Child/Family Photography info

This might be a little boring to my viewers--but this is where I log this kind of stuff.  I want to write it down before I forget.  Yesterday I watched an archived webinar from a photographer in Texas.  It was interesting because she gave lots of tips for posing, interacting, etc but one thing stood out.  She mentioned that there is such a trend among newer photographers these days to shoot wide open but sacrifice sharpness in the images as they are striving for the creamy background.  I was amazed to hear that she rarely shoots below 5.6!! She sets her aperature and her shutter speed, and then just bumps the ISO either up or down to get the correct exposure.  SO interesting! Her reasoning is that she doesn't want to risk not having tic-tac sharp images and you never know which portrait a family would want to enlarge to a huge size.  How unprofessional to say they can't because that one picture isn't up to par technically.  I admired her passion in learning this craft well-- the math and the science behind it.  It's where I kind of was in the beginning but was getting overwhelmed by those details.  When I took the community college portrait class I asked the teacher about some exposure formula and she looked at me like I had two heads! haha!  Well, I know that I am sometimes..okay, most of the time, a little too detail oriented or try so hard to go by the book on things so I thought, 'ok, Dawn, just calm down about this and have fun with it.  She doesn't get all worried about the math in this thing-- just works by trial and error.'  That line of thought was helpful at that time because it gave me the guts to keep trying, to go into manual mode without knowing what I was doing, to venture out and experiment.  But, now, as I so badly want perfection and excellence in the technical side of things, it was encouraging to hear a photographer promote that learning.  It does help!! For instance, by doing the math  you can figure out exactly how much focus you can have.  She showed this comparison of shooting at F1.8 vs F5.6 from 18 inches away:  at F1.8 you only have a .25 inch depth of field!! (or amount in focus)  But with F5.6 you had almost a full inch.  Doesn't it make sense that one eye might be crystal clear and the other softly focused? 1/4 of an inch!! No WONDER I had so many rough, unfocused images with my family of 6! So anyway, it encourages me to continue to work on understanding the why and how of this stuff.  I don't want to be mediocre.

Here's a link to her work: http://kimberlywylie.com/

ok, and one other learning point from recently.  I was reading an article and the photographer was saying how so many times people overshoot just trying to catch a lucky shot.  It takes sooo much more time to process that many images.  She suggests pretending you are shooting with film, to limit yourself.  Wait for the right moment and get it right on camera.  I agree with that.  I am no where close to being there, though.  I think that's why I don't feel awesome when people compliment my photography - especially with portraits.  It was just lucky shooting, ya know?  I didn't KNOW I was nailing that shot (and honestly, I'm not sure if there is a single picture I have truly thought I "nailed" even in reviewing them.)

I want to improve technically.  I want to grow in confidence, shoot with purpose and skill.  But, how do I get there from here? That's what I don't know.

Picture pusher

Today I did a whole pile of editing of my niece.  My children are sick and don't want to eat, and sadly, I think I am getting sick again, too!! I shouldn't be too surprised--it's not rocket science that you get sick when you end up in your sick child's bed several nights with them coughing in your face! So anyway--I am trying to rest and be still but I can't actually sleep since I have 3 needy little people around me.  Editing is the perfect choice! However, I am trying to get my sister to narrow down some choices because there are sooo many that she picked!  She's lucky she is my sister!  It's taking me HOURS.  I will share a few of my favs from today.

I pushed my photographs onto my children :) by ordering them each a 2014 Journal through Costco.  I uploaded a picture that I thought they would like respectively.  We'll see how they turn out.

more K

Popsicle Photographer

I just had a mini photo shoot for my husband's supervisor.  The one location suggested was horrible-- I might post a picture to show it later.  I had my husband pose ahead of time and I didn't like it.  The purpose of the photo shoot was for the subject's LinkedIn account.  He wants to look thinner than he is at this point and my husband told him about what I can do in Photoshop.  Still, super intimidating!  And today, 35 degrees- my fingers were numb.  I moved us over in front of the roll up door at the fire station.  I liked it but wish I could have had time to play more.  I have a bazillion things to do today, and should not be blogging or taking pictures! But, I want to write this down before I forget..plus, I'm thawing.

Anyway, my goal was to try to get a decent image: in focus, light in the eyes, no weird shadows, AND in as flattering of a pose as possible.  He just wanted a head shot.  I had no idea what he looked like before the shoot.  I tried to be above him a tad and tried to have him turn toward me to give more angle on the face.  I was trying to keep only the door in the background.  I was trying to keep light in his eyes by having his face up and toward the direction of the light, while not emerging into sunlight.  It was freezing.  My husband and my son were watching me-- and everyone was wanting me to hurry! (including me) :)  Challenging.  I wish I could upload and get to work to see if I got anything to work with- but no, gotta vacuum and mop and clean bedrooms. :)

One last note-- I  am a little worried about his expectations.  I can only do a little improvement ya know? I can't revert a person back to their 20s!  Secondly, with the last subject, it was easier because since she is one of my little sister's best friends, I have known her most of her life.  I KNEW what she looked like before the weight came on and was able to correct without distorting reality.  What she sees in those pictures is probably what she THINKS she looks like.  Isn't that right? That's how it is with me anyway!  I see a picture of myself and I think, 'Oh my goodness, do I really look that bad?!'  Many days the mirror gets that reaction out of me, too-- that's when I start working really hard on my attitude and character! But, on camera, it always seems worse for me.

Alrighty- better get to work.  Hopefully a little editing fun late tonight or tomorrow!

Last one, I think

I think this is it for this shoot-- there are a couple more I COULD do, but I think I have given her enough and what's left isn't anything amazing so I am going to call it done.  My poor little sister-- I still haven't finished editing my niece's pictures from almost 2 months ago! How rude to edit her friend's photos first! ;) I guess family gets 2nd priority!

Edited- on here it looks like I might have brought up the exposure a little too much? I might be losing some detail on the face.  

a few more

  This one bothers me a little as his eyes are not sharp, nor his mouth.

A Christmas Kiss-- I had meant to pick up mistletoe for this shot, but forgot.

edited- 

The Christmas Shoot

Anyway, as for the photos last week.. some good things, some bad things.  In reviewing the photos, many of them were not sharply focused.  I am tired of losing good shots because of that!  Time after time, that issue resurfaces.  I wish I knew why.  I mean, I have learned some things- each time something new about shutter speed, or using too small of an aperture for that many faces, or I needed to bump up ISO due to low light, or I need to use my focus lock before pressing the button, etc.  But this time, I don't know what the contributing factor was to some unfocused images.  I think I had all that stuff in mind as I was going along?!  The other area of lack was again, just not having an arsenal of tricks up my sleeve for pose suggestions and ways to keep the hyper little one engaged in the activity and able to pull him out to get genuine smiles.  I DID get some genuine expressions-- which was a small success, but so many times I felt at a loss as to what I should suggest or say.

The wins:  going into the session I was determined to get catch lights in those eyes.  I reminded myself over and over, "Find the light, find the light, find the light." :) It worked.  In contrast to my photo shoot with the family of 6 with very little light in the eyes for most of the shots-- this time, I have light.  A serious victory! For me, I want my portraits to have a VERY sharp focus- anything less isn't acceptable.  And, I want amazing catch lights in the eyes.  Without those two things- the portrait would never be better than mediocre, I think.

edited--I wonder if there is anything I could do about glare off of glasses?

Shop Talk

I was out in the community on Thursday and I got to talk a teeny bit with a photo-journalist from the Modesto Bee.  I was busy and he was trying to do his job-- but I squeezed in a few annoying questions anyway!  I think that hardest thing about this pursuit of photography is that everyone wants to be a photographer!  So, it makes me feel foolish.  You know?  Like, I am just jumping on a bandwagon, being a groupie- everybody is trying to find their creative outlet this way!  And, there are so many "photographers" out there, taking pictures and charging fees that in my opinion, aren't very good! I don't want to be that girl. :)  Many times, this thought line is why I consider stopping and letting it go.  So, here I was talking to this photographer a little and I know he must have wanted to roll his eyes.  But, he was polite and seemed to be a pretty quiet guy.  He answered my questions about the equipment he was using. I asked him about his journey- what's the best way to learn..what classes or books?? He said about 3 times, "Take pictures."  Basically, nothing will teach like doing it.  That must be true- but I expressed my frustrations with being stuck in a problem and not knowing how to trouble-shoot.  He finally understood, I think-- but I had to get back to my task of the day and I'm sure he just wanted me to shut up so he could finish the job! :) So, I shut up and got back to work-- but it was fun to get to talk a little.  It would have been more fun to ask what his favorite type of work is, and ask him to describe the most interesting thing he has documented with his camera, etc.  Oh well. :)

subtle changes- but much more flattering. Before..after

secret

edited

Posing

Well, I will give a more in depth up date on my photo shoot later-- but for now, I wanted to jot down before I forget something that I learned.  My lab offers free trainings from time to time.  I watched a tutorial from a female boudoir photographer in NY a couple of weeks ago.  I don't know if I will ever do boudoir photography, but I was hoping that by watching her techniques to make women look their best-- I could gain some insight for posing female subjects.  Today-- I see so many things I messed up on this photo shoot and as always, so much to learn.  But, I can take away this positive and that is that I learned SOMETHING from that tutorial I watched.  My female subject kept posing herself sort of awkwardly and straight on with the camera.  I was able to give instructions and then if that didn't work, I demonstrated to get a pose that I think is much more flattering.  A tiny success but I will take what I can get!

I like rusty stuff. and moss. :)

work

I don't know why I like this shot! Or why I would even photograph it!  ha!  But, I do like it.

I used this tool called a "Radial Filter"--see how I was able to kind of spot light the boots which made the reflective parts stand out even more in the image?  The original picture was just kinda flat and boring.  It's fun how just a few changes can improve it so much.  

rainy day

Same as above but I was trying out "Split-Toning" in the editing process.  This one is definitely more somber.

I don't love roses-- but this one was pretty, especially against the picket fence.

I have a single mom with her 4 year old son, on my case to take their pictures for holiday cards! :)  I told her to bug me because I knew I wouldn't pursue it without pestering.  So--it might be as soon as Sunday.  She wants it to be with Christmas trees or something funny but Christmas related.  I asked her to call the tree farm on a country road nearby to see if we could come on site.

 Photography has been pretty stagnant lately.  I don't know where to go from here.  It kind of feels like all my photos are beginning to look the same, same level of accomplishment and I don't know how to grow or change it.  Another experience will hopefully provide more learning- but I feel more apathetic about it than usual.  We'll see what happens.

It's raining today.  It smells great outside and feels so nice with a drizzle.  I was planning a walk for this morning, or some journaling time in my car, listening to rain hit the roof--but, I might also grab my camera before I head out, just in case something is inspiring.  Again, though, it doesn't seem that exciting because I always gravitate toward the same stuff!  How much do you wanna bet that I come back with some shots of moss or raindropped flowers!? :)  I think that's how a class would be helpful-- to provide a challenge to capture different images and more quantity of images.  Since it's a class, I would have to push myself outside of my normal life to find what I need and get it done.  That sounds awesome.  Then reality crowds in and says, "How in the world would you have time to fit that in?!"

Hopefully I get some good shots sometime soon so the blog is a lit-tle bit more interesting! Thanks for hanging in there. :)

Murphys

I got to go to Murphys yesterday.  I didn't take my camera because I knew the trip was about relationship and not the relationship between my camera and me! But, ohhhh, I was taking pictures all day! Those little ones in my mind and heart with the teeny tiny, pretend lenses in my eyes. :) Such beauty at this time of year.  The weather was perfect and everything fall.  I saw the splendor of autumn colors, beautiful rows of spent grapevines with wispy vines reaching toward one another between the rows.  I saw cool, rustic metal and old presses. I saw beautifully aged older men, with smile lines pressed into their wrinkled faces and well-worn, hard-worked hands from working the land in this season of life, a gentle smile in their eyes as they talked,loving to tell about their story, to pour the wine, and share their pride in their production.  The smell outside as we walked was so soothing, the air energizing and crisp.  As I am coming to know as normal for me, my heart clenched up with the thought of having to leave, having to be done-- and then it caught itself, reprimanded itself for the greed- and instead sent up a praise of thankfulness to the Lord for the gift of that piece of creation, the gift of friendship, the gift of recreation that day instead of ongoing responsibility.  It was a treat.  I am thankful that I could capture it in my heart, if not with my camera.

lil K

hands

Sweet K

My favorite, I think..

toes

What could be more sweet than baby toes and tummy rolls? Precious....

What Christmas Morning Feels Like! :)

I hate thinking up titles for posts

My mom, Darlene, is so good about keeping me motivated for this endeavor.  I appreciate the pushes.  God always gives me what I need, always has throughout my life.  Last week she emailed me a link for a wildlife photo contest for Stanislaus County.  I don't know if I would even have a shot at it-- seems like I would need a more powerful zoom than I have so as to not scare away the subject.  But, it is great to be challenged in the prospect.

Additionally, I have another person wanting photos taken- a single mom and her son in an outdoor Christmas tree type setting.  She offered to pay me.  I still feel that I am nowhere near that level- yet, I wonder if I should start asking for a donation if someone gets a picture that they like- something they will print.  I have equipment wishes that I think will make me better and able to achieve my goals faster if I had the money to get them.  So..... I don't know.  It feels awkward.  I'm praying for wisdom and as always, for God's grace in this pursuit.  You, my faithful followers and supporters as I travel this rugged journey of learning- you must hold me accountable.  If God blesses me to be good at this- I need to remember the blessing was His, the praise is His.  I don't want to get good and get conceited.  I want to get good and be thankful, be resourceful, be worshipful- and use that gift to capture images that allow others to do the same.

One more thing.. then I reallllly need to go teach math--

But, just wanna say.. I LOVE doing this.  It's addicting.  I think to myself that I will spend 15 minutes on editing but then I can't stop.  That's how I am with reading, too.  I have to watch myself or I will get too caught up in it! I'm sure at some point the editing will be tedious- but for now, it's part of the learning process, part of becoming what I hope to be. It's thrilling.

1st grade before/after

This one is the best smile I could get of her.. but ohhh the fighting with shadows and light, hair in the face, and white balance was way off (too warm)--  I adjusted and cropped and tried to sharpen this one because the overall focus is too soft.  I am trying to decide if that will bug me more than a less genuine expression in some of the other photos.  Also, again,posted here-- don't like the level of vignette.  I will probably lighten it a bit.

before

after

The crop on these pics is me sizing it to fit an 8x10 print.  I love how easy it is in Lightroom to do that.  Ideally, I would have cropped lower on the arm for this one.. but my options were few.  Sun in the eyes, fighting with mom, and afraid of spiders made a decent shot of this lil guy hard to come by.  Guess that might be appropriately captured then in the "5th grade" portrait!

Also, weird thing-- I mentioned on the last post that it looked darker around the edges than it did when I was editing.  I went ahead and printed it at Costco- it looks just like I thought from the edit.  For some reason, the upload onto the blog darkens things just a bit.  (at least it does on my computer)

before

After

6th grade

Don't have much time for editing but I played for a few minutes this morning.

before

after

Now that I upload this-- I see that I do not like the last editing move I did and that was to darken the bottom of the shirt a little.  I thought it looked a little blown out and I was trying to recover some of the detail-- but I don't like it.  It looks too like too much of a vignette.  I will go back and remove that.

School pics

The building I had in my mind-- couldn't find it? The building I used had spider webs on it and my son wouldn't lean against it.  The children were all less than enthusiastic about the photo shoot.  Well, my daughter was on board- but that girl! She won't look at the camera with her eyes!!!!!! I also didn't realize sunset was coming so early and was running late so a time crunch didn' t help.  On top of all that- my shadow or the subject's shadow kept getting in the way.  Pro photographers can probably anticipate that.  I didn't and amidst all the other challenges, was having a hard time problem solving it. I left the shoot feeling very frustrated.  I wish I knew if I have what it takes for this or if I have an unusual amount of difficulties.  I honestly don't know if I have what it takes to be good at this.  This isn't a pity party- just trying to make a real assessment of things.  We'll see what I can salvage in editing- and as for the school picture portion- I remind myself at my own horrible photos from school pictures.  That isn't the issue- the issue is that I want to be able to take school age kids to a location and capture some decent images.  Well, that's not true.  I am not happy with decent.  I want to get some breathtaking images.  I am tired of my mediocre to poor production. grrrrrrrr......

School Pic Goals

I might be mistaken in this-- but I might try something crazy and try to squeeze this school picture goal right into the middle of a bunch of crazy!  We'll see how it turns out- but there's a building I think will work for a backdrop and hopefully light, too- on my way to Turlock on Santa Fe.  I hope it works so I can cross this one off my list!

Before

After

Before

After