Just Photos to Art

I can remember the moment when photos went from being just photos to something REALLY special……..

I've always enjoyed pictures. Taking pictures always involved simple point and shoot cameras….nothing elaborate - fancy - or big. Just something to grab and shoot. I had a Canon film point and shoot (or whatever they were called back then…and I say that like it was THAT long ago and it really wasn't). It started out with my grandmother's camera. I took her camera over by taking pictures of Paige. This camera took wonderful outdoor pictures and I thought it was the best thing……..

And then my world changed……….

A co-worker stopped by our department to ask a question one day. We knew he was in the early stages of planning a wedding, so, of course, we started asking LOTS of questions and getting the scoop on how the planning was going. He mentioned they had found a photographer and was telling us how wonderful this photographer was. He then told us we should go on her website and check her out. To keep from working we decided to entertain ourselves by looking this person up as he instructed. This was the moment photography became an art form to me. I was STUNNED and AMAZED. I had never seen anything like it. Her work was breathtakingly beautiful. Bright colors - sharp - crisp. Her photos left my jaw touching the floor. This was -ART- not just photos.

Some time passed before I purchased my first DSLR. I purchased this camera to take pictures of Kent and Paige riding their dirtbikes at races. My digital point and shoot just wasn't cutting it with the action shots. We had recently hired a lady at work who was a photographer on the side, and she convinced me to invest in a nice camera. She knew I had a little girl and she explained to me that it would be an investment, but it would be well worth it. Once that purchase was made I wanted to make sure I made the most of it. I wanted to learn all I could about the camera. So it was time to read. and read. and read. and research and read some more. I had all of this information swimming in my head so I decided to take a class hoping to get some answers and answers I got! The first night light bulbs were lighting up left and right. I was beyond excited to finally understand all of the information I'd taken in. This was just the beginning. To this day, I take a moment every day to try and learn something. Anything about photography. I am in love and obsessed. I admit it.

As I learned, I continued to find myself mesmerized by wedding photography. Of course it all stemmed back to the day photography became art to me. It was wedding photos. I thought someday I would love to be able to do work just like that. Doing photography for others took quite some time to consider. The idea of trying to please people scared the heck out of me. I loved photography for myself and that was really all I needed. Getting the pictures of Paige that I loved was all I needed. It fulfilled me for quite a while.

It's obvious I have now migrated to doing work for other people. The fear is gone for the most part. I admit I do get nervous but yet I now have confidence. I've worked hard. And I'll stress hard - to learn how to take photos and I'm still learning everyday. I feel there is always room for improvement. I'm always pushing myself. I now LOVE helping others to create special pictures. I can't wait to see what 2009 holds. Very soon I will be taking pictures of 6 months old Ava Grace. I took Ava's pictures when she was 4 weeks old and then 3 months and now 6! WOW! I am beyond honored to have repeat clients.

I guess the ultimate to me would be for my work to someday change how a person feels about photos. That they would see photos as art rather than just photos.

"To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all things. Impression is not enough. Design, style, technique, - these, too, are not enough. Art must reach further than impression or self-revelation. Art, said Alfred Stieglitz, is the affirmation of life. And life, or its eternal evidence is everywhere. Some photographers take reality as the sculptors take wood and stone and upon it impose the dominations of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and elevation. A true photograph need not be explained, nor can be contained in words."

~Ansel Adams

Merry Christmas

i just wanted to take a moment to say i hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas!

The session is over......

and it's time to go through all of the images to pick the favorites. there's always that picture that really stands out to me. it's not always the most traditional straight forward shot....it's always different - unique. an example would be of the picture below. it's just something about it....something about this shot. to me, this is one of those very modelesque - ad straight out of vogue type shots. i love it.

from the rainville family session.....






from the towe family session, this image really struck me. i love details!





speaking of vogue......i have been taking time to really look through fashion magazines...taking the time to study images that really jump out at me and use them as inspiration. i've read where other photographers do this and thought "hmmm..that is a great idea"! i have some ideas running through my head.....ideas for the direction of my photography. i really want to try and someday do a couple of things 1) specialize my work and 2) use my photography to provide a service in some form or fashion. like i said, i have ideas running thru this little brain of mine and i think it's just a matter of time before things form and things fall into place.

i hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. i can't believe Christmas is this week!!! crazy!

Family Gathering

i received a request to get family portraits during the thanksgiving holiday from the goettsch family. i absolutely love how our session went and i'm tickled with the images we got. i love the winter feel of these shots but yet they still feel warm and cozy. a beautiful family helps with that aspect!

i used the 50mm f/1.2 lens for this session and i feel these pictures really show the awesome quality of this lens. WOW is all i can say about it. this lens will someday join my arsenal and i can't wait! i rented it from borrowlenses.com (which i highly recommend).



























and a few of the furry family members....

Terry and Casey

as a side note to a recent family session a maternity session was in order too! i didn't want to be stingy and not share more from this session.

babies have a way of making us slow down and take in the simple pleasures so i thought this quote was appropriate.

" Enjoy the day's simple pleasures and may those pleasures, simply make your day."

~ Joe M. Galante

Christmas Fun

just finished up the Christmas wreath. i made good use of our holly tree. (i LOVE our holly tree and how appropriate for Christmas!)








paige was having fun with the lights on our Christmas tree and using slow shutter speed. we have fun every year doing this and seeing what we come up with. :0)





happy saturday!!!

Towe Family

you might remember brad and julie's maternity session. i was beyond excited when julie contacted me to set up a session that now included CUTE little kieran!!! kieran is a DOLL!!

being in love with every picture made it hard to choose what to share, so if you would like to see more click HERE.

i was looking for a special quote since i haven't shared one in a while.....and while seeking the perfect one i came across one i thought would offer good advice.....

"If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings."

~Brian Tracy





































kieran decided it was nap time.

Toni East

when a fellow photographer comes to me wanting to schedule a session i'm sure you can imagine the pressure to be felt. not only was THAT intimidating......but also knowing toni was going to travel quite a bit to get to ME....little ol' ME put the pressure on too! i was extremely flattered to say the least.

toni has breathtaking beauty....she is beautiful inside and out. i have been itching to show off these pictures. so without further ado.....introducing toni......









WOW!




toni loves to read so we wanted to show that off a little bit.



























....an autum stroll. (toni's idea) knowing toni was a photographer i wanted to get her input too. i knew she could look around and "see" things as i could so i was open to anything. she had told me before our session that she was going to be "putty in my hands" and i love that!