Photography: Beginner Style

Everything is moving...

2009-04-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

I should have a "real" logo within a few days - I'm so excited! This designer is really great, I wanted something simple that really resonates with "silver tide". I'm excited to see the final product - we're on the right path!

That said, pretty much everything now is moving over to the new blog - http://silvertidephotography.blogspot.com - I'm not sure if anyone is following that one just because I haven't set up 'followers' ... but Sierra's cake smash photos and a couple other new photoshoots have gone up there recently.

I've also set up an actual gallery - http://silvertidephotography.smugmug.com - I hope to have a webpage up within 3 months - that's the new goal! I have my first paid PB (portfolio building) shoot coming up hopefully this weekend. My mothers coworker has a family of five and wants some beach family portraits. Should be interesting - beach + 3 kids 7 and under (the smallest is 2! eek)... it'll be a good experience, anyhow. I'm looking forward to it! Things are moving along and I'm in love with my new camera after a slight glitch - I bought the 40D (canon) and it showed up with focus issues, so within a week I had to mail off my new baby to Canon's repair center, and it was gone for 2 agonizing weeks (it's weird, not having your camera and realizing how attached you are to it - not sure if that's a good or bad thing hah!), and came back fixed and ready for action!

I hope everyone is doing well, and did want to thank you for following this blog. It'll probably become my everyday/normal blog now vs photo sessions... I need a personal one anyway!

Ok!

2009-03-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

So I've been working 'behind the scenes' (so to speak) on a business blog. I've decided on a name (this is a big deal, I'm sooo wishy washy :) ) and have been working on the blog for about 2 weeks, pricing, layout, header... I'm still waaay behind on my HTML skills, I used to rock it back in... oh, 1997? LOL. Been a while :P

Anyway, wanted to share... what do you think?

Silver Tide Photography! http://silvertidephotography.blogspot.com ...

Storyboards...

2009-03-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Taught myself how to make Storyboards today!! Woohooo!!

Owen...

2009-03-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

My first newborn photoshoot! My friends had this lovely little boy just 5 days ago and were willing to let me learn with him. He was a DREAM. He slept almost the entire time and was pretttyy acceptable of posing. He didn't go to the bathroom on any of my stuff either - A+!

Sierra in a tutu...

2009-03-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun doing this photoshoot, this is the epitome of 'girl' for me - flowers, tutu, bows... haha, my husband was mortified, I'm sure! A very nice woman who owns an etsy shop (alittlesunshine.etsy.com ) offered to send us a few things if I'd take some photos. I was thrilled, I love her little onesies and tutus! Here are the fruits of our labor, probably my favorite pics yet:

A wedding...

2009-02-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

My very best friends parents finally tied the knot this past weekend and I offered/asked if I could come take photos for them - it was a small, 9 person gathering on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. I wanted to share a few of my favorites - weddings are hard! Major kudos to all wedding photographers out there, though I had little to no real pressure or stress with this one - I can't imagine how tough it must be to hold someones 'day' and a big part of the visual memory of it in my hands!

Just a few...

2009-02-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Working on exposure on a raaiiny yucky day :)

A trip to a local train-place...

2009-02-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Just for fun, going to do a friends kids photos there this weekend and wanted to scope it out - it was a beautiful morning after a night of rain...

Started the 365 page..

2009-02-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

I've decided to put my 365 Project photos on another site - I have a Flickr account set up for them - here is the link for anyone interested in checking them out as I go - all will be PG - that's how I roll.

http://flickr.com/photos/mjfphotography/sets/72157613377742928/

9 month photos...

2009-02-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

More practice with Sierra, hopefully getting some photos with my friends kids this weekend for more variety!

Arboretum Trip..

2009-02-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Some photos from a recent trip to some gardens nearby...

New 365 pics..

2009-01-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

Days 4 and 5... I'll probably just continuously update one post every month with some of the photos... this could get extensive!

Valentines Day...

2009-01-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Mm hallmark holidays :) Wanted to play with the theme at least a little, I know the lollipop and hat theme is probably overplayed in general, but I'm a sucker for cute babies with... well... suckers! Here's my first shot, my friend lent me a piece of plexiglass she had around the house because I wanted to try reflections, still need some work but I think I need to invest in a piece :)

Shooting in RAW

2009-01-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ah! Finally found my RAW option.. and I'm in love w/ shooting in it. I never shoot out of Manual mode now and it's so liberating, albeit at times very frustrating.... I'm also beginning to take part in a "365 Challenge". The idea is to take some form of self portrait every single day for a year, to boost creativity and technique (along w/ technical skills, forced photos helps you practice!). This is a few examples of a recent 'self portrait' attempt on a rainy day... I REALLY need some external light help (a speedlite would be nice... some day):

Sunrise on the coast...

2009-01-15T14:27:00.001-08:00

That’s right. Sun*RISE*. That’s what we ’stay at home moms’ do. We get up at at the butt-crack of dawn, and drive to the beach, bundled up, with child, and take pictures.

Okay maybe not often. Ok… maybe just this ONCE. But I’m glad I did Here are the fruits of my willing-labor - I was really trying to focus on practicing w/ backlight exposure, and color popping. I can see the room for lots of improvement, but I love these shots, it makes me really value where I am fortunate to live! I mean… it’s January. C’mon.

1 and 4 yr old - friends kids!

2009-01-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

Practice is the theme, in case it wasn’t too obvious (call me Captain Obvious, it’s ok… really) - another good friend came over yesterday asking if I could take a few photos of her kids - are you kidding?! Of course! LOVE some of these… this is a 4 year old, and a 1 year old, and I had my first experience w/ on the go (constantly) kids. It really opened my eyes. Studio + infant = workable; studio+toddler/preschooler? YIKES! We did end up a few despite the quick 20 minutes we had to play before I was certain my friends ears had steam coming out of them!

Joey - 6mo

2009-01-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

I met a great woman at one of my mom’s group gatherings, since then (several months ago) we’ve made it a habit to hang out at least once a week. Last week I asked if I could use her adorable little boy for some practice! I came away with some photos that I really feel were/are mybest to date - here are a few:

Some starter photos.

2009-01-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

Just getting some practice using the blog... this will be unorganized, choppy, and well... yeah. I'm just learning here!

A fresh start...

2008-12-31T11:53:00.001-08:00

So, here it is! I've finally entered the world of 'blog'. Recently I've discovered a hidden muse in my life (my 8 month old daughter is my inspiration) in the form of photography. I've had a new drive to learn and practice as much as possible, with aspirations to some day have my own small business with locals and their children. The goal is to go for it by 2011, I have a great deal of learning to do, and even more practice than that to put into it. This will be a blog where I can share my photos, practice in new tools, and to gauge my learning curve.

Here's to new discoveries in 2009!