seniors
engagement
families
wedding
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Posted on November 30, 2010
Well, after a nice little weekend spent mostly in my car, I am back home and slooowly but surely getting caught up.
Had the quickest shoot of my life last Tuesday for these talented fellas. I told Cashew I’d do a few promos for his event band, The Undercovers. Considering it took MAYBE five minutes, I was happy with the outcome. Don’t they look dashing?
Had a lovely shoot with this sweet girl in OKC on Wednesday, before I headed to Texas to hang out with the family. Sara was an absolute breeze to photograph! Loved that she brought her paints and a canvas with her. :)
And, as promised, photos of my little homemade journal made from a vintage book. I’m not sure “journal” is the correct term, because it’s ended up just being page after page of lyrics and storypeople quotes and Bible verses. Haha. But it works!
It was super easy to make. I tore out every other page from an old book (I bought it at Goodwill for like 99 cents) and covered the text on the remaining pages with card stock, woodgrain contact paper, graph paper, and magazine clippings. I also put a strip of masking tape down the center of each page just to hold the book together a little better. I’ll definitely be making another one.
And I’ll probably make a travel journal of sorts out of this one!
Probably one of my favorite old book covers I’ve found. And I love me some old books.
This is completely random, but look what I found at convenience store a little ways outside of Nashville last weekend:
I literally laughed out loud when I saw it. I had to buy it. It basically just tastes like sugar, but it was too funny to pass up.
God bless Tennessee.
One last thing.. I’m putting a little thought into doing one-on-one workshops this coming Spring. I’ll cover all the things I consider crucial…location scouting (what to look for), basic paperwork, posing, keeping your client comfortable, creating your “brand”, workflow, post-processing, bending the rules (without breaking them)…alllll the fun stuff, plus I’ll answer any questions you might have to the best of my ability. I’m looking at somewhere around $300-$400 for a 4-5 hour workshop. It’d cover one hour of location scouting, two hours of on-location shooting with a model, an hour or so on editing and workflow, and then a Q&A session if you had any further questions. And I’d definitely prefer one-on-one workshops as opposed to an entire group…I’m super awkward, and my awkwardness increases by like 53% in big groups. Plus you’ll get a lot more out of a one-on-one session.
Anyway…trying to figure out about how many people would be interested if I were to go through with this. Leave me a comment if you think you might be evenly remotely into the idea!
I’m hoping to knock out at least one more session tonight. I have big plans for tomorrow! I didn’t really get a REAL day off this week, so I’m taking advantage of not having a shoot tomorrow. Remember this from (almost) one year ago?
Mmhmm. Get ready.
peace.
-ak
(I haven’t taken a wardrobe remix picture in a week. Woooops.)
listen to. –> “hope” by jack johnson.
Posted on November 26, 2010
First of all, I’m glad my last post regarding creative slumps hit home for a few of you. I got a lot of sweet messages and emails afterward. It’s always promising to know that you’re not the only one going through it, and you’ll eventually work your way out of it. Just takes a little time and effort.
Okay. Goodness. I am SO BEHIND!! I got quite a bit of editing done over the last couple of days, but my aunt didn’t have wireless so I’m just going to dump some of my favorites from three shoots on this post…get ready!
The lovely Couch family had their annual family photos last Thursday. Seriously, this family is so awesome to work with. Never a dull moment with those kids. ;)
Typical. But how could you be mad at these faces?
Had a senior shoot with Dallas, who came to see me from Altus. I knew the minute I said “The first few minutes in front of the camera are kind of awkward..” and he goes, “Oh, I’m always awkward” we were going to get along just fine. Super fun, super laid back shoot. Loved it.
Last but certainly not least, the Patterson fam! I’ve known this family for a few years (Seth is one of my good buddies) and their beautiful sailor girl, Miss Aja, was finally able to spend some time with her family in Duncan. Apparently they are rarely able to get the whole family together, so I’m glad I was able to hang out with them for the evening for some family photos. :)
Yep. That’s Seth.
And I know I promised photos of my homemade journal, but I didn’t get a chance to get around to it. I almost have half the pages filled up, so I’ll probably end up making a second one. Promise I’ll share photos soon. :)
The last few days have been one big roller coaster. Nothing major, but I’m feeling a little emotionally drained right now. Probably just drained in general. Still hoping to get caught up on editing (for the most part) tonight…and I need to do laundry…and pack since I’m heading to Cleveland, TN tomorrow. I’m preeetty pumped about the engagement shoot I’m doing this Sunday up there! (P.S. If you’re out of state and want photos…I loooove to travel. ;) )
*sigh*
I need a Red Bull.
52 weeks submission for this week. Nothing special. Haven’t had a chance to plan out anything.
Last thing.. I was hanging out on my aunt’s porch at 4am the other night/morning, and I had been flipping through my Bible and randomly decided to look up some of the words we take for granted in the dictionary. Wrote this in my journal:
Puts things into perspective.
peace.
-ak
P.S. Don’t forget you can now order prints from my Ethiopia trips, as well as prints from my team mate Brandon. $50 from each print goes towards Mocha Club’s education project!
listen to. –> “after the storm” by mumford and sons.
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Posted on November 23, 2010
I am currently three shoots behind with editing (how does that happen so fast?!), but I really wanted to take a minute to post this.
As most of you know, I went through a hell of a creative slump for several months recently. I didn’t want to get my camera out, I didn’t want to paint, I didn’t want to write…nothing inspired me. This is something that everyone in the creative field goes through at one point or another and I think it’s safe to say that calling those times “frustrating” is an understatement. It more or less effects every single thing you do.
I’m finally at a point where I’m crawling out of that hole, and I’ve been asked by a few of you how I’m getting through it. I feel like I first need to say that this does NOT happen overnight. It’s been a slow process, getting my creative brain back to how it once was. These are just a few things that worked for me over the last few weeks..
Quiet time.
(I’ve had several conversations with a friend of mine over how I’m really not a fan of the term “quiet time”, but oh well.)
This has been the single most helpful thing when it comes down to getting me where I need to be; not only spiritually, but creatively. I’m learning (slowly but surely) that I’m at my best when I make more room for God in my life. He knows me better than anyone, what better way to get “me” back? Something about spending even just 30 minutes outside with my Bible and my ipod does wonders for me. I never make it a point to “seek out” anything. I just sit. And listen to the song lyrics. And flip through my Bible. And journal when I feel it’s necessary.
Self-portraits.
It sounds vain and stupid, but this helps me so much. (My tripod and wireless remote get used way too often.) Having complete 100% creative freedom and not having to worry if your subject will be happy is so freeing. Just play. Experiment with light, editing, whatever. If they look horrible, you can toss them and never have to worry about someone wanting to know where their photos are. No one even has to know you took them. And if you end up with something you’re happy with…hey, new profile picture.
Make something.
I know this is the last thing you WANT to do, but just throw something together. Even if it’s just gluing magazine clippings to a piece of card stock. I think delving ourselves into huge projects when we’re in a slump is the biggest mistake. Start small. I’ve been working on a huge painting for my big brother for almost 3 months now, and I’ve started it over at least 5 times. I finally decided to start doing smaller paintings and work on the larger one gradually, and I’m at least starting to get a little direction as to where to go with it.
Keep a journal.
When an idea pops into your head, write it down. When certain lyrics hit you hard, write them down. When someone compliments your work, write it down. Write write write write write! I’ve already filled up a small journal in just a few weeks.
Realistically there are a thousand different things that have played a role in this little journey, but I feel like those are the most prominent. And just because they worked for me doesn’t mean they’ll work for everyone. Just sharing my personal experience!
Anyways! Little things I wanted to share..
1) First things first, because this is UBER important to me. My incredible team mate from Ethiopia this summer, Brandon, proved himself much more productive than I am and has set up a website where you can order canvases of some of our Ethiopia photos! The absolute best part…$50 from every print sold will go towards Mocha Club’s education project. We spent the majority of our time in Ambo working with the school kids, so this is something I’m personally very passionate about.
Click here or I will hunt you down.
Also, for my New Mexico blogstalkers, the canvases are up in a gallery at The Coffee Booth Cafe in Los Alamos until January. Brandon sent me these pictures earlier and I did a little dance of excitement..
So. Freaking. Awesome.
2) Stayed up until sunrise the other night working on a little project. I love when my table looks like this..
I’ve wanted to make a journal out of an old book for so long, so I randomly decided to start working on one the other night. I’ll share more photos in my next post!
3) Stayed in OKC last night…Heather and I spent an unreal amount of time making Christmas cookies. It was a semi-hilarious experience. We decided to make cookie people for all the people we’re closest to. (And ourselves.) These are just a few..
Gooood times indeed.
4) I had some time to kill before a shoot today, so I went to a little shop called Trendy Third over on 23rd in the city that a friend told me about (thanks Chelsey!)…ohmygoodness. I wanted to buy everything. However, I restrained and just walked out with this.
A 1971 Boy Scout uniform. It’s a child’s small. Here’s to being the size of a 5 year old boy!
(And yes, my hair is lavender again today.)
5) Today was my dear Petri’s (my Nissan Cube…”the spaceship”) 1st birthday. So crazy that I’ve had it for a year. I know it’s dumb to feel sentimental about a car, but I spend a crazy amount of time with this baby. He’s seen his fair share of the country in the last year..
Yes, you’re reading that correctly. Almost 30,000 miles. One year. 2500 miles a month, kids.
6) God was showing off on my drive home this evening.
Okay, I feel like I’ve blabbed on enough. Off to edit. I’ll be posting a family shoot next!
peace.
-ak
listen to. –> “headlights on dark roads” by snow patrol.
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Posted on November 20, 2010
So many things to share!
First things first, I had a (very quick) mini session with Abe last Wednesday on his farm…it was SO stinkin cold and windy! Abe was more or less just ready to get it over with (as the majority of senior boys are) so we rolled right on through them before we froze to death.
I spent the next day fighting off a cold, and it finally took advantage of me yesterday morning. Woke up with a fever and just an overall feeling of BLEH…and that feeling has followed me throughout the weekend.
*sigh*
This…ladies and gentlemen…is what even the slightest bit of winter does to me.
So I came across this Storypeople quote a few weeks ago and decided to add to my collection.
It just felt appropriate.
Also, as promised, here is what I keep in my camera bag.
1) Extra contracts.
2) 5DMkII manual. I pretty much know that camera like the back of my hand, but I still keep it with me at all times.
3) Fujifilm Instax Mini. For fun.
4) Instax film.
5) Three 8GB, a 4GB, and a 1GB CF cards.
6) Extra AA batteries, for flash and battery grip.
7) Gum. I don’t ever go on a shoot without chewing gum…it calms me.
8 ) Hair pins. Because you never know.
9) AA battery cartridge for battery grip.
10) Camera caps. I forgot to bring mine with me to the repair shop and they gave me one of theirs to ship mine for repairs. So now I have two.. haha.
11) Wireless remote.
12) Lens cleaner pen.
13) Pens.
14) Battery charger.
15) 430EX flash.
16) 15mm f/2.8 fisheye.
17) 16-35mm f/2.8L.
18) Lens hood for 16-35.
19) 85 f/1.8. Yes, it’s wrapped in felt.
20) Cleaning kit.
21) Fingerless gloves. Tis the season.
22) Reflector.
As for the bag, because I know it will be asked…it was just a random Goodwill find. I’m working on finding inserts so everything isn’t just randomly thrown in there. But it works perfectly for me.
Also, missing from the bag (because I was using them to take the photo, duh): 5DMkII with battery grip, 35mm f/1.4L, 4GB CF card.
Lastly, my 52 weeks submission. It’s nothing special, literally just threw something together when I had a minute.
Now it’s back to editing for me. For some reason my face has felt tingly and swollen today. I have no clue why. I’m falling apaaaart.
peace.
-ak
listen to. –> “new soul” by yael naim.
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