What's in the Studio, Friday?

Some days I find a fantastic new friend in the studio... some day's its an old one. Here is a behind the scenes peek at both that I had visiting this week!

 This is Ano (on-yo), our cat. She took on the job of photo assistant by claiming a spot under my worktable in the studio while I was working this week. In case your wondering... this is her "If you would stop dancing, I could get some sleep." cat face. This photo is fantastic proof that a 1.8 lens is your friend when all the lights in the room are off except one small model light, and your subject is under the table not on it.

This is Genie. She became a new studio employee this week helping out CONSIDERABLY acting as our resident model. My child didn't think it was "proper" to leave her naked when she was done working, so she found something out of the dress up bin for her. If the sparkles don't do you in the chimes will.

Don't forget next week were starting the Feb Photo challenge and the first week will be all about "Inspire" I can't wait!!!

What's in the studio?

Today I am super excited to be working on a project for fellow Indie A-list member 

Krmbal

Not only do I LOVE the designs from owner Tessa - but I have purchased from her for birthdays several times over the past year and each time she has been SUPER wonderful to work with! 

It doesn't hurt my raving opoinin of her at all that she's an owner after my own heart! Krmbal is an indie clothing brand dedicated to eco-friendly and eco-conscious choices! Plus she partners with other small businesses in the indie and local community to help boost our economy and make a real difference. Oh, and one more thing! She also donate a portion of all sales to Kiva borrowers to help others build their small businesses and achieve a greater impact! 

Talk about doing it right!

Here are a few sneak peaks from me test shots this morning...

I can't wait to share her "real" images from today!

The Shutter Priority

Did you know that changing your shutter speed can change the feeling on your images!

This handsome young man is constantly on the go! What better way to capture that spirit and the energy he has than to slow my shutter slightly and capture some motion blur as he waves his hands at me?  If you don't do anything too drastic you won't have a super blurry mess! The secret to this is CONTROL! A little change makes a big difference!

Verte Tip: Shooting a sporting event? Set your camera to the "sports mode" It sets your camera to a fast shutter which FREEZES action! (Or use the S priority (shutter speed) and do it manually!)

Priorities

One of the easiest ways to highlight your subject is to control your depth of field... otherwise known as your aperture.

How MUCH of your subject is in focus. Below is my photo of the day, a bracelet that was in the studio recently crafted by Crafty Gal Creations. I selected a shallow depth of field, or a SMALL aperture setting so that the front would be in focus and the back would blur, drawing your eye to the details in front.

Remember, the smaller your aperture setting (f2.0 or f1.8 etc.) the MORE light you are letting in, and the less depth of field you will have. If I wanted to shoot the same image and have it all in focus I would have turned up my lights and selected a higher number of aperture perhaps a f8, or f11) to create that effect.

Verte Tip: Aperture settings can be selected on MOST cameras! If your camera has the options for P, S,A, M you can select A for Aperture priority so you can select the Aperture and your camera will adjust the rest for you to create the proper exposure! If you have a point and shoot without those manual settings look for the "flower mode" in your presents - this typically has a smaller aperture, where the "mountain" mode is a larger aperture (meaning everything would be in focus)

Join me!

I've heard your comments! So YES! Here it is, this is the list of the words I will be continuing with in Feb for my monthly photo challenge! If you want to join along I would love to see what they inspire from you!

Now, I am a realist! So, I choose to do my PAD challenge a bit different! You get ONE word for the week... and the challenge for me comes from how to represent that word in 5 different ways. (For me a week is M-F... but feel free to include weekends in your personal challenge!

I also include not only the image, but the thoughts on that image, along with a photography tip... or  'how-to' information with each of my images! So you get to learn a little bit along the way!

Scintilate

scin·til·late

[sin-tl-eyt] Show IPA

verb (used without object), scin·til·lat·ed, scin·til·lat·ing.

1.

to emit sparks.

2.

to sparkle; flash: a mind that scintillates with brilliance.

3.

to twinkle, as the stars. 

Today is Dictionary day!!! In our school they celebrate by dressing up as words for the day!  

I wish I could take credit for the fantastic word... however I owe the idea to the fab Kristina from 

http://www.joyfullysmitten.com/

I thought that it was the perfect note to end our week on! 

Keep on shining!

Warmth

Today I thought I would bring you a little sunshine! During the winter months we often forget how bright, and fast summer comes! This was a quick something I snapped in between clients in CO last summer.

Sometimes it pays to stop, and smell the flowers around you.

VERTE TIP: Open your mind! Just because you are out shooting portraits, or animals at the zoo.... doesn't mean there isn't another opportunity if you simply look for it! 

The Reflection Advantage

For this weeks last "retrospect" image I am going to take a look at one more way you can use reflection in your images. Anytime you have water, you have opportunity! This doesn't just apply to lakes, pools or other calm bodies of water although those are the most common. You can also take advantage of reflection off of water droplets, bubbles and wet sand, like I did below!

©Verte Photo Image available for purchase in my shop

This image was taken at sunset in CA on the beach. While most people think that is where the orange tones come from (the orange warm glow of the sunset light) that was not the whole of it! In truth there was a brick colored home much further back on the beach, but at the right angle, and with a smaller aperture I managed to blur the reflection of the house keeping the color but not the detail.


Happy Shooting!

Product reflection

It's a two-fer day!! Here are two examples of how to achieve a reflection in your product photography. 

©Verte Photo / Product supplied by Melli's Trinkets /Melli's YarnWorks

The grey is a reflective background, it is a super gloss finish and when combined with proper lighting it captures a reflection of the product on it. For the home photographer you can achieve this on a white background by picking up a poster board at your local craft store that is a reusable dry erase board. It will be white - but that tends to be better for the home photographer to use due to lighting anyways :)

©Verte Photo / Product provided by Streeter Ltd now Studio1241

This image shows you an alternate way to achieve a reflective surface on any color of background. By using a sheet of plexiglass. You don't see the line on the background where the paper underneath the plexiglass rolls up to create the seamless look because of the aperture setting (shallow depth of field) This was shot at a F3.5 keeping my product sharp, and creating blur everywhere else. Since it is a solid surface you don't see the actual blur so it is not distracting to the image. It simply hides the plexiglass (scratches on it, and the line behind the product from where it stops and the paper continues)

Family

One hundred years.

That's a long time.

It's even longer when you look at it in one image. This image was over 5 years ago, but I can't help reflect back on the moment while we explore our topic this week. This was taken on the weekend of by grandpa's 100th birthday, just months after my daughters birth. We are extremely lucky that my child has gotten to know her Great Grandpa, who is still living on his own, alone and every bit as feisty (and maybe more so) then we remember. When you reflect back on those things that are important to you this week, I hope that you have a few simple memories like this.

VERTETIP: Looking at the camera isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes the true expressions in the moment are much... MUCH more important. Capture the moment, not the perfect shot.

Retrospect

ret·ro·spect [re-truh-spekt]

1.contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc.

Example: in retrospect, in looking back on past events; upon reflection: It was, in retrospect, the happiest day of her life.

 There are moments in everyone's life that you hold close to your heart. Big events are easily remembered and often captured in film or digital such as weddings, births, graduations... and even vacations. Many of us forget to capture smaller moments, everyday moments. Even moments on those days we would rather forget. 

This happens to be an image from one of those days. It was a day in October, and we were vacationing in San Diego. We had a brilliant trip, and this is my mom taking my then one year old to step foot in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. It wasn't a planned shoot, we were just walking on the beach enjoying life. I think this image really captures the moment. When I look back to that day and reflect on this image I remember how peaceful that time with my family was. 

VERTETIP: Change your perspective. This image wouldn't be nearly as cool to me if it was a full body. By keeping it limited to feet I feel that it gives a more unique feel and captures more of the simplicity and discovery of that moment.   

Pop the cork!

Today's image comes to you as part of a product shoot I did for A Bow for Mama, she makes the CUTEST bows to decorate your home, office and even gifts! This little pin bow is attached to a bottle of champagne that I often use as a prop in the studio.

Which brings us to today's VERTE TIP: Tell a story!

In product photography, you want to showcase the product, but adding a practical image such as a way for someone to use the item brings it to life! Using something simple like this bottle, tells a story in the image. It lets you see the product but it also lets you imagine what it could be used for! Celebrate a house warming, announce your engagement... Celebrate and leave your loved one with a little gift they can keep! How fun is that!!!

Celebrate

This weeks photo theme: Celebrate

VERTE TIP: Most people think you need a fast shutter to capture great firework images. The truth is in order to catch the drag in the lights, you need a very SLOW shutter! Pop your camera onto a tripod, and let it go!


This image was shot with a 3.5 aperture / 160 ISO and 1/8 sec shutter - I did hand hold this camera, but it's one of the few that turned out sharp at all.. had I brought my tripod I would have many more fab images to show you!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

I hope this finds each of you in good health and with loved ones!!!

Do you make resolutions? I normally don't, new business goals or family goals... sure... but I don't try to change something about myself. I find this year I am a bit more reflective upon my past and people who have effected my and shaped my life. So this year I do plan on being a bit more thankful for them and I hope to find ways to let them know how each of them mean to me!

This year on the blog you will continue to find great camera tips, product reviews and much more photography! In fact. I am committed to bringing you my version of a Photo a Day. 

I am not even going to try to lie to you and say I will be able to do a new photo every day this month! That's crazy! However, I am going to commit to a photo theme each week, that will be our topic of conversation and host new images as examples. I hope to tie in details about each photo, tips on how to capture similar images etc. Because lets face it.... Images are beautiful to look at, but its the lessons you can learn from them that you will remember 6 months from now!

This weeks theme? Can you guess? 

I will unveil it along with a great tip for you tomorrow! Until then rest, recover and keep shooting!