Photo Board Books

Board Books mentioned over at Better In Bulk proves a very sweet gift for your favorite Father in mind.

Check this out!

Not only is this a great idea for a young child but for the loved elder in your life that may have a bit of a time flipping those skinny pages on a traditional book. 

Love the idea!  I am always looking for neat ideas to offer my clients...this is perfect!

Capturing Speed

Define You Photography

Understanding your DSLR camera is important right of the bat!  There's nothing better than getting that shiny new digital camera and snapping your first picture....then wait!  IT'S BLURRY!  Unintentional blur is NOT a good thing folks.  So get down some basics first, then let's move on from that point. 
Now that you've acclimated yourself with your Lens, Aperture, Exposure, ISO, Focal Length, and lighting aspects of your surroundings capturing the world is now your destiny!

Finding an object that is moving is easy.  Taking a picture of it is a breeze.  Capturing the SPEED of this object and allowing your viewers to FEEL the wind in their hair....not so easy.  How do we get a picture to capture the speed we want but leave the still objects in our frame well enough alone? 

It's all about the shutter speed.  Experiment and test your waters....after all, this is your world.  You get to define it.  Shutter speed •The length of time during which the camera shutter remains open during exposure.  These speeds are expressed in seconds or fractions of a second. IE: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/8000. Each speed increment halves the amount of light.  I've always said it's backwards to me personally....1/8000 is faster than 2?  Unfortunately it's true. (As if things weren't confusing enough, right?)  When you adjust your shutter speed slower it's likely you'll need to increase your ISO.  Remember that ISO means more light entering meaning more noise.  Noise equals "grain" looking photos.   If that's the look your aiming for this is great news to you!  If you want more crisp, clean photos you'll want to adjust accordingly.  

Let's recap in Jillian's terms and just Define It. 

1.  Taking different styles of pictures is FUN!
2.  Learning how to actually use the digital camera can not be FUN! 
3.  Discovering you can actually take kick butt photos if you apply what you've learned....priceless. 

Check out some other cool photos here! 

Arizona Photographer

Finding a simple backdrop is key element when wanting to make a statement. 

People are often under the impression that things like, trees, water, or other natural objects are necessary for the background of their photo's to provide interest.

Let's all remember that it is WHAT is IN our photos that are speaking to our audience. 

While a beautiful stream in the background provides a calming memory, feeling, or emotion, it is the SUBJECT you're focused on.  If YOU are focused on the subject in your photo, what do you suppose your viewer is also looking at? 

Try taking a photo today and purposely providing a blank background.  (Easier said than done.)

Have fun with it and feel free to send me your images!

Send Jillian your images HERE.

My Pretty Sky....

This is my "Sky". 

My first born. 

What can I say...she's brilliant, creative, musically inclined, sweet, imaginative, witty, fun, social butterfly....

I just LOVE this kiddo!

She says she wants to be a doctor someday, perhaps a surgeon.

I tell her to do whatever makes her happiest.

But you HAVE to go to college! LOL

Define You Photography©

Photo Tip:

  When capturing children you really want to make them as comfortable as possible.

I never really involve the parent to much with my shoot.  Reason for this? 

 It's all about these babies!! :)

One of the best aspects of having a session with a child is the ability to produce a natural "REAL" smile.

The emotion a child/baby can produce can truly be captured the second your shutter button is pushed.

Really becoming engaged in a personality, earning the trust, and reassuring that photo shoots are fun is all why I love this line of work!

When shooting with a DSLR camera I usually have my settings on : 

"AI SERVO" 

This is handy when shooting a child in motion.  (Haven't met the other kind)

Hope this comes in handy!!