This is one of my truest friends, and I was honored to photograph her with her truest friends. Two sweet pups... makes me miss having dogs around the house. 

Shooting pets is super fun and often happens super fast! When I am shooting very active pets, I actually take my camera OFF OF MANUAL MODE *GASP!!*

I use the Aperture Mode. This way I can set my f-stop to whatever I want and the camera will compensate with the "best" exposure time. A lot of times, the image is quite a bit darker than I would like, but I'd rather get a darker shot than MISS the shot because my finger couldn't move the dial fast enough!

Life is Beautiful, and I'm Going to Photograph the Real You

In college, I first majored in Graphic Design. That's when I fell in love with Adobe Photoshop. I do SO love Photoshop. I love a good Photoshop Challenge. I've had friends ask to put nun habits on a friend in a photo, put someone's arm around a polar bear, make the shape of land masses on the earth into a guitar shape, put heads onto body builders or celebrity bodies, transform kids into their favorite characters, and added people to groups that weren't present for the photo. 

I have erased people and objects from backgrounds. I have turned frowns into smiles, I have open closed eyes. I can switch heads in my sleep.

I can work miracles, people!

But there are some Photoshop skills that I just don't do when I edit photos of people. 

When people ask me to whiten teeth, brighten eyes, smooth skin, erase wrinkles, and/or even trim their figures, I take a stance.

I do VERY minimal re-touching on my photos. I will re-touch temporary problems. For instance, acne. Ugh! I get it. The breakouts come on the day of the shoot, but they eventually go away. When a child comes for yearly photos and has a bruise or scratch on their face, consider it gone. 

But all the other things... it's life, and it's BEAUTIFUL. 

I don't smooth out newborn skin, because no baby comes out without red blotchy skin, and it's beautiful.

I don't brighten eyes, because eyes are bright anyway, and you are not a snake.

I'm not going to take away wrinkles, because growing older is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. 

Self Portrait. Taken with a shutter remote : )

We are all different. We are all special. I feel like it's my job to capture your REAL, special moments. 

Everyone knows life is not perfect, and it confuses me so much that we still try to make it look perfect (whether in photos or on social media). 

So, let's smash that ideal. When you take photos, capture moments: cheesy smiles, cuddles, dips, silly outfits, fits, sad moments, happy moments... capture it all to remember what real life is like.

This was the saddest day of my life so far...

It's so hard to take a selfie with a DSLR.

Scariest night of my life so far...

Capture it all. Keep it real. Even if it's on your phone.

Tips for Wintry Photos -- When the Weather Isn't Cooperative

It's December 18th. DECEMBER 18th.

There is nothing but a mere dusting of snow on the ground. I still see grass.

Stupid.

I am certainly not complaining about the fact that we have had an extremely unusual fall. November brought some 50 degree days. It was amazing.

But, I'm over it. Though I very much dislike sub zero temperatures, I do very much like the snow. When I had kids, I started to love it!

I love December, because (usually) there is snow, but it's not quite as cold and January and February.

Well, image my frustration when I scheduled a photo session for December 13th, and minutes before the family shows up, it starts pouring rain. RAIN. In December.

What makes things worse, they were so excited for wintry/outdoorsy photos! They came with the cutest coordinating hats, scarves, and mittens. Ugh.

I channeled my inner Tim Gunn because, it was a "make it work" moment. 

I am so thankful for my screen porch. Since it was rain, that meant it was warm enough that we could at least be "outside" on my porch.

So, when you can't go outside, but still want to create a wintry feel:

Tip #1 - Add some twinkle.

Set your subject a few feet in front of a background lit with Christmas lights, and use a wide open (at least 2.0) aperture to create some beautiful sparkly bokeh.

Since my tree was up, we used that. The look could totally change if the ornaments were simply taken off or the tree used was white or a fun metallic. 

Tip #2 - Use a White blanket

Using a white (maybe even furry) blanket automatically adds a feeling of needing warmth in the cold, and obviously, the white makes us think about snow. Right?

Tip #3 - Use Other Wintry Looking Props

I like this silver frame. It's very playful.

And then, wrap everyone up in a blanket.

It *kind of* looks like I added a snow overlay outside, but I assure you, IT'S RAINDROPS.

Tip #4 - Add your own snow!

This tutorial from Teal Garcia photography is great AND includes the overlays as well.

Here are some free (commercial use even) Photoshop brushes from Joe Cavasos.

Woo HOO! SNOW!

I Make Some Artists Mad -- Why I Believe in Accessible and Free

I am an artist. I love to create. I will make stuff and take photographs whether I get paid or not.

Most artists would do the same. In our love and passion for what we do, artists are usually united.

It's our views on how much we should get paid to share our craft is where we clash.

I have been in the company of other artists and photographers who complain about other artists who just "give their stuff away" or "are so cheap they totally devalue art and other artists."

There are artists out there who absolutely lose it if their photos or art are posted to a blog without permission or copied or scanned and distributed.

I just sit and listen and sort of slump down in my corner, because well, they would hate me.

Some would say that I have a "middle class mentality" and they are probably right. I don't have a desire to be wealthy, and I really want art to be accessible to more than those with a lot of money. It makes me angry that someone can't have good quality family photos, because they can't afford them. Why are people more deserving of art because they have more money?

Why is art a luxury?

When I price and package things, I really try to think about what I, myself, would ultimately like to pay for something. I do take into consideration man hours and expenses and all of that as well. I feel like what I come up with is reasonable. I certainly don't feel I am devaluing myself. In fact, I know there are people that still can't afford what I charge, but certainly more people can. 

I am kind of astounded to see price listings for the prints that you often HAVE to order through the photographer. Usually a minimum of $500?! Then, every time you need another print, it's another charge, because the images belong to the artist. It makes no sense to me. 

What the heck am I going to do with photos of your family?! Why hoard images of other people? 

The other reason I am willing to sell things at an affordable price or give them away is simply because of my minimalist lifestyle. I don't want this stuff piling up in my studio! I don't want it sitting around taking up space I need to make more stuff! 

As for the art I give away, that's my prerogative isn't it? My art is not your art. My living is not your living. If your copyright is yours, then, mine is mine. Don't say I'm devaluing the arts. I value my art so much that I want everyone to see it and be encouraged by it! I don't want to hide it away until someone purchases it.

All of this to say. Enjoy some free art! Print it out and frame it. It makes for beauty (and encouragement) in your home.

The Last Days of Summer -- Eau Claire, WI, Family Photographer

This day was super beautiful. I was sweating in September. It just makes me think that we are going to get clobbered this winter...

Photography tip:

My favorite lens for taking single person portraits in a 50 mm opened up to f2.0. That's how you get a lovely blurred background (that blur is called bokeh). 

The Four Year Old Filter... or Lack There Of

Heaven help me. I have a four year old. I love her more than words can say. She is lively, smart, cute, beautiful and all those good things.

Some days... the four year old (lack of) filter makes me wanna crawl in a whole and die -- dramatic? I get that from my four year old.

Like a few weeks ago, my neighbor came over. While we were chatting, Gwenyth walks up to my neighbor, presses on her belly and says, "What do you HAVE in there?"

I. Was. Mortified.

My neighbor had the BEST reaction. Without pause, with the biggest smile, she replied, "That is where I keep my giggles!" Brilliant. Brilliant I say!

Thank goodness, my neighbor has small children. She knows. She understands.

I know Gwenyth meant no harm. She was clueless and just very curious. So, how do we teach our young ones about filters? Is is just setting the example? It is just a conversation after the fact? I don't want her to think that curiosity and questions aren't a good thing.

Any advice or funny lack of filter stories welcome and encouraged in the comments!

In the mean time, I'm gonna show off my beautiful girl : )

She loves coloring and drawing. What a coincidence! So do I...

That sweater was hand knit by my sister-in-law's mother. My SIL wore it when she was little. Gwenyth (and I) LOVE it. She's going to grow out of it very soon. A sad day that will be.

This is her third pair of sparkle shoes. She'll wear sparkle shoes when she's 30, right?

My photography tip for today doesn't have to do with anything technical. It's just a reminder to photograph the special details of life (like clothes and shoes). Get your subject in the action of doing the things they love to do. I never want to forget what her little hands looked like when she held crayons. I want to remember how well loved and worn her sparkle shoes were.

Those things you think you won't forget... record them!