Everything for Photography

23 September 2014

Featured photographer....

Today we have a feature photographer. The soul and emotion this photographer captures in her image is unreal. You can see and feel her passion through her work and her b&w conversions are magical. Please take a few minutes to read a bit about Kate from Kate Vellacott Pictures.

1. How long have you been doing photography all together and how long as a business?

About 10 months ago i was trying to set up an online shop and needed some good pictures of the products i was selling but every picture i took was dreadful as i was using my husbands’ Canon and i had no idea how it worked! That camera had sat there for years and got little usage, so i decided, under my sisters’ advice (Emma Wood - she’s a pro photographer/mentor with Clickin Moms) to take a photography course with Clickin Moms to teach me the basics of how to use a camera. Well, i got the bug! And did 3 more courses. It’s not a business yet , maybe never, but as a hobby i love it and can’t imagine not taking pictures, it gives me so much enjoyment.

2. What made you want to get into lifestyle photography?

I suppose you could call my pics lifestyle, or sometimes a bit arty. It’s all so new that i’m not even sure which box i fit into yet. I love fine art! But i do also ike lifestyle - it free’s you up much more - for me, i get to linger, watching the kids play, in their element whilst i snap away without ruining their game. And they are usually the best shots. Unplanned, no set ups, just random and that’s where a little gem might appear.

3. What is the one thing about lifestyle photography that you love the most?

The freedom that comes with it. No groaning kids, wanting to run off. Just snaps of their little lives, an insight into their day, their imaginations, their sweet faces playing. I love watching them anyway and this is a plus to try and capture it. Occasionally we set up a shoot that i particularly want, but otherwise it’s pretty random. Similar to me really!

4. Can you give one tip of how you shoot with moodier light or low light?

Not to be scared of the grain. I used to moan and groan at how to have less grain in low light (especially as i still have quite a basic camera, with a cropped sensor, the ISO doesn’t go very high! a full sensor camera is top of my list!!) but now i quite like the grain. And not to right off pictures once the dark sets in. There are all sorts of ways of using light when it’s dark. A fridge, street lights, an iPad, or moonlight creating patches through the window. But with the right editing, any light can appear moodier. Moody pictures fill me with such fulfilment. i’m only just realising that that is the way i seem to be moving in. It must be the actress in me, loving the drama of it!

5. Who is your favorite muse? and why?

My two kids. I love being with them so much. It just means i get to hang out with them whilst snapping away. My daughter is very expressive, which does make for a dramatic picture! But just seeing their faces play, hanging around my two favourite people gives me such joy. They are two very funny, sweet little people and it’s fun trying to capture that in pictures.

6. What is your favorite time of the day to shoot?

I suppose setting sun is the most beautiful but i take pictures so much on the hoof that it’s rare i get to shoot in that light. Usually at that time, the kids just home from school and i’m racing to clubs or they are tired and not up for playing in that pretty light. If i’m lucky i’ll catch those orange golden rays, but otherwise i just take them when i can. And use whichever light is available to me. It could be any time of the day really.

7. Can you tell us a little about how you get kids to loosen up and not be shy so you can do your thing?

I’m lucky, my little girl is not shy at all. she loves acting (gets it from me - that’s what i do/did and she has the bug) and her favourite thing is to perform in front of me. And so, as an audience member, how could i not take my camera along! But mostly, they don’t need any words from me. They are playing. And i am a mere spectator.

8. How do you prepare yourself and your clients going into a lifestyle shoot?

I haven’t had any clients yet as i’m a hobbyist and haven’t been doing it a year yet. But i can only think that chatting and making them feel at home would be the way forward. Just being yourself.

9. How do you get families to be themselves and not nervous, can you share some tips?

I can imagine that the more relaxed you are, the more they will be. chatting maybe and asking them a little about themselves and what their interests are might open up some doors. A relaxed atmosphere can work wonders.

10. What would you tell someone wanting to venture into lifestyle photography, but doesn't know how to make the transition?

I’m not probably practised enough to give advice, but if i were, i guess i’d say, the transition can be a smooth one. it is the easiest way to take pictures. Encourage action to happen. Whether it’s play, a walk, a small task , simple everyday things, then have your camera handy!

Please go show Kate some love on her page here Kate Vellacott Pictures. Until next time, XOXO ~Amber

10 August 2014

Summer Photo Editing Challenge

Welcome to our third editing challenge hosted by Everything for Photography. Summer is almost over and it is time for another editing challenge! For our fourth challenge we are using a JPEG photo from Fantasy Fine Art Portraiture by Leslie. The image is one of Leslie's oldest daughter who is featured in much of her work. Leslie is a mother of four children... two boys (ages 13 and 18) and two girls (ages 6 months and 16). Like a lot of photographers, she started with taking pictures of her own children. When she expressed interest in doing more with photography, her grandma bought her a Canon and she's been hooked ever since. She works with Photoshop CS6 as most of what she does requires a lot of compositing and editing to bring her artistic vision to life. Leslie's family is wonderful and they are used to her strange ideas, she says. They always volunteer to help. She loves to try new things and she has great hopes for what the future holds. Though she doesn't have the same style, she is greatly inspired by Brooke Shaden.

You can visit Leslie's Facebook page HERE

...and her webpage HERE.

The winner of the challenge will receive a prize from Amber at Privizzini's Passion Photography. Amber is graciously donating one of her Lightroom or ACR editing presets or a mentoring video which will be released soon.

RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:

1.) All submissions must be entered on E4P's Facebook page by posting the final image on E4P's wall. You can find us on Facebook HERE.

2.) You may post the before and after or just the final edit.

3.) All entries must have the photographer tagged as well as the photography page that is submitting the image tagged. You can tag a page by using the @ symbol directly in front of the page name (with no space). A drop down of pages should appear and you can select the page you would like to tag.

5.) All participants must be fans of Everything for Photography (hosting page), Fantasy Fine Art Portraiture by Leslie (photographer's pages) and Privizzini's Passion Photography (vendors page).

5.) All entries must be submitted by September 12th. The winner will be announced on September 15th.

SOOC JPEG image

Fantasy Fine Art Portraiture by Leslie

DOWNLOAD HERE

25 July 2014

Balancing Parenthood and a Photography Business

The list of clients that need their galleries prepared is getting longer on that white board above the desk. Circled in bright red is the reminder that The Smith's will be arriving to view their gallery and order prints at nap time in person. The feeling of grogginess is built up from a long night of editing while the kids slept and the quiet was taken advantage of. A shower sounds nice, but that is out of the question since the 6 am snooze button that rang before the kids would wake was unconsciously beat to a bloody pulp. The kids are currently sitting in a pile of laundry in the mud room with bras on their heads for an alien costume effect. The whites are now mixed with the towels, blankets and brights because the laundry baskets made such perfect space rockets. In the corner of the kitchen, the dog is tearing apart the kids' favorite stuffed animal which soon will bring on a flood of tears and drama that sounds like one is caught in the makings of a horror movie. The eggs are starting brown and the kids don't like brown spots in their eggs. The home phone rings and caller ID reads that it's that new client that found you via Facebook, most likely wanting to discuss some exciting ideas for their session. The cell phone gives a little trill of alert that an email was received. The client booked for tomorrow's family session now has four of their children with Chicken Pox popping up everywhere and they want to know if they should reschedule or if it is possible to edit out all the marks. One more peek in at the kids shows that they have now introduced a plunger and toilet brush into the mix for swords which are quickly swept away. The kids are stripped and put in the bath. The phone rings and voice mail reveals the voice of Grandma wondering why the phone is never answered anymore. The kids are pulled out of the bath. The eggs are now burnt and there are no more in the fridge. The youngest child starts screaming because they have discovered that Fido not only removed both eyes from their teddy bear, but also did a slight beheading. The middle child starts crying because they wanted eggs and every other food in the morning is gross and disgusting. The oldest child is laughing and finding the whole scene hysterical which only aggravates the younger two more. In your head, you picture yourself clawing at your hair and Guns and Roses' Welcome to the Jungle is blaring in your mind. You take a deep breath. You pull yourself together. Hands are thrown up in the air. A drive to McDonald's for the unhealthy greasy food you swore you'd never put in your childrens' mouths is in order. Promises of McDonald's Toy Land cheers up the youngest two enough to dry their tears and put on mismatched shoes. Emails, calls and editing will have to wait. Sound familiar?

The life of a parent… We wouldn't change it for the world. When a child is born and that baby is placed in your arms for the very first time… well, there is no better moment. Everything changes. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world. Every stage goes by too quickly, yet watching your child grow is spectacular. Priorities change. The children come first. Everything else comes next.

Perhaps you are a parent that struggled finding an identity beyond being "Mommy" and "Daddy" and developed a passion for photography. Maybe you are a parent that has a separate career outside of photography and also balances life with children. Despite the story or specifics, finding that balance of career and parent can be difficult. Often times when it's found, it teeters again and another plan has to be re-formed.

Here comes the role of the "football coach." The football coach delegates actions to the team. They come up with a plan, voice that plan to the team and then make sure it gets executed. You are the parent. You are in charge of your children. You are in charge of your career. If you don't take charge of that career, who else will? If it is meaningful, then take action. Who is in your "team?" Is there a spouse, a mother-in-law that helps, an assistant, a neighbor, a babysitter, a nanny? Don't forget that children make up that team too. Include them in on your plan and follow through with execution of it. If a problem arises, re-form the plan.

So what is the "plan?" Well, the plan depends on each situation and each team, but here are some suggestions:

Form a schedule. This applies to the children. This applies to you. This applies to baby sitters, spouses and the rest of the "team." It also applies to clients.

A Schedule for Clients… Define when your work hours are. When are you able to accept calls from clients? Have a separate line for clients only if needed. If they call when you are not "open," then call them back when you are. Imagine a sign that reads "Open" that flips over to read "Closed." Picture that sign hanging around your neck and dangling on your chest. When you are closed, you are closed. The phone will ring. Answering machines were created to answer calls and record messages. Let them do that. Define when you will be able to take on sessions. What works best for your family? When will you have extra help? Keep the hours consistent. Remember that a client is coming to you because they want your services. They were drawn to you for your talent and expertise. If you are available at golden hour three nights a week, they will find a way to make that work in their schedule too. If the sign on a restaurant says that they are closed on Sundays, people simply find a way to go on Saturday instead. They don't stop going because they are closed at particular hours. If they want the food, they will find a time when they can eat it. If hours are available at any time, then the schedule often becomes chaotic and that teeter of balance is found to be all out of whack once more. By forming business hours, it shows respect for yourself, your family and your business so that you can put in 100% when it is open, not 50% when you are distracted by everyday life.

A Schedule for Spouses and Team Helpers… Now if you walk up to your spouse and tell them you're putting them on a schedule, they most likely will not respond well. What is ultimately needed is simple communication. Determine together the times in their schedules that they are available for the children. Form a plan and if needed, have a back-up plan. That neighbor girl who wants to earn money for her first car would probably love to be on standby if needed. Like with any team member, show them appreciation for being a part of the team.

A Schedule for the Children… A schedule for children not only offers benefits for you as a parent, but also benefits for them. It provides consistency and trust with children. They develop a sense of security and also independence. Post the schedule and label it with pictures for children that don't read. Include them in the planning of the schedule so they will find excitement in it. Make it age appropriate. This may mean that each child may be doing different, yet similar things at one time. Make sure that during times for outdoor play or art time, etc has you included as well. Kids want us present in their lives. If we are speaking on the phone with a client while they are doing floor play and we're supposed to be playing dinosaurs and trains, what kinds of memories are we creating if we are only acting it out, while putting half our attention on the phones? Not to mention, we are only giving 50% to our children and 50% to our client. Schedule times that as a parent, you are 100% present for them. The business Closed sign is on. It is also possible to schedule work hours while the kids are in your care. Use nap times to your advantage to answer emails. Also schedule times that children may have quiet time or free play in a safe space nearby. Set up friendship bracelets for them to quietly make. Set out a bucket of Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys or a stack of paper and watercolors. If they are of reading age, make a reading hour for them to quietly read. It has been proven via multiple studies that kids also need time alone. It builds their imaginations and creativity as well as their independence. Be nearby and ready at a moment's notice, as the children should always come first, but it's also not necessary at those times to be 100% present. And heck, if they paint the dog during free time, at least it will make great pictures. Include chore lists for older children that provide creative rewards such as an extra ten minutes of television in the evening. If an older child has twenty minutes scheduled for daily chores, then use that time to respond to emails. Whatever schedule is formed should cater to your family and what is best for them, as well as what will benefit your business. Create a balance so that you can be the best you in each situation.

Remember that perfection is not realistic. We watch movies where moms seem to have it all. They look like supermodels, while having immaculate homes, organic fed children wearing designer clothing and they run successful businesses… all with a smile on their face. This is not reality. Though there is nothing wrong with striving for better, it is also okay to appreciate the reality of things. The laundry may pile up. The weeds may need pulled. You may have missed that shower this morning. You may resort to McDonald's Play Land sometimes. That's okay. Ultimately, the kids…and you… won't remember those things. What is remembered is the interaction and activities that took place.

~Robin

12 July 2014

Negative Space

What is negative space?

Well despite its name, it can certainly be a positive effect when used in art and photography.

Consider the elements in a photograph. The main part of the photograph is typically the subject, whether that be a person or an object. The space that surrounds the subject is called negative space.

Negative space can make the composition of an image interesting by drawing more attention to the subject.

There are some tips to consider with negative space.

Suppose the subject is framed in the right side of the image. Now suppose there is a large tree, car or building to the left of the subject. The other items around the subject also take focus and thus do not qualify as what we like to consider negative space.

When placing a subject in the frame and preparing for a shot with negative space, consider the direction in which the subject is facing. If the subject is in the far left of the frame, it is more pleasing to the eye to see the subject turning toward the right, rather than the left. This gives the subject "room." It gives the appearance that they have space in which to look, move, run, dance, etc.

Enjoy some examples below of negative space in photography.

Angela Sipes Photography

https://www.facebook.com/Angela.Sipes.Photography

Angie Marie Photography

https://www.facebook.com/justbeingangiee

http://www.justbeingangie.com/

Constellation X Photography

https://www.facebook.com/ConstellationXPhotography

Dana Nicole Photography

https://www.facebook.com/DanaNicolePhotography

Fairyography

https://www.facebook.com/Fairyography

Gingersnapography Family Photography

https://www.facebook.com/Gingersnapography

Jesse Blake Photography

https://www.facebook.com/jbmphotography

Jamie Frayser Photography

https://www.facebook.com/JamieFrayserPhotography

Kelly Anne Photography

https://www.facebook.com/kellyannephotog

http://www.kellyanne-photography.com/index2.php#/home/

Kristina Gorokhova

Kingsly's Photography

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kingslys-Photography/598109893573031

Kerri Turner Photography

https://www.facebook.com/kerriturnerphotography

Vanderland Photography

https://www.facebook.com/Vanderland.Photography

Coal Creek Photography

https://www.facebook.com/coalcreekphotography

Privizzini's Passion Photography

https://www.facebook.com/privizzinispassionphotography

Tracy Brewington Photography

https://www.facebook.com/tracybrewingtonphotography

Robin Chavez Photography

Have a positive day!

~Robin

23 May 2014

Symmetry

Symmetry is certainly not a must, but it can definitely give an image that extra boost and "awe factor." It is used in different types of photography, such as landscape, nature and portrait photography. Symmetry draws the viewer's eye into the image and it helps balance it. Symmetry can be achieved using the subject itself while carefully considering perspective, specific posing of multiple subjects or it can be executed using environmental factors or props. Pathways, buildings and natural surroundings can all support ways of using this technique. Often times, photographers will flip an image in post processing and mask in the edges to help create more symmetry. Because seeing is learning, below are a handful of examples of symmetry being used. Enjoy!

Images by Jessie G Photography

https://www.facebook.com/JessieGPhotography