Keeping Family Close

I was standing next to a Dad I know at one of the basketball games last week. I was photographing the game and he was making a video with one of those new cameras that looks like a SLR but it actually does both still and video. He made a joke saying that he was making some video clips to send to relatives so they wouldn't come to visit. Of course he was only kidding but it made me start to think about how we keep in contact with our families and how things have changed dramatically since my mother's time.

Every single Sunday was spent with the family when Mom was growing up. The entire family met at her grandparent's house and there was a large meal prepared while all the kids played. It was that way when I was growing up as well. It was a routine and a ritual that made us all feel like we were a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Skip ahead and our families can be all spread out. Mine are all in Texas but they are in Houston, Pflugerville, Gunter and Van Alstyne. When my children were little I faithfully mailed envelopes of photographs to show my relatives how much the children were growing. Now I text, email, blog, send video clips, links and Facebook posts. But we're really trying to do the same thing they did when my mother was little, and that is to keep the family close.

If you haven't shared my website or my Facebook page with your out of town relatives, please do. It's a way your family can keep close and enjoy looking at the latest games or portraits. As far as whether they will still visit or not...that's up to you.

Lubbock Weekend

I just returned from a short but wonderful weekend in Lubbock (wait, there's more) with my son Clay. See - you knew it couldn't just be about Lubbock. Clay throws for the Texas Tech Track team. He throws weight this time of year at their Indoor Meets and discus, hammer and maybe javelin in the springtime at their Outdoor Meets. It was cold, windy and dusty in Lubbock but gratefully this was the Indoor Meet.

I always try very hard to be in the perfect spot to take the perfect photograph. The bubble at Tech gives you no such 'perfect' vantage-point. The weight ring has net all around it and there's no good shot. The stands are above looking down. And it's not close at all. It's frustrating but it's Clay so I do my best.

As I started my editing this morning of the several hundred photos I took of Clay I began my usual "out of focus"... "not interesting" deleting but then I started thinking. These are my son's memories. Is it more important that every single one is perfect or that we have the memories? The answer was obvious.

I can't tell you the number of people who come up to me apologizing about the Christmas card they sent to me because the photo isn't as good (in their opinion) as I would have taken. Or complaining that they can't take photographs at all so they don't even try. I absolutely love that you love my work (I really do) and I wouldn't have my job if you didn't. But I want you to try to enjoy your own photographs more. Ask me questions about what you did wrong (and right). I'm always happy to help. Relax...take more photographs and enjoy what you get. When you do, you'll take better photographs without even trying.

I enjoyed every minute of my time in Lubbock (how often do you hear that?) and I especially loved spending time with Clay and capturing this wonderful time in his life. He's going to have some wonderful memories.

Denver January 2011

I love to travel! I wish I could go more often but I enjoy each and every trip (big or small) that I take. This past weekend I had an opportunity to go to Denver for a few days visiting friends. Daughter Ashley used to live there so I have traveled there often. Usually I don't work while I'm away but this time I had so much to catch up on I actually took my laptop and put three events online (while on vacation). Is that dedication or what?

When I travel on short trips I usually only take my little point and shoot. I shoot with a Lumix DMC-ZS3. I'm a huge fan of that little camera and it takes high-def movies as well. One evening we were all having dinner in a quirky part of downtown. If you're ever in Denver you have to eat at Rioja. Absolutely the most amazing pan roasted chicken ever! There were lights strung through the trees and across the street and it was really pretty. I've never played with all the little settings on my camera (thinking, of course, that I'm way too cool for them) but I remembered a setting on the camera called "Night Scenery" so I thought I would give it a try. The end result was great! I love the photos taken that night.

So....take a few minutes from time to time and play with the settings on your camera. Use them all, just to see what they will do. It could turn out to be great fun and you will probably get some images you didn't expect to get. And as far as the ones that don't turn out, there is another great setting that I use all the time....it's called "Trash".

Happy New Year!

Is it just me or is anyone else having a hard time believing it's 2011. 2011? As a child the new year only meant I was a year older (a good thing back then). And it meant I got to move into the next grade in school - another good thing. It also meant that my pants would be too short yet again, which was a problem I had until the age of 17.

But now that I'm 37 years old (I've been 37 for many years and plan to stay there many more) the new year means something different. It gives me the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start another year. A new year to become more organized, more thoughtful, more patient. A new year to be grateful for family and friends and grateful for my life in Fredericksburg. And another year to learn as much as I can about photography which teaches me about myself as well.

Have you heard about the 365 project? I just read about it the other day. The challenge is to take one photograph every day. It can be family, a self-portrait or even the family pet. It can be your breakfast, your car or the clothes you plan to wear that day. It can be anything. You label each of these photos with the date taken and at the end of 2011 you will have 365 photographs of your life that year. We photograph the important things in life but not so much our everyday life. And isn't the everyday what is really important? The purpose of this 'study' is not only documenting your life but also improving your photography. The more photographs you take the better you will be. Your compositions will be better as you see what works for you and what doesn't. If you are interested you can read about it at (sorry, it's not a link, you will have to copy and paste):

http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

I started it January 1st 2011. I have to admit the photographs aren't very exciting yet but I can't wait to see what the end of Rhonda's 2011 Project looks like. I may even post these on the website.

If any of you are dedicated and plan to do the same thing, let me know. I'll be happy to post your year in pictures on my website as well.

As always if you have any questions I'm happy to help! Happy New Year!

Christmas 2010

It's so hard to believe we are only a few days from Christmas. I have spent the past 6 weeks with a hectic schedule trying to make sure everyone received their Christmas orders on time. I did it! The last orders were picked up today. It's the closest I will ever be to feeling like one of Santa's elves (making the gifts and then making sure they are delivered on time).

As I type, daughter Ashley has finished an amazing batch of Snickerdoodles with threats (I hope) of making more tomorrow and son Clay is home from Texas Tech for the holidays. That alone is enough to make my Christmas perfect. Mom and my sister will arrive Christmas eve. Christmas eve Mom always makes her German Baked Brisket and Doreen always brings tamales for Christmas day. I love our little traditions. When I was growing up we always got one of those Livesaver Storybooks in our stockings. I continued that with my kids and now we all give them to each other. Mom always gives Doreen socks. Doreen always gives my kids their gifts wrapped in other gifts. And every single year I promise I will be more organized and more prepared than the year before.....and someday I will.

One of my favorite things I do each year is to find a really cute or funny photo of each family member and frame it in a small silver frame. I use them as place cards at our Christmas eve table and everyone gets to keep them as their Christmas eve gift. I've been doing this for years and I have so much fun searching through old photos for just the right one.

I've been trying to think of some photographic advice I can give you for making your Christmas photos even more special this year. Take as many photos as you possibly can because no matter how many you take you will look back someday and wish you had more. Don't forget the details! Take an overview of the living room, the tree and the presents, but then get in close and take detail shots of a beautiful ornament hanging on the tree or a beautifully wrapped present. Line everyone up, set your timer and get a group shot. Posed shots are great and I think they're important, but my favorite shots are the candid shots like someone opening a special gift, cooking or everyone laughing at an old family story.

So my advice is this...keep your camera with you and always be prepared for that special moment. They are unexpected, unplanned, perfect little gifts!

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas!

Summer Weddings

Photographing weddings used to make me so nervous. But over the years I have come to enjoy the anticipation of the event and delight in the wedding itself. They are each so different and can be full of family tradition or be creating new traditions. Sometimes they are starting new ready-made families and when the children participate it can be so special and touching. I always love spending that one special day with each family and in some small way I'm a part of that family (for the day). And I always leave feeling like I've made new friends.

Even more wonderful for me lately is the addition of my daughter Ashley to my shooting staff. Ashley brings her artistic sense (and her BA in Animation and Media Arts) and always surprises and delights me with her finished product. So you see it's a family affair for me as well.

On Saturday, as you sleep in or mow the lawn or catch up on your shopping, I will be creating memories for a bride and a groom and their families and enjoying each and every moment. I have the best job in the world!

Happy July 4th!

Happy 4th of July to you all!

Make sure to take your camera with you wherever you're going to watch the fireworks tonight. Thanks to my good friends at one of my favorite photo labs (San Antonio Photo Lab in San Antonio Texas) I'm attaching a link to a little article on Fireworks Photography. My personal advice is tripod, tripod, tripod (or table table table). Try to put your camera on a solid surface because you will be leaving your shutter open longer than usual and it's really difficult to hold still that long.

If your camera is more of a point and shoot then look through the manual to find a "fireworks setting". If you can change the settings on your camera then you have other options.

The fireworks photograph on my website homepage was taken (handheld) at 1/5 of a second. This one is sharp and clear but there are 15 others that aren't. If you have some control over your camera then experiment. The 1/5 of a second was perfect for this shot but on other shots with more fireworks exploding at the same time it was open too long. Experiment, play...it's why we love digital because the delete button is right there and easy to use.

Here is the link. Unfortunately it doesn't take you right there from the blog so you'll have to copy and paste.

http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/07/02/fireworks-photography-tips/

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July! As always, feel free to ask me any questions about photography. I'm happy to help.