one of my secrets...

As promised, I said I would reveal my secret to getting an extreme close up like this one above. But first, some background on how I came to find out about this little secret 'o mine...

When my oldest daughter was about 8 weeks old, a friend of mine suggested I take her to a professional photographer in Oakland for some fancy shots. Turns out the photographer was updating her website, and she was looking for more babies and kids to include. My friend really hooked me up - the photo shoot was free, except for any prints I might buy. More importantly, the photographer was very kind to me - she worked with my daughter when she did not want to do anything the photographer wanted, she sat with me while I nursed her, and she gave me some basic tips on photographing newborns.

So my secret is really hers - for you SLR users interested in fabulous close up shots, you must invest in the (drumroll please) close up filter. I know there are some more technical ways to explain how these nifty filters work, but suffice it to say they act as a magnifying glass of sorts. They extend the close-up range of your lens, and while there are lenses you can buy to achieve the same effect, these are significantly less expensive (as you simply screw the filter onto the end of your lens). I used close up filters for my photo shoot with Alice Rose, as well as the tulip photo above.

I'll even go a step further - click here for the exact filters I use. If you're interested in purchasing some close up filters, make sure you get the right size for your lens (my lens is 67mm, but check yours before purchasing). Most camera stores carry these filters - happy shopping!

And I'd be remiss if I did not specifically thank Kristen Policy for her kindness and generosity. I am incredibly grateful for the advice and for the beautiful photos of my daughter.