Series: Photography for Hubbies Archives

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson 7

Published on July 14, 2017August 3, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Well, this is exciting! We haven’t been able to do a lesson together in a loooong time. Probably because we’ve been home for 3 days in the past 2 months- crazy!! Today we are talking about something that might come easily to a lot of people, but maybe not so easily for others.

SERVING YOUR CLIENTS

This lesson is about serving your clients, or simply, putting your client’s needs before your own! This can be hard if your client’s want something specific that isn’t your typical style. This can also be difficult if it is something you wouldn’t normally do or want in your portfolio. Another challenge in putting your client’s first can be a situation where you begin editing the album and you just LOVE the lighting and composition in some of your images, but the client’s pose or expression isn’t as flattering as the other images. This is when you have to make the decision to make your client’s feel beautiful in every image, and ask yourself if they would appreciate you sharing a not-so-perfect picture. Put your client’s first. Do not send them photos because the lighting is beautiful. Send them images that will make them say, “WOAH, is that really me!?”. Think about how they might feel when viewing their photos.

My sweet hubby is getting a lesson in WHY you should be putting your client’s needs first and at all times. He will also be learning about HOW you can please your client’s even if it’s not something that lines up with your typical style or practices.

Photo by Hope Taylor Photography

1.)Flattering Posing— One way to prevent some of your favorite photos going into the cyber-trash due to bad posing is to LEARN what the most flattering poses are for their body types, and to take your time directing your clients into a flattering pose with a complimentary facial expression. Also, EDUCATE your client’s. They trust you to make them look good- they have no clue what they look like in the pictures- so that is your job!! Be sure you’re paying attention to their facial expressions AND the way they’re posing.

2.)Be Flexible– I believe it is so important to understand what your clients want and to listen to their thoughts and ideas. Here is an example… Shooting sunset images may not be my typical style because they’re too dark to match my Instagram feed, but… put your clients first, you guys!! If your client’s want to remember that special night and the beautiful sunset during the session, just do it!! Why not give them the images that are your style during sunset and the other images that please the client? Remember to think outside of your ‘instagram box’ and go above and beyond for your clients!

3.Plan In Advance– Another example… There is nothing worse than delivering an album, but the client comes back to say she doesn’t like the way she looks in the outfit she chose. One way to prevent something like this is to plan, plan, plan in advance! Plan out the outfit changes, colors, accessories, makeup and hair, etc. Your client’s will love their images if these things are planned in advance and they are told what looks best before getting to the photoshoot.

4.Make It Work— It is up to you as the professional to make it work in any situation. If they chose the location because it’s special to them, but you don’t like it, make it work!! If you can’t stand the lighting but you had no control over the time of day, make it work!! If your clients want this or that, but it’s totally not your style…make.it.work.!!

5.Ask Questions– Before your session begins, sometimes it is best to ask your client if they are concerned about anything specific in regards any worries or insecurities. For example, I have the smallest head in the world, but the thickest hair I’ve ever seen. Therefore, I don’t want my hair swallowing my face and making my head look even smaller! I would tell the photographer to take note of my hair while posing because if it’s all in front of my shoulders or in my face, I won’t like the pictures! It is great to know the small details that we wouldn’t just know right off-the-bat, this way we can prevent them from disliking their photos because of something you weren’t aware of.

6.Distractions– Try not getting too distracted when you get over-excited about the sunshine coming through or the perfect background, etc. If you’re too concentrated on everything else around your clients, then how are you supposed to adjust the way she or he is standing, or know if her smile is fading and you need to make them laugh! Remember you are there for your client’s and it is your job to think of them AND everything around them at the same time!

Photo by Blessed Beginnings Photography

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson 6

Published on June 1, 2017August 3, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Let’s talk about LIGHTING! OoOoOo exciting!!! I know Eli has been waiting for this one…

I learned a few things over the past year about my style, what I like, and what I really don’t like. Before I found a few tips and tricks from my education courses, I found myself getting frustrated about the outcome of my photos. I wasn’t sure why my images weren’t turning out how I wanted them to. Since then, I have learned the simplest of tricks to make my images turn out the way I wanted. After I started getting the hang of it, I thought, “am I an idiot? Why didn’t I think of that before?!” So if you’re thinking the same thing, DON’T. You are not an idiot, you are still learning, and even though it takes the smallest things to make the biggest difference, that doesn’t mean you should have already known about it! Now, sometimes these tricks won’t always work because it may not be available at the location or time of day when you’re on a time strain for a wedding or event. It’s okay if you don’t nail it every time, but most of the time, you can make it work!!

Have A Plan. Schedule your sessions about 2 hours before sunset and you will get that perfect golden lighting. 45 minutes before sunset is golden hour, and who doesn’t love that? Educate your clients and let then know why you need to schedule at that time. Remember the sunset time changes throughout the year!
The Sun Is Your Friend. Hello, sunshine, let’s work together! The two hours before sunset, shoot backlit; meaning you should have the sun behind your subject. After sunset, turn the client towards the sun. I never have my clients facing the sun, unless there is a certain type of image I am trying to create, which is unlikely for my style. I love when the light hits the back of my client’s hair, not the front of their face. Some photographer like that, but it’s just not my style!
Shade Can Be Nice. If the sun is too strong 2 hours before sunset, you’ll want to shoot in the open shade. Keep your lens in the shade so that it doesn’t create a hazy look. You can use a lens hood, something to block the sun off your camera, or even use your hand…it works!
Spotty Lighting Is Your Worst Enemy. You want your subject and background to have even lighting from head to toe. When you see the splotchy areas where the sun is making everything spotty, avoid it! You want to find a spot where the lighting is soft and even so you can clearly see your subject.
Choose Your Backgrounds Wisely. If you’re like me, then you like bright and pretty backgrounds. I try avoiding dark background whenever possible. Next time you’re on a shoot, concentrate on what’s in the background. If you have the option of using the cool, dark, wooden door or the boring, white wall, you’re surprisingly going to want the white wall to create your consistent bright style!

If you’re interested in knowing more about these little tricks, comment, message, or email me with questions! I also just recently started offering something you might be really excited about! 🙂 I hope these tips help and make a BIG difference in your work!

XO, Remy

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson 5

Published on May 25, 2017August 3, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Today we are talking about some of the roles that a second shooter can expect to fill at a wedding. These roles can be customized to the main shooter’s needs and it’s always good to double check with the photographer first. I have learned that it’s best to ask the main shooter what they specifically are looking for in advance so that you can feel comfortable about what you’re doing. Not every photographer is going to want you to shoot every moment but they may not speak up or be too up front with you about it. The best thing you can do is ask them from the beginning, listen to what they want, and assist them whenever it’s needed! Hubbies, just like you would do anything for your wifey at home, that goes for wedding days, too! 🙂

1.ASSISTANCE. As a second shooter, it’s important to remember that you are there to serve your clients AND the photographer! By helping the photographer wherever needed, you are also helping your client by giving them the best possible experience. You are there to help make things go smoothly. For example, you might be asked to have your camera ready at all (or most) times BUT also asked to carry and set up equipment, set up the lighting, hold a reflector, run errands, hold an umbrella, call out names for family formals, get food and water, and the list goes on!

2.A SECOND PERSPECTIVE. It’s always a great idea to shoot from a difference angle and a different lens than what the main photographer is shooting with at the time. That gives a different perspective and a variety of photos to choose from for the wedding album. One example is while the main shooter is photographing the first look with a 50mm, watching the bride, you could be shooting with the 70-200mm watching the groom. Another example while shooting the ceremony: you could be standing in a different area on the opposite side of the venue using a different lens that compliments the main shooter.

3.TIME SAVER. While the main photographer is shooting one subject, you could be shooting something else simultaneously to save time. It’s always best to do this when the main shooter doesn’t need you at the time. For example, when the photographer is with the bridesmaids while getting ready and shooting details, the second shooter could be doing the same thing with the groomsmen.

4.BEHIND THE SCENES. Every photographer loves a good “behind the scenes” action shot. If you get the opportunity to take some fun and exciting shots of the main photographer in action, then go for it! They will appreciate it and you might even get a bonus shoutout on social media! 😉

I hope that helps you guys understand a little more about being a second shooter! Remember, everyone is different and may have other opinions about the roles that come into play, but these are the main points that I find helpful to know! Thanks for following along and learning alongside with us!

XO, Remy

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson 4

Published on May 11, 2017August 3, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Happy Thursday, friends! I was so sad to skip our lessons for the past 2 weeks, but we had some serious business going on. Obviously, that means we were away for our bachelor and bachelorette parties!!! 🙂 Now Eli and I are back in action and have a great lesson to go over! We are going to review all the lenses I own, when I use them, and what my favorites are! When I first started photography, I was always searching blogs and googling the best lenses to invest in, so I thought it would be a good idea to do one of my own for first time photographers! Recently I have also been asked through private messages about the lenses I am using in specific photos. I’m so excited to share, but remember these are all for my Nikon! I am still waiting to purchase some other lenses once I am ready to invest, so I will also share those. Enjoy!

Nikon 20mm 2.8

I use the 20mm the least of all my lenses, but it can definitely come in handy at desperate times! This image was taken my first time being a second shooter at a wedding. I pulled out this lens a few times when I really needed it. I used it first when the MASSIVE bridal party was in a tight space and the main photographer couldn’t fit them in the frame. The second time was when I realized we had zero space in front of this AWESOME dessert table and I couldn’t fit everything in the photo! So this is what I got, and it doesn’t look as great as it would with the other lenses, but it’s great to get the full shot anyways! The last time I pulled out this lens was when I wanted to get some fun shots of everyone on the dance floor later that night. It can create some awesome wide angle photos!!

Nikon 35mm 1.8

The 35mm is amazing. Whenever I find myself in a tight space or maybe just want to take portraits with more in frame, this is my go-to lens. The example below is from when this couple wanted photos on a porch swing and I didn’t have a ton of room to take them. My 35mm came in handy by allowing me to get more of the porch in the frame, rather than just the swing. I use this lens at weddings, portrait sessions, large group photos, and other times where I think it might look better with a wider angle, but not wide enough for the 20mm.

Nikon 50mm 1.4

This lens is my #1 girl!!! I use my 50mm for anything and everything. If I don’t specifically need the wider lenses for anything, this is ALWAYS on my camera. It was almost like my whole world changed when I purchased the 50mm. I immediately became obsessed and it is a 100% must-have. I use it for all portraits or even details and products. It creates the most beautiful images!! If you’re just starting out and want your first new lens, go for the 50mm- you will not regret it!

Nikon 105mm 2.8

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this lens!!! From these images you can see that you can do quite a bit with it! It creates gorgeous macro photos that are perfect for ring shots, details, and close ups. I caught this ceremony shot while I was way back behind all of the guests, but I didn’t have a zoom lens, so I used this one. Look how gorgeous it turned out! I always have fun while using this lens because it means really pretty pictures are about to happen! 🙂 I highly recommend investing in this lens if you’re about to start engagement sessions or weddings!

Lenses I plan to purchase next:

70-200mm: I am hoping to be able to purchase this zoom lens soon so that I can put it to use at weddings! Right now I am using my 105mm in place of a zoom for those close-up shots. I would love to have a nice zoom lens to get the shots I really want and are important to have!

85mm: I have heard great things about this lens for portrait sessions and also weddings! This might be a perfect lens for my second shooter (Eli 🙂 ) to use at specific times on wedding days. You can be far away from the subject and still get an amazing shot a little closer up and focused on their faces or other details.

Hopefully you enjoyed this lesson today! Soon enough Eli will be learning all about lighting and more of the fun stuff. Thanks for following along. We encourage anyone just starting out on their photography journey to ask us questions and follow along our adventure of Eli improving through each lesson! We are rooting for you as you continue to learn and grow in this industry!!

XO, Remy

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson Three

Published on April 20, 2017May 9, 2017 by Remy Photos1 Comment

This may not be a lesson on photography, but instead it is a lesson on loving your significant other in order to succeed as a team. Working together as a couple means trusting your teammate, partner, and other half. You want to be able to provide the same experience for your client through both of you, so it is important to always be on the same page. This takes hard work while loving one another during the highs and lows of running a business. Being patient, understanding each other, and having fun is crucial to a successful partnership!

Now, Eli and I are going to have our moments when he becomes my second shooter and we don’t expect to nail this husband and wife team thing right away either. We know we work well together and balance each other out in the best ways. We can use our own strengths to our advantage of course, but then we have to think about our own weaknesses and where to improve. The imperfections that we have are why we work together so well and love each other so much. It also challenges us to work hard at understanding each other better and solving our problems. Not only as a photography team, but as a couple, too. We have been working at these challenges more and more throughout our long engagement. Loving your partner means loving every side to them, with every “flaw”, and learning how to overcome every big or little thing together. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of your partner is such an important part of a relationship. Knowing these things can allow you to help each other, better each other, understand each other, it opens communication, and gives opportunities to sacrifice for one another.

I have listed ten questions below for you all to think about, talk about, and work on. These can be related to a husband/wife, girlfriend/boyfriend, your teammate, your partner, your soulmate, etc. Try answering separately, then talk it over together! I would LOVE some feedback on your conversations after you’re done- GO TEAM!

What are your strengths + weaknesses?
What are your partners strengths + weaknesses?
What are your major differences?
How can you overcome your differences?
What is your love “language”? (if you aren’t sure what this is LOOK IT UP)
What ways do you communicate the best? When is it at it’s worst?
Why do you think you make a great team?
What do you love about this person the most?
What would you like to improve on as a couple?
What could you sacrifice or work on that your partner would appreciate the most?

I hope this can help you build your relationship, make it stronger, and create conversations for you and your loved one! If you are newlyweds or getting married soon, like us, this is a great way to open conversation when you’re struggling to work as a team. We all know that relationships aren’t always easy, but that’s the best part. You are constantly given the opportunity to work on yourself and work together to improve and grow your love. Don’t be afraid to communicate when you’re feeling discouraged and don’t ignore your emotions. Embrace those moments and conquer life TOGETHER. Love is the strongest force there is, which means it can be overwhelming and complicated at times. It’s up to you to try hard and to keep trying, because love is the most rewarding and beautiful mess out there.

Eli and I have been together for four years, and we think we’ve seen it all.. but we know there is SO much more to learn. Being able to do life with him makes my heart sing, fills me with joy, and lights up my world. Our love for each other is unconditional and in 51 days we will be committing to a life together. We will be united with an unbreakable bond through God’s word and promising to love each other during the good, the bad, and the ugly. There isn’t a single soul that could be more perfect to be my life partner. I can’t wait to be his wife. I can’t wait for our wedding day. I can’t wait to raise a family together. And I can’t wait to kiss him when we’re 90 years old. There is a lifetime to look forward to with him, and we will work at our relationship every step of the way. Having Eli train to be my second shooter for future weddings makes me so excited that we can share our love for clients together. He’s going to add elements that I personally don’t have to offer, and that’s what will make our experience so special.

Think about what you and your partner have to offer as a couple. How can you share both of your strengths and balance out the weaknesses in order to succeed as a team? Use the love you have for each other and share that with your clients and the world. Nothing can go wrong when you spread love like butter! 😉 Best wishes, lovers!

P.S. obsessed with our engagement photos by Hope Taylor Photography. We can’t wait for the wedding pictures! 🙂

XO, Remy

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson Two

Published on April 13, 2017May 9, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Wow, it’s been an exhausting week! Eli and I are on the road A LOT and this past weekend you probably saw that my bridal shower was held in Richmond, VA. I was mentally and physically exhausted after the weekend, but in the best way! I think I was basically overly happy and excited for too long, like over 64 hours to be exact. I mean that’s awesome, but when we got back home, I was dead to the world. It’s just so hard to really get back in the groove of things when your schedule is always inconsistent. I’ve been working non-stop since I got home with blogging, lots and lots of laundry, unpacking and packing again (because of course we leave again today), catching up on emails, wedding planning, all of it. On the 10th we hit just two months until our wedding day (YAY), but that also calls for meetings with the planner and adding 100 things to the to-do list. But all these things aren’t keeping me from teaching Eli how to become a photographer. I’m so glad we have a schedule that allows him to learn something new each week before Thursday comes around. That way we don’t have to keep pushing back our lessons and we can stay focused on at least one consistent thing in our lives.

On Tuesday I handed Eli the camera and told him to just start shooting away. There was a beautiful golden glow, so it was the perfect time to take photos! I made sure he knew what to change on the settings to get the lighting right, and he remembered everything! 1st- aperture, 2nd- ISO, 3rd- shutter speed. We are training him to shoot like my personal style. I like my images brighter and concentrated on the face and eyes for portraits. At first he was trying to get all fancy and artsy-fartsy, which is great, but in some ways just isn’t my style. I tend to lean toward a clean look without too much going on surrounding the subject. So Eli went for it and practiced on my little face! 🙂 His first day of practicing was SO impressive!! There were definitely some moments where he would get frustrated because he couldn’t get the settings down quick enough, but there were also moments when he got super excited because he loved the picture!! We haven’t touched too much on lighting and working with the sun, but I just mentioned a few things that he could practice. When we get into the lesson on lighting, I will share tips and tricks that I have learned over the time when shooting in natural light. For now you can see Eli’s first practice session below. You’re going to see some pictures that he really loved and ones where he forgot to change the settings or maybe even hit something totally wrong. I also switched up the lighting on him and took him inside near a window. I think he did an awesome job for his first time without having a ton of knowledge about lighting, posing, or White Balance. GO ELI! After you see his photos, he will give a quick run down of what he thought of shooting for the first time! P.S. these are 100% raw – zero editing!!

Pictured above was when Eli stepped into the shade and I was still in the sun, but he didn’t correct the settings so it ended up darker.

The photo above is not the style we want to work with. We like even lighting from head to toe. Here the sun is only shining on my face. While some might think this is pretty, it’s just not a style that we want to use.

I think you can tell he messed around with the white balance here and didn’t even realize it! He thought he was changing the ISO. He took quite a few photos like this…

The indoor photos were more frustrating but he just played around and tried his best!

The following photos are taken with a phone- sorry ’bout it. Eli and Behr are best pals. They’re the cutest, sweetest boys ever. LOVE THEM.

First of all, to any of you reading this who are actually photographers, my hats off too you!!! This shiz is really really hard. At the same time, when all things come together and you hit that button at the right moment, the results can feel so rewarding. I must admit that I am the type who prefers to “get” things immediately, without having to read the instructions or take lessons. In other words, I usually am quick to “dive right in” to whatever I am trying to master. The downfall of this trait is that when I make mistakes, I can get easily frustrated. I might think to myself, “what the heck?! why was that picture not perfect??? I mean I’ve been training at this for like 2 days, I should be a pro by now!” and you can see how that is no way to treat the learning process. 🙂

Thankfully, I have an amazingly skilled and patient teacher who not only encourages me when I am doing things right but also calmly explains what happened and how to fix it when I am doing something wrong. I am just so blessed to be able to learn alongside my partner, and she is gracious to put herself on the other end of the lens for my sake (because I know how much she actually hates having her picture taken alone…)

From a technical standpoint, I am starting to understand how all of the elements of the camera work together and adapt to the lighting and framing situation you are in. I am still struggling with knowing what ISO should be set at in certain lighting situations, as well as not bringing the shutter speed down too low. It is truly a balancing act that is going to take many many repeated lessons to fully understand. Again, I cannot appreciate you photographers enough for your one-of-a-kind multitasking skills. I was having such a heck of a time adjusting camera settings to be just right that I completely forgot about communicating with my “client” and that is when I realized that this profession is much more than I ever gave it credit to be.

Overall, I am very very excited to continue to work on my skills as a photographer, including communicating and helping future clients feel confident and comfortable when they are in our lenses. As Remy said earlier, our schedule is simply insane but I love being able to take time out of the day to spend time with her and especially when I get to take beautiful shots of her in this amazing spring weather. Seeing her through the lens and then looking at the pictures afterwards gives me, personally, a whole other viewpoint on how gorgeous she actually is… yeah I guess this training isn’t so terrible after all. 🙂

Cheers, Eli

XO, Remy + Eli

Photography For Hubbies: Lesson One

Published on April 6, 2017April 11, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Okay, you guys. This is it! Lesson one of our new series: Photography For Hubbies. If you missed the backstory, you can visit our last blog post for why we started this series and more about us!

Photo by Hope Taylor Photography

Today we are going to talk about the basics of a camera. We’ll be using a Nikon D750, so if you’re following along with a Canon, a few things may be just a little different! First, Eli is going to list the things he doesn’t already know about using a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) while basically staring at it and playing around with it for a few minutes. I will be typing as he lists everything (quote on quote) and hoping he doesn’t mess anything up while doing so! 🙂

I DON’T know what the wheelie thing does.
I definitely don’t know what this stuff does.. (another wheelie thing)..
I don’t know what the different modes are on the other wheelie thing.
I don’t know what ISO means.
M-manual, A-aperture, P-program, S-sport??
I don’t know what the numbers mean.
I don’t know how to control shutter

Remember, every photographer started out not knowing these things either! Eli and I just reviewed the entire back of the camera. We went over what the controls meant, how to adjust aperture, shutter, ISO, and how to shoot in manual. One important thing he has to get used to is ALWAYS ALWAYS shooting in manual. You need full control of your camera in every lighting situation, so we are starting hardcore and he’s not allowed to change that “wheelie thing” to anything else! 🙂 I taught myself how to use a DSLR a while ago, but I was using the other settings like Auto, Program, Shutter, and mostly Aperture, which was controlling the camera in ways I didn’t want. When I switched to Manual, it was so hard to get used to! That’s why I want Eli to begin learning on Manual to get used to it while practicing! We won’t get into shooting techniques while playing around with the settings like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO just yet. We will review that in another lesson. For now let’s hear what Eli learned about the camera!

Photo by Hope Taylor Photography

Hey y’all, I’m back! This time it feels a whole lot more serious, but I am the type of person who loves to learn about anything just for the sake of it… I must say, Remy is a pretty good teacher and so far I am super impressed with how much knowledge she has about this camera. Given that we have a fair amount of free time, I think it is great that we are breaking these lessons up in to small sections and learning things piece by piece. Just understanding the camera itself will be half the battle! With that said, I will do my best to relay what I now know about the Nikon D750 that I had no clue about earlier in this post:

1.) Apparently the first “wheelie” thing that I was referring to on the front right side of the camera near the shutter button is the aperture adjustment. I now know that the wider the aperture (lower the number) the more light that gets let in, making for a brighter picture, and vice versa. I also learned that a lower aperture makes the background more blurry, and focuses on the subject more. A smaller aperture will bring all the elements in the frame into focus with a sharper background and will loose light to create a darker image.

2.) The other wheelie-ma-bobber on the upper right corner of the camera adjusts what I now know of as “shutter speed”. The shutter speed decides how quickly or slowly the lens opens and closes to capture a shot. The higher the shutter speed number, the faster the lens will open and close, giving you a sharp, clear photograph. This can also cause for a darker image with a higher number. A lower shutter speed number will result in a photo that is brighter, but is also subject to blurriness because of how long it takes for the shutter to open and close. So if you want to capture more motion in a shot to view it almost in a slow motion form, you can do a slower shutter speed. If you want to capture a fast moving object that catches every move in a crisp and quick way, you want a faster shutter speed.

3.) The other OTHER whirligig on the top left of the camera is called the mode dial and is used to change what mode your camera is in. To keep things more or less simple, Remy told me that we would basically keep the camera in M or Manual, so that we can be in control at all times (now I see why she loves photography)<— jokes. Also the wheel below this one allows you to choose which mode to use for when you press down on the shutter release button for a burst of photos, or just one, or in quiet mode, etc. For our sessions, we will keep that wheel on CH (continuous high) so that we can capture multiple photos as quick as possible when spontaneous moments arise. (I always remember that because loving Remy is like a continuous high itself) awwwwww.

4.) ISO basically refers to the light sensitivity of your camera. Adjusting the ISO fixes the lighting in your photo. Setting your ISO depends on the lighting situation you’re in whether you’re inside or outside. The higher the number, the brighter the image will become. It’s perfect for situations like an indoor wedding where you need to bump it up a lot to get brighter images. You should also adjust your ISO after you have figured out what your general aperture and shutter speed will be for the shoot.

5.) I kind of described this in #3 but basically each mode allows you to adjust a certain part of the cameras settings, while compensating for the ones that you didn’t adjust; except for manual which requires you to do all the adjusting your self (do I have toooo). Oh and the S stands for Shutter, not Sport 😉

6.) The “numbers” in the top right display of the camera are pretty important. They essentially tell you everything about your camera’s setting. The top left number tells you your shutter speed and the top right number with the “f” before it tells you your aperture. The number on the bottom tells you your ISO and the number in brackets tells you how many photos you have left on your memory card. These numbers seemed so overwhelming before but now that I have my hands on the camera, it doesn’t feel as daunting. Also, most of these things are displayed on the bottom edge when you look through the viewfinder too, which seems super convenient. Another thing I learned was the exposure meter on the display screen and inside the viewfinder. This tells you if your settings are too bright or too dark while shooting. You will see it moving when fixing your settings.

7.) Well obviously by now I understand a bit of what shutter speed means and how it affects the quality of the photo, but most importantly, I now understand how to make adjustments when it is needed during a session. It is important to understand what your aperture will be set at for the session and toggle your shutter speed based upon that. Depending on what you’re shooting and the lighting, you may have to mess around with the shutter dial until you get the quality and lighting that you are looking for. I learned that Remy likes to keep her photos on the slightly brighter side so I am learning how to adjust each component to equal out to the correct amount of brightness, focus and clarity.

All I can say is, sheesh, this is going to be a journey. I am slightly overwhelmed at all there is to learn about the camera before I can even move on to actually taking cool pictures, but I am also so excited to absorb all of this information and build upon it in the coming blog posts. I couldn’t imagine a better mentor than my lovely fiancé! Can’t wait to tell y’all what I’ve learned next week!

Eli as my assistant last weekend. He’s just the best.

What do you guys think?! I think he did pretty dang good for our first lesson. Next Thursday we’ll be getting really into the settings of the camera while shooting in Manual mode. Eli will begin practicing changing the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO while I throw some challenges his way! 🙂 We’ll see his first images as a new photographer! It’s important to practice changing those settings in every lighting situation in order to get the images/style you want while working quickly! As a natural light photographer, nailing your in-camera settings is vital. Once Eli starts getting the hang of the camera, we’ll be moving on to the real fun stuff!! 🙂

If you have any specific questions about my camera or settings, etc., just comment or send me a message and we will answer questions on the blog next week for everyone to see! Thanks for following along!

XO, Remy + Eli

Middle School Stages

Published on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

I’ve been obsessed with cameras and taking pictures since for-ev-er. I think I’ve gone through about 20 different types of cameras. You know, there’s the disposable cameras (let’s say 50 of those), old and new polaroid cameras, digital cameras (a lot of those too, mostly in pink), pinhole, film, and one of my favorites: the I-Zone pocket sticker camera. Those stickers were literally all over my house and my sisters face-sorry Tori. I wanted to bring a camera everywhere I went! In college, my parents gifted me my first Nikon DSLR. That’s when the party started. Just kidding, I didn’t pick it up for a long time until it snowed one day and then I said “what the heck is this thing, I can’t take a good picture.” Then my frustration led to a lot of youtube videos and I started figuring it out (a little)! Here is an example of my first-timer photos..and yes, I forced my dogs, friends, and family to be my models – YOU’RE WELCOME… JK thanks to all who have been my model in the past and sorry to anyone who feels used! 🙂 Oh, and a major shoutout to my parents (Roe, Peej- you know who you are) who bought me every camera ever since the beginning of time. Thanks mom and dadddd, I actually seriously wouldn’t be doing this right now if it weren’t for your support, LOVE YAZ.

Before I knew it, I was shooting several back to back graduation sessions with an entry level Nikon D3200, set to auto or maybe Aperture, using a kit lens, two sketchy memory cards, one battery, one prayer, and not a clue about lighting. The outcome? Weirdly successful..not the BEST quality..but it was fun, and my clients were always happy. I was so excited about my work when I first began taking portraits! Although I have improved an insane amount with practice, education, and mentoring over the past two years, I am still so proud of myself for just going for it!! Sure, my images weren’t amazing and I partly didn’t know what I was doing, but I wanted to get out there and take some freakin’ pictures! So I did and I LOVED everything about it. I loved trying new things, meeting new people, reconnecting with friends, practicing, learning, and seeing myself improve every time. These senior sessions were some of my firsts, and I still love them even though they aren’t my current editing style!

My photography style was in the “middle school” stages for a little while. You know, like when you have braces, you randomly get the chicken pox which creates more awkwardness, you wear striped turtle necks for the yearbook photos, have fluffy hair that takes over your tiny face so you wear it in a tight boyish bun, you’re scared to hold a boy’s hand, and you’re only allowed to wear eye shadow and lip gloss…..yes, that was me, and I am no longer ashamed..

MIDDLE SCHOOL REMY AWWWW

In those stages of my photography, I was inexperienced. I was teaching myself editing in Lightroom, I didn’t know how to shoot in manual, I knew nothing about lighting or my camera, and I couldn’t find my own style. Every picture and every album looked different. I didn’t have that consistent style that clients would expect of you. Once I really found MY style, I started going through the “high school” stages. In real high school I got my braces removed, I wore Abercrombie and Hollister, wore cooler belts than the one photographed above, started wearing mascara, had some boyfriends here and there.. you know, basically I thought I was getting the hang of life. So in these stages of my photography, I was new and improved. I upgraded to new gear, took an intro to photography class in Richmond, began following the leaders in the creative industry, and studied my butt off. Because DUH I was trying to get to “college”, people!!! 🙂 I knew it was time to invest in more education. I knew I was ready to take the next step and I knew I had it in me. I went to my first Hope Taylor Workshop in March 2016. It was a complete game-changer. I learned SO much from Hope (truly a genius, wizard, fairy, angel girl). I was encouraged by her and the other attendees and I became inspired. I was more knowledgeable and I was ready to move forward in my business. That was my high school graduation and I was ready to move into college. (wink wink, not in real life, I hope you’re following the metaphors..) Here are some photos of when I started improving and seeing more consistency in my work!

Here are a few from the 2016 HTP workshop:

Now, here I am, exactly a year after Hope’s workshop, and I think I can now say that I’m moving onto my second year of [metaphoric] college. I am proud of my work, I love my style, and I love where I’m at right now. This past year I watched LOADS of free webinars and read every blog I could find. I also invested in two major educational courses. I purchased the Amy and Jordan Demos Online Shooting+Editing Course. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone in their first couple years of the photography business. It taught me so much about literally every topic you can think of. The smallest things made the biggest difference for me. Then I signed up for the 2-day Hope Taylor Senior and Wedding Workshop. WOW. I can’t say enough wonderful things about the workshop and Hope. It’s only been a couple weeks since the workshop and I already feel like my business is 100% growing and moving in the right direction. It gave me a major push. I now feel ready for any challenge, and I have so many goals to work towards. I am finally figuring out my schedule, daily and weekly tasks/goals, my calendar organization, and my workflow!

This “college” phase is a major learning experience through trial and error, successes, failures, fear, excitement, changes, highs, lows, everything. I don’t plan on “graduating” for a long time. I know that I have so much more to learn and I don’t plan to stop now or anytime soon. I will never stop growing as a person and the same goes for my business. I believe in myself, even more so after looking at how much I have grown in the past couple years. I have the drive, the motivation, a community to cheer me on, mentors, and a support system. I know that I can keep moving in a positive direction and I plan to do just that. Underneath is an example of my most recent engagement shoot. This is my favorite lighting and Kayla was an absolute dream!!.. Keep up with my blog posts and see more pretty images like this every Tuesday!

Quick Announcement:

While I’m on the topic of learning and growing as a photographer, I have some fun news! I am going to begin a blogging series about my fiancé, Eli, learning how to be a photographer LESSON BY LESSON, every Thursday. It will be called the “Photography for Hubbies” series..you know, like “Photography for Dummies”, but it’s for hubbies, because he’s my future hubby (and sometimes a dummy), okay I think you get it.. I am in no way, shape, or form, experienced in teaching someone else the basics about the camera, how to shoot in camera, shooting techniques, or editing because I’m still learning myself! But, I am going to try my hardest step by step, and you’re going to be able to follow along with us! We will try to blog about it week by week, but forgive us if we get a little busy from time to time (we are getting married in June)! So, if you want to learn with Eli, watch his journey, create your own journey alongside his, or if you want to just laugh at us, we can’t wait to have you as an audience! 🙂 Our goal is for Eli to become my second shooter as I enter the wedding photography world, and we are determined to get him there! If your photographer hubby has a few tips he’d like to share, we would love to see them in comments! Expect an introduction about Eli this Thursday! We can’t wait to begin! GO ELI!

P.S. THANK YOU to my sweet friends for subscribing to my blog!!