Posts Tagged ‘texas’

Tuesday: Entwine: Minimalist

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

New four-week set: Entwine.

Inspired by this image & influenced by the flickr group: inter}{twine.

For the next four weeks, I’d better go hunting. ; ) I’ve had this picture for a little while now & I decided this morning that I would base my next set of Tuesday posts on this idea.  I hope everyone enjoys (and that I don’t run out of creativity!  lol).

Happy Tuesday!

Props & Portrait Sessions

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

So, I thought I’d do something a little different today.  It’s a combination of an “inspiring post” as well as “suggestions.”  If you’ve never seen my What to Wear post, & are looking at booking a session, then please go check it out.  It’s a simple guide on ideas of how to dress for your portrait session, assuming you want to take it a step beyond t-shirt and jeans. : )

This is something of an addition to that.  It’s a list of props (and accessories) that can add that bit of personalization and pop to your portrait session.  I’m presenting images from other photographers to give you a boost of inspiration (and me too).  : )  They’re all from Senior Sessions, since we’re in that time of year.*  And, as always, if you click on the link, you’ll be sent to the web page/flickr account of the awesome photographer.

One final note before the photo goodness: if you do plan to bring a prop, which I would love, do let me know.  That way I can think about what fabulous images to take before we get there. : )

Emma from aephotographyblog.

Playful, imaginative & just a touch whimsical? Balloons. Whether a whole handful or just one lone balloon. They’ll add a bright pop of color to your photo (and we’ll do our very best not to loose them). : )

shinnphoto on flickr.

Personal & Memorable. Your instrument.  Tuba, Sax, Drums, Guitar, Flute, it doesn’t matter to me as long as you bring it.  Even if it’s large & hard to move – like a piano – we’ll work out whatever we can.  You’ve spent hours learning how to play it so there’s no reason to not include some shots of your talent.

Nasai from Gunnar Cook on flickr.

Great Accessory? Hats.  They can add a vintage touch, tell your favorite sports team, or be immeasurably fun.  (And if anyone wants to take off their high heels/converse & get into some water, definitely don’t be afraid to let me know).

Zach by Jharp242 on flickr.

Hobby or Sport.  Skateboard, baseball bat / glove,  basketball, photography.  It is undoubtedly important to you – you’ve spent all that time learning it, after all – so include it in your photo shoot.

Kristie from Sarah Lane Studio’s Blog.

Unique & just a little out of place? A chair (or other piece of furniture).  I love the bright color that the chair adds to this image (and her skirt, but that’s not the topic).  If you have a prop that’s bigger, let me know.

Likewise, if you have a chair that’s brightly colored and can be moved by a single person (me) but that you don’t want anymore, do let me know.  I’d be happy to get a chair specifically for portrait sessions, and while I have my eyes peeled, I’m looking for unique furniture & so instead of tripping over it in the garage, I’ll take it off your hands. : )  Or if you just know where to get one because you saw an awesome chair, but knew it wouldn’t quite fit with your current decor, shoot me an email!

Tracy by LaurieNowling on Flickr.

Vintagey & Modern? A bright flower headpiece, a headband made of pearls, a peacock feather clipped into your hair.  Perfect.  (And don’t forget the nice conglomeration of necklaces she’s put together).

*Although, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t add that doing your Senior Portrait session in the Fall is actually a better idea since you have more time to get ordering done, announcements made & printed, etc.  But I know that the spring semester is when the end of your senior year is in sight & you remember those little things you needed to get done. : )

Tuesday: Black & White IV: Missing Spring

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Don’t get me wrong.  I love the rain & cold weather is nice… for a while.  It’s been cold a little long this winter and we’re only in January.  Of course, since we’re in Texas, it should clear up in a few weeks (haha), but I am looking forward to not having to dig a jacket out of my closet to do something as simple as run to the store.

As you can imagine, this image is a few months old.  I was digging through my archives, to delete some images that I never sorted through a while pack and stumbled upon this lovely.  In color, it’s not so fantastic, but after I switched it to black & white, I just love it!

In other news, I got my new camera yesterday.  It’s a Canon 7D.  I’ve been looking forward to upgrading for several reasons, but after taking some experiment/play shots last night, I plugged my new “toy” into my computer today & my image program couldn’t read the files.  After a moment of “oh-my-gosh-what’s-wrong”, I googled the problem & found the fix.  Thank goodness I waited a few months to get my camera (or else the update wouldn’t have been ready).  Everything is much better now, running just like it should.  Hurrah for my new camera!

Senior 2010: Ryan

Friday, January 15th, 2010

My first session in 2010 and I absolutely adore the results.  (Of course, I like the subject, too, I’ve known him just about forever). ; )

Ryan is a senior in Lubbock & is planning to study music in college next year. And with good reason: he got second chair in all state choir this year.  Amazing, yeah? (Especially to me – I’d like to have musical talent, but, well…)  On to the fabulous visuals.

senior in lubbock texas by window downtown

senior in lubbock texas headshot portrait

How photogenic is he? And if I wore glasses, I’d try on ones like that first!

senior in lubbock texas train

There are these neat old train cars outside of Lubbock that are set up on the side of the highway & if I understand correctly some type of Christmas celebration/decoration happens there every year… but when that stuff isn’t up it’s the perfect place for some photography.

senior in lubbock texas downtown at chairs and table with window

senior in lubbock texas in a cotton field with blue sky

Cotton!  And look at that sky!  So blue!

senior in lubbock texas by first methodist door

black and white of senior in lubbock texas grate

Can black & white get any better? His expression, pose, & the textures – I just love it!

senior in lubbock texas tires and brick wall downtown

portrait of senior in lubbock texas tires downtown

His expression here makes me smile every time. Just a little bit of mischief, I think. ; )

Ryan: Preview

Friday, January 8th, 2010

I love the sky in this image – it was seriously so perfect for this shot (and others… you just wait!)

Wouldn’t this shot make a gorgeous canvas? (Check these examples!)  Seriously!

More on Ryan later, when he gets a full post…

Now, I have another question for you, my blog-readers.  I’m thinking of changing my official watermark. If you’ve never noticed it, check out any posts that aren’t Tuesday Posts, like this one or this one.  I want the watermark to be subtle but readable, and I’ve begun to decide that my old watermark had trouble achieving that (plus, it works much better on the bottom corners than the top corners but if the image has grass or pebbles or any texture in the bottom, then it has to move to the top).  So, I was thinking I might simplify to something more like the watermark in the image above.  After all, it’s the New Year, right?  And a whole new decade.  Changing at least a little something seems logical. ; )

Anyway, if you have any opinions, give me a comment.  : )

That’s all for this Friday.  I have some processing to do and some fun to have with my husband (his school starts back up  next week).

Tuesday: Black & White II: Library

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Starting a New Year always makes me want to be fresh & organized… but that rarely happens what with the busyness of the holidays.  So, this year I wanted to show off my husband’s project. : )  He’s been cataloging our books (all the non-fiction, I can’t decide if I want my fiction categorized since I don’t know if it will split up my favorite books & authors, but eventually I’m quite sure I’ll give in)… Although it seems a little OCD since at the moment we’ve only *officially* got 2 bookshelves, I know that it’s a good idea for the future.  He’s going to be a professor (talk about someone who collects books!) and I absolutely adore the written word (evidenced by my majoring in English)… so knowing how to find books when we have more than 2 bookshelves is a good idea.  I’m just very glad that he’s the one putting in all the effort & not me!  : )

His bookshelf looks like a little library shelf… Ever since he started, I’ve been joking about how wonderful it would be if my office (when we actually get our own place) were like a library, with rows of books and then my desk in a corner…  only I’m half-serious with my joke.  I would love to work in that environment all the time… I just love books & having them all organized on book cases would make the room look clean even if my desk were a heaping mess, and it usually is!  : )

Happy Tuesday!  I hope there’s something that seems neat & organized & fresh for your New Year (even if it’s just that you cleaned the trash out of your car – which is also something I did… more or less!)

Oh My! It Snowed!

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Okay, so remember this post where I said we almost never get snow?  Well, we got some!  On Christmas Eve (after it fell, my family drove to the desert for Christmas… I was sad to see the snow vanish), but a few days later we got a sprinkling of flakes again.  We got more snow on Christmas Eve when I had to drive away, but twice in 2 weeks is pretty good!  : )  Anyway, here’s my documentation of some snow… here, in Abilene… who would have guessed?

Look, you can totally see a snowflake falling!  : )

Footprints in the Snow.

I’m super happy with the water droplets.  Pretty, yeah?

The only downside to the entire experience was the realization that I have NO snow-proof shoes… so now I’m on the search for cute galoshes that also fit me… because I can wear them when it rains, too, instead of only twice every few years, lol.  If you know where to get some, let me know!

Oh, and by the way, Happy New Year!  Hope you have a fun celebration planned.

Tuesday: Black & White I

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

The weather outside is almost snowy (it turned more sleety this afternoon), but its still very pretty.  I’ll have some shots for you of the loveliness on Friday. : )

But for today, I hit the archives to find an image that I could convert to black & white (which my brother requested for Tuesdays a while back).  I think the texture here is just… fun!  (And for once I mean the texture of all of the elements in the image instead of the type of texture I add in post-processing).

The image is taken with some dried flowers from the bouquet that my sweet mother-in-law sent Chris & me as a house warming present.  The vase is a present (it came with other matching vases) from my aunt years ago that I finally got to put up in my house. And the ring is mine. : )

Happy Tuesday.  2010 is coming quickly!  : )

Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 25th, 2009

Merry Christmas to All!

Yes, that’s right, it’s his horse (the blue one) and my horse (the purple one)… or at least the horses from the correct years. : )  And they go beside each other on the Christmas tree every year. And then they go back into the box beside each other, too.  : ) I don’t want them to get lonely.

Aren’t they adorable?  We have at least a dozen and they’re all wonderful.

Now, it’s Christmas Day so go enjoy it!  : )

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday: Vanity

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

So, this image makes me think of the quote from Ecclesiastes 1: Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Of course, that’s mostly because of the brand name (which is fabulous brand, so don’t get me wrong).  : )  Anyway, I was loving the shadows on this image.. and then, of course, as always, the nice little bits of texture. : )

It’s getting closer & closer to Christmas.  Chris and I set up the Christmas tree yesterday & wrapped presents. We went shopping together for each other’s presents this year, which we haven’t done before.  It felt a little like cheating, but it was fun because I actually managed to drag him to a store with me. : )

Well, more Christmas shopping to do today. I hope everyone’s a little further in their Christmas planning than me, haha.

Happy Tuesday!

Christa M. Holland
Abilene, Texas
& Surrounding Area


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