Beckee & Phillip

So for the start of this next year, in improving my photography, I really want to learn to shoot more around my subjects, that way they won't have to move around so much. This way I will have more angles and more facial expressions. I would like to have a more journalistic style of photography, and I think I can slowly but surely accomplish that.

I have noticed that the simpler, the better. People don't really want fancy lighting or impressive backgrounds anymore. People want to be photographed showing their REAL, actual selves, and I'm perfectly ok with this since all I have in my possession is a cute little Canon 40D and a basic flash.

I have also wanted to prove in my lighting techniques. I want to use more of the camera settings, less flash. When I do this, I really see more color and more vibrancy in my images. And personally, it really makes things more relaxed with my clients, because they really aren't being blinded every 3 seconds, I'm sure they really appreciate this new techique!

Take these two I photographed, for example. I tried to use more natural light, rather than using my flash, I worked hard on making sure that everything was illuminated correctly and no one was really washed out. It was definitely a challenge, the first few were a little more of a challenge for me to adjust, but I could personally tell that I was getting better with every click I took!

I have known this bride-to-be since we were knee high! I was so honored that she asked me to photograph their engagement session! We started at their beautiful home in Trussville, and took a little stroll at the Civitan Park! At the end, we convinced a very crabby ice cream shop owner (who was closing his store 45 minutes early!) to let us take a quick pick of the couple together as a reminder of the place where they first laid eyes on eachother! I can't wait for this very sweet couple's May 1st wedding, it'll be here before we know it! I know it's going to be beautiful with some of the little details she's already given me! Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session! I hope you enjoy! :)

A brand new year, a brand new start.

I figured that 2010 would be a great year for me to really start branching out on my own. As a photographer, as a young woman, and as a wife. Last year, to say the very least...sucked extra hard, so I'm making a plan for this new year to better myself in ways said above. The year started off right, good times with great friends, and alcohol is always a great help! ;)
The past two weeks, I have spent at home with my best friend, Angie. We ended up spending a lot of quality time together vegging on my couch (AKA my guest bed) watching girl movies, and of course, plenty of GILMORE GIRLS!, eating junk food, and LOTS of girl talk. We ended up getting into an accident on our way home from Alabama and was without a car the ENTIRE time she was here...major let down. But I think we really made the best of things, with us being completely broke from having to pay a tow truck driver an obscene amount of money to bring us home at 3:45 in the morning, worrying about having to pay a deductible...without me being currently employed, let me tell ya, I've been eating my way through my worries...but Angie was always there with a positive word, and another spoonful of cookie dough calling my name.
It really was great having her here, especially since it's almost been a full year since I had really seen her last. So, maybe it came as a good thing that we didn't do a lot of sight seeing in the 6-12 inches of snow that was surrounding us her whole stay. We stayed warm, and was constantly on a sugar high!I sadly had to put her on a plane yesterday afternoon, and now that I've said good bye, I can say hello to the start of new goals that I have for the new year!
Here's some pics from her stay up here, and from our New Year's Eve fun! Everyone enjoy! :) Me and Angie at Dave and Busters on her birthday! Angie & Miranda leaving D&B My feet hurt and Angie was to the rescue!