Photo Enhancement of the Month - November

Photo Enhancement of the Month - November
www.outoftheordinary.biz/enhancements.html

Good job JD!

We are so proud of JD for making the best grades ever in all his classes... "Rock On" JD!

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Finishing Klotz wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: All things Beatles
CRAVING: something different to drink
NEEDED A MOMENT: Trying to simply buy a new vehicle (for Jim since the '94 Jeep isn't the greatest right now) - they make it impossible, we've decided to wait another year hopefully, what a waste of our time.
BEST MOMENT: JD doing so well in school

Photo Enhancement of the Month - October

Photo Enhancement of the Month - October's!
www.outoftheordinary.biz/enhancements.html

If I could only be a fly on the... leaf?

I am finishing processing on the Klotz wedding and while doing some artsy versions I noticed I actually caught a fly on a leaf during the ceremony and didn't realize it, what are the chances of that?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYLON!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY to my nephew Waylon! We love you! ~Holly, Jim & JD

Pamela's Parasols - Something Cool

I saw these at a wedding recently or something similar, I believe the Rakus wedding possibly?
Anyway, I thought they were the coolest thing and I have been on the hunt for them ever since. I finally found them in a Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine and they are even neater than I realized. They have monograms available and other styles, simple or fancy. I love them! They would be extremely trendy for a Spring wedding! Have fun browsing... http://www.pamelasparasols.com/new/home.html

Common lighting misconceptions

Although I can handle many lighting situations I am amused to hear the opinions of everyone about what lighting is perfect for photos. So here is my own myth/truths from my experiences.

myth: "I'm so excited, the sun is shining so brightly, it will be perfect for photos."
truth: Not really. In fact, solid sun is usually the worst possibility to deal with. But I love the sun for creative shots.

myth: "A cloudy day is a photographers dream."
truth: Depends. If it's one of those days where the sky is hazy, solid white-grey, the answer is no. It creates a high contrast like you would not believe (especially with digital cameras)... then add in a bright white dress and it is bling bright and I can lose detail if I'm not careful with manual settings. If it's one of those days where the sun goes in and out of puffy pretty clouds, then yes, it is a photographers dream come true for lighting (with preference towards the clouds covering the sun temporarily).

myth: "The shade is too dark, isn't it?"
truth: The shade is the best lighting to have! If it is sunny in the background it is easy to lose the background all together by being too bright compared to the shade but this can be helped with manual settings.

myth: "It is so dark in the church and I'm even using my flash!" [referring to their camera]
truth: Unless your internal camera flash can travel across the entire dark area the flash actually makes it worse. Try to hold it steady with the flash off.

myth: "Doesn't other people's flashes mess you up?"
truth: Rarely. Flash away! Once in a great while it will produce too much light at once but I take so many in a row it avoids missing something, plus sometimes, it's really cool to catch another's flash because it creates a neat effect. Red eye happens on it's own with or without other additional flashes, red eye has other causes such as very light colored eyes, teary eyes and/or dark rooms.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Klotz Wedding, James & Jennifer Engagement photos
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Apologize by One Republic
CRAVING: everything
NEEDED A MOMENT: baby photo, no plans, no transportation, drama & teens
BEST MOMENT: Jim telling me about a Smart car comment online. Someone asked how good they were in the winter snow. Someone wrote: "Forget about driving it in the Northeast snow, first you have to find it!"

A chilly morning sunrise

When you just have to go back; you have to go back. After dropping Jim off at work I saw these awesome views, went home, grabbed my camera, drove back before the foggy moment was over and walah!

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Working on Lesperance wedding. Banowetz Family Photos done. Conway Coffee-Table Album design & sent to print. Finishing Dineen Baptism this week.
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Tequila Sunrise by The Eagles

CRAVING: peace
NEEDED A MOMENT: too many to write
BEST MOMENT: getting a "close enough" sunrise shot I envisioned

I don't understand that it's not understandable

I guess we are never meant to understand everyone and what they do, that's just life. Lately I've been getting some new inquiries and actual bookings where they love my work but don't understand the creative detail or decor photos I take. So let me try to give you a couple reasons why I take them and then maybe you'll understand and want them. If not, I'll still will take them anyway and then you can delete them after you get them. Secretly I think I take decor shots for my own wants and artistic reasons anyway but here are the reasons I found along the way:

1. Ever read or see a wedding magazine? Take a look at the photos inside. Most of them are of detail and decor ideas. If you like those and don't even realize it, you'll probably love your own.


2. I hear most couples say that the reason they hired me was because I take those detail shots and no other photographer they've come across ever takes them.


3. I witness countless times where the bride and groom never even got to see anything because they are so busy visiting and things go so fast they they missed the details and decor, making the entire day a whirlwind. I've even heard of the bride and groom never getting to eat their own cake and the waitstaff takes it away before they even get a chance... but guess what? I probably got a photo of it though.


4. Many, many, many times I get the venues or caterers asking me to take a few photos for them. They ask me to send them some photos of their location site and set-up so they can show how fabulous they are and what they can do for future customers like you. I'm not one to turn down free advertisement - are you?


5. On that same idea, newspapers, magazines and wedding planners also ask to use them, how cool would it be for your wedding to possibly get published someday? And guess what photos they ask for?


6. Lastly, it's just plain cool and trendy. It doesn't hurt in any matter. And if you don't want it or understand my type of work, then I ask, why are you hiring me? No offense to be taken either way, just an honest question that maybe it's not the right fit. I never want to take on work where I can't do what I do best. That's like asking Mozart to not play the piano in the way he did because you don't understand it.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Finishing Hunt wedding and Conway Coffee Table album design
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz
CRAVING: a non-sensitive tooth
NEEDED A MOMENT: it's hard to eat lunch when the waitresses are talking about their friend having bypass surgery, mmm yum, more grease please...
BEST MOMENT: getting off that high horse and letting go