Shirley Pearce Photography

Thanksgiving Wedding

2010-11-29T13:19:00.000-06:00

Her sister will marry next year on Memorial Day Weekend. Their reasoning is that they will always get to travel on their wedding anniversary. Hmmmmmm....I'll have to think about that one! It was a great party!! Here's my signature photo from the event. The men were in kilts. Couldn't resist this pose!!

It was a great turnout for the day after Thanksgiving. My second in two years running. A good time for all the family to be together and "kill two birds with one stone"!

Pet Portraits

2010-11-20T10:48:00.001-06:00

Pet portraits make great gifts for Christmas or anytime. Check out these for some ideas of your own!

Pet Portraits by Shirley Pearce

In the Middle of the Road!

2010-11-18T14:22:00.000-06:00

I love this photo with the cloudy sky (which you cannot see) because of the saturated colors we get on nature and surroundings. The road in daylight is not nearly that black! This is November so the green is not nearly that green during the sunshine hours. This was shot on a overcast day about 4pm in the afternoon last Sunday. I couldn't be happier with the results!

Tip for Better Pictures: Be a Good Storyteller

2010-11-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

I found this awesome photo on the web just now and had to share! Wish it were one of mine!!

Photography is a great opportunity to tell a visual story. The possibilities are nearly endless. It can be done in a photo essay, of course - a series of images that show a subject or scene in a variety of ways. But, as pro photographer and BetterPhoto instructor Deborah Sandidge shows, it also can be done in a single image. "Look for elements that will instantly tell a story", says Deb. "Create emotional content through your composition that will connect with others. You can do this through carefully selecting your subject and waiting for the right moment."

(c) Deborah Sandidge
Deb noticed this young egret beginning to preen her feathers in the morning light. "What I was feeling when watching her was grace, beauty and a sense of peace," says Deb. "There was something very elegant in the gesture of extending her wing. She seemed to be counting her feathers one by one. I set up my tripod and camera, waiting for the just the right moment to take the photo that would tell my story."
This photograph was captured at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, FL. This location attracts a variety of birds and is the perfect location for finding great subjects. Advises Deb: "Visit early spring for the highest concentration of birds and activity. I hope to see you there next year!"

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #7

2010-11-02T05:00:00.007-05:00

Lastly, Break All The Rules

Once you have learned the rules and how to use some of these tips, break them when the situation calls for it. Travel photography is about artistic expression so go with what feels good to you. But first, learn the Rule Of Thirds before you move your subject just a bit further to the side. Learn to use a fill flash before you decide having a dark, silhouetted face works better and don’t be afraid to take some details shots during the middle of the day even in the harsh sunlight.

www.shirleypearce.com

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #6

2010-11-01T05:00:00.003-05:00

Use a long lens

This last bit of advice might not seem obvious at first. While wide angle lenses are great for panoramic shots and big features, a zoom lens, something that is 100mm or greater, will do wonders for your photos. Zoom in on details and features of those grand, wide images. Use the zoom to help isolate your subject so the scene becomes less cluttered. And use a zoom to help capture those stalking lions far out on the savannah.

If you don’t have a zoom lens readily packed for travel, consider renting one. There are many places online and possibly in your town, that will rent a lens for a fraction of the price of purchasing it new. It’s often worth the cost if your once-in-a-lifetime trip will require it.

www.shirleypearce.com

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #5

2010-10-31T05:00:00.002-05:00

Use Fill Flash (you know!! the flashy thingy on your camera!)

If your camera has a flash, there are many instances when it can be used and you may not have thought of them. For instance, you’re on a tour with a set schedule and have no other option than to take photos of your family in front of the pyramids of Egypt at noon. Harsh, harsh sun is beating down. Everyone, rightfully, has a hat on their head to block the sun. The only problem is their faces are now in deep shadow while the pyramids are harshly lit. Did I mention the harshness in this setup? In this scenario adjusting exposure, as in the item above, will not help because the pyramids will become washed out while the faces become visible. What do you do?

Use your flash! That’s right, in the middle of the day, use your flash. Most cameras have a “Fill-Flash” setting and even if they don’t, a full flash will be better than none. A fill flash is just that; a flash to fill in the areas of the scene in dark shadow. Suddenly your family’s faces can be seen beaming with joy from under their hats before rushing back to the air conditioned tour bus. The photo below has a subtle fill flash used to overcome the very dark shadows on the face. While more edits can be made in Photoshop, starting with a more even exposure helps in post processing.

Another handy use for fill flash is when a subject is backlit. Maybe the sun or a bright light is behind them. Fill flash to the rescue! The bright light will still be there, but now faces and features can be seen as well.

www.shirleypearce.com

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #4

2010-10-30T05:00:00.003-05:00

Learn How To Change Your Exposure Settings

This one may be a bit trickier but is worth it. Background: Your camera is not perfect. Neither is mine. No matter how much money you spend, cameras have their limits. In most automatic modes a camera will take a look at the scene in front of them and try to find an average setting that lets all the highlight areas be seen and the shadows as well. The problem with this approach is cameras are not human eyes and don’t have the wonderful range our eyes (and brain) do. A scene may be 40% dark and 60% bright and the camera comes to middle ground on its choice.

This choice may make the highlights far too bright, or the shadows as black as midnight, with no detail either way. And if your subject happens to be standing in those shadows when the shutter is released, they will be lost in the dark while your camera tries to make everything even. Understand what your camera is trying to do and then tell it to do something different. How? By using exposure adjustment features.

Most cameras will have a simple +/- button or menu feature. This allows you to override the camera’s ‘correct’ exposure setting in any condition and will tell the camera to overexpose or underexpose the scene by up to three extra ’stops’ of light. Taking the example above, if the subject is too dark when you snap the first photo, use the exposure adjustment and crank it up to +1 or +2. This tells the camera, “Hey, take what you think is the correct settings and let in more light, please” You’ll notice the highlights get brighter, but you’ll also notice you can now see your friend in the shadows. The reverse is also true if you find things are a bit too bright (because you’re out shooting during the middle of the day like I told you not too, aren’t you!?). Crank it down to -1 or -2 and your camera will let in less light to help those overexposed areas. It’s a give and take game, so practice with this setting.

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip#3

2010-10-29T05:00:00.001-05:00

Get The Horizon Out Of The Middle Of Your Picture

Along with the Rule of Thirds, never, ever, never place the horizon in the very center of your screen. While it may seem logical at the time, when you view a photo taken this way, it will appear bland and unnaturally balanced. Get that horizon off the center one way or the other! I prefer to give more foreground space and less sky, but there are times when more sky is needed. It works well to use one of those grid lines explained earlier in the Rule Of Thirds as a location for your horizon, but there’s no pat answer. Play around a little, but please, no more centered horizons!

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #2

2010-10-28T05:00:00.003-05:00

Use The Rule Of Thirds

Imagine a grid on your screen or eyepiece. It is made up of two lines, equally spaced, extending from top to bottom and another two from left to right. A small grid with four intersections. These intersections are the start of a simple method for making your photos more interesting. What you will need to do is place the main focus (pun intended) of your photograph in one of those intersections. If the main subject is someone’s face, place one of their eyes at an intersection. If it’s a mountain, place the peak near an intersection. Interesting bug on the ground? Don’t just center it in the photo and click away. Boring! Place it on an intersection and give it room (meaning, if it is facing left, place it on the right side of your photo so it visually has room to move into the photo).

7 Tips To Help Bring Back Non-Boring, And Possibly Non-Horrid, Travel Photos: Tip #1

2010-10-27T14:32:00.000-05:00

Get Up Early And Stay Out Late - Getting up at 6am is worth it!

The Golden Hour, that slice of time just after sunrise and just before sunset, is a tried and true method for taking great photos. Photography, after all, is the art of capturing light, so get it when it’s at its peak, low on the horizon and full of color. There are also deeper shadows and contrast during these times giving photos a punch. The mistake most of us make is taking photos of great landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, during midday when the sun is high and harsh. Do all you can to avoid photos during midday. Colors become washed out and lifeless. Shadows disappear or cover faces in an unattractive manner. If you have the luxury of extra time at a location, take advantage of the light when the sun is lower on the horizon and you’ll come back with dramatic scenes.

Adoption Days - Friendswood, TX

2010-10-25T17:41:00.000-05:00

The Alvin Friendswood Vet Cliinic had its first Adoption Day this past Saturday and the public was invited out to view and adopt some of the animals there....cats and dogs mostly. We also invited them to bring their pets for photos. Here is a mix of pets and dogs ready for adoption in some of their grandest costumes for Halloween.

These pups are looking for forever homes. Can you help?

Rosie is a pitt bull who came to Dr. Pickle with six pups. They have all been adopted out and now we are looking for a forever home for sweet Rosie. She is such a delight to watch with the younger and smaller dogs.

You may contact Dr. Susan Pickle at Alvin Friendswood Veterinary Clinic - (281) 992-7500 for more information on some of these animals.

Pet Portraits

2010-08-02T11:59:00.000-05:00

This weekend I volunteered time at the Friendswood Animal Advocates (FAA) Pet Adoption Day. Money was raised by pet portraits, doggie treats, doggie apparel, nail clipping, ID chipping....and of course, we wanted to get as many animals as possible adopted and out of the shelter. In the meantime, I was busy with pet portraits. Wanted to show you some. Tutus and feathers made for whimsical portraits. They are adorable!!

......BUT THE GRAND PRIZE GOES TO!!............

Galveston Engagement Session

2010-07-29T16:19:00.000-05:00

Headed to the beach before 6am this past weekend to try and catch the sun rising over the water only to be hampered by low clouds on the horizon...probably from the tropical storm churning in the gulf near Florida at that time. We waited it out and eventually saw the sun!! Wanted to show you a few of those shots on the beach. Notice the water? The camera saw it as blue and it was so pretty I just left it that way! Hope you like them.

Lauren loves this one the most because she loves the little crab she captured inside her ring!!

Celebration Party

2010-06-28T11:15:00.000-05:00

Celebrating my sister's remission in Fallopian Tube Cancer this weekend with Mimosas!! My five sisters and Mom came to visit me and we had lots of love, laughter and much noise around the house. I'm sad....they are gone back to their day to day lives. We are so thankful to have this celebration with my sister!!

Went for a small outing on Saturday to Galveston. They have taken some of the dead oaks there and have had them carved into sculptures. So inviting in the private yards. Here are some of the ones we saw.

Viral Meningitis

2010-06-23T21:59:00.000-05:00

Ever had it? You don't want it....take it from personal experience! It wasn't until I read what it was all about on the internet that I realized....bummer I was bad off and didn't know it!! :(

Wish I could say I jumped up from my bed and snagged the above photos, but soooo untrue! These actually came from a visit to my sister in March who was undergoing chemo. Sat around and snapped them for something to do while entertaining her for six hours. Who knew I'd find a use for them here! I guess that's why we aren't allowed to see our future! Anyway, I'm back to posting. So see you in the funny pages,....soon.

How To Take a Photography out of a Plane Window

2010-05-05T13:37:00.000-05:00

Here’s a quick set of tips for those of us lucky enough to be taking a trip in a plane and wanting to get the classic ‘out of the window shot’ that often is featured early in a travel photo album.

One common mistake that people make with taking this shots is to put their camera’s lens right up against the glass of the plane window in the hope that it will help cut down on reflections and in the hope that it will steady their shot.

While it might help a little with reflections it generally does anything but steady the shot and will often usually increase camera shake’ due to the vibrations of the plane.A better strategy, if you’re using a DSLR with a fitted lens, is to attach a lens hood to your lens and get in as close as you can to the window without actually touching it. Alternatively, use your free hand to cup around the lens as much as you can to shield it from reflections.

Of course for high quality aerial shots you’ll want to shoot out an open window from an appropriate altitude – but then most of us are not in that league so the window seat on an airliner is our best option.

Here are five more tips that come to mind on photographing out a plane’s window:

1. Switch to Manual Focus

Quite often cameras get confused when shooting through glass (and on most planes its two or three scratched and marked sheets of glass). Switching to manual focusing mode and locking your focus on your main focal point can help a lot.

2. Shoot early in the Flight

Windows tend to ice up or get condensation on them once you’ve been flying for a longer period of time. Shoot early when you’re window is clearer and your shots will be better for it.

3. Be ready for the Plane Banking

It is difficult from an airliner to take shots of the ground (due to window size and the angles that are possible through them) but opportunities do present themselves for such shots on the few occasions that the plan banks before landing and after take off. The key is to be ready and to shoot fast as these moments don’t last long.

4. Turn off your Flash

For starters it’ll have no impact on your shot (its not strong enough to have an impact beyond a few meters) and secondly it’ll just cause reflections against the window.

5. Look for points of Interest

Sometimes the scenes out of plane windows seem quite spectacular to the eye but when you look at your photos they can be a little empty and un-inspirational. Look for a point of interest to bring your shot to life. It might be the wing or engine of the plane, it could be a cloud formation, another plane, a coastline, a change in the landscape below or a setting sun etc. It could even be something inside the plane.

www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Amateur Photographer: Your First Wedding? Wedding Survival Tips

2010-05-03T11:46:00.000-05:00

To the inexperienced photographer, the first wedding is that single most daunting event that stands as Mt. Everest in one’s profession. It is a feat that could define success or failure for the rest of one’s career. Much preparation is required. Much focus is essential. Much passion is critical.

Every detail of the day is important. The clothes. The favors. The people. Tensions are high. Schedules are tight. Emotions are charged. A wedding shoot is not the time to test one’s people skills or experiment with portraits. It is a day that an experienced photographer must practice everything he or she has ever known.

However, each wedding photographer has had a “first time”. On this day, the photographer discovers the key to thriving in the world of wedding photography: An ability to take the unpredictable in stride and thrive amidst challenges.

What does this look like to an inexperienced wedding photographer? How does a novice go about capturing beautiful shots in unpredictable and varied settings? With a little bit of hard work, these 8 tips will help you cover essential preparations for a successful wedding shoot.

1. Do your research!

Find a local bookstore with a large selection of photography books. Take some time to look at books from Bill Hurter and Amherst Media. These resources will give you an incredible amount of information to walk you through the wedding photographer’s experience.

2. Determine the couple’s style

As a wedding photographer, your job involves more than capturing the events of the wedding day. You must have the ability to do so in the style that signifies the bridal couple. Are they traditionalists? Are they contemporary? Do they want color or black and white? If they aren’t sure what they like, take the time to go through a wedding magazine with them to find clips that match their style. Once you know what they are expecting stylistically, you can shoot to capture just that!

3. Create a Master Schedule

Arrange a pre-wedding meeting with the bride to plan out a 15-minute incremental schedule of the wedding shoot. This should include wedding preparations, bride portraits, bride and bridesmaids portraits; the groom and his groomsmen, the full wedding party, the family portraits, and the bride and groom. If you aren’t experienced shooting weddings, plan for extra time so you won’t be rushed or distracted by the time pressures.

4. Be connected

Be sure to get the phone number of the wedding coordinator, the best man, and the bride’s personal attendant. If (and when) the wedding schedule gets off, you will want to be sure that the wedding coordinator is in the know. And when the time comes to hunt down rogue bridal party or family members who are missing out on the shoot, these numbers are handy for extra help.

5. Have help!

Shooting a first wedding is best done with another primary shooter, or at least an assistant. An assistant will help you keep track of your shot list, schedule, managing the individuals for large group photos. In the very least, an assistant is available to carry equipment, keep track of the cell phone, and holding reflectors.

6. Make a shot list

The bridal couple will undoubtedly have shots they want. Generally, the couple will stress the importance of photos with family members attending, and the bridal party. Once you have this initial list, you can build a more detailed list for your own reference. A shot list will keep you focused and on top as you go about the 5-8 hour shooting day. As you refer to your shot list throughout the day, won’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

7. Scout out your locations

Arrive at the venue at least an hour before you are to begin shooting. Once you are on location, map out your location flow. Where will you start out and what shots will you take in that area? Where will you go next? What distractions must you watch out for in each location? Where is the light? Have a flow plan for your shoot and both you and your clients will stay relaxed through the day.

8. Put on your game face!

Remember that no matter what happens on the wedding day, there will be a plethora of uncontrolled variables. Your role is to take the unexpected happenings and run with them! If you are the picture of calm and the voice of reason, everyone else will be ok! The mark of a good wedding photographer isn’t a perfectly planned and executed shoot but rather a wedding shoot in which the photographer was able to adapt to each scenario and still capture the beautiful moments of the day.

No matter how much reading and research time you put into preparing, there is a large degree of learning that will come from that first experience. Above all, set your mind on enjoying the experience no matter what comes your way. While the pressure is on, so long as you can take nervous pressure and channel it to anticipated excitement, you’ll be just fine.

www.hereslookingatyou.biz

1877 Tall Ship Elissa

2010-03-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

ELISSA is a three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall & Company. She carries nineteen sails covering over one-quarter of an acre in surface area. Tall ships are classified by the configuration of their sailing rig. In ELISSA's case, she is a 'barque' because she carries square and fore-and-aft sails on her fore and mainmasts, but only fore-and-aft sails on her mizzenmast. From her stern to the tip of her jibboom she measures 205 feet. Her height is 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast and she displaces about 620 tons at her current ballast. But, she is much more than iron, wood and canvas...

Elissa Volunteers

2010-03-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

ELISSA sails several times every year. Every spring, she goes out for a series of day sails over the course of a two-week period. Those who participate in the seamanship training program, which includes maintenance tasks such as chipping rust, painting and tarring the rig, have the opportunity to learn ancient skills and techniques. After completing the classes, which take place on designated Saturdays, and contributing the required hours of work on the ship’s upkeep, participants are eligible to take ELISSA to sea.

ELISSA was never a pirate ship, but as a British cargo ship of the 19th century, she specialized in calling at smaller ports of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. She twice loaded cotton at Galveston. It was this local connection, and the authenticity of her iron hull, that led Galveston Historical Foundation to purchase the vessel, then a cut-down motorship and undertake her restoration. Today, ELISSA is one of only three pre-20th century sailing vessels in the United States that have been restored to full sailing capacity.

Elissa

2010-03-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

Lacey, my daughter, and I boarded the Elissa in Galveston this past Saturday. It was windy, about 63F and very cloudy! We set sail around 10 am and were back in port by noon. Thirty minutes later the cold front hit with 40 mph winds, dropping temperatures and rain. I went out on the Elissa last year and regret that Lacey did not get to experience more of the ship, but a taste of what they do was fun! This is the quartermaster, Phil. This crew of 30+ gathers each year during the spring to take Elissa out on the waters to keep her "healthy". They come from all over the nation. This is Phil's 17th year to be here along with the captain of the ship who comes from Maine.

High School Seniors

2010-03-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

We can create anything you are thinking of! Take a look at our gallery here.

Bay Area Christian School ~ Seniors 2011

2010-03-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Another great photo for Bay Area Christian School silent auction. This is the Junior Class of 2010 and the Senior Class of 2011. I look forward to working with each of them on their high school portraits. Will be tagging them soon for their Facebook pages.

High School Seniors - Bay Area Christian School

2010-03-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

This photo was sold in a silent auction fundraiser for Bay Area Christian School in League City, TX. It sold sight unseen for hundreds of dollars so I'm kinda proud of it. We matted it and had the seniors sign the mat. Will be tagging the seniors later so they can pull to their Facebook pages.

Spring has sprung!

2010-03-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

Well.......almost! Seniors, do you have your wallets for graduation and the portrait for Grammy? Come and visit my website for ideas.

High School Seniors Wanted

2010-03-08T05:00:00.000-06:00

Spring is almost sprung! This type of portrait is called "high key" with selective color. This is an opportunity to get individualized portraits for yourself if you are a high school senior. Check out photos at this site.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

This is my friend, Abel. This is his self portrait entitled "Sensor of Humor". I wanted to post it here because I have so much fun with High School Senior Portraits! I hope no one is looking at you like this when they see you pointing a camera at them! Sometimes I feel this is the way I'm viewed when I see people looking back at me wondering what they are supposed to do, smile ?.... pose?...whaaaat???!!

www.hereslookingatyou.biz Give me a call when you are ready for your High School Senior Portraits.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

Oh come on now! Getting your portraits done can't be this bad!! Look me up in Friendswood, TX. My website is www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Senior Prom is nearing! Where is your photographer?!!

2010-03-03T05:00:00.000-06:00

High school graduation is an exciting time for seniors including special ceremonies, proms and after-parties to attend. Lots of things to do and think about to pull this off!!

Don't forget the photographer when getting ready for this exciting time.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

High School Seniors! Time is getting near for those of you who are procrastinating on your senior portraits. Are you looking for someone who can express the uniqueness in you? Look me up. I'm located in Friendswood, TX. My website is www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Do you know a good wedding photographer?

2010-03-01T14:31:00.000-06:00

As a wedding photographer, I advise all my soon-to-be married/cash-strapped couples to spend their money where it counts—on great wedding photography. No one will remember what your invitations looked like or what your wedding favors were, but you will always have your photographs. I also tell my couples that you have to love your wedding photographer because he or she is with you every step of the way. You want someone who not only knows how to catch the right light, but who will hold your hand when you get nervous, hop on a chair to get the right shot (even if the maitre d’ says, “no!”), handles your crazy family with ease and makes you look amazing in every single shot. That’s what a photographer does for you on your wedding day.

It’s the photographer— not the camera—that makes the images stand out. I definitely don’t believe you need $5000 lenses and a top-of-the-line camera to be a good photographer. Creativity is the key!!

Even if you are not a wedding photographer, take a moment and gloriously celebrate those who do document these singular events for couples worldwide, turning the day’s images into visual love stories. And future brides take note, those creative photographers are worth every penny!

Trash the Dress

2010-01-25T12:44:00.000-06:00

New Year’s Resolution: Do Something with That Wedding Dress! aka Trash the Dress

Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to actually do something with that old wedding dress of yours? You didn’t actually think it would be in style for your daughter 25 years from now did you? Why not wear it? Today we’ll examine the world of Trash the Dress. That’s the trend of hiring a pro photographer or videographer for a creative portrait session modeling your dress.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to actually trash the dress. But you might actually have some fun wearing it around town, on the back of a motorcycle, or walking through the woods.

Shirley Pearce,Photographer, says,”what are you realistically going to ever do with that dress again? Not many girls wear their mom’s out of fashion dress (or you wouldn’t see so many bridal shops around). The huge majority of dresses just sit in a bag forever. Many photographers and brides feel like this once in a lifetime expense can be put to great use to create art.

It gives you a chance to get all glamorous again without all the pressure of keeping the gown clean, in fact it’s a riot to see what brides want to do with a dress they don’t have to worry about and how much fun they have getting it dirty. In some extreme cases they shred the dress or paint it or even set it on fire!”

I did a Trash the Dress session last weekend. To me it isn’t so much about destroying the dress as it is placing the dress in a place where a “wedding dress” doesn’t belong. Ex: railroad tracks, playground, water, etc. What a fantastic opportunity at that once in a lifetime shot!

Shirley Pearce adds, “Our favorite Trash The Dress session so far was in an industrial park in Pasadena, TX with lots of pipes, valves and high voltage signs.

She continues, “Trash the Dress sessions are not for every bride. I love the idea of a photo session with a bride in her dress in an unconventional location, but the dress doesn’t necessarily have to be ruined. Most brides know they will be spending hundreds of dollars to have the dress cleaned and preserved, so they just want to get a little more life out of it before it goes into a box.”

Your Trash the Dress selections are no limited to still photos. Our studio, Here's Looking at You! Photography, captures Trash the Dress in video and stills in your own personal slideshow on DVD.

Of course, the go-to place for all things TTD, is www.trashthedress.com. That is an entire site dedicated to the art of Trash the Dress. Whatever you choose to do with your dress, sell it on Ebay, store in the closet, or cut it up for a baptism gown, try to find a way to cherish your memories of the gown beyond the wedding day. Contact me for creative new ways re-live your wedding memories.

Newborn

2010-01-07T14:01:00.000-06:00

I spent yesterday morning at the hospital photographing a newborn baby. I should have gone naked because it was so intolerably hot in there that I walked the quarter mile back to my car two hours later with my jacket in my hand in 40 degree weather to try and recover!! OK....now that that is out of my system...on to the photography.

Kingston was about 40 hours old in these photos. We did maternity photos with his Mom, Dad, and older sister on December 19th and he arrived Jan. 3rd. That's cutting it pretty close for belly photos! While this was interesting....I am opting next time to do "call me when you get home photos"!!!...did I mention heat stroke?

Maternity Photos

2009-12-20T08:58:00.000-06:00

I may have accidentally found my next child model! Mom and Dad and Kinleigh came in to my studio for maternity photos and in posing Kinleigh I think I have found a "natural" in front of the camera! She was more than willing to do whatever I asked and even smiled on cue. This photo with the glass....she gave me the exact expression I asked for. The tummy photo I caught by being quick on the shutter! Mom is due January 1 so it was questionable that we would even be able to get together with the Christmas rush to get this done. I'm really glad we were able to do photos and know they will be pleased with them....after all, Kinleigh stole the show!!

Trash the Dress Lensbaby Style

2009-11-17T13:03:00.000-06:00

Lensbaby is a selective focus SLR camera lenses that brings one area of your photo into sharp focus with that sharp area surrounded by graduated blur. It is used quite frequently these days for artistic ventures. You either like it or you don't. I happen to be one of those who like it!! I don't get to use it much because my subjects usually don't stand still long enough, but in portraits you have a better chance of expressing your art with this lens. Here are a couple of my model, Lauren, during one of our Trash the Dress Series.

Trash the Dress

2009-11-01T13:19:00.000-06:00

When we reached our destination, our backdrop was in the shade so we made the best of it and really did well with the backlit sunshine on their left sides. I didn't use a flash as I really liked the backlit situation. Upon reflection, I think next time a snoot on their faces would help.

Runaway Bride!

2009-10-26T15:39:00.000-05:00

I didn't plan this title. It just jumped out at me after I saw the series of photos I created with Lauren and Cory and his Harley. It was such a beautiful morning and even with the sun in the camera we were still able to show mood in the moment. Enjoy!

Trash the Dress Session II

2009-10-23T21:36:00.000-05:00

I just love backlighting and no better way to show it off than with a blonde headed girl!! I love the halo effect you get with back lighting from the early morning sun shining on her hair and the lighting on the weeds in front of them. Enjoy!

Trash the Dress

2009-10-22T15:10:00.000-05:00

There is a new trend in wedding photography called Trash the Dress. Brides are using their wedding gowns (after the wedding) for high fashion photography shoots.When I was on my way to scout out a site for shooting horse portraits I stumbled upon this setting and knew it would be my next Trash the Dress location!

Runnin' in the Rain!!

2009-10-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever driven behind a semi truck in the rain? I guess we all have. Blinding, isn't it. Can't see a thing with all that muckety muck flying around in the air from the semi. Well, when I came home this past Sunday, David showed me a photo depicting the results of letting the Frenchies outside with the foster we have been keeping (Petey, the Pitt Bull). To David's defense, we had just had 9.5 inches of rain in a 12 hour period and everyone needed a break from cabin fever. Therefore, everyone got to go outside to get the wigglies out!

Petey the Pitt Bull loves to play chase. Actually, Petey loves to have the Frenchies chase him! He will grab their toy and off he goes! He stops if there is no pursuit. Must have been a good run that particular Sunday by the photo I saw on David's phone! Runnin' in the Rain.....behind a semi truck.

Moab-Dead Horse Point

2009-10-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Dead Horse Point is a peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs. The peninsula is connected to the mesa by a narrow strip of land called the neck. There are many stories about how this high promontory of land received its name.

According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30 yards wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Moab - a photographer's paradise!

2009-09-30T10:29:00.000-05:00

Located at the center of one of the most stunning red rock landscapes on Earth, Moab’s unique combination of beautiful red rock scenery and the cool waters of the Colorado River has made it one of the most sought after destinations in the southwest for lovers of the outdoors. 4WD? This is the place!! I see nothing but hummers and jeeps here...and bicycles!

The red rocks are absolutely stunning. This is better than the Grand Canyon!....and accessible by jeep and cars...not just donkeys as in the Grand Canyon. Same architecture! Southeastern Utah is a paradise for photographers. Under conditions of constantly changing light, the red rock landscapes of southeastern Utah provide limitless photographic opportunities. Often, the difference between an average photograph and an exceptional photograph, is good lighting. Low sun angles at sunrise and sunset add great depth to many of the panoramic vistas in southeastern Utah, such as the views from the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park (my favorite!!). Hope you enjoy the vistas provided by these photographs. Can't wait to return!

Pet Portraits

2009-08-30T16:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a big day here! My daughter's Frenchie, Izzy, turned one year old. Give her a break!....she doesn't have kids yet! Anyway, my husband thinks I am a miracle worker. He said he couldn't believe I got all those dogs to stand still for that portrait. Aha! I'm getting to be a better graphic artist than even I thought! I knew it would be next to impossible to get these five french bulldogs to "sit tight" especially with those dog cookies in front of them....so I cheated. We photographed each dog one at a time, then photographed the cookies on the table...then one by one I added them into the photo. Yes, I cheated....but I'm so proud of myself! Those magazine graphic artist "ain't got nuthin'" on me!! Enjoy!

Mattie and Gavin

2009-08-25T17:22:00.000-05:00

A few more shots of Mattie and Gavin with parents and grandparents. Everyone was great! Gavin was our challenge but as soon as he got his feet in the water, everything was "comin' up roses"!!

Family Portraits

2009-08-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

This is Mattie and Gavin with their grandparents. Actually, we composed several family portraits this morning at 7:30am and everyone had smiles on even in the heat and humidity! Gavin at two years was our challenge, but we even got some smiles from him as the session proceeded.

I, for one, will be glad when the heat breaks and takes the humidity with it. I'm afraid I'll have to wait until mid October to see that, though!

High School Seniors Wanted!!

2009-08-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

We are offering 10% off and 48 wallets free if Seniors book between now and October 12th. Tell your friends and neighbors who have seniors this year!

What Makes or Breaks a Picture?

2009-08-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

What makes or breaks a picture? Composition, of course, and perhaps less obvious but equally fundamental--light. Subtle or dramatic, the impact of light on an image completely alters how that image is perceived.

Jordan and Jeffrey

2009-07-18T11:52:00.000-05:00

Celebrating their first year together! Do you have a special anniversary coming up?

Ready and Waiting

2009-06-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a popular look; adding texture to the photographs. Wanted my viewers to see what this looks like over a regular photo. There are all kinds of textures to pick from. The first photo is the before photo for comparison.

Lindsey & Michelle

2009-06-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Done in my studio with ambient backlighting and two speedlites at 45 degree angles on 1/2 setting. Brightened to bring out high contrast look after converting from color to black and white. High contrast is gaining in my favor for portraits. Second portrait has texture added. Only brushed texture away from the face

Lindsey

2009-06-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

I'm looking for your opinion on this portrait. One eye in shadow and one eye is not. Do you think this is a hindrance? There are too many shadows in this portrait for my taste, but the bride likes it and ultimately that is who I have to please, but still.....Do you think it brings good attention to the face in that you take a second look? I don't think this would have been an issue it she had brown eyes instead of light blue.

Mattie III

2009-06-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a before and after photo of Mattie done in the studio. On the after photo, I added edges and then put texture over that as it still didn't look like anything other than ordinary. I like the after look best.

Mattie II

2009-06-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

I cannot decide which pose I like better. Closer is always better for me, but in this case, I like the effect of the trees surrounding her. What do you think?

Mattie

2009-06-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

Say hello to Mattie. Mattie is 12 and loves to climb trees. Consequently, two of the photos she most favors are in trees! This is the loop lighting that David Ziser discussed in his seminar in late May here in Houston. Light on both cheeks with a shadow from the nose. I don't have it perfected here as there is slightly too much shadow, but Ziser says he strives for this type of lighting on 90% of his portraits.

Landscape Photography

2009-06-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is where I stayed in late Feb. early March in Pagosa Springs. What a difference a few rocks, golden light and some scrub brush can make on the elevation of a flat roof! I walked this entire house looking for the composition I needed to set of the exterior of this home. Also, I felt the last two images showed the ambiance of this home and its surroundings. A beautiful home on the high ridge of a high hill with a 360 view of the mountains. The occupants looked at 33 homes in the area and when they drove up to this one, they said "this is it" without even going inside.

Lauren's Portrait

2009-06-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

I like the opaque look of the portrait on the left. This is a different look to me and I like it. Might make a good postcard for a mailout! Lauren is my neighbor and she's all grown up and graduated from Texas A & M University this past May. She's one of my personal models. Look for more of Lauren this week. What do you think of this look for a portrait? Be honest!!

Sydney-High School Senior Portraits

2009-06-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here are some senior portraits of Sydney using Graphic Authority software. I love this stuff and even have some for weddings and just portrait shots. Will try to upload just regular portraits this week for comments on the software with adult portraits.

Pet Portraits

2009-06-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

Time for another session in the studio with Frannie and Buster and the bathing beauty, Izzy, who belongs to my daughter, Courtney. Now I know where all her money goes! They are backlit by the window with a sheer over it and they are sitting on a coffee table with a white blanket on it. Flashes at 45 degrees on both sides of them. I love the high contrast look on them since they are black and white. Comments?

Jordan-High School Senior Photos

2009-06-04T09:13:00.000-05:00

Jordan has by far been my easiest senior to photo. She has a million dollar smile which she can turn on and off anytime!! She is so used to smiling that she does not feel comfortable in any photo unless she is smiling. She is giving the running photo to her grandfather (12 x 18) who has actively supported her through the years with her track.

Jordan -High School Portraits

2009-06-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

Trying out some of my new software templates that I purchased last week at the David Ziser Seminar. I'm excited about them as this is what's happening with the high school seniors and I don't have the time or experience to create them in photoshop. Besides I got the whole bundle for half price for being at the seminar. Ziser's seminar was fast paced and very interesting...crammed with good ideas and great slides on creative lighting. Yes, I would attend another seminar. His blog is www.digitalprotalk.com. Check it out when you can. He has a great number of different topics on portraiture. Thanks for visiting!!

Sydney-Self Portrait

2009-05-28T12:15:00.001-05:00

This is Sydney and she likes to paint so I decided to give her a self portrait. This is two composites taken same day and combined. Photographic edges added (smudge). I filled in the surrounding areas with white. It did show the blown out front yard in the background and was distracting.

I Was Running!!

2009-05-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Jordan is graduating and leaving all her track medals behind. I wanted to give her something she didn't get in all the years of running around the track and that was this photo.

Mutual Adoration

2009-05-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Pretty easy to see these two have a special connection....that bond between a grandfather and his granddaughter. I captured that look with only one click of the shutter. Sometimes you just "get lucky"!!! It was a beautiful day for a Wedding. This was taken the last of March...80 degrees. An outside wedding...they were so fortunate as the next weekend was 45 degrees and very windy. What is that saying about Texas weather? "If you don't like the weather, stick around....it will change in 10 minutes". How fortunate for the Bride and Groom at this wedding for good weather in March! Someone was smiling on them!

Rachel

2009-05-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

This is Rachel. She's a natural in front of the camera. Practicing with my lensbaby lens on this. I like the photo, but wish the eye was a little sharper. A little out of focus gives it a dreamy quality, but don't know how it would go over being judged.
The lensbaby is harder to focus that I thought! Comments on this photo welcome.

Teddy

2009-05-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Meet Teddy. He's my neighbor. Teddy likes to run and play with my puppies, Buster and Frannie. Teddy comes over to play quite often and really gives Buster and Frannie a real workout running, running, running around the yard. Teddy does not like to mind his Mom and Dad and the more they yell "Teddy" the faster Teddy runs away. We had a pet sitting job this past weekend with Teddy. It was quite an adventure!! Teddy has a "ways to go" in the minding and manners department.

May Day is here!

2009-05-02T01:04:00.000-05:00

May is here!! Where did the first four months of 2009 go?? May makes me think of flowers and showers. Here is my first flower submission for May captured late evening with a flash. This is one of my favorite flowers (an Agapanthus)as it is so unusual and offers many different captures as it explodes from the bulb. Enjoy!

Buster

2009-04-28T13:32:00.001-05:00

In looking for something to post today, I ran across this photo of my male frenchie who is still a puppy at 6.5 months and couldn't resist posting as he gives us so much joy. Here is a "run-down" on the French Bulldog.

Often described as "a clown in the cloak of a philosopher," the French Bulldog originated as, and continues to be used as a companion dog. The breed is small and muscular with heavy bone structure, a smooth coat, a short face and trademark "bat" ears. Prized for their affectionate natures and even dispositions, they are generally active and alert, but not unduly boisterous. Frenchies can be brindle, fawn, white, and brindle and white.

A Look Back
Lacemakers in 19th Century Nottingham, England selectively bred the early bulldog for a downsized or "toy" bulldog, for use as a lap pet. When the Industrial Revolution displaced some lacemakers to France, they took the dogs with them, and soon the "toy" bulldogs became popular in France, where wealthy Americans doing the Grand Tour saw and fell in love with them. In the late 1800s these "toy bulldogs" became known as French Bulldogs.

Frenchies are indoor dogs, but require air conditioning in warm weather. While good at alerting their owners to danger (Look! The UPS Guy is coming!), their main role is that of lap warmer. The Frenchie requires minimal exercise and grooming.

At Our House? Buster and Frannie play tag and chase all the time and are so much fun to watch. They run like they are being chased by the devil only to look around and see no one is pursuing. They immediately stop and look for some sucker to come play tag with them. If no one volunteers, the game stops.

Daylight Estimator

2009-04-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

We all know how important light is when photographing outside and now you can impress your friends with your instant read on how much daylight is left before the sun drops below the horizon. Shown in detail on Wikihow.com, you locate where the sun is in the sky (without looking directly at it of course), place your hand straight out in front of you with your hand lined up parallel to the ground (note wikihow says perpendicular but I believe it meant parallel) and flip your hand (the four finger section not counting your thumb) over, or use both hands and stack them one over the other until you reach the sun’s location in the sky.

For every hand you have an hour of daylight, when it gets too close for a full hand, use fingers with each finger counting as 15minutes. This is a great way to estimate how much daylight you have to work with, of course once the sun goes down you still have a little ambient but it disappears quickly.

Galveston Featherfest

2009-04-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have to do a little bragging on my friend, Cindi Barker, who won grand prize in the adult division of Featherfest in Galveston on April 1, 2009.

FeatherFest 2009 www.galvestonfeatherfest.com/ is Galveston's seventh annual celebration of the birds and natural heritage of the Upper Texas Coastal area, in spring. The Birders Bazaar is a special opportunity for vendors to interact with festival birders. The festival is held the first week of April. While not the peak of the spring birding migration season (which occurs in late April, early May), the timing provides an opportunity to see a great mix of bird species. Visitors will see the earlier spring migrant species plus the bird species that winter on the Gulf coast and which have not yet departed for their breeding grounds to our north. A multitude of species can be seen, more than 200 bird species might be tallied during the 4 days. It is fun to see which birds visitors added to their lists in 2009. The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC), a community-based volunteer organization, was formed in 2004 by a coalition of Galveston residents, many of whom had been involved over the previous two years in FeatherFest, an annual Galveston birding festival.

So, CONGRATULATIONS!!, Cindi, and keep shooting. You have so much creativity and never give yourself enough credit for the great works of art you turn out. I remember when we were reviewing all the shots of these birdies and you were so frustrated you didn't get the right shot. Looks like someone thinks you did. GREAT JOB!!

Self Portrait

2009-04-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Our photo assignment for this month at the Bay Area Photography Club is self portrait. The self-portraits of many Contemporary artists and Modernists often are characterized by a strong sense of narrative, often but not strictly limited to vignettes from the artists life-story. Sometimes the narrative resembles fantasy, roleplaying and fiction. My self portrait is entitled "Identity Theft". Hope you like it!

Karolyn

2009-04-05T17:06:00.000-05:00

Karolyn is trying out for the Houston Texans cheerleaders on the 18th. Wish her the best!!

Sydney's Senior Shots

2009-04-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Cindi and I tried some different things with Sydney. She really got in to taking the photos offering up a few backgrounds and poses of her own!!

Ashley's Senior Shots

2009-03-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ashley had a great photo session for senior photos this week. We were both surprised how nicely her photo turned out with her car....a grad present from an uncle.

Elissa ~ the ONLY sailing tall ship in the USA

2009-03-30T12:09:00.000-05:00

This was an extraordinary event for me and three other photographers as guests of the crew of the Elissa ~ the ONLY sailing tall ship in the United States. Built in 1877 as a merchant vessel, the Elissa serviced Galveston as well as other ports during her time on the seas.

Elissa is a three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall & Company. She carries nineteen sails covering over one-quarter of an acre in surface area. Tall ships are classified by the configuration of their sailing rig. In ELISSA’s case, she is a ‘barque’ because she carries square and fore-and-aft sails on her fore and mainmasts, but only fore-and-aft sails on her mizzenmast. From her stern to the tip of her jib boom she measures 205 feet. Her height is 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast and she displaces about 620 tons at her current ballast.

The ship was discovered in Greece as surplus last century and brought to Galveston for restoration. Unlike all of the other ship restorations that have gone on, the Elissa was brought all the way back to sailing condition! In order to maintain this, the ship must be sailed at least once a year to determine her seaworthiness. In 1976, she sailed to New York City to participate in the tall ship parade at the Statue of Liberty. Since then, she has resided at dock in Galveston, maintained by the Galveston Historical Society and the Galveston Sea Museum. This year, we were fortunate enough to be guests of the crew who sailed her out into Galveston Bay and back to dock.

The Elissa features 19 sails comprising 11,500 sq. ft. of cloth. One of the mainsails alone boasts 44 horse power. The ship moves along at quite a nice little clip with just a moderate amount of wind. The sails take a huge amount of work. Just memorizing the miles of rigging requires special training.

If you have the opportunity to be in Galveston, I hope you will be able to share the adventure of the high seas at the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the celebrated 1877 tall ship Elissa. Explore the decks of this floating National Historic Landmark which has also been designated one of America’s Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Walk Elissa’s decks and imagine the days when daring sailors challenged the world’s oceans. In the adjacent museum and theater, witness the story of Elissa’s dramatic rescue from the scrap yard and her meticulous restoration.

Located in the historic port of Galveston, the Texas Seaport Museum also tells the story of a rich legacy of seaborne commerce and immigration. Look for ancestors with a one-of-a-kind computer database containing the names of more than 133,000 immigrants who entered the United States through Galveston, “The Ellis Island of the West”. Join the Museum’s staff and volunteers as they bring the past to life through special exhibits and educational programs.

Sarah

2009-03-27T17:11:00.000-05:00

Fooling around in photoshop with these photos. The top part of Sarah is in shadow and I'm using filter > render > lighting effects to bring out her face. The other photo has a blur filter applied to it.

Sparklers!

2009-03-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize that sparklers made such great photos! These sparklers were a good 15" in length! I just love the look in the photographs!

Sarah & Justin's Wedding

2009-03-23T23:46:00.000-05:00

Sarah and Justin tied the knot over the weekend in Austin, TX under the big blue skies on the first day of Spring with a temperature hovering at 80 degrees! It was a beautiful wedding. I'll send more photos during the week as I process them.

Sometimes a photo says it all!

2009-02-26T03:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes a photo says it all. This pup's facial expression just invited me in to darken the background to produce this look and enhance the wild look in her eye and "keeping your eye on the ball" er frisbee! Her name is Hummer and she is a playmate to my puppies....bounding across the yard when she sees them outside.

Boudoir Photos-Wedding on the Way!!

2009-02-24T03:00:00.000-06:00

My Boudoir business is booming as a female photographer getting that special photo to present to the groom the night before the wedding. This is becoming more and more popular and I find that as I run across more brides-to-be that already have hired a wedding photographer, are hesitant to book this session with a male photographer but eager to speak with me! Pass the word my friends. Summer weddings are coming!!

Senior Photos

2009-02-22T15:26:00.000-06:00

My favorite photo from Sydney's photo shoot yesterday. She was slow to blossum, but Sydney warmed up about half way through the session to produce her signature smile. Look for more photos of Sydney in about two weeks as she works with her FFA animals.

Mitts Military Funeral-Houston National Cemetery

2009-01-30T07:59:00.001-06:00

I was asked by the Texas Army National Guard to photograph the funeral of Charles Mitts of Spring, TX, the crew chief of the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter that crashed on the Texas A & M University campus on January 12th. Mitts, a Texas Army National Guard veteran, was participating in a winter field training exercise conducted by the Army ROTC unit at A&M when the helicopter went down. He started his 22 year law enforcement career as a police officer in Killeen working as an undercover vice officer and as a member of the SWAT unit.

Mitts served in the Gulf War and in Iraq and earned several medals for his service, including the Air Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Aircraft Crewman Badge. During his last deployment, from September 2006 to September 2007, Mitts was chosen as one of the personal crew members for the U. S. Central Command commander General David Petracus, a three star general who spoke at his funeral.

Mitts also worked as a Federal Air Marshal Service agent. He applied for the job shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2003, he was assigned to a counter-terrorism intelligence task force, a joint venture between the FBI and the Federal Air Marshals Service created to provide information and training to small police agencies. The following year, the task force earned the FBI Director's Award for Excellence, making Mitts and three others in the group the first non-FBI employees to receive the award.

My nephew, a police officer and SWAT officer in Temple, met Mitts when he was working a stint in Air Patrol for Temple PD. Mitts was the consultant riding in the back of the helicopter. It's a small world, isn't it?

High School Portraits and graphics

2009-01-14T15:15:00.000-06:00

Playing around with some software that appeals to the high school and college crowd. Hope you like!

Digiscoping

2008-12-29T22:40:00.000-06:00

I kept thinking all day what did I want to portray today in a photo and it just hit me as I was going over some filing and spotted my file for a scope we bought for viewing wildlife. We haven't had the chance to use it much, but did dig it out the other night for a shot at the moon. Since practice makes perfect, I don't like this photo as much as I like most of my photos but it gets the job done. On December 18th the moon was the closest to the earth as it had been all year and the scope came to mind when I wanted to photograph the moon. Through the scope it seems you could count the fleas hopping around in the moon dust, but I just couldn't seem to get it focused as well as all that with the camera attached. This is a new craze called digiscoping and there is a special adapter for to attach the camera to your scope and on a 20-60X scope you have the advantage of about 1000 telephotos lenses. Unfortunately for me, I was unhappy...spending all my time trying to adjust the focus. You can see the craters... but if you could have seen the moon through the scope....awesome!!! I need to practice more with the scope. Stay tuned.

High School Seniors Wanted

2008-12-28T10:37:00.000-06:00

As the new year hits, I realize that many high school seniors are remembering they have not yet scheduled their portrait sessions for graduation announcements, thank you's, etc.

It is a great time of year for me as I have always enjoyed working with high school teens in many different avenues ranging from science projects to sports and photography.

If you are in need of a photographer or would like to see more of my work, please visit my website listed in the links section. Thanks for visiting--don't forget to leave a comment and let me know you stopped by!

Boudoir Photography

2008-12-26T20:05:00.000-06:00

My new speedlites came in with one piece missing for my first boudoir photo shoot so "back to square one" and only one light to work with! My daughter's friend and my daughter posed for me for the shots and all worked out fine as they took turns being my assistant for lighting purposes. We had to be very creative, but you would be surprised how you can turn out a professional photo with only one light source!! As you can see, my light source is coming from the right using a dark background and me with the camera in front of the subject.

Boudoir Photography is a creative way to give a special gift to the significant other in your life and as you can see by this photo it can be sensual without nudity. Boudoir Photography ranges from sweater and jeans to lingerie. Only you limit the possibilities!