A couple weeks ago I decided to invest in a sunbounce from California Sunbounce. While visiting the website I came across a number of videos on how to use it which I found very helpful. The videos that caught my attention however were those by Steve Thornton. In this series there are four parts and what I like about this particular video is how Steve talks about talking to your model while you work in order to let them know what to do and how to move. Or in other words the importance of directing your model so you can get a better chance of getting what you want. In another video he talks about how the photographer must always be looking for imperfections during the shooting process. I thought that comment was ironic, but it’s true. While we are in the process of creating images we are constantly on the watch for imperfections and how looking out for them while shooting will not only save time (and money) but improve our images too.

with a local lawyer.

Earlier this month I did a shoot for a local lawyer (which I will share in another post) and one of the images from that shoot is now displayed on a billboard in Pflugerville, Texas. Seriously. I can’t tell you how much I’ve wished to see an image of mine on a billboard. So I’ve gone and jinxed myself by sharing my next big wish. It’s something along the lines of going commercial and here’s a clip I watch over and over and over because it inspires me. I mean I love everything about it: the makeup artist at work, the model posing, the lighting, the final images. Hope you like it too.

So. Remember when I told you about my ingenious idea of changing the compact flash card from the 5d to the 30d for a speedy upload? Well, don’t. Your camera will not like it. Take my next advice and buy a card reader.

for NECY Designs

I’ve already posted images here of our master bath. These are more shots I did this time using a small flood light. I didn’t like using strobe to light this room as there were too many reflective surfaces that bounced light on places where I didn’t want it, not to mention what a strobe can do to a window. Natural lighting combined with a wide aperture tends to wash windows out but strobes tend to darken them and in some cases bring more attention to what’s outside the windows than one might want.

Images of our kitchen I shot last month for our interior designer. I thought I would give architectural photography (or interiors) a try. I can’t tell you how challenging interiors is to do. I did a number of shots at different times of the day over the course of a fortnight to test the lighting. In the end I resorted to using four flood lights in various locations in order to light up the rooms and walls where the light did not reach. Also, the lighting under the cupboards were installed by my husband during the building process and I found that the strength of the bulbs were so bright that it flooded the tiles underneath. Therefore I had to cover them with white tissue paper to diffuse the light which helped only slightly. But what I should had done was turn the lights off and use these. Imagine what a photographer would need to know (and have) in order to capture an interior successfully. And imagine the challenges they might face for each and every room and having to come up with solutions on the spot.

At a certain time of the day when the sun is shining outside, there is a certain place in the home where the light is almost ethereal. Eat your heart out Vermeer.

I use to have a forest green bike very similar to this one when I was in middle school (or intermediate school as we called it in New Zealand). Only it wasn’t so cool because the ten speed bike was the rage back then. I would try and ride in to school late so no one would see me on my old second hand one speed. However, put the same bike on the beach today, let there be a couple of cute girls, and look at how much fun can be had.

Jumping on the bed, giggling and sharing secrets. That’s what friends are for, right!