Light Seeker

I didn’t touch my camera for a year. And before that? It was about once per month, I’d pick it up, click a few things, hate it, and then not touch it again. I didn’t do what I am most passionate about because I hated every single thing that I shot. Why? Because I wasn’t shooting enough. Do you see the circle?

I was so stuck in this circle. I want to be a better photographer right now. Screw working at it, I want it right now. Needless to say, that was really wrong. I would make every single excuse in the world why I didn’t pick up my camera. I didn’t have the right gear. I couldn’t get to my camera in time. It wouldn’t come out how I wanted it to. Who cares what I am shooting anyway? I just wanted it to magically be better and be where I wanted to be without putting int the time. How fuckin ridiculous….?

2018 is my year of not caring–but in a good way. I don’t care if people like what I’m shooting, or if it’s good enough, or if I am as good as Jane Doe. There is no more comparing myself, and just shooting daily for 10 days I’m seeing changes in myself, my confidence, and I’m getting my passion back for what I have loved for years. It feels so good about it and my heart is so full. All I have ever wanted to do is capture my kids lives, and all of the tiny moments that we forget too quickly.

Some images I will love, some images I will hate, but it will just go hand in hand with getting better. I shot my favorite image of all time the other night, and I couldn’t be happier. If you’re reading this and haven’t picked up your camera in a while? Do it. I promise you won’t regret it.

3 Fave Apps for iPhone Photos!

I swear to you, I have downloaded more iPhone apps specifically for photos than any other kind of app, and these are my 3 fave apps for iPhone Photos! Probably because I’m addicted to photography and the new new. I’ve spent money, and I’ve downloaded free ones, like literally hundreds. THESE apps are GOLDEN. You want them. They are easy to use, which I’m telling you some are harder than Photoshop and ain’t nobody got time for that. Let’s dive right in!

Word Swag 

1st fave app

Yes girl yes lemme tell you. I learned about this app through some friends of mine and I promise it’s amazing. You can type your text over your image, or over one of their stock images and change it based on the font/color without having to re-type it 150 times. Super user friendly and makes really cute stuff. It’s $4.99 and absolutely worth every penny. Here are two completely different examples, so you can see the versatility of the app.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic Stitch 

2nd fave app

Out of ALL the apps I’ve downloaded I swear I’ve downloaded more collage apps than ANYTHING. I’ve paid lots and this free one is the BEST of them all. They do have a ton of in app purchase options, and I have purchased more collages, worth it. Just drag and drop, easy peasy. Even allows for super simple re-sizing! This app is so ridiculously fast. I threw together this collage from my husbands birthday dinner the other night is legit less than 20 seconds. The other is a fave of mine which is a completely unedited photo of me and Timothy.

 

Fuzel Collage 

My most favorite of them ALL. This app is adorable. I use it ALL the time for some cute finishing touches on my photos. They have one ZILLION options to add on and are constantly coming out with more. You purchase credits and then buy packs of ‘stickers’ to add on, but they’re seriously beyond adorable and have them for every occasion. I use them on everything. They also give you the option to earn free credit with photo challenges, and they’re fun, and it’s a great way to learn how to use the app, tho it’s already pretty simple. The possibilities with this app are literally endless.

 

Thoughts?! Which ones do you like? I’d love to hear your thoughts and see what you do with these apps! Contact me here!

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5 Totally Simple Photo Projects

These 5 Totally Simple Photo Projects, are not only simple, but you’ll want to do them! They are an easy way to create a photo project that will catch your daily life and family memories and they are easy to work into your every day life with things you already do and equipment you already have!  I’ve done all of them personally, and I promise they’re all simple. I’ve attempted and failed at far, far too many photo projects to count! Some were way too far fetched, others required me to leave the house (pass), some required me to shoot daily, on and on, just too much.

You will be able to document your every day life, your families memories without any arguments from the kids. And you can start right now!

         One Spot

Truly, that simple. Pick one spot in your house, just one. I did this with my Hallway for a year. It has horrible light, but that’s where my kids were, constantly, so it was an obvious choice for me. Where does your family gravitate? Do you have a spot with unbelievable light? Which spot in your house is typically clutter free? And then whenever my kids were in that spot, I shot a few images. Some days they were all keepers, some days I got none, but that’s okay. It allowed me to capture them for a year where they evolved, and grew, without going out of their comfort zone, or mine.

When they’re not looking…

I really, really despise cheesy photography. I’m not taking about cheesy like tacky, corny, whatever, I’m talking about stop, pose, CHEESE kind of photos. I’ve recently started this project myself and it is my absolute favorite that I’ve done, and probably the most simple. I simply shoot my kids when they’re not looking. I plan to show them the photos at the end of the year, which I think should be pretty epic, because they have no idea about the project. My kids have a bad case of ‘Photographers Kid’ syndrome and I have a real hard time getting them to take any nice photos. So I just stopped trying, and do it this way now. So far? It’s love!

Pick a color, any color.

And make your primary focal point in your image, in every image. It sounds simple enough but it will really make a huge impact when it’s all put together as one large photography project, wether it’s on Facebook or in a book you print when you’re finished. Simple right? Even if in your editing, you add the same tone, it’ll all come together in a way that’ll make it cohesive in the end!

Lovey Dovey

Does your kid have a lovey? Or just a favorite toy? Find ways to sneak it into your photos for this project. Maybe the lovey even goes on adventures or does things when your kids are at school or away from it. Catch them with it naturally, and you can practice your posing as well. It’s so simple, but again, will make a cohesive project that will come together at the end.

Let them dress…themselves!

I swear when I do my kids photos, finding their outfits takes me longer than actual photo taking process. Most days my kids are not matching, at all, or something I’d ever put on them in real life, but that is who they are! I’ve started capturing my kids as they are, and it’s really been a game changer for me. It’s been DIFFICULT to let go of the perfect kid looking perfect but I am absolutely in love with the images that allow themselves to express themselves as they are.

 

So what do you think? Easy right? These are hands down the easiest way to catch what your kids are like in their truest form growing up! I’d love to see images you create with these projects! Send them to me here!

 

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