Ahhhh, sweet summertime. What comes to mind when you think of the summer season? For me, it’s a whole list of activities and fun! Things like long nights out in the backyard playing with my children, sharing laughter and conversation while roasting s’mores over the fire, cheering my son on at his baseball games, that evening sunlight washing everything in a golden glow, adventures up in the mountains hiking and camping, beautiful flowers and foliage everywhere I look, and soaking in the delicious warmth of that summer sun. I could go on…

I don’t know about you, but for me, summertime is a season of joy and fresh creative inspiration. As a photographer, I am so drawn to capturing all the magic of summer every chance I get! There are just so many wonderful moments and experiences throughout the season that are worth documenting, and of course if you ask me, there’s no better way to do so than with a Lensbaby lens on my camera. With my trusty Lensbaby gear in hand, I am ready for everything that awaits. All of those summertime moments transform into artistic, vibrant, and memorable storytelling images. 

Below you’ll find a “shot list” of sorts of those must-capture summer moments, as well as my own personal tips on how to use various Lensbaby optics to enhance every scene and subject you approach. Whether you find yourself brimming with creativity in the summer or on the flip side happen to get stuck in a bit of a rut amidst it all, I hope to inspire, encourage, and help you find that fresh spark with your summertime photography and favorite Lensbaby gear through this guide I’ve put together. Consider this an invitation to view summer with your eyes wide open… to slow down, look closer, and see summer through a fresh perspective. Whether you’re documenting your own family’s everyday moments or setting out on an epic adventure, this guide is meant to help you photograph a summer worth remembering (with a little help from the best creative lenses). 

1. Embrace the Everyday

Between all of the big trips and adventures that make up your summer memories, some of the most meaningful photos happen right at home - in your backyard, kitchen, and cozy living room.

• Morning pancakes with there sun steaming through your kitchen window
• Water play in the backyard: sprinklers, hoses, splash pads, pool
• Lazy afternoons reading or building forts indoors
• Messy faces after popsicles or ice cream cones
• Evening dance parties on the patio or living room floor

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips:

• Use a lens like the Sweet 22/Sweet 50 or Double Glass II to bring the attention right to your subject with that signature sharp “sweet spot” surrounded by dreamy blur. Let the chaos blur into the background while you focus in on the special details you want to capture.
• Shoot at a slightly wider aperture (f/2.8-f/4) to get a dreamy yet focused subject

2. Capture Light Like It’s the Main Character

Summertime is known for its rich, golden light, and Lensbaby gear thrives in it. Evenings bring in so much warm and hazy light which is perfect for capturing glowy, dreamy images.

• Chase after golden hour: shoot just after sunrise or before sunset to get that warm, hazy glow
• Try shooting into the sun for soft flare or halos of light
• Use shadows creatively to capture things like feet on the grass, long shadows of a child on a building, dappled light on somebody’s face
• Capture reflections in puddles, windows, or even sunglasses

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips: 

• Try the Sol 45 or Velvet lenses to soften your light and bring in some glow. The Velvet especially makes everything feel like it’s coming straight out of a summer dream and adds a lovely nostalgic touch.
• Add your favorite OMNI to your shot to catch some gorgeous flares and light/color leaks. Experiment with placement of the pieces as well as combining multiple. My very favorites (all the time but especially to enhance that summer magic) are the Rainbow Expansion Pack and any of the crystal wands!

3. Tell Your Story with a Series

Single, standalone images are wonderful, but when’s the last time you told a more complete story through a series? Instead of snapping single images, try your hand at a photo series. Step into those photojournalism shoes! There are many series ideas as there are summertime activities, so choose something meaningful to you and get capturing.

• “A Day in Our Summer Life”: from morning bedhead to nighttime s’mores
• “Summer At The…”: everything that happens in one beloved spot
• “Backyard Adventures”: documenting bugs, flowers, toys, and treasures
• “One Object, Many Moments”: choose something like a pool float, favorite toy, beach towel, etc. and photograph it in various scenes all summer long

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips

• Use the Composer Pro II with the Edge 35 or Edge 50 for storytelling with depth. Tilt the slice of focus to lead your viewer’s eye through the frame.

4. Celebrate Motion & Emotion 

Summer is so full of movement - running, splashing, twirling - and it’s also full of big feelings! Don’t miss the variety of moments, both big and small, busy and relaxing, joyous and tiring, that make up the hot, sunny days.

• Capture your kids running through the sprinkler or twirling in a dress
• Use blur intentionally to show action and energy
• Focus in on expressions: laughter, frustration, pure joy, curiosity
• Don’t be afraid to document the messy moments too - tantrums, boredom, or muddy hands and feet

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips

• Use a lens like the Twist 60 or Trio 28 (Twist effect) to add a fun swirl of movement around your subject!
• Try using the “bokeh blades” found on the Sol 45 and Sol 22 and play around with their placement in front of the lens. The added lines and textures bring a sense of movement as well as emotion into your image.

5. Dive Into Color and Texture 

Have you noticed that summer is a sensory season? Get in close to your subjects to highlight the various textures, colors, and details that define it and are meaningful to you.

• The fuzz on a peach
• The swirl of melting ice cream
• The sparkle of sunlight on water
• The bold colors of swimsuits, outdoor toys, and flowers
• Grassy feet, sandy toes, dripping watermelon

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips

• Use Lensbaby’s macro accessories (macro filters and converters) or a close-focusing lens like the Velvet 56 and Velvet 85 to photograph those dreamy summer details.

6. Create a Summer Shot List Project

Your camera can serve as the perfect companion to making summertime memories! While organically capturing images on the fly works too, it can really help to head into summer with some “must-have shots” or creative ideas planned out. Having a shot list can even act as a bucket list of sorts to guide your adventures. To help you out, I’ve created a free “Lensbaby Summer Shot List” that you can save or print below! Feel free to pull inspiration from it or mix-and-match with your own ideas to compile a list that’s totally unique to you.

• Make it a personal challenge: 1 photo per day or week
• Let your kids help you brainstorm ideas or pick photo spots
• Document your list items in unique and varied ways

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips

• Make it a Lensbaby challenge! Choose one specific lens to use for the entire list, use a different lens for each category, or capture one item with three different lenses… just to name a few ideas.

7. Reflect & Remember

As the summer comes to an end and fades into fall, go back through the photos you’ve taken. Reminisce and relive the many wonderful stories you’ve captured. I’d highly encourage you to pick your very favorites and turn them into something tangible! Printing your photos or creating photo books of your images allows you to enjoy and appreciate what you’ve captured in a special way. Finally, ask yourself:

• What surprised me this summer?
• What little moments did I almost miss?
• What moments or memories am I grateful for?
• What did I learn about light, composition, creativity, and my Lensbaby gear?

Meg’s Lensbaby Tips

• Reflect on your experiences with your Lensbaby gear. Ask yourself: What Lensbaby gear did I most enjoy using? What discoveries/new ways of shooting did I find with my Lensbaby’s? What was my favorite image I captured with my Lensbaby?

I hope that all of these ideas and tips I’ve shared have sparked fresh inspiration in your creativity and left you eager and ready to capture all of the goodness summertime has to offer, however that uniquely looks for you. Remember that it’s not about making sure you capture ALL the moments unfolding before you thoroughly and perfectly… it’s about being present and noticing, enjoying and appreciating all the things that make the season special, and having FUN! In fact, remember to put your camera down every once in a while too. Keeping this all in mind and with Lensbaby gear to creatively capture your moments, you’ll find yourself with photos and a summer story worth remembering!