The Sun will come out...

Well..the sun FINALLY came out...

on a soccer game day no less...

Needless to say, I was thrilled...

There's only so much of blankets, ice cold temperature and whipping wind that one can take sitting on the sidelines cheering on the girls whilst visions of hot cocoa and warm slippers fill your mind!!

The sun was out in it's full SHINE...I mean, it was sunglasses AND baseball cap weather this past weekend!!!

And I loved it!

However, with all that sun, comes some photography issues that we've all had to deal with...whether it be shadowed faces or blown out backgrounds...though the sun is beautiful and can add a beautiful color to photos...if not used correctly, it can really mess up some images that you were really wanting to remember!

So...I have just a few things that I need to remember when I'm out there on sunshiney days...

Those that have come to Snapshops will understand even more what I'm trying to convey...but, if you have your camera manual handy, you'll be able to at least locate these little things anyway...

#1-  keep a low ISO...in the "olden" days, ISO basically meant the speed of the film...remember when you used to buy 200 or 400 film?  If you were shooting inside, you'd more often go for 400..outside, you'd go for 200...why?  Because you need more light when you are inside...because the only natural light you are getting is through the windows (the higher the ISO, the more light was allowed in)...However, when you are outside, and that sun is SHINING...you've got LOTS of light workin' for you...therefore, by keeping that ISO low, you get more colors and saturation in your images instead of more light (since you already have enough)

#2- if you have a lens hood...use it...I have trouble with this one...mostly because it's bulky, but boy do I recognize a difference when I'm shooting in direct sunlight...your lens hood works the same way as does your baseball cap...it just shades those glowing rays from getting directly into the lens of your camera...allowing your camera to focus on your subject without that halo around everything.

#3- meter (or let your camera read the light) on your subject's face...The sun casts shadows...especially when your subject's back is to the sun...therefore, faces are often blackened out...you need to make sure (even if you shutterspeed is high to catch action) that it's not sooo high that you lose the light detail...

Above all...it's just practice, practice, practice...I normally shoot off 100 pictures in a hour game, and only use a few...each time, I'm practicing a different thing and trying to get the camera to do what I see in my mind's eye...

Here are just a couple caught from this past weekend :)


Read more...

She don't know she's beautiful...

I'm totally going to "age" myself here...but, that's okay...I'm just puttin' it out there for y'all.

When I first starting talking with this Senior's mom and then got to meet Marin herself, the lyrics to this song popped into my head...

Oh, it's an ole country song, so you'll have to forgive my "roots"...but, in this case, it just "fits"!


And she don't know she's beautiful (never crossed her mind)
She don't know she's beautiful (no she's not that kind)
She don't know she's beautiful
Though time and time I've told her so

 
It's generally hard for people to be in front of the camera...I get that...every one has thoughts about how they look or how others perceive them.  There are countless things about my body or image that I dislike and would rather change...we all have them...
 
 
What I have discovered however, is if you can find someone who is willing to help YOU be YOU while in front of the camera...there is nothing stopping the beauty from showing...
 
More times than not, the issue I have with a picture of myself is that I'm just constantly nitpicking imperfections...when in reality, the ME that is inside, isn't coming out in the picture...someone has just snapped a picture, a flat representation that I am alive...but, when someone sticks with me long enough to help me forget that I'm actually in front of the camera...when it's just ME being ME...all of sudden, I get a shot that shows WHO I am, not just that I exist...
 
Marin has a natural beauty...and when she started having fun and was just herself...THAT'S when it all clicked...I wasn't at all surprised when I got back home after our afternoon together and saw the loveliness staring back at me from my screen...
 
It was a pleasure spending time with her...listening to her excitement of college approaching...the hopes and dreams that give her such motivation and drive...She is inspiring and beautiful...inside AND out!!
 








Read more...

All Boys...X3

Not more than a couple days ago I was able to post about ALL GIRLS...X4! 
 
And here we are...another set of twins...but this time, ALL BOYS in the family!
 
I was so excited to be able to walk into the home of my high school friend...It's amazing to me how memories can just flood you all at once.  She and I spent nearly every day together in highschool...we ate lunch together, had classes together, cheered together (well, just one year...I wasn't cut out for that part)
 
Then we all graduated and BAM...20 years have come and gone! 
 
Yet, when I see her again, it's as if time stood still and we fall back into that natural conversation and just pick up where we left off...
 
I have always admired her beauty and heart...I remember trying to copy her style and the way she so easily got along with everyone...it doesn't surprise me that her husband adores her...that they have built a home & life together that is strong & lasting!  Big brother is precious and you can tell that they have poured such love into that sweetheart! 
 
Along came the adorable twins and their family now feels complete!  
 
I hope you will enjoy just a few snapshots of our time...It made me smile how she already can see temperaments in the twins...she spikes hair on one, and does a comb-over on the other one. 
 
 
 
 


 



Mommy is wanting to put frames next to one other of each twin...so I just posted these to show her how it might look.
  Thank you sweet friend for welcoming me into your home...I am blessed to know you!


Read more...

Saying Goodbye

I remember the home that we built when we first got married.  We brought our first two daughters home to that house...I made my first meal there, I learned how to sew in that house, I watched 9/11 happen on TV while sitting in the bedroom of that home...

I know that home is where the heart is...but, there will always be something special about the "place" too...being a photographer, the "visual" is what triggers a memory...So, while the actual building does not hold the "heart" of people, it can definitely conjur up the feelings pretty fast...

When a sweet friend knew she'd be shutting the door to her home for the last time, she asked me to come commemorate their time together...She had it all planned, down to a picnic breakfast on the floor of their empty great room...the last kiss out the door to run to the bus...the waving goodbye...

and closing the door on that chapter of their lives...

These are just a few of the pictures we took...Their kiddos will look back and remember "growing up" first in that house...they'll remember that address and the fun they had and will pass down stories of the "fun times" to their own kids someday...

Angie...I KNOW that you have such incredible memories YET to make...I know it was sad to leave...but the beautiful future you have in front of you is already here...love ya!!!

Read more...

All Girls...X4


Ohhhh here I go again telling you all the joys and wonders of having all girls...
 
I DO know about such things, seeing as we have THREE of them in our household...
 
And let me tell you...each one of them is completely different...and unique...and beautiful, each in their own way!
 
You can believe that when I found out this sweet family was having twin girls to add onto  the sisters already in the family...well, I was having a little girlie party in my brain...
 
It's just nothing short of WONDERFUL! 
 
Lifestyle photography has always been something that I've created...it's what is all over my walls in my own home.  I don't really have too many "posed" pictures...except those "lovely" school pictures (can you hear the sarcasm dripping from my tongue?)  Otherwise, my girls grace my walls in their swim suits, playing with polly pockets, laughing on a swings, giggling in their beds...THIS, my friends, is what life is about...
 
relationship...love...being who you were created to be...letting YOU shine through...
 
I was beyond excited to photography this family all together...with all the sillies, with all the chubs & rolls, with all the kisses and funny faces...sisters just being who they are...taking time to "take each other in"...

Those sweet newborns spent a lot of time in Mommy & Daddy's arms...and I enjoyed every minute of getting those sweet moments and details...

I hope you will enjoy them as well...






 

 
 
 
 
 
Thank you "gals"...(and Daddy) for coming out for pictures...LOVE YOU ALL...can't wait to get the WHOLE family together soon for a big ole "reunion" pic...We need Grandpa & Grandma lovin' on these sweet girls!

 

Read more...

Blog Archive

How can I reach you?

The best way to contact me is either through Facebook Messaging or emailing me at ctphotomemories@gmail.com

I can't wait to hear from you!
"Teach us to number our days, (savor the moments) so that we may gain a heart of wisdom" ~Psalm 90:12

  © Blogger template Shush by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP