expert tips to help you take beautiful photos wherever you happen to be in the world.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Margaritha – wife, mother, photo taker – enjoying everyday life. I have three boys together with my husband, two of them are twins. I love to chase after them with the camera, of course not too much, but it is so special to look back on life with those ordinary special moments captured.
How would you describe your photography style?
Pure, joyful, real, detail.
What’s your favourite thing to take photos of and why?
I think my kids. But also details, like dirty hands from playing, or a hand on my husband’s knee.
How do you deal with photographing children? Do you have any tricks up your sleeve?
Clicking every second! Haha! And I use a pretty high shutter speed to avoid blurry images as kids are moving around so quickly.
What’s the thing you like most about Amsterdam?
The international feeling when walking through the streets. And I LOVE the canals with their beautiful houses next to them. Works perfectly on pictures as well.
What’s your hot tip for anyone visiting Amsterdam?
Go to Pluk Amsterdam for a coffee! And visit the first circle around the city centre, it is more quiet and beautiful.
What do you usually base your holiday choices on? (EG food, landmarks, culture, weather)
Most of all weather. Childproof. We’ve been to a child-friendly resort last year in Spain and will spend this summer in a villa with a pool in Italy with family. The perfect way to spend the holiday like that with kids.
What do you take your photos with?
Canon 6D with a Sigma 35mm lens or just my iPhone.
Do you use any editing apps or tools?
I use for my Instagram photos the VSCO app but for our family album I use Lightroom.
What do you do to your photos before uploading them to social media? Do you have a vetting process for what makes the cut and what doesn’t?
I have to love them. Like is not enough. I cannot say when I love or like a photo. It is about the feeling, I can’t describe.
What advice would you give to people wanting to expand their photography skills?
Practise, practise, practise. And buy yourself some new gear from time to time, because that really keeps motivated. As well as watching all the youtube tutorials!
What photo products do you like creating and why?
I like photo books the most. Because through adding more pictures on one page you can tell a story with only photos. For example, when I take a picture of the kids colouring, I will frame them in the first picture all three, but I will also make detail shots of the hands colouring, or that focussed tongue sticking out of the mouth.
What excites you the most about creating photo products?
That my kids will take a look at it when they are adults. I hope they will like it.
What do you do with your products once you’ve created them? (Share with family and friends, looking at them with others?)
Both, share with family and friends, looking at them with others. Anyone who is a little bit interested in my family will see the products haha! I just love it so much when someone will look at our family photo books.”
