My first time.

Yes, I did it.

I sure did.

Was I ready? Was it time?  Was I developed?  Prepared? Informed? Protected?

no.no.no.no.no.and no.

but was it the most amazing experience ever!

yes!!

Details to follow!

Ok.  I shot my first wedding.  C.R.A.Z.Y.

I swore I'd never ever shoot a wedding, I promised myself to leave that alone.  But, an amazing opportunity opened up and I took it.  The couple was also my first non friend/family session as well, brought together by a craigslist posting!  This was a few months ago and since then, we've talked on facebook, the brides mother and I have spoken on facebook, the bride even babysat my children for me one day!  haha

I was super nervous, I mean this a day with no do overs.  If I were to totally mess up, if I was to accidentally reformat the memory card, drop my camera, use the wrong settings, or any other of a million things that can go wrong and usually do, happen, I can't say oh boy, I tanked, lets schedule a re-shoot.  No, this day happens once, the many firsts, they happen once.  

So I spent weeks reading, preparing, I went to the church several times, to take test shots at the time of the wedding, I studied my images and thought what I could do to make them better.  Prepared, right?

OMG! NO!  The day came and pfffffffffftttttttttttttt throw all that out of the window!  First I've only been to two weddings my entire life and I was IN both of them.  Everyone was crazy.  Everything was all over!  Busy Busy Busy.  I had MY lists of shots to get, I had MY plan.  Trash.  It was trash.

Lesson 1:

PART A 

Newborns.

We all love newborns, their smell, their sounds, their tiny feet and hands....
Well let me tell you that I've had some trouble photographing them!
My biggest problems come from posed shots.  I am not good at them.  Posing is definitely an art within itself, and now add that to a tiny little person, that has no control over their position, and wow.  I've been begging everyone with a newborn to let me shoot their baby!  haha

I will be a tad bit honest.  Babies scare me.  Yes, I've had 3 children and each of them were a tad over 7 lbs at birth, I've dealt with the ins and outs of a newborn, but having and handling your own child, is totally different then another.  With  your own newborn, you can throw them over your shoulder with one hand while giving the other child a bath, while folding laundry with your feet, but with others newborns, you treat them as if they would break in a million pieces if you moved them 3 centimeters in any direction.

Then there is the issue of skin tone.  Babies are wonderful, newborns are precious, but they do not have the prettiest skin, yet in a photo, the parents want to show the world their newest edition in a positive light.  Newborns just seem to absorb every color around them, if you put them on a blue blanket, they will look blue, a black backdrop and they pick up a red tone.  So, I need more practice with these clients.  It is a bit hard to say to someone, hey can I experiment on your newborn?  :)  Usually that offer is not so well received.

Also, as you can see, none of my newborns are sleeping or naked.  I don't know what it is, but sleeping naked newborn photos kind of creep me out.  I admit that some are cute, but I'm glad if my baby is awake and eyes are making some sort of connection with something (even though most of the time it is not the camera). It just gives them the life appearance. 

So enjoy my practice subjects!  They all get an A+ for effort and I hope I at least captured one photo that is shareable!  I admire all newborn photographers, they are truly special artist.

Images for a Cure

I am a participating photographer in the Images for a Cure charity event.
Images for a Cure, Inc. is a fund raising effort started by Kristen Weaver to support breast cancer research and education through The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRFCure.org)
In 2009, 239 photographers, from 44 states, participated in the event, raising over $13,000 for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
This fall, I will be coming together with other photographers for one purpose, a cure.
I've decided to make my sessions quick, fun, simple, and affordable.  Instead of typical portrait style photos, I have decided to come into the homes of mothers and woman in the Pensacola area and photograph their children doing what children do best, PLAY!

I will be donating my time by photographing playdates!  If you are a local mother who is involved in a playgroup and would be interested in  hosting a photo party in your home, please contact me for details.

Basic Playgroup Packages are as follows:
$25 dollar per child session fee to be donated directly to Images for the Cure
One Hi-Res digital file, along with a full print release allowing you to print any size you wish at any location you wish.
Additional Hi-Res Digital files are avaliable for purchase for $10 per file.  Each file purchased also is given a full print release.

The Hostesss will also receive a 3*5 proofing book and a Collage Photo of various images from the playgroup.

I hope to be seeing all of you and your smiling babies soon!
Help me find a cure!

It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.

I want to take a minute and thank all those I've worked with over the past few months.  Those that have helped me grow, learn, and put that desire in me to be able to excel someday at something I love.

I also want to take a minute and thank my professional models.  They really are more then just a pretty face.  As a photographer, you are on the other side of the camera, it is OK for you to look a bit off, hair a mess, no makeup, clothing that doesn't fit just right or flatter your body.  Some of us are goofy in our own way, reserved, we couldn't hold a pose for 5 seconds, let alone 2 or 3 minutes while my beginner self messes with camera settings, exposure, flash compensation, ISO, and all that other good stuff that I am trying to learn.
They sweat as much as we do under the Mid August Florida sun, yet they are expected not to show it.  They have headaches, runny noses, are expected to be free and clear of any blemish or spot.  They are expected to portray emotion, when I can barely give direction.

And where is that stereotype of the stuck up pretty girl with no personality?  I've yet to work with a model like this.  They have been super sweet, charming, polite, pleasing, and professional.  Maybe I've just been lucky to only have worked with good people, but I wanted to write a mass thank you for all.

ENTWINED: hair adornments by Duong + Crystal

A couple of months ago I was contacted by a friend of a friend from facebook about shooting her handcrafted hair pieces.  I check out her page (link here) and um hello!  YES!  Her past pieces were so original and well designed I was super excited to work with her on this.  Now I kicked around the idea of just shooting the pieces, like on a tree branch or on the ground in a bed of flowers, but that would be so ordinary, why not get two beautiful models involved and get to play dress up??  So I sent out a status update and within 5 minutes had the two best models I've ever photographed agree to help out with this shoot.
Now I admit, I should have taken a few more of just the pieces, looking back, one of my favorite photos is just of one necklace laying across the hand rail of a wooden deck, but I'll know for next time.
I was able to really play with the "vintage" edits I've been longing to do on these photos!
You can check out more photos here

Enjoy!