today was fun

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a member of our local guild, the South Plains Professional Photographers Association. It's a great group of people and I wish I could go to more meetings. It's one of my goals this year to try.

So, today (and last night) we had the wonderful Mr. Tony Corbell teaching a workshop on lighting. Which he is super at, by the way. It was so great to be amoung folks who are obsessed about images just like me. WONDERFUL! I had a great time and now my brain is full of ideas and just what I can do next. WATCH OUT WORLD!

We had a model there and I sat on the front row, of course. All that loud rock music of my youth has made my hearing a bit dull. So, front row baby.

After lunch we went outside and put into practice the same concepts of lighting. Regardless of where the light comes from, it's light. And since I LOVE chasing light, this was a great workshop for me to see how to direct it and shape it according to what we want the finished image to be.

There's Tony is the shot below. He's a great teacher. He's also at Texas School every year, which would be totally awesome, I assume. Tony for a week? I've never been, but I've heard great things. I can't swing a week away from the family and if I could, it would be for Foundation Workshop, which is so so so so on the top of my bucket list to do!!! Texas School is too, maybe someday, but my heart is filled with a yearning to shoot for the story, so someday, somehow, I'll make Foundation.

sigh (insert dreaming time...)

Tony owned and operated a studio out of Midland Texas and knew many of the photographers from this area. They have built strong relationships and it was fun to hear his stories. Kathy presented him with a gift for coming and sharing his knowledge with us measly West Texas folks, and I'm so glad he did. :)

Okay, so on to the images! This is Hannah, who I finally got to meet today. She's a photographer and has the BEST hair! I had never shot with a light meter that I can remember. Maybe I did many moons ago when my gear bag was filled with film? Not sure. But it was great to nail shots straight out of camera! Of course, we had many assistants holding up reflectors, diffusers, black panels, etc. I never have that luxury on a session, but hey, I can use buildings, my white Tshirt, and maybe bribe my kid or a mom or two and get close. very close.

Isn't her hair GORGEOUS!!!

Below is Jason Penn, Christy Penn's Hubby. He's such a great guy and it was so cool to see him and Christy again! Next time, my place, K?

Then if we wanted to shoot studio, indoor, they gave us a shot. Of course, I jumped at that chance and quickly made a fool of myself when I couldn't do the math. but who cares. I tried, and you know what? I understood, which is even better. I know my camera well. Very well, but being self taught, I don't know how to take a setting, change it light wise, and then do the math in my head to get it rightly exposed. If I'm supposed to go 2 stops over, I just dial it in. Boy oh boy! Fun stuff, this light manipulation!

Here's some of the beautiful Miss Casey who I so gracoiusly volunteered to come up and model for us. LOL Thank you, Casey!!! The first one is with just the modeling lights. The next, with the lights fired. Kinda cool both ways, if you ask me.

Ahh...the fabulous Miss Christy Penn!!! I love this girl! She's so energetic and full of love and always makes you feel just right. These are just SOOC with just the modeling lights on. Someone else was shooting at the time and I'm photographing from the floor. Christy could make anything look GREAT! Even me and my bad math. LOL

Oh, and because blogger sucks at uploading pictures, here's one mixed up. Another shot of Casey. BEAUTIFUL! :)

the last one I played a bit with, but still!!!! HELLO!!! This studio stuff is fun and knowledge is always power, so I'm feeling pretty pumped about my session tomorrow. Watch out WORLD, I'm taking it over!!!! (or at least a little part of it for a while tomorrow. LOL)

thanks for reading!

Check this out

The wonderful Julia Woods is coming to Lubbock! Woo hoo! I can't wait! I've been to conventions, seminars, one on one's through my years of learning this craft and I love immersing my self in the craft and talking with other photographers and just being around all that creative energy! It just ROCKS!

But to have a mom give a lecture from her point of view as a mom, as a wife, as a lover of photography, it gives a new perspective that I can so relate to. We juggle so much in our lives and we are always struggling with the guilt from pulling and pushing ourselves too thin. I can respect what Mrs. Woods will say with even more heart and soul because she has 4 boys at home that call her Mom. And she deals with much of the same day to day struggles that I do running my business and enjoying my girls.

So, if you are a photographer wanna-be or "already are", please take the time to grow your craft, your spirit, but most of all your business.

CLICK HERE for more details.

Hope to see you there!

YIPEE! I was featured...

On the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers.  I submitted some shots from Molly + Steven's wedding and YIPEE!  They liked them!

CLICK HERE to check them out.  Oh, and be sure and look through the work under contest results.  Some of the BEST photogs EVER are on there.  I'm definitely doing a happy dance over this one.  :)

check this out

I know a lot of photographers read this blog. Many of you email me with questions and just mainly to network. I love that about our craft, how willing many of us are to share what we know. Well, I know I would love to have a clickbooq and so I'm participating in a new contest.

Click HERE to read all about it.

BRING IT ON!

school for photographers

Becker has a new site. I'm late to the game as he is on episode 16, I think, and not reading my normal photography message boards or blogs like I usually do, (thanks to working at the video store), you may already know about his cool new Photography School. But if you don't know, GO HERE.

Very cool the way he's constantly sharing with others.

I first met Becker in 05 @ DWF Convention in Vegas. I've followed his work since then and when I started my blog, he started too. It's a great way to keep connected and I LOVE checking in on his stuff and seeing what he's doing. I read 100's of blog thanks to google reader and it's so cool how the internet has connected us all.

Becker is a very successful wedding photographer on the west coast that is very passionate about his craft, having fun, The Angles, and pretty girls. So, if you are a new budding photographer, and many of you are, you should start visiting his blog school everyday. He has lots of good tips to share and things to really help you start your business. I've even picked up a few tips myself and I've been playing this game for a while.

Enjoy!

BECKER's SCHOOL

my favorite jack EVER

Okay, I read a lot of blogs.

A LOT.

I have 100's bookmarked in my google reader and I read them here, there and EVERYWHERE. And a photographer's blog I read is Masen. (link below)

Ma5en

Well, he had a pumpkin carving contest, which I love! And here's my favorite. Just so darn witty.

This shot above is totally lifted from his blog.

a new lens (or two)

I shoot with the 5d and it's a full frame sensor which is GREAT. My lens, the 16-35, which is my WIDE, I've loved since I first bought it back in 05. With the 5d, it was great for environmental shots, but just not quite sharp enough for portraits or groups and I hated the way it distorted folks on the edge of the frame. So, I was shopping for a new wide prime that would serve me well. It needed to be sharp, fast and most of all, durable. I decided on the 24 1.4.

Here's a few images from today's soccer game of my youngest Summer Zoe. I think I'm really going to love this lens!

On a side note, I thought it was the only one I had purchased. I forgot I had thrown the 200 2.8 in the cart as well. So, I have a new prime, long focal to play with as well. Gosh! It feels like Christmas!

a cool bloke

image above, copyright of sean flannigan photography, 2007.

This post if for my friend Julie. We like to look at photography websites together and discuss what we like and love about them. Most of the time we agree, JESH, and sometimes we don't. I think she will like this new "bloke" I'm following.

Sean Flanigan

Just click his name for his blog. I check it every day and just love the simplicity, yet realness of his work. He's just enough quirky with a touch of romance mixed in. Perfect for my taste.

Hope you enjoy! And Sean, not that you even know who I am, but if you are getting an increase number of hits today, "you are welcome." LOL

cristy cross

Oh, gosh! I'm hoping she reads this and emails me the shot of the two of us from the balcony this weekend. Yoo hoo! Cristy!

I meant to mention her in my previous post, but Cristy Cross is a photographer friend of mine who is breaking into weddings on her own. When she asked if she could "tag along" to get prepared for her wedding season, I of course said YES!

She drove on over from New Mexico this weekend to shoot Kimberly and Beau's wedding. It was perfect, because she's good friends with the bride and knew her from church.

So a win win situation and I got to hang with Cristy for the day! FUN!

Check out her work, HERE.

Hi, Cristy!

a word about the [b]

I first heard of Becker through the DWF. (Digital Wedding Forum) And I listened to him, liked his work, but didn't really "know" him. Then in 2005, he gave a seminar at the first DWF. I didn't like him. He was all about image, branding, etc. and "slickness", and even though I loved his Billy Idol slide show, "SCREAMING hot sexy wedding photos" in my face, I just didn't warm up to the dude. His Southern California cockiness rubbed me the ultra wrong way, and he always had chicks on his arm, working for him like a "harem" of sorts.

It wasn't what I was about or what my business and photography style was about. I mean, come on! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm the furtherest thing from the "kewl" chick. I like to think I am and even have very cool dreams sometimes, that I am, but I'm a total goof ball nut, wanna be cool chick. (which someone makes me cool to my clients, go figure?)

So, after DWF 2005, I kept an eye on the [b]ecker and even read his blog faithfully because let's face it, the dude can take some pretty pictures. But in reading his blog, I got to know the guy behind the slick, smarmy image I had of him in 2005. He was a nice guy. I was totally wrong about him. He loved his family, his music, his "man bag" and anything Apple. (I swear they should pay him for the publicity he does for them.)

He's a nice guy. He really is.

He likes U2, and having fun, hates going to the gym, loves his nephew, enjoys poker and plays very well, (so I've heard) and loves to have fun at weddings.

He's a people person.

Oh, and DVR and movies, etc.

Hey, we have a few things in common.

So, when I was in Vegas this year, and saw him strutting up the sidewalk with that HUGE people grin on his face, what do I do? Become a total [b] fan and ask for a [b]ecker sand which. Yep.

Got me one.

LOL

AND then checked his blog daily to see if we showed up. We did.



But take a look at his and then mine. Man, he had to Photoshop the fire out of Me and Stephanie to make us "blog worthy". Golly! Now I'm feeling a bit goofy again. Oh, well...kewlness can always be lost.

LOL

Click HERE to see his new blog. It just launched today.

back from Vegas

Whew! What a week! What a month!

I'm home and slowly getting back into the swing of things. Actually, I hit the ground running with 3 sessions this weekend and loads of laundry and dishes. But first? Vegas. I have to share Vegas with you.



I attended the Digital Wedding Forum last week in Vegas and our group stayed at the Westin. It's across the street from Bally's which is where the trade center was for all the cool products.

I had a wonderful time attending classes and meeting old friends and creating new ones. It was just a great time of "filling up the vessel" if you know what I mean. I'm so obssessed about this "photo thing" that going and having a place to feed that obsession in a healthy way, discussing things, clients, techniques, workflow, etc. It's just great! It gets you so excited about coming home and shooting again.

Plus, the trade show and seeing albums frist hand and getting ideas for design and approach, it's just a perfect mix. We went with a group from Texas/New Mexico and it was such a fun group! I didn't get to hang out with all of you, and I didn't even get photos of everyone. I tried! I really did! (we did sleep together quite expensively, at KA one night. LOL) But after editing these iamges, I realize, I didn't even come close to taking all the photos I wanted! Let's share, OK? You guys send me your snail mail addresses and I'll burn CD's. I want any of your photos too, well, except for those on the stairwell, that one night. You know which ones I'm referring to. You all can keep those! LOL! I don't think you want those in the wrong hands, if you know what I mean. LOL

Anyhoo, let me introduce a few people. I know many of you read this blog and I really do intend to email you and thank you for such wonderful experiences! I had an absolute ball in Vegas and not just because I threw back a few drinks. I think for the most part, you can tell I thrive off people and love meeting them, bouncing things off them and just plain being with God's creations. Gosh! We are such unique folk, aren't we?

Christy Cross







Christy was the absolute BOMB to room with! Talk about a fire always lit. Yep, especially when "Saved by the Bell" came on. LOL We had a wonderful time feeding off each other and she exhibits such a great spirit, so the "loving life" tag line for the business, it really WORKS! I'm not quite the same "morning person" she is, but I would like to think I was when I was younger. (I was the oldest in this group, by far. We won't say how far, but gosh...I'm old.)

Christy! Thanks for an awesome Vegas trip! Keep up the spirit and the love for this craft! Email me anytime! Call me whenever and you can come shoot with me any time you want. Seriously.


Fred Eagan








I'm glad I got to meet "Freagan", too. I knew "of" him, through Lauren and the OSP, but seeing him in person and getting a feel for his quirks and actually talking to him that first day about what his purpose is in finding his style, I enjoyed the discussions. You are a passionate fellow, Mr. Eagan. I'm so glad I got to know you this trip! And hopefully, the teasing part of "freagan" is okay. It's a really cool nick name though. (thanks, Christy) and you should maybe somehow use it in your marketing. HIRE FREAKING EAGAN! LOL

Lauren Clark







I've known Lauren for quite some time now. She's a photographer in this area and we've photographed together, laughed together, prayed together at her wedding. She's a fabulous photographer that I consider my competition in Lubbock. Seriously, I do. I totally respect her work and love it! And send referrals her way constantly.

I don't have as many photos of you, Lauren. Sorry! I sure wish I did. You should have flung your body around in the sunny sand like Christy did. Wait, you did. But do it where I can photograph it! That would have been cool. I'm serious about the billboard idea and have done some thoughts on it recently. I'll email you privately though. I don't want anyone to get wind of us "taking over WEST TEXAS" photography. They can't know our Evil Plan. (insert evil laugh)

K?

Emily Alexander









I met Emily in 2004 when I photographed her wedding. The most beautiful wedding, music wise! She is my "culturized friend" having lived in Rome for quite some time, and she's just plain lovely as hell to look at. Look at this skin! Seriously. She is expecting her first baby (with Juan-a-thon) this year and she was so tired on this trip. I think she really enjoyed the seminar, but maybe not the hard time getting home. UGH! Did you ever find a gift for Jonathan? I'm dying to know what you found. That is always so hard. I took home 2 stuffed monkeys that had Las Vegas on their bellies. Just what my kids needed. More stuffed animals.

Emily knows her cheeses. And her food. And I would love for her to live with me and just order good food for me daily. Yum. She's starting her photography business along with "her family" and click on her name above and go to her blog to see her work!

Okay, last but not least, is my dear PERSON, Stephanie Ehlers.










I met Stephanie at a Volleyball game when she said she "liked the size of my lens". Yep. She uttered those words. She lives in Lubbock, loves photography and has a butt load of kids to photograph.

She doesn't do photography for a job, but just for a passion. I've gotten her hooked on Grey's Anatomy so now we can really bond over conversations that involve McSteamy and McDreamy. LOL Stephanie, we had sooooo much fun! I don't have to say much here, because I will say much more later over our weekly lunch date tomorrow.

There's the individual pictures. Stay tuned for my "favs from Vegas" thread.