Moving forwards...

So... here we are in 2013... well, actually we are already a month in... EEK! Can you believe it?! Where is my life disappearing to?

Anyway, I entered 2013 with many thoughts on where was I going to take my photography, this year. Those thoughts were mostly questions rather than answers, of course, but I have ended up forming a plan ... and one that has been far more structured than ever before.

First part of my plan was to find a new way to get tuition. This part was was actually solved for me by my awesome husband... who, for Christmas, bought me a year's subscription to the Kelby Training site! I now have access to tons of great online courses from some of the best photographers in the world! Boo Yeah!

The second part involved finding a focus to work on. I will always want to shoot anything and everything I can, but I really wanted to find my niche... my speciality... an area that I can really love and become "kick-ass" at. The answer to this sprung itself on me, and I would never have predicted it a couple of years ago - I have decided to specialize in Newborn Photography.

Why Newborn? Well, the reason is actually 2-fold. First of all, I (surprisingly) had a great time shooting newborns last year. I really didn't expect to. I did it just for experience, but found the sessions so fulfilling and rewarding, that I just couldn't wait to do it again! The obsession slowly grew... and I found myself "following" a number of amazing newborn specialists with much envy... and one specialist and trainer, Rachel Vanoven became my new hero & inspiration.

The second reason - a couple of personal experiences in 2012 made me feel that I really need to "give back", and since we have the finances of your average young family, volunteering my time and abilities are the way to go. My ultimate goal in this regard will remain personal for now... but to get there means practice, practice, learning, practice and a better portfolio.

So... here we are... my plans are already underway... transformations have been made to my home(!) and my new journey has begun. Of course, I will still continue to work with the other areas that I was blessed to work so well with, last year... namely the commercial, family & wedding 2nd shooting... but I am really excited about my new specialist direction. I would love you to stay with me on this ride!

Top 10 of 2012 | Fraser Valley Photographer

This post is probably a couple of weeks overdue, but my excuse is that I had a hard time picking my top 10 of 2012... and I'm sticking to it!

So, yes... picking a top 10 is a great way of seeing how far you've come, as a photographer, in the past year (or not!)... and you can see where you want to go. After all, they do say that the only photographer you should compare yourself to is ... yourself.

Here is my top 10...

 

10 Cool Gift Ideas For the Photographer in your Life !

Christmas is coming... and you if you have a Photographer in your life, you probably know that most of their wish list would cost serious coin! Well, there are a few cool gift ideas, that may not break the bank. (Ideas courtesy of the Photojojo online store)

Detachable iPhone Lenses
There are SO many gadgets now for the serious iPhone-ographer... but probably the best are the wee lenses you can now add!

You can get a Fisheye, Telephoto, Wide Angle and Macro Lenses- each set comes with adhesive removable metal rings. The ring sticks to the back of your phone, and the Photojojo Lens attaches magnetically. Snap it on and off in an instant!

Camera Lens Mugs
These mugs are ridiculously life-like! They are full-size models and available in Nikon or Canon versions.

iPhone Wrist Strap
Ok... now this is one I should have had a couple of months ago, when a bunch of kids flew past me while on my daily school pick-up, knocking my now-ex iPhone out of my hands. If I had had one of these, I could have said nur-nur-de-nur-nur to gravity and it's evil buddy, concrete!

Camera Cookie Cutter Set

Love cookies AND cameras? Why not combine the 2 with camera cookie cutters?!

You get 3 different designs: an SLR, a classic rangefinder, and an old-school twin reflex camera.

They also come with a dough stamp AND recipe.

Camera Tree Ornaments
Totally useless but oh so pretty! These cute wee tree baubles are glass, hand painted & perfect for stocking stuffers!

A Bokeh Kit!

For the "experimental" Photographer, how about this kit to create cool effects out of these luscious out-of-focus light? (Particularly cool to use in conjunction with festive fairy lights!) The kit comes with 21 shapes plus 8 blanks to make your own.

A Lens Cap Strap Holder

Aaahh... those pesky lens caps...vital to protect your lens in the bag, of course, but so stinkin easy to lose on a shoot... no matter how much you are convinced you put it in a safe place!! Oh yes, you could use one of those cap gadgets that keep them attached to the lens by elastic... but they are even more annoying as they swing about widely (and repeatedly in the way) when your creative juices are in full flow. Here is the solution! No more swearing when you are halfway down a mountain in Manning Park when you realize you haven't seen that cap since the summit! (Yes, this was me, last summer!) 

The DSLR Piggy Bank!

Photography is an expensive hobby... and one where you are ALWAYS wanting more "stuff"! So, why not save up for your "stuff" with a camera piggy bank?! (Seems pretty logical to me!)

The Camera USB Drive

Cute AND handy... with 4GB of storage to boot. Nuff said, really!

Photo-opoly!

Here's one for the game-loving photographer - a rather fabulous version of the old-classic Monopoly! You even get to add some of your own photos to the board...

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A FEW BONUS IDEAS...

Yes, I know I said 10... but photographers can never have enough "stuff", so here are a few more bonus ideas for the shutterbug in your life!

Op/tech Rainsleeve - a simple plastic sleeve that keeps your camera dry on a rainy day! If I remember right, mine were a pack of 2 from Lens & Shutter, for just $7.99

Memory Cards - a good photographer can never have enough memory cards! You may want to check first, though, which sort their camera takes.

Props! - If the photographer in your life does portraits, they will probably want props. Just check out their pics & style to see what they might like. (Thrift stores or antique shops are your best bets for this one!)

There... that should get you started! Photographer-buddies, please feel free to not-so-subtly share this post with your gift-buying loved ones, and also feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments below! The loved-one of a photographer somewhere will thank you for easing their purchasing burden!!

New Toy!

I have a confession...I love snow globes. I probably have ever since I was a fresh-faced young student and saw Bill Pullman  give that oh-so-sentimental-and-romantic gift to Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping. (Permission to roll your eyes just a little bit!)

Well, I follow several Photographers who develop and sell editing actions, (they come in handy occasionally, when having a "creative block" or speed things up when I'm running on a tight deadline!) and a few of them have made snow globe templates, this year. It's an old concept, but seems to be enjoying a sudden revival, thanks to these Photographers.

This was one kind of template I just couldn't resist... and I've spent the last 24 hours happily playing! (These particular templates are courtesy of Stacie Jensen of Rock My Edits) Ahhh, if only I'd have had them a month ago to make our Christmas cards. Oh well, next year maybe...

A few more family memories... | Chilliwack Family Photographer

Wow... it really is Family Photo Season, as the requests are still coming in!

I had the great pleasure to shoot another lovely family, last week... and their girls were absolutely adorable! The youngest has had quite a rough spell recently, with an extended hospital stay, so Mom decided they should celebrate her recovery with some family pics - good call, Mom! Of course, Big Sis was a total superstar too, doing absolutely everything I asked straight away and with a smile at all times - a future model maybe?