Here’s the Before and After, as well as the finished product below.

It is a gift for my sister (and my little lion of a nephew)

So I realize that I have slacked a bit on blogging for my own photography page lately, but the reason is two-fold. One – I was waiting for my awesome new laptop to arrive, which I was able to pick up on my way to Texas last week  YAY!!!) and Two – I have been putting all my blogging brain cells into creating content for the blog at Omnilargess. We have expanded our team, and we are all very excited about all the new classes we are able to offer. Each one of us has a different specialty to add to the mix. Check out our Current Classes to see what you can be a part of RIGHT NOW!

This week, we are offering a Night Scene Photography class. This is sure to be a lot of fun. Learn about how to control your settings to get the effect you want in low light. We’ll be pulling out all the cool accessories – reflectors, flashes,  grids, tripods, flashlights for light painting, you name it! This workshop is one we cannot have year round because of the temperature versus the time the sun goes down, so make sure you take advantage of this unique opportunity!

Among the things I will be doing more of this year is one on one photography, lighting, and editing instruction. Today I met a wonderful couple who are now on their way to improved picture taking. I had so much fun, and it sounds like this might become a more regular thing until I run out of things to teach them. This could take a while!!! I love having the opportunity to share about my passions!

In light of the fun I had today, I am going to post a list of 10 things new photographers (or photo enthusiasts) should consider when purchasing new equipment:

• 1. What type of photographs do you intend to take? Do you intend to turn this into a profession or is it a personal interest only? What you want to do with your camera heavily influences the recommendations you will receive from knowledgeable staff at camera stores.
• 2. Will a new camera alone be enough to help you take the shots you want? It is important to be aware of everything you will need at the start of the process so that you can avoid disappointments in the camera as well as surprises later on. Even if you cannot purchase everything you need at one time, this helps you to set realistic goals in relation to your photography.
• 3. Are you dealing with a store that has knowledgeable staff? Cameras are generally bigger purchases, so it stands to reason that your satisfaction with your purchase hinges on whether the staff understand your needs and are able to recommend something that will meet those needs. It is also important to know that you can return and ask questions if you need help with your new equipment.
• 4. Do you want to grow into your equipment? Camera technology changes very quickly, therefore you need to know if the camera will last you a long enough time, or whether you will find yourself needing an upgrade too soon.
• 5. What is the reason you feel you need a new camera? Sometimes identifying our reasons for wanting new equipment can help determine what to avoid or what we may need in a new purchase that we do not currently have.
• 6. What type of lifestyle do you lead? If you travel a lot, you may need a smaller, more portable camera. If you are the outdoorsy type, you may need something that is weather sealed and durable. Someone with kids may prefer a camera that takes photos quickly, but that is not so expensive should it befall an accident.
• 7. Is warranty important to you? Different brands have different lengths of warranties. Some companies are easier to deal with than others. Some companies allow you to deal directly with them, while others require a third party.
• 8. What camera features are essential for you? A smaller camera that fits into a pocket? The ability to change lenses? The ability to shoot quickly? GPS? Weather resistance? HD video? These are just a few examples.
• 9. What is your knowledge level in regards to photography, and are you willing to learn more? Many cameras can be fully automatic, where others require a little more knowledge. Some cameras allow you to start with auto and then slowly gain more control as you learn more. The more you are willing to learn, the more you will be able to use the camera to it’s full potential and to get the value for dollar paid.
• 10. What do the reviews have to say about the camera(s) that you are interested in? Although we should take the multitude of opinions on the internet with a grain of salt, it is a good idea to see if there is a trend in the experience of others.

The question I did not include here on purpose was cost of the camera. The reason for that is: Photography is Expensive. Just like many other hobbies (golf, skiing, hunting, fixing up old cars) it comes at a price. In the camera world, you generally get what you pay for. If you have very high expectations and settle for a lesser camera because of the cost, you will not be satisfied with your purchase. Better to research the best camera for your needs, and then see about how you want to go about paying for it.

I know for some of you, this information will be redundant, but I hope that for others it will give you some things to think about and to communicate with those who are giving you recommendations.

Things are changing slowly around here as I redefine the direction and focus of my business. I have started with a newly designed logo, thanks to Dina Polluck, and will continue by incorporating the logo and colours into my website. I am planning a focus on Maternity, Birth, and Babies – since this is really where my passion lies – as well as a LOT more teaching.

Through my classes at UFV, I have learned that I love watching the light bulb go on as people figure out how to manipulate their cameras or lighting, and begin to improve their photography.  The same applies to editing. It kills me to see great photographers whose talent is lost behind poor editing skills.  Please, please learn to harness the power of the technology at your fingertips! Gone are the days of shooting pictures and having someone else do the work for you by processing your film (although I do know a lot of film shooters who continue to produce great images!) Now you need to delve into the digital world and learn about things like colour, layers, masking, and exposure enhancing techniques. If you are a photographer, and you know little about editing (both RAW processing as well as basic image enhancement in Photoshop) – please do yourself a favour by growing your skill set and allowing your talent to shine through – LEARN about editing. Having worked with Photoshop for a good 10 years now, I can say by experience, that there is always something more you can learn about editing. Whether it is tips to make your workflow go faster, or different ways of accomplishing the same effect, or simply learning the new features that are added to the newest versions of the software. You will put yourself a step ahead of the average photographer and be able to make your images stand out.

In addition to camera courses at UFV, I have been focusing on my editing classes with Omnilargess.com We have a new set of editing classes coming up towards the end of February you wont’ want to miss. If these classes don’t  work with your schedule, PLEASE contact me for one-on-one opportunities!

There are more changes that I have waiting in the wings for this year, but I’ll highlight them as I am able to accomplish them. Starting now, I will aim to be a better blogger. Yes – I said it. Now I have to back it up. Wish me luck!

Planning is still ongoing for our Help-Portrait™ Abbotsford  project. For our 3rd year running, we are setting our sights high and hoping to reach a much larger group.  We have had a great response from hair-stylists this year, and so we are hoping to match that with an equivalent amount of make-up artists, photographers, and photo editors, as well as a generous amount of other volunteers. In the past we have seen this event come together in amazing ways, and we are looking forward to seeing the same thing happen this year. If you would like to help out by volunteering your time on December 8th 2012, please visit our Volunteer Registration page and find out where you might fit in. We can use all the help we can get, regardless of your skill set!

One of the difficulties we have come across, in planning this event, is that we are unable to give charitable donation receipts to donors. For some people and businesses, this is not a big issue, and we have certainly seen some great donations come our way! But, for others, this is the one detail which prevents them from giving. Unfortunately, the reality is that Help-Portrait™ has charitable status in the U.S. only, although there are many different groups, world-wide, which are rallying their cause. They have not yet ironed out the details involved with achieving that status within Canada. I would like to encourage businesses and individuals, who have the means, to give anyway. I know this may seem outrageous in our culture, when everyone is looking for every tax break they can find, but the whole idea is to give for the sake of giving, rather than giving to receive. If there are any of you who are considering helping us out in some way, even with tangible items rather than with money, please have a look at our donation form for a better idea of our needs and of ways that you can be involved.

Sooo looking forward to working with amazing people this year, as always! Each and every volunteer that has come out in the past has been incredibly appreciated, and already during the planning stages of this event, I have come across some pretty fabulous people who are generous with their time even now! Thanks in advance!!! Help-Portrait™ Abbotsford – Here We Come!