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Fab Photography Finds (and Freebies!)

Posted on February 27, 2010

I have been working on a post about exposure and its components for about a month now. And I’m sorry it’s taking me so long to get it up, but it’s a little overwhelming; there is so much that goes into exposure, so much to explain, and you don’t want to bore people with seemingly endless posts about technical things, right?

But today, well today is all about fabulous things I’ve seen around the Internet lately! Not at all boring, right? Oh, and there are some freebies too!

My 25 Biggest Mistakes, Two Photogs
This one’s been floating around the web this week. It’s really a great insight into the biggest mistakes photographers make, mostly in business practices but also in being too risky and not making good, sound decisions.

How to Price Your Work, Biz Ladies via Design Sponge
While this one is quite lengthy and asks you to do math (sigh), it really is a helpful read for those of us who price our goods and services willy-nilly. Bottom line: You’re not worthless, neither are your time, your services, your products.

21 Tips for Amateur Wedding Photographers, Digital Photography School
Basic things you need to know before you start shooting weddings. I like number 13 – displaying your shots at the wedding; it’s a nice idea in theory, but not always feasible.

San Francisco Maternity, Ashley McNamara
I always envy Bay Area photographers because I’m landlocked and don’t have near the options they do in regards to locations. I love the locations used in this maternity shoot – the corrugated tin wall, the playground, the beach. Oh, how I love that beach shot! It is absolutely stunning. And it makes me miss my former home (the East Coast).

Some of my other favorite West Coast photographers? Of course, the ever-fabulous Diyosa, whom I’ve known (online) since my son and her oldest daughter were infants (since ’04), En Pointe Photography and Jessica Claire.

Abby & Zach’s European Day After Session, Stacy Reeves
Day after sessions at the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and Venice? YES, PLEASE! Even better was the Parisian proposal for the photographer. Now that’s what I call a fabulous client/session.

New client booklets, Asian Bees Photography
The blog by Memphis photographer Annabella Brandon is a new read and I’ve loved every minute of it! About two days after I subscribed to it, my friend Christie Jarvis told me I need to check out her blog. lol. Already doing it, ma’am! Last week she debuted these awesome new booklets – you have to see them!

Basic Tips for Photographing Pets, Sherry Osbourne/PhotoBlog
I have a chihuahua who subscribes to the same belief as the indigenous people of Mexico, that the camera steals your soul. She refuses to have her picture taken and it disappoints me. Perhaps I need to follow Sherry’s advice and wear her out first? The shot of her beagle Pearl’s paws is my favorite – so sweet, like little baby toes!

And since you’ve been ever-so-patient, some freebies I’ve found!

Sarah at My Four Hens Photography has just released new actions – and four sets of freebies! Go visit and snag the My Four Freebies, My Four (More) Freebies (scroll down), Even More Freebies and Soft Spring sets – a total of 18 free actions. While you’re there, check out the other actions she has for sale – they’re great (I’m currently eyeing the Little Yummies set!) and they’re also 50% off right now!

Now back to that post on exposure – oh, and vacuuming and dusting!

Glorifying Him with my true gifts

Posted on February 23, 2010

A job should employ God-given talents in a way that glorifies Him. — Marvin Olasky

Several years ago I was struggling with my emotions, my purpose in life. I was unhappy, plain and simple; I craved change, but resisted the change that was happening to me. I’d lost myself and was swimming in a sea of darkness, unable to find the light.

This is often the worst thing that can happen to people. If you don’t know who you are, you don’t know your purpose, you don’t know what you have and you don’t know what you’re missing.

During that time I read Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. And before I start to wax theological, let me just say this book did not help me find myself or my purpose. In fact, I was more lost than ever before, but I realized that each of us has a God-intended purpose, a calling, a gift.

One of my gifts, it seems, is telling stories. It’s what I do all day, every day.

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of telling the story of a beloved friend’s faithful leap into her photography business. Emily was a graphic designer at the paper and resigned in 2007. It’s a decision she doesn’t regret.

“I was worried, but God has showed me that I made the right decision,” she said. “This is the first time I feel like I’m doing the full will of God in my life as far as my career goes. Everything’s coming together and I’m becoming who God created and intended me to be.”

Emily’s gifts are photography and patience, something I truly lack.

As I start this new endeavor and continue employing my God-given talents, I’m reminded of my shortcomings. I know who I am, I know where I excel, I know my passion and I know my purpose. I love babies, I love children, but taking beautiful photos of them is not my specialty. The best newborn photos I’ve ever taken were of my sweet niece and nephew (see above; that tiny newborn is now a rambunctious two-year-old!). I work better with adults and so my focus is couples and maternity photography.

Thankfully, God has blessed this area with some wonderfully talented child and family photographers:

Emily Peyton Cook Photography & Design
Phil Ramsey Photography
Brandi Mignard Photography
Matt King Photography & Design

Each has talents beyond measure and I’m sure they don’t need my praise or referrals, but I wanted to share. I know what my gifts are and I would not be glorifying Him if I tried to make believe the gift was in infant and child photography. I might not be able to help you, but I’m doing my job if I can point you in the direction of someone who can.

Change your bookmarks!

Posted on February 21, 2010

So I took the plunge this weekend and bought a domain for my fledging photography business.

You knew that was coming, didn’t you? Thought so. You’re so smart – I need to keep you around!

But to do that, you need to follow me over to the new blog. Sound good? I promise, it is. Or, it will be. I’m still working on getting moved in, but you can drop by for a visiting and update your RSS feed while you’re there.

See ya there!

Snow.

Posted on February 11, 2010

Winters in West Tennessee do not usually involve much of the frosty white stuff.

In 2009, we were bombarded with a foot of snow and felt like we’d never see another snow so great as long as we’d live here. Boy, we were wrong. While we haven’t seen 10-12 inches at a time as we did last March, we have had three snows already with another predicted for Sunday.

At this point, we’re tired of it.

My children were out of school for a day in early January, two days last week and four this week. They are set to return to school in the morning – finally – only to have Monday off for President’s Day. The days off, being off of our usual schedule, is annoying. It’s uncomfortable, it’s unfamiliar. As much as I hate schedules, as much as I detest routine, I’m eager for the familiarity of the everyday to return.

Snow fell on Monday morning and is still blanketing many of the fields.

Snowy fields, snowy barns are beautiful. It’s fun to go sledding for awhile. It’s entertaining to build a snowman and take the requisite photos of the children in the snow. But after that, I’m just ready for it to melt.

I’m ready for school to be in session, for the flowers to bloom. I’m tired of wearing a coat and eagerly awaiting warmer temperatures.

My only problem is Mother Nature. Apparently she’s not getting the message.

Quick Tips: It's all about the details

Posted on February 9, 2010

When your camera’s in your hand, undoubtedly you want to capture memories. A wonderful day out. A long-awaited event. A child’s milestones. And as you take photos to commemorate these things, are you also capturing the details?

I’m big on details. I want to capture everything, even the little things.

The way a newlywed couple gazes into each others’ eyes, the way they touch lightly and lovingly.

A bride’s flowers, the table settings she’s chosen, the plans she’s been making for months.

Women who still hand quilt.

A convicted murderer apologizing to the victim’s family.

The way a child twirls her hair as she sucks her thumb, a habit her parents may hate but will miss when she’s an adult.

To me, it’s not enough to say a couple is in love, a wedding is beautiful, a titleholder is elegant or a child is sweet; I want to show the ways I know the groom loves his bride, the details that went into making the wedding perfect and fun, whose hands put the quilt together, the way the victim’s father reacted to the apology and what makes the child sweeter than others.

The little things are what make life so memorable, so enjoyable. The same should be true of photographs.

Introducing: Printables

Posted on February 4, 2010

When inspiration hits, you have to run with it. This is what I tell myself.

Last night I was inspired to create printables for Valentine’s Day, card designs that you can print at home. I’ve had so much fun making the All We Need is Love line and now, Owl. He was hatched this afternoon while the washing machine repairman was replacing a part (what can I say, you have to strike while the inspiration is hot). Owl makes me smile! Don’t get me wrong, the birds do too, but Owl is so silly looking. How could you not love him?

Why printables?
When I first began for-hire graphic design work six years ago, I found that offering customers a flat-rate fee for a design and allowing them the option of printing from home or using their favorite photo processor was well-received. Not many were offering the option then, but the Print At Home market has expanded.

For the customer, the PAH option alleviates those annoying minimum orders and gives you more control of the final product; for the designer, it frees up time we’d otherwise spend fulfilling, packaging and shipping print orders.

This translates to savings for you, often in the form of a budget-friendly alternative to traditional greeting cards.

The process
When you place an order for a printables product you will receive a high-resolution digital image file via email.

If you have ordered a photo card, you will either receive an editable Photoshop document (if you have editing capabilities) or a JPEG file (if I edit the file for you, adding your own high-resolution photos to the card). Additionally, you will receive a copyright release which will allow your commercial photo processor to print your image.

When placing your order, please e-mail your high resolution photo (1200 px) and preferred wording to edayphotographyATgmail.com.

I will mock up your design and send you a proof within 24 hours. Once your proof has been approved, you will receive a high resolution 4×6-inch digital file for printing at Walgreens, Walmart, Snapfish, Winkflash or any other photo processor.

I will also send you a low-resolution version of your photo card for emailing and/or posting on social networking sites.

I’ve created small, 2×3.5-inch classroom valentines for the children. These utilize the standard Avery business card templates, which are so easy to use! My husband thinks Owl will be perfect for our 4-year-old this year and my older two children have put in special requests for theirs (monster trucks and hearts), so be on the lookout for more additions to the printables line as we inch closer to Gooey Hearts Day!

Quick Tips: Sunny Days

Posted on February 2, 2010

My children are adorable, aren’t they? And this photo, well it’s a memento of a great weekend spent with friends and family camping at Hot Springs National Park this past summer – sleeping under the stars with a cool breeze, exploring the creek and its slippery rocks and bonding as a family.

There are wonderful memories attached to this photo, but it isn’t a very good one. The exposure is all wrong.

The sun is behind them so they are not being blinded, but the shadows are too heavy and the highlights too bright. Fixing these mistakes in Photoshop produces a grainy, low contrast image that is poor in quality. It’s quite the disappointment, one I could have avoided if I’d taken a few more second and changed my settings. Read more