~Lifestyle Product Photography~
13 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lifestyle Product Photography - BabyHawk Slings, Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Child Photographer, Boulder Family Photographer, Boulder Photography, Child Photographer, Natural Light Photographer, Product Photography
So, I am still sharing some of the great products we photographed at Chautauqua during the Stacey Potter Baby Lifestyle Product Photography Workshop. This time it is these amazing slings by BabyHawk. SO many wonderful fabrics. And an amazing group of models. I am always amazed at how well the kids hold up when they have to hang out and wait and we walk them all over the place. It helps that we were out in the lovely weather, but still, I have three kids and I know the odds are against us parents when it comes to little ones and mood changes! And the babies were passed from person to person without any fuss.
One of the greatest benefits to participating in workshops is the camaraderie with all the other photographers. It is always such a wonderful experience to be surrounded by people who share your passion and can relate to the same things. And yet everyone has a unique story, a slightly different vision, a variation to what you think and do. Gives you new perspective and appreciation for photography.
And I definitely feel like a sponge when it comes to my work. Some days I see everything through my lens even if I am not carrying my camera. I can become obsessed with capturing certain things, like light or contrasts or emotions or random unusual things I see. And I always want to get better. Always. I am constantly searching for new ways to see things and new things to photograph.
On a new exciting front my husband has just launched his new business, Wild Goose Imaging and I am the Project Manager for the company which is very thrilling. He designed a self-cleaning underwater camera system that streams live web-based video. The bonus to this is that I get to travel to amazing places and work on my underwater photography. And, wow, that is a whole new enchilada. Just one more avenue for my passion. And I get to dive. And see beautiful coral reefs and turtles and whales and sharks and dolphins… Well, usually. Sometimes we are helping with research in areas where the coral reefs have been destroyed due to pollution, over-fishing and climate change. But there it feels good to be helping to bring awareness and education to the public and to help researchers with their work. We do this, mostly, through our non-profit group Teens4Oceans which works to empower our youth to become impassioned stewards for their oceans through education, experiential learning, scientific research, and innovative technologies. So, I guess you could say I keep myself pretty busy! But I get to make my life’s work about things that I am passionate about so it makes it all seem like play!
~More Lifestyle Product Photography~
08 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lifestyle Product Photography - Bruz Wear Pants, Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Child Photographer, Boulder Family Photographer, Boulder Photographer, Bruz Wear Pants, Lifestyle Product Photographer, Natural Light Photographer
OK. So did I mention that the Baby Lifestyle Product Photography Workshop that Stacey Potter held was a full two days of shooting, learning and sharing? That translates to around, oh, 1000 photos or so. Even after deleting and choosing there are still SO many left! But as I work my way through them I will post and share each product with all of you. Did I mention we had seven different products that we shot?
So, as I continue to work on my photography, like with most things in life, I am more and more aware of my style and how to capture photos the way I see things. I am very, very much a photojournalist. I know this term has become something lots of people like to throw around, but it is truly how I express myself on film. It becomes very obvious when I take notice of those images around me that really draw me in and hit me emotionally. This is on my mind today as Stacey had us do an “assignment” involving cutting out images, font, color or anything that makes you feel good. Well, my collection of magazines is this: Discover, Time and Newsweek! So, you can imagine the images I am cutting out. But I have always been drawn to photos that have emotion. Less looking into the camera and more interactions and real emotions. Makes me feel like I am right there in the photo.
Brings up my favorite quote (author unknown): When people pose they show their personality. Spontaneous moments show their vulnerability.
So I am always trying to capture that feeling in my work. I think that may be why I love being a wedding photographer so very much. There is always so much going on and EVERYONE is happy (even when they are crying!!) and there are constant moments of emotion and love. And being a family and child photographer also gives me tons of opportunity to catch those little exchanges between mom and dad and kids and babies.
OK, where was I. Oh yes, the workshop and the next wonderful product I got to shoot. It is this amazing company called Bruz Wear pants. I also had the pleasure of meeting and sharing with the owner, Kathryn Ames. She started Bruz Wear after her son was diagnosed with severe Hemophilia, a bleeding disorder caused by a lack of clotting protein. She designed this adorable line of pants with padded knees to help with the discomfort of crawling on his black and blue knees. Are these not the most funky adorable pants ever?!
~Lifestyle Product Photography~
08 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lifestyle Product Photography - JP Lizzy Bags, Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Child Photographer, Boulder Photographer, JP Lizzy Designer Bags, Lifestyle Product Photographer, Natural Light Photographer, Product Photography
Two weekends ago I attended a Baby Lifestyle Product Photography Workshop in Boulder put on by my very good friend, Stacey Potter of Stacey Potter Photography. This was her first workshop of this kind so we were all, sort of, guinea pigs. And I have to say, aside from a couple of hiccups, the workshop did not feel like a first-time event. She has a lot of knowledge and experience to share and did a fantastic job cramming our heads with all sorts of valuable information. And I met a great group of photographers as well. We had the opportunity to shoot seven different, amazing products, nearly all of which are local, mom owned Colorado businesses. We have a ton of really fantastic, creative entrepreneurs right here in our backyards!
I have to say how wonderful it was to be surrounded by all these talented women photographers, sharing our stories and learning from each other. I am pretty sure most people have no idea the amount of work it takes to produce really great photography. No matter what your style or focus you can always learn something new, make your art better, try new techniques and hone in on your skills. I know the people who truly appreciate photography understand that it takes more than a fancy camera and a huge lens. It even takes more than “a good eye”…which is how I started out! And you would think that photographers would guard their “secrets” and knowledge and all the things they have learned along the way. But we all want to share and learn together. I have been a photographer for over 10 years now but have really been working hard at it for the last four. The first years were spent as a second shooter for a long time friend and amazing photographer, Tanja Butler-Malone of Contemporary Expressions in Denver. I pretty much went along to change out the film (yup, before digital really hit) and fluff dresses. Then when Tanja went digital and had two cameras she handed me one at a wedding and told me to shoot. Had NO idea what I was doing. Used auto. But, by the next wedding I was getting lessons and being tutored because she was using my shots. And that was it. I was hooked. Haven’t stopped since. Well, stopped a few times along the way just long enough to have three children… Anyway, I love photography and mastering my Lifestyle Product Photography is just one more lesson of many.
And big kudos to the gorgeous moms who not only got themselves all beautiful but their little ones as well. And then we marched them all over Boulder from the Court house to this spectacular boutique, Poppy, right here in Downtown Boulder. All the while we are bossing them about and making googly faces at their babies. Total troopers!
I think I will start with these amazing designer diaper bags by JP Lizzy. So gorgeous. They make these truly spectacular designer diaper bags that look more like something on the fashion runway then something carrying nappies and wipes. Made me wish I had a baby just to have a reason to buy one! And, as you admire all these wonderful products, let it remind you to shop locally whenever possible and support our Colorado economy.
~ Happy 50th Anniversary ~
24 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Happy 50th Anniversary, Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Child Photographer, Boulder Family Photographer, Boulder Photography, Natural Light Photographer
I absolutely LOVE big group photos. There is always so much going on and so much to capture! This is one of my favorite families, and they brought along some “extended” family members, including the grandparents who just happened to have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day! Yup. So, every year pretty much the whole city celebrates with them! So, I thought I would open with their photo taken at Chautauqua. I have to admit I almost cried when I edited this. I hope my husband and I look that much in love on our 50th…and that great!! Congratulations! (Oh, and the kids are kinda cute too!)
~Erinn & Charles~
14 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Erinn & Charles Tags: Boulder Photography, Fort Collins Wedding, Photography, wedding
If I were to sum up this gorgeous day, and this adorable couple I would have to use these two words: lighthearted and tender. The day was filled with details and lots, and lots of laughter. I have not laughed this much at a wedding for a long time. And I think it is obvious how excited they are to not only be starting a new life together, but to be starting a new family as well. They were both radiant. Thank you for sharing your special, amazing day with me.
~Lia & Kenneth~
14 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Photographer, Boulder Wedding, couples, wedding, Wedding Phtographer
Every Wedding has a life of its own. Every one is unique and beautiful. This day, this couple shared so many sweet, tender moments. The kind only two people blissfully in love can share. It was truly hard to take your eyes off of them. There was just so much emotion and good energy with the whole family. I always feel so honored to be a part of a couples wedding. And I always cry at some point. It is never the same moment, but there is always one. This wedding was no exception. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day.
~Sofia and John~
07 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Ewing Family Tags: Boulder Family Photographer, Child Photographer, Natural Light Photographer
OK, first things first. BIG hugs and thank yous to the gorgeous Sofia and the lively John for being patient with me while I bossed them around and, oh my gosh, made them look at each other! I really appreciate both of you being so wonderful and having fun with me!
I don’t think I have ever seen “props” fly around so quickly! We must have played around with just about everything you can think of. Well, almost everything. One of the giant lollypops broke. Just one. But, all of us with more than one child understand that one lollypop and two children, well, does not work! We also managed to squeeze this shoot in just before our lovely Fall weather went south. Now, if the poor trees could just drop their leaves before yet another snow…
~Horses & Chickens & Ducks…oh my!~
27 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Horses & Chickens & Ducks...oh my!
My kids were invited to our wonderful friends home for an afternoon of horseback riding, horse grooming, chicken carrying and lots of fun playing with their three dogs and their cat. Yes, we had to drag our children away. What kid wouldn’t want to have horses, ducks, chickens, dogs and a cat? So, I thought I would share a few photos from our lovely fall afternoon. Especially now that we have had our first snow!
~Rose & (almost!) Kyotie~
26 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Rose & (almost!) Kyotie, Uncategorized
OK, this is one of my favorite families to photograph. Seriously, SO much personality. But…this particular day…well…
Raise your hand if you have had a bad day. Raise it again if you have been witness to your children having a bad day. Now, introduce someone wanting you to smile. Not the best combination! We did give it a good try though. And we did get to enjoy some gorgeous weather together. Even though we are having a re-do, I wanted to share just a couple photos and say thank you to my dear friends, Rose and Kyotie, for hanging out with me!
~Gabby & Rebecca~
21 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Gabby & Rebecca, Uncategorized Tags: Boulder Child Photographer, Boulder Family Photographer, Boulder Photographer, Natural Light Photographer
As I sit here, looking out my window at this amazing fall, I have to keep reminding myself that winter is just around the corner. Now, as you all know, I am big fan of the summer. But I also enjoy the winter. OK, I guess I enjoy all the seasons. It is so fantastic to live where we can have a bit of all of them. But I am loving this fall. The colors are just breathtaking. Especially at sunset.
Gabby was, quite possibly, the most fun-loving, free-spirited and beautiful young lady I have had the honor of photographing! She just lights up the camera. And she had no problem letting loose and having a good time. And little Henry, her new little pup, brought unbounding, non-stop energy to the session. The best moment was when barreled down the path, found the stream and just jumped right in. I learned this was his first water experience. This became obvious when he came flying back out again like his tail was on fire! I managed to get just this one photo of him. Yes, he moved that fast. These two gorgeous gals were SO much fun and I had such a lovely time it was almost a shame to have the sun go down on us.
