Recent Photo Favs

I thought today I would share some of my favorite photos for the past couple months. I have really enjoyed working on my photography skills and I love to look back on my photos of my sweet boys often. And guys, I am itching for a new camera! For now my little Rebel will have to do.

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Another photo shoot

Ok, so on my last post (which was forever ago!) I said I wasn't going to do another photo shoot. Well, apparently I lied because I did another one for a friend last night. She wanted a Christmas card picture but I talked her into letting me do storytelling photos first. I only took pictures for about 45-60 min so there weren't a ton, but it was pretty fun. I liked how most of the pictures came out and this is more my speed than posed photos. So, maybe, just maybe, I will really start doing this next year as a business. We will see. But for now, I wanted to share some of my favorite photos!

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My first (and only) photo session

My friend convinced me to take her family photos for her the past weekend and I thought I would share some of my favorites. I enjoyed taking the pictures but I am not sure doing this as a mini-job is something I really want to do. So this may be my one and only 'session' outside my family. ;) Hope you enjoy!

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Triangles, Diagonals, and Patterns in Composition

How is everyone doing? Hanging in there? Well, today is our last day of composition and the rest of the month will be easy breezy! Today's focus will be on adding triangles and diagonals in your photos to make a stronger composition and more interest in the photo. This may be tricky at first but really my favorite pictures just have these elements without me trying. Remember I don't do posed pictures because I don't know how to pose people and my little kiddos don't hold still for more than 2 seconds. All but one of the following examples were not 'posed' so you can see that it is possible to get the shapes in the photo without forcing it. If I get a triangle in my photo, then it is by chance, but it looks good!

Here are some examples of triangles in my photos.

Similarly, diagonals can enhance the composition of your photo. Here are two examples.

Lastly, finding patterns or repetitions can have an impact on your photos, especially if the pattern breaks in the photo. For example, in this photo I took with my camera phone (which is HORRIBLE and my pictures are always awful using it!), there is a pattern of the buckets in the playroom. John's cute little body tucked in the space breaks that pattern and gives interest to the photo.

YOUR challenge is to practice looking for triangles, diagonals, and patterns when taking photos. Share your favorites with the rest of us!

For those smarty pants among us, challenge yourself by finding as many triangles as you can in one shot. Or find triangles and diagonals in subjects you normally don't shoot (nature, architecture, pets, etc). Find triangles in the shadows. Be creative!


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August Challenge- Photography

Hi everyone! I am thrilled you are joining us in this month's challenge. My goals for this month is to introduce you to shooting in manual (for those of you who have that capability with your camera), learn to play with natural light, learn some basics of composition to enhance your photos, embrace photographing your every day life and not a posed fantasy world, and to spark a little creativity in your photographs. Not too much of a tall order in just a short 31 days! :) Hopefully everyone can learn even a smidge about photography...even those of you who solely use a cell phone for their photos.

Think your kids won't sit still long enough for photos? No problem! I don't even know how to do posed photos. :)

Here is a quick overview of the month's plans. You are welcome to go at your own pace since I know we all have busy schedules. Please post photos and questions in our Facebook group page so we can see how you are doing, give praise, and offer constructive criticism!

DATE	TOPIC
Fri, Aug 1	Introductions
Sat Aug 2 *	Shooting in manual - inside the house
Sun, Aug 3	Practice/Share
Mon Aug 4 *	Playing with light inside
Tues Aug 5 *	Shooting manual - outside the house
Wed Aug 6	Practice/share
Thurs Aug 7 *	Auto focus vs toggle focus
Fri Aug 8 *	Cropping, rule of thirds
Sat Aug 9	Practice/share
Sun Aug 10	Practice/share
Mon Aug 11 *	Framing
Tues Aug 12	Practice/share
Wed Aug 13	Practice/share
Thurs Aug 14 *	Shooting in Different Angles
Fri Aug 15	Practice/share
Sat Aug 16	Practice/share
Sun Aug 17 *	Leading lines
Mon Aug 18	Practice/share
Tues Aug 19	Practice/share
Wed Aug 20 *	Triangles/diagonals/patterns
Thurs Aug 21	Practice/share
Fri Aug 22	Back to school photos
Sat Aug 23	Photo shoot somewhere fun
Sun Aug 24	Natural smiles
Mon Aug 25	Self Portrait/mom in picture
Tues Aug 26	Self portrait/mom in picture
Wed Aug 27 *	Photos without faces to tell story
Thurs Aug 28	‘love’
Fri Aug 29	‘home’
Sat Aug 30	Picture at 10am
Sun Aug 31	Significant other

*these dates have a hyperlink to a post with information.

As you can see the bulk of the learning will be the first half of the month and the creativity portion will be the second half of the month.



Again, thanks for joining us and I am eager to see everyone's photos this month!

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