Portrait - Make it Better

I've seen HUNDREDS of portraits like this:

See the refrigerator with magnets in the background?  It also seems that the picture isn't the most flattering.  Pretty dress however, and lovely young lady!  So....

Step 1:  Pay Attention to your BACKGROUND!!  If you only have ugly walls, like I do, find a door, piece of furniture, something.  I usually go outside and use the trees for background because they are always a nice addition.  Alas, it was nighttime, so...

Step 2:  Zoom In!!

So much better already!!  However, I think it could be better, so I had her turn slightly.

Step 3:  Try Different Angles!!!

Definitely an improvement!!  I'm getting a glare off the cabinet, so I zoom in more....

Step 4:  Get a Nice Smile

This is actually the difficult part!!!! (at least it is for me!)  The more I learn about taking pictures, the more I find that the technical aspect is EASY.  It's the PEOPLE part that can be a challenge!

Caught her laughing...  Laughing actually IS NOT the best pose for most people.

Trying not to laugh....

Big Brother making faces at her...

Finally!!!  A NATURAL smile!  That's what I was after!

If the person you are taking pictures of doesn't know you very well, make certain you schedule enough time for them to become comfortable with you.  The more comfortable they are, the more natural your photos will be.  :)

A few Photoshops of this last photo will hopefully follow!

*hugs!*

Tiffany

I'm BAaaaaack!!!!

Hooray, the computer is repaired!!

Photos will quickly follow and spam comments are at an end!  Yippee!

I'm a little sad, I'm sure when the spammers figure out that I am back, the traffic to my site will go down.  But hey, that's not the traffic I want!

Can I get an AMEN!!!

Much Love!
Tiffany

Another set of Senior Photos

I really don't intend to neglect my blog.... It has been one hectic school year!!

As I mentioned previously, I was hired by a former student to do her photos.  I am very pleased with the way they turned out!! 

Here are a few:

It was SO windy and cold that day.  We had trouble keeping her hair out of her face.  It is nice to have such a photogenic subject though!!!  She made it lots of fun.

Here are a couple where I tried to get a more "dreamy" feel to the photos:

 

It was a great time and I learned so much!!  I learned to quit looking for the perfect background - if you pull in tight to the subject and pay attention, you can make several different backgrounds look nice!  Mostly, it was nice to get excited about taking pictures!  :)

Have a blessed day!

Tiffany

Frustration with Auto-Focus

It seems like forever since I have posted on the blog, but it's actually only been 2 and a half weeks.  In the intervening time, I have still been working at trying to get Senior Portraits for my son.

We went back to the garden near the lake near sunset this time.  Here are a couple of the shots I got.

In both of these photos, I see that his shirt is in perfect focus, but when I zoom in to do some minor touch-ups, I find that his eyes are still not focused.  I could have sworn that I auto-focused with the little dot blinking over his eye, but the pictures come back with fuzzy looking eyes!  So frustrating!!!  Of course, the perfectionist in me is still not satisfied!!!

On the bright side, after posting these on facebook, I had a former student call me up and ask me to take her photos.  :)  That should be a lot of fun! 

More later!

Tiffany

Mommy - Take My Picture!!

We love this little bridge at the park.  My issue is this - I want to get the bridge in the shot, but I prefer my portraits to be much more "up close" or cropped in.

Hrm... I will be revisiting this bridge often!

I love just about anything with stonework!

So here - the tree is in focus, but she is not.  *sigh*

I seem to be having focus issues....

That's better

I wonder what she was looking at...

Hope your day is filled with wonder!

Tiffany

Teeter-Totter with the Daughter (hehe... it rhymes!)

UP!

DOWN!

UP!!

DOWN!

(at this point, I noticed the wonderful sun when she is "UP")

Hey!  Look at Mommy!!

Smile!! 

Umm..... Not like that - a REAL smile!!

OK - Nevermind.  Just look normal.

At a Girl!!  :)

Have a great day!!

Tiffany

The Violin Lesson

My youngest is taking violin lessons again this year.  Because her previous teacher retired, she has moved to a Suzuki teacher.  Therefore, she has not only a private lesson every week, but also a group lesson.

I enjoy the view from the back of the room while she fiddles away.  I think to myself, "If I ever get the chance to set up my own studio, I'm going to use a lot of these ideas."

I totally love the way she set up the music room!  :)

I have always loved these clocks.  I want one!  :)

She has these little vases in the windows all around the studio.

I love music too!!!

Mine is the one in the red shirt.

Amen, and Amen! 

Have you practiced today???  :)

Have a great one!

Tiffany