Nick and Rachel

follow friday: Davina

// March 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // follow friday

i haven’t done a follow friday post before, but i follow 109 blogs in my google reader, so i thought maybe i could start sharing a few with you.

i can’t remember exactly how i came across this photographer’s blog because i add new ones to my reader CONSTANTLY to help me find inspiration. however, i’ve been pouring over this one over the lasts few days.

{davina} is a wedding and portrait photographer located in charlotte, north carolina. gorgeous photos of couples in love and on their wedding day. some of the emotions she’s able to capture blows my mind and certainly makes me want to improve my own photography skills and creative eye.

i’ve been reading through her {women and business} series to gain insight into the photography business. i’m finally taking the leap into the professional photography world (more on that another day) and i want all the insight i can get. these interviews with women, mostly moms, who took their passion and made it a career are inspiring me as i get started.  once i save up a bit, i might need to buy one of her {kits} to teach me some of her own methods.

this is a great blog for photographers to follow for business tips as well as for those of you wanting some beautiful photos to peruse through.

my inner photographer

// October 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Photo of the Week, Rachel

i’ve always loved taking pictures. there are pictures of me somewhere in my parent’s house i took when i was maybe five or six years old.  i posed  my dolls in one of those ridiculous wicker “throne” chairs from the late 70’s/early 80’s and had a photo shoot.

in elementary school i took my camera with me at the end of each year to capture the memories. i vividly remember in third grade planning out a class picture on the playground nights in advance.  i visualized where each classmate would stand on the playground equipment – i knew it would be the best end of year photo i had ever taken. but much to my dismay, the photo never happened.  as the smallest and most shy girl in the class, i was unable to organize 20 third graders all alone.

during middle and high school, my mother sold creative memories and i joined the scrapbooking world. oh how i loved it.  photography AND art.  perfect combo. during this time i also joined the yearbook staff and discovered the world of graphic design.

since then i’ve worked to develop my photography and graphic design skills. i took my first photography class for free here at ncu when i started my job here.  i’ve also learned a lot just by checking out other’s work. but of course i’d like to develop my skills further.

i’ve even considered starting my own photography business. seriously considered it. when i graduated from ncu i visited the art institute minneapolis for an open house and started the application process. but i don’t think i need (or want) another bachelor’s degree. just recently i’ve been looking at local photographers’ prices and portfolios and i’m getting serious about it again.

today i came across sarah mcgee’s photography blog [sarahmcgeephotography.com]. she’s a local photographer with excellent work.  as i was reading through i discovered  the minneapolis photo center [mplsphotocenter.com]. they offer classes on photoshop and other software, lighting, wedding photography etc. i would like to start taking some courses through them and work on developing my skills.

then who knows, maybe this summer i can start my own business.

wedding shoes

// June 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Photo of the Week, The Grays

today i’m working on editing the photos nick and i took of alicia’s wedding last week.  this is one of my favorites.  i love putting the camera on the floor for a different angle and hoping for a good shot.  this is one of those shots.  i remember that for my wedding the photographer didn’t focus much on details like shoes, boquet etc., so i was sure to capture them when i took photos for alicia.  

when alicia returns from her two week honeymoon, she’ll have tons of photos to look through since there were three photographers for her.  as a gift to her i will be compiling those photos and making her an album on blurb.com.  i can’t wait!