Capture It returns with Foggy Days!

I know I sound totally crazy, but I do love to photograph on foggy days. The light is so soft and it changes by the minute. (I like that challenge). Fog can be used to your advantage, but since it behaves differently you have to know how to use it. The best way is to go out and try it.

Fog can provide a flat even light which is great for photographing children. You don't have to worry about what direction the sun is coming in from and it can give you a sense of freedom.

You don't want to use your flash in fog though because the water droplets can reflect the light and end up looking like dots on your image.

A foggy overcast morning on the beach with a child...oh that would be fun!

See fog? Get out there and try it out, you just might like what you see.

Capture it- Sweet Light

Dawn and Twilight (Not talking about the movie here. ;)) Nope, we are talking about the sweet light time. Light is often cool in the morning and warm in the evening. This is the sweet light time. You know sunrise and sunset. OK, so not too many people want to be out at sunrise taking pictures. But, it is a pretty time of the day. However, sunset is much more reasonable!!! You can google and find the sunrise and sunset times for your local area. During these times of the day, it is less likely that you will get unflattering light. So, it's the perfect time to use that camera.

Light really affects the mood in the photos. But, light is fleeting and you need to work fast. Because the beautiful light disappears quickly.

Light has an amazing gift to give the photographer, so grab it and scoop it up when you can.

Inspiration on how much natural light can make a photo can be found here. Enjoy!

Capture it- Available Light

There is nothing quite like this kind of beautiful light. When children are captured in their natural setting and light, you can get their personality to really shine through. We need to look at the light and admire it's beauty.

Watching how it gently kisses the hair of a little girl and how it puts a sparkle in the eyes of the child. How it sometimes helps to create or intensify the emotion in the photograph. It's beautiful and knowing how to look at the beauty in the light will allow you to find the beauty in your images. The next thing we are going to be talking about is light and it's uses.

Some photographers really know how to use the light! My family will be meeting up with one of them soon!  Andrea is going to be capturing my family together. While I have MANY photos of Little Man and even photos of Little Man and Daddy. I seem to be missing from photos. Honestly, I don't like having my photo taken. (But that is a post in itself.) However, I do want to have my relationship with Little Man and my husband documented. I am super excited about this. But, I am going a bit nuts in the prep work for the session.  I know that the prep work before the session can lead to greater results later.  Looking for the right outfit combination. I just might have to go shopping. I know sad, huh? ;)

Regardless, I have full faith that Andrea is going to do what she does well--capture the realtionship. I am not one that likes the super posed images. I like the inbetween moments. You know the times when you are being totally real. You have to have the right photographer for the job and the right one for your family. It's different for everyone. I'll update you when I know more--like what we will wear!

Have a great weekend everyone! Next week, tips on using the light.

Capture It-Learning to See the Light

Learning to see the light will take attention, patience, practice and being present in a way you have not been before.

Take time to sit and look at the way light hits objects, flowers, plants, and people. If you have ever spent time just looking at your child playing in a room you can see how the light hits their face and how soft their skin appears. Perhaps you notice how it makes their hair glow and shine, how it puts a twinkle in their eyes. That is the beauty of natural light hitting them just so. It's something that the flash on your camera can't recreate. You want them to bathe in the light and have it softly wrapping them like a blanket.

Try photographing in places around your house without the flash. (Windows, doorways are best for this). Move around and have your subject do the same. Watch how the light changes. Try it at different times during the day and you will notice the changes in the lighting. Learning to see the light will improve your photos.

Go and try and let me know how you do. Maybe moving forward and doing more tutorial type things, we can get feedback and help on your photos. I hope to share more of my photos with all of you as well.

Capture It- Questions

My next topic deals with light in a photography, but before I jump to that topic (which can last a few weeks of posts), I wanted to touch base and get feedback on what else you want me to post in dealing with photography.

Please list for me your suggestions of topics to cover. As I am happy to cover what the needs are for each of you. Reading via email, be sure to chime in on the blog. Reading this and thinking someone else would love to learn more, pass it on and they can join in.

My hopes is that getting the pages set up will make joining in for specific areas that much easier.
So, leave a comment while you still remember! :)

Capture It-The Program Modes

Afraid of Manual? Trust me when you learn it, it will be your best friend. Until then there are other modes on your camera. Let's take a look at those...

Full Auto Mode: Your camera is in charge. Really? You want to let that be in charge? I guessed not, that's why you are reading right?

Portrait Mode: That tells your camera that you want your subject in focus and the rest can be out of focus.

Sports Mode: Faster shutter to freeze action.

Landscape Mode: Long depth of field. You want it all in focus.

Macro Mode: Very close up shots. (Short depth of field)

Shutter Priority: You choose the shutter speed.

Aperture Priority: You choose the aperture.

Manual: The KING of them all. You are in total control. (I'm a control girl, I admit it.) You set it all, aperture, shutter, ISO the whole works.

You want to get to Full Manual mode?  Keep checking in on the Capture It Series. :)

Capture it! Review and extra tips

Here are 3 things you need to soak in for future posts. These are links to my previous posts and a few other tips.ISO
On sunny days your ISO will be at 100. But, on overcast days or indoor you will have to be higher 200 + depending on the lighting that you are working with. I notice that with window light (depending on how much I have) I shoot with 200-400 for my ISO. Unless I have some strong window light.
Aperture
I tend to like my photos to have a focus on the subject and blur out the background, so I tend to shoot with my aperture lower or as they say, shooting wide open. :)
Shutter Speed
Tips on what your shutter speed should be:
Sleeping baby- depending on the lenses length you can do 1/60 (on a 50mm) to 1/125 for this.
But the other end of running, swinging, etc. you will need 1/500 and up. Remember your camera will detect camera shake. So, keep yourself steady. You can make your body into a tripod. :) I like that better than bringing one along. ;)

Take these all in to prepare you for the future posts to come. :)
Do you have questions on these? Ask away. Because next we will be moving on to program modes and what they can be used for. Then we will move on to light, etc. etc. By the way, chime in on what you want the etc. etc. to be. :)

I came across this quote and thought I would share...ponder this when you pick up your camera next time.
"Photographs are not made by cameras, which are only tools. We make images with our hearts and minds. What must be brought to photography is an ever-open and seeking mind." - Arnold Newman

Capture it- Shutter Speed (3/25)

Shutter represents the time that the shutter remains open when taking a photograph. The shorter the shutter speeds the better they are at freezing fast moving objects. It also doesn’t allow as much light in, therefore you should have lots of light to make this work. Think sports on a sunny day.
Long shutter speeds can be used to blur a moving object or also let more light in. When shooting, it’s always best to keep your shutter speed as fast as the light allows.

So what do you do in a low light situation? You adjust your ISO and lower your aperture, this will allow you to get the correct exposure and still keep your subject “tack sharp” which in the end is what you are going for. This is what I do to adjust to get those night football shots. I'll show you an example once we get the computer taken care of. We've had a bit of an issue and let's just say it's a great lesson in patience, being prepared, and being thankful. Once things are good to go again, I will be sure to get a picture up to show you how even in low light you can take sharp pictures.

Capture it- Guest Post Elaine Gates Photography

What do you shoot with?  What’s in your bag?  What would you like to be in your bag?

I shoot with a Nikon D700 & D300

Nikon 70-200 2.8

Nikon 24-70 2.8

Nikon 50mm 1.4

Nikon 60mm 2.8 (macro)

Nikor 10.5 fisheye

Sb900

Pocketwizards

Sb600

How long you have been shooting?

4 years

How long you have been in business?

Officially 2 years

What inspires you?

Love inspires me most, relationships, beautiful light

How long do your sessions last?

Senior sessions are based on packages but normally 30min-2hrs. Family sessions are normally around an hour. Newborn sessions can take up to 3 hours depending on how easily we can get the baby to sleep and stay asleep.

What pre-planning do you do with your clients?

Usually once someone books a session I ask them what sort of session speaks to them, do they want to see themselves having fun in green grass, a large field, a cool urban setting. Its important to get the location right so that the wall portraits work well in their home and with their style.

Any lighting besides natural light?

You bet, I have some studio lighting for the studio work, I use speedlights for weddings and some portraits.

Do you use Photoshop? Lightroom?

Both!

How did you learn photography?

I just picked it up and learned along the way, photographing my own family gave me the push to do this for others.

Have you found any great places to shoot sessions?  Any new dream locations you are dying to bring clients to?

Yeah, I am always looking for new places that speak to me, which no one else is using. I still love the tried and true locations that everyone loves, I just like to shoot them differently with my own style.

How would you describe your style?

I love beauty and art. I like beautiful pictures that are well composed and perfect technically.

When you aren’t taking pictures, or editing, what are you doing?

Spending time with my family, knitting, reading…

What was the turning point that made you want to want to “do this.”?

I think one day I realized that this was my passion and I couldn’t change it… I spent a good year telling myself that I only wanted to do it for fun and to get out of the house and it snowballed into this amazing business that I am so passionate about. I feel this is my gift, what I was meant to do.

Can you share a story about your funniest photography shoot?

Weddings are always interesting; there usually is always a guest who keeps me entertained with their crazy antics. Once there was a best man speech that made me laugh out loud for days every time I thought about it…

I love being the fly on the wall watching peoples special days unfold; Documenting it so when they open their album they can relive it.

I think photographing my own children is borderline hilarious. I am so cool and collected with everyone else’s children but photographing my own makes me into one of those moms…. My girls have grown to love it, my oldest loves the time I spend with her, she loves seeing herself and I think she is growing a passion for photography. She always has fun ideas, and outfits! I spent about 4 months planning my holiday card portraits, my poor husband has to put up with all of my stress with coming up with a concept, and helping me build props for it…

What advice do you have for people searching for a photographer?

I think the best thing for people to do is find someone who you love their work, and especially with weddings you need to “click” with your photographer. If you don’t love me when you meet me, then there is another photographer out there for you. I want my clients to be 110% happy from start to finish; my goal is to make you not only my client for life, but a friend as well. The thing I love the most is building relationships! That right there is my passion. I also feel strongly that people shouldn’t settle for a sub-par photographer based on cost, cut corners other places, not on photography. You will never regret the investment!

Anything else you’d like to share with us? You are welcome Elaine!

I am so thrilled for you that you are starting out on this new journey. Thank you so much for interviewing me!! Xoxo

You are welcome Elaine! Wishing you the best in 2011.  Here are some samples of her work that she sent over for all of you to view.

To see more, visit her website. http://www.elainegates.com/

Capture it! - Andrea Marie Photography Interview.

Andrea Marie Photography recently moved into the area. She is amazing and I am delighted to say she will be photographing my family this Spring. (YEAH!) I am so excited to have our relationship captured. Even though being in front of the camera is not my favorite place to be. That's another post in itself. Here is a little interview with Andrea and some of her work. Enjoy reading and looking--I am sure you will.

What do you shoot with?  I shoot with a Nikon D700

What’s in your bag?  My D700, my D80 as back-up, Nikon 50mm f/1.4, Nikon 85mm f/1.4, and Nikon SB-800

What would you like to be in your bag? A set of pocket wizards so I don’t always have to rent them for weddings!

How long you have been shooting? Since I was in high school…I was Photo Club President & a yearbook photographer

How long you have been in business? 6 years

What inspires you? Love, Beauty, Relationships, Happiness, and of course…my family!

How long do your sessions last? From 1 ½ hrs for a portrait or family session to 3 hrs for newborns

What pre-planning do you do with your clients?  We talk about what they should expect from the session, I offer styling and location suggestions based on what type of portraits they would like, and I get to know a little bit about them so I can do my best to capture their true personalities.

Any lighting besides natural light? I use a reflector sometimes, and for weddings I use on and off camera lighting

Do you use Photoshop? Lightroom? Yes, both!

How did you learn to photography? I was taught film photography when I was in high school and learned digital photography on my own. I also had the opportunity to work for some amazing studios in D.C. that taught me a lot, especially about weddings.

Any new dream locations you are dying to bring clients to? Yes! I want to do a session(s) on some beautiful fields or meadows, at a farm, and at an orchard!
(My note: Andrea, we are happy to make any/all of those dream locations with you at our session!;))

How would you describe your style? Contemporary portraiture. I always want my clients to look relaxed in their photos, like they were unaware that I was even there capturing the moment...to allow true emotions and relationships to be expressed. I also love getting those “money shots” of my clients looking their best, relaxed, in the best light, in their best outfits, and smiling right at the camera.

When you aren’t taking pictures, or editing, what are you doing? I am spending time with my two daughters or crafting! (My note: Her daughters are STUNNING!)

What was the turning point that made you want to want to “do this.”? I was working in Corporate Finance after college and felt I needed to bring some creativity into my “grey cubicle” life. I decided it was time to take the plunge!

Can you share a story about your funniest photography shoot?  Recently I was photographing some friends in Arizona and I was too much “in the zone” to realize I had backed into a cactus.  I thought they had gotten all the “pokies” off my back-side until I sat down on one when I got into the car!  It hurt, but it was worth the shot. : )

What advice do you have for parents who are looking for a professional child photographer? Look for a style you like, someone you know you can trust, someone who is good with kids, and someone who is willing to sell you the negatives. (My note: Those are just some of the very reasons that we picked her to photograph us!)

Anything else you’d like to share with us?  Don’t let the “golden photo ages” of your kids pass you by!  The newborn stage when they are sleepy for all their pictures goes by so quickly, and when they can sit up but can’t crawl or walk (around 7 months) is another one that are AMAZING times for a professional session. (My note: We have waited too long to get our whole family photographed. You all know that I photograph Little Man a TON! But, my relationship with him was not always captured. Our family realtionship has not been captured enough. So, even though this spring he will be missing teeth in the photographs, we are still capturing us as a family. Because missing teeth is part of growing up and well he's cute anyway! I just think, when his teeth come in, it will be time to capture us again.)

Here is some samples of her work:

 Because I know you want to see more. Check her out at andreamariephoto.com
Thanks, Andrea and looking forward to working with you! :)