Senior Prom Formals

Kymi and her boyfriend has Senior Prom last weekend.  It was a perfect opportunity for me to use my new backdrop and get more practice with my flash.

They were really cooperative.  And another couple came over and let me take photos of them too.

With her baby sisters

With her father

Side view of her hair

"duck lips"

beautiful

Friends Drew and Vanessa

The boys were so cooperative with me.  They really get big gold stars for their good attitudes.

All 4 ready to go have the time of their life.

I had a lot of help with posing and positioning them from Kymi's mom.  She was a natural at knowing how they should stand and could get them in position while I got them focused in the camera.  

What did I learn: RIM LIGHTS!  I really wanted a light background, but it didn't arrive in time.  So I settled for this one.  I knew I was going to have difficulty getting the black suits to stand out from the backdrop.  I don't have enough lights to have a separate rim light.  In hindsight, I should have used a reflector to act as a rim light.  I was able to get some separation in post-processing, and could probably do more if I really wanted to, but it was only an issue in one photo.

I need to do more research beforehand on posing, so I'm not stuck thinking during the shoot.  Many props to Christina for her help.  I half-jokingly said I would hire her for my next portrait shoot just to do the posing.

I had a great time and am grateful to these guys for their cooperation, willingness and positive attitude.

Senior Portraits

I had the pleasure of taking some senior pictures for a very beautiful young lady.  Of course I took these the day before I got a new camera body - I need to take her out again and get some more shots.

I started out inside a barn and trying to use my flash with my shoot through umbrella, but the batteries were dead in my flash (I had JUST replaced them ... guess I put dead batteries in).  All but one or two of the barn photos are sans flash with a much too high ISO.  We then moved outside with some indirect sunlight so I could decrease my ISO.

At any rate ... here are a few of my shots.

I had a lot of fun shooting these photos.  I hope I can get more portrait sessions like this.  I felt comfortable with posing and instruction.  She was very cooperative and a lot of fun to work with.

Siblings....

Had a chance to take some sibling photos for a friend from church.  Despite both subjects' protesting to be there, I think they turned out pretty good.

Still working on figuring out the light reflector.
And how to pose my subjects.

But I'm pleased with these.

F & F Engagement Photos

Good friends recently got engaged and allowed me to take their photos.  I was nervous and excited all at the same time.

We went to a park that had some great playground equipment, structures, trees, water feature, and light.

Here are the best photos from the session.

Vacation Photos - 8

More photos at the winery.  I had some fun with my beautiful family.

A little underexposed on the faces; but considering it was a self-portrait ... not bad

Perhaps still a little undersexposed on the faces.  Maybe the sun was in the wrong spot.  I love the love between the girls though.

My baby girl in the California Poppies.  She thought they were great.  She was super cute playing with them.