My Son’s First Day of High School-Good Idea For 1st Day Photo

It was back to school on Monday for my son.  This is his first year of high school and so far so good except a schedule change he is going to look into tomorrow.  I snapped some quick back to school photos.  I thought one of them was a good idea for keep track of the school year. 

I wrote on the driveway with sidewalk chalk the night before so we could get our pics fast.  I had to head to work.  It was still a bit dark outside and he was a little tired and cranky, but the idea worked. 

I took another one today and he smiled a bit more.  I think because he had his goofy ear bud in his ear.  It seems to be a permanent fixture these days.

I think this school year is going to speed past us. 

I also have a fun Izzy pic to share with you.  She carries big sticks from the back yard through her doggie door and runs around the house with it until she settles down to chew on it. 

Such a silly dog. 

I have come up with a few ideas for my fall front porch.  In a couple of more weeks, I am going to start working on it. 

Are you ready for fall? 

The Flash Is Becoming My Good Friend

Maybe not for home décor or craft photos, but flash can really help create a nice portrait photo.  I use an external flash.  The Canon  580ex ii to be exact. 

Direct flash is harsh and ugly, but with my Better Bounce Card my flash works really well.

I didn’t get a free one or paid to say that.  I just like to pass along things that I think work. 

I have made friends with another photographer and we get together and practice photography and help each other.  She really doesn’t need my help.  She is awesome.  She uses off camera flash with soft boxes.  One day I will be proficient with it as well.  I needed a new profile pic for my photography business.  We spent too much time talking and had to take our photos without any sunlight.  That’s the beauty of flash.  You can still get good portraits.  Wanna see mine? 

I am NOT photogenic.  I have a crooked sill smile and have no idea how to pose, so I was really pleased she got such a good pic of me. 

By the time I took her pic it was so dark my camera couldn’t find her and focus on her so I had to switch to manual focus.  It worked like a charm.  Don’t be afraid to use it.  Try it and get comfortable with it because you never know when you will have to use it. 

Here is the photo I got of her using my flash and my diffuser in the dark.  There was a street light and porch light so it was not completely dark, but dark enough. 

We are going to do some fall photos of each other too and use plenty of sun next time. 

I also bought a really big reflector.  It’s another way to get light on your subjects.  You need light in the eyes or your subject  just doesn’t look as good. 

Izzy had to be my model.  I reflected light onto the side of her away from the window.

I just love an Izzy photo. 

Here is how I used the reflector.

I clamped the reflector to a stand that I have.  I don’t think I like the gold side.  I really prefer the white or silver.

What do you do when you need extra light in your photo? 

Rosa Update

Rosa’s home!  She is home while her new fighter cells she received during her clinical trial do their job.  She still has the tumor under her arm and she feels like it has not shrunk yet, but we are still praying.  She was struggling with missing her husband and son, so being home will be very therapeutic for her.  The joy she felt when she arrived at the airport and saw her son after being gone for 3 weeks of treatment was captured with some photos.  A picture is truly worth a thousand words.

Keep praying.  We need this beautiful woman around as long as possible.

Where Have I Been?

In case  you were wondering, last weekend I photographed 2 weddings and a 90th birthday.  Got them all edited and now I feel like I should put a fork in me and call me done. 

I thought I would share a few of my favorite pics with you. 

These are from the first wedding where I was the 2nd shooter. 

There are lots more, but you get the idea and those are a few of my favorite shots.

The next wedding was very simple and I was able to get a good spot to take pics of the ceremony.

I have decided to start up a business and get nicer packaging for my photo cds.  They look so sad in ziplock baggies. 

I ordered some cd sleeves and rebinders and custom rubber stamps.  When they come in I will show you the packaging.  For now this gives you an idea.

Looks like I will be starting a business soon.  Wish me luck. 

On another note Fall is coming!!!  I love fall decorating on my porch.  It seems my fall décor gets the most hits on pinterest.  Maybe I will be able to come up with some fun new ideas. 

Football season is starting too.  My son is playing 9th grade high school football this year.  I went to a practice yesterday.

The yard work will be coming to an end around here as well, but I got a cute pic of my son with his friend.  They were sweeping the grass off the sidewalk. 

I grabbed a shot of my neighbor’s yard being watered too.  I just like how the droplets look. 

So that’s what I have been doing.  How about you?

Sometimes the Best View is From Your Own Front Porch

I have been playing with some new Free presets in Lightroom.  One of them has an HDR effect that I think is really cool.  I used it on the photo above.  I also used it on this photo I took at a pond during our Colorado vacation. 

I love the reflections in this photo.  Speaking of reflecting, I am doing a lot of  that about my blog.  I hope to come up with some decisions soon. 

Sweet Shot Tuesday @ Photography Essentials

A Wedding Gift For My Friend-A Personalized Sign

Friday my young friend will be marrying her best friend.  I get to be the 2nd shooter for the wedding because the photographer needs my help.  I hope I do well.  Anyway, I wanted to make her a sign with her new initial on it and her wedding date.  In Texas we like leopard print and always will so that is what I used. 

Plus she has some leopard print pillows in her living room so I thought it might match.  I used scrapbook paper for the A and paint for the rest of it. 

I used my Cricut to make a stencil after I made a design using Photoshop Elements.

I used some sticky spray to attach the A and the put Mod Podge over the top of it to make sure it didn’t’ peel off. 

 

I got to go on her bridal shoot with her and I snuck in a few pics, but stayed out of the photographer’s way.  Kali said I could share this with you. 

She looked so pretty.  I framed this for her in a frame that matches her bedroom colors and her wedding.  I forgot to take a pic of it though so use your imagination. 

Thanks for stopping by.  It was nice having a project to show you.  Even my husband said it has been a really long time since I made something. 

I guess it’s official- I am a photographer.

Photography has consumed my life lately.  I have been asked to do several weddings.  I actually did my first one last weekend.   Wanna see my favorite photo from the wedding? 

Weddings are hard.  I am not sure if I will continue doing them or not.  Time will tell. 

I have also become involved with a group of photographers in my area.  We went downtown and did a walk and shoot last night.

It was fun to take pics of objects instead of people for a change.  My lack of posting projects shows you it has been awhile.

I like to find interesting unusual things to photograph and pretty light. 

We have a landmark building and sign downtown that everyone loves.

And this cool light fixture looks like a great DIY project.

My 2013 goal is to open an official photography business.  I will keep my day job though.    I can remember asking my husband if I could buy my first DSLR camera so I could take pretty photos of my projects.  Who knew I would love it so much? 

Did blogging start your love affair with your camera???