I'm loving it!

12 photo shoots down...and I'm loving every minute of it! Every one has been just a little different, too. I love it when clients come with ideas of pictures they have seen. I think they like the fact that they have input in what their final shot will look like too. Editing is still taking a lot of time, but I'm sure that will get easier the more I do and learn how to use software better. I do have couple of fall "senior" shoots scheduled and am excited about doing those with the fall colors. I'm going to start looking for lighting and backdrop equipment so I can start playing around with "indoor" shoots. I LOVE the look of natural light and using natural settings....but get nervous every time I have something scheduled that the weather isn't going to cooperate. Plus, I'm ready to start playing around with indoor poses.

I'm sure this is just the 1st of many problems to come!

Well...I almost lost it last night. The kids are starting to put their print orders together....I've promised good products....I sold myself and my pictures to them. So last night, I tried to put together an order for my sister. She wanted a canvas wrap and other 8 x 10's. When I go to do her canvas wrap, MPIX tells me, can't do anything bigger than a 8 x 10. Needs more resolution. So, I thought...I better try to see what some of the "kids" pics are going to be like. Nothing bigger than a 5 x 7 for some...16 x 24 for others. We read the camera manual....which does nothing for the pictures I took. We google online....we tried a million options. Nothing changes. I thought for sure...I had really screwed up. But it didn't make sense. So.....I went to bed, prayed for help, and then proceeded to have a sleepless night! When I got up, I decided to go to another printing company. They told me...the picture wasn't large enough, needed to be resized. As soon as I saw "resize" a lightbulb went off.......go to Picnik and "resize" the picture. So I did that and.....problem solved! I guess it makes sense that "larger" pictures take up more space in a file, so they get resized when they are downloaded.
Last night, I was ready to cancel all of my appointments, give people their money back, and quit. Today....I'm ready to take on my problems, learn from my mistakes, think with a clear mind, and do the best I can do!

Starting to get the hang of this!

Last week I had my first paid photo shoot!!!!!! What a good feeling that somebody thought enough of what I am doing to not only ask me to do their child's senior pics...but also pay me to do their child's senior pics! I have 3 shoots under my belt and I can honestly say that I learn so much just by taking the pictures. I can't learn enough from the books I've purchased....reading online....studying other photographers...and just getting experience! I finally have 2 girl senior shoots tonight and I'm really excited about that. I still get really overwhelmed with the whole thing and have to remind myself to take it slow....Rome wasn't built in a night! :)

My first "Senior" shoot!

I just finished my first "Senior" photo shoot...now, it was of my son....but it was for senior pictures! How fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to edit them, get some prints, and see what they really look like! It was so good to practice on him, he was patient. I know I need to work on giving direction better. I am becoming more tuned into the little things, like hair, finger placement, foot placement...really looking at the shot before I take it. I'm becoming more aware of where the sun is coming from too. The other night I did a photo shoot for my daughter and her boyfriend of 6 years. That was fun, but I really need to do more research so I have a variety of "couple" poses. I had the most fun doing a photo shoot for my daughter Kayla and 3 of her friends. Lindie needs a kidney transplant and is going to start chemotheraphy next week to true to reduce the amount of antibodies she has so that when she gets a kidney, her body won't reject it. Well...that is going to mean being sick and most likely losing her hair. The girls gave her a wonderful gift of a photo shoot with her besties! They are so close and really truly enjoy being together. They laugh so much together...you can just feel the love they have for one another!
I'm feeling so good about this decision! The editing is the hardest part now...and I'll figure it out! I've got nothing but time to play with pictures and the worse that can happen is..I'll delete it and start over! In the good old days...you took the picture and there was nothing you could do after that...now...as Kyle would say...the possiblities are endless!

The "Start of Something Good" is scary!

This week I really started my "photography education"....I got 3 new books, The Guide to Posing for Portrait Photographers, Master Guide for Photographing High School Seniors, and the Senior Portrait Photography Handbook. I also have a subscription to Professional Photographer's Magazine and am frequenting many photography websites. And now....I'm freaking out!!!! I keep reading over and over again that there is a difference between "soccer mom's that take good pictures" and "professional photographers". (The kids are have reassured me that none of them have ever played soccer, so I don't fit into the first catagory) :) I know I am not a "professional photographer", but I know I take good pictures. I want to be that "mom" who turns into a professional photographer. There is soooooooo much I have to learn and I want to know it all TODAY! I really think that I have an "eye" for what looks good. To me, it is like teaching...it just comes naturally to me. I'm scared though, that I won't be "good enough". Like teaching, I want to be really good at this. I know, that if anyone has asked me to take their pics, it's because they wanted me to do them...I didn't seek them out and that makes me feel good! I know in my mind, that this takes time. It doesn't happen over night...or even in a month. If I "experiment" and learn all I can over the next year...next summer, when I have more time...I will be much better. But, because I'm an "instant gratification" sort of gal....I stress myself out. After teaching for 23 years, I am terrified at the thought of a "new career". I guess what is the best part of this is...I can continue to do what I love the most (teach) for the next 7 years, learn a new "career" that is my passion, and when it is time for me to retire, I'll have a whole new life doing something that I love. I'm confident that I can do this....and I know that I'll have a melt down from time to time wondering what the heck was I thinking, but I need to follow my dreams.
Next week I start doing some "real" photoshoots. Kyle will be my first victim...I'm hoping that he will be patient with me. I am doing a photoshoot of Kayla and 3 of her friends and Kayla and Michael. I get to do 2 senior photoshoots with Dylan and Ben. I am very excited about both of those :) I also will get to do a newborn photoshoot for the Spangles. This one has me nervous, but excited at the same time :)
So, I'm going to approach this like I did when I first start teaching 23 years ago......I know what I am doing....I'm good at this....I have fun doing it...I'll learn along the way... :) I'm still scared and not surprised that it only took me 2 weeks before the tears came....but I'm excited to see where this will go!

Hope I win!!!!!

Photographer Cafe is giving away a $150 shopping spree today on www.iheartfaces.com! :)

The start of something good :)

Well...this summer started with me thinking...maybe I could take Kyle's senior pics. Well....I could take some of the other kid's senior pics. Well...I could experiment and take some little kid's pics and maybe some family pics. Well....2 months and a lot of inspiration later...sunflower photography was born! I now have a new camera, a Nikon d90, with different lenses, filters, and all kinds of other attachments that I'm learning how to use. I have gotten my first real "print order" with a 16 x 24 canvas wrap of Mia and Ty McGregor that is too cute for words. I have "appointments" booked for August. And.....I've started getting and making "props" to add texture and life to my shots! I am so excited to be starting this journey. I know that I have a lot to learn and am open to suggestions from anyone who wants to give them. I've been spending a lot of time looking at other photographer's websites and learning from their styles and ideas. My goal is that in 2 years, I will have a full time business in the summer and have a place to be able to do indoor shots throughout the school year on the weekends. Thanks to the support of my parents, siblings, kids, and hubby...I know I can do this!