This is for the Overwhelmed Photographer Parents

[@Reggiebphoto]

Happy Father's Day to all my fellow photographer dads.

[@qx6789]

"maybe the imperfect shot is the perfect shot" hits so close to heart. thank you for this.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Im glad it resonates 🙏🏽

[@rodri_gop]

I have two kids (1 and 3.yo), and I am that dad carrying a camera everywhere. Thanks for letting me know I am not the only one trying to document our family story, and figuring out how to be there at the same time!

[@Reggiebphoto]

It’s an ongoing process. You’re not alone!

[@jacobpace2156]

now this is a Reggie Ballesteros video. Such a refreshing take on photography. I love these type of videos. Really speaks to your character. W photography, W dad, W human

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks so much. This was by far my favorite video to make :)

[@Griffongob]

A beautiful video Reggie. As a father myself and a photographer its so easy for me to get lost in the pursuit of "the" photo. Thank you for reminding me that its ok to put down the camera and just be in the moment with my kids and the photos will come as they may. Keep up the great work!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Appreciate the comment and thanks for tuning in

[@martijnjamry2848]

Saying hi from the Netherlands! I enjoy your photos and content style a lot. This one resonates and touches me deeply. Our sweet daughter just turned 1 year old. A year of great happiness and struggle in capturing, to be honest. Last summer we went on the road with a camper van and a brand new x100v as my first camera. You can imagine something about it. Thank you so much for your support, Reggie! I learned a lot from you. Looking forward to a new summer holiday. All the best to you and your family.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thank you!

[@SuperMannyphoto]

This is gold!!! Thank you for being vulnerable and taking us on the journey with all the photos.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks Manny. Always appreciate your support 🙏🏽

[@redisred]

Wow, you just nailed this. So insightful, heartfelt, and honest. Probably my favorite video you’ve ever done.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thank you 🥹

[@theuncooldad1441]

Brooo you just said what a lot of us parents are feeling. Dope vid man, thank you

[@Reggiebphoto]

Appreciate that. How’d you stumble on this video?

[@theuncooldad1441]

@@Reggiebphoto found this vid through your broadcast channel on IG but been following your journey for a while on here and IG as a fellow father and second-gen Filipino. But your channels are a great resource of information!

[@Reggiebphoto]

@theuncooldad1441 amazing

[@BlurredAsphalt]

As videographer and new dad, this is exactly what I needed to see. Amazing video!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Glad it was helpful! How you stumble on this video?

[@BlurredAsphalt]

@@Reggiebphoto I’ve been looking at picking up a GRIII, went down the “research” rabbit hole and ran across your vids.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Nice 👍🏽

[@A1000Truths]

Man this video hit my right in the feels. As someone who's always documenting my family's life via photos & videos I can relate to this so much. What I love the most about this video is no gear talk and really discussing the essence of everyday family photography. Great video and looking forward to many more insightful ones like this.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for the kind words. It has nothing to do with the gear but the philosophy and approach

[@Fie.Franciska]

This hit me right in the heart, as a photogMum of a 6 months old, im trying to navigate this new photography era of mine and your words gave me a great perspective so thank you and your documentation of your family is gorgeous love love love 😊 best wishes from NZ

[@doctorsnarf8764]

"The imperfect shot is sometimes the perfect shot " - Abe Lincoln . Either way love the content Reggie! :)

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for the comment

[@kdaq]

"It's ok to take a picture that helps remember the moment". I struggle to accept those shots with motion blur and, uh, unique framing :) - but I love this sentiment. One tool that helps me is knowing when to take some quick video. I actually use my phone for this to take all friction out of the equation. For me, there's nothing better than those rare moments where I nail a photo. But I usually can't stop and review stuff amidst all the chaos, so a short video is great insurance. Thanks for sharing your lovely family with us!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Yes! The video is something I do often. But felt it would distract from the video, so I’ll share about that on a different day.

[@drewrussellmusic]

Thanks for this perspective. "Maybe the imperfect shot is the perfect shot" resonated with me. Thanks Reggie - for this video and so many of the others.

[@ASLpixelpaint]

Reggie, I keep coming back to this video month after month to watch again because I needed your perspective on it and because you inspire me. Like you, I have a wife and 2 kids and I'm always juggling between finding the right balance when 90% of my energy is going into wrangling screaming toddlers instead of "getting the shot". The thing is, I spent over 10 years of my life making a living behind a camera every day (mostly shooting for newspapers and magazines but a little of everything) and yet now when it comes to my own family I'm usually to exhausted / burned out to have any photographic ability all. Like I've lost my ability to shoot. So to see how you come home with such wonderful memories and photos inspires me. I thought my kit was much more minimalist than 20 or 30 years ago but now I think I'm still carrying too much to have "focus" (forgive the pun). Would you say the "loadout" you carry when out with family is pretty simplified ? Are you usually chasing candid moments as fast as your wife and kids run though their adventures or do you ever pause to slow down and try a photo you think might have more potential than most of the day ? Forgive me for venting frustration in trying to get back to the kind of skill I used to have. Keep the great videos coming !

[@Reggiebphoto]

I answer all your questions in the video here. From gear approach to the pacing of how I shoot “finding the flow”

[@tobiboing]

I really enjoyed your take on this. I found many similarities to my family life. If this is the the type of content that you are planning for the next year, I am REALLY happy with where you are taking your channel! Thank you!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for the comment! What "type of content" are you referring to?

[@tobiboing]

@@Reggiebphoto I was referring to you talking more about your general approach to photography in daily situations. I also really enjoyed your last videos about your ideas about composition! In the future I would really like to know what you do with your family photos after you took them. What are your next steps and - more important - what is your final result? Is it just photos on your digital devices? Is it framed prints or annual photobooks? Or all of them or something completely different? For me I have so much photos that I love of my family but I feel I have not found the right way to present them and make them available for the future. Looking forward to your input on this!

[@DadTecc]

Stumbled onto your channel through the algorithm. Haven't felt a kindred shared experience with really many people on this site, but this video speaks to how I've been navigating my own desire to capture these moments in time, while being a part of them. Thanks bro great vid. Mabuhay

[@Reggiebphoto]

Glad to have you stumble on my page!

[@alf.quijano7582]

Another great video providing a prospective to enhance our lives. Really like the idea of how getting a photo of the moment is more important than the photo being “perfect”. Thanks for sharing your Family with us.

[@Reggiebphoto]

It’s an important lesson to learn for personal photography. Thanks for watching!

[@fredfies]

Thank you so much! For creating a video that many of your viewers asked for and for creating a video that is valuable in so many ways. For me as a parent, this video is a true gem.

[@Reggiebphoto]

I’m glad it delivered. It took a lot of energy for me to make it in a way I felt did the topic justice

[@ocvisual]

I was feeling like this just yesterday with my son at the zoo. Thank you for this video and for sharing your beautiful family.

[@Reggiebphoto]

You’re not alone. Hope it helped ❤

[@SamGrimes93]

Really useful video. I also have two young kids and struggle with this daily. I find it difficult not to turn every outing into a portrait session, rather than a documentary. It's a struggle with focal length too. I don't particularly like shooting wide, but to stay present in the moment and be close to my kids, that's what is required. As soon as I go over 35mm FF equivalent, I feel like im removing myself from the moment.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for sharing. What did you find most helpful?

[@SamGrimes93]

@@Reggiebphoto Mainly seeing the range of examples, seeing that it's ok to have a shot that isn't technically perfect, talking about involving your kids in the process and explaining why you do what you do to them. It was all good stuff 👍

[@veeaa]

Great video Reggie! Clicked it immediately when I saw it. Another matter that I struggle with is having time with my wife after all those hours of processing the photos I take. I really don't even edit them and have automated tools for the most part but culling and even minor adjustments take a considerable amount of time.

[@Reggiebphoto]

interesting point. yeah, i don't spend that much time editing or culling. i pick out a few that i like vs going thru every single photo i take. but then again, i have 10+ years of pro wedding experience that i cull pretty fast.

[@LedimLPMore]

Wow, I love your explanation and how you're handling the problem. I always had the problem that I couldn't participate in the situation and shoot photos at the same time.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for watching. Hope the video can help.

[@LedimLPMore]

@@Reggiebphoto Definitely! 🙌

[@zakstoiber1496]

Don't have kids and not planning on it but this video was still super inspiring and beautiful.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thank you. It’s all lessons applicable to life and photography in general.

[@Leondrian]

Excellent video Reggie! I've been trying to do this for a long while. I've already done most of your tips. The thing is that your video really unveiled a weakness in my game and I'm forever thankful that I found it now. Think that can speed up my flow and in that sense make me more engaged. The kids are 10 and 8 now, so they are getting much more camera aware and self conscious which unfortunately makes them less willing to be photographed. I'll try let them take more photos and experiment together with the photos and how they should look. Did some fun experiment with them a while ago with rear curtain flash photography and they could make trails with a flashlight. They loved that.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for the comment. How did it unveil a weakness for ya?

[@Leondrian]

@Reggiebphoto I'm not quick enough in estimating the light in a place. Otherwise I think I got most skills down that you talked about and I'm slowly getting better at the light bit. But it really became apparent when I heard you talk about it. Mostly I've got no problem finding good light, but I'm just a tad to slow in some instances. So now I've got something to work on.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Finding light is by far the most important skill to learn as a photographer imo. Will be a worthwhile effort 🤘🏽

[@Leondrian]

@@Reggiebphoto totally agree! Have to fine Rune that skill even more. Thanks again for making an excellent clip. I really love the straight forwardness you had from the start.

[@wllynz]

This one hits close to home. My daughter just turned one, and I have had my camera in my hands taking photos of her everyday since she was born. Maybe I am over-compensating for the lack of photos from my childhood, but I know one day it will be worth it when we can all sit down and go through the photos together. I just need to remember balance or like my wife says "to just enjoy the moment and take a mental photo" (as hard as that is for me lol). Thanks for the great video, Reggie.

[@Reggiebphoto]

I hear you, thanks for taking the time to watch it 🙏🏽

[@from.memories]

Definitely a real struggle. I can relate to a lot of what you brought up.

[@Reggiebphoto]

I hear ya. You’re not alone

[@zblsk]

Thank you for yet another wonderful video, Reggie. As a father of 3 sons, I should invest more time in capturing the moments of their childhood. And your video was very inspiring, thanks again and greetings from Ukraine;)

[@Reggiebphoto]

It’s different for everyone, but I’m sure you won’t regret it.

[@ClicStudio]

That’s such a good approach I was trying to figure out how to do that with videography and here are the answers! Beautiful video

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@PhilKnall]

This was wonderful. "a shot instead of THE shot" really hits home. All of these were beautiful though.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Yes indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@morgannelson884]

❤ I love your videos, there is soo much love in them.

[@Reggiebphoto]

You are so kind. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@codyallen3729]

Your best video; an important topic and one I can relate to heavily. Thanks Reggie!

[@Reggiebphoto]

thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@alexnim4873]

such a great video! this is honestly much needed advice for me. thank you for sharing :)

[@Reggiebphoto]

You're so welcome!

[@RyanHasvold]

Oh man, I’d been waiting for this video and you did not disappoint! Beautiful video, well thought out out and told as a journey. I felt so much of this and will take away your idea to involve the kids in the photos-just today my 5 year old asked for a picture that I could add to her mom’s birthday card. They’re starting to see the value already, but engaging them in the process makes it that much better!

[@Reggiebphoto]

100% - case in point the thumbnail of this video, all the credit goes to my kiddo :)

[@tomjugginsuk]

I'm always taking photos of my daughter and my family and I really want to try and make an effort to print them off and make a photo album so we can both look through them together

[@jonathanfostr]

I literally got emotional, this one stuck with me, loving the new videos man!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks my friend. Thanks for taking the time to offer your feedback

[@robreyez]

perfect topic.

[@Reggiebphoto]

Absolutely!

[@InvertedRhombus]

Stunning photos dude!

[@kimduggan7631]

Such a beautiful video. So honest and the images are amazing 👏

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks so much for the kind words :)

[@MarcioK]

Hi, Reggie. As a lot of the responses here, it resonates a lot here - father of a 5 year old girl. Have a lot of photos of her, but I should carry a camera more often... Saw that in some moments you switched very fast from stills to video (or the reverse) in the same scene. How is your settings for this "fast switching" (since in a lot of occasions you have to readjust the settings, nd filter, etc)? Or in this case you rely on a more "automated" video mode? Amazing video, brought me some insights. Thanks a lot.

[@Reggiebphoto]

I can talk about this in another video. The settings for video don’t change that often. It’s a lot simpler than you may think. Or I sometimes have two cameras, one for video and one for stills.

[@chunmanf]

The title got me! I struggle with this too Reg! Thanks for this amazing and genuine video! 🙏🏼

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@chunmanf]

@@Reggiebphoto always Reggie! Love your heart for what you do!

[@Zainphotography]

Awesome content. Worth watching and learning from your experience as a father.

[@Reggiebphoto]

I’m glad you found it helpful :)

[@clintwood1983]

Loved this video. I currently struggle with my 4 year old who hates when I take pictures of him so will try some of what you said. Also, I recently didn't notice my 1 year old pick up cow poo while I was taking a nice shot of the landscape. Currently on track for father of the year!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Oh no, haha!

[@KwyjiboVanDeKamp]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Thanks for watching

[@maxrodriguez6797]

🔥🔥 as always Reggie I took a lot from this video and hope to apply it to my photography this year!

[@Reggiebphoto]

What did you find most insightful?

[@niclasvestefjell]

Great video, Reggie!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@adamdevries8121]

I absolutely love this post. Plus I really love the direction your channel is going, nice work Reggie,, I'm a dad aswell with 2 young daughters, I work in animation Industry, photography is more a hobby, but I enjoy documenting my family, This video really hits home ,Things I've learned having less lenses the better, and over all size of your gear aswell, and yes, you need to know your camera inside and out and not Fidel with in camera settings, For my case I tend to shoot auto iso, and just change the exposure dial to my liking and change aperture on lens, I started with xe-2 and now xt2, as much as I love the xt2 I really wish there was a better pancake lens for the 23mm focal length .I really only shot with my 23 and 35mm. that's it, and yes why not get a 100v, to me its still very close in size to the xt2, so I didn't make the jump, plus its impossible to get a fair price. The x70 is perfect for on the go and travel, I really wish they made a x80, to me that would be perfect.. I'm 'really not a cellphone photography person, so that really doesn't appeal to me. In general the hardest thing I find is being able to get in the shots, its so important, but I learn the interval timer is key so I can get in the shot time to time. Thanks again for taking the time to post this video, all the best to you and your family,

[@Reggiebphoto]

thanks for sharing Adam! it's all a journey. as the kiddos age, so does the gear and applications. might be interesting to talk about that for my own journey of documenting my kids.

[@adamdevries8121]

@Reggiebphoto ohhh totally..100 percent as they age so does your gear..im looking at renting the 90 f2 just for figuire skating competition photos.need that reach. It's a fun journey, for sure.. high five to that.looking forward to how your gear changes and things you learn on the way.

[@Reggiebphoto]

How do you all documenting your lives? Have any tips you can share with us?

[@Iamquiroga]

Great storytelling and visuals! At 5:51 what photo book company do you recommend for pictures?

[@Reggiebphoto]

That particular book was made on Artifact Uprising. But it did come out a little darker than I had hoped (in terms of exposure of the photos). Ive also heard good things about blurb

[@LukeTheDrifter777]

Danke!

[@brianode11]

Do you think the x100-series would be good for documenting family life, indoors and out? Thanks!

[@Reggiebphoto]

Check out the last section of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH6wf6J6gLCph7ssi=3IEC9C6Btqa1js1k

[@brianode11]

@@Reggiebphoto Thank you! The pictures in the “Family” section of your video look great! Guess that’s a yes!

[@Reggiebphoto]

@brianode11 glean from it what you need 🤘🏽

[@kdaq]

I've loved an x100v for toddler photography, particularly when I'm solo with my little guy. The focal length is great, particularly since the x100v improves close-focus. But man, Reggie nails it on two points: 1) practice is invaluable, particularly for focus, and 2) it's helpful to expect some imperfect shots. I take my x-t5 / 33mm when I can because it hits focus way better. But the bulk there sucks too. Gotta find the setup that speaks to you!

[@Nick-lx7mb]

With kids it can be really hectic indeed. I have two daughters myself age 2,5 and age 4 months. I try to bring my camera as much as possible and use my a7iii with 35 1.8 but that sometimes feel i could really use a camera which is smaller. Strongly thinking about x100v or griii. Honestly more about the x100v because of the film sims which i think look great and can save some time. the Griii on the other hand is even smaller but i seem to have less feelings for that camera. What is your experience with both camera's would you bring your x100v or griii? (x70 also looks great but quite a steep price second hand currently)

[@Reggiebphoto]

I have a video on the GRIII and how it compares to Fujifilm.

[@BAMZAC]

what sling are you carrying at 3:26?

[@Reggiebphoto]

This one: partner.shopmoment.com/eKPzMz

[@marcodls]

🫶

[@Reggiebphoto]

❤