Modern Bright

Modern Eclectic

We did a post awhile back dedicated to vintage nurseries, so today we have a follow up all about modern nurseries! I stumbled upon a wonderful site the other day called On To Baby! It is an adorable website featuring all kinds of great tips, information, and gorgeous inspiration for moms from all walks of life. They had an amazing section dedicated solely to nursery decor so I decided to feature a few of their modern nursery shares today – but there are many, many more! All kinds of themes, colors and nursery styles to look through, along with inspiration for showers, birthday parties and everything in between. I also noticed a few NAPCP members featured on their site Enjoy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Inspiration: These three little girls are extra special to me, as their mother isn’t only a fabulous photographer herself, but a dear friend of mine. The inspiration really came from our love of everything vintage, the gorgeous evening sunlight we get here in Australia and of course the little girls themselves who adore everything pink and girly. Over a few weeks, we discussed the session, props and clothing. We begged, borrowed and baked, until we felt we had everything we needed.

Favourite Element: Being able to document the closeness of the girls, and how truly beautiful they are, has to be my favourite element of this session. The light this particular evening was also devine and of course our gathering of ‘props’ paid off, as when the scene was set, it looked amazing.

Biggest Challenge: Getting that ‘right spot’ for the light to be slightly diffused. In the end we chose under the large tree, as the branches and leaves not only diffused the light, but gave us fabulous sun flare.

What The Client Said: The girls Mum was thrilled with the images, and is still my friend so I think I did ok

Photographer’s Final Words: For this particular session, preparation was the key element. We both had a ‘vision’, and set to work to ‘make’ it happen. We begged and borrowed props. We visited the location in the evening to assess the light, then finally we put it all together. It was fun for the girls too, and afterwards we all got to eat the cup cakes.

Our 2010 Photographer of the Year and NAPCP Member, Dana Pugh, is hosting a workshop with the wonderful Ashley Skjaveland this May! Here are a few details from the site:

A workshop with no name — a  retreat for the creative. We are two friends with a passion for beauty & natural connection; Dana offers insight into her unique, award winning brand of lifestyle family art, while Ashley brings her signature style & perspective on natural, free flowing newborn imagery. Combined we are able to offer a one-of-a-kind learning & sharing experience you simply won’t find anywhere else. We hope to show how two photographers with two completely different styles approach their work & their business from a place of love; both for their craft & their clients.

We are passionate about participation & group discussions — energy, thoughts & ideas are free flowing in this kind of environment. It’s electric.

Spots are limited for the workshop so be sure to sign up as soon as possible! Additional details and information can be found here!

And to add to the excitement both Ashley and Dana will be attending WPPI this year and hosting an afternoon discussion over coffee and treats in their MGM hotel room. The event format is lighthearted and honest as they answer your questions in a casual atmosphere. No script. No holds barred. Just them, you and a small intimate group creating inspiration for your business and your craft.

Dana and Ashley have been kind enough to offer one free seat to a NAPCP member! Want a chance to learn and grow with these 2 talented ladies? Here’s how!

1) Must be a NAPCP member

2) Must like both Short and Sweet Photography’s Facebook page as well as NAPCP’s Facebook page.

3) Leave us a comment to let us know you have completed the steps on the Facebook wall.

Deadline: Sunday January 29th, 2012 @ 11:59pm

Well, I’m happy to report that over the last few years, camera bags have evolved. We are no longer limited to carrying around black, non-descript, rectangular, pocket-filled, zipped-up bags or backpacks (aka man bags). The choices for women have grown tremendously and we can now choose bags that not only have exceptional function (i.e., space for everything including a pocketbook, iPhone, lip gloss, keys, checkbooks, extra lens, filters, laptop, and more); they are vibrant, stylish and fashion forward. Camera bags that look like purses. Oh yes.

Function and flair underlay many of the camera bag designs these days. Here’s what I’ve found and acquired.

Lola bag by Epiphanie. This is my newest and sweetest acquisition. One look at it and you know what I mean by personality and style. This is the smallest of my camera bags and I anticipate using this one practically everyday. It’s large enough to carry my camera with vertical grip and a 50mm lens mounted, a 24-70mm zoom lens, a lens cloth, cleaning liquid, extra CF cards, camera battery, wallet and an assortment of other necessities (e.g., checkbook, chapstick, pens, iPhone, Digital Elph point-n-shoot camera, business cards, reading glasses). And did I mention that the interior is in lavender, rather than black? So much easier to find things. Epiphanie bags come in many sizes and styles. Check ‘em out.

IT bag by The Joy Bag collection. My other most used camera bag isn’t really a camera bag at all. It’s a tote bag insert. If you’re not into purses, this is worth a look. Basically, the padded insert can be placed into any tote bag and – voila! A camera bag. This is the ultimate in flexibility. I use this when I carry a few more things like a mini tripod or my laptop or iPad or sweater (you get the idea) than what I normally put in the Lola bag.

Jill-e Rolling Red Leather Bag is my storage bag. It holds all of my camera gear. It rolls around and saves my back. It is made of red leather. If you didn’t know what was in it, you wouldn’t guess it was a camera bag at all…just a nice red leather travel bag on wheels. In a different color such as black or gray, it appeals to male photographers as well. Jill-e Designs offers several sizes and models.

Shootsac Lens Bag is my workhorse during shoots. This is the body-hugging bag I wear on-the-shoot that carries my extra lenses, car keys, iPhone, CF cards, etc. It’s lightweight and holds my lenses tightly so that I never worry they’ll fall out. I also have a couple of different covers – one is a solid bright red and the other is a colorful floral one – for a bit of flair. Oh and by the way, lots of guys appreciate this one, too, though probably with the standard black cover.

Glee Bag from The Joy Bag collection. My other workhorse camera bag on-the-shoot. When I decide to carry two cameras where one is loaded with my 70 mm – 200 mm lens, this is it. With my camera and zoom lens in here, I don’t worry that I’m going to bump my camera into something while I’m shooting with the other.

Different bags, different needs. There’s a camera bag for every taste, use and activity. In addition to the ones I own, here are a few more designers I checked out: Kelly Moore, Jo Totes, Emera, Ona, and Cheeky Lime.

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In the spirit of pushing ourselves to become better photographers this year’s image competition will challenge you to discover and submit only your very best work.

When choosing images for competition, my best bit of advice is to get tough on yourself. Have a critical eye and take as much emotional connection to your subject as possible out of your decision making process. With attention to detail, cull your photographs into categories and select your top two favorites in each category. Work fairly quickly and use this rule to help you with the process: If the image you are considering IS NOT a definite YES, then it IS a definite NO. Move on.

Once you have your favorites in each category, select the strongest two overall images based on the elements that make a great photograph, like great composition, excellent exposure, provoking gesture and thoughtful storytelling. Take yourself out of the equation and ask for the advice of a colleague or mentor who is not emotionally invested in the subject. Sometimes we cannot see distractions or mistakes because we know the subject personally and have become emotionally engaged, rather than thoughtfully critical of the image.

The goal is to find photographs that invite the viewer to linger long enough to become curious about and intrigued by the subject matter.  Avoid distracting elements that pull the eye of the viewer out of the frame or cause the viewer to feel uncomfortable while lingering. Remember that all of the elements need to work together to yeild a high score. Dynamic expression can not overcompensate for awful composition or poor exposure.

Below are the 12 elements that the Photographic Exhibitions Committee (PEC) of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) provides as guidelines to print-competition entrants. Based on fundamental precepts for judging a photograph or other piece of fine art, these guidelines are meant simply to give entrants a basic understanding of what constitutes a good image.

1. Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion.
2. Creativity is the external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
3. Style is defined in a number of ways. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject.  It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.
4. Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
5. Print Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
6. Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the imagemaker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest and the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
7. Lighting (the use and control of light) refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of lighting should enhance an image.
8. Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
9. Color Balance supplies harmony to an image.  An image in which the tones work together effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
10.Technical Excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color all speak to the qualities of the physical print.
11. Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, paper selection and other elements are part of the technique applied to an image.
12. Storytelling refers to the ability of the image to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.

Best of luck! I m so excited to see and evaluate your very best work! – Karen

NAPCP Members can submit their best images here!

One of my favorites, Rifle Paper!

Beautiful floral calendar by House That Lars Built

Super fun photo calendar from Pinecone Camp!

Hanging fabric calendars by Humunuku on the left and Cicada Studio on the right

Adorable animal print calendar by Loopz Art

Bright and colorful calendars by Spread The Love on the left and Michelle Armas on the right

Delicious “Buy Local” calendars from Claudia Pearson

“A Year in Polaroids” calendar by Cori Kindred

Gorgeous patterned calendar by Little Thing Studio

Hope these inspired everyone…now go buy a calendar! Happy Friday!

To photograph children they way parents see them. To freeze life. To freeze in time those tiny little things our kids do that we parents just love.

That’s how I think when I shoot. No styling. No posing. No telling the children what to do. I talk to them instead. I ask them questions. We play games. One of my favorite games is the one where I ask them philosophical questions not even we adults know the answers for.  “What’s the meaning of life?”. “What’s love?” .”How do you know a person is kind?”. And my favorites are when you ask things about their parents: “How do you know you love mommy?”. “What’s the thing your dad can do better than anyone else?”. “If you could give your parents anything in the world, what would it be?”.

While they talk, laugh, shed a tear, hug, and enjoy their quality time together,  I shoot. Once a fellow photographer said that your main goal during a shoot is to provide the family with a super fun hour together. The pictures will then just be a bonus.

And a reminder of that wonderful unforgettable hour they spent together and shared so many special thoughts! I wish you all a great 2012 with tons of special moments shared together with your families!

We are now gearing up for the next NAPCP International Image Competition kicking off on January 16th! As always, the competition will be fierce as our talented bunch dazzles us with their images in hopes to win recognition in one of nine categories. The purpose of NAPCP’s Image Competitions is to recognize the accomplishments and creative excellence of its members, rewarding their talent with medallions, priority listing on our directory, vendor endorsements, member points, titles and professional recognition. View winners from our most recent competition here!

If you are not yet a member but interested in participating, please submit an application here so you won’t miss out!

Full details to come soon!

* Images above clockwise from top left: “Glitter,” Sara Lane; “Muse,” Vairdy Andrew; “Summer Blondies,” Amy Tripple; “Waiting For More Than a Kiss,” Kelly MacDonald.