100,000 Clicks

Bridals -First Look- Camille and Drew

2012-02-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

I did my first bridals this weekend, and it was love at first sight :) How could it not have been when I had this gorgeous, laid-back couple to work with? And I was even so lucky that I got a bride who is also a ballerina...and brought her pointe shoes. Yeah, I know. You're all jealous ;) Seriously though, I had a blast taking them and and having just as much fun editing. So here is your First Look Camille and Drew! I'll post more after they have had a chance to see them all next week...wouldn't want to give it all away on the blog :)

It's Senior Portrait Time!

2012-02-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce the start of my Senior Season :) These are some of my favorite shoots to do! Teens are so fun, fashionable, and photogenic. I have some great locations and fun ideas in mind this year. I do have a couple of weddings right smack in the middle of the spring. Therefore, I will only be able to do a limited number of senior sessions, so contact me soon to book!

I am also excited to offer custom graduation announcements featuring your school colors or coordinated with your photos as part of some of my packages. Forget the old, outdated announcements the school offers. Be unique! Be you!

Senior Photo Pricing

Senior Grins Package: $100

-Includes a 1 hour, 1 location shoot with unlimited outfit changes.

-Includes CD with 10 edited photos and a print release

Senior Smiles Package: $150

-Includes a 1 hour, 1 location shoot with unlimited outfit changes.

-Includes CD with 15 edited photos and a print release

-Includes custom graduation announcement design and 20% off announcement orders

Senior Giggles Package: $175

-Includes a 2 hour, up to 2 location shoot with unlimited outfit changes.

-Includes a CD with 15 edited photos and a print release

-Includes custom graduation announcement design and 20% off announcement orders

Senior Laughs Package: $200

-Includes a 2 hour, up to 2 location shoot with unlimited outfit changes

-Includes a CD with 20 edited photos and a print release

-Includes custom graduation announcement design, 15 tri-fold or mod graduation announcements, and 20% off all additional announcement orders

BUT....if you book before February 20th (your session can be anytime, 50% deposit due at time of booking), you will receive 15% off these package prices!

I Heart Families!

2012-01-15T22:17:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have done one of the I Heart Faces challenges, and when I saw the theme, I just had to enter this one. It is one of my favorite family pictures I have ever done. I think it's because it is just so "real" and natural. You would never have known it was 10 degrees outside...

Click Update!

2012-01-06T19:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's been a while since I journaled about this journey I'm on, so here goes. First, an update on my Click Count. I'm at 35,410 clicks. PHEW, seems like a lot! But so far to go. As I look back to when I started to now, I love to see my progress. I can go back to my first few shoots and think to myself, "Ok, what would I do differently now?" And the best part is, I learn something new every day.

I could write all day about everything I have learned, but I have decided to summarize the top 10 (in no particular order).

1. Find my own way. Yes, I love to look at other photo-blogs to see how the big boys do it, and I get a lot of inspiration from them. But ultimately, this is MY art. I'm not trying to copy someone else...because it will never be as good as the original. What I can do is be my best self and improve each time I shoot.

2. If something isn't working, figure it out. Fast. I was having problems shooting larger groups, like families. I wasn't able to get everyone in focus the way I wanted to, and I was so frustrated. So, I asked a photographer friend of mine what I could be doing wrong. She gave me a few great pointers:
    a. Make sure my ISO is as low as possible. Mess with everything else before you mess with your ISO, because the higher it is, the grainier your shot will be.
    b. Set my F-stop a little higher than I would normally do, so if I was shooting on a 1.8, bump it up to a 2.2. I get a better depth of field and still keep my pretty "bokeh."
    c. Always check what Focus mode I'm on. There is one that allows for multiple focus points. Use it!
I was amazed at how these tips changed the way I shoot families. I mean, night and day. I'm glad I overcame my pride and ASKED!

3. Know your camera, and know it well. Read the manual. Then read it again. And try things as you read. A DSLR is SO powerful, if you know how to use it. Let the camera work for you!

4. Shoot what I love. I started out thinking that because I was new, I had to shoot everything and anything I was offered. But that was when I started getting burned out. I do this because I love it. I have a passion for it. I always want to have that!

5. This one may be a "duh" but BACK UP MY FILES! Now, I haven't lost anything yet, but I did have a scare when my computer went on the fritz and I thought everything was gone. That scared me straight and now I have things backed up in 3 different places!

6. I love my family and friends...but this is also my business. So I can't work for free. Of course I run specials and have family discounts, but I also feel like my prices are really reasonable for my experience level as well as the market I am in. But most of all, that is what I feel my work is worth. And if someone doesn't feel the same, then I'm probably not the photographer for them.

7. Which brings me to my next point: Not everyone is going to like my work. And I'm not going to be the photographer of choice for everyone. That doesn't mean that I suck, or I should feel bad about myself. Like any other form of art, there are so many different styles and feelings in photography. Part of building a business is matching myself with clients who mesh well with my style!

8. Don't let the haters getcha down. If you are familiar with the photography community, you know that it can be cutthroat! And not everyone is willing to share advice and tips. They see me as another mom with a DSLR who thinks that because I have a fancy camera that makes me a photographer. And I used to get really defensive about this...and feel like I have to prove myself. But I realized that as much time and energy I spent worrying about that, and defending my "reasons" for doing photography, those were precious hours I could be putting into improving myself and doing what I love. I'm not doing this for everyone else. It's for me. The fact that I get to work with others and make them happy through my work is just the icing on the cake! I have to tell myself that I will still do photography, even if I never make a dime.

9. Love the Light. I have fallen in love with light, and am fascinated by the way the camera responds to it. I have learned to practice in all different types of light and try to capture the feeling the light gives me.

10. Last but not least, I have learned to RELAX. This is supposed to be fun! It may take years to build a profitable business out of this venture of mine, but for now, I can have fun, work with amazing clients, meet new ones, and more importantly, capture my own sweet chubblings as they grow up.

Anyway, more pictures to come soon, and a senior portrait announcement, but I felt like I needed to go back to the roots of this blog and give an update, especially for those of you who have been with me since the beginning :)

If you haven't already, go Like my facebook page for updates and special promotions as well! Thanks to everyone who is supporting me. This is a fun ride :)   www.facebook.com/linzblackphoto

Sweet Moments

2011-12-16T18:50:00.000-08:00

Although I have found this first year that the "slow" season of photoghraphy can be frustratingly, well, "SLOW," it is actually good for me. because it makes me SLOW down! And capture moments like this. My baby girl has inherited her mama's love for a good book :)

Merry Christmas to All and thank you for your support this year! I hope 2012 will bring many more clicks :)

"H" Family

2011-12-16T18:28:00.000-08:00

My sister has an awesome family. They are fun, unconventional, and she is surrounded by boys. Which means football. Lots of it. She wanted family pictures that matched her family. Her exact words were "None of that posed sweater stuff....and Duke (her husband) said he won't wear a sweater." Well, this is what we came up with. It was 0 degrees outside, but it just made it all the more fun...right guys?

Brandow Family First Look!

2011-11-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am so swamped with editing and haven't even made it through half these, but I just couldn't resist posting a few! This is another one of Jay's sisters and her cute family. And even though I called them old and big numerous times throughout the shoot, they managed to get me back with a few "Howdys" (inside joke). Thanks again Brandows! Here is your First Look!

First Look for the Ramos Family!

2011-10-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, it is FAMILY season! I'm loving all these awesome families I am getting to meet and work with. The Ramos family were such great sports inspite of the freezing wind. And you can't even tell from their faces! What pros :) Thanks again, and here is your First Look :)

First Look for Ludwig Family!

2011-10-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with this cute family Monday night at my mini-shoot. And how adorable are those kids? Thanks Ludwig Family! Here is your first look...

More to come :)

First Look --Armstrong Family--

2011-10-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome time at this mini-shoot with our good friends and neighbors. Talk about a photogenic family! And can I just say I love fall? You can't get these colors any other time of year...

First Look for the Shen Family!

2011-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this family belong on the cover of some magazine? Yeah, they really are this cute in real life. I had so much fun with the Shen family at my first mini-shoot tonight, and even though we had a few mishaps (ahem, my battery), they were patient and stuck through it with me! My one regret is that I didn't get more shots with the monarch butterfly we found. It would sit on your finger, but I was so stressed that my battery was going to die, I felt like I needed to hurry and do the "real" shots. But no regrets, right? I did what I felt like I needed to do to get pictures, and now I know I really need those backup batteries I ordered last week to get here so I can relax and get more of those "in-between" shots that I absolutely love. So we can stop and enjoy the butterflies in our lives...

Hey, now that I think about it, I should have caught that butterfly. My mother in law would have paid me a whole buck for it! Dang it :)

It's Family Season! "W" Family, first look!

2011-10-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

This being my first year as a semi "real" photographer, I have been SO nervous for this time of year...family picture season! In keeping it real, it scares the begeezes out of me to try and get multiple people (including KIDS) to look at me, look good, smile, and all be in focus. But I know this is the bread and butter of many photographers so I really needed to get over my fear. I have a long way to go, but with each family I do, I get more and more confident, and MORE importantly...I learn SO much. Tonight I got to take pictures of this adorable family. Don't I have a gorgeous sister in law? Yep, I know :) And her family is so cute. Dontcha think?

First Look for ABS

2011-10-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a nerd, but I LOVE the initials of these 3 cute siblings. When I was a teenager, I was OBSESSED with the dresses designed by ABS from Allen Schwartz. I was determined that someday I would own one of his dresses. Well, that has yet to happen, but my friend Katie got it right when she named her kids with these initials!

With this shoot, I was a little more daring with my editing. I'm so glad Katie gave me some artistic license because usually I am too afraid a "client" won't like the way I edit so I keep it very close to original. So I experimented a bit on this shoot. Thoughts?

First Look for Baby "N"

2011-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

Tell me this doesn't make you baby hungry? This little guy was only 11 days old when he had his first photo shoot...and he was the perfect little model! He even let me get that coveted "Head in the Hands" pose...Woot Woot! Thanks baby "N" and his gorgeous mama. Here is your first look! Can I just say I am LOVING doing newborn shoots? Well I am. More to come...

First Look for "L" girls!

2011-10-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

My beautiful nieces let me take their pictures this year for school and I had a great time at one of my favorite locations! Of course, my battery died after 10 minutes ( I SWEAR I charged it...I have since bought a back-up). Luckily, Uncle Mike came to the rescue with a battery. So mortifying. Anyway, thanks again girls! You are gorgeous.

More of Mine!

2011-09-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am so so so tired from all the tedious editing I have been doing over the last week. I took the preschool school pictures for my class and another class and it has been a ton of work! So, since I can't post those until I get some signed consent forms from parents, here are a few from our quick shoot we did with my chublings tonight...I have a ton more to edit and post, but I only let myself do a couple for now...until I am caught up with other shoots!

My babies...Pretty cute eh?

First Newborn Look--- Baby A.

2011-09-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

This one-week old sweetie was SUCH a good baby. I have never done newborns before, and I also don't have a lot of experience using window light for indoor shots. I didn't have the percentage of "keeper" shots that I normally like to see with the light/blur, so I am so glad this was a freebie "learner" shoot, but for my first time, I am pretty happy. It was a really great learning experience and I'm so grateful for Megan letting me take shots of gorgeous little A!

Here is your first look... Do you like the color or black and white/vintage edits better?

Just For Fun

2011-09-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

So I <Heart> Cache Valley and miss it all the time. I make the Hubby take me up there a few times a year just to visit all my favorite spots and reminisce. And HOLY photo locations. I could so live there again in a heartbeat. But this time, I went by myself to visit some good friends and walk in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk for the Cure. But of course we had to go to my favorite Mexican restaurant, which just happens to be by some awesome train tracks. So of course I begged my friend's daughter, WB to let me take her pictures after dinner. She's so stinkin cute. Look at that dimple!

Portfolio Favorites?

2011-09-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm working on consolidating my portfolio. I have a few that I know are keepers, but I need opinions on others. Out of these, which are your favorites? Which do you dislike?

Working with Layer Masks

2011-09-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

My newest challenge in photoshop is to really perfect the use of layer masks. Basically, this is just "masking" an effect on part of a photo so it only comes through on the parts you want. I am loving it for portrait work because a lot of the time, I want to do something on the background but it is way to strong on the subject (or visa versa).

This picture was a great one to work with because I love the red tones of the background but hate the sunburned look they cast on my subjects' skin. So, I ran a few actions to take away the red undertones then ran a simple layer mask. I could then brush it only where I wanted the action to "shine through." Here are the side by sides:

From the 1st edit (which I posted a few days ago and I feel is too "red" on the skin):

Then, using my layer mask to leave the background untouched but take the excessive red out of the skintones.

Voila! I am so excited to perfect this skill because I know it will be so useful in all my future editing. Thoughts on the before and after???

Announcing Fall Mini-Shoots!

2011-09-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to begin booking for 2 mini-shoots this Fall.

Both shoots will take place on-location at Wheeler Farm!

Friday, October 14th: School Picture or Halloween mini-shoot
Cost: $35 per child and includes one 15-20 minute long session, 1 8x10 print and 8 wallets of a picture of your choice, plus 5-10 high-res, edited images on CD.

Why pay more for boring, generic school pictures when you can have fun, unique, photos that are hand-edited and really show your child's personality?

Saturday, October 22nd: Family Christmas Card mini-shoot
Cost: $50 per family (up to 5 people, each additional is $5) and includes one 15-20 minute long session, 5-10 edited images on CD, plus 10 custom-designed 5x7 or 15 custom-designed 4x6 Photo Christmas cards and a 20% discount on any other card orders.

Only 4 spots are available per session, so call or email me to book ASAP. 801-916-4360 and linzblack@gmail.com. Thanks!
Lindsey

Mine

2011-09-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to do a shoot with my own kids for so long and I never seem to have time to do a "formal" shoot with them. So, today as we walked out the door to go to a family BBQ and I grabbed my camera on a whim, determined to just get a few shots of them.

Of course, my Bug ate Watermelon before I could pin him down for pictures, so we are going shirtless, but oh well. I love them so stinkin much and, I know I'm biased, but I just think they are the cutest little chublings ever. We had fun and they were super cooperative. So here are some pictures from our shoot in Grandma B's backyard and garden. So many fun props to play with!

First Look for Megan

2011-09-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

This mom-to-be and I have a LONG back history...we met on the school bus on the first day of Kindergarten and were best friends through 3rd grade when I moved away. I have seen her a few times since, but we hadn't seen each other in 14 years until she let me do her maternity pics tonight! So much fun!

This was my first maternity shoot and I had a great time. There is nothing more beautiful than the lines of an expectant mother. Here is your First Look Megan! Thanks again for letting me spend the evening with your beautiful family!

Playing with Watermarks

2011-09-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

As I book more sessions and lean toward making this into more of a real business in the future, I need a watermark. So I am playing around in PS and here is what I have so far...

Thoughts?

I am doing my first maternity shoot tonight to see if I like shooting that style and will be doing my first newborns here in a few weeks. Wish me luck!

First Look for C and D

2011-08-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Holy. Eyelashes. Batman. That is all I can say.

I am so glad I could photograph these cute siblings...even though C thought we were going to get "Blown Away!" It was super windy, so I was nervous about getting the shots I wanted, but there are some really cute ones, simply because, well C and D are really cute. See for yourselves...

Here is your First Look at C and D...

Re-Edits...

2011-08-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

I love having friends who are better photographers than me. Seriously, it rocks. Especially when they are willing to share their expertise. My friend Angie took the time to critique the pictures I posted from my last shoot and gave me some great ideas and pointers about lighting, composition, and cropping. So, I took what she told me and went back in to the RAW file and edited them again. And these first 6 are the redoes of some from the last post of Miss S. Luckily I hadn't given them to my friend/client yet, so she benefited from Angie's expertise too :)

I tacked a few more on at the end because she is just too dang cute.

Thanks again Angie!

Can you tell the differences between these first 6 and the same pictures from my last post????

And a few more....

Lady S---1 Year Old "First Look"

2011-08-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

So dead tired, but I just couldn't resist editing a few from a shoot I did tonight at a gorgeous location with an even more gorgeous little 1 year old. Here is Lady <S> and your first look!

First Look---Giles Family

2011-08-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

I did my very first family session last night....whew! What a fun family to work with...and even more fun since I have known them for-E-ver and have watched the family grow. More on what I learned, the best, and the worst later, but for now, here is your first look at the Giles Family!

More to come!

Changes coming...

2011-08-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone who has joined me on my photography journey so far! I am having a blast and learning and growing so much. I could do this every day and never get tired of it.

I have really enjoyed doing shoots for everyone as well: children, seniors, and I even have my first family shoot this week, woohoo! But the time has come to make some changes in the way I do things. I always said I would follow this road and see where it takes me, and though I am not in any way ready to make a business out of this project, I feel like things are moving that direction in the next few years. So as I continue my journey to reach 100,000 clicks, I am beginning to build a portfolio of sorts. And, in talking to other "pro" photographers, I need to up my portfolio-building price.

Starting September 1st, all photo sessions will be $75. This will include a 1-1 1/2 hr. on-location shoot plus 20-30 high res. edited photos on a CD with full printing rights. This is still significantly less expensive than the pros yet it doesn't cheapen the profession as much. Everything I earn at this point is going straight back into the hobby...equipment, workshops, etc.

Anyone who books before August 31st will still get the $50 price, even if you book for later. So email at linzblack@gmail.com if you would like to get something set up!

Thank you all for your support thus far. I love all the feedback I am getting...keep it coming, both good and bad!

The Eyes have it

2011-08-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

The I Heart Faces challenge this week is Beautiful Eyes. This one was really really hard for me! Not because I couldn't come up with a recent photo to enter...but because I had way to many to choose from. I am all about the eyes, and when I take my photos and do my editing, everything revolves around them. To be cliche, I truly see them as the window to the soul....

I also am super biased, but think my children have gorgeous eyes. But I had to avoid the temptation to do a picture of them for this challenge. Because as a photographer friend explained recently, we are not objective enough with pictures of our own kids. We are emotionally attached and therefore overlook some of the technical aspects because it is someone we love.

In the end, I picked one from my most recent shoot. So, you have all seen it before. But here it is again...

Redemption?

2011-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I went on another shoot last night. My friend Rachel at www.momentscapturedbycraneco.com is awesome and invited me to tag along with her on a shoot for a hair/make-up stylist to showcase what she can do. As I was getting my equipment ready for the shoot, I noticed a tiny problem. My 50mm go-to lens had somehow gotten switched to MF...Manual Focus. Thus the horrible shoot at Black Rock. THAT's why my pictures were so out of focus. Geez. Lame. A whole shoot on manual focus. Oh well, live and learn. Total amateur mistake. Note to self: ALWAYS check my equipment!!!

We had so much fun last night. Another photographer friend, Angie from

http://otbphotography.blogspot.com came and they were so awesome to work with! I asked a lot of questions, and got a lot of insight into the business. Stay tuned...some changes are coming in the way I do things based on advice I got from these girls...

But, for now, here are some pics from the shoot last night! I used my 50mm and kept my F-stop low, around 2.2, shutter speed around 1/100 s, ISO about 400 as it got darker...

Aren't these gals just gorgeous??

More Before & After

2011-08-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Ever my most honest critic, J came home and told me I got a little excited about my new retouching tools and that it was a bit much on that last post. So, I tried again. I kept it subtle. But still enhanced, which on a "glamour" shoot is the goal right? What do you think?

Before...

After

Before and After

2011-08-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Since my super discouraging glamour shoot, I have been trying to find ways to salvage any of the shots. Now, I am a firm believer in SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera) and consider myself more of a naturalist. However, what do you do if you have a shoot that just doesn't give you the shots you want? I had to delve deeper into photoshop than I have before and started watching tutorial after tutorial on you tube. I snagged myself some great Wish retouch actions on her 50% off sale and got to work...

After much trial and error, deleting, and starting again, I finally got a shot to give me something that I am not too ashamed of. So, even though the shoot was my worst, it really was great because it forced me to learn retouching and more in photoshop. So out of the ashes...

Before....

And after!

Vogue

2011-08-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have been debating even doing this post. Why? Well, because, honestly, these are some of the worst shots I have taken since becoming serious about photography. And I though, "Gee, who wants to see this? And do I want everyone to know that I am all steps forward and no steps back?" But then, as I edited a few more tonight, and thought about how much I learned at this shoot, I remembered something. This is not a professional website. I am not trying to put on "the best show" to gain clients. It is a learning experience. A journey.

The story: I recently joined a photography meetup group, and one of the pros in the group did a meetup last weekend at the Great Salt Lake (Black Rock). He is a glamour photographer, which is and entirely different type of photography than I am used to, and I am always trying to learn new things and have new experiences! So, I signed up. The first difference I noticed? Poses! He had brought models in. And they were gorgeous, and photogenic, and you didn't have to chase them around to get a good shot. But, to be honest...they were boring. I mean, where is the LIFE? The smiles? The REALITY? I guess it just isn't my cup of tea, but I learned a TON from the other photographers there who were so willing to share their expertise and help me out.

The biggest challenge I faced during this shoot was lighting. I am, pretty much exclusively, a natural light photographer. If it's so dark you need a flash, I don't shoot. And a lot of this shoot was done at sunset or later. And I don't have any kind of external flash. So everything I did was done with my built-in, which I learned, is pretty harsh and hard to control. So that was frustrating. Either my shots were way too hazy, when we first got there and it was super bright, or I had to use the flash because it was too dark.
It was also my first shoot where I shot entirely on Manual. I usually shoot in Aperture priority. But I took the leap. And spent a lot of my time taking a picture, looking at it, and figuring out what to change to get what I wanted. But by the time I figured it out, the sun was at a totally different angle and I had to start all over.

But I made some good acquaintances, and like I said, learned so much about a completely different style than I am used to. And here are the best of the worst, for your viewing, uh, pleasure (or disdain)...

See what I mean? They are even more pixelated now that I uploaded them, but still, Not my best work. And not my favorite style. Not enough pure, raw emotion! Now, that is no excuse for the technical issues I had...that's just plain inexperience. But I don't think the passion was there either (and I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Seriously, I have over 50 bites). So 1 step forward, 2 steps back. My last few shoots have gone great. Then this one, not so great. But I have another shoot this week some pro friends are letting me tag along for this week, and I am anxious to see the difference between the two...hopefully for the better!

Because I can't expect perfection, only progress.

Thanks for reading :)

Best Friends

2011-08-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

The I Heart Faces challenge this week was Friends. And this image popped into my brain. Technically, it is far from perfect, but the perfection lies in the moment that was captured between these two best friends. This is 100% authentic :)

First Look for and

2011-07-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

Check out these a-DOR-able brothers. I am lucky enough to see them almost every day since we are such good friends with their family :) Aren't you jealous?

Here is your First Look <D> and <T>...more to come!

More senior pics

2011-07-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

I love that I am still in the "I am totally head-over-heels in LOVE with this hobby" phase. However, it does make for some sleepless nights. I took my niece, <J>s pictures last night...and edited about 8 of them last night...then spent the rest of the night DREAMING about the ones I would edit the next day...and then had all 38 edited and burned to CD by 2 pm. Hehe.

She is so photogenic and I had a blast doing her pictures. And, best of all, I LEARNED so much. It is so different to not be "chasing" your model lol. I actually had time to set up shots, think about lighting, take my time, work on posing. And once again, I was SO freaking nervous. But I think a lot of them turned out really cute. Quality-wise, I know I can still improve. Some of them have a bit too much "haze" for my liking...and start looking really washed out when you get them blown up above an 8x10...but others are super sharp and crisp, and I have to look at those and think, Ok, what was different about this shot?

Here are a few more from last night's shoot...and this mornings editing marathon :)

Loved this one, but blown up past an 8x10, not super sharp.
I think my ISO was too high for the lighting...

Not as "crisp" as I would like but pretty haze :)

This is one that was super sharp and crisp. The lighting was just
perfect and I was able to lower my ISO considerably.

One of my favorites.

Another favorite. Not TOO sharp that it is harsh,
but still so crisp and clear. MUST figure out
which settings I used on this one... Low aperture, Low ISO???

What are your favorites? And why? Is there anything you don't love (about the photos, obviously...there is nothing NOT to love about my cute niece)...

Beautiful Girls...

2011-07-22T22:24:00.000-07:00

I was NEVER this cute in high school. I mean seriously. How cute is Miss J? My first senior portrait shoot tonight...SO much fun! It's definitely different photographing people who actually listen to you hehe....

I, of course, can't ever wait to look at the pics when I get home, so before I go to bed, I wanted to get a few edited and up.

Here is your "first look" <J>....

Relax

2011-07-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

This week has been so busy. And I overcomplicate and overthink everything, which doesn't make it much better. So today, I made myself relax. And breathe. And ask myself, Why did I get into photography in the first place? My kids. I just need to remind myself why I love it. It's not setting up for the "perfect" shoot. It's not waiting until the lightening is exactly the way I want it. It IS capturing those moments during our everyday life that I will never get back with my babies. So, no more worrying about every move I make as I go forward with this journey. I don't need to second guess everything. Just go with it. I'll make mistakes. I'll learn and grow. And that was the goal all along...

One of those "moments" from today...flyaway hair with the clippy falling out,
dried milk on her lip,
but I just looked at her and had to preserve her this way...sweet,
perfect, and small.

Taken with my fav lens...50 mm, F-stop 1.8, SS 1/100 s, 400 ISO, indoors with the window open.

Frustration

2011-07-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

I told myself when I started this blog that no matter what, I was going to keep things real. So I am. And I feel sort of frustrated right now. I think this is because of a few reasons...

First, I don't have the time I want to have to shoot. I have 2 "paying" jobs. And I'm a mom. And a wife. And I am dying to just be out there shooting every evening. But it isn't happening. On a happy note, I do have a shoot scheduled for this Friday that I am super excited about so that should give me a boost!

Second, I am so bugged right now between the distinction between fauxtographer and photographer. And amateur vs. pro. I know I am an amateur. Like I said, I won't consider myself pro until I reach at least 100,000 clicks. But one of my photography idols said in a Q&A session on her blog that as soon as you start charging for sessions, you are a pro. If that is true, it bugs me. Because I am charging now. Not very much, mind you, but $50 is $50. Am I charging because I am suddenly a pro? No! I am charging because when I said I was doing sessions for free, I suddenly had a lot of interested parties. A Lot. And while I am flattered, I just don't have time to do everyone's. And my editing takes a lot of time at this stage. So I had to weed out the folks who really weren't serious about it and were just interested because it was free.

What does everyone think? Should I still be doing shoots for free at this stage, since I am not pro? I am having a hard time charging, but at the same time, in order to learn, I need to constantly better myself. Workshops, new equipment, software...these things all cost money.

Last, I think I am frustrated with the lack of "community" in the photography community. The photography market here in Utah is pretty saturated. But when I try to talk "shop" talk with other photographers (some, not all, of course) are so, I don't know, COLD about it. Another pro I follow blogged about this phenomenon as well. And she explained it very well. She said, "They are not threatened by you...they are FRUSTRATED because suddenly everyone with a DSLR and a few decent pictures has decided they are a pro." They have put in their time and money and sweat and blood to get where they are and are annoyed more than anything at presumptuous amateurs. I totally get this. And that is exactly how I didn't want to come off...presumptuous.

But the bottom line is: I LOVE it. I really do. There are few things that give me greater joy than photography. And this is what I have to keep reminding myself. Not to be discouraged by these frustrations but to know that I am pursuing this for the right reasons. Not because I think it is an "easy" way to make money. Because it is far from easy. And it will be a very long time (if ever) before I make any real money. And I am ok with that. I just want to progress. And learn. And in order to do this, I need to do shoots. And I need to charge a small fee. Whew. Glad I could get that all out.

Any advice from old sages out there?

Guru wanted...

2011-07-11T21:51:00.000-07:00

I have definitely decided something...I'm not into over processing pictures. I think there is a time and a place for it, and you can do some really cool things with effects. But, I think I like to keep my stuff as clean as possible. I have found some actions that I love, and some that make my photos look more like a painting than real life. I am falling more and more in love with a creamy, more vintage style as far as my color palette goes, but an eye-catching bright and vivid pic can still get my heart racing.

I am getting more and more frustrated with my photoshop skills (or lack thereof). I have been searching and searching for a workshop...for someone to teach me how to edit! I can run an action and adjust layers to some extent, but I have this vision of how I want my pictures to look and I need someone to just sit down with me and help bring that vision to pass. I have looked online and there are actually quite a few classes that are done virtually...but I am wary. I'm not sure I would learn as well. So I will keep searching until I find a mentor that doesn't cost this hobbyist an arm and a leg...Until then, I will keep you-tubing to find how-tos on specific things I want to do. I found an eye pop sequence that I am in love with, I just need to figure out how to make it into an action so I can do it quicker. I'll post the how-to on that soon.

I have booked a few more sessions that I am excited about...a 3 year/1 year boys shoot and a senior portrait shoot. It will give me a chance to use this location downtown that I found this weekend while on a staycation with the hubby.

And a post on the photog-blog wouldn't been complete without a few pics I have been working on. These are still schizophrenic...a lot of different edits. Some are way more edited than I think I like and others I have yet to get the look I want. These are all pictures from our 4th of July celebration and the days surrounding it...

So, what is the verdict? I'm not going to tell you which ones I like the editing on and which ones I don't because I don't want to sway the opinions.... :)

Red, White, and Blue

2011-07-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

The I Heart Faces non-competition challenge this week was, of course, Red, White and Blue...I took a LOT of pictures over the weekend. And I have yet to go through them all. But this one just popped out at me. Pure Americana. Waiting for the parade on the main drag of our small(ish) town. Ahhh, this is SO my favorite holiday.

Other people's kids...

2011-07-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

As I worked on developing this new skill, my primary subjects were, of course, my kids. And I took a LOT of pictures of them. And I learned how to get good pictures of them. And then, the challenge was gone. Well, not gone gone, but definitely wavering. Yet, even I, who am a pretty brave person, had a really, really hard time offering my photo-taking services to other people. After analyzing, I have come up with a few reasons why I think that is.

One, I'm not a pro. And I would never want someone to assume that I think of myself as being a pro. When you offer to take pictures for someone else, it seems like you are saying "HEY! I'm really good at this. I'm a PRO, so you should have me take your kids pictures." And that is totally opposite of where I am coming from. I am an amateur who WANTS to learn how to take pictures like a pro.

Second, what if they don't like them? Yes, I know, they are free, but what if I take 365 pictures and find a handful that I like, edit them, and give the disk to the person, only to have them hate them. Awkward. They are thinking, why did I ever let you do this? And I am embarrassed. This was a big fear of mine.

So, I waited. Until one day a friend sent out an email asking if anyone had gotten their kids' pictures done at Target or JC Penney...and I was like NOOOOO, don't do it! Even I can take better pictures than those places! So, I did it. I offered to take her baby's pictures. I was super nervous at first. But as we got to our location and I began to shoot, I started loving it. And it was totally stress free. My friend wasn't paying me, and I got to just have fun. And they turned out. Are they the most fabulous thing you have ever seen? No, of course not. But they were passable. And I learned a TON.

Here are a few of baby D...it helps a LOT when your subject has one of the cutest faces you have ever seen...

So after this shoot, I was a little more confident. And when another friend expressed interest in letting me get some practice on her kids for a Father's Day present, I was excited. And yes, I said "KIDS" with an "s." I have shot pictures of my kids together and know how hard that is, but I had no idea how much different it would be doing two different kids and trying to get decent shots of the two of them together.

We showed up at our location and I started to sweat. The sun was still WAY too bright. I found myself totally at a loss of what to do. So I tried to act like I knew what I was doing and took a few shots. Holy crap, the sun was bright. So, I thought quick and tried to use it to my advantage while we waited. There were some awesome shadows so I tried to make use of those without getting shadows on my subject's faces. Little E was a natural. Smiles and looking at the camera. Her brother, super cute H was more difficult. Almost 2, he was all over the place. Exploring, running, and ALL away from his sister. I panicked that I wasn't getting any good shots of the two of them. It wasn't until I got home and looked at them that I relaxed a little. There were at least a few I could work with. Doing this shoot really taught me to try and relax while I'm shooting. Make sure my settings, lighting, composition are good and take a lot of pictures. Then trust in my small but growing abilities that I will have enough to work with. I also had a lot of fun branching out with my editing and trying new things.

Here are a few from E & H, two of the cutest and sweetest kids on the planet:

Since doing these shoots, I have been amazed and flattered at the number of people who have expressed interest in having me do a session for them. And a little embarrassed. Because I can't stress it enough: I AM NOT A PRO! But, on the other hand, I love doing sessions for people. I learn SO much more than just taking pictures of my own kids. And there is nothing better than having someone say that they are happy with your work. So I have said yes to people. And I'm so excited.

Everyone has offered to pay me, and I always say NO absolutely not! I AM NOT A PRO! :) But, Jay and I have been talking, and I have been debating, going back and forth. Here's the issue...as more people express interest, I always want to say yes! Because I love doing it. But, each session takes me over 4 hours to edit...and that doesn't include the actual time spent taking the pictures. So, even though I am still learning, I AM NOT A PRO, and really didn't want to charge for sessions, here is the new deal (And I cringe...but it has to be done)...

If you are kind enough to let me practice and work toward getting my 100,000 clicks badge of honor, I will give you a 45 minute session on-location, and 20-30 hi-res, edited pictures on a disk for you to use however you want with a copyright release. In exchange, I am asking for $50 for my time. Of course, if I have already told you I will do them at no charge, I will honor our agreement!

I am going to limit the number of sessions I am doing each month, just because this isn't my job. I have 2 other paying jobs and my family that must come first, even though I could/would take pictures all day long! It's just not in the cards right now.

So, if you are interested in "booking a session" (that sounds so official and I'm so not), family, children, engagements, etc...I'm pretty much willing to try anything to get the experience, please call or email me. 801-916-4360 or linzblack@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone for your comments--in person, facebook, on the blog, email...I LOVE hearing from all of you!

Birthday Girl

2011-07-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Playing with my focus and apeture.

My littlest, Grabbers, just turned one. So I got some practice working indoors. My most recent "real" shoots I have done have all been outside, so this was a little new for me. I made sure all the windows were open before the party and took a few test shots before finally putting my ISO on 400 and increasing my exposure compensation by +0.3.

Making the most of a "past bedtime" situation.

Getting Grabbers to cooperate with the camera isn't too much of a challenge...she usually loves it and is so photogenic. She was a little cranky though, since she was up past her bedtime.

Stationary objects are so much more cooperative
than my children!

I snapped and snapped, determined to put a dent in my 100,000 clicks. Then last night, I turned on my DVR'd So You Think You Can Dance and plopped down to look at them. The problem with being not so great is that I have to take a LOT of pictures to get a decent number of them to work out. It is a little depressing to go through the pictures and have the first 20 or so too dark, or too bright, or too blurry. I start to panic and worry that the whole shoot was a bust. Then we come across a little stroke of luck...a gem I think I can work with.

Love the colors. Is there too much "pop"??

I tried to focus on the soft, squishy shoulders.

I LOVE looking at my pictures for the first time and finding these little "gems." It is like Christmas morning opening presents for the first time (assuming you haven't peeked ahead of time, though I do peek at my pictures on the viewfinder as I take them). What I don't love is the process of narrowing them down. Now I'm not a pack rat. Not a hoarder. But I have the hardest time deleting pictures. Especially of my kids. I feel like I'm, I don't know BETRAYING them by deleting the pictures...like clicking that little trash can button is a close second to child abuse. But as I take more and more pictures, I am becoming more detached from this unfortunate habit. I mean really, how many pictures of the back of Grabbers head and the Bugs long eyelashes do I really need? I have learned that I really have to weed them out and keep the best 20-30 from each shoot. Everything else gets chucked. No, not overlooked, really I delete them. Otherwise it is just clutter. If a photo isn't good enough for me to take the time to work with and edit, then it's not worth keeping. It has taken me a while to get to this point, but now that I'm here, I feel much more in control.

Ok, an example of two different "styles"
of editing. The first one is much more simple...but is it too simple? Does it leave too much

unenhanced?

The second one has been vintage touched, a haze added, and warmth. Is it overprocessed?

What is your opinion?

A little note on my editing. As you can see, my editing style is far from being defined. I'm hoping this adventure will bring me to a more consistent look, but for now, I am totally playing around, trying to decide what I like. Do I like it super simple? Really done up? Hazy? Sharp? Vibrant? Vintage?
So yes, as you see my work on this site, you may think I am schitzophrenic. And really, in terms of photography, I am.

Much more traditional...except I didn't
"pose" them...but definitely not candid.
They knew their picture was being taken.
Do you like this one, where they are looking
away from the lens? Or.....

This one, where they are looking toward it?

Here are a few more from the birthday party. Please let me know which styles you are liking. I would like to narrow my focus a bit at this point. I feel like it's the first step to defining my work.

Alright, feedback time! What did you like" What did you hate?

An Amateur

2011-07-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

One of my first "O.K." shots after getting the new camera.
Of course it was taken with the 18-55mm kit lens and on "P"
or program mode, but hey, I was pretty proud of this a few
months ago!

Hmmm. My first post on my very first photography blog. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be doing something like this, I would have snorted at you (yes snorted, not laughed...I was 9 months pregnant with the Grabbers and was incapable of laughter without tinkling myself). BUT, as I explained in my introduction, the Hubby got me the camera for Christmas. It's a Nikon D5000. Yes, a "Baby Nikon." And yes, he bought it in a "Kit." The past 6 months have been rough...taking classes at Pictureline just to learn how to use the dang thing, miserable photo shoots with my kids where I take over 100 pictures just to find out they are all blurry....and the scariest thing ever--turning it off AUTO ---shudder---.

Another one where, after going through hundreds of crappy
pictures, I found this one and said "Ok, that one is decent...
what did I do differently?" Such great learning moments!
P mode 18-55mm.

In the last few months, I have really ventured out of my comfort zone. First, I got my VERY FIRST prime lens. Now, for those of you who are new to this (like me), the lenses that come with the camera are zoom lenses. They are typically an 18-55 mm and have a minimum aperture (depth of field or F-stop) of around 5.6. This means everything in your picture is going to be more or less in focus.

Taken with my "Kit" zoom lens. Everything is in focus.
Not a very shallow depth of field. P, or Program mode. 18-55 mm.

Very low F-Stop (2.2?); see the bokeh,
or background blur? Aperture
priority mode. 50 mm.

You won't be able to get the nice "bokeh" or background blur you can get with a lower F-stop. This is the lens that came with my camera. And it is the lens I used for the first few months, while I experimented with getting my camera off "auto." I soon found out, though, from my good friend and one of my inspirations, Jodi @ A Yummy Life Photography and from reading various other photography blogs, this is NOT what the pros use. They are all about the prime or "fixed" focal length lenses. No zoom...you actually have to move around (sigh, maybe I'll lose these last 5 pounds). BUT holy cow. The sharpness of the picture and the aperture control are INCREDIBLE. I got the Nikkor 50mm (focal length) 1.8 (this is the aperture) AF-S (Auto Focus). I L-O-V-E it. That beautiful blur (the "bokeh") is my favorite thing to play with, especially when photographing my kids.

Shallow depth of field. She is in focus,
but the grass is blurry. 1.8 aperture.
Aperture priority mode. 50 mm.

Second, I got myself off Auto, and even off the P, or Program, mode. I have really been playing around in Aperture priority mode (duh, since I am all about the background blur right now...you can see in a lot of my photos...I definitely need to try some other techniques. It's hard though, when I love this effect so much).

I experimented a little the other day with S or Shutter Speed priority mode when the Bug was on a ride at the aviary. It's cool, but I need to learn and practice getting the main subject sharp with the rest in motion. Pretty cool concept though.

My first attempts in S or Shutter priority mode. I want him
to be really crisp and the rest in motion. Must learn how! 50 mm.

As far as editing goes, I bought Photoshop Elements because it seemed the least intimidating. And it is still a very powerful program. I have been playing with different action sets (mostly from the Coffee Shop Blog and Pure Photoshop Actions) and am liking that...but I am still lost on what is actually going on behind the scenes...I always want to know the "why and how" and not just see the result. I'm still really confused about masking and painting on layers, so these are some projects for the near future.

Mmmm, I just love those creamy vintage colors. Dreamy.
Aperture priority (4.4), edited with Coffee Shop's Simply Vintage and
Pure's A Pinch of Light.

Anyway, after playing around for half a year, I finally feel like I am at a place where I can get a few decent shots to work with each time I take the camera out, and therefore, I feel like I am at the point where I can start my countdown to 100,000 clicks. What, might you ask, will happen at 100,000 clicks? Am I all of the sudden going to be A-Maz-Ing? Ha, not quite. Am I going to go pro? Probably not! But hopefully I will be my own artist. My work won't be a mediocre copy of another photographer's genius. And right now, I would LOVE to just be as good as a copy of some of my favorites, like my friends Jodi and Rachel from Moments Captured.

Aperture priority mode (4.4). Edited in PSE 8.0 with Coffee Shop
Blog's Magic Sunset and Pure Photoshop Action's Warm that
Baby Up.

So, welcome. I hope my trials and errors are entertaining and informative for anyone out there who, like me, just wants the big, nice, expensive camera to take pretty pictures without giving yourself a migraine. And again, I expect a LOT of constructive criticism and feedback.