Sunday, July 28, 2013

Pic of the Day: From Fun to Fabulous

Hello Everyone,

I was editing one of my daughters pictures from a recent shoot and decided I would like to have people see how much work can go into photo editing.  I feel that a lot of people simply don't understand the time that can go into one picture to make it really shine.  They think you just point and shoot and it all looks great.  This picture is fun and could stand on its own without any edits, but when I put the time into editing this image it goes from fun to fabulous.  This picture took about 40 minutes to take it from Fun to Fabulous.

To get a really good feel of the difference, just double click on the image and it will come up larger.  This way you can see the detail and changes in the image more clearly.  

Let me know what your thoughts are on this. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Deanna  :)







Thursday, July 18, 2013

Pic of the Day: Beautiful Brown Horse

My "Pic of the Day" comes from one of my many drives that I love to take.  Always looking for a photo opportunity.  I know I drive my family crazy sometimes.  O.k.  If the truth were told by them they would probably say I drive them crazy more than I want to realize and more than they are confessing.  I usually have a camera in tow and ready to shoot!

One of my favorite subjects to take pictures of is horses.  I am constantly looking for horses.  I have always loved horses.  Growing up I had a horse named Cowboy.  Yeah.  Original, I know.  The truth is, I didn't pick his name.  That was his name when we bought him so we left it that way.

Well, enough of that.  Here is the picture that I choose from my many images of horses.  He is just beautiful and looking right at me.  Love it when there is eye contact in a picture.  Even when it is with a horse!  

Have a good night and thanks for stopping by!

Deanna  :)


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pic of the Day: Hydrangea Photo

Hello!

I just wanted to share my favorite photo of the day.  Last week I bought this beautiful Hydrangea plant for my front porch.  I love taking macro pics of flowers!  This is one of my favorite flower plants.  I don't know why I waited so long to buy one.  On my trip to Missouri my sisters inspired me with their green thumbs and I came back home wanting to put plants everywhere!  Since the budget won't allow that, I will have to start with a few at a time!

Enjoy!

Deanna  :)





Saturday, July 13, 2013

Pic of the Day: Cute Squirrel

The pic of the day goes to this cute squirrel trying to get into the bird feeder.  He ate a lot of seeds on the ground but decided to try for the mother load!

Enjoy!

Deanna  :)




Friday, July 12, 2013

Pic of the Day: Returning Home

While visiting family in Missouri, I would get up with the birds in the morning.  Seriously!  I would hear them outside and I would quietly sneak outside and bird watch for an hour or more while everyone slept.  I have some really fun images to share.

My goal is to share one picture a day and blog it on this website.  Just fun pictures of my favorite images.

This image is of one of the birds returning to the nest which was built in this boot wreath.  I just happened to be up early enough to capture this.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Deanna  :)

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Moab Spring Break Trip

I know it is has been awhile since we went on this trip last year during my kids spring break, but it feels like yesterday to me.  I had so much fun!  I am finally finding time to do some edits for myself.  It is fun to look back at the pictures and let the memories flow like it was yesterday!

We stayed at a campground called Wind Whistle.  It was a bit out of the way but it was a beautiful, peaceful place to camp.  I would camp there again.  The wind really did softly whistle early in the morning.  Such a calming, incredible sound. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy some of my images from this fun trip.  I felt like I was 20 something again hanging out with the college group.  Nice to feel that once in awhile!

Enjoy!

Deanna  :)















Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Photo Session With Rachel

I had a great time last night taking pictures of the lovely, funny Rachel Van Kampen.  Thanks for making this session awesome!









Thursday, June 6, 2013

Indigi Photography: The Campbell Family

http://loveslaughsncrafts.blogspot.com/2013/06/post-marriage-engagements.html?spref=fb

The Campbell Family





I was so excited to take the pictures of Jenn and Ryan.  Not only are they an adorable couple but also very fun to be around.  For our shoot we went to Smith and Edwards.  They have so much random stuff there you can have new material every time you go do another photo session.

When we get there we immediately find cool stuff to make a great shot.  It was about 5:50 when we started shooting and at 6:10 p.m. the guy who works there told us they close at 6:00 p.m.  Oops!  My bad for assuming they were open past 6:00 p.m.  He was really nice about it and said he had to stay a little longer and let us stay as well.  It turned out they were working on a really old moonshine truck and the owner was there waiting for him to finish.  I really wanted pictures of Jenn and Ryan by this truck.  It never hurts to ask!  She was very sweet and allowed us to take some pictures by it.

After we took pictures of the truck we wanted to take more pictures.  We went on a photo session adventure to see what we could find.  Lucky for me this couple was so awesome and relaxed about not getting to spend much time at Smith and Edwards.  We found some really cool places to shoot and had a great time.  

Thanks Jenn and Ryan for a wonderful photo shoot!  

Deanna  :)













Photo










Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Photoshoot with the Leavitt Family

I am little behind on my posting.  I had a great photo shoot with the Leavitt family about a month ago.  They were so at ease with the camera and they kept this photographer laughing more than she has laughed on any other shoot!

This is a wonderful family.  Thanks for letting me enjoy your company for awhile!

Deanna  :)












Friday, May 31, 2013

Baby's Cake Smash Photo Shoot



A cake smash photo shoot is an incredibly fun way to mark your baby's first birthday. It's fun to do a cake smash BEFORE the birthday party so you can focus on getting good pictures of your baby enjoying his first bite of cake without worrying about neglecting your guests. And you can let him make all the mess he wants and then get it all cleaned up before the party takes place. Sure, he can have more cake at the party, but if you know you already have great photos, you won't be so worried about getting the perfect shot during the party.

For more pictures and complete information, please go to the following link:


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Tips for Newborn Photography – Part Two

http://www.fuelyourphotography.com/tips-for-newborn-photography-part-two/

Individual PortraitsToday’s article is Part Two in a series on newborn photography. If you missed Part One, you can catch up here. In this article, I will be going into more depth on posing newborns, plus the three types of images I’m always looking to end up with from a newborn session: individual portraits, environmental portraits, and family portraits.
The individual portraits are my first priority and usually include the classic sleeping baby shots. The secret weapon here is a boppy pillow. Just about every mom has one, so I always ask for it. I’ll lay the boppy down and cover it with a blanket or two. The baby nestles perfectly in the middle and I’m able to securely prop his head up. In this way, I can get multiple poses done quickly: the baby on his back, side, and tummy. In each position, I explore every angle and composition I can before moving to the next. You’d be surprised how many angles you can find by just moving yourself. I shoot from the side and from above, I get close ups of his face, a full body shot, then details like feet, ears, and hands. If you do all of these angles in each position, you’ll end up with lots of poses to choose from in the end.
Individual Newborn Portraits
Another trick I use: each time I rotate the baby from one position to the next, or whenever I want to adjust anything in the pose, I do it from in between the blanket and the boppy. I can adjust from underneath the blanket to move the baby’s bottom half without startling him nearly as much as if I’m reaching in and moving him from above.
One note: obviously, it’s so important to always be safe and mindful of how you’re positioning the baby. I won’t ever do anything either the mom or I am uncomfortable with. I’d rather have the mom feel like her baby is safe than get an amazing shot that might make her anxious. I also think it’s really important to use a camera strap and to never be in a position where the camera might slip out of your hands from above or swing from the strap and hurt the baby.
Environmental Newborn Portraits

Environmental Portraits

The environmental portraits show the bigger picture of where the family lives. These tend to be some of my favorites. I like to back up and photograph the room we are in to give some context in a more documentary style. So if we’re in the living room where the mom is changing the baby or rocking him to sleep on the couch, I’ll use a wide lens to include the whole scene. Some parents put a lot of work into a nursery, so that’s another great area to photograph, with the baby in the crib, with mom and baby in the rocking chair, or even the room and it’s details alone (often this happens during feedings when I have nothing else to do). I also love using the master bedroom, with the baby curled up on the bed alone or with the parents.
Family Newborn Portraits 1

Family Portraits

Family portraits are an important type of image that sometimes parents forget about. I love to capture the new mom and dad, snuggled in close to their little one. I also make sure to photograph each parent separately with the newborn and if there are other siblings, I’ll get a shot with them as well. These family photos are usually the easiest to take, because there is so little direction needed to get a sweet relationship image when the parents are already so enamored with their brand new baby. If someone does seem a bit anxious or unsure of what to do, suggest something simple, like “nuzzle your face in close,” “kiss his nose,” or “close your eyes and snuggle her close to you.” It doesn’t take much to get a natural, beautiful shot of someone loving on their baby!
Family Newborn Portraits 2
I hope this article has given you some ideas for your next newborn session and getting some images that your clients will love. Feel free to leave any questions in the comments and I’d be more than happy to share any answers I may have.

Tips for Newborn Photography – Part One


Newborn photography seems to be one genre that photographers either really love or really don’t–and they tend to figure that out fairly quickly! I’m one that loves it. There is just something so magical about the first few days of a baby’s life at home that I love being able to capture. In the first of this two-part series, I’ll be going over a few tips on setting yourself up for success with newborn photography

What to Bring


I’m always striving for natural, simple, timeless photos, but especially when the subject is a newborn. Because of this, I tend to avoid using lots of props, giant headbands, or outfit changes. Most of my photos are done with the baby in either just a diaper or a simple, white onesie. I much prefer this timeless look, but I’m always happy to comply with any requests from the parents.
To change things up, I do usually bring a few soft, textured blankets (either in white or light colors). I also use whatever the parents have on hand–blankets given as gifts or anything special from their nursery. I want the photos to be personalized however possible.  I also bring extra blankets for layering and padding, a large beanbag and/or a boppy pillow (more on how those are used in next month’s article), and a space heater. I let the parents know ahead of time that it’s helpful to have a few things on hand such as a pacifier, wet wipes, extra diapers, and anything else that will help keep their baby happy.
jace-23-2

Be Patient!


The most important thing you’ll need as a newborn photographer is PATIENCE. Newborns tend to be pretty unpredictable. They sleep, wake, cry and eat when they feel like it and there’s not much we can do to control it. So when I schedule a newborn session, I block out a few hours and make sure to tell the parents to do the same.

When I arrive at the client’s home, I emphasize that I am not at all in a hurry and that we will go by the baby’s schedule. This relaxes the parents, who are worried that their baby will be uncooperative and ”difficult.” I want them to know that all babies require a bit of patience and I’ll be able to get beautiful images no matter what. We take breaks for nursing or diaper changes and take all the time needed to get the baby to sleep.

However, if hours pass and things just aren’t going well, the parents (and baby) might just need a break. You can give them the option of trying again another day when you just can’t get what you need. This is just part of the unpredictability of newborn sessions and I want to be as flexible as possible to keep the parents feeling relaxed and taken care of.
IMG_3645

Getting the Baby to Sleep


I always hope to photograph the baby both asleep and awake. The family portraits and environmental shots are much more fun with a happy, awake baby, but for the type of individual portraits I want, it’s easiest if the baby is deeply asleep. This is usually the hardest part and what causes the most stress for the mom and photographer. It may take a while to get the baby to that deeply sleeping stage, but once he’s there, you can move him pretty much however you need to get the shots you’re going for–and he’ll stay asleep. Even if it takes 45 minutes to get him to a deep state of sleep, it’s worth it when you can get the next shots done very quickly.
A quiet, calm environment is so important for this reason, so here are a few tricks to get that baby to sleep:
  • Using a white noise app on your phone, running water in the tub, or turning on the vacuum can be comforting for a baby who is used to similar noises in the womb. Sometimes even the shutter on the camera startles babies, so having noise to cover other sounds definitely helps.
  • With an exposed baby, you’re going to want the home very warm. Suggest turning up the heat in the house or use a space heater directed towards the baby.
  • On the same note, keep your hands warm. Nothing is as unpleasantly surprising to a sleeping baby (or anyone, for that matter) as cold hands on bare skin!
  • I’ve found that some babies seem to be hypnotized just by running my hand down the bridge of their nose. They’ll close their eyes and sometimes just keep them closed until they’re out!
  • If the mom is stressed and you’re comfortable with this, try rocking the baby to sleep yourself. Babies can sense anxiety and tend to respond in kind, so if you notice the mom tensing up, offer to take over for a few minutes.
jace-48

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Photography Tips for New Photographers




submitted by CSS from www.heretocreate.com

As a new photographer, these are some of the ideas that have helped get me going. 

1. Don’t go crazy buying the most expensive equipment right away.

It’s possible to get very nice photos with an inexpensive point and shoot. See these examples on Flickr. The more photos you take, the more you’ll know about what kind of camera to get when it’s time to upgrade.

2. Consider a tripod.

On the other hand, an inexpensive tripod is worth getting, especially if you have shaky hands like mine. When I got a tripod, my satisfaction with my shots skyrocketed. For even more stability, use your camera’s timer function with a tripod (read our introduction to tripods).

3. Keep your camera with you all the time.


Photo ops often come when you least expect it. If you can keep your equipment relatively simple – just a small camera bag and a tripod – you might be able to take advantage of some of those unexpected opportunities. Or, if your phone has a camera, use it to take “notes” on scenes you’d like to return to with your regular camera.

4. Make a list of shots you’d like to get.

For those times you can’t carry your camera around, keep a small notebook to jot down places you’d like to come back and photograph. Make sure to note any important details, like the lighting, so you can come back at the same time of day or when the weather’s right. If you don’t want to carry a notebook, send yourself an email using your cell phone with Jott.com.

5. Don’t overlook mundane subjects for photography.


You might not see anything interesting to photograph in your living room or your backyard, but try looking at familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. You might catch an interesting trick of the light or find some unexpected wildflowers in your yard. Often a simple subject makes the best shot.

6. Enjoy the learning process.

The best part of having a hobby like photography is never running out of things to learn. Inspiration is all around you. Look at everything with the eyes of a photographer and you’ll see opportunities you never noticed before.

7. Take advantage of free resources to learn.

Browse through Flickr or websites like the Digital Photography School Forum for inspiration and tips. Also, your local library probably has a wealth of books on all types of photography. If you’re interested in learning about post-processing, give free software like the GIMP a try.

8. Experiment with your camera’s settings.

Your point and shoot may be more flexible and powerful than you know. Read the manual for help deciphering all those little symbols. As you explore, try shooting your subjects with multiple settings to learn what effects you like. When you’re looking at your photos on a computer, you can check the EXIF data (usually in the file’s properties) to recall the settings you used.

9. Learn the basic rules.

The amount of information about photography online can be overwhelming. Start with a few articles on composition. Be open to what more experienced photographers have to say about technique. You have to know the rules before you can break them.

10. Take photos regularly.


Try to photograph something every day. If you can’t do that, make sure you take time to practice regularly, so you don’t forget what you’ve learned. An excellent way to motivate yourself is by doing the weekly assignments in the DPS Forum.

11. Don’t be afraid to experiment.


If you’re using a digital camera, the cost of errors is free. Go crazy – you might end up with something you like. You’ll certainly learn a lot in the process.


Read more: http://digital-photography-school.com/11-tips-for-beginner-photographers#ixzz2U1v2n9UA

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Chasing Dandelions!

This photo shoot was a lot of fun.  Of course taking pictures of my grandson is one of my favorite hobbies.  The trick is to get him to look at the camera.  He is great at saying "Cheese" but rarely looks right at the camera.  It takes a team effort to get eye contact.  Usually I have someone standing by or above me making funny faces to get his attention.

However, with that said, these pictures are candid shots without the need of eye contact.  I love these because my little Charley is just being himself and that is what we love!

Enjoy!

Deanna  :)


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Baby On Board!

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to post a few pictures from a recent photo shoot with my daughter and her family.  We had so much fun and I am very excited to have a new addition to our family in November!  

Enjoy!

Deanna  :)