Camera Tip: STOP SHOOTING IN AUTO MODE!

If you have invested in an SLR digital camera, or if someone else has invested for you, do me a favor and venture out of the automatic modes.  On my Canon 40D, the full auto mode is a green square, and everything under that is an automatic function as well.  This means the camera chooses everything for you.  Yes, you will get a decent shot almost every time, but very rarely will you get a fantastic shot, and if you do, you won't know how it happened.  Everything above is a creative mode, which gives you much more flexibility.

I learned to shoot manually by first using the AV mode (where you choose your aperture), and then TV mode (where you choose your shutter speed).  In these modes you choose one or the other based on your need..... but personally, I find it easiest to shoot in Manual mode (M), where I control everything to get the proper exposure every time.  Some of my favorite aspects of shooting manually are the ability to control my depth of field and background blur (bokeh), and the ability to control my ISO, or the camera's sensitivity to light.  For those of you who have an SLR and are upset with your ability to take low light pics, ISO setting and lens choice can be your best friends!! More on this in next weeks's tip!!

Yes, shooting manually will mean lots of mess ups at first, and you don't want to choose your baby's baptism to start practicing!  But if you will put some research and practice into doing it, it will come naturally very soon!

Happy Shooting!

Tawny

COMING SOON!! "FRONT PORCH MINI-SESSIONS" and Weekly Portrait Tips!

Right now I'm not going to give too much away, but I am going to start an all new special around September 15th.  I will be offering "Front Porch Mini-Sessions" for one month only, and I will only have about 10 spots or so as my appointment times are very limited.  What I can tell you is that they will have a vintage feel, will be less than my "very vintage package", and will include either 25 Christmas cards or a $35.00 print credit (I know it's early but you will be glad you have them out of the way!).  

Next, I have been meaning to offer this to my followers for a while, but time keeps getting away from me.  I am going to start offering weekly photo tips on my blog.  I will post them on Tuesdays, and maybe they will help some of you out who have an SLR camera, but don't really know a lot of what it can do.  

Take care, and have a great weekend!!  

Baby Harper... My Perfect Little Niece

Finally blogging about Ms. Harper.  She is welcomed into this world by a big happy family, 3 sisters, a brother, and an awesome mom and dad!   Her siblings weren't home the weekend I went in to do these, so I hope I can get some of the entire family soon!  My sister has become such a fabulous person and mom, and I am so proud of her!

Beautiful Jewel!

One of my best friends from high school had this precious little girl 7 months ago.  We hooked up one morning a couple of weeks ago to do this.  They were done in allies downtown where we could avoid the harsh morning sun.  She is a cutie pie!

Baby Eva!

You know what is sooo fun??  Getting to do babies back to back, and having completely different styles for each.  And it helps when there is a combination of girls and boys.  Baby Crue's session had a fun, modern feel to it, and Ms. Eva's were definitely more on the soft, vintage side.  They live in an older home with lots of character (which I love), and incorporated the baby carrier that was Dad's (minus the pink ribbon!).  She was 10 lbs. at birth, and only a week old when we did these.  I adore those chubby little cheeks!

Baby Crue!

Was super excited to photograph Baby Crue.  His mom is a good friend of mine, and I was thrilled for the opportunity to see her, and her growing family!  I was also pumped because she was open to doing some fun, funky shots versus traditional cutesy baby stuff (which we all love, too, of course!)  I tried to get back to the basics of what I really love.... incorporating creativity with the home and surroundings, and not falling back on "backdrop" type pictures.  He is a precious little baby!  Wide awake and alert at only 10 days.  He definitely didn't sleep and let us move, tug, tuck, and pose him, but I love his little expressions and love these pics of him and handsome big bro!