"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights" ~ James 1:17
I thank God for my photography passion ... it brings me a joy in life like nothing else I've experienced. Fulfilling my dream of capturing memories for others has been a long time coming and has required quite a bit of training. Mastering this skill is important so you and I both go into your session knowing that the end result will be amazing. My vision for photography is my gift from God. It is my true joy to share fun tidbits and photos from my sessions . . . as well as sharing some photo tips along the way. Enjoy!
Weekly Tips #3: Why Take Photos?
Weekly Tips #3: Why Take Photos?
When my son was young . . . doing all those adorable cute things babies and toddlers just naturally do . . . I told myself there was no way I could ever forget those adorable moments. Sadly, I do actually forget them, but only until something sparks the memory and allows it to touch my heart again. Thank goodness I have a lot of photos to be the "something that sparks the memories"! I am so grateful for them! Of course, there are other reasons besides preserving memories to take pictures . . .
Documenting fleeting moments. Some things will only happen once in a lifetime (i.e., 1st birthday, 1st time washing their own hair, 1st time riding a bike). We just don't want to miss them. As those of us with grown children know, time passes by much too quickly!
Sharing with others. When my friend is telling me something special that happened to her, it has so much more meaning to me when she shares a photo along with her story. The photo allows me to relate to what happened, to make it feel more real and to help me feel the emotion she just shared.
Telling a story. One picture provides a spark of a flashback, but a succession of photos helps to show how the memory unfolded. There's more emotion because it gives us more of a connection to what happened. We should aim to get the big pictures showing what happened, but we also need the zoomed in ones that reveal special details. We just gotta get it all!
Showing your perspective. Your photos are just a little window to how you see the world and what is happening around you. We need to share that view . . . no doubt it's a beautiful one!
Warming your heart. We all need things in our lives the make us smile . . . that warm our hearts. I have photos all over my home for that very reason. I smile at the memory those photos evoke! And sometimes, one may even bring a loving tear to my eye . . . and that 's okay too!
Weekly Tips #2: New Year's Resolutions
Weekly Tips #2: New Year's Resolutions
We are two weeks into the new year and I'm wondering if there are others out there, like me, who have already botched up their new year's resolutions. It's still considered "the new year" though, so it's okay to start over. I love talking about photography, so here are some tips for TAKING MORE PICTURES as a new year's resolution.
Take every day moments. The fresh-out-of-bed look of your child, the cute smile you get when you give him/her a delicious stack of pancakes for breakfast, or even just a picture of him sitting on the couch playing on the computer. Or you can even get pictures of your family looking at pictures.
Take pictures for your pleasure! It's easy to get caught up in posting pictures on social media, and then going to look to see how many people like that image (I know I have been guilty of that too). If you find yourself doing that, stop yourself for the next picture and capture what YOU like, not what you think your facebook or instagram friends will like. You just may end up loving the result!
Be purposeful. Don't just take a picture because it seems like something you should take. Look carefully before you click that shutter. Do you have a specific subject for that photo? If not, find something that stirs some emotion. And when capturing people, be sure to wait for that smile!
Allow yourself to be in some photos. When you go back in time to look at your memories, you want to be able to see yourself interacting with your family and friends as well.
Print your photos! And put them on display. That way they can make you smile every day, rather than when you randomly see them on your computer or cell phone.
Weekly Tips: Snow Pictures
Weekly Tips
Week 1: Snow Pictures
Freshly fallen snow is so incredibly beautiful . . . it begs to be photographed. However, sometimes we end up with results that are really bright and not very pleasant to look at. Here are a few ideas to help you find a magical balance.
Be sure to get the bigger picture before you start walking in the snow. Plan what pictures you want to take so you can get the beautiful scene of your yard before you start exploring and leaving footprints in the snow.
If the snow in your pictures has a blue tint to it, believe it or not, you need to make it brighter, allowing it to turn white. If you know how to adjust your exposure, up it +1 or +2. Play with it and see what looks best.
It may be hard for your camera to focus on anything in the picture if the snow dominate the scene. Make sure to have some contrast in the picture if the snow dominate the scene. Make sure to have some contrast in the image so your camera can find a focal point. If you know how to set the focal point, that's even better ~ set it on the darker part of your photo. Encourage your family/friends to wear dark clothing so they will provide enough contrast to make a good subject in the photo for you.
The really cold temperature can drain your batter much quicker. Wrap up a spare to keep in your pocket just in case you need to change it.
Never delete your pictures while you are outside. Your eyes have adjusted to the very bright white of the snow and you not see the picture accurately. Wait until your eyes have adjusted to your indoor lighting when you get back inside . . . then scroll through your pictures to decide on the keepers.
Why I Click the Shutter Button
We all do things in our lives that make us happy. For some, it is the thrill of a high flying zip line, for others it is pounding a hammer to make a piece of furniture, and still others it is bouncing an orange ball down the court to shoot it into the basket . . . for me, it is capturing images on my Canon 7D.
Since I was a little girl, I have had a camera to document fun times and family gatherings. I am grateful for those photos every time I look through the photo albums of my childhood. As I got older, family and friends counted on me to have my camera in hand. I often heard, "I don't need to worry about taking pictures because Elaine is here". Sharing the pictures brought me as much joy as taking them. I loved the validation that the memories captured in the photos made my family and friends smile!
I am a people pleaser. Discovering that I could make people smile just by taking a fun or a well-planned photo, instilled my love of documenting life. Photos make memories unforgettable! The older I get, the more I rely on the images in my home to spark a memory of times gone by. I LOVE having these little "sparks" of memories, so I continue to click my camera's shutter button as often as I can . . . not only for me, but for anyone else that wants me to provide some "sparks" for them as as well.
