Several years ago, I discovered that I loved taking pictures. Love, love, love it. And last year, after doing my own children's portraits for school, I started hearing the question, "Will you do mine...?"
With a bundle of nerves (will they like it? will I flop? will they suck horribly?), I stepped off a platform, and started to advertise to family and friends that I would take photos. Last fall, I did 9 photo shoots, which wasn't much, but fall in Michigan is cold, and the weather is temperamental. I only do outdoor shoots, as I have no studio, and none of the fancy equipment that a studio requires for lighting issues.
Now, though, with Spring here, I've been busy advertising myself, and scheduling and doing photo shoots. Well, shoot. I've done one so far this spring, and have a few more booked.
I still love crafting, and will still make time to sneak projects in weekly, and will still be running this blog, but I wanted to explain why I've only posted a few projects so far for April.
Here are some photos of my last shoot, which was of my daughter, Raegan. She's not the girly girl type, and refers to these shoots as "Raegan Barbie Day", but she loves how they turn out, and in turn, I get some referral help through her friends, who all want great photos, as well.
So, that's what I do when I'm not crafting. I tote my camera around, and take pictures. Now, I'm hoping to earn some money doing it. So I can buy more fun craft stuff. So I don't put us in the poor house crafting. :p
9 comments:
your daughter is gorgeous! great portraits!
I think your pictures turned out great! I love taking pictures myself but I think I need to take a class to learn how to use my camera!! ;)
Your photos are beautiful! I hope it your advertising really pays off. Can't wait to see more of your crafting too!
The photos are great Heather, and Rae is stunning! She sure is growing up before our eyes.
You are an awesome photographer. Maybe you could give some tips on your blog? I really need to get my camera off of auto. Also, did you use photoshop on them to get the colors and high contrast?
Thank you so much everyone!
For the most part, my suggestion is this- get outside, take a model or two with you (someone who is easy to work with- older kids, friends, etc, as younger kids tend to get antsy when it comes to being dragged around for pictures), and just snap, snap, snap.
Play with the settings- ALL of my photos are taken with an advanced Point & Shoot model camera, which means I don't mess with focusing at all, or with settings.
I don't use the auto setting, but I do use pre-set settings available on my camera. Mine has a portrait setting, a self portrait setting, an outdoor portrait setting, etc- but I actually use one called [My] on my camera. It focuses better, and adjusts lighting better than the auto settings, and is faster than the portrait settings.
For editing, I use Paintshop Pro, and Piknic.com (which is free for most items, and $24/year for premium).
For editing- do the same! Just play around, adding things in, adjusting contrast, colors, etc. I'm completely self taught in all my editing and photography :)
Sorry- it's Picnik.com, not Piknic.com ;)
I have been linking up to your Tues. link up party. I did not realize you were from Michigan. I am from Michigan. Macomb, Michigan. Where do you live. Your photos came out great! Blessings...Sherry
Your daughter looks so much like you! Gorgeous pictures too. I can't wait until my little guy is old enough to sit still for portraits, he's still too much of a wiggly two-year old for that!
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