A tiny peek at things to come. I am so excited to tell you all about it!!

Have you ever heard of Kellan Studios? Well, if you haven’t, click that link and spend the day drooling over their photography.  Grab a drink while you’re at it.   I knew as a rookie wedding photographer (It still feels weird to say that.  I don’t feel like I’ve earned the title yet!) that I would need to make relationships with experienced photographers.  My first one was my very own wedding photographer, Katelyn James. She is so awesome-if you ever get to meet her, consider yourself blessed!  Anyway, I needed to make new friends.  Over time I got up the courage to email some Virginia photogs that I admired.  I think I emailed 10 or so.  One was unbelievably rude, a few didn’t respond, a couple just didn’t work out, but, then a handful were amazing.  Kellan Studios falls into that last category.  I got to spend an afternoon with Kelly, and got to wave hello and goodbye to Ryan as I drove away.  However the entire afternoon with Kelly was so uplifting and happy and fun.  We both shared our faith with one another, which she will never know how grateful I am for, and talked photography.  We covered business aspects, time management, and most important for me: getting the kind of bride I want and my marketing strategy.  Some big things are in the works.  Get ready for the fall to be awesome!  I told her what I was looking for in a bride and she gave me such great advice about how to attract one.  I know that sounds like a mating ritual described on National Geographic…

You may be wondering what this cute, but seemingly irrelevant story, has to do with the camera in the pictures.  Kelly mentioned that they had a camera for sale if I was interested.  I didnt think about it at first but on the ride home I called Jared and we talked it through.  See, my rebel is in the repair shop at the moment.  Yeah, it is totally messed up.  Thankfully it falls under the manufacturer warranty.  And thankfully a gracious friend has been letting me borrow a camera.  Back to the story….I bought the camera Kelly had mentioned and this is it!

Welcome 40D!

Exclamation points are the only way for me to somewhat accurately describe how I am feeling right now.   See that camera?  I have been drooling over it ever since I started to investigate switching to film.  I have one of my own now!!  Jared gets to be my model for a while while I get acclimated to not being able to check the back of my camera to make sure I exposed something correctly.  Next in line for me to practice on are my lovely friends.  Get ready.

So why film? Why on earth would you switch to film?  Well, I can say this because I have done both for about the same amount of time.  I like it better.  I like creating something.  I took a BW darkroom class in high school.  Not saying anything I did back then was very good (there is one image I am proud of) but my favorite class of all time was that one.  And I had a pretty sweet time in high school-so thats saying something.  I could spend hours in the darkroom developing negatives and watching them come into focus in the chemical basins.  I like using my brain.  I don’t like that I constantly look on the LCD screen to check the image.  I know that film will challenge me.  Not saying that digital photography doesnt require me to use my brain-it definitely does.  There is so much to think about when youre creating an image.  I just like that film requires me to be more confident in my exposing.  I also like that it will cut down on post production times.  I really dread the computer work involved with digital photography.  And with film-I send it to a lab and they do most of the work.  I will probably have to touch up images or tweak them but not every single image.  I just like it.  And I think it fits me better.

I wont be doing film exclusively for a while.  I need more cameras for that.  But once I feel good about how its looking-which will probably take several months, I will be using it alot.  So! If you are a bride, or are thinking about working with me, do not fret! This camera and film will only make things better. And if its not doing that-then I wont be using it. Amazing photographers use this camera-so I can be sure that if I can learn to work it well, it will be awesome!

I can’t wait to share what this camera has to offer! Stay tuned!

I have been so deeply inspired by many film photographers, that I contemplate over and over whether or not I should switch to film entirely.  Some of you digital people out there may be gasping for air after reading that, but I have good reasons.  This little camera above is the cheapest and easiest addition if I choose to make the switch.  It cost me twenty dollars and of all the images I have seen taken with this camera, they are nothing short of true art.  It gives a beautiful natural vignette and soft romantic focus.  I can’t wait to see what it has to offer!

These are my very first business cards! I really love them What do you think?

I have been thinking for a LOOOONG time about getting a new computer.  The one my dad and stepmom purchased for me for college has been great…but that was almost 5 years ago.  Which is a pretty long life for a laptop.  I have been thinking…should I get a new fancy loaded mac, or a better camera body.  And who would I ask but my not so secret photography crush, Jose Villa? Well, I did ask him.  He wrote me back within minutes and I squealed so loud, Jared thought there was something wrong with me.  Either way, Jared and Jose (yeah I called him by his first name. love him.)  both thought the new computer was a better choice right now.  So after worship one night we ran over to the apple store and walked out with this little guy.  Its the 21 in iMac.  I saw the 27in and could NOT imagine having something so enormous.  It really is big.  You should go to the Apple Store to see it in person.  ITS GIANT.

I have to say that macs are amazing.  Its so fast!! And all of my images look ten times better on here. I feel so fancy.