Still Learning

So it's been said that the best way to learn is through your mistakes.

Well......HELLO how many mistakes do I have to make before I get it?

My sister Candace had mentioned that her in laws wanted a family shot while everyone was together for Christmas.

I said oh scary....and that was the end of that.

Very last minute, they wanted me to come.

I made TONS of mistakes.

First of all doing a large group is HARD.

Top shot was the best I got, even though baby Claire is squirming out of Dylan's lap.

So things I learned:

1. Take tons of shots of each pose so that there is a guaranteed keeper. Think you have enough? Take 5 more just to be sure.

2. Pay attention to little things....like who is slouching, or where so and so's arm is.

3. Be more decisive.

4. Be more aggressive about location. We positioned everyone on the grass, I liked the closeness of that pose better and there were more to choose from. HOWEVER, I totally blew out one sister because she was in the sun and the ones in the back were underexposed. The middle was perfect. I should have moved everyone to more even lighting. Would have had much better results.

5. Quit being so dang hard on myself......I am not a professional.

6. Be thankful for the experience, LEARN from it, move on and do better next time.

Redd Family

I redeemed myself with this shoot.....there were tons to choose from.
Really cute and spunky kids that makes for easy posing.
I tried another backlit one just for practice. I did wash out Jon's face, but I still like it.
I'll post a couple more when I get them edited because Mollie was such a poser and Charlie was hilarious.
He couldn't hold still, which made for some really fun images.

Attempted Red Rock Christmas Pictures

This is what I have to work with.....

Somehow I don't think Brandon screaming is a good way to send Christmas greetings.

I am giving one last effort tomorrow morning and then it will be individual shots.

The Woolf's on the other had got quite a few keepers.

Which I am glad about.

We ventured out to Calico Basin....not what I expected, but it ended up being fun for the kids.

It was difficult with all of our little kids.

But a good time.

This was my favorite of Kooper....

**On that last one of the Woolfs I sponged the color into the rocks...

what do you think?

Family #2

Went to get shots of Carol's family for Christmas pictures.

I was so bummed that they have lens flare.

I left my lens hood at home.

I was kicking myself about some of the little things that I missed.

wishing that I had positioned them better, looked to see how the big kids were standing, making sure that their hands were out of their face.

I was focused on my settings and getting Jack before he was done.

I have so much to learn.

Thankfully there was one they could use and we will redo in the Spring.

Carol I hope you don't mind that I posted these.

First Family

that I've ever shot all together.

Brough's needed a family picture for their Christmas cards.

It was a quick little session just inside their garage.

Stephanie helped make it painless (for me)

verified my settings, helped with posing.

I think we got a few keepers.

Here are a few random ones.

I didn't want to post any that she may use for her cards.

A Few More...

It's hard shooting 4 kids and getting some decent shots, especially when they don't want to have their picture taken. I didn't take enough....next time. I did encounter a problem with the lighting. Learned a new technique in PS. I still feel like the final outcome looks too overdone. It is a wonderful thing to learn more, but at the same time I demand more from myself.

I've realized that I don't pay enough attention to the background areas. I am constantly cropping too close and leaving body parts off. I'm not entirely happy with my color correction as well. Live and learn right?

I can't wait to get another chance in a few months when the weather has cooled down and we can go outside! Hopefully I can get some better ones.

Took some pics today...the boys didn't really want to cooperate and we were trying to stay indoors. Sweet Kenzi was the most cooperative. She LOVED having her picture taken. Working on getting better at my conversions. Will share more later. It was fun to practice.

More ...

photos of course. Kyle says that "all I care about is taking pictures and looking at them on the computer." That cracks me up. I suppose there is some truth to that. I do enjoy this thing called photography....but it definitely is not ALL I CARE ABOUT.

I have been practicing some new things I've learned in photoshop through my photography class. We are working on color boosting and I like how these are looking. I was telling Steve last night that I am blown away at the amount of information I am learning. Wendy is awesome!!

Quick little photo shoot of Lynette's kids. More later.

Maternity Shoot

Here are a few more

I'll post more as soon as they are edited.