I'm a horrible blogger

So I have been avoiding this blog for a while. I do keep up with my facebook fan page but I am just very uninspired by this blog. I love posting my recent work and sharing news, ideas, and specials. So this goes out to all of my readers (all 3 of you) I am getting a new blog to rejuvenate my interest in blogging. Something that will display my photos in a more elegant manner, handle full slideshows and video, and make me smile when I post to it:-)

I have several new years resolutions that I believe, if I say it, it will be done.

ONE: Dedicate more time to personal projects.
I love photography (duh, I know) but most of all, I love ART. My job is to take photos that make other people look good. I have worked hard this year trying to market and create my business that I have had no time to do what really makes me happy. So resolution numero uno is to start and most important finish my art project.

TWO: Get a new BLOG!!

THREE: Get more family photos of MY family. I have lots of photos of Rosalie, lots of photos of Jason and Rosalie. I have maybe 5 photos of me and Rosalie and maybe 2 of all three of us. So sad.....

FOUR: Attend workshops and find a mentor. I have a degree in Music Education, no where in the curriculum did we study creative lighting or marketing techniques. I have learned alot on my own and am a firm believer of good ole trial and error, But I sure wish someone would be willing to work with me (not against me, there are too many of those out there too) Here's a great opportunity to give a shout out (whoa, do people still say that?) to my friends Becky and Bonnie for all of their creative support, Love yall!!


Ok....I think that's it. Oh wait, I also have to potty train Rosalie and lose 5 pounds. Whew, ok I'm good now. It'll be a busy year but I'm ready. And because I hate posting without a photo, here is a sneak peek at our family New Years card. To be mailed out tomorrow, maybe.

Traditional

Traditional: Definition - a specific practice of long standing
Misconception: Traditional = old = bad!

Some photographers might want to argue with me or think that I'm speaking gibberish but know this, I don't hate traditional photography. Yes I do hate lame backdrops and that old school white vignette but I do not hate traditional posed photos. I know alot of photographers put on their website that they do not offer traditional style and if that's what you want basically you are on the wrong website. I don't feel the same way.

The photojournalistic style is what is popular right now. I LOVE photojournalism and proudly offer it to clients. There are lots of great photogs out there that do great work, but I also see some that look too much like random snapshots. There is no composition, no focus and look like just anyone with a camera can take them. There has to be a fine line and a blending of styles sometimes. A photographer can brand their creative style without dogging what others have done for years. A good way to combine the styles is to create your journalistic opportunity by posing and giving subjects flexibility. This creates natural emotions, natural body movement and an overall candid feel to the posed photo.

Even though I use the word "modern" to describe my own artistic style, modern will only last so long. Soon there will be something new and the modern now will be considered old and overdone, just like the traditional style.

Let me know how you feel about this subject......

Traveling........

I want so so badly to travel. I love to look at other peoples photography of their fascinating trips and interesting locations. I unfortunately don't get that opportunity and the farthest I get is my front yard, and every now and then.... Edna! However, Rosalie is perfectly content in the front yard pretending she is on the planet Pandora in her new Avatar body. Here are photos of my interesting and fascinating front yard, also known as Pandora.

A true Photographers kid! Always hamming it up for the camera and saying "cheeeeeese" and she LOVES to look at her self on the screen :-)

music and photography

I love to read the Strobist blog. It is just a plethora of information on creative lighting using simple set ups (simple as in not much equipment, there's nothing easy about it!), something every photog should strive to perfect. This particular article is very personal for me. I have been a musician my whole life and everything I do I compare to the discipline of music. This article from Strobist puts into words what has always been in the back of my mind.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2010/03/five-things-music-can-teach-us-about.html

What are lifestyle portraits and what makes me different from other photographers?

I love art and I feel that the majority of people share this passion but often do not know how to create it for themselves, and that's where I come in. Lifestyle portraits are my attempt to capture the art and beauty in your everyday life. I love natural backgrounds and natural settings for pictures and I love to capture those fabulous moments that are not forced or fake. Everyone has that old picture of themselves with the autumn leaves background or more currently the unnatural digital background with lightning bolts around your head. I'm not really into all that:-) However, If you want that unique energy that defines your lifestyle translated into an artistic image, give me a call.

Leigh Ann

Here's an example of waiting for that natural moment. We ran around the yard for a while before he finally turned to look at his dad and the light of the sun caught his face perfectly.

Perception of Beauty

Got this in an email today and it really amazed me. Just remember to acknowledge the rare gems in the world and take time to see true beauty in your everyday hectic schedule. You'll be happier.

Here's the article:


Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made ... . How many other things are we missing

Thank you

Now that I have a website I want to thank everyone who let me use their pictures to display my work. I'm very nervous now that my pics are out there, I am so critical of myself and this field is very competitive. I'm proud that I have my people who support me and encouraged me to pursue this wonderful passion of mine.

Many many many thanks to my awesome friend Becky Root of RJ-Designs Photography who is the one responsible for this madness!! I have worked with Becky since 2006 as her assistant photographer and have learned and still learn so much from her. I will hopefully have a wedding gallery up soon. I will be pairing up with another good friend of mine, Anita Wingate, and start taking on more weddings, hopefully :-)

And those of you who know me, yes I still teach music but I am currently band-less :-( I have been playing the flute more than my french horn lately and it's kinda freaking me out!! ha and if you want a good work out come to my cardio kickboxing class Monday nights at 6:15!!!

Love Leigh Ann,
Enjoy this random picture :-)

Finally!!!

I'm FINALLY doing something with myself!!
I have been taking pictures for a while now and am trying to branch out. Will add pics and stuff very soon but it's 1 a.m and Rosalie is still awake so..............yeah :-)