This is one of my favorite families at one of my favorite new locations in Boise. The leaves are changing and we still have just a few days left to be able to shoot these pics outside. Love this time of year!
Underhill Garden is a very special place where you can have weddings, parties, or any sort of event. It's the perfect distance from downtown just sitting right on 55 in Eagle.
I can't wait to shoot more events there.
Stella came to the studio and did nothing but WOW me.
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1. Remove all staging, textures, and crazy backdrops.
2. Place your jewelry on white.
3. Use white paper, boards, etc to reflect light from a window.
4. Use a sheet or paper to diffuse window light.
5. Take lots of photos.
6. Make sure your photos are in focus.
7. Light light light!!! Lots of light on your jewelry to show details and color.
Helpful product links:
Acrylic Boards HERE.
Foam Core HERE.
Photos all shot on iPhone 7 without editing
Jewelry in this video was designed by Lisa Jordan (me)
Dog walking around is Butch (Pug/Chihuahua mix)
Let me know if you have any questions or would like more tips.
Happy Designing!
-Lisa
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Night time shoot in downtown Boise.
Also, the Boise River is spectacular in the fall.
What an amazing night.
Makeup by Shelby Brown. Clothes by Swank Boutique in Boise.
Check out Miss Veta on her Facebook page HERE.
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Here are just a few from their day.
This is Dylan. He skateboards and he also loves the outdoors so we went to the skate park and then continued on to the foothills for some nature looks. Here's a few of our shots.
Enjoy!
Hope you enjoy this family as much as I did.
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I was testing out some video functionality on the new iPhone7 so I threw together this little video about being an event photographer. Don't take the content seriously. :) This was done in one take and I edited out the parts where I was yelling at my dogs to be quiet. Ha!
Video Shot on iPhone7, Audio on iPhone7 (no added mics), editing in iMovie, Pictures are by me or of me, cartoons were found online.
Enjoy.
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Next time you want to add to your texture collection, I recommend taking your camera with you to the carwash!
Here's some I took today.
A quick best friend photo shoot on a cloudy day gives them memories to last a lifetime.
EDITING:
I work hard to get nice, clean, crisp, timeless photos directly in camera, but sometimes the situation needs a bit of tweaking. Some small edits may be needed. I prefer my photoshop like I wear my makeup, enhance what you have but make it look like you're not using it. #housebegone :)
Turns out, I've reffed Alyssa when she played volleyball at Boise State. They were ultimately happy I was there to get photos for them. I didn't charge them for this... just a gift from me for making my day. :)
Who doesn't love LOVE?
Which one is your favorite?
Well, here you go... the first few shots from my new Nikkor 70-200. Enjoy some signs of spring.
Here are a few samples of how much editing I typically do in Photoshop or lightroom. On the left is the original (SOOC), and the right is the edited version. Some have a few more edits than others, but the point is to get a good, well-lit shot initially. Photoshop and Lightroom are served best as tools to enhance great photos, not to try and fix major mistakes that could have been avoided before the shot was taken. However, these tools can also help with major fixes if you had no choice in the matter. I just know how much easier and more enjoyable it is if you put the work in on the FRONT end rather than the back.
(I always use Photoshop and Lightroom together. I also make my own personal/hand edits that make me get the feeling I want from the photo, rather than using someone else's boxed presets. You should too, it's worth the time to learn!!)
IMAGE 1: In this photo I added a texture to the image to give it some interest (the texture is a blanket I have in my house), changed the color toning a bit, and did some skin retouching. You'll see there are no major lighting changes or crop differences.
IMAGE 2: I absolutely adore this child and she has the greatest big blue eyes that I wanted to really highlight. I decided to crop square, and add some color interest on the bottom (two color circles blurred to perfection) just do draw even more attention to her eyes. You'll notice that her eyes are in the very center of the photo. I warmed up the photo so her hair would be the bright blonde it should be and her skin tones were warm. I brightened up the whites of her eyes just a tad and that was it.
IMAGE 3: This is a similar technique that I used in the photo above. I really just wanted to highlight her face and eyes. I liked the grass and ridge behind her, but wasn't feeling the stool in this one so I cropped it out and added a blurred box at the bottom to draw your eyes to her eyes. This gives the look that I was shooting through an object at her (you can achieve the same effect by doing it that way).
IMAGE 4: This is a very simple edit with minimal crop. The lighting on the SOOC image is almost spot on. There are no super dark or light spots. It is very evenly exposed. For the edit I decided to go B/W with this one, crop a little tighter to bring the focal point to her face, and I made a couple of simple curve adjustments to give a film look.
IMAGE 5: I loved pretty much everything about this photo. I over exposed the background intentionally when I shot it (that is the look I was going for) I could have left this photo alone in post, but I decided to just give it a warmer (older) feel. This would also be good with a gritty texture on it.
IMAGE 6: The exposure on this image was just right SOOC. I decided to cool it down quite a bit and crop in to focus on her eyes. (Have you noticed a theme here??) When I cropped, I tilted her just slightly to the right. This angle feels more comfortable to me. I also did some cleaning of the skin, and that was about it.
IMAGE 7: I loved this image SOOC but I wanted to warm it up a bit, soften it, and take out the barn on the right that was a bit distracting to me.
IMAGE 8: Once again, nice even lighting on the SOOC shot, but I gave it an old film look and then added a texture (denim jeans). I also cropped a bit tighter to make sure her face was the focal point and eliminated the armpit lines. Simple. Took about 5 minutes max.
I am happy to answer any questions about retouching, but even more happy to answer questions about cameras and how to get your camera to work for you. Use Manual, move around, see the "big picture" in order to get that great shot SOOC. :)
Thanks for stopping by.
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Shot with Nikon D7000 + Sigma. All frames 30 second shutter.
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In years past, I have found myself in a struggle with trends in photography. I have seen trends come and go over time. Some I have worked with, and some I took a pass on. Some I didn't really want to try, but had a client insist. Example Here of spot coloring (not my photo) I don't personally like this technique, but at one time it was all the rage and everyone wanted it done on at least some of their photos.
Another trend example: Filters!
I have seen fellow photographers get caught up in a trend or style and let it consume them. Personally, I like to learn as much as I can and try new things, but I always fall back on the CLASSIC and TIMELESS. That being a well focussed photo that has personality and very little clutter or editing. Here are some simple and timeless examples.
This is Reagan with her favorite toy "Owl Pillow." She was sitting on the tracks, but I made sure to blur out the background so she is the central focus. There is very minimal posing, and other than a slight pop in her eyes, it's basically straight from the camera. It's extremely simple, conveys emotion, and shows her personality. It's not cluttered up with props. It's not a fancy location or lighting (all natural light). Other than Reagan's clothes, I feel like this photo is timeless and could last on the wall for a very long time.
Another example is this one of Kiet. We were in a open field (basically a vacant lot) near a shopping center. I saw some daisy weeds popping up so I told her to pick one and hold it. I just basically sat and watched her as she played with the flower in her hands and waited until the scene looked right in the lens. The setting sun worked perfectly for a hair light. I even enjoy the fly away hairs. She was gazing to the left so I left "dead space" there for her eyes to wander. This was not a "special" location, there were no props, there were actually no edits on this photo either. I believe this photo is timeless and could hang on the wall for years to come.
Knowing what I know (from many years of learning) about the benefits of classic/timeless portraiture, I will continue to strive for that beautiful photo that looks great straight from the camera with very little "help". That photo that can be blown up onto a canvas and left on the wall for years and not get old. I will try to encourage (or convince) my clients that great photos are possible without going to an exotic location with a scad of elaborate props.
When people ask me what kind of photographer I am, it's just that. Classic and timeless. The trends will die. The filters will get old. I'm all about letting my subject make the photo beautiful. I want to highlight my subject. That is my ultimate goal.
Below are a few more examples of simple and classic.
No background (blurred in camera), zero props, plain white T's. Just smiling faces, oozing with personality from the eyes. Love this.
This was taken in the back yard of the client. No special location. There are no props in this photo. There are some small edits with the goal of highlighting the subject and her beautiful blue eyes. The expression on her face is priceless. I love that you can look at it multiple times and see a different type of expression each time. That's what it's all about. SIMPLY beautiful.
I would like to know your thoughts on this. Please feel free to leave comments. What are some trends that you have seen in photography, good or bad?
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I wanted to take a photo of my son in a particular hat. I brought him outside our house and took a couple of shots. I also happened to notice this wood pallet laying next to our trash can...
Wood always makes for good textures so I took a bunch of close up photos of each of the pieces and was able to get at least six totally different textures from the pallet.
... And here is how I used that texture with the photo of my son in his hat. (original photo, after using texture, original texture photo) It gives a little bit of extra interest to the photo. In a way, it mirrors the texturing in his hat. I might scale the opacity back just a bit since he also has a lot of texture in his jacket. I haven't completed this project yet, but for now this works for me. And, of course, that is the most important thing. Does it work for you? Photography is so subjective. We all see things so differently.
If you learn to see the textures around you and photograph them you can eventually have a large collection of them. There are people who spend a lot of money buying texture packs from other photographers online. There is no need for this if you just use your imagination and learn to see them on your own! Good luck!
]]>As I was shooting the Harlem Globe Trotters the other night I had one of those "eye contact" moments. It got me thinking about how often that happens at events (not too often), and the feeling you get when it happens.
Walking around with a camera in your face makes it difficult to have "eye contact" because that usually requires two sets of eyes. The eye contact moment I'm referring to is when you're walking around or stationed somewhere taking photos and then suddenly the singer, actor, or athlete sees you with your giant lens and decides to look directly into it. That person doesn't necessarily see ME, but they just decide to "ham" it up for the camera or whatever the case may be. They lock eyes with the lens and it feels as though we are having an eye contact moment, even though they don't even see my face. At concerts this can make it feel as though it's my own private showing. Like they are singing directly to me. Half of my brain is saying "Focus Lisa. Move closer. Get this shot. Get that shot." and the other half is saying "OMG! Hilarious! Awesome! Don't leave me! Stay right there!" It's SO easy to screw up these shots because most of the time I'm not prepared for them to get right up in my face, or I'm using a long lens and they have no idea that I can't focus that close. Regardless, these are the types of shots that I love to look back on because, at the time, it gave me some sort of an emotion that will now be attached to that image forever. So what's my advice in these situations? I would say always be prepared for anything, have multiple cameras/lens lengths within arms reach at all times, and always have a good time!!
Here are a few examples of "eye contact." (These examples are not necessarily the best photos, but they bring back some fun memories for me) :)
Here are some of my favorite shots (so far) of Miss Reagan...
**Reagan's photos were all shot on a Nikon D7000 with either a Lensbaby Muse or a Tamron 70-300 2.8, and processed in Lightroom and Photoshop.**
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Check it out and let me know what you think. This is one of the sweetest little boys.
I love the setting sun and the different effects that are possible in the summer evenings. All of the "light leaks" or sun spots you see in these photos is real. It comes from the sun hitting the lens... not from Photoshop. :)
Micah got fresh, hot donuts. Micah: "They were very healthy in my book!"
Micah got a balloon animal made for him by the young lady outside of Jamba Juice. He asked for a Chihuahua Micah: "It was a cute puppy... but I would have liked some Jamba Juice."
Micah liked the kid playing the guitar. He decided to give him some money. Micah: "He was really good at the guitar... and he looked like he was seven!"
Micah tried some of the free berry samples. Yum!!
Me: "Oh, that smells good!" Micah: "EEEwwwww..."
(there were many lavender products available at the market)
Micah likes giving my money to vendors! $$
Micah: "Okay, I need a break to take a drink."
Micah visited the fountain in the Grove. (there's some good people watching down there)
Micah: "I'm just going to sit here for a second."
Micah: "..... and here."
".... and here."
"BOISE!!"
Micah: "Whew... .it's warm out here."
"I think I'm ready to go home now... "
"Later Boise! It's been real!"
