How I went from Fauxtographer to Photographer

I remember when I first started taking up photography seven years ago. It seems like a life time ago. I started out with a Sony point-and-shoot camera and Photoshop CS3. I look at some of my work from when I first began and I can’t help but laugh. It was horrible! At the time, though, I thought it was amazing. I had selective color, heavy vignettes and quotes plastered all over my pictures. I was, what’s referred to as, a “fauxtographer”.

According to www.urbandictionary.com, a fauxtographer is “a person who tries to jump on the photography band-wagon by ‘pointing-and-shooting’ hundreds of terrible pictures, which they will upload to Myspace in an album titled ‘My Photography’.”

Yes. I’m guilty.

After sometime of playing around with it, I bought my first DSLR camera back in 2009. I bought a Canon T1i and, at the time, it was the best entry-level DSLR you could find. But, I still drooled over the Canon 5D MKII. Though, I had no clue why besides that it took awesome pictures.

Shot with Canon 5d mkIII. yeah, I still drool.

The minute I got that camera, I started shooting right away-- in automatic mode, of course. My one year old son soon became a victim of my fauxtography. Poor child, he had no clue what was coming. He never stood a chance.

I was pretty impressed with my camera and started to get comfortable with it-- Comfortable enough to take it off of automatic mode and into…no flash. You thought I was going to say manual, didn’t you? Wrong. Manual is for photographers.  I hated flash. It made my photographs look ‘yucky’. Natural light was just so much better (Well, in my opinion it still is in some cases.)

Soon, my photographs were starting to become a little more coherent. I still wanted to expand my hobby, so I purchased a Canon 50mm 1.8. When I put that baby on my camera, it was magic! I mean, Holy-Cow-My-Background-Is-So-Blurry magic.

 

I shot this in Feb. 2014 with 50mm 1.8 Canon 5d mkIII. MAGIC.

I thought I was the greatest photographer. So I started doing photography professionally. Yes, people paid me to take their pictures. Not only that, but I developed an attitude. I was insulted when anyone else tried to do photography. They copied me! At one point in time, I knew at least 5 other people who claimed to be a photographer. It frustrated me beyond what it should have. I was in denial. I thought I was better than them. I wasn’t. I was just another fauxtagrapher.

After a certain amount of time, I hit a wall. I was bored with the same pose and generic image on every single photograph. That’s when I started to do research on ways that I could improve my photography. By improving my photography, though, I mean, searching on the internet for poses.

Want to know what I learned about posing?  I was absolutely horrible at it. But, was I? I thought so. I kept comparing myself to these great photographers. I couldn’t understand how my images looked so bad and theirs didn’t, when all I did was copy their pose exactly. I am a curious person by nature. I love to learn and discover things. I wanted to know what, exactly, made their work so much better than mine.

Boy, did I learn a lot? You betcha.

First, I learned that the root word, photo, is Latin for light. Did you know that? If you did, congratulations. You’re very smart! If you didn’t, let me explain: that little piece of knowledge taught me everything I needed to know about photography. 

To be honest, I wasted many years being a fauxtographer. I was more worried about trends in post-processing than taking my camera and learning how to properly use it. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did. I want you to succeed in creating beautiful images that you can be proud of. In later blog posts, I intend to teach you everything I know. From, lighting tips all the way to post-processing.

 So lets get this journey from Fauxtog to Photog started!

Don't look back, guys. Look forward to the start of an awesome journey!

Regal Beauty: My 2014 Goals

Like most people, I set out with a few goals at the beginning of the year and I try very hard to accomplish them. No matter how big or small. Since I made a big purchase last year for photography, I wanted to make my goals this year be centered around photography. I wanted to make that big purchase(my 5d mkiii) justifiable.

My goals are pretty large goals and not easily obtainable, but that's what working hard is for! And it's okay if I don't do all of them because there is always next year (but, writing them down in this blog makes me determined to accomplish them this year.)

My first goal is the most simplest, yet hardest of tasks: produce quality images I can be proud of. It takes a lot of trial and error. Im still learning and I'll never stop. What I have learned so far, though, is that a well thought out photoshoot will almost always produce a great image. If I compare my impromptu photoshoots to my well thought out ones, the latter of the two always trumps the first one. Here is why: I have an idea. I have a location in mind at the right time with angles and lighting thought out. I have a whole concept behind it.

For instance, my shoot with Erin

 

I wanted a regal, yet rustic image of a beautiful queen. Her hair and make-up was designed and planned prior to the shoot as well as her costume. They pieced together perfectly and told a story. When I add a story to my photo shoot, it makes it a lot easier for my model to convey what I want. When me and my model are on the same page, magic is created. My photo shoot with Erin is one of my favorites and it has set a standard for all of my photo shoots. 

My second goal is to get more fans/followers/clients. I want to have a reason (other than me liking photography) to do what I do. I want my images to connect with people. I want them to say, "I like that." Otherwise, I am gaining nothing out of this. And, if I can accomplish my first goal, then I can accomplish my second because I wont be able to gain followers unless I give them great images.

My third goal is to travel at least once this year for a photography job. I think it's fascinating to get to travel and do what you love. Those are two of my favorite things! (side note, I booked a traveling gig, so GOAL ACCOMPLISHED.)

My last goal is the most scariest, most terrifying, hardest goal ever to me! I want to become a published photographer. I think it is such a big deal to me because it means my work is good. It means that people like it and they want to see it. It creates potential fans/clients and it means that I am doing something right. I want to be successful at what I do! 

I know, I know, I talked your ear off. But , hey, it's my blog! I have so much to do in this year and I cant wait for all of the adventures that my camera will take. Please stick with me and follow me and my cameras journey. It wouldn't  be the same without you!

 (here are some photos of my latest photo shoot titled: Regal Beauty

How to create the "matte" effect on Photoshop

One of the most popular trends for photography right now is the matte effect. Its a super easy way to give your photos a little character without having to do a lot of work! I thought I would give a tutorial on how its done because, honestly, I want to save you precious time and money on buying those expensive photoshop actions and lightroom Presets! Anyway, here is the before and after! I hope this helps!

Step One: Open up the image that you want to edit. I chose this little gem of my friend Marlen!

 Step Two: Add an Adjustment layer and select curves

Step Three: Set your curves layer to look like this

(your input: 33 output:31)

Step Four: Create another adjustment layer and select curves

Step Five: Set layer "Curves 2" layer to look like this

 

(input: 173 output:222)

And there you have it your image should look like this:

TADA!

Queen of the Trees

Since purchasing the Canon 5D MK III, I've found myself wanting to explore more depths of photography. What all is there that I can do? A lot. But, sadly, I am still obtaining all the proper equipment. But, I make do with what I have and try to piece together some sort of coherent photograph.

I think my favorite thing to photograph is people. It's something that viewers can easily connect with. But, sometimes that can get boring. You've got to spice it up a bit, and give the viewers some thoughts. So that is the depth of photography I'm diving into at the moment.

I've been creating concepts and scenarios in my head and coming up with ideas that I think would convey really well in a photograph. It's been difficult at times to figure out how you turn an idea into an image. So I've been easing into it. Slowly, I have been coming up with ideas and seeing how they turn out. If they turn out great, then thats awesome! If not, on to the next idea.

The idea for this week was quite simple. I wanted something earthy and regal all at the same time, but I didnt really have a clue what to do until....I had a budget. My budget? $6.

I went to Savers(thrift store) and found these really awesome golden sticks for .99 and was like, I could use that for something. So, I found an old head band and turned it into a crown. Then I went to Smiths Market Place and Purchased a brown $5 blanket, cut a ring for the neck and made it into a make-shift cloak. 


So here you go my $6.00 Photoshoot: Queen of the Trees

I would LOVE feedback, I think its helpful to see what my viewers think. Does this image say "Queen of the Trees" for you or does it say something completely different?

-Shutterbaby

Welcome to the world, Payson! Part:1

Payson is quite an active newborn. We tried so hard to get those cute poses but she is a girl set in her ways! So here is a few shots from Payson's first photosession!


-Shutterbaby

Wintersmith: Keeper of Memories

I grew up in a small town. Population: 15,691. It's a quiet and sleepy little town with not a whole lot going on. As a child, my dreams were always bigger than the town could hold and I ran off into the distance whenever I got the chance. But, I've been away for years and that moment I stepped onto the soil, I felt my heart take ease.  It was the exact same, yet so much smaller than I remembered it.

After roaming the town for a few hours and visiting with family and friends, I decided to take a walk in the park that hold some of my most fondest memories. I remember learning to swing there, taking picnics, and feeding the animals at the petting zoo. On fourth of July, I watched the fireworks there and even had family reunions there. (there are pictures of me on the tiny train with siblings). I went swimming there in the summer, and drove around the park to see all the Christmas lights every year with my aunt and uncle.

And lets not forget my teenage years! My friends and I would drive around the park doing 90 mph to get that roller-coaster-stomach-coming-up feeling. I kissed a boy(s) there and would sit on one of the docks and have lunch with Daman whenever he came to visit me.

This park, in my mind, holds so many memories dear to my heart. It's beautiful and it will never cease to amaze me.

So there I was. Wintersmith Park. Walking along the trail in the secluded wooded area. Just me with my camera in hand, Daman and the overgrown woods. And here are my simple photos of my favorite place in all of Ada, Oklahoma.

The Cutest Baby Ever!

This little munchkin right here can NOT take a bad picture! I see a modeling career in this cute little guys future!  He was every photographers dream! Its not very common for a baby to cooperate as well as he did! And on the plus side, he has the cutest smile in the whole world! Oh and those eyelashes! Sheesh! Really, I was so happy photographing this beautiful bundle of joy!

-Shutterbaby