Sudden Memories. It's funny how the smallest thing can set your mind into a 30-second memory rerun. Maybe it's a song you just heard, something someone just said or even a stupid photo on pinterest. I had a few memories pop up this week.
I recently had a conversation with my mom about my first car. It was a 1981 Buick. A brown beast that ran on diesel gas and had a clock with a second hand. It was plush though, the most comfortable car I've owned. Our car conversation made me think of my high school best friends, Melissa and Jackie. Since there was three of us we could never decide who would sit in the back. (Yes, we were that tight that we did not want to be separated.) So even though we all had our licenses we typically would ride in my car because we could fit three in the front seat. Not only was there enough room and it was comfortable but there was three seat belts too. I miss that car. I miss our "notebook" we shared... basically one ongoing note to one another. I miss Skittles.
Earlier in the week I saw a photo of a swing by water. Just for a moment I went back to that one crazy day I had in high school where I decided to skip my stupid math class to go to the river with my friends. The guys had found a rope swing. We spent just a quick hour or so swinging away, jumping into the river. Of course we knew we were having fun... I mean we were skipping out on algebra. I never knew how fond of a memory that day would end up being though. I think about that rope swing often.
I can't think of Christy's last name. ....Wait... Yoder! It literally just came to me. She popped into my head the other day because I saw a huge pile of undies. I was a Freshman on the swim team. Lucky for me I had been swimming since I was six so I was good and I was automatically on Varsity. I had a Varsity locker with a Freshman sense of organization and cleanliness....or maybe laziness. For morning practice I would show up in my sweats, change into my suit and leave the pair of underwear I was wearing on the top shelf. I brought a clean pair of underwear to change into after swim practice. Day after day this happened. I never brought my "top-shelf" underwear home with me. Eventually I had quite the stock of undies. My dear friend Christy thought it would be hilarious to throw all my underwear out by the entry way into the school. The entrance where just about EVERYONE came into the school building. Christy and I were actually good friends, this was not some sort of Freshman initiation. Of course I was embarrassed but the two of us died laughing, tears rolling down our eyes, as I walked around picking up every last pair of underwear. By the time I was a Sophomore I had a different plan and my underwear came home with me every night.
Today one of my girls came out of the locker room gushing about her first kiss. I know what your thinking, I'm going to tell you about my first kiss. Nah- my first kiss was in Kindergarten while I was playing "Cops and Robbers" with Brian. (Okay, so I told you a little bit about my first kiss.) I didn't think of my first kiss, or my 10th kiss or even my first kiss as a high school student. No, for some reason the memory that rushed into my head was my first kiss with Tracy, my high school boyfriend from Junior year. It must have been the weather that triggered this memory. I remember it had to be at least January in Indiana. Or at least cold enough where there was snow on the ground. We were at some sort of park... with a hill. (Not a big hill, this is Indiana.) We we're flirting, naturally. And I just remember being pressed up against his car... his car that literally looked like a yellow egg. We kissed. It was a good kiss.
I guess all my memories right now are from High School. It doesn't surprise me, I spend my afternoons with high school kids. Sometimes I'm taken back at the thought that I'm...I'm like an adult now. I am in charge of 17 kids in two swim lanes. I tell them how to swim and that they shouldn't eat Chicken McNuggets before practice. I get texts that explain they can't make it to practice because they went to Urgent Care for a knee problem. I'm an adult. I own a business. People actually pay me money to document one of their biggest days of their life. I'm an adult. When did that happen?
Even though I'm an adult (which I still have to remind myself that I'm an adult even at a ripe age of 29) I will always have my memories. They keep me young at heart. Seriously, all I want to do is find that rope swing and have another jump.
Skipping,
Aubrie
1.25.2012
1.03.2012
Eleven to Twelve
The first week of January is always bittersweet. A lot of people, including myself, tend to look back at the year that has passed with sweet memories most of which will never occur again. We also look towards the year to come with anticipations, goals and a hopeful heart that we can top the previous year.
I had a great year and I wanted to recap some of my favorite moments. Of course doing it in a list fashion, because I dig lists. A lot of people go with "Top 10" but I find it only appropriate to do my list of "Top 11" moments for 2011... in no particular order....
1. Memorial Day Camping Trip. Not only was the camping trip a lot of fun but we met some lovely people at this camping trip that are now dear friends.
2. State Champs! My first year coaching high school swimming was a lot of fun. To be honest I really had nothing to do with our boys winning state, but I was happy to be part of the team and I was very proud of Adam (head coach) and our hard-working boys.
3. Nutcracker. At the ripe age of 29 I finally saw my first performance of the Nutcracker. David and I watched the Oregon Ballet perform this wonderful Christmas tradition at the Keller auditorium.
4. 3-Year-Anniversary. We might not have done anything HUGE for this anniversary but just having another year with my wonderful husband is grand enough to be on this list.
5. Hawaii. David and I took a trip to Kauai in March with my parents. It. Was. Awesome.
6. Triathlon. I competed in my first sprint triathlon.
7. La Grande. We celebrated 4th of July in La Grande with friends, wine tasting, steak dinner, hiking and fireworks.
8. Josh Radin. I love him and his concerts. The Starks and I saw Josh perform in March at the Crystal Ballroom. Always a good time... Josh Shot.
9. 1859. This year was a big year for my editorial work. December 2011 was actually my first publication in this magazine... July was my first photo story and coming up....
10. Eagle Lake. My husband got his first full taste of summer in Indiana. My favorite part was spending the day at my uncle's lake house. We celebrated my nephew's first birthday, went jet-skiing and I went tubing with my sister. It reminded me of past summers in Indiana and was a great time spent with the best family ever.
11. Carpet! Ahhhh, we finally got new carpet in our house. It looks and smells so much better. :)
I am looking forward to 2012. Every year brings new memories to cherish and new goals to check off your list. I have a few of each in mind so to go with the mantra I have for this blog post I thought I would write a list of 12 things I'm either looking forward to or that I would like to accomplish this year.
1. Turning 30!!! Maybe I'm not looking forward to turning 30 and saying goodbye to my 20's (because my 20's were spectacular) but I think the celebration will probably be a good one this year. ;)
2. Swimming. I joined a masters swim team, The Barracudas. I am excited to be on a swim team again, to get back into shape and to race in a few swim meets this year.
3. Family Visit. This is actually happening in less than a week... my mom and my aunt Lee Ann are coming for a week to visit. It should be a fun girl time... and interesting too because it's January and you have to creative with things to do in Portland in the winter.
4. Drive Better. My husband will probably poop his pants when he reads this. I would like to allow myself enough time to get to my location and not be in such a rush that I drive like a ding-bat.
5. Pinterest. What? I can't have a goal involving the latest and greatest website? LOL! Seriously though I think the site allows to create, make, bake, purchase or do a lot of things that maybe you wouldn't think of yourself. So my goal is to do 12 things that I find from Pinterest.
6. Triathlon. I would like to compete in another triathlon or maybe even try an aquathon out as well.
7. Crazy Love. It's a book my sister got me for Christmas. I'm going to read it.
8. Chicago Wedding. My college best friend is getting married in Chicago this July. I'm excited to witness this great occasion and be at a wedding in the middle of the summer that I'm not responsible for the photography. To sit back and relax during a wedding is an odd thing but I'm looking forward to it. (Plus another trip to the windy city!)
9. Rafting! David and I have two types of rafts/boats. One is a blow-up kayak and the other is a raft-boat type of deal. Anyway I would like to actually put them in the water and use the heck out of them this summer! Plus I would like to go white water rafting this year (Rogue??)
10. Roads. My Oregon map looks better and better every year. This year I have a few specific roads I would like to mark off. Highway 228-20 starting in Sweet Home and going to Black Butte Ranch area is one and the other is Highway 126 staring in Springfield and going to Belknap Springs area.
11. 1859! ...and my first Front Cover! My first front cover will come out in January, it should be on the stands any day now. I'm looking forward to seeing the magazine and of course shooting this whole year with 1859.
12. Magazines/Photo Biz. I would like to get into at least one more major magazine this year. I really enjoy the work that the Columbia Gorge magazine produces and Sip NW magazine. Those two are both on my list for sure. Do you think Sunset magazine is ready for this girl yet? I am looking forward to this year with my photography business. It's growing and it's making more money- yay. I had 6 weddings booked before the new year and I hoping to grab a few more. It's going to be a great year in the photo world!
I had a great year and I wanted to recap some of my favorite moments. Of course doing it in a list fashion, because I dig lists. A lot of people go with "Top 10" but I find it only appropriate to do my list of "Top 11" moments for 2011... in no particular order....
1. Memorial Day Camping Trip. Not only was the camping trip a lot of fun but we met some lovely people at this camping trip that are now dear friends.
2. State Champs! My first year coaching high school swimming was a lot of fun. To be honest I really had nothing to do with our boys winning state, but I was happy to be part of the team and I was very proud of Adam (head coach) and our hard-working boys.
3. Nutcracker. At the ripe age of 29 I finally saw my first performance of the Nutcracker. David and I watched the Oregon Ballet perform this wonderful Christmas tradition at the Keller auditorium.
4. 3-Year-Anniversary. We might not have done anything HUGE for this anniversary but just having another year with my wonderful husband is grand enough to be on this list.
5. Hawaii. David and I took a trip to Kauai in March with my parents. It. Was. Awesome.
6. Triathlon. I competed in my first sprint triathlon.
7. La Grande. We celebrated 4th of July in La Grande with friends, wine tasting, steak dinner, hiking and fireworks.
8. Josh Radin. I love him and his concerts. The Starks and I saw Josh perform in March at the Crystal Ballroom. Always a good time... Josh Shot.
9. 1859. This year was a big year for my editorial work. December 2011 was actually my first publication in this magazine... July was my first photo story and coming up....
10. Eagle Lake. My husband got his first full taste of summer in Indiana. My favorite part was spending the day at my uncle's lake house. We celebrated my nephew's first birthday, went jet-skiing and I went tubing with my sister. It reminded me of past summers in Indiana and was a great time spent with the best family ever.
11. Carpet! Ahhhh, we finally got new carpet in our house. It looks and smells so much better. :)
I am looking forward to 2012. Every year brings new memories to cherish and new goals to check off your list. I have a few of each in mind so to go with the mantra I have for this blog post I thought I would write a list of 12 things I'm either looking forward to or that I would like to accomplish this year.
1. Turning 30!!! Maybe I'm not looking forward to turning 30 and saying goodbye to my 20's (because my 20's were spectacular) but I think the celebration will probably be a good one this year. ;)
2. Swimming. I joined a masters swim team, The Barracudas. I am excited to be on a swim team again, to get back into shape and to race in a few swim meets this year.
3. Family Visit. This is actually happening in less than a week... my mom and my aunt Lee Ann are coming for a week to visit. It should be a fun girl time... and interesting too because it's January and you have to creative with things to do in Portland in the winter.
4. Drive Better. My husband will probably poop his pants when he reads this. I would like to allow myself enough time to get to my location and not be in such a rush that I drive like a ding-bat.
5. Pinterest. What? I can't have a goal involving the latest and greatest website? LOL! Seriously though I think the site allows to create, make, bake, purchase or do a lot of things that maybe you wouldn't think of yourself. So my goal is to do 12 things that I find from Pinterest.
6. Triathlon. I would like to compete in another triathlon or maybe even try an aquathon out as well.
7. Crazy Love. It's a book my sister got me for Christmas. I'm going to read it.
8. Chicago Wedding. My college best friend is getting married in Chicago this July. I'm excited to witness this great occasion and be at a wedding in the middle of the summer that I'm not responsible for the photography. To sit back and relax during a wedding is an odd thing but I'm looking forward to it. (Plus another trip to the windy city!)
9. Rafting! David and I have two types of rafts/boats. One is a blow-up kayak and the other is a raft-boat type of deal. Anyway I would like to actually put them in the water and use the heck out of them this summer! Plus I would like to go white water rafting this year (Rogue??)
10. Roads. My Oregon map looks better and better every year. This year I have a few specific roads I would like to mark off. Highway 228-20 starting in Sweet Home and going to Black Butte Ranch area is one and the other is Highway 126 staring in Springfield and going to Belknap Springs area.
11. 1859! ...and my first Front Cover! My first front cover will come out in January, it should be on the stands any day now. I'm looking forward to seeing the magazine and of course shooting this whole year with 1859.
12. Magazines/Photo Biz. I would like to get into at least one more major magazine this year. I really enjoy the work that the Columbia Gorge magazine produces and Sip NW magazine. Those two are both on my list for sure. Do you think Sunset magazine is ready for this girl yet? I am looking forward to this year with my photography business. It's growing and it's making more money- yay. I had 6 weddings booked before the new year and I hoping to grab a few more. It's going to be a great year in the photo world!
12.03.2011
About WHAT?
Why is it easier to just write when it's a blog rather than starring at a "New Document" from Word. It's like this blank white screen looking back at you and saying "Ya.. I'm waiting...Show me what you got." The blank white screen sits empty. Obviously this was the case for me...it was the case like 10 seconds ago and then I decided to open up a blog post and here I am typing away.
It's probably because this doesn't really matter. I mean I could type about kittens on this thing and it's not going to affect a single thing. What I am trying to write is my "About" page for my website/business. Writing about myself is the easiest subject as far as gathered information but it's the hardest topic to write about because it's personally connected. Sure, I can write all day long on random things that I enjoy. Like... have you seen the Big Bang Theory? It's hilarious. I don't really think my clients want to know what television shows I find amusing though.
What do they want to know? Or better yet... what do I want them to know? What points do I want to get across to them so they understand my photography better. What do I want them to read so that they can decide if what I will provide to them will fit what they want. I am selling photography and that's the first thing they'll look at, sure, but I am also selling me. So I need to provide information about me that's relevant to my photography. I'm not really interested in telling them that I have a B.A. in Photojournalism or that I am a member of WPJA or that I've never won any big awards. (Of course we're going to leave that last part out.) I'll mention the first two things but that's not what I want them to understand. I want them to read about my style, I want them to read about my personality. I want those two things to mesh with the photographs they see on my blog/website.
I'd like to tell them that by hiring me you've just purchased a story teller. I want to tell their story. If they are a happy-go-lucky couple that can't stop laughing, then I want to capture that. If they grew up on a farm in Oregon and love riding tractors with their fiance, then I want to show that. If their little girl is so spontaneous and can't sit down for anything then I don't want to make her sit down... and I want them to know that before they hire me. I don't want to sound harsh though when I explain how I shoot. I mean how do I tell someone; "We should take your newborn photos at your house because that's your baby's first home, not a studio. I don't care that your baby room is not properly decorated to fit Martha Stewart's standards. This is you. This is your home. This is your life, your story. Let's document it in a fun and heart-warming way. Let's capture you...not a page out of a magazine." If I said just that- would that sound too crash?
I want my "about" page to have two categories. The first is my photography and the second is me. So I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to say to portray myself in the correct manner so that they get me and yet still feel like I'm a professional. I mean I'm not stuffy or very bossy... in fact I'm very easy-going. I want them to know that because that will never change. But I don't want them to get the idea that I am so happy-go-lucky that I won't pay attention to what is going or that I'm too flighty that I will miss something big. I want them to know that I will give direction to a point... but I'm never going to over pose them because that's not me.
Hmmmm.... should I return back to my empty word document? *Sigh*
Sinking,
Aubrie
It's probably because this doesn't really matter. I mean I could type about kittens on this thing and it's not going to affect a single thing. What I am trying to write is my "About" page for my website/business. Writing about myself is the easiest subject as far as gathered information but it's the hardest topic to write about because it's personally connected. Sure, I can write all day long on random things that I enjoy. Like... have you seen the Big Bang Theory? It's hilarious. I don't really think my clients want to know what television shows I find amusing though.
What do they want to know? Or better yet... what do I want them to know? What points do I want to get across to them so they understand my photography better. What do I want them to read so that they can decide if what I will provide to them will fit what they want. I am selling photography and that's the first thing they'll look at, sure, but I am also selling me. So I need to provide information about me that's relevant to my photography. I'm not really interested in telling them that I have a B.A. in Photojournalism or that I am a member of WPJA or that I've never won any big awards. (Of course we're going to leave that last part out.) I'll mention the first two things but that's not what I want them to understand. I want them to read about my style, I want them to read about my personality. I want those two things to mesh with the photographs they see on my blog/website.
I'd like to tell them that by hiring me you've just purchased a story teller. I want to tell their story. If they are a happy-go-lucky couple that can't stop laughing, then I want to capture that. If they grew up on a farm in Oregon and love riding tractors with their fiance, then I want to show that. If their little girl is so spontaneous and can't sit down for anything then I don't want to make her sit down... and I want them to know that before they hire me. I don't want to sound harsh though when I explain how I shoot. I mean how do I tell someone; "We should take your newborn photos at your house because that's your baby's first home, not a studio. I don't care that your baby room is not properly decorated to fit Martha Stewart's standards. This is you. This is your home. This is your life, your story. Let's document it in a fun and heart-warming way. Let's capture you...not a page out of a magazine." If I said just that- would that sound too crash?
I want my "about" page to have two categories. The first is my photography and the second is me. So I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to say to portray myself in the correct manner so that they get me and yet still feel like I'm a professional. I mean I'm not stuffy or very bossy... in fact I'm very easy-going. I want them to know that because that will never change. But I don't want them to get the idea that I am so happy-go-lucky that I won't pay attention to what is going or that I'm too flighty that I will miss something big. I want them to know that I will give direction to a point... but I'm never going to over pose them because that's not me.
Hmmmm.... should I return back to my empty word document? *Sigh*
Sinking,
Aubrie
11.27.2011
5 Random Things You Did Not Need To Know
Hmmmm... I don't have a lot to say. But I did want to say these 5 random things...
1. I don't understand why companies use extremely thin and tall models to show us clothes we should buy for ourselves. Especially when most women are about 5'4-5'7. Why can't we get models that are similar to our size so that we could actually tell if the clothes will look good on us or not.
2. I am feeling very crafty and DIY lately. Of course I haven't done anything crafty yet... but I keep coming up with all these crazy ideas. For instance- I want to redecorate my entire house using only things I currently own now or can find for free. I blame Pinterest for this idea.
3. I have a very good feeling that I will be doing some type of photography project for 2012. (Think back to 2010 with my "52 Weeks of Photography.) I've had a lot of ideas... one of my ideas that keeps coming up is "85 Images with my 85mm." We'll see what I come up with... but I am already looking forward to doing another project like that. If you would like to check out a "recap" of my 52 Weeks I did in 2010 click here.
4. So you go on a diet... then you miss all your food and have a major cheating weekend/s in a row... then you miss the diet and can't wait to get back to eating rabbit food again. Interesting how that works, yes?
5. Yoga! Go to yoga,Aubrie. It's good for you. In fact... go tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Or ELSE!
1. I don't understand why companies use extremely thin and tall models to show us clothes we should buy for ourselves. Especially when most women are about 5'4-5'7. Why can't we get models that are similar to our size so that we could actually tell if the clothes will look good on us or not.
2. I am feeling very crafty and DIY lately. Of course I haven't done anything crafty yet... but I keep coming up with all these crazy ideas. For instance- I want to redecorate my entire house using only things I currently own now or can find for free. I blame Pinterest for this idea.
3. I have a very good feeling that I will be doing some type of photography project for 2012. (Think back to 2010 with my "52 Weeks of Photography.) I've had a lot of ideas... one of my ideas that keeps coming up is "85 Images with my 85mm." We'll see what I come up with... but I am already looking forward to doing another project like that. If you would like to check out a "recap" of my 52 Weeks I did in 2010 click here.
4. So you go on a diet... then you miss all your food and have a major cheating weekend/s in a row... then you miss the diet and can't wait to get back to eating rabbit food again. Interesting how that works, yes?
5. Yoga! Go to yoga,Aubrie. It's good for you. In fact... go tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Or ELSE!
11.14.2011
Style II, This Time It's Personal
Figuring out a style and a brand for your company has a lot to do with figuring out your personal style. Who knew, right? Actually it makes perfect, common sense. How can you be successful at something that isn't truly you?
I don't know if it was fate or perfect timing or pure irony but over the last couple of months I've thought about my personal style a lot. I wasn't trying to figure out what type of shoes fit me best or what color of eye shadow suits me, but more so I was trying to figure out everything I like, everything I stand for and be completely, 100% okay with it. I wanted to not care what others thought about my style. (...Eyeshadow colors included.)
Let me give you a perfect example. I love country music. And for some odd reason I feel like the majority of Portland'ers don't. Which is probably true. During the summer months (my favorite time to blast country tunes) I would have to drive with my window down...actually I shouldn't say "I HAVE" to because unless it's 95 degrees or hotter I would choose to. I don't have AC though and even on those hot days my window would be rolled down. When I would drive either downtown or maybe out in the Alberta district or even into the parking lot of Olive Garden I would either turn down my country tunes or I would change the channel. My thought was, even though I enjoy that music, that I wouldn't fit into the Portland-style if they heard it. I actually believed that people would judge me because I liked country music.
It sounds really immature actually. And it was. Which is why I've been dwelling on silly things like that and coming to the conclusion that I really shouldn't care if I don't fit into some one's style. So what if I am not a hipster or I don't have 10 tattoos or that my husband and I love to sing to Rascal Flatts. I think focusing on my personal style and being completely okay with me will help me focus on my photography style and be completely okay with how I photograph, how I edit and how I present my photos. Maybe I should make a list of things I like, things I enjoy and tell the world (or, eh, the people who read this) that I am completely okay with my style and if you don't like it well then.... _ _! (Next blog post perhaps.)
I had a color scheme in mind that I wanted for my business. It included some sort of beige/brown/natural concept. I had the designers at 99designs use those types of colors for my logo. The other day I was thinking about my personal style as I compare it to my photography style. I looked around my house and noticed some of my favorite things lying around, I thought about my favorite comforter on our bed and then I noticed the colors in my living room and even my shower curtains. My personal color preference is actually very clear. It's clear in how I decorate, what I wear and...yes...even in my eye shadow colors.
So the above photos are all from my house. Thank God I stuck with my gut on my logo and picked a logo that represented a color scheme that fits me. I like brown. I like natural hues. I like "burnt sierra"and "cadmium burnt light" and maybe some "yellow ochre." (You can looks all those up they are colors.) I like the colors for me, I like the colors for my business and I like the colors in photographs.
Now I have to put an "absolute" argument in here to be fair. I know that not everything is absolute and I know that my style has some give in take. I mean just because I like natural tones does that mean that I can't own a pair of bright red shoes? Because I do. Just because I love country music, does it mean that I can't listen to Band of Horses or Joshua Radin or Led Zeppelin? Because I do. (In fact I just listed three of my all time favorite bands.) Does that mean that if someone wants to do a family shoot with me and their favorite color is bright purple and they dress their entire family in bright purple clothes that I won't photograph them? Of course not! Actually being absolute is not my style. I like change, I like to keep my life bouncing. I change my hairstyle constantly and I have 6 different radio stations that are WAY different from one another. However, I do still strongly believe in knowing your "majority" style and allowing that to work for you while not being afraid to embrace something different from time to time.
The other night I was brain storming with words and phrases by thinking about what I like and what I see (for the most part) in my photographs. These are the words I came up with:
Real. Light. Natural. Outdoors. Adventure. People. Straightforward. Pure.Capture. Bright. Simple.Candid.Laughter. Country. Places. Raw. Genuine.Luminous. Fun.Nature.Document.Relaxed.
With those words I came up with a few phrases that help me think about my photography style. For instance "bright, light and luminous" describe my overall look of a photo. And I think I'm finally starting to be okay with the fact that I like my photos well-lit. I like to see their faces, I like to see what is around them and my shots are usually brighter than they are darker. (With the exception of silhouettes, which I love...silhouettes just means that the background is well-lit.) I love looking at photographs that are smoky and dark and sexy. But that's not really my style and I'm not very good at pulling it off. Again, with the absolute, does that mean I won't seize a chance to document a darker, deep photo? Probably not. But if I like it bright and lit than that's what I'll do most of the time. Here are a few more phrases:
I will photograph what happens and will not falsify an image.
I will not over edit or re-touch too much so that a person/place looks fake.
I will allow my subjects to be relaxed and have fun.
I will not be stuffy or over-posed. (I don't photograph models.)
I will capture people and places with natural light or I will add light so that the photo is illuminated and bright.
I will try to find clean backgrounds and not over-complicate my image.
I will tell there story, the whole story and will not be too intrusive.
I like to take photographs in the country.
I like my subjects to bee well-lit.
I like real smiles and genuine laughter.
It's funny when I think about these statements and then I think about photographs that I have taken in the past that stand-out to me or that are my favorite.. They (for the most part) fit into a lot of those statements above. Check this- my favorite engagement shoot that I did this year was with a couple that was a lot of fun, very genuine and just relaxed. We did their shoot out in the country, I used A LOT of natural light. And when you check this shoot out, don't forget to think about my color scheme. Check it out... Engagement Shoot.
Interesting, huh? I booked a wedding this week. The client told me that it was between me and one other photographer. I won the battle. Not sure why and I probably won't find out why. We talked about their engagement shoot and I asked where they would like to do the shoot. She answered "my fiance's grandparents have a big farm out in the country, we'd like to do it there." "Perfect." I thought to myself. She made the right choice for a photographer.
Skipping,
Aubrie
I don't know if it was fate or perfect timing or pure irony but over the last couple of months I've thought about my personal style a lot. I wasn't trying to figure out what type of shoes fit me best or what color of eye shadow suits me, but more so I was trying to figure out everything I like, everything I stand for and be completely, 100% okay with it. I wanted to not care what others thought about my style. (...Eyeshadow colors included.)
Let me give you a perfect example. I love country music. And for some odd reason I feel like the majority of Portland'ers don't. Which is probably true. During the summer months (my favorite time to blast country tunes) I would have to drive with my window down...actually I shouldn't say "I HAVE" to because unless it's 95 degrees or hotter I would choose to. I don't have AC though and even on those hot days my window would be rolled down. When I would drive either downtown or maybe out in the Alberta district or even into the parking lot of Olive Garden I would either turn down my country tunes or I would change the channel. My thought was, even though I enjoy that music, that I wouldn't fit into the Portland-style if they heard it. I actually believed that people would judge me because I liked country music.
It sounds really immature actually. And it was. Which is why I've been dwelling on silly things like that and coming to the conclusion that I really shouldn't care if I don't fit into some one's style. So what if I am not a hipster or I don't have 10 tattoos or that my husband and I love to sing to Rascal Flatts. I think focusing on my personal style and being completely okay with me will help me focus on my photography style and be completely okay with how I photograph, how I edit and how I present my photos. Maybe I should make a list of things I like, things I enjoy and tell the world (or, eh, the people who read this) that I am completely okay with my style and if you don't like it well then.... _ _! (Next blog post perhaps.)
I had a color scheme in mind that I wanted for my business. It included some sort of beige/brown/natural concept. I had the designers at 99designs use those types of colors for my logo. The other day I was thinking about my personal style as I compare it to my photography style. I looked around my house and noticed some of my favorite things lying around, I thought about my favorite comforter on our bed and then I noticed the colors in my living room and even my shower curtains. My personal color preference is actually very clear. It's clear in how I decorate, what I wear and...yes...even in my eye shadow colors.
So the above photos are all from my house. Thank God I stuck with my gut on my logo and picked a logo that represented a color scheme that fits me. I like brown. I like natural hues. I like "burnt sierra"and "cadmium burnt light" and maybe some "yellow ochre." (You can looks all those up they are colors.) I like the colors for me, I like the colors for my business and I like the colors in photographs.
Now I have to put an "absolute" argument in here to be fair. I know that not everything is absolute and I know that my style has some give in take. I mean just because I like natural tones does that mean that I can't own a pair of bright red shoes? Because I do. Just because I love country music, does it mean that I can't listen to Band of Horses or Joshua Radin or Led Zeppelin? Because I do. (In fact I just listed three of my all time favorite bands.) Does that mean that if someone wants to do a family shoot with me and their favorite color is bright purple and they dress their entire family in bright purple clothes that I won't photograph them? Of course not! Actually being absolute is not my style. I like change, I like to keep my life bouncing. I change my hairstyle constantly and I have 6 different radio stations that are WAY different from one another. However, I do still strongly believe in knowing your "majority" style and allowing that to work for you while not being afraid to embrace something different from time to time.
The other night I was brain storming with words and phrases by thinking about what I like and what I see (for the most part) in my photographs. These are the words I came up with:
Real. Light. Natural. Outdoors. Adventure. People. Straightforward. Pure.Capture. Bright. Simple.Candid.Laughter. Country. Places. Raw. Genuine.Luminous. Fun.Nature.Document.Relaxed.
With those words I came up with a few phrases that help me think about my photography style. For instance "bright, light and luminous" describe my overall look of a photo. And I think I'm finally starting to be okay with the fact that I like my photos well-lit. I like to see their faces, I like to see what is around them and my shots are usually brighter than they are darker. (With the exception of silhouettes, which I love...silhouettes just means that the background is well-lit.) I love looking at photographs that are smoky and dark and sexy. But that's not really my style and I'm not very good at pulling it off. Again, with the absolute, does that mean I won't seize a chance to document a darker, deep photo? Probably not. But if I like it bright and lit than that's what I'll do most of the time. Here are a few more phrases:
I will photograph what happens and will not falsify an image.
I will not over edit or re-touch too much so that a person/place looks fake.
I will allow my subjects to be relaxed and have fun.
I will not be stuffy or over-posed. (I don't photograph models.)
I will capture people and places with natural light or I will add light so that the photo is illuminated and bright.
I will try to find clean backgrounds and not over-complicate my image.
I will tell there story, the whole story and will not be too intrusive.
I like to take photographs in the country.
I like my subjects to bee well-lit.
I like real smiles and genuine laughter.
It's funny when I think about these statements and then I think about photographs that I have taken in the past that stand-out to me or that are my favorite.. They (for the most part) fit into a lot of those statements above. Check this- my favorite engagement shoot that I did this year was with a couple that was a lot of fun, very genuine and just relaxed. We did their shoot out in the country, I used A LOT of natural light. And when you check this shoot out, don't forget to think about my color scheme. Check it out... Engagement Shoot.
Interesting, huh? I booked a wedding this week. The client told me that it was between me and one other photographer. I won the battle. Not sure why and I probably won't find out why. We talked about their engagement shoot and I asked where they would like to do the shoot. She answered "my fiance's grandparents have a big farm out in the country, we'd like to do it there." "Perfect." I thought to myself. She made the right choice for a photographer.
Skipping,
Aubrie
11.10.2011
Style- Part I
Believe it or not I am up late again waiting on something...not a television show this time though. I am actually waiting on my dishwasher to finish. No, not to dry them and put them away. I'd be warm in my sheets right now if that was the case. I need a certain dish to put my turkey/bean chili in for lunch tomorrow. I know what your thinking... why didn't I put on my 50's underpants and wash the dish by hand? That's actually a good question. A very good question. And to be honest I guess I didn't think about that until I started telling you that I'm waiting on my dishwasher. Maybe subconsciously I wanted to waste time on the web again. I did play with Pinterest, geesh! And now here I am blogging again. I'm seeing a trend.
So what's on the docket tonight? More regrets? No sir. Something totally different and yet I guess you could say it's still part of "figuring oneself out," which I am sure understanding your regrets falls into that category as well.
Style: "a particular kind, sort or type, as with reference to form, appearance or character."
Style and branding are the two things on my mind tonight. I have a feeling that I will use my personal blog to explore this so that I can apply it to my professional life and photography business. Let's face it- I can't discuss what type of photography style or what my "brand" is all about on my photo blog. My clients would wonder what in the world I'm doing. You're probably wondering what in the world I'm doing too. I mean if you know me at all you know that I've had a photography business for years now. So why would I concern myself with style and branding right now? Well basically because I did my photography business back-asswards! I had a photojournalism degree...skipped town and headed off to the West Coast and somehow got involved with wedding photography...which turned into portrait photography...which led shortly to sport photography (what?)... and then finally I landed with a business called "Capturing Grace Photography" where if you go to my website you'll see that I literally have 6 different portfolios (weddings, families, engagements, seniors, editorial, landscapes.)
So you're thinking that this is where I tell you that I have narrowed down my photography and that I will only be shooting ______________. Wrong.
I made my own quote up the other night (I hope it becomes famous one day- like where you'll see it painted on weird wood and then you'll see a photo of it and then people will pin it. ya.) ...Damn. I don't think I can remember it now. Okay... I don't remember the first quote, but I do remember what I ended up with (I geared it more towards my actual website/business.) "My passion is photography, my focus is you." In other words I don't want to JUST be a wedding photographer. But, at that moment, when I am shooting a wedding that's what I want to be focused on, you, my client. I don't want to JUST photograph families, but you better believe that when I am that I will be passionate about them.
I get why I am suppose to have a focus, a style, a brand. I get that if I focused on one genre of photography that I might have quicker success. (Who wants fast success? I love having two side jobs. That was an ironic joke, just in case you missed that.) But quite frankly, I don't care. Because my passion is truly photography. Photography is complex, it's involved, it has genres and each genre has a category and each category has a style and each style has different manipulations. I love it all. I love landscapes- like mountain photos that you say "wow" when you see it. I love black and white prints. I love "art" photography even if it's weird. I love Polaroids. I love people. Hell, I even like animal photography. I could do with out kittens and go more towards Polar Bears and Moose though. I don't stop into a lot of art galleries unless they have photographs. I don't buy books that have horrible images on the front covers. I can't handle seeing empty frames in people's houses. In fact when I do, I offer up one of my photographs to fill it until they print whatever was suppose to go in that frame. I love photography. So with all that said, I'm not going to fill in that blank.
I am however, going to narrow it down a little. So here is my large "focus." People & Places. I know, I know, that covers a lot. But- I did leave out Things. I will not do product or commercial photography. When I speak of "Editorial" photography, to me that does not include commercial. Although in the large scheme of things commercial could be listed under Editorial. I still am not going to do commercial photos or products. Editorial, to me, means that it's going to publish in something tangible that people read, like magazines.
People: engagements/weddings and families. Notice anything? I dropped senior portraits. I like doing them, but let's face it, I'm not a studio. I don't get a lot of business doing seniors and even though there are some cool kids out there that want unique shots from an on-site location session...their parents don't. lol. That might not really be the case. However I think weddings, engagements and families are enough to fill that love for people photography.
Places: I will never not photograph landscapes or "pretty pictures." It's what got me into photography and it's what I'll die doing.
Editorial is a combination of both people and places. (That's probably why it's my favorite.) So I am trying to focus a lot on the editorial side of photography right now. Keeping fingers crossed and knees to the ground that some more magazines (like 1859) ask me to photograph for them.
PHEW! I actually went off track a little. I thought I would talk more about my actual photography style- I even picked out words and phrases and all sorts of random crap to share. But atlas my dishwasher is done and I need to hit the sheets. I guess this was good because I finalized what type of photography I will focus on. My next blog post I can wrap my head around my actual "style" that I will do/use. Until next time...
Skipping,
Aubrie
So what's on the docket tonight? More regrets? No sir. Something totally different and yet I guess you could say it's still part of "figuring oneself out," which I am sure understanding your regrets falls into that category as well.
Style: "a particular kind, sort or type, as with reference to form, appearance or character."
Style and branding are the two things on my mind tonight. I have a feeling that I will use my personal blog to explore this so that I can apply it to my professional life and photography business. Let's face it- I can't discuss what type of photography style or what my "brand" is all about on my photo blog. My clients would wonder what in the world I'm doing. You're probably wondering what in the world I'm doing too. I mean if you know me at all you know that I've had a photography business for years now. So why would I concern myself with style and branding right now? Well basically because I did my photography business back-asswards! I had a photojournalism degree...skipped town and headed off to the West Coast and somehow got involved with wedding photography...which turned into portrait photography...which led shortly to sport photography (what?)... and then finally I landed with a business called "Capturing Grace Photography" where if you go to my website you'll see that I literally have 6 different portfolios (weddings, families, engagements, seniors, editorial, landscapes.)
So you're thinking that this is where I tell you that I have narrowed down my photography and that I will only be shooting ______________. Wrong.
I made my own quote up the other night (I hope it becomes famous one day- like where you'll see it painted on weird wood and then you'll see a photo of it and then people will pin it. ya.) ...Damn. I don't think I can remember it now. Okay... I don't remember the first quote, but I do remember what I ended up with (I geared it more towards my actual website/business.) "My passion is photography, my focus is you." In other words I don't want to JUST be a wedding photographer. But, at that moment, when I am shooting a wedding that's what I want to be focused on, you, my client. I don't want to JUST photograph families, but you better believe that when I am that I will be passionate about them.
I get why I am suppose to have a focus, a style, a brand. I get that if I focused on one genre of photography that I might have quicker success. (Who wants fast success? I love having two side jobs. That was an ironic joke, just in case you missed that.) But quite frankly, I don't care. Because my passion is truly photography. Photography is complex, it's involved, it has genres and each genre has a category and each category has a style and each style has different manipulations. I love it all. I love landscapes- like mountain photos that you say "wow" when you see it. I love black and white prints. I love "art" photography even if it's weird. I love Polaroids. I love people. Hell, I even like animal photography. I could do with out kittens and go more towards Polar Bears and Moose though. I don't stop into a lot of art galleries unless they have photographs. I don't buy books that have horrible images on the front covers. I can't handle seeing empty frames in people's houses. In fact when I do, I offer up one of my photographs to fill it until they print whatever was suppose to go in that frame. I love photography. So with all that said, I'm not going to fill in that blank.
I am however, going to narrow it down a little. So here is my large "focus." People & Places. I know, I know, that covers a lot. But- I did leave out Things. I will not do product or commercial photography. When I speak of "Editorial" photography, to me that does not include commercial. Although in the large scheme of things commercial could be listed under Editorial. I still am not going to do commercial photos or products. Editorial, to me, means that it's going to publish in something tangible that people read, like magazines.
People: engagements/weddings and families. Notice anything? I dropped senior portraits. I like doing them, but let's face it, I'm not a studio. I don't get a lot of business doing seniors and even though there are some cool kids out there that want unique shots from an on-site location session...their parents don't. lol. That might not really be the case. However I think weddings, engagements and families are enough to fill that love for people photography.
Places: I will never not photograph landscapes or "pretty pictures." It's what got me into photography and it's what I'll die doing.
Editorial is a combination of both people and places. (That's probably why it's my favorite.) So I am trying to focus a lot on the editorial side of photography right now. Keeping fingers crossed and knees to the ground that some more magazines (like 1859) ask me to photograph for them.
PHEW! I actually went off track a little. I thought I would talk more about my actual photography style- I even picked out words and phrases and all sorts of random crap to share. But atlas my dishwasher is done and I need to hit the sheets. I guess this was good because I finalized what type of photography I will focus on. My next blog post I can wrap my head around my actual "style" that I will do/use. Until next time...
Skipping,
Aubrie
11.08.2011
Regrets & Randomness
So I am waiting for David Letterman's show tonight. No, I don't typically do this. However when both guests intrigue me are on one show than I guess I'll burn the midnight oil. The first guest is purely for pleasure- Robert Pattinson. Yes, I read all the Twilight books and I've seen all the movies. But I also enjoy his music and all of his other movies as well. Plus he's funny. The second guest is Annie Leibovitz one of the most famous photographers of our time. It will be very interesting to see what her and David (Ball State is his alma mater by the way) chat about.
Instead of sitting in front of the tube I thought I would waste my time else where. It seems like only once in a great while I get the chance to simply play on the Internet. You know, scan through pins, read blogs and post blogs (like this one). So that's exactly what I'm doing. That Pinterest is addicting!
*******
So this is one of those posts that are random. Just so you know.
I've had a few thoughts today. Like... who watches Jerry Springer? I mean, really? I would like to meet that person who still watches that ridiculous show and....slap them.
*******
I had an ex boyfriend that once told me something about not having regrets. I wish I could remember the exact "quote" he used, but I can't. I wonder if he regrets breaking-up with me? (ironic-humor for you.) Anyway I can't help to at least think about a few things that I regret. And I'm not talking about the type of regret that makes me sick to my stomach but I do wonder how my life would have changed if _________ fill in the blank.
______ Fill in the blank: I regret not swimming my senior year. I was voted to be captain by EVERYONE and my coach made that perfectly clear to me. Yet I decided that my swimming career was finished, probably because I started when I was six and my body was done. Instead I was motivated by my softball team winning state my junior year...I sat on the bench for that game. I was not going to sit on the bench for any game my senior year. So my dad and I spent the winter pitching in a gym. I have mixed feelings about my decision. I probably should have fought through my senior year and swam... not for me, but for my team. But I also had some bonding time with my dad that year. I don't think the decision I made affected my future. I didn't do either sport in college so I'm pretty sure that "regret" had no affect on where I am today or where I could have been tomorrow.
_____ Fill in the blank: The other regret I think about from time to time is moving to Portland, Oregon right out of college. I had an internship at the Muncie Star Press as a photojournalist. I did the internship to graduate. What I should have probably done is sought out another internship...anywhere. Most photojournalists have more than one internship and they move around a lot in the beginning of their career. I moved. Once. To Oregon. It sounds like I regret my move to Oregon and that couldn't be further from the truth. I LOVE OREGON. But I wonder if my photography career would look a lot different if I would have ventured into another internship. The thing about this regret is I'm almost positive that it would have impacted my life and I would not be where I am today. Which means I wouldn't be married to David. And that thought in itself is enough to tell me that I shouldn't regret that decision at all.
*******
I want to come up with a new product to "display" wedding photos. The journalist side of me wants to create some sort of publication that is all about the couple and their wedding day. I'm thinking like a magazine-type layout. With an actual word story and (of course) a lot of photographs. A wedding-zine. Hmm... I'll have to think it through. Don't steal my idea now. -Copyrighted! lol
Skipping,
Aubrie
Instead of sitting in front of the tube I thought I would waste my time else where. It seems like only once in a great while I get the chance to simply play on the Internet. You know, scan through pins, read blogs and post blogs (like this one). So that's exactly what I'm doing. That Pinterest is addicting!
*******
So this is one of those posts that are random. Just so you know.
I've had a few thoughts today. Like... who watches Jerry Springer? I mean, really? I would like to meet that person who still watches that ridiculous show and....slap them.
*******
I had an ex boyfriend that once told me something about not having regrets. I wish I could remember the exact "quote" he used, but I can't. I wonder if he regrets breaking-up with me? (ironic-humor for you.) Anyway I can't help to at least think about a few things that I regret. And I'm not talking about the type of regret that makes me sick to my stomach but I do wonder how my life would have changed if _________ fill in the blank.
______ Fill in the blank: I regret not swimming my senior year. I was voted to be captain by EVERYONE and my coach made that perfectly clear to me. Yet I decided that my swimming career was finished, probably because I started when I was six and my body was done. Instead I was motivated by my softball team winning state my junior year...I sat on the bench for that game. I was not going to sit on the bench for any game my senior year. So my dad and I spent the winter pitching in a gym. I have mixed feelings about my decision. I probably should have fought through my senior year and swam... not for me, but for my team. But I also had some bonding time with my dad that year. I don't think the decision I made affected my future. I didn't do either sport in college so I'm pretty sure that "regret" had no affect on where I am today or where I could have been tomorrow.
_____ Fill in the blank: The other regret I think about from time to time is moving to Portland, Oregon right out of college. I had an internship at the Muncie Star Press as a photojournalist. I did the internship to graduate. What I should have probably done is sought out another internship...anywhere. Most photojournalists have more than one internship and they move around a lot in the beginning of their career. I moved. Once. To Oregon. It sounds like I regret my move to Oregon and that couldn't be further from the truth. I LOVE OREGON. But I wonder if my photography career would look a lot different if I would have ventured into another internship. The thing about this regret is I'm almost positive that it would have impacted my life and I would not be where I am today. Which means I wouldn't be married to David. And that thought in itself is enough to tell me that I shouldn't regret that decision at all.
*******
I want to come up with a new product to "display" wedding photos. The journalist side of me wants to create some sort of publication that is all about the couple and their wedding day. I'm thinking like a magazine-type layout. With an actual word story and (of course) a lot of photographs. A wedding-zine. Hmm... I'll have to think it through. Don't steal my idea now. -Copyrighted! lol
Skipping,
Aubrie
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