Posted By: Carrie Anne Miranda of Carrie Anne Miranda Photography
Location, location, location.
It’s important right?
Yes, it is, but it definitely isn’t everything. A lot of people starting out think you need these fabulous locations to get great photos but it really isn’t true. Don’t get me wrong a good location is awesome, and having a few go-to spots can be helpful.
However, locations are ALL around us. I hear lots of photographers talk about how they don’t have any cool spots to shoot around them, but really there are places EVERYWHERE to take great pictures. Everywhere.
So…I figure that that first Wednesday of every month I will post a pullback of a picture that I have taken, and where I took it. Most are going to be random places around town that I just stumble upon and start snapping away.
Today I took a short drive near my house. I dressed my son before going out and felt that his outfit looked a little more urban than earthy so I wanted something that wasn’t filled with tall weeds or sunny orchards. So a few streets down from my house I stopped, put my son where I wanted him and started snapping away. A few of those shots…
Here is a pullback of the spot I stopped. Yep, right off the road on the side of the street in the one tiny spot of shade available. May not be an award winning location, but it served it’s purpose and gave me what I needed. I shot wide open at 1.4 because I wanted the background to blur as much as possible so I wouldn’t get the street signs or other randomness in there.
Sometimes, you just have to think out of the box. Look around at walls, over grown fences and empty lots, parking structures, rundown buildings. They are out there, you just have to find them!
Happy hunting!
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In the beginning of the year, Clickin Moms announced a new monthly photography project. A group of 12 photographers came together and photographed a theme each month, and formed a blog circle to encourage and inspire each other. The stars aligned just right, and Danie landed in my group…or, rather, I landed in Danie’s group because she is our leader.
My photography journey has lead me to meet some of the most nicest, talented and encouraging group of people and Danie is no exception. I am incredibly grateful for her support and friendship.
Danie is the creative woman behind Photography by Danie, and I am pretty happy to share her talent with y’all. And today, Danie is sharing with us a day in her life.
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A popular question on photography forums these days: “How do you get it all done?!”
Indeed. I started Photography by Danie a few years ago, because I want everybody to have beautiful pictures of their children doing just what they do — being children. Recently, I’ve been transitioning to doing more introductory dSLR tutoring and fewer portrait sessions, because first and foremost, I am a Stay at Home Mom. I try very hard not to use television as a babysitter, and my kids are still in preschool (together, just 3 mornings a week). Somehow, I’ve managed to pull together a photography and tutoring business, and spend at least as much time continuing to study photography. But where do I find the time?
I figure, in an average week, I have optimistically 32 hours of time to work, before I start detracting seriously from family life. ”Work time” includes staying up to past midnight, getting laundry done, grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, etc. I still average at least 25 hours of photography work and study each week, often by foregoing sleep at night. Since today is Monday, and the one day of the week I have both a babysitter AND school to get work done, I thought it would be an interesting case study.
12:00am: Since I’m not a morning person, I try to plan before I go to bed. Above is page one of today’s to-do list. All produced on my iPad, using Penultimate (my current favorite app!).
7:30am: This morning, my husband is helping out by going into work a little later — kids are dressed and eating breakfast by the time I drag myself downstairs.
My daughter may have disappeared behind that sea of purses, but since my husband just did me a favor, I’m in no position to complain!
8:30am: Lunches are made, laundry begun (anything that can be done while I’m doing something else must be!), and batch processing started on a set of photos in Photoshop (this takes a while. Need updated computer.). Time to coax kids out the door, drop off at school.
9:15am: Back home, after driving through McDonald’s for desperately needed caffeine fix. {Must learn to like tea!} Mad kitchen cleaning up frenzy ensues, while listening to Book 6 in Wheel of Time series.
9:30am: Already half an hour behind schedule. ;( Go into Photoshop to tweak photos from the religious ed classes at church yesterday. Trying to pretend my desk doesn’t look like this.
{Note “handy kelvin temperature chart” hanging above desk from this very site!  Less Facebook, more Kelvin.} [Note from us here at Girl Hearts Camera: LOVE it!]
10:30am: Running a script to save all the files as JPEGs (I won’t need to keep the .psd files). While script is running, desk cleaning (“after” picture is the other end of the wall-length desk, the part I share with my husband). Cannot explain why there turned out to be dish soap and a [clean!] pull-up on my desk, but at least I found my missing iPod!
11:00am: Then back downstairs to switch laundry, folding last night’s, listening to GoingPro podcast on my phone, because I’ve misplaced my iPod. {Highly recommend GoingPro2010.com blog and podcasts}
11:20am: Back to my desk to figure out how to use DropBox.
11:45am: I’ve finally figured it out (almost half an hour?!), and I successfully use it to transfer a bunch of screenshots I took my iPad last week of textures and colors I like (for blogsite redesign project!!!!). Now to upload files to SmugMug. And email JPEGs to religious ed director.
12:00pm: Running for the car to pick kids up from school. Kid time! We’re going to the Disney store to pick up bribes because they vehemently don’t want a babysitter today. Sigh. I know I’ll spend the whole afternoon feeling guilty for “working” when I “should” be taking care of my kids. And yes, I put work in quotes because frankly, I work on such a small scale it doesn’t bring in a lot of income. And anyway, it’s all way too much fun really to count as work, right?!
4:00pm: Babysitter arrives. Email time — following up with a client whose family session was rained out this afternoon (hey, at least I have the babysitter time for other tasks). Exchanging ideas with a former tutoring client on growing that side of Photography by Danie (how awesome are my clients?!).
4:30pm: Paperwork. Sync accounts (I’m trying out Outright.com as the lazy way to track finances for business, because I’m terrible at that side of things! But not so lazy since I like writing out all my own descriptions.) Starting notes for another tutoring client later this week. Oh yeah, and frantically defrosting some food to cook for dinner, which I’d forgotten about completely. (Again!)
5:15pm: The fun part of my work! I know I should say that’s Photography, but honestly, I’m motivated by projects. Right now, my two big projects are
1. rebranding: as mentioned above, business focus has changed to more tutoring, fewer portrait sessions.
2. creating a class to give at our church next fall, looking at how photography can be used to deepen spirituality and mindfulness.
5:45pm: Take two on fun part. Had to cook dinner for super starved little children and switch more laundry (favorite PJs were in dryer). More audiobooks, yay! I’m now eating a peanut butter sandwich while they eat a hot cooked meal. Finally getting around to reading the super inspiring classic: The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.
6:30pm: Now to finish up this article before my babysitter leaves!  Then tonight, after the kids go to bed about 8 or so, I’ll have a chance to catch up on my Clickin Moms photography class with Sarah Wilkerson (incredible teacher).
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To see more of Danie’s work, be sure to visit her website and facebook page
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Posted By: Molly Denson of Simply M Photography
I graduated college in late 2006. As thrilled as I was to be in the real world, it was tough to find a well-paying job with my newly-achieved degree (Nutrition, I still love you, but it just wasn’t meant to be!). I began to think of ways to bring in a little more income for myself. I knew that my interest in photography was growing quickly, and I enjoyed taking pictures of things around me, but I wasn’t good enough yet to charge for family sessions. Honestly, I’m glad I realized this…otherwise, I would need to go back and re-do many sessions for those poor clients! I actually never thought I would take pictures of people, though it was something I wished that I could have the guts to do. Never say never, friends!
By a couple of years later, I was taking pictures of just about everything I saw: architecture, gardens, food, coffee cups (probably a few too many of those), anything with bright colors, and so on. I loved the ease of a digital camera – if I took something not-so-lovely, the delete button quickly erased it. I didn’t worry about how many shots I was taking, or how they looked detail-wise, because I knew I could delete or fix them in Picasa later. (Note: that is a big, bad sentence full of unprofessional things that we will revisit in a few weeks!) Those around me supportively told me how much they enjoyed my pictures, and that I should consider selling them.
I thought, “What? Little ol’ me? No, I don’t know anything about business, and I’m certainly not qualified in photography to sell my pictures. Though, I have been looking for a way to bring in more money…and this is something I like to do…hmm.” An idea began to form!
I vividly remember talking with my mom in the Wendy’s drive-thru about the possibility of starting a photography print and note card business. (Thank you to Wendy’s for being so instrumental in the start of my business!) She, being the amazing mother and cheerleader that she is, convinced me that I should try it out, even if just for a little while. I am so glad she did, because that’s where Simply M Photography began!
But wait…how did I transition into photographing people, not random birds or statues? (Oh yeah – a lot of those in my early portfolio. Yikes.) Next week we’ll talk about a place we all have to get to – finding the confidence to conduct portrait sessions!
Until then, here’s today’s question: Was there a specific person, or event, that was instrumental in encouraging you to begin your business? Share with us in the comments; we’d love to know!
Like what you read? Share it, spread the word. It would mean so much!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Posted By: Carrie Anne Miranda of Carrie Anne Miranda Photography
We all know that we got into this hobby/business because we are so in love with photography and everything it offers us as both and artist and a viewer. Photography is so much a part of me that I would not be who I am without it. Our job is to make other’s understand it, and see the beauty in life that we do. Sometimes this is best illustrated by photographing those who normally would not be able to have the kinds of photos that we create on a daily basis. We can show others that every captured moment in time, is worth saving and admiring for years to come.
There are so many amazing foundations, and non- profit organizations that you can lend your time and your talent to. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be able to capture the story of someone who may not be able to tell it themselves. That’s magic, and it is something that I promise will be so much more rewarding than any type of monetary payment.
I have composed a list of some of the great charities/non-profits that are photography based. Some of these are based on acceptance and some are not. So if you’re there, and willing, see what you can do. If you are still building your skills, use them as a goal to work towards.
Philosopher, Psychologist, and Author, William James said it best:
“The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
Isn’t that what photography is all about? I want to share that with others…don’t you?
- The Tiny Sparrow – http://tinysparrowfoundation.org/
The Tiny Sparrow is a non-profit organization that provides families with children battling life-threatening diseases and illness a picture of hope through the lasting memories photography offers.
- Operation: Love Reunited- http://www.oplove.org/
Operation: Love Reunited is a non- profit organization that lends photograph albums to those members of our military who are deployed, deploying or returning home from deployment.
- Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep – http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep helps families cope by providing those who have the hardship of stillbirth and newborn death by offering hope and healing through the lasting memories of photography.
- Images for a cure- http://www.imagesforacure.com/
Images For a Cure allows photographers to donate their time and session fees towards breast cancer research.
- Pictures of Hope- http://www.picturesofhopefoundation.org/
Pictures of Hope is a charitable organization that provides hope and encouragement documented through lifestyle photography for those with children in the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU).
- Red Thread Sessions- http://www.redthreadsessions.com/
Red Thread Sessions is an organization that help to celebrate the beauty of adoption through photography.
- Hearts Speak- http://heartsspeak.org/
Hearts Speak brings photographer together with animal shelters to help save the lives of animals and better the lives of people.
- American Child Photographers Charity Guild- http://www.acpcg.org/
The ACPCG is a volunteer based organization that brings photographers around the world together to give back to children and families in need.
- Flashes of Hope- http://www.flashesofhope.org/
Flashes of Hope is a national non-profit that gives children with cancer a new look at themselves through photography and also raises money towards pediatric cancer research.
- Local charities!!
Check out what is around you locally; contact your closest women’s shelter or homeless shelter, see if there are any animal shelters that could use your help. Give where you can, there is no limit to what you can do for others. The payback will be worth it I promise!
We have been loving this Day in the Life Series, and this week I am really happy to introduce you to one of my newest and sweetest friends, Molly Denson of Simply M Photography.
I first met Molly on Jenny’s Spring Workshop facebook page, and I have had the pleasure of working with her every week after she applied to be a contributor on Girl Hearts Camera.
Molly is one of the most genuine people I know. She is kind, and always so uplifting. I’ve also had the privilege of watching her photography work really start to take off, and her talent is really so very inspiring.
Here is just a little peek into a day in Molly’s life.
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“Whoo hoo! It’s a session day!” – This is what I always think when I wake up on days that I have a shoot scheduled, along with a few butterflies in my stomach. The butterflies aren’t there because I’m nervous; they’re there because I’m thrilled that I get another chance to do what I love: give the gift of pictures. Every family/baby/couple is different, therefore, each of my sessions is a little different. While this is true, there are a few things I do each session day to ensure that I am prepared to do the best I can for my wonderful clients.
I tend to photograph more families and children, so I try to get to know them a bit before our session time. Do the kids have any favorite tv shows? What’s something that will always make Dad laugh? Little questions like these make families unique, and they help me to create a rapport during the shoot. My goal is to make my clients feel at ease – and feel like they’ve known me for longer than they actually have!
On session mornings, I go back over emails that we have sent; reviewing any information that will help me relate to the clients as best as possible. I will have sent a reminder email about the session location and time the night before, so I also double-check that the contact person has responded to confirm. Busy families need reminders – with sports, dance, school, and daily tasks, it’s easy to mix up meeting times!
I spend the next half-hour or so on the computer, specifically, my website and yes…Pinterest. I take time on my website to review past sessions: What poses worked well? What lighting/backgrounds were the most flattering (especially if you shoot in the same few locations often)? What can I do better for this shoot? That’s what I love about photography – there are always ways to improve, ways to make the next session better than the last. I enjoy watching my own work grow and mature, and going over past experiences in this photography journey really helps me to focus and develop my style a bit more on upcoming sessions.
After taking time on my site, I venture over to Pinterest. Most of us have gathered favorite poses, and when I have a hard time getting my creative juices flowing, this is a great place to help me get started. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the variety of pins on there, so if I am looking for something unique, I try to remember just one or two new poses to attempt at the session. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t – trial and error is the only way to know! (Just a little disclaimer – I know we all share poses and such from time to time, but I do my best to put my own spin on new poses I try. I do NOT agree with copying someone outright, especially without giving credit where it’s due. Share, but be fair, y’all!)
After I’ve collected ideas and mentally prepared myself for the shoot, I always double, no, triple-check that I have everything in my bag ready! I shoot on a Mark II (named Penny, if you were curious) and my current favorite lens is my 50mm 1.4. I try to keep my camera bag pretty light (did you see my post about it last week?), but I do carry a few extra things around in it. In addition to my camera body and fave lens, I carry a spare – 85mm 1.8, extra batteries, business cards, Smarties (great little treat to bribe with when needed!), and something sparkly/noisy that can attract the attention of babies. Cute bangle bracelets do the trick!
I always do a few test shots before the session to ensure everything’s working fine. I clear my CF cards, clean my lenses, pack any extras I made need, and head for my shoot!
I like to get to the meeting spot at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time for a number of reasons: checking the lighting, clearing out any big sticks/trash, setting up my props, if any, etc. In addition to these things, I want to give myself a moment to go over the flow of the session – first, I’ll shoot the whole family in this spot….then, I’ll do a few of just dad with the boys over there…you get the picture. I like knowing before we begin where I will guide them, so I’m not wasting time by looking around for the next perfect spot. If I was a client, I would appreciate my photographer having a guideline of the session in mind. Of course, things happen and you often have to think on your feet – kids don’t want to sit/stand still, for example – we have to be ready for this, too. Having a Plan B is always a good idea!
Once the session is over, I just can’t wait to get back to my computer and start working on the pictures! Lightroom is my editing program of choice (completely changed my editing; cut my time well into half!), so I let the computer upload while I go over the session in my head. “What went well? What could I change for next time?” – I review these questions right after, so everything is still fresh in my mind. Once the photos are uploaded, I get to work! I always, always back up the originals right away on an online site, as well as my external drive.
My contract states that I will get the proofs to the clients within two weeks, but it’s my (secret!) goal to get them in the SmugMug gallery within one week. “Under promise, Over deliver” is a great motto when it comes to running a business, especially in the photography field. The clients are so, so anxious to see the pictures, and while I still need sufficient time to work on them, I enjoy getting the gallery to them quickly – much to their surprise!
That is my version of a session day:
- I take time to go over previous shoots, asking myself how I can improve for the upcoming one.
- I keep in mind a few specific poses that are either my favorites, or new ones I want to try.
- I check my camera bag, clean my lenses and camera body, and pack up anything else I will need for the day.
- I get to the location early to ready myself for the shoot, and I am so excited when the clients arrive!
- Once home, I immediately upload the photos and carefully back them up.
- As soon as I can (usually within the day), I begin working on them, and complete the editing process within two weeks at the most. Within those two weeks, I will send the proofing gallery to the clients!
Thank you so much for reading! Hope you’re looking forward to the next post in this series, because I certainly am!
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To see more of Molly’s work, be sure to visit her adorable website or facebook page
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by Heather Manor
This is excellent! Thanks so much for sharing
I shot my son in the foyer of Hobby Lobby, sitting on the bench of a hall tree. The diffused afternoon light from all the windows was perfect. You’d never know!
Another reason I love this blog! Looking forward every Wednesday!
…love those suspenders
Thanks for posting this!
So true. My go to location for pics of my daughters is the grassy weed filled slopes of the drainage ditch at the end of our block.
so true! i find myself location scouting constantly now