A Picture of your Dream Job

Two Christmases ago, I got this…

And I couldn’t have been more thrilled.  And then I became overwhelmed.  It took great photos on auto, but I knew they could be even better on manual.  And then there is Photoshop.  Trying to learn how to really use my camera on manual settings and do the basics in Photoshop was about more than I could handle at first.  I’ve learned a lot since then, but I have a lot more to learn.  I love the idea of taking portraits for a side job, but at the same time, it scares me.  I don’t feel like I’m experienced enough to handle it.  More often than not, people want their picture taken for big events, or when they have a group of people together that don’t get to see each other very often.   That’s a lot of pressure, and as I discovered over Thanksgiving break, sometimes when you are under pressure, you blank out.  At least I did!  It was a good learning experience though, which everyone needs, right?  So for the next year, I’m going to go into “portfolio building” mode.  I want to try to do as many portraits as I can of different types… couples, teens, kids, families, babies, etc.  I’m hoping that if I practice enough, I’ll be ready to make some money off this hobby of mine in a year from now.  I’m also planning on signing up for some classes over at the local community college that start in January.  I’ll admit, I’m nervous about that too.  Every time I think about putting myself in a group setting with other photographers, I panic… but I just need to have more confidence in myself!  So, it’s official – if you know me and want me to take your pictures, I will!  Free of charge – as long as I can include any pictures I take of you or your family in my portfolio.  Win, win, right?

Portrait Class Recap

Things I learned in my Rec Center Photo Class:

1.  Try to do portraits during the “golden hour”… one hour before sunset.  And always have a reflector on hand.  The other “golden hour” of the day is one hour after sunrise, but I’m NOT a morning person, so not sure how often that will work out.

Check out how evenly lit Robin’s face is with the use of this reflector!  The sun is shining directly onto the left side of her face, but the reflector makes both sides look great!  (FYI, our teacher is a huge lover of “props”, hence the boxing gloves!)  Of course, for the real portrait, I would have made sure the reflector isn’t in the photo!

2.  Shoot in RAW.  I’ve always been afraid of RAW, but I shouldn’t have been.  It’s   A.  MAZE.  ING.  It does help to have a book (or person) to show you how do so some of the basics.  Shooting in “Manual” mode is important too.  Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t.  Manual is a real trial and error process. 

Above picture taken straight out of Camera (SOOC).  Below, same photo with a “vibrance boost” using the adjustment sliders in the RAW converter and then cropped.  Super easy and doesn’t look “over edited”.

3.  Be willing to invest in good photo editing software.  We all want great photos straight out of the camera, but in today’s world, editing is what gives your pics that extra “pop”. 

      

I’ve heard good things about Adobe Lightroom, but didn’t understand just how cool it was until I saw my teacher use it.  It is the ideal software for photographers who shoot in RAW format exclusively because you can do all your RAW adjustments in the program and then convert large batches of photos into JPEG (or other) formats with one command.  I would have asked for this for my birthday, but I really want a MAC too…. and all things must be purchased in order.  No sense in buying this program for my PC if I am going to be getting a MAC anytime soon.  I’m nothing if not patient. 

4.  Don’t leave home without the tripod.  You never know when you will need it.  None of us had a tripod for this shot, so we used the table.  Have you ever seen these kind of shots and wondered how they do it?  I’ll tell you… It’s a 15 second long shutter release.  The guy in the middle (our teacher) is holding as still as possible (which is why he’s not smiling) and someone else is running around him holding colored lights and waving them all over the place.  Awesome, no?  I can’t wait to try this with my kids, once I get my tripod fixed.

5.  Take More Classes!  Taking this one class rejuvenated my desire to go back to school.  I don’t want to get a degree or anything fancy, I just want to take some classes to solidify my knowledge base.  I’ve been reading all over blog-land how many fabulous photographers have “self taught” themselves, but I’ve come to realize that I just don’t have the right personality for that.  I enjoy figuring stuff out on my own, but I really prefer the classroom format where someone else is outlining the curriculum.  I found out that the nearest community college to me has a pretty decent number of photography/Photoshop classes.  And they have classes during the day that work for my schedule so I can still be free in the evenings for the kids.   Cheap and convenient?  Don’t think it gets much better than that! 

Comfort Zone

I was spotlighted today in Primary… you know the drill where they have everyone stand up and then when they say something that doesn’t describe you, you sit down?  Ultimately, when they are done reading all the clues there will be just one person left standing.  They started with “This person likes to go the movies and eat buttery popcorn with her family….”   I instantly knew it was me.  I remember writing that on my questionnaire.  FYI, I also like eating Cheese Enchiladas and Brownies.  My favorite primary song is Scripture Power, my favorite book of scripture is Alma (all sixty-something chapters), but oddly enough, my favorite Book of Mormon prophet is Abinadi.  When I “grow up”, I want to be a Photographer…  and I enjoy learning about Photoshop.   I was actually kind of embarrassed when that said that last part aloud.  I knew they would… because I did write it down, but when I heard it being said out loud today by someone else, it felt weird and overly ambitious. 

I was first exposed to photography my senior year in High School when I joined the Yearbook staff.  My neighbor was also on staff and she taught me a few things about developing film and making prints in the dark room.  I was fascinated by it.   Since then, I’ve dabbled off and on in the world of Photography, but never really jumped in with two feet.  After all, I got married during my sophomore year of college and had a baby 2 years later.  I was working full time and dreaming of the day I’d become a full-time stay-at-home-mom.  Being a mom has taken precedence over all my career ambitions, so it’s just been a hobby here and there when I had the time for it. 

Now that my youngest is in 1st grade, I feel like it’s time for me to have some kind of grown up life.  Part of me craves the opportunity to take some classes and really focus on my passion.  Part of me is terrified.  I’ve gotten so comfortable being a hobbyist, and a stay-at-home-mom that I am nervous about putting myself out there.  I’m nervous about being critiqued.  I’m nervous about actually working for real paying clients.  

But thank goodness for friends!  After hearing my spotlight today, a friend told me about a Photography class she signed up for at the local rec center.  It’s 5 weeks, 2 hours a week and super basic, focusing on portraits.  It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have.  She is already signed up and encouraged me to join her if there are still spots left.  I came home, checked it out and YES!  there are still openings.  It starts Tuesday night, which is about the only night of the week that I don’t have other conflicts.  Double bonus! 

It’s time for me to stop fantasizing about being a Photographer and actually do something about it.  I have A LOT to learn, and I’m ready to take the plunge and get to work!   Thanks again, Robin, for the positive peer pressure.  This girl surely needed it!

Rainy Morning

I woke up at 5:45 a.m.  this morning.
(This is NOT supposed to happen on a Saturday).  After going to the little girls’ room, I tried to go back to sleep, but Eric was already awake and we could hear noises from the room next door.   The alarm was set for 6 a.m. so Eric could get up and head for BoSa.  (If you live in the Phoenix area and haven’t had BoSa donuts, you are missing out.  They taste better than Krispy Kreme and they are cheaper!)  Our EQ is in charge of delivering 300 metal chairs to the Mesa Temple this morning, rain or shine.  Eric left with the 3 older kids at 6:45 and headed to the church.  Brayden had climbed into our bed and gone back to sleep, which is exactly what I would have liked to do, but I was wide awake.  (I guess that means I’m officially over the sinus infection that has bested me for the last 4 weeks.)   
So I decided to break out the tri-pod and figure out how to take pictures of moving water.  I’d read some blog tutorials on the subject, but haven’t had the opportunity to practice it.  The above picture is SOOC (straight out of camera) on the "auto" setting.  Just by manipulating the shutter speed, look at what I got next:

This could have been better if I had remembered to check the white balance and ISO.  Both were off, I later discovered.  Oh well, just goofing around this morning anyway.  Here are some shots I thought turned out kinda neat… I was limited to what I could shoot from my front door.  Didn’t have anyone to hold an umbrella so I could venture out into nature.



And when I came into the kitchen to put my camera down, this is what I found waiting for me.  (I’m hoping Brayden won’t want his… then I can have both!)
Today is the kind of day I really wish I had a fireplace… I feel bad for Eric and the kids… the rain is getting worse and they are out hauling chairs around in it.  I think I better have a nice big hot breakfast with hot chocolate waiting for them when they get back.

April Showers

Yesterday it rained.  Rain in April is rare and a welcomed sight after the heat wave we had just a week ago.   I’m still trying to do that picture a week challenge from MCP (see the sidebar for a link) but some weeks are easier than others.  This week the challenge was to edit a photo using a new action set they are selling on their website.  There is a free mini version you can test out before you commit to buying.  Check out this edited version of the above photo.  This is why I must continue to learn Photoshop skills, or in this case, Photoshop cheats.  Amazing results!

In case you are still wondering, this is a picture of yesterday’s rain hitting the surface of my pool. 

FAQ

Every time I see ladies from church, the first question they ask me (without fail) is,

“So what are you doing with all your free time now that you aren’t Relief Society President?”

It’s a valid question.  For years, I fantasized about this day and wondered what my answer would be. 

The Short answer is this:  I’m playing “catch up” from the last 2 years.

The Long answer is, well…. LONG.   (I won’t have my feelings hurt if you stop reading now.)

For example, I was stunned this morning to realize it’s been nine days since I last posted on my blog.  Nine days!  When did that happen?  And I have my blog set as my home page so I see it often.  (I keep it as my home page so that I will remember to keep it up to date more… a reminder multiple times a day to not forget blogging.)  It’s not like I’m sitting on the couch all day watching Oprah and eating Bon-Bons.  (For the record, I lost all respect for Oprah a few years ago when she and Gail when on a Road-Trip where they had to drive themselves, check into regular hotels and eat average food, like the rest of us… what spoiled brats they were!)  I haven’t even had time to sit and watch TV yet this week!

This is what I have been working on for the last week.  It’s almost been six years since we bought this house… it’s about time I had a living room worthy of company.  It’s still not done yet, but progress is being made, finally!  It’s amazing what window treatments will do.  (A super shout out to my cousin-in-law, Tiffany, who inspired me finally with an idea that would look great in this room!)

I have this long list of projects and deep cleaning/dejunking chores that I want to whittle away at for the next several months.   Things like:

*finish I-spy quilt

*paper scrapbook the remainder of 2006

*digital scrap Jan-Aug 2009

*make a plan to scrap 2007-2008 (digital, paper, or both?)

*learn how to shoot in manual (on my camera)

*learn about clipping masks in PSE

*decorate laundry room

*window treatments for Taylor’s room and Game room

*take a magic eraser to my entire house (baseboards, doors, doorjambs, trim, stair rail, etc.)  I probably need 5-6 magic erasers to do this job

*clean windows, inside and out (I will have to hire someone eventually to clean my outside upper level windows)

*clean out dead plants from yard

*plant new plants where plants have died (most of my yard falls into this category)

*pull weeds from backyard

*exercise more regularly

*read scriptures daily, study Sunday lessons and read Ensign monthly

*write the life history of my Grandpa and continue to research his family tree

*de-junk closet under the stairs and guest room

And amidst all that, I am going to Science Camp with Ian in March,  we are planning for a Disneyland/San Diego trip over spring break, Girls Camp, EFY and Cub Scout Day Camp all in June and a visit home in late June, early July. 

Some of these chores will take less than an hour of time, some will take days and some are on-going daily things that will never go away.  I expect to feel like I am in a constant state of “catch-up” for the next six months… when summer break is ended and the kids start school again in late July, I think that might be the time that I actually start to get restless and bored… but with this list to work on, I will have plenty to keep me busy for a very, Very, VERY long time!

MCP Project 52

Last week I stumbled across a blog that has a photography challenge that intrigued me.  So I took the plunge and signed up.  MCP Project 52 is a photo challenge that involves taking one photo a week based on a theme that the blog owner chooses.  I didn’t get in on it early enough to do the first week, but this is my photo for the Week 2 challenge.   I really had a hard time actually coming up with an idea.  The challenge was to “Illustrate a Song”.  If you are like me, you are thinking, “huh?”  That’s what I was thinking.  I spent all week trying to think of different songs I like and how I could take a picture that would relate to each song.  That line of thinking got me nothing.  Then this afternoon, on the last day of the challenge, I decided to just go for a walk around my neighborhood and take some pictures of whatever interested me.  I figured I could come home and Google ideas for songs that would go with the photo, after I’d found a good picture to use.  So, here it is… a tree that is actually dropping it’s leaves in mid January!  I picked the song, “Hazy Shade of Winter” by the Bangles.  Come check out what other photos have been uploaded here.  And let me know if you decided to sign up… I would love to have friend to brainstorm with!