Meet the Wilsons

Hello again!  Whew, two photo shoots in one week!  I’m having a blast!  This time I am pleased to introduce my friends Mike and Marie and their son Jack.  We had a great time on Saturday walking around Wye Lake Park and playing at the playground.  They’re such a sweet and good-lookin’ family, making my job really easy and enjoyable.  Here are a few of my favs.

How cute is this??

How cute is this??

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I used a "preset" on this shot, I think it was the bejeweled present from "pretty presets for lightroom"

I used a “preset” on this shot, I think it was the bejeweled present from “pretty presets for lightroom”

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hilarious!

hilarious!

life is grand.

life is grand.

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This was my first time shooting RAW.  I’ve read a few different articles on the benefits of shooting RAW, but I was always apprehensive to try it for a few different reasons(file size for one).  Anyways, I took the plunge, and I’m glad I did.  I can already see a difference in the images.  Lightroom is so helpful with that.  I don’t think it makes sense much to shoot RAW if you don’t have a good photo processing program, which I didn’t until recently!  I’m learning a lot and I think(hope) that I’m taking my photography skills to the next level.

My First Maternity Shoot!

I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful Bobbi Faye, her partner Mike, and a new little person inside her belly!  Even though I have been pregnant myself, I always find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that there is a little HUMAN inside another human.  Crazy.  Anyways, I had a lot of fun with these people, and for my first maternity shoot I think it went pretty well!  I am super excited to meet their baby when she/he is born!  Here are a few of my favourite shots from our session:

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this is one of the "before" pictures! It'll be so awesome to do this one with the baby :)

this is one of the “before” pictures! It’ll be so awesome to do this one with the baby :)

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What I like to do before a photo shoot is make a Pinterest board with ideas for poses and stuff.  It’s even better if the model/family/prego lady has ideas of their own, which was the case with this shoot.  Bobbi Faye sent me lots of ideas, and we just worked our way through them!  This way we could both know what to expect and make sure we captured what was important to her.  Hope you have enjoyed seeing them, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below!

New Year’s Resolution Update

Hello all!  I just finished reading an article by my friend Emily T. Wierenga on loving ourselves called “The reason society doesn’t encourage women to love themselves.” (and as a side note, I took the picture that went with it, at her sister’s wedding!) It reminded me of my New Year’s Resolution, which is to love myself (more specifically, the way I look).  I feel like I’ve made progress: I no longer worry about losing weight, or wish I was skinnier – whenever one of those thoughts creeps into my mind, I just tell it, “no, that’s not true, I am beautiful just the way I am.”  The more I tell myself, the less I think those thoughts.  There is power in positive thinking!  I’m also believing more and more that true beauty comes from inside.  I know so many BEAUTIFUL, wonderful women who might not make the cover of Cosmo, but I don’t love them any less because of that. (not that the women on the cover of Cosmo are real anyways!)  I have to believe, and I do believe, that people view me the same way – I’m awesome because of who I am, not because of what I look like.

I’ve posted this video on facebook and sent it to a few people through email, but I’m going to share it here just in case you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this.  It is something everyone needs to watch!

And just for fun, here’s a fabulous mother’s day video from Kid President, who I adore:

Okay bye!

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Family Photos

Last week my friend Holly came to Watson Lake for a visit, and since she is so talented in photography I asked her if she’d take family photos for us.  We had a great time and I’m so happy with the results.  Thought you might like to see a few! :)

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it was our three year anniversary on the 24th!

we celebrated our third anniversary on the 24th!

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I love this one especially!

I love this one especially!

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this is one of my favourite pictures... of all time. It's going on the wall for sure.

this is one of my favourite pictures… of all time. It’s going on the wall for sure.

this one is extremely fabulous too...

this one is extremely fabulous too…

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we'd meant to bring Lucy to our photo shoot location but forgot! So we had to get one when we got back home.

we’d meant to bring Lucy to our photo shoot location but forgot! So we had to get one when we got back home.

If you’d like to see more, you can visit Holly’s blog.  Thank you so much Holly!

Shasta: Nine Months Old!

It’s hard to believe that only now, Shasta has been outside the womb longer than he was inside!  It’s so much more fun this way :)

He has learned SO many new things this month!  It is amazing to see how much stronger he is getting every day.  I have LOTS of photos and videos to share with you…

He learned to crawl!

He can say “Mama!”  And dance!  He dances all the time, basically whenever he gets excited, which is a lot!

He pulls himself up to standing whenever possible…

too adventurous for his own good!

too adventurous for his own good!

he's getting better at feeding himself...

he’s getting better at feeding himself…

...though not always...

…though not always…

he loves his Auntie Mandy

he loves his Auntie Mandy

and his Daddy

and his Daddy

and his Mommy :)

and his Mommy :)

Here’s the 9 month pics we took today.  It’s really hard to get him to stay sitting still in the guitar case – so we’ve moved on to the next phase!

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And here are a few more favourites from the month:

I jus LOVE him so much!!

I jus LOVE him so much!!

experimenting with "Lifestyle" photography

experimenting with “Lifestyle” photography

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And now… for the nine month collage countdown!

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just getting handsomer all the time!

Well, that’s all for now – hope you have enjoyed seeing this baby grow!  He truly is a blessing.

Girls’ Night Workshop: How to Take Better Pictures and How to Look Good in Pictures

Last week I lead a workshop to the local girls’ night and had a great time.  I posted some pictures on facebook and had a request that I share my information on my blog, so here you go!

Part 1: How to Take Better Pictures

Note: this information is directed at beginners/casual photographers.

There are no rules for good photographs; there are only good photographs. -Ansel Adams

With that in mind, there are some things to think about that can dramatically improve your pictures:

1. LIGHT: probably the most important factor when taking photographs.

I definitely prefer the first image

Natural light is best; try to avoid using your flash if possible.

Try to shoot in the "golden hours" - around sunrise and sunset.

Try to shoot in the “golden hours” – around sunrise and sunset.

Don't photograph people in the midday sun unless you like the squinty look.

Don’t photograph people in the midday sun unless you like the squinty look.

12-06-07 -- Small Group Photo Shoot 116

Much better to move them into the shade.

2. Make it INTERESTING:

Use props; look for colour

Use props; look for colour

3. Have a PLAN: research Pinterest for good ideas!

I love making pinterest boards with different pose ideas. Before a shoot I print them out to get some ideas.

I love making pinterest boards with different pose ideas. Before a shoot I print them out for reference.

4. Take LOTS of pictures:

it's the digital era! Try as many different angles and ideas as you can think of.

it’s the digital era! Try as many different angles and ideas as you can think of.

5. Composition:

One of the most popular composition methods is the rule of thirds. Imagine your shot like a grid, and put your subject either on an outer third or at an intersection.

One of the most popular composition methods is the rule of thirds. Imagine your shot like a grid, and put your subject either on an outer third or at an intersection.

Some examples.

Some examples.

it's not a hard and fast rule though. Try different things.

it’s not a hard and fast rule though. Try different things.

6. Check your BACKGROUND:

this is my favourite example of why it is important to check out what's in your background! :)

this is my favourite example of why it is important to check out what’s in your background! :)

If you have a boring/yucky background, back up and zoom in on your subject to achieve a blurrier background.

If you have a boring/yucky background, back up and zoom in on your subject to achieve a blurrier background.

7. Try to capture EMOTION:

one of my favourite photos ever.

one of my favourite photos ever.

8. EDITING!

you don't need to have photoshop to play around - I like using picmonkey.com to use effects like "sunglow"

you don’t need to have photoshop to play around – I like using picmonkey.com to use effects like “sunglow”

Part 2: How to Look Better in Pictures

1. CONFIDENCE: How many people are truly confident in themselves, particularly in the way they look?  Your confidence really comes through in photos.  If you don’t have it, fake it.  No one will know.

2. HEAD JUT:

Almost everyone has that "chin stuff" - jut your chin out to make a more definitive jaw line. It might feel weird, but it will look better in the picture.

Almost everyone has that “chin stuff” – jut your chin out to make a more definitive jaw line. It might feel weird, but it will look better in the picture.

3. SQUINTY EYES

I've shared this tip in a blog before (titled "selfies") - it can make your face look a little more interesting, a little more confident.

I’ve shared this tip in a blog before (titled “selfies”) – it can make your face look a little more interesting, a little more confident.

4. NATURAL SMILE:

I got my model, Noy, to make a HUGE smile and then as it died down, it looked more natural. I also asked her to jump, which always produces natural smiles! Try jumping up and down in front of someone with a neutral expression. Harder than it sounds.

I got my model, Noy, to make a HUGE smile and then as it died down, it looked more natural. I also asked her to jump, which always produces natural smiles! Try jumping up and down in front of someone with a neutral expression. Harder than it sounds.

5. BE YOURSELF: are you serious?  Silly?  Love who you are and let that shine in the camera!

After this, we went outside(to get the natural light) to do a photo shoot to apply the things we learned.   We all had a lot of fun.  Here are some of the beautiful faces I photographed:

Aren't they gorgeous?!

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

And that’s all, folks!  Hope that was helpful to somebody!