Here’s a bit of what I was up to last week…
I was at the Seal Beach pier when one day when it was bright and sunny. Ten minutes later the fog rolled in, then back to sun. The weather was crazy and indecisive that day!
I also had a last-minute location change when I found out there was a race going through the park I was supposed to be shooting at. Love thinking on my feet!
And a gorgeous evening photo session in one of my most favorite fields ever!
Oct
24
When I was first starting out, I remember watching a photographer that I admired and it was shutter click after shutter click, hundreds of them. For those of us that grew up with film cameras, it’s a transition from the feeling of being limited to the amount of film you have on hand. Digital blows all that out of the water. I know there are people who stick to their guns about really contemplating each shot, framing it perfectly and not going home with loads of junk images that never see the light of day. But, people, I photograph children. And they do not wait for me to frame them perfectly and they also don’t care how many images I ‘waste.’ Sooo, I fire away. I keep shooting the entire session. Even when I feel like I’ve got the shot, I try to squeeze in just one more good one. Sometimes, it’s when the camera leaves my face that the stars align and everyone relaxes into the perfect shot. Let’s just say I have a quick trigger finger. 🙂
I also shoot during the get-to-know-you that happens at the beginning of a session. I’ll be talking to the child, asking them questions, raising the camera to my face, then back to chatting and so on. Once we get into a groove, the natural expressions just start rolling. Sometimes, kids like to take a new smile ‘out for a test drive’. They’re not really sure what I want from them, so they just start trying things out. I’ll even show them the back of my camera…of course everyone loves to see themselves. We just keep talking and interacting until BOOM that look, you know the one I’m talking about, it just happens and I know I’ve got the shot. And that’s when I’m glad I didn’t give up.
This post will have to be short on words because I’m a one-woman show this week and lots of photo sessions to run around to! Here’s my week in pictures:
I’ve been hinting here and there at a recent project that just wrapped. Blue Christmas trees and hot pink snow flakes can only mean one thing…Oilily! If you’re not familiar with the brand, it’s European children’s clothing and it’s all about the unexpected. Lots of mixing prints, layering and details like you can’t imagine. So, I when I got the opportunity to style and shoot a few pieces from their Holiday line for the splash page of the website, I was on color overload! I kept referring to my friend Laura, who pushed me to take it over the top and I’m so excited with the results.
If you want to check out the splash page on the Oilily site, click here: Oilily USA
Sometimes when I show up to a photo session, it will take a baby or toddler a little bit to warm up to me. They might be wondering who is this lady with a black box in front of her face? Those first few inquisitive moments can definitely yield some of the best photos. It’s those inquisitive eyes looking straight into the camera. But, sometimes, their eyebrows give them away.
Do you remember that part in Toy Story where Mrs. Potato Head tells Mr. Potato Head to bring his angry eyebrows?
I used to just skip past these pictures during the culling process. I thought the eyebrows ruined the photo, but then I started to think. Those are just shadows. I love everything else about the photo. Why can’t I just get rid of the shadows. ENTER CLONE TOOL. Now I should stop for a second and say, I don’t think he looks angry…just a furrowed brow. 🙂
Okay, back to the clone tool. I took a screen shot so you can see which tool I’m talking about.
Since I’m all about being fast, the shortcut for this tool is S. Hold down alt and click what you want to cover up the area you are working on. So, in this case, I clicked on the area of his forehead above the shadows. Then click on the shadowed area (without holding alt down) to cover up the area. I like to use about a 30% opacity, so it looks natural. Then just keep going over the area, until all the shadows are gone. (oh and you’ll notice I used the same process to get rid of the scratch on his nose.)
Here’s the finished result. No furrowed brow, only inquisitive eyes. Photo saved!
Believe it or not, this blondie has an Asian background on his dad’s side! We took a few of him in a cultural outfit, that are just so cute.
The events that unfolded this week in Seal Beach have left us all a little shaky. Knowing that the future is uncertain. Wanting to hug our spouses and kids just that much tighter.
My heart aches for all the families affected. It makes me look at all these family photos from this week in a whole new light…
I’m so excited to be back at Rascals to Rebels for Halloween. Last year was a huge hit, so we’re doing it again! Bring your kids down to either the Rossmoor or Huntington Beach stores on the specified dates/times to be photographed in their Halloween costumes. It’s a great way to document something that so easily slips by. We get busy with trick-or-treating and night time photos just aren’t the best. I know so many of you make your kids’ costumes or special order them…so have fun and gets some cute pictures done!
Here’s the not-so-fine-print: It’s $20 for 3 digital images that will be emailed to you the day after the shoot. I will be choosing the best 3 images. You will own the rights, so you can print and share online. The backdrop will be the hand-painted gray that you see in these sample photographs. The kids must be in their Halloween costumes. But, don’t worry, I’ll be back in November to the stores for Holiday pictures!
It’s a drop by event, so you don’t need to sign up…just come by during the allotted times. Last year, the Huntington Beach store was a lot busier because of the fact that it coincides with the trick-or-treating event that the center does. If you’re looking to avoid a crowd, come by the Rossmoor store on Friday after school.
My friend Allyson lives up at Hume Lake and every time I visit her, I notice something new in her home. She brings the outside in…in such creative ways. This time I was intrigued by a wood disc she had on her kitchen counter. Inside was a mini topiary with a bird…such a sweet little display.
The wood disc is what makes it for me. And when you’re surrounded by trees, why not be creative and use them in your decorating!? All you need is a guy with a chain saw. No biggie, right? I mean for those of you that live in the mountains. Anyway, she removed the bark and cleaned it well and wah-lah. A cute round little wood disc to display seasonal goodies. I love the rustic quality of the the little bird in the nest. And how cute would this be to serve hor dourves? I can just picture a wedge of cheese and some grapes under that dome. So, if you’re lucky enough to live in the woods, slice yourself a piece of wood and get styling!
Not to make the rest of the country jealous, but our southern CA weather is kind of amazing right now. I mean who has beach photo session after beach photo session…IN OCTOBER. It’s crazy. Especially for this Montana girl, who grew up with the first frost at the end of August. You better start packing up your shorts in July, because winter’s a comin’. Anyway, lucky us. We get to enjoy the sun for months on end.
In an effort to make the blog a little more interesting, I want to include a thought or two on how I shoot or the reasons why I do things. So, every Monday will be a ‘tip’ of sorts. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m no expert. I explain it this way…I went to college to be a teacher, but the artist was knit inside my mother’s womb. 🙂 I come from generations of creative people and photography just happened to be how it manifested in me. I have a vision of what I want to create and the camera just happens to be the medium. I often refer to the camera functions as ‘thing-ys’ but it all makes sense in my head. 🙂 So, that’s the long disclaimer that you may roll your eyes at what I have to say, but if anything it will give you a glimpse behind the camera.
Kids are pretty easy to photograph. I’ve never had a kid ask me where they should put their hands. It might take them a minute or two to warm up, but once they do, they’re relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. When I want siblings to interact, my favorite method is hugs. Sometimes hugs are timid and gentle…other times they end in a pile of giggling children on the ground. When I ask kids to do something, it’s not so I can photograph the initial request, it’s so I can photograph the reaction that ensues.
So, whether you’re a photographer or a mom trying to get better pictures of your kids…be an instigator. Ask them to do something. Maybe it’s a hug, maybe it’s a kiss, a jump, a tickle…but get ready for the before and after. Those are the best and most authentic moments.
Here’s a few before, afters and in-betweens that I love.
