Lets Talk LIGHT {Lighting Tips}

Okay, when it comes to Photography your job focuses a LOT on LIGHT!!!!! Today we are going to talk about using old Mr. Sun to your advantage :) So anyone with even a point or shoot can take some tips away from this!!! Keep in mind that I am entirely self taught, so if it doesn't make sense, I am sorry :) Next time I will touch on the TRIANGLE of light that is ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed (if you don't understand those words back away from the camera and run and find your manual). There are SO MANY keys that go into getting a good photograph, but today we'll start with good old Natural lights and its effects on your images. Are you ready? Good, lets get started.

Mr. Sun is my friend! I don't like using a flash either indoor or out, so I depend on that big ball of gas burning up above me :) If you are an early bird the first light before the sun comes over the horizon (or mountains here in Utah) is gorgeous. You can't really go wrong with natural diffused light. As the sun comes up and gets high you should usually run indoors and scream, well unless you have ample amounts of open shade. Usually when the sun is up at 12 noon though shade is a rare comodity to come by. Since I brought it up let us talk shade for one moment :) Shade is a beautiful thing to a photographer! Now, I know some of you will say, "I've shot in shade before and my client is dark." Well, which way did you have them face? In shade you want your client to face toward the LIGHT SOURCE. Does that make sense? So if you are under a big tree, don't have them face toward the trunk, turn them around and face them toward the LIGHT! YAY, now you have some yummy light :). You can also get yourself (camera and lens) in some shade then you don't have to use fill flash. Some days you get OVERCAST, you should be shouting HOORAY!!! Naturally diffused light at anytime of the day, seriously is something to get excited about! Although overcast light can leave your images a tad cooler toned, but you can warm that up later in photoshop. Okay, let's talk the EVENING mmmmm........ That is when I choose to shoot! I typically schedule a shoot 2 to 3 hours before the sun sets (depending on the type of shoot). In the evening you can shoot as you would with open shade (you just have a much wider space to do it in, or you can choose to get some BACKLIGHT! Yes, you want beautiful sun flare or rays of light? Well one key to this is a higher fstop (but we aren't talking about that today). Really backlight is more complicated and you need to adjust away in your camera to get it looking good and your client properly exposed. One tip anyone can use though is to get you and your lens in the shade so that the sun doesn't completely flood your lens and blow out the image. Does any of that make sense. It's harder to put into words then you'd think ;) Go out a play around in all types of light (don't use a client to practice on!) I use my kids when I want to just go play and try new things. Here are a few images in different lighting situations :)
OVERCAST

OPEN SHADE

OPEN SHADE

BACKLIGHT

BACKLIGHT

DIRECT WINDOW LIGHT

MMMMM..... LOVE the little RAINBOW, LIGHTSOURCE coming through the trees above.

HARSH to the side

HARSH directly above (I was in the shade for this shot)

Silhouette (sun directly behind client)


If you have questions feel free to leave a comment, I will try to answer them the best that I can ;)

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!!!

KARLIE RAE!!!!!!
I posted the link on my blog http://karlieparry.blogspot.com/2011/01/sassafrass-giveaway.html



#65 (I can't get the stupid widget to show the number!)

Congratulations!!! Just email me at sassafrassphotography@gmail.com and I'll give you your time and information! Thanks

Mini Session Giveaway!!!!

Are you feeling the LOVE?!?! I am holding an Indoor Mini Session Saturday February 5th!! So I thought it might be super fun to have a little mini session give away :) The mini sessions are a half hour child session (up to two kids), with ten edited hi res images on cd with print release!!!! A $100 value!!! There are also several ways to enter, so more chances to win too!!! YAY! Look for the ways you can enter below! All entries must be in by next Tuesday, January 26th.



Here's how to enter!

1- Become a Fan on Facebook! Then come back here and leave a comment that you are a fan :) (I will check, so don't go fibbing)
2- Post a link on your blog announcing the giveaway, then come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog so I can check it out :)
3-Share this on Facebook with a link to my website about the giveaway!!! Then of course come back and leave a comment saying that you did :)

Let's share the GIVEAWAY LOVE, because if you do, you have more chances to win :)

Large Print Sale

From now until January 31st you can BOGO half off on large prints. Your print just needs to be 16x20 or larger and you can get a second large print for 50%off. It can be a different image or a different size, just a 16X20 or larger!!!! Don't wait this sale only comes around once a year :) So order you large prints now before January 31st! Thanks

For The LOVE of MINI SESSIONS

It's that time again! I will be having some indoor mini sessions Saturday February 5th! Mini sessions are a 30 minute session for $100 (up to 2 children, $20 each additional child). You get a CD with 10 edited images and print release, that is a savings of $50!!! The times to choose from are listed below, don't wait they go quickly! Thanks


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 5th-

11:30- (Taken)
12:00- (Taken)
12:30-
1:00-
1:30- (Taken)
2:00- (Taken)

Call or email me to pick your time slot :) www.sassafrassphotography@gmail.com or #801-440-7165

Winter Wonderland

I decided to head out and take advantage of the beautiful snow here in Utah! I know so many people fear the cold weather for a photo shoot, but pictures can really turn out so beautifully. Just dress to suit the weather is my philosophy! I about died when I found these furry leg warmers, definitely a fun find ;)

Custom Photography- My Story

I remember taking my daughter to get Christmas pictures when she was two. I won't name names, but the studio sounded something close to Niddie Nandids :) Just days before she had fallen and gashed her cheek! It was only about an inch long, but was still really red and not too appealing. I didn't have weeks to wait so I took her in thinking, they'll just turn the other cheek ;) I remember every time we went I specifically had to ask "Please no cheesy backdrops, just the plain ones!" Yep, I didn't want the fake woodland scene or winter scape. Back to the story we went and they took about 10 shots. The photographer was about 16/17 years old and didn't give a crap whether or not my daughter glaring cheek faced here nor there. In every image you could she the gash. Out of the 10 images only about 5 were even usable, and you guessed it THEY DON'T REMOVE CUTS ON CHEEKS. Well now to order prints (my old favorite) if you get a 5X7 sheet it has to be the same image for both. So really by the time you were done you walked away with one or two images, unedited (unless you want a quick grayscale change, what I like to call muddy black and white), with prints that were printed off on the back printer.
Yep, that was when I started begging for a camera for Christmas. I had no intention on being a professional photographer, I just wanted some REAL pictures of my kiddos. It took another year and a half before I got my first DSLR camera. I started taking pictures of the kids and messing around in photoshop (I had acquired it to do digital scrap booking). Well I was shocked when friends started asking how much I would charge to do their kids' pics too! Wow, I could actually make money doing something I enjoyed? Who knew ;) I had taken some film photography classes in high school, but the digital arena was new to me. I READ blogs, and PRACTICED my brains out. I had two models always at my disposal :) My first key information that really stuck with me was read over at MCP's blog. An other photographer had been interviewed and asked what they thought was really important about finding yourself as a photographer..... the answer "Find your niche and stick with it!" Well I am a pretty out going person and I love color :) I've never been the girl who prefers black as my main stay clothing choice :) I decided to go for a bold, contrast, and color in my images. Did I say that and then poof my images were just what I wanted? Once again, heck no! It takes time to find your style. Don't rush it :) Not to mention I'm always evolving and tweaking just a bit!
Now here's something that may shock a lot of stay at home Mom's who think I'm going to go buy a camera and become a photographer too! I am a firm believer in TALENTS. I actually have never thought of myself as a very talented person. I always think there's room for improvement with me, and I'm definitely my own worst critic. Now don't get me wrong I live in Utah where most people say, "Hey I can do that myself and save me some MOOLA!" I would be an extreme hypocrite, wouldn't I, if I said you couldn't do it. HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE I started the business because I fell in LOVE! I didn't want to put my camera down, and I would spend hours enhancing my images. I wore out a computer, well that is too nice a word, I KILLED IT! I still love it! I absolutely, positively LOVE what I do :) I love every single aspect of it. I love taking the picture (aligning my ISO, Aperture, and shutter speed for the perfect shot), I love meeting new clients!, and I love taking each picture home to CREATE! That said, it's a lot of work! I can't imagine it's for everyone either. I know some AMAZINGLY TALENTED people. Are they all photographers, heck no! They do however do things that I can't do, or just have no desire to try myself :) I am so grateful to do something I love so much! I find it rewarding in every way possible. Just remember, everyone is different, that is what makes life so great! I can't do math, I have to add on my fingers. I can not sew a lick, my husband has to sew on buttons for me (don't tell a soul)! I can't sing, and I am not a world class athlete. To be really honest I am actually not very photogenic either! I am okay with all of that though, I am who I am. Don't beat yourself up if you don't become a photographer. I would be in serious trouble if I hated myself for not being able to make my own clothes! I would have to run around nude for sure ;) Something the whole world definitely doesn't want to see!

But I do like to pay if forward :) I am going to start giving you some mini tips to make even your snap shots better :) There are little things that can make any image a little better, even without all the software and glam. So if you care come check by some times and get some tips! If not if you look at it and say, "Hey I like what you do, but I don't want to try it myself, " just book a session and leave all the work to me ;D

Thanks for stopping by :) I hope you at least enjoyed a glimpse at some before and after images!

Deja

Isn't she just beautiful!!!! Deja is a childhood friend who now lives in Louisiana where she works and went to school. Check out her blog www.slateandstylish.blogspot.com where she discusses everything about being blind! You can ask and questions you may have! She is an awesome person both in and out, definitely a wonderful person to look up to! Thanks Deja, I wish you all the happiness in the world!! Congrats on the up coming wedding :)