photography Archives - Page 7 of 8

Great gifts for the photographer in your life

Need some ideas on gifts for the photographer in your life?

Here are a few that would probably make them love you even more than they already do.

1. If they just have a point and shoot or are using their smart phone for pictures, consider getting them a dSLR camera. It will be the BEST investment your family ever makes. I promise that. Well, unless you buy a speed boat. Then that would be the best investment. But a camera would be second. Read here on what kind of camera I recommend.

2. 50mm 1.8 lens or if you really want to go all out, a 50mm 1.4 lens. Click HERE for an explanation on why these lenses are a MUST have for every photographer. These are anywhere from $100 to $350.

3. A camera coat. To keep that camera safe when you don’t want to lug around a huge camera bag because you’re already carrying a million other things (diaper bag, purse, kid, blankie, etc., etc.). Put one of these babies on your camera and you can put it in your diaper bag, stroller, purse and not have to worry about it getting hurt.

photo credit: Camera Coats

4. More SD cards for their camera. I fill my cards up all the time. It’s nice to have extra ones on hand. I recommend not buying anything bigger than 4.0 GB just in case the card fails. Then you don’t lose AS many pictures.

5. Speaking of losing pictures. If you aren’t already backing up your photos, you should be. Buy an external hard drive and maybe consider backing up online as well. Funny how when you ask people if there were a fire in their house, what they would grab. 99% of people would say their photographs. I have no idea what the other 1% would say. (And I completely made up that statistic. But I think most statistics are probably made up so it’s ok.)
Which to me indicates photographs are one of the very most important things in our home. And yet, some of us aren’t backing them up.

6. Buy or make them a custom photo strap. Just google camera strap and tons of options come up. There are also some options to get a camera coat with a matching strap. Or you can find them on Etsy.

7. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. This is the book I read to teach myself how to shoot in manual. It’s great for understanding all those terms that seem so confusing.

8. A portable tripod. These just screw into the bottom of your camera so you can take pictures anywhere. AND, so the mom can stay in the picture!!!

For the iphone camera users, you can get an iStabilizer.

9. Project Life for displaying all the photos they take. This is my newest obsession and an amazing solution to getting all of those photos off of our computers and sharing them with others. You can use 40% off coupons on Michaels or Hobby Lobby to get all the supplies. Seriously, these are AWESOME!!! I’ll be posting more about Project Life and my mission to help people get their photos off their dang computers and out where people can see them!!

You can also get the Project Life APP. Just buy an iTunes card and they can download the app and buy extra kits and do all their photo documenting straight from their phone!

10. A gift card to Persnickety Prints to print all the photos they’re taking!

11. Jewelry or clothing related to photography. If you go to ETSY and search for “photography necklace” or “photography t-shirt” you’ll find all sorts of choices.

12. Photo Editing Software. I recommend Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 13

And for some fun, quirky photo ideas, check out Photo Jojo.

NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

Below is a sample of the pictures I take during a newborn session. I do lifestyle newborn photography. I don’t use props (baskets, trees, wagons, etc.) Sessions are usually in your home, but I can also do them in my home if you prefer.

Sessions generally take about 2-2 1/2 hours.

I like to do them within 2 weeks of the baby being born. They’re generally sleepier and more cooperative.

Session fee is $400. That includes the time for the session, editing of the best images, and a high-resolution disc with about 50 images in color and black and white.

You will get the disc of photos approximately 2 weeks after your session.

Tell My Story Photography Classes

This is NOT your average photography class. It’s not just about the camera and what all those words mean: aperture, exposure, ISO, composition, shutter speed.

Though we’ll learn a lot about how the camera works and how to take better “technical” photos, the heart of this class is focused on the WHY behind the picture taking. Because as long as you have a why, you’ll figure out the how. That’s what makes this class different than any other photography class out there.

It’s about the people and relationships we’re taking pictures of. How we can grow closer to and more in tune with our children (and spouse) through the gift of photography.

How we can be more intentional mothers using photography.

How we can use photography and displaying photographs to tell a better family “story”.

And how we can help our children learn who they’ve always been and give them a sense of love and belonging in a world where we all desperately need to feel that.

And we’ll have fun! And laugh. A lot. I promise.

The first portion of the class will be completed online where you can work at your own pace and learn the elements of taking “technically” better photographs. Then we’ll use that foundation of knowledge in an interactive, hands on class where you will learn how to be in control of your camera and get consistently better photos. You will be able to practice what you learned in the online portion of the class with direct access to me for help.

Then we’ll tie it all together and discuss how to get emotionally better photographs. And how the gift of photography can help us be better parents and create an intentional family story.

Don’t just take my word for it. Hear it from people who have already attended the class:

“I’ve had my camera for almost 3 years now and still have never learned how to use any manual setting. I either had “no time” and/or it was too overwhelming to try and find a class that would help me without talking over my head. Lindsay takes beautiful pictures so I was so excited to hear what she has to say–about picture-taking in general. She told us not only about tips for taking better pictures, but WHY we should be taking pictures in the first place. She also taught us the basics of the manual settings–SO HELPFUL. The setting was relaxed and it was all in one day. I loved it. I truly believe that picture taking is THE BEST INVESTMENT…I really needed to learn more so that I can practice and end up taking better and better pictures so that my kids can remember their childhoods with better clarity. THANK YOU LINDSAY! I recommend this class to everyone!” Jacqui

“I learned so much from taking the “tell my story” class. Lindsay was very thorough in the way she explained parts of the camera and different concepts. It was also great to have her teach as we completed the “practical” portion of the class. The class changed the way that I take pictures and even the way that I view photography. I have such a greater appreciation now. I would highly recommend taking this class!” April

“This photography class taught me so much more than how to take my camera out of auto (so excited that I now know how to use manual mode.) Lindsay was awesome, she taught the importance of catching those everyday moments that tell the STORY of my life! I am awful at journaling. I am now committing myself to break out my camera and capturing the happy, the sad, and the everyday things that make up my STORY and my families STORY!!” Natalie

“This class gave me time to think about why I take the pictures I take and am I taking enough of the pictures that matter to me and my family. I learned some great tools to help me do that and I now feel more inspired than ever to take more and better photos of our lives–photos that tell a story about who we are and not what we want others to think we are. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” Shara

“I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to participate and be a part of the class yesterday. It was such a day well spent. You are passionate about what you do and why you do it and I left inspired in ways I did not anticipate. “ Kim

“I’ve had my camera for a while now. It’s a nice camera and sometimes I get really awesome pictures. But sometimes I don’t. Now I understand how to control my camera so I consistently get the pictures I want. I loved the “live” shoot we did so I could practice what we had learned and have you there to answer all my questions. I also really liked the section of the class where we talked about why the pictures are so important and how we can use photographs to really tell the stories of our children’s lives. Finally I understand what all those photography terms mean and what all the dials on my camera do, and I am excited to practice so I can consistently tell the story I want to tell with my pictures.” Brittany

“I look at the way I take pictures and the day to day things in my life in a whole new way! I’m so excited for this new approach to my photography and life! Thank you” Sarah

“I wanted to tell you thank you for the photography class! I have been playing/practicing (ALL IN MANUAL) and I think I at least know which numbers mean what, and how to adjust! I think it will take me a lot more practice and maybe a new AUTO FOCUS lens for christmas:). I actually really loved the first half of the class about WHY to take pictures and how to tell my kids stories better. I am determined to start looking for the mundane things that I know I’ll miss. Thanks again…

you’re a good teacher!” Kamie

**Class sizes are small so each person gets individual attention and help with their camera settings as well as plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions.**

CLICK HERE FOR FUTURE CLASS DATES OR TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT CLASS

*Sign up with a friend and you each get $20 off. E-mail me directly to sign up with a friend.*

Any questions–Email me: [email protected]

{Design for the Tell My Story banner done by the ridiculously talented Meredith Carty. You can find her here.}

The “every day”

When I started doing photography it was 100% for the money. Not because I was passionate about photography or shutter speeds or f-stops. Not because I was artistic or creative and I needed an outlet. Not because I had a “good eye” or was naturally talented at taking pictures. I saw an opportunity to make money (which I like) photography sports (which I LOVE) so I went for it.

My perspective when I first started as a photographer and my perspective now are radically different.

The truth is, I still don’t take pictures because I’m passionate about photography. I take pictures because I’m passionate about the people IN the pictures. And the stories of their lives.

When I learned how to take pictures of people (not just sports), I knew my style wouldn’t be typical. I quickly started to learn how powerful a photograph can be. Sounds dramatic, but it’s true. A photograph can be more than just a photograph. A photograph can show a persons soul. It has the ability to tell the world who someone IS. And that’s not a small thing.

As my style developed as a photographer, my mission became to focus on personality and relationships. To have emotion in my photographs. To tell, without words, who someone is.

“Sometimes a perfect memory can be ruined if put to words“ Nova Ren Suma

I attended a seminar where another photographer said “The power we possess to bring out someone’s inner most soul is an art form. We allow people to see pas their insecurities and see who they really are.” I believe that.

This has completely changed the way I take pictures of my own children. And the importance I give to the photographs I take (and display) of them.

As a parent, one of my main goals is to allow my children to be who they already are. Images are one way I can help them discover who that is. Photography has become a tool in my life to help me be a more intentional, present, and aware mom. To appreciate my children more. To be aware of who they are and who they are becoming. To document their lives. The good AND the bad. And to document our families story.

Photography has given me more patience. More love. More compassion. More awareness. And most importantly, more intention to live a purposeful life. That’s why it’s SO important to me and why I want to share that gift with other people.

It’s the every day stuff. What they do from day to day that show who they are. So in my opinion, the pictures I take of my kids in my own home are by far the most important kind.

“Photography is a gift because it allows us to see the beauty in what can feel routine and mundane.” Ashley Campbell.

The EVERY DAY

“The mom stays in the picture”

To all moms.

If you read nothing else in your lifetime (besides God’s scriptures), please, please, puhlease, read this:

“The mom stays in the picture“

I can’t expound too much, because she says it so perfectly. But. I always have something to say.

We send messages to our kids all the time. Intentionally and not intentionally. They’re always watching. Always listening. And always paying attention whether we think they are or not. They say moms have eyes on the back of their heads. Well kids have ears on every inch of their body. And eyes that see and then mimic what they see.

What is the message we send to our kids, girls and boys, when we won’t get in pictures? How do they interpret that?

We tell them to love themselves. To be happy with who they are. To know they are a literal child of God and their soul is worth something. We say, say say. Tell, tell, tell. But what do we DO? What do our actions say to our kids? Because that’s where they’re getting the real message. From what I do. Not usually what I say.

I get it. It’s not always fun to be in a picture. Especially when we’re tired, bloated, feeling gross, and on and on and on. For me, I don’t love asking other people to take a picture of me. I just don’t. It feels weird and kind of embarrassing (even if it’s my own husband). “Hey, I’m awesome, take a picture of me.” But I’m getting SO much better at it. Because I think it is so so so important for our kids to see pictures of us. WITH them. Being a part of their lives. No matter how we look or feel. Because they don’t care. They just want us. Just the way we are.