Butler Family Photography Blog

Portfolio Building | Atlanta Maternity Photographer

2012-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

With my son back in school and Christmas season over, I have a chance to really work! (It's been wonderful.) I've been teaching workshops and building my maternity photography portfolio. Here's a sneak peek at some of my latest portraits. Enjoy!

Designing your own Christmas Card | Photography & Design Tips

2011-12-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Every year, we send out a huge stack Christmas cards. It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions, especially since we get to show off our little boy each year!

I've learned these tips for designing your own Christmas card:

Gather inspiration. Look at other card designs. It's fun to see what pro designers have put out there. You can get a lot of great ideas from these sites: http://www.minted.com/ and http://www.tinyprints.com/.

Have your family pictures taken in the fall. (We've waited until November before, but it is tough to squeeze them in. Our general rule is to get pictures done around the first couple weeks of October.) This year, I asked a fellow photographer to trade shoots with me. I shot pictures of her family with her camera equipment, and vice versa. Since we both knew what we were doing as far as posing, clothing coordination, and settings, we each got great images to take home and edit ourselves. (Big plus for me!)

If you decide to go the tripod and timer route, don't expect more than one or two photos to turn out. Self-timer pictures can be done, but they take a long time, and kids tend to fade quickly with the tripod. From my experience, it is totally worth it to get a photographer to take your pictures.

Pick one to two of your favorite images to put on the card. I've seen cards with so many pictures, I can't tell which is the most important. A good rule of thumb is to keep one image dominant by making sure it is at least 3 times bigger than the other elements on the card. Of course, this rule may be broken if you are doing a series of pictures of the same size -- often in odd numbers. In that case, the set of images itself acts as the dominant element.

Keep text and fonts to a minimum. I really think the photo (or photos) should be the most important part of the card--after all, that's why you are sending it--people want to see you. As for fonts, I rarely use more than two font types in a design. If I'm using a fancy font for one piece of text, I'll use a plain one for the other. Good design needs contrast. If you have too many elements competing with each other, then the design is weak.

Get help designing if you need it. I design my card in Photoshop. But you don't have to have a professional design program to make a great card. If you are having your Christmas cards printed online, see if your vendor has an online design program. If you want to do something totally unique, contact me for custom designs or get help with an online/phone mentoring session.

Proofread! It's embarrassing to have misspellings or grammar mistakes in your card. Make sure to print up a sample and proofread. Better yet, have someone else look over the card. I hate to admit it, I've seen a few mistakes on Christmas cards I've received this year. Whoops!

Have the cards printed at a reputable printer. We print our cards at http://www.overnightprints.com/. They offer great prices and are professional printers that color manage. If you get cards at a discount printer that does not color manage or use professional inks and paper, you'll probably be disappointed. It's not fun sending out a ton of cards that don't look right.

Save one or two for yourself! Your yearly Christmas card is a great piece of family history that you'll want to look back on every once and a while. I keep our old Christmas cards with our decorations so I can look at them every year. It's fun to see how our family has changed.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Giveaway winner

2011-12-22T08:23:00.000-08:00

The workshop giveaway winner is: Molly!

Please contact me within 48 hours to claim your spot in one of my January 2012 Workshops. Thank you to all who participated!

If you didn't win, but entered the giveaway, you can get a $5.00 discount if you sign up for one of the workshops before Christmas 2011.

http://butlerfamilyphotography.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html

Workshop Giveaway! | Atlanta GA Photography Workshops

2011-12-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed. I'll announce the winner by noon on Thursday.

In honor of completing my Christmas shopping (well, almost), I'm doing a giveaway! Here's a chance to win a spot (for you or for a friend) in one of my upcoming workshops this January. I will be giving away one free admission to either the Basic Photography Workshop, the Intermediate Photography Workshop, or the Teen Basic Photography workshop in Alpharetta, GA. They are all hands-on, fun, and informative classes that will take your photography to the next level. Click here to read more about the workshops.

Here's how to enter the giveaway:

Like Butler Family Photography on Facebook, and/or follow @marchetbutler on Twitter. Then, . . .
Post about this giveaway on Facebook, and/or Tweet about it on Twitter. (Use the Tweet and FB Share buttons above.) Finally, . . .
Post a comment below saying you entered the contest. Also, let me know which workshop (the Basic, Intermediate, or Teen) you would prefer. Yes, you can win for a friend!

You have until midnight (Eastern time) on Wednesday, December 21st to enter the contest. Only one entry per person allowed. One winner will be chosen randomly from the comments section below. The winner will be announced the following day. The winner must contact me within 48 hours or the workshop admission will be awarded to another giveaway participant.

Disclaimer
Butler Family Photography has no association with any social media sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Butler Family Photography reserves the right to remove entries due to irrelevant or inappropriate content.

Little Models | Alpharetta GA Children's Photography

2011-12-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

As often as I can, I get out and take photos of my little guy and (as in this case) his friends that happen to be with us that day. I always love new faces to photograph, but in this case I had to work fast. Big brother wasn't as into taking pictures (2 minutes and he was done), but his little sister took my breath away. Seriously, I only took pictures of her for about 10 minutes, and look how gorgeous!

Love these portraits? Want to learn how I do what I do? I'm holding photography workshops in January for beginning and intermediate photographers. I even have a special workshop for teens. I still have several spots open, but hurry! I'm limiting enrollment to 6 per class. Click here to find out more.

Using Props | Roswell GA Children's Photographer

2011-12-01T11:59:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been using props in my shoots, especially with children. Something new like a hat (or hats Dad brought), blocks, or vintage telephone toy captures their interest and helps keep the smiles going through a whole shoot. Since these boys' parents especially wanted portraits of the boys together and alone, I stuffed my photo bag full of props and used them all through the portrait session. I think we got some amazing shots!

Buying your first DSLR | Atlanta GA Photography Teacher

2011-11-28T21:04:00.001-08:00

So you are going to take the plunge and buy your first "big" camera. It's an exciting step, but there's so many choices out there, how to you decide what to buy? Here are my tips on buying your first DSLR.

Decide on a budget. Photography equipment is expensive and generally, the better the equipment, the more expensive. So, make sure you have a price point before looking. It will help narrow down your choices. I also like the website DPReview which helps you compare features of different cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/

Don't sweat the features. Cameras nowadays are so filled with features, it makes it hard to decide what is important and what is not. I tend not to worry too much about them except for the number of focus points (more is better), the frames per second (again--the more the better), the megapixels (8 or 10 is great), and how far up the ISO goes (the greater the number, the better). I will also see if lenses I'm interested in are compatible with the camera body.

Buy a brand you recognize. Most semi-professional to professional photographers buy either Canon or Nikon. There are other brands out there, but I always go with something that will be around when I want to upgrade or add new lenses. It's a good idea to ask around and see what brand your friends have. Then, you can borrow equipment from them and visa versa. My aunt and I both own Nikons. It's been fun to work with her equipment whenever I visit. Once you've decided on a brand, you usually stick to it. Lenses and accessories are not interchangeable between different brands of cameras.

Be wary of "kit" lenses (and kits in general). Kits are bundles that often include the camera body, 1 or 2 lenses (also called "kit" or "stock" lenses), a bag, sometimes a DVD or other accessories all for one price. Usually the kit lenses aren't the greatest. They take okay pictures and are good for the beginner, but after a while, you realize that kit lenses don't give you that nice blurry background. Plus, they can't take nice pictures in low light (like indoors, at a gym, at twilight, etc.). Then again, it's nice to have a couple lenses that zoom and cover both close and far away objects, even if they don't do a great job in low light. I started out with a kit and it was good to start on, but I quickly learned I had to upgrade my lenses to get better pictures. I haven't used my kit lenses in years. (Oh, and I got rid of most of the other stuff in the kit too.)

Consider a prime lens. Most photographers will spend more on lenses than they will on camera bodies. Unfortunately, pro lenses are really pricey, but there are a few nice lenses that aren't that expensive and can be used to make wonderful pictures. These lenses fall in the prime lens category. That means they don't zoom; they just have one focal length. So, if you want to "zoom in" with a prime lens, you've got to move in closer to your subject. To "zoom out," you have to move backwards. That's the down side. The plus side is that you can make the lens opening open very wide to get those blurry backgrounds and to take pictures in low light.

A great starter prime lens is the 50 mm f/1.8 lens. It's the first prime lens I bought. Other good prime lenses are the 85 mm f/1.8 (a telephoto lens) and the 35 f/1.8 mm (more of a wide-angle lens). I also have the 28 mm f/1.8 lens. Be aware that if you buy the Nikon prime lenses, the auto focus on certain prime lenses doesn't work with certain DSLRs, so double check the compatibility before you buy.

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Try it out first. If you can borrow or rent the camera and lens you are interested in, then you'll know whether or not you really want to buy it. My favorite place to rent is Aperturent. I love their service and the quality of their equipment. If you are in Atlanta, you can pick up your orders locally! They also ship all over the country.

Learn your camera. Buying a DSLR is an investment, but it's not worth a lot if you don't learn how to use it. One of the first things I did when I was learning photography was to take a workshop. I also read (and still read) a ton of books, blogs, and websites about photography. I offer both photography workshops and lessons if you are in the Atlanta area. If you aren't, you may want to look into my online mentoring package.

Marchet's DSLR Essentials List

If I were to put together my own kit, this is what I would choose for a beginning photographer. (It's also a great list if you are looking to buy a gift for someone who has the camera, but doesn't have all the necessary accessories.)

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1 DSLR camera body (I like the Nikon D90.) The body usually comes with the battery and battery charger.
1 50 mm f/1.8 prime lens
1 UV filter (protects your lens!)
1 extra battery
2 memory cards (I like the 8 GB cards the best.)
1 lens cleaning cloth (like the one you get for eyeglasses) and cleaning solution (found in most camera cleaning kits)
1 beginner's workshop
1 camera bag (I like the holster variety.)
1 mini hard drive for backing up/archiving

Favorite places to buy camera equipment

Once you've decided what to buy, you have to figure out where to buy. Sometimes you can get a deal by buying used equipment. I bought my first pro camera from another photographer, and it's been great. I also look at buying a older model to save money. My favorite spots to get camera gear are listed below. Most of them also have used equipment for sale that include a seller's warranty (something you won't get off of Craigslist).

Amazon.com
Midwest Photo Exchange
B & H Photo and Video
Local camera shop (The people are usually very knowledgeable and you can try out the camera in the store before you buy it.)

Want to Learn Photography? | Atlanta GA Photography Workshops

2011-11-24T02:25:00.001-08:00

I am pleased to announce a three Photo Workshops this January--two for adults, and one just for teens. This is perfect for a Christmas gift for that budding photographer in your family--especially if it's you. I'll even email you a certificate to print out if you decide to give it as a gift. Click here for more details.

Urban Family Portraits in the Cold | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2011-11-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

I shoot either in the morning or the afternoon in order to take advantage of the best light. But it's chilly those times, and so I tell my clients to come prepared with warm outfits and coats/blankets to wrap in with in between shots. Such was the case with this shoot. The kids were such good sports, taking on and off coats, wrapping up in the old purple quilt I brought while I shot individual portraits, and jumping up in down to stay warm. The temporary discomfort paid off--we created some amazing portraits that I am super proud of!

The Photographer | Themed Children's Photography in Alpharetta GA

2011-11-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been itching to try themed shoots. The shoots on Reverie--a photography inspiration blog--just make me drool. I've also had an idea of putting together a calendar featuring my little guy in different themes for each month. Well, whether or not that gets done, I had fun coming up with a concept for a themed shoot for the fall. This is my first attempt with my son, who posed in clothing inspired by Ansel Adams, the famous photographer.

I love how the above photograph mimics the feel of this one:

My boy tried to imitate Ansel Adams' beard with his hand!

Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents | Roswell GA Extended Family Photographer

2011-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

Every once and a while, I feel like I'm the recipient of miracles -- like the weather for this extended family shoot a couple weeks ago. All week, the weather had been beautiful, but the forecast for Friday (our day of the shoot) was predicted rainy; it fluctuated from a 30% to a 100% chance of rain. We ended up making tentative for a Saturday shoot if we were rained out--though I was running a half marathon Saturday morning and we would have had to be in a separate location that afternoon.

Then, Friday came. The weather was holding, but I knew it would be pushing our luck if we waited until our originally planned time. So, on very short notice, everyone dressed in their coordinating clothes, and I found a babysitter who could take my son at the last minute. We did the shoot. It was a lot of people, a lot of kids. But it worked. And just as I was finishing up the last portrait, we felt the first raindrops falling down. I'm so grateful the heavens held back enough for us to capture these family pictures.

And yes, I did run the next morning, all 13.1 miles. What a weekend for blessings!

Photog in the Fall | Milton GA Headshot Photographer

2011-11-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

After my own family's photo shoot with fellow photographer Stacey Johnson, I couldn't help taking over with the camera for a few more photos -- of the photographer. "I want to put these on my Facebook page, so I can show my friends, 'See. It's fall!' " There you go Stacey! Love ya girl.

Oh, and scroll down, you'll see a sneak peek from my family's shoot. Stacey shot the photos with my equipment, and I took the images home to edit! Just the way any photographer would like it.

My Halloween Knight

2011-10-31T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have learned that it's best to take Halloween costume pictures before Halloween. And all the better if a little friend in a fairy princess costume will pose with your little knight. Happy trick-or-treating everyone!

Family Portraits in the Old Town | Marietta GA Family Photographer

2011-10-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love old places like historic Marietta where we shot these photos last week. Although I have a great fondness indoor photography, my heart really belongs to these great location shoots. After I came home from the shoot, I told my husband how much I was in my element.

Today, though, I was on the other side of the camera. A good friend and fellow photographer Stacey took my family's photos, and it was a good reminder how it feels to be the subject. The shoot itself was awesome, but beforehand, I had major trepidation about our clothes, even though I know very well how to put together attire for a shoot. Then there was the hair, the makeup, and worrying that the location I had chosen wouldn't work out. Well, it all came together, just like last week's shoot did. But after today, I have a new appreciation for my clients! It's definitely worth it though. When you're all done, you have amazing family portraits like these!

Three Boys and a Baby | Atlanta GA Children's Photographer

2011-10-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

I showed a friend this picture as I was editing today, and she said, "Somebody finally got their girl." They sure did! I remember how excited mom and grandma (both close friends) were for another female in the family.

For this shoot, we did an indoor setup with a background and a photo light I recently got from my dad (thanks Dad!). Their mom specifically wanted all the kids on her couch. Love it! The texture overlay you see around the edges of the portrait was a request by the oldest son, and both his mom and I thought it was a good idea. I think it really enhances the look of an otherwise flat background. Well, I've got more pictures to edit . . . enjoy the sneak peek!

How to Take Fall Photos

2011-10-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Fall is just about the best season here in Georgia -- it usually lasts quite a few weeks and the colors from the trees are amazing. We are just starting to see reds and oranges (with an abundance of yellow), so now is a great time to snap pictures of your kiddo. Here are a few hints on how I got these great autumn photos.

My little boy loves to "explore" trails and sidewalks around our place. Our deal is that he gets to explore and I get to take photos, plus he'll agree to pose for some of them too. I took these shots around 5:00 p.m. after a drizzly day with overcast skies. Overcast = soft even light for outdoor shots. Perfect.

The first and second image show how tricky trees can be -- you want to capture the fall foliage, but you don't want a branch or tree trunk coming out of your subject's head. I squatted down to take the first shot so I could get the tops of the trees behind his head. The second shot was just positioning. I had to place my boy in a certain spot so that I could get a full body shot with the trees and without head-branches.

The last portrait is one of my favorites from 2008. I try to take photos of my son in each season every year. It is so fun to look back at how he's grown in the past 3 years. This was taken close to the Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway, which turns a gorgeous golden yellow one week out of the year. It is a magical time to take pictures there, and I'm hoping I'll be able to catch it again this year. And that's my last advice of this post: if you see a gorgeous fall setting, get back there with a camera as soon as possible (or better yet, keep your camera with you). A couple days can make a huge difference in whether or not the trees still have their colorful leaves. Happy fall!

There's something about Friday | Alpharetta GA Child Photographer

2011-09-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

There's something about Friday that makes everything seem so much easier. Maybe it's because Friday is my long run day, and I don't have any energy to be stressed after running for 2.5 hours. Maybe it's because I have two glorious school-free and work-free days to hang with my boy and my hubby. I love Fridays.

Happy Friday. Here's some pics of my niece and nephew on our visit to Minnesota. (My little boy got in on the jumping action!)

Companion Pieces | Engagement photographer

2011-07-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

My little sis is getting married! It was so awesome to do her engagement photographs during our family reunion in Estes Park, CO. We got some gorgeous shots just before and after sunset. Here's a sneak peek of some of their portraits.

These two shots below are a departure from traditional engagement photography, but I love them. One of my favorite things to do during a shoot is to create "companion pieces" -- photos that can be displayed together to tell a story. A lot of times, I'll do them in groups of three or two, as in this example. I think they'd look awesome side-by-side in two frames, or in one frame matted for two pictures.

Enjoy the peek! I've got a bunch more to finish editing . . .

Teeny Tiny Baby Girl | Atlanta GA newborn photographer

2011-07-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek of the teeniest, tiniest, cutest little angel! She was born a month early (thankfully very healthy), and her mom wanted to capture this darling before she grew much larger. So at a week old, baby girl modeled for a shoot-and-learn lesson at her home. I especially love having mom's hands in the first shot because it shows scale so well. The second image was the mom's request--and I can't believe baby was alert and looking at the camera. Most one-week-olds don't stay awake during a shoot. And don't worry! Baby was well-guarded the whole time!

One Week Old | Alpharetta GA Newborn Photographer and Photography Teacher

2011-06-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

I love teaching photography, especially when my mentee has a brand-new baby to model for us. Look at this sweetheart! Monique wanted to practice her in-camera shooting techniques while posing her girls and the baby. We set up a simple "studio" at her home using a bed, this cool stretchy blanket from Ikea, window light, and an external flash.

The baby remained quite content in the non-air-conditioned room while we sweated and worked. (Babies don't like it cold!) She was pretty cooperative and though we had relatively short amount of time, we got some great shots.We lucked out with the white blanket too! Baby stayed dry and unsoiled until the minute mom put a diaper on her. Talk about great timing!

Here are some of Monique's shots, absolutely gorgeous! Head on over to Monique's Day in the Life blog for more about her family and photography.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Here's my little man with his daddy, sporting some homemade mustaches I created this morning! (It was inspired by these mustaches on Etsy and these photos by my cousin, also a photographer. I made mine with a mustache stickers from Target, some popsicle sticks, and cardboard. The background? A bit of material I taped to the wall. Ta da! Instant photo booth.)

Walking for my Son | Cystic Fibrosis

2011-05-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

My life is a busy one, but this month, I've slowed down and taken a break from my regular work/volunteer routine to focus on what is most important in my life--my family and my son, who has cystic fibrosis. I realized that the time I have to spend with my little guy is precious, especially given the nature of his disease.

May is a special month for our family because of Great Strides, a walk benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In just a week and a half, we will be joining hundreds of friends and families of those who have CF to walk in support of our "fibros and cysters" and raise money for new treatments and medication. It's an exciting time in the world of CF--new drugs are being developed, and we have hopes that our son will be in the first generation of CF survivors.

Whether you are a friend, a client, or just a blog browser, I'm asking you to help out. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

Watch the short videos below about our son and CF.
Donate to sponsor one of our walkers.
Join our team and walk with us!
Wear a purple ribbon for cystic fibrosis awareness.
Blog or post on Facebook about our cause. Feel free to repost this blog entry.
Read more about our fight with CF on my son's blog: http://peterspavementpounders.org

Just in time for Easter | Cumming GA Family and Child Photographer

2011-04-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite traditions is having a family photo taken every year around Easter. There's something about the flowers, the beautiful clothes, and the light during Eastertime that makes photos so fresh and alive. I was thrilled to have this mom and daughter pose for Easter pictures a couple weeks ago at my Portrait Photo Workshop. Enjoy the sneak peek! There's more to come from my workshop participants.

Generations | Atlanta GA Extended Family Photographer

2011-04-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate great grandma's 90th birthday than a weekend in her honor? The weekend included our photo shoot, lots of family time, and great food. The main event, a birthday brunch for Grandma, topped the weekend.

Shooting for this family made me remember my own Aunt Von, Donnie and Donna who were my closest relatives growing up. I treasure the photos I have of those sweet ladies, and I hope that this family will feel the same about my images. Besides doing a big group photo (in classic Marchet-style: casual, friendly, and colorful), I especially wanted a good portrait of Grandma. I think the most fun picture was the cousins group shot. Love it!

Hurray for Trains | Kennesaw GA Children's Photographer

2011-03-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today was a day of trains for my little guy. After his cystic fibrosis treatments this morning, we headed to Kennesaw's Touch-a-Truck, an event for children and their families to climb into a bunch of trucks and service vehicles. The best part for us was the location by an old train depot alongside the tracks and railroad crossing. We then rounded out the theme by visiting a model train show. Hurray for trains!

Got a camera? I've got a workshop! | Atlanta GA Photo Workshops

2011-03-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm holding another workshop! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9th, and join us for a fun, hands-on learn-and-shoot workshop in Cumming GA.

Bring your camera (digital SLR or point-and-shoot) and be prepared to have fun! During the workshop, we’ll cover improving your composition, creating beautiful portraits, and taking photos outdoors and indoors using available light. We’ll shoot together so you know how to apply these with your digital camera, no matter what model! It's a hands-on, in-depth learning experience that will change your photography for the better.

Minimum 3 attendees, maximum 8. $45.00 per person

(Price includes a non-refundable retainer of $20.00. Gift purchases require entire workshop price.)

This is the last time my portrait photo workshop will be offered at this price. Please contact us for more details or to register!

And some of our workshop participants' photos. Please note that these photos are straight out of the camera, no editing applied. Aren't they great? I love when I can teach workshoppers to get great photos in camera without editing!

In Town and At Home | Norcross GA Family Photographer

2011-03-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

My husband recently told me that I have an aversion to doing laundry. I had to admit it, he's right. I don't mind washing or drying them too much--it's the rest of it. I don't like folding clothes. Or hanging them. Or putting them away. Don't even ask me about ironing. So during the week, we usually have either: a) a mountain of washed laundry piled in the living room b) various piles of laundry in semi-folded states c) a couch full of laundry to put away depending on how much laundry I'm able to stand that day.

Perhaps the reason I don't like laundry is because I'd much rather be doing photography. That's something I can do for hours and hours!

Come to think of it, I don't know many artists who are good housekeepers. Maybe it's just the way we are.

Enjoy these portraits from one of my shoots in the city and at the clients' home!

This is my favorite!

(Psst...the above photo made a fabulous Giclée Canvas Gallery Wrap!)

Hoodies, Deadlines, and Family Pictures | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2011-03-04T23:32:00.000-08:00

Life is busy around here. It's my son's birthday party tomorrow. So, we've been baking and decorating, making train-themed art for the walls and anticipating 10 little friends and their parents for a big bash.

Photography-wise, I'm busy too. I've got images to edit from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation event I shot this week. There are several upcoming shoots and a portrait workshop to plan. And of course, I'm working on editing these family's images. But busy is good. When work is going well, my life tends to follow suit.

I think it's the deadlines that help. I generally schedule a sneak peek of a client's shoot a week to a week and a half after our session. Then, in another week and a half, I have the rest of the images done. It keeps things moving. So, yes, I love deadlines and due dates. And I think being responsible to another person or family really helps. Now if only I could get that to work for laundry . . .

Here are some pictures from last Saturday's shoot. Don't you love that old wall? Can I just say, hoodies are the best. I love how they frame the face! Oh, I think that second picture is so adorable, especially considering sibling pictures are just about the hardest to get. And the reason I chose the last image? Because this kind of shot is nearly impossible to get unless you have a pro photographer who can capture this kind of moment: so beautiful and so real. Gosh, I love my job.

Update: Here are some favorites f more from the rest of the gallery. I love them!

A Real Photographer | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2011-02-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

When I was just starting out in photography, I was a little hesitant to tell people as was a real "photographer," not just a mom with a camera. Not that there is anything wrong with being a mom with a camera, especially if you are interested in learning (because I'd love to teach or mentor you). But I wanted to be more

Now, I easily say I'm a photographer, and it's not because I wasn't a good photo-taker when I started. It's because I'm confident in being an entrepreneur and owner of a small business. That's taken a lot of work over the years: the permits, the business license, the insurance, and the taxes that come with it aren't the easiest parts of running Butler Family Photography. Believe me, I'd rather be shooting. But it means a lot to me to be doing this work legally and securely so that my clients can be confident that their portraits are being done by a professional.

Here are some portraits from the fall. I love this family and their boys. What I remember the best from this shoot is how mom and dad were especially glad that I had a boy of my own with the same kind of energy as their oldest. They knew I'd be able to keep up with him!

Looking Back

2011-02-03T20:30:00.001-08:00

A few days ago, one of my friends mentioned she would like to frame a picture I took of her and her son. They modeled for one of my portfolio-building projects when I was first starting. At home, I dug through my archives to find the original images I gave her. The originals show some of my strengths: a strong sense of composition, use of back-lighting, and okay (though not perfect) use of background.

They also show a lack of some of the things I would eventually acquire through the years: better lenses and camera equipment, more advanced understanding and use of light, and professional Photoshop editing skills. Just for fun, I re-edited a couple of the shots to where I was comfortable with their quality. I don't know which one she'll frame, but I think either will look wonderful!

When I first started as a photographer, I knew I had an eye for it, and I loved making those images for families. I knew I could learn the rest. And I have, and I am still learning. It's a vital part of my growth in this business.

I've also realized how much teaching contributes to my love of this art. So, as this year unfolds, I'm looking forward to holding more DSLR and point-and-shoot camera workshops as well as online/phone and in-person mentoring sessions with aspiring photographers. I've come a long way, and I've been in the same spot as those beginning and intermediate photographers. I'm excited to guide them in their journey.

Portrait Workshop Sneak Peek | Cumming GA Photographer

2011-01-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Just a little peek at the photos from my recent portrait workshop. We had such awesome models! Thanks, gals.

Photo Workshop This Weekend | Atlanta GA Photography Workshops

2011-01-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

This Saturday I'm holding my first Photo Workshop of the year in Cumming. It's not too late to join! Spots are open, and since we will be a small group, you'll have more one-on-one time with me! Here are the details:

Portrait Photo Workshop

Saturday, January 15, 2011

1:30-4:00 in Cumming, GA

Minimum 3 attendees, maximum 10. $45.00 per person

(Price includes a non-refundable retainer of $20.00.)

It's not just a fancy camera that makes a great photograph, but the person behind that camera as well. Here's your chance to seriously improve your composition, knowledge, and experience with portrait photography. The best part of the workshop is getting a chance to shoot with me and some models while I help you get great shots in real time. Awesome! Bring your digital camera (point-and-shoot or DSLR) and dress for the weather because we're shooting indoors and outdoors!

Use the Contact page to let me know if you want to join in.

January Snow | Atlanta GA Photographer

2011-01-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

It's snowing in Atlanta and my son thinks his train is perfect for the "train tracks" left by cars on the road.

Christmas Gifts | Custom Canvas Print and Wall Portraits

2011-01-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

Now that Christmas is over, I can share some of the beautiful photography gifts we were able to give this Christmas. The first is a custom 30" x 16" custom canvas from my family's shoot this summer. Gorgeous! My parents live in the midwest, so I didn't even get to see the canvas before it was shipped to them. Fortunately, it turned out beautifully. Maybe someday I'll have a chance to see it in person!

The next set of gifts was two framed wall portraits of my grandparents and my aunt. They are the only family we have nearby, so we've become especially close. Their house is filled with family portraits, but no really recent ones of them. So, when Thanksgiving time came and I took their pictures, I knew that a wall portrait for each of them would be a great gift. I had the metallic prints mounted and sprayed so they didn't need glass in the frame and the linen texture would be visible. They loved them!

Here's how it looked in the frame:

A Few Christmas Memories

2010-12-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year at my grandparents' home. Lots of love, song, and food were shared. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Here are a few Christmas memories.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

All the best to you and your family this wonderful season!

Thanks to my fabulous assistant Kelita Flatman for taking this. Makes such a difference to have someone to help on our own family photos!

Straight Out of the Camera | Alpharetta GA Candid Photographer

2010-12-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

I believe that editing is an important (very important) part of pro photography, especially after reading this article. If you shoot in RAW format, then you must process and export any image to get a JPEG. In addition, retouching and editing is required to get a truly pro look. In my experience, one image can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of editing required, despite the fact that it is already a great photo. That's one of the many reasons custom photography will cost you more than a shoot at a retail outlet.

But then, I don't always do pro photography, especially when I'm trying to capture a memory at home or test out a lens on my family (as in this case). Sometimes, it's better left untouched. Untouched images show off your skill as a photographer, the ability to get the exposure, light, color, and focus just right in camera.
I'm particularly pleased with the color (thank you custom white balance) and the beautiful light in his eyes (thank you external flash). The nice depth-of-field is courtesy of my 50 mm prime lens. The rest is all him. Oh how I love bath photos!

So, here are some of my candid at-home shots, SOOC--straight out of the camera--just exported from my the original RAW image to a JPEG. No editing required!

Sisters in the Field | Alpharetta GA Teen and Senior Photographer

2010-12-20T19:09:00.000-08:00

Some beautiful October pictures to warm your wintry day.

Catching up with the Blog and Upcoming Workshop | Canton GA Family and Baby Photographer

2010-12-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Now that my photography load has eased up, I have a chance to do some full posts of this season's shoots. You may remember this family from a previous sneak peek. They coordinated their shoot to coincide with baby's first birthday in October as well as get some shots for Christmas. October is the perfect month to have your Christmas portraits made. The weather is still nice and you have plenty of time to get the CD and have gift prints made without paying extra for rush shipping. (Ah, yes. I know this because I had to do that for some of my Christmas gifts. Maybe I'll take my own advice next year!)

On another note, I am pleased to announce a Portrait Photo Workshop on Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 1:30-4:00 in Cumming, GA. It's a bargain at $45.00/person. I know some of you are getting new cameras for Christmas. And some of you have nice point-and-shoots or SLRs already, but don't know how to get great pictures out of them. You've probably realized by now that it's not just a fancy camera that makes a great photograph, but the person behind that camera as well. Here's your chance to seriously improve your composition, knowledge, and experience with portrait photography. The best part of the workshop is getting a chance to shoot with me and some models (looking for some of those too, by the way) while I help you get great shots in real time. Awesome! Contact us for more information. I'll even email you a sweet-looking certificate to print out if you decide to give it as a Christmas gift.

Okay, back to more of this beautiful family!

Sweaters and Smiles | Alpharetta GA Family Photographer

2010-12-06T22:36:00.000-08:00

It's getting chilly here! I'm not a big one on winter, but I love these sweaters! Such a fun idea for family photos. And they must know how I like color. The pinks and greens and blues are just perfect for my style of photography.

Fortunately, we captured these images before this week's frosty temperature. I'm a wimp in the cold. My thermostat? 80 degrees. I know it's expensive, but I am COLD. Meanwhile, I'm editing at home in a blanket at the computer. Does anyone else's fingers go numb with cold while they're at the computer? Now there's a product idea, a Snuggie-like keyboard cover. Okay, no more silliness. It must be late.

All of Us | Alpharetta GA Family Photographer

2010-12-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a goal of mine to display more of my art in our home especially since I have so many beautiful images. But I'm busy doing photos for my clients, so it's been low on my priority list. However, Christmas is coming; things are not as crazy as they were a few weeks ago, and I've found some great deals on frames that are going to be perfect!

While I was editing the big family photo, I kept on thinking, 'Oooh, how would this look in a square frame?' So, I had to use my little photoshopping skills to find out.

Yeah, I knew it would look good. (Grin.)

Thanks to Tutorio.com, I was able to make the wood texture in Photoshop from scratch.

Here's the unframed version. Love the fall colors.

Smiles in Autumn | Roswell GA Family Photography

2010-11-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

Back from Thanksgiving and back at editing. This sweet family was really fun to work with, especially their little boy! I don't think I've ever had such an easy time getting smiles out of a child. He was fun and playful and very good with his sister. Little sis was a little harder, but some playing in the leaves got that grin. You can see another image of this sweetie on our Facebook page.

I shoot mostly families, especially those with young children. A few people have asked me how I can manage that. I've found that parents go a long way in setting the stage for the shoot.

Here are my top tips for parents during a family shoot:

Expect your children to take a little time to warm-up to the photographer. Many kids are shy at first.
Bring wipes or tissues! Runny noses and drool don't make for good photos.
Kids may need to take small breaks in between poses. Remember, they are working. Posing for photos isn't easy for a busy child!
Allow the kids to wander around and explore (with a parent or sibling for safety) while the photographer is shooting others. This keeps them entertained and may provide opportunities for fun candids.
Don't use harsh words or upset children. Avoid using threats or bribes.
Let the photographer coax the smile or reaction out of your child. It's their job! (And having multiple people try to make a child smile can confuse him/her.)
If the photographer asks you to help get a smile, stand directly behind the camera so the child is looking in the right direction when he/she smiles.
If your child does have a melt down or a crying fit, let it happen, and then let it pass. You'd be surprised how fast kids can be back to normal.
Expect babies, toddlers (and dare I say it? dads, too) to be "done" after 45 minutes to an hour of shooting.
Remember, a family shoot is fun, but it's also work (for everyone). It's very appropriate to go out for ice cream or enjoy a treat together after the shoot.

Afternoon Light | Alpharetta GA Family Photographer

2010-11-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

With Daylight Savings ended, the best time for shooting has shifted to the afternoon, and I'm just loving capturing family portraits in this gorgeous light! Enjoy the sneak peek.

Photo Workshop | Alpharetta GA Photography Workshops

2010-11-10T22:05:00.000-08:00

Last month, I decided to hold my first Photo Workshop for photography friends who either had participated in Photo Club or were interested in learning more about photography. Because it was my first time teaching a workshop, I kept the price very reasonable and hoped that at least 3 people would sign up. On workshop day, we had 7 participants. Hooray!

The workshop was such a success. We covered the basics of photography, composition, and camera control, then practiced shooting in and outdoors with some wonderful models. We also had a chance to touch on some editing tips. Whew! It was a lot to get through in three hours, but I know everyone learned a lot. Here are a few of the exit comments:

It was cool to be around people who have a love of photography.
I loved learning about the technique/settings, and then applying the knowledge through shooting.
The best part? The shooting. I learned a lot in this session.

And yes, I am planning to hold another Photo Workshop, but after Christmas when things calm down a bit. I'm so busy shooting for clients this season! Contact me if you would like to be notified of an upcoming Photo Workshop.

We worked on shooting at high ISOs and no flash indoors.

Shooting in open shade helped us avoid weird shadows on our models' faces.

Getting close, close, close is important in portrait photography.

We loved this little model. Such a darling face!

Posing our models for the birds eye shot.

Most amateur photographers who shoot in bright sunlight during the middle of the day get pictures like this . . .

But we turned that bright light to our advantage and got pictures like these:

The models took our group photo!

Images from some of our workshop participants:

You can see some more of Dora's images here.

You can see some more of Michelle's images here.

Oh Boys! | Norcross GA Family Photographer

2010-11-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love shooting families with boys! They make the play and interaction so fresh and real in my portraiture. I especially loved seeing how these two little guys warmed up to me as we shot with their mom and dad last week in historic Norcross. Enjoy the sneak peek!

Sisters Sneak Peek | Alpharetta GA Teen Photographer

2010-10-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

I love shooting portraits of teens. No, I'm not kidding. (I used to teach junior high too.) There's something about the energy and vitality of teenagers I just eat up. I also appreciate their willingness to try new things in order to get a great picture. These sisters were super fun to work with, and I even got to rifle through their closets and choose their outfits. We lucked out on the location--a field blooming that weekend as we drove by and decided we wanted to shoot there--a perfect spot for some gorgeous girls.

Flying High | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2010-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than a family that wants to play while shooting. We took advantage of the high spirits of this little guy and his darling brother for a fun family shoot last week. Enjoy the sneak peek!

Four in the Family | Roswell GA Family and Baby Photographer

2010-10-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

When I schedule and coordinate shoots, it's usually the mom I talk to. But this one was put together by the dad--a designer and artist I've admired since I met him a couple years ago. He especially wanted me to capture images of their new baby and some of mom and baby, similar to the ones I took of his older brother when he was a newborn. Of course, I have lots of favorites of everyone in the family. My goal at each shoot is to capture images that a family will look back on for years to come. Enjoy!

A Photographer in the Family | Extended Family Portraits

2010-10-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

One of the thrills of being the photographer in the family is creating wonderful portraits of the people you love. Here are some of the photos from my extended family's shoot in Portland including 2 whole family shots I did with the timer! We were there for my brother's wedding and just lucked out on the location: an abandoned parking lot behind our hotel. It was overgrown with moss, ivy, and had an amazing tree right where I could take portraits.

And check out the attire! I told everyone to wear jewel-toned or primary-colored tops -- no "matchy, matchy." I love how that turned out!

Thanks to my sister Charity for taking the above photo of my family.

Little Family Sneak Peek | Canton GA Family and Baby Photographer

2010-10-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

This little family and I spent a fun morning shooting last Saturday. Their little guy's birthday is this week and mom has a darling idea to have people at his birthday party sign the matte of a frame for the image below. Only problem is, I don't know which one I'd pick! He's so gorgeous on all the versions!

Click on each for the larger version.

Preschooler Portraits | Roswell GA Children's Photographer

2010-10-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

I'm gearing up for the holiday season and having fun taking portraits of my own little guy for Christmas gifts.
Here's some of my techniques for getting great portraits of a preschooler:

A cute shirt on a cute boy. I love stripes on boys!

Daddy standing nearby with a reflector while I shoot from above

Sitting on Daddy's shoulders

Rocking chair from a friend

Playing "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes"

Running

Gorgeous golden light

A fast lens to catch those "up in the air" shots

And a little more running!

I love a good triptych!

2010-10-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I'm editing photos from my brother's wedding. I love how this series of 3 turned out!

Little Sweetie | Roswell GA Children's Photographer

2010-09-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled I got a portrait of this little sweetie while we were on a playdate today. When I emailed the photo to her mom, she asked whether or not I had edited out the "boo boos" and mosquito bites or if the camera just didn't see it. That comment really made me smile. I did edit this photo, actually, quite a bit. But the results (I hope) make it look like the camera really saw it that way (grin).

Here's what I did:

1. Upped the exposure.

2. Cloned my son out of the background.

3. Cloned out the "boos boos."

4. Brightened the subject.

5. Brightened and sharpened the eyes.

6. Blurred, added noise, and blurred again the edges and background.

7. Desaturated the edges and the background slightly.

8. Sharpened the subject.

9. Upped the vibrance of the image.

Ta Da!

Lashes | Alpharetta GA Children's Photographer

2010-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Had to post this little portrait of my son's friend. Love the lashes.

It came! 20 x 24 Family Storyboard

2010-09-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last week was an exciting one for me and my clients. Their special order of this 20 x 24 storyboard arrived looking as gorgeous as we could have hoped for! We went with metallic paper mounted for framing with a linen texture and a glossy finish. I can't wait to see it hung up in their home!

At the Creek | Marietta GA Family Photographer

2010-09-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Photographing families is my favorite--especially when they have a sense of adventure. This family wanted to use a particular spot that we hiked into after parking our cars at the trailhead. Definitely worth the effort!

Cut-work Artist Portfolio | Alpharetta GA Photographer

2010-09-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine recently asked me to photograph his portfolio of cut-work art pieces. Though art portfolios aren't something I regularly photograph, I was really pleased with the results. Check out how detailed and meticulous his work is. Amazing!

Candid Family Sneak Peek | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2010-09-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

I love capturing family moments like these: artistically set up for balance, background, and color, but allowed to evolve naturally with real expressions and honest reactions. It's "candid" in all the ways that need to be for a family portrait. Enjoy the sneak peek!

Urban Portraits | Alpharetta GA Teen Photographer

2010-08-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

This summer I did some modeling/mentoring work with a good friend of mine. She modeled for me, and I for her. It was fun to find some urban spots to shoot in around downtown Alpharetta.

I took my son along and gave him a little camera to play with. I love having a couple photos from a 3-year-old's perspective.

Couldn't pass up the chance for a good portrait. I set up the camera settings and let my friend take these portraits with my camera. Definitely some of my favorite pictures!

My best shoot to date | Roswell GA Family Photography

2010-08-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

This awesome family has been good friends of mine for a few years, and the mom, also a photo-enthusiast, and I have been planning and plotting for this shoot for months! So, it was a combination of factors that made this one of my most fabulous shoots ever: great morning light, awesome location in historic Roswell, good clothing choices, lots of ideas by mom and by me, a fabulous lens and camera, and of couse the most photogenic family!

What I love about these photos the most is the romance between the parents. So, so beautiful. The kids are just a hoot, too. Check out the youngest! We loved the way his personality came out so beautifully. I'm so excited about the final product to come from these photos--big canvases and prints for their family's living areas and stairway. They're going to be awesome!

Family Treasure: 16 x 20 Storyboard

2010-08-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the 16x20 storyboard design I created for one of my family shoots. The hardest thing was making the paisley background! They family had it printed on metallic paper--gorgeous color saturation and a rich metallic sheen--and are going to have it framed. It was so fun to create a piece that will be treasured through generations.

Cannon Beach | Couple Portraits

2010-08-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Oregon. Cannon Beach was incredibly beautiful, but to a girl used to the Georgia heat, very cold! I had such a fun time shooting some portraits of my sister and her husband. So romantic!

Editing rocks

2010-08-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

This summer, my family spent some time in Portland OR for my brother's wedding. I shot some (okay, a LOT) of photos of my family while there. This is one of my favorite portraits of my sister. She wanted the photo right away, but I wanted her to have the fully edited version. It takes more time--about 20-30 minutes if you are doing face retouching, eye sharpening, color enhancing, and vignetting--but I think the result speaks for itself. Hope you love it sis!

Family in Purple | Roswell GA Family Photographer

2010-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I love shooting families, especially friends' families because I know how much the photos mean to them. Even in my own case, getting a good family photo is special, and we only have 3 in our family!

This family was especially great to work with--even when we had to wait through a light rain during our shoot! The paisley and stripes in purple was a fun way to go color-wise and is a good example of how you can mix up the clothing while staying within a general color scheme. Can't wait to post the awesome special edit I did for these guys . . .

My Favorite Place to Rent Camera Gear: Aperturent

2010-07-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

"Rent!" is one of the best pieces of advice I could give anyone interested using or buying a fancy camera or lens. Camera equipment is expensive, so you really want to shoot with the equipment before you decide whether or not it's worth buying. Renting is also great when you need a lens or camera body for a short period of time, but don't have the money to invest (like $1,800--yikes!--for the lens below).

My favorite place to rent is Aperturent.com. They're a local Atlanta company but they ship all over through FedEx, and their prices are great! They have Canon, Nikon, and Four-Thirds camera bodies and lenses as well as lighting gear and accessories. (Don't forget to rent a filter with that lens! I never shoot without a filter to protect the glass.) If you live in Atlanta, you can choose just a 3-day rental and pick up your rental equipment in person. That means NO SHIPPING costs. Their other rental rates are very competitive.

If you reserve or rent a lens and use the code 4JULY by July 4, 2010, you'll get 15% off the rental! Please use my referral link http://aperturent.com/r/226 to enter the site. They have an awesome referral program, and I'd love to help grow their business. Plus, their equipment is awesome.

One of my favorite lenses to rent, a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S

From a shoot with the above lens.

Mother and Daughter | Alpharetta GA Portrait Photographer

2010-06-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad had the opportunity to take some portraits of this mother-daughter pair, long-time friends and some of my very favorite people! We did the shoot in the morning--my favorite time to shoot--by a little pond I like for quick shoots. I love their clothing choices and how the setting and light made for such amazing color.

Hurray for Grandkids! | Suwanee GA Family Photographer

2010-06-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

I love grandparents and grandkids shoots! There's something so wonderful about capturing those two generations, and this family was no exception. I especially love the group shot. It seems like some group shots are just so tough to arrange and pose, but this one came together very easily.

Posting my images on the blog just doesn't do justice to the clarity and size of the high res images. I cropped this image down to a 4x6 of the dog (who's smiling too!) and you can see how clear it is!

Family group images are becoming my signature "shot." I love getting one of all the siblings together!

Even though this was a grandpa and grandma/grandkids shoot, our clients made sure Grandpa got one shot with his daughter!

This is Jacob's favorite shot. Makes him smile!

It was such a sunny day that we used a umbrellas to create shade for each of the shots. I love the candid I caught of these two playing with one of the extra umbrellas.

Sometimes the best shots are when I catch my clients off guard. Lovin' this one!

Oh those eyes | Roswell GA Baby Photographer

2010-06-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

These are my last portraits of baby girl before she moves to California today. (I've been her babysitter for about a year.) She has been such a blessing to our family and such a willing model whenever I wanted photos of her. I went for "wow" color on these photos since the green was already such a good contrast to the pink dress and her beautiful corn-silk-blonde hair. And who can deny those eyes are SO worth shooting. Gorgeous!

Wedding Day Beauty | Birmingham AL Temple Wedding Photographer, Roswell GA Photographer

2010-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy posting galleries for clients, doing shoots, running photo club, and oh yeah, being a mom and wife that I haven't done a full post about the wedding I shot this spring. I really enjoyed being part of the wedding party and capturing some of the moments of the day. Enjoy!

P.S. I don't usually shoot weddings, but if your wedding photographer is looking for a second shooter, I may be interested.

cake by Jamie's Cakes

Family Portrait and Fram-eable Special Edit | Johns Creek GA Family Photographer

2010-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

When I started Butler Family Photography, I chose our name based on the fact that it would be Jacob and I (and hopefully someday our son) shooting and producing the images. I also wanted to imply that our main focus was family-inspired images.

It's so hard to get a great photo of everyone altogether in your family, especially a big family, and especially if you try to do it yourself. (I know, I've attempted it with my own.) So we are focused on making images for others that we would want shot of our own family. And would I love a big frame-able Special Edit like this one? Large enough for a 22 x 28 print or canvas. Yes! (You are going to want to see the bigger version. Click on the image to see it.)

A few design notes:

Jacob suggested I make the border look a little like the photograph is spilling over a bit onto the image frame. Fun idea, huh?
I change the names of the families when posting my designs on the web. Don't they look like they could be Johansens, though?
Oh, and a ~~big~~ massive thank you to Jacob who did the incredible editing on the background. It needed a lot more bushes and leaves than were there originally, and he is the master at that!

Our clients liked how the image looks in black and white too.

After Bathtime | Alpharetta GA Children's Photographer

2010-05-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

The other day I visited my friend and fellow photographer Diana. Our conversation really got me thinking about my photography and what I can do to grow in my own technique and business practices. Diana also leant me her copy of The Art of Children's Portrait Photography, and today I was really itching to take some photos of my little guy. I'm shooting monochrome (black and white) to really focus on exposure, working with natural light in higher ISOs, and not worrying as much about slightly blurred images as long as what I want in focus is sharp enough. Another big plus -- I'm doing minimal post processing to the photos.

Here's my son right after bath time giggling and playing peekaboo with the towel before bed. Daddy loves the images, so I know I'm on the right track. It's fun to learn!

Our little guy

2010-05-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

Lots has been going on at our CF blog, Peter's Pavement Pounders. Check it out!

Family Portrait Storyboard

2010-05-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

My storyboard special edits are a hot item lately! Besides this one, I have 3 more packages I will be designing storyboards for. It's fun to create a custom look for each family's group of photos. This storyboard was based on a special edit I did last year, but definitely customized to fit the pictures from their shoot.

Here's how I did the blue background:

1. Flat colored base. I chose the color with the hues and shades of the photographs in mind.

2. Texturized so it looks a little like linen-finished paper.

3. Decorated with a subtle floral brush in a darker shade than the base color.

4. A custom texture overlay to add a little more depth.

5. A second layer of floral brushwork. Done!

My Favorites from the Georgia Aquarium

2010-05-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Had a chance to visit the Georgia Aquarium this week with one of my best friends and her son. I have never had to run around and chase my kid so much! He was super excited to be there, but also very, very hard to keep track of. Whew!

Shooting at the aquarium is always a challenge because of the light: colored, often very low, and with everything moving inside the tank, you have to turn up your ISO high and hope for the best! I love the shot below, my favorite of the day, and of course, the one of little miss by the tanks.

Oh, and FYI, I got my tickets to the Aquarium for about half price! Thanks to the Atlanta on the Cheap blog, you can get $15 general admission tickets through May 27th.

Oh, wow! Baby Portrait Session

2010-04-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a hug-able, love-able, snug-able little boy! I don't often have a chance to do solo portraits, so I loved having a chance for poses in multiple outfits and locations in the Windward area. My favorites are the ones in the grass. Those big eyes are irresistible! And that wagon--borrowed from a friend of mine--such a perfect prop. Everyone was so great while we were shooting: mom, who was my assistant and great at posing her boy and getting him to look at the camera; dad, who safeguarded the baby when we had to balance him or set him up for poses, and of course baby, who stayed in good spirits throughout the whole thing. Now, that's a photographer's dream. Enjoy the pics!

Spring Family Fun: Family Portrait Session

2010-04-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

There are so many things I love about this shoot: the freckles (!), the smiles, the sweetest, cutest dog, and great morning light on the day before Easter. Spring is a fabulous time to shoot kids, especially with their new puppy, but it's especially fun when we can get mom and dad in the photos too. We originally planned a kids and pet shoot, but it turned into an awesome family session and I'm always thrilled when I can capture family photos. Group portraits are always a bit of work, but totally worth it!

How to Capture Some Quick Spring Portraits

2010-04-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Spring is a great time to capture portraits with the blossoming flowers. Here's my "how to" guide with a few shots I did at a friend's house using this technique.

Find a flowering bush. Bushes are better than trees for quick spring portraits because they are close to the ground and don't cause awkward mergers like tree trunks do.
Wait until the late afternoon or early morning when the light is best.
Put your subject as close to the bush or even within the bush.
Shoot close to the subject and shoot at an angle that fills the background of your image with flowers or spring leaves.
Edit as desired! (Psst... I use a texture on the first image. If you want to learn how to do this and other custom editing techniques, sign up for online mentoring sessions! I'd love to teach you.)

Hats: Schaer Talents Business Card Shoot

2010-04-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends recently started a hat and accessory-making business. I love her creativity and was thrilled to design her logo and business card. We wanted the business card to feature some of her hats. Here's how it turned out:

Here are the cards fresh from the printer. The pearl paper we ordered gave them a warmer hue and a shimmery finish. They looked gorgeous!

The image for the back of the card featured a collection of her hats. Because it was on a plain white background, I could do a COB (cut-out-background) photo and use the cream flower-patterned background to echo the design in the front of the card.

Here are some other hat images I took as possibilities for the card. I love showing the texture of the yarn, but ultimately decided that a straight-forward representation of her work would be the best for this design.

I love this one. It just reminds me of something a Who in Whoville would wear!

Check out more hats and accessories at the Etsy shop for Schaer Talents: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jschaer1

Easter

2010-04-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

I love Easter--the beautiful spring blossoms, the sunshine, and the first holiday we celebrated after my son was born. So it will always be a special time of the year for me. These past few years, it's seemed that nothing is certain in life with job changes, moving, our son's health, and the inevitable emotions that come with these changes. Yet, as I've reflected this week about what is unchanging in my life, I always come back to one experience: the first time I truly felt the assurance of the existence and absolutely overpowering grace of Jesus Christ, my Savior. That knowledge has guided me through a mission to Hungary, a marriage, and now motherhood--even when times are hardest. So, this Easter I'm truly grateful to Him who is the constant in my life:

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever." Ether 12:41, The Book of Mormon

And for my Hungarian friends . . .

--És most, azt ajánlanám nektek, hogy keressétek ezt a Jézust, akiről a próféták és az apostolok írtak, hogy veletek legyen és megmaradjon bennetek Istennek, az Atyának, valamint az Úr Jézus Krisztusnak és a róluk bizonyságot tevő Szentléleknek kegyelme. Ether 12:41, A Mormon Könyve

The first three photos were taken by Jacob, the last one by me: The petal blossoms were falling off the trees like snow yesterday, and that's my sweetheart with a handful. The text is Hungarian for "love."

Photog Mom and Kids: Mentoring Session

2010-04-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

I usually post my own work as the first photo, but I love, love, love the image above, and I was certainly part of the process. My good friend and aspiring photographer Leah shot with me during a mentoring session with her kids. We worked a bit on group posing and after looking at her shots, I suggested she get closer, much closer, to her subjects. I was playing photo assistant and holding the umbrella to shade the kids while Leah shot. I love the angle, the faces, the catch lights in the eyes . . . only when we got the shot we wanted, one or the other of the kids wasn't looking as darling as they were in the previous shot or vice versa. Sooooo . . . I told her to send me the files and with a bit of post processing work, I made a composite of this amazing trio. Hurray! That was a fun collaboration.

The rest of the session is filled with favorites like the next photo--every photog loves having pictures of them at work, especially if their darling model is their son.

Enter Jacob, husband and dad extraordinaire, taking this awesome picture of us girls at work. The model? My little boy! (Unfortunately, he wouldn't hold still long enough for us to get good shots of him there--imagine that, a son of a photographer being tired of having his picture taken.) But Jacob took a lot of great shots of him while we were working with Leah's kids. See his photos on our Peter's Pavement Pounders website.

This one will be a portfolio piece for me, so characteristic of my photography style.

Oh, I just adore this one . . . If you look very closely, you can see me in the reflection of the baby's eyes! I was holding my camera out to the side and above my head to get a better angle.

Can't see it? Okay, sorry. Here ya go:

I love working with lens flare!

These ones from Leah are so scrumptious! The baby's little pouty lips and big eyes make these photos. I'm also so glad we were able to get some genuine smiles out of big brother. Sometimes that's hard to do. Check out more of Leah's work at: http://leahbellphoto.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out my mentoring session rates. I'd love to teach and shoot with you!

My First Wedding: Sneak Peek

2010-03-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends asked me to shoot her daughter's wedding. Although I was a little nervous about accepting, I knew it would have to happen eventually (me shooting a wedding), and I felt confident enough in my experience to do it. The couple were married at the Birmingham Alabama Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a gorgeous overcast day and though it threatened to rain (and did as soon as we were done shooting), the wedding turned out wonderfully. Here is a sneak peek at some of my favorites so far.

A Family in Winter: Family Portrait Session

2010-03-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Before spring is entirely upon us, I better post these gorgeous family photos I did when the weather was (for us in Geogira, at least) wintery. This couple's little boy is about the same age as my son, so I knew what would make him smile: running, exploring, and the Thomas the Tank Engine "Roll Call" song . . . "There's two; there's four; there's six; there's eight. Shunting coal and hauling freight . . ." That resulted in my favorite picture (fifth one down), so I don't mind that I looked a little silly singing and shooting. My other faves are the the bird's eye couple shots (which the mom used to surprise her hubby on Valentine's). I love those pictures because they're beautiful, but also because I climbed up on top of a dumpster so I have a good perspective. So fun!

I love taking a series of photos that clients could put in a frame like the example below. Too precious!

Peter's Pavement Pounders

2010-03-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

I've been busy designing and setting up a website for our son and our CF walk coming up. We did the walk last year, but this year, we are trying to pull together a big team (across the nation!) of people pounding the pavement to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I'm so pumped about our site and the walk. Even our team name--Peter's Pavement Pounders--makes me excited! Click on over!

Mom and Baby Mentoring Session

2010-02-17T06:41:00.001-08:00

I have a new passion--mentoring! These are photos from an in-person mentoring session last fall with my very good friend and her sweet daughter. In our session, we both shot and then reviewed our work before moving on to another set of shots. It was a fun way to work, and I could give immediate feedback on how to shoot that particular scene better. Then, we tried again to get better shots. In the process, we covered photo-taking tips such as . . .

Getting close and filling the frame . . .

Using the flash when your background is brighter than your foreground . . .

Shooting from different angles to avoid mergers and busy backgrounds . . .

Framing using available elements in the setting . . .

Working with different levels of exposure . . .

Using uh, props . . .

and taking photos from unexpected perspectives . . .

It was an awesome session! I love how I captured mom taking a photo of baby . . . and the resulting photo from her camera! (Fun color work on her part, don't you think?) And then the feet are just precious. I love feet pics!

For more of this mom's work, visit her blog, Schaer Talents.

Best Friends

2010-02-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I "borrow" other kids for our son to play with. Okay, it's babysitting, but I really do love having someone else around to share in the fun. I think these two share a special bond--both have dealt with serious health problems since birth yet both have bright and vibrant personalities. I think they must have been friends in heaven. They certainly are here.

Online Mentoring: Basic Editing

2010-02-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to pick my brain about photography? I now offer mentoring sessions both in-person and online, thanks to a few interested clients like Phallin of Maries Cottage Photography. Phallin already had a good sense of composition, but needed help with lighting, editing, and business practices. Our first online session focused on photo editing. We covered exposure, hue and saturation, vignetting, sharpening, and had a great time over the phone and over email. I'm so proud of the completed image Phallin produced from our session! Interested in having me mentor you? Contact me through our contact form for more information.

Snow!

2010-02-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

This is pretty much my favorite family photo ever taken. Fun, candid, well-lit, and yes, we did it ourselves. Tripod, auto timer, and a chance wind that blew the snow in front of the lens. I love how my mouth is totally huge; Jacob looks like he's doing magic; and our little buddy is about to be hit by my snowball. (He got me back though!)

With a snow storm in Georgia, everyone's out taking pictures, and since I've been working on self-portraits lately, I had picture-taking on my agenda this morning. After a few less-than-successful tries, I grabbed the boys and we did a few more with Jacob. And yes, we are such photo nerds that we often coordinate our clothing just in case we want to take a family portrait. Happy Snow Day!

Contemporary Head Shots

2010-02-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

After I shot her family portraits, a client asked for some professional head shots to compliment the professional portrait of her business partner in California. We wanted to include some sort of architectural interest in the background as well as match the lighting and tone of the image of her business partner. We found a spot nearby my client's home really lucked out on the light--a beautiful overcast day. Both of us were thrilled with the results, and I'm excited my photos may appear in press releases, interviews, and perhaps even magazine articles about their online home and fashion boutique, Layla Grace.

Sibling Storyboard: Special Edit

2010-02-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

I'm finally starting to catch up on all the posts from my holiday shoots. For this one, I designed a 11x14 storyboard as their special edit. I loved incorporating 3 photos along the side with the awesome waterfall portrait. I custom-design each storyboard according to the colors, atmosphere, and character of my subjects and their surroundings. For this one, I really wanted to bring out the personality of the brother and sister and well as compliment the color work of the main image. I also love the fact that these storyboards look and feel ready to frame without a matte.

A 10-month-old's Philosophy of Life

2010-02-12T04:09:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I babysit a sweet baby girl during the week. She has become my boy's "borrowed little sister" and a real blessing to our family. It's been fun see how her personality is developing. I'm sure her mom and dad could add a few more, but here's a few insights into her philosophy of life:

If you're eating, I should be too!
Just looking . . . Soaking it all in!
I'm upset and I want everyone to know it!
Wow! Screaming is for happy and sad.
Whatcha doin'? Watcha doin'? I want to do it too!
Everything tastes better when it's been on the floor.
What do you mean it's not all about me?
No-don't put me in there! I hate my carseat!
It is too my sippy cup! It was within my reach, wasn't it?
I reserve my smiles for people I know.
Hmm . . . this is new. Let's investigate.
I love to snuggle.

Love you baby girl! Thanks for being part of my life!