Elmira Family Photographer. Fall!!!

Fall seems so long ago, but I'm still catching up on the blog from a very busy season.  So let's (just for a moment) think back to warmer days, leaves, going out with just a sweater and a scarf and the occasional warm breeze. 

Please enjoy a few images from some of my very favourite people!

Elmira Family Photographer. Family Wall Gallery 2014

I love photographing families and the special connections they have.  And one of my most favourite parts of my job is helping them design and build a family wall gallery so that they can enjoy these moments everyday.  I use a state of the art design software so we are using their walls and their images all sized to scale!  My clients walk away with a great plan and if they choose, beautiful products that arrive ready to hang.  Here are a few of my favourite wall groupings from 2014.

My clients send me a snapshot of their wall from their phones and then I can upload it into the software and together we create something amazing for their home. 

Elmira Family Photographer. Rain, Rain, Go Away

I didn't just get to photograph this family once but twice.  We can thank mother nature (and a tornado watch) for causing us to cut our first session short.  And we were working on a time frame because some of the family was visiting from beautiful British Columbia.  But rain it did, so we met a few evenings later to catch some sunshine and more great photographs. 

Humes, not only are you an awesome family, but an easy one to photograph.  Thank you so much for the fun evenings.  The kids were great - the big kids too.  Please enjoy a few of my favourites.

Elmira family photographer. In the home, and on the go, go, go

I'm pretty sure this family is excited about the photographs on their walls as I am.  I had the pleasure to photograph their two children during my Christmas card special and when #3 arrived in the new year, I headed to their place for his newborn session.  I chased the older kids around and photographed them in their element - their own home, their own rooms and playing with their toys.  Then they had some downtime with dad and mom and I focused on capturing some stunning shots of baby R.  It all boiled down to an amazing session and the result was beautiful pieces of art on their walls.

Renee and Jimmy,  Thank you for inviting me into your home to freeze those moments for you.  Your appreciation of my work and your relaxed nature truly made for some stunning family images.  I can't wait until next year to do it all over again!  Please enjoy a few of my favourites.

Elmira Family Photographer - Gibson Park

I met this family at Elmira's Gibson park to photograph them amongst the leaves and trees.  The kids ran, played and had fun, while mom and dad laughed and enjoyed this amazing time with their kids. 

Matt and Norma, your family is gorgeous, fun and pretty much amazing.  I had such a blast photographing them.  Their true personalities came through and I hope you can enjoy a few of my favourites.

Elmira Children's Photographer

Today is my birthday.  My 33rd birthday to be exact.  Do I feel older?  Sort of.  Do I look older? If you look closely (and please don't).  Does it matter?  Not really. You see, my life is full of wonderful people that make it amazing in a way I can't really describe.  I love my job/business/career/whatever you want to call it.  And life is actually pretty sweet.

In honour of my 33rd, I will be gifting my basic package ($395 value)  to 3 very worthy families  So who will these people be?  That's up to you.  Send me the story of a family that needs a little lift, can't afford professional photos or who would love a family photograph hung on the wall.

Stories must be submitted by email to info@greenapplephotography.ca by Friday January 24th.  The winners will be chosen by my team at Green Apple Photography and announced on or before February 1st, 2014.  Feel free to contact me about what is included in the package.

You must include the family's name, location, their story and why a portrait session would make a difference to them.

Please also include your name and contact information.

Stories will only be published with the winning family's permission.

I hope to give some wonderful photographs to some amazing people this year!

Karen


Here is my 4 year old playing with his 5 month old cousin - see life is pretty good!

Elmira Photographer. Cyber Monday

For all my clients who will be on their computer saving some money with cyber monday deals, You can also add some digital downloads of your images to that list.

All single image downloads (for personal use only) will be 66% off (only $10) on Monday December 2nd.

Just visit your gallery, click "Add to card".  From there you can click "change product" and then the "downloads" tab.  Click as many different images as you want and follow the check out process.
Easy Peasy!

Elmira Children's Photography - Why a pro is important

I've been in the business of photography a long time and love to learn about my clients and their plans for the images I create for them.  As I've mentioned I try to steer people away from "just the digital files" to doing more with the beautiful photographs of their family and children - in a stage of life that will never be again.  The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) posted a blog in 2010 about why investing in a professional photographer is so important and why it costs more.  You can check out more from that post here: http://www.napcp.com/blog.php/2010/05/18/what-type-of-investment-should-i-expect-in-my-session-and-portraits/

Elmira Teen Photographer. Sisters at sunset

These girls are stunning.  They were so wonderful to photograph and an absolute blast to hang out with.  We met for a sibling session in Elmira and the minute we met, I knew we would have fun.  There was lots of laughs, silliness and absolute beauty.  I know it can be hard to get photographed at ages 11 and 13. I remember what it was like to wonder if I would look the way I hoped, but honestly felt I wouldn't.  So I hoped these girls not only had fun with me during their session, but can see how absolutely beautiful they are everyday.

Stephanie, thank you for bringing your girls to me.  I feel so honoured to have photographed them. Please enjoy a few of my favourites.

Click here to see more from this Elmira Teen Photography session.

Elmira Children's Photographer. Siblings

I love this family.  These kids are fun and spunky and downright adorable.  But they did pose a bit of a challenge too.  I've known them all since they were born, I was in their parents' wedding and I see them a lot.  So this wasn't a typical children's session for me.  This was {almost} like photographing my own children.  They don't respond to me the same way a new client would.  When I get silly, they don't laugh - allowing me to capture their awesome, natural smiles - they copy me and get silly too.  When I stick my tongue out - they do it to.  So this presented a new challenge and I'm so happy with the results.  oh...did I mention they rarely stood still.  If one wasn't running away, someone else was.  But we did it and despite the full on craziness we got some amazing images.

Melissa and Brian, thank you for allowing me to capture your adorable children. They are wonderful and fun and they looked perfect.  Thanks for taking the time to sort through their clothes and come up with some great choices.  Brian- I can't promise the "turn the house upside down to find a coordinating shirt" won't happen again sometime, but I think you'll agree it was worth it ;)  Anyway, please enjoy a few of my faves from the session.

For more favourites from this Elmira family photography session, click here.

Elmira Children's Photographer. mom + camera: focus tips and tricks

Focusing can actually be quite difficult to master with little moving people.  For this reason, I recommend that anyone who really loves photography invest in an SLR (single lens reflex) camera.  There is no delay when trying to take an image of your children.  You know, when they finally sit still and you have the camera ready and the moment you push the shutter, they move!  You end up with a blurry mess or a very bizarre facial expression and you end up with something like this pic from my camera phone.

Back to my focusing tips and tricks.
1. Focus on the eye.  
When we look at people we look at their eyes.  If the image doesn't have sharp eyes (in focus), then it just doesn't look right.

2. Focus on the eye that is closest to you.
If your child is slighting turned, then you will want to focus on the eye that is closest to the camera.  Our cameras focus on the point that we tell them to, and then slightly behind.  If you focus on the farther eye, the front one won't be in focus.

3. Use a slightly smaller fstop (larger number).
The best lenses offer apertures of 1.8, 1.4 and even 1.2.  This means that only a small portion of our image is in focus and this is how we get that amazing blurred background.  But when you are first learning to focus, having a smaller aperture allows a greater plain of focus if you kids are moving.  I rarely shoot larger than f3.2 when I'm photographing little people.  If your kids are older and more likely to stay put for longer, then you can practice with a larger aperture.

4. Delete images that aren't in proper focus.
When you get the images onto your computer and the eyes aren't in focus - delete the image.  I know but it was the cutest, most adorable picture ever.  But honestly, you won't get better if you don't force yourself to nail that focus every time.   Ok - so keep it for a bit, but try again to get a similar shot the next day with your focus bang on - you won't regret it.

Here are some images of my 2 boys where their eyes are in sharp focus and it is glorious!

If you are new to your DSLR and don't know what I'm talking about in #3, I do offer limited 1-on-1 mentor sessions for moms who want to take better images.  I also have a group course that I will be offering in the new year (or sooner).  So get a group of your girlfriends together, a bottle of wine and I will come to your place and teach you how to take better images of your little people!

Also, check my facebook page for info on a mom + camera Thursday evening Q&A session.  I will help answer your questions!

Elmira Children's Photographer - Sunset on the Trail

This is the final installment of my Kissing bridge trail sunset series for girls.  M was perfect!  She was shy and coy and completely adorable.  And lucky for her she got to stay up past her bedtime for the session.  I photographed M once before when she was about 3 years old and it was lovely to see her and her mom again.

Michele, thank you for taking the time to bring M.  She was fantastic and her images turned out amazing. 

Click here to see more from this Elmira Children's Sunset Photography.