October 8th, 2010 | by admin
I know many of you know that my husband and I lost our second child. Next Friday is my due date and with that looming around the corner I have been trying to stay super busy. But, I wanted to ask the photographer community to help out my friends IRIS who have helped me through the loss of our baby.
IRIS is in the running for a Grant from Pepsi to be able to create more IRIS groups around the country. I know when I miscarried I didn’t know where to turn. My friends in town told me about IRIS and they have been amazing support. People don’t talk about miscarriage. They just don’t. And through all of the emails I have received so many women experience this horrible loss. There needs to be more support for women who have experienced the loss of a child whether miscarriage, stillbirth etc. This has been most likely the worst emotional pain I have ever gone through.
I remember when I was pregnant with my daughter I lost 7 good friends due to various illnesses with in about a 3 month span. I lost my best friend Camille who my daughter is named after and some also very good friends. The pain I experience with the loss of my friends has come no where near the pain I have in my heart over the loss of my baby. I can’t even describe the pain I’ve experienced. I know many of you women have too.
I never realized how common miscarraige was. I talked to one photographer who sent me her story and she had told me she had lost 7 babies. I can’t even imagine. Where do you go when that happens? Who do you talk to? If you haven’t been through it, you really don’t know how awful it is. It’s the deep deep pain. Slowly, I’m getting better.
After I had to go in for a procedure at the hospital, I literally had a breakdown. I wasn’t functioning. I couldn’t even handle a regular conversation. I got to the point where I had to call my doctor and ask for help. Now, if you know me then you would know we don’t even have tylonol in our house. Not that we are against medicine it’s just that we rarely ever get sick.
I was honestly embarrassed that I went on an anti depressant to help me cope. I went to IRIS and told them that and there was no shame. I felt comfortable telling them what had happened to me at Joann Fabrics. I had a horrible experience with one of the workers there. I was able to blurt it all out to them and they all had been there in one way or another.
Please vote for IRIS, there needs to be more of them.
VOTE FOR IRIS
Posted in: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
September 27th, 2010 | by admin
I just got back from Utah and now going to Illinois for the weekend. I can’t wait to post some of my images from Utah! I haven’t even downloaded them yet but be on the look out for some images!
While I was gone in Utah, we had a major rain storm and flooded my town. If we had had just two more inches of water my studio would have been flooded. The stores across the street from me are ruined. I was gone for the entire thing.
Anyway, I will be driving out to Illinois this weekend for a workshop and I’m very excited to go there!
Hawaii: I am going to be there Jan. 5 thru the 15th. I have received quite a few emails about a workshop there and I am getting back to all of you! I hope something works out and we can do a Rock that OCF workshop out there!
ali
Posted in: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
September 19th, 2010 | by admin
My husband keeps telling me to ask to see if anyone would be interested in meeting up with me in January for a Rock That OCF workshop. We are going there for my brother’s wedding and since I’m bringing my lighting gear out there we could do a mini workshop. I don’t know if anyone would even be interested but we are going to be staying in Kona and the resort we are staying at is very reasonable to stay at too. Please email me if you think you’d like to come and make a vacation out of it too with your family.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
September 8th, 2010 | by admin
I had a senior guy who wanted to do shots with his mountain bike! So we went out into the field and the clouds were crazy cool out last night. It was so windy yesterday I was thinking of rescheduling the session. The wind finally died down quite a bit so I just had his mom hold on to my light just in case. I’ve had my light blow over on me twice. The first time I caught it the second time, I was rushing to get into a vehicle before this storm hit. I had my camera and by the time I remembered my light I went running back for my light and I watched it crash.
Anyway, I thought this photo was pretty cool with the clouds!
My AB 1600 was at Full Power f/14 and 1/125
The light was a little further back that normal because of the bike.
The clouds were very dramatic in it themselves but I did do a little dodging and burning and when I do these kinds of photos I love using high pass filter to bring out more detail in the clouds too.
Here’s the SOOC photo
My processing since tons of people ask me.
portraiture first.
Then I just did Pioneer Woman’s Free action Fresh and Colorful. I tone it down per taste.
High pass filter. I do a dup layer and then high pass then put it on soft light. Then I do a layer mask and erase it off my subject and the weeds just leaving it on the clouds.
Some dodging and burning and that was it.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
September 7th, 2010 | by admin
I just got an email asking how I did the set up on this shot so I thought I would just share it with everyone. This is for you Diane and for everyone!!
I have a pretty heavy duty stand that I bought off of craigslist but if you look it up it’s an avenger stand. It has a boom arm on it. I love the stand. It’s blown over on me 2 times now but I am confident with it that it won’t blow unless you get a super super windy day.
We shot this about an hour before sun down. I believe I was using a 1600 on that one. You don’t need that much power when you are shooting into the ground. Otherwise, it will be too dark and ugly!
Hope this helps!
f/5.6 1/200 ISO 100
Posted in: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
September 6th, 2010 | by admin
There are now 3 spots openened. Please contact me immediately if you are interested in attending.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
August 26th, 2010 | by admin
I really hope everyones summer is going well and that you are all mentally in tact after having super busy shooting seasons. I know how hard it can be when you are constantly shooting and then seriously need a break. I think I will seriously treat myself to a massage! lol Anyway, I wanted to just write for a little bit. Things are going really well here. Salt Lake City is right around the corner. I can’t wait to meet all the new ladies that are going to attend my workshop. We are going to all have dinner on Wednesday and it’s open to anyone. I’m excited to see Lori Slater Jones who is hosting the workshops. :) She is an awesome lady and her daughters are amazing too!!!
Here are some recent photos I’ve taken, natural light, studio and ocf. I have to put another shout out to Fuse Backdrops because they are awesome!
Posted in: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
August 18th, 2010 | by admin
I got an email the other day saying I didn’t post enough and she is so right. I don’t. I barely have enough time to sleep let alone have a personal life outside of work right now. My studio is in full swing right now and I love it but I’ve barely been home. I have 9 sessions I’m working on right now and I have 10 sessions this week alone.
Anyway, I wanted to write about something that kind of came to me the other night when I was teaching Jennifer from Michigan. I typically didn’t shoot down at someone in a field. Why? because it is always too dark. Jennifer shot down at Mickey our model and asked me how to fix it and I don’t know why I never thought of it before. I lowered the power on the light and then we shot it and it was so beautiful. I felt kind of dumb at that point! Anyway, so… if you are shooting down into the ground turn down the power of your light!
I had just posted the photo of Mickey but I will post it again.
A new thing for me is that I’m going to start offering studio lighting workshops here at my place in Minnesota. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Here are a few of my studio shots. 
I shot this one today. I had two lights on her. Main light and then strip light behind her.
Here’s a awesome senior I had two weeks ago. She was so awesome!
This photo I had a strip light on her hair, beauty dish and strip light on the backdrop. I absolutely ADORE these backdrops.
They are from Fuse Backgrounds!
I swear I’m going to try and post more. I have been just swamped with work and trying to work on workshops too.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
August 11th, 2010 | by admin
I’m in my new place! I really like it. Been here 3 days now working and yesterday we did an all day workshop with two gals one from Northern Minnesota and another from Florida! We were dodging rain all day though. :( But towards the end the girls got some really awesome shots because it finally quit raining! We did some studio stuff too!
It was a lot of fun. Thank you Kim and Tammy!
Going to start teaching studio lighting as well! If you want to come here and learn let me know!
Salt Lake City is coming up super fast! A couple spots are left.
Austin: A few left here too
Sacramento, I believe is full or has one or two spots left.
Here are a few recent photos:
And a couple of my new studio.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
July 26th, 2010 | by admin
And I’m loving it! haha! Seriously, my life has been so busy the last few weeks between shooting a ton of seniors, organizing workshops, taking care of my 4 year old, trying to keep my house in somewhat good order, and now opening a studio where I live. I signed a lease the other night. I have always dreamed of this! I have dreamed of being full time and having my husband work with me some day. Well, that’s if we wouldn’t drive ourselves crazy. Anyway, I wanted to announce some workshops.
Salt Lake City: Only a couple spots left. It’s 495 for the day on September 23! We are going to be near Ogden, Utah.
Sacramento Area: October 22 - 24 Only a couple spots left! At Cari Clinkenbeard’s Studio!!
Austin Texas: November 5-7
If you want to come please let me know. Send me an email asap to get your spot!
This was taken with my AB 1600 and Westcott 50 softbox.
We spent the entire weekend getting rid of the purple and yellow. Ahh it’s starting to shape up in there. We have to get a plumber in there to get rid of the pipes now and also build a wall. Put in some electrical paint the new wall and then move in!
And then the daunting task of decorating! If you know me, I’m horrible with decisions like this. You should have seen me try and pick out paint!
Now, I will be able to do workshops out of my studio as well!!!!
Studio Lighting Course? :)
Posted in: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
