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Posted on March 30, 2011
Oh beautiful Sara! I have truly enjoyed getting to know you over this last year and appreciate all of the help you have given in helping me get my name out. When I first contacted you via Facebook private message, I probably seemed like some sort of crazy stalker. Really though, I was a photographer who was moving to Utah–a place 14 hrs from home–desperate to plant some roots and hit the ground running. My poor heart itched to take photos. It was especially itchy since this was me, taking on photography full time. I didn’t have another full time job to keep me busy! Thankfully you had a kind heart, read my message, and agreed to be my first ever senior rep. Thanks for giving me a chance and helping spread the word!
I wish you oodles and oodles of luck in your very bright future. Arizona?? Volleyball?? Or is it basketball?? Whatever it is and wherever you go, I am sure you will be a star! If you need me to send out a few Facebook private messages to help get the word out that you are moving to the new area, I’d gladly do so! Kidding! XO
P.S. Sorry it took me months to post these! Busy busy!
Posted on March 28, 2011
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I want to go with my photography. Not as a big overall-okay I’ve thought about that a little bit–when I’ve had time. But more so the “look” that I am going for. When I first got a good handle on how to use Photoshop, I played around a lot. I experimented, played with actions, overlays etc. It wasn’t until about September of this last year that I finally found a look that I really loved and have now stayed consistent with. Not that I don’t color out of the lines once in a while, but I know that I am not a vintage post processor. At one time I thought I wanted to be a super bright/color saturated post processor. But then realized that I was going a little too bright for my liking. Trust me I love color and I love that other photos pull it off and make it look fun and beautiful, but it just wasn’t for me. A couple of wide eyed looks from my hip but more so conservative dad, and I had to take a baby step back, reanalyze and then try again until I got it right. Dad–thanks for the awkward and confused facial expressions. I could only handle your gawking over my shoulder at my computer about 10 times before I realized…maybe I should tone it down a tid bit. I think you passed a tiny tiny bit of your conservative views on to me.
At the same time though, I’m glad that it took me some time to realize that this was more color than I wanted. This journey is a continuous learning/growing process and I want to sometimes figure things out on my own. At least the artistic/visual side of it. I’m good at that stuff and it stimulates my brain. I can say that for the last several months I have followed a pretty set recipe for each photo and then here and there, I’ll throw in a fun little twist of a more moody blue shade and then the next session I am loving a lot of black and white edits and the one after that I am editing in some slight vintage tones. I like variety and I think that having an eclectic style in editing is okay and so much fun. Plus I’m horrible when it comes to being super repetitive. I get really bored and burnt out so I am always wanting to learn and try new things.
Lately I’ve read a lot of blogs, comments on Facebook, featured photographer interviews, and other things of the sort where the individual sharing their opinion (some being photographers, some not) was putting down other photographers for heavy post processing techniques. Things were being said such as, “not keeping it clean”, “not classic”, or “it’s not timeless” when referring to the work of heavy post processors. I’m sorry, but shame on them for making fun of and degrading someone else’s ART. Its one thing if you are over editing and making skin look like a Barbie doll, eyes look like an alien, and making subjects look a funky greenish/yellowish color. I think some rules are made to be broken in the world of photography, but if the exposure is good, the photo is in focus, and it has appealing composition, then why can’t a person treat the photo as their piece of art? A piece they can build from and create. When I go into a shoot, there is a vision in my head that’s been sitting there brewing for days. Most of the artsy stuff I add to the photos in post processing was all part of my original vision when I first booked the session.
I don’t want any of this to be taken negatively and I am not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. Shoot, I can’t even remember the names of the photographers/individuals who were talking negatively about the “heavy post processors”. I am just saying that one should respect a photographer’s editing style, even if its not their cup of tea. And if you really don’t like it or agree with it, then gosh darn, just don’t look at it! 
Digital photography is here to stay and it will only continue to become more and more advanced. We’ll continue to see new options for people to express themselves creatively through their photos, to include the post processing. Honestly, if the technicality is there and the shot is fantastic SOOC (straight out of camera), whats wrong with creating and transforming it even further from there and dressing it up how you want? Make it your work of art and make it your own.
With that being said, you must check out Jessica Drossin’s Textures. She just released her Illumination pack today and has 4 others also available for sale. If you hurry quick, you can even enter the contest she has going on right now where you could win the new set! I currently own 2 of her other packs and they are absolutely fabulous! I edited the below photo with Autumn. This may be one of my new favs from her!
Posted on March 24, 2011
More photos to come from this session but for now I’m sharing just this one. Trying hard to get caught up on many other things today. I couldn’t hold this photo back any longer. It melts my heart. Happy Thursday!
