What Can Happen In 10 Minutes

Scroll down.  These are shots made in 10 Minutes.  These things can and do happen in 10 Minutes in our Studio daily.  I decided to throw a 10 Minute FREE Special out there last spring, after doing similar things for Halloween over the past few years.  And I decided to continue that Special for, like....ever.  

Because I just like it.  It is challenging, to set myself up for that.  I HAVE to produce, and there is NO messing around.  My goal is 10 great images in 10 Minutes. Usually I get more than that, sometimes up to 30 if the moment is right. I have a very well equipped Studio in a pretty compact space.  I'm lucky.  Props and backdrops are in no short supply after 16 years of this profession.  I don't charge for 10 Minute Sessions because I get a LOT out of that time.  I get practice.  I get to meet many different people from all sorts of backgrounds and family situations that I might not have met otherwise.  I get to make people happy in a short time frame with terrific images of people they love.  It's a good job.  10 Minutes, always FREE.  

Of course, I have to charge for prints and files.  I wish I was THAT well-off that I could just give it all away. Someday.  But in the meantime, give me a call (712/520-4772) or a text (same number) or a FB message or skywriting or whatever you do, and I'll get you on the schedule.  Folks come in for anniversaries and birthdays and new dresses and to fingerpaint and to do sparklers and night and to chase giant bubbles and to do ANYTHING else they can think of.  It's fun, it's quick for even the crankiest babies--and speaking of babies, it's perfect for a Baby's First Year set of portraits.  I have folks come in every month for a different look and to show the milestones their babies have reached.  It's pretty cool.    

10 Years From Now

I have an interesting and sad story to tell. Recently I was approached by a woman who has a friend with a terminal illness. This lady who is sick--we will call her Helen, just because--is in her late 30's, and has a pretty depressing diagnosis. I'm not going to spin it all out here with medical jargon and time frames, but every day is extremely precious to her. She has little kids. She is a very physically beautiful woman, as you can tell from her photograph. She uses visualization as part of her self-care and treatment, and she wants to be able to visualize herself as a woman 10 years older than she is now. 10 years would be quite a victory for her. But no matter what she does, she can't see herself in the future, with the slight changes in her skin, new folds and creases, and, of course with happiness at being alive radiating from her face.

So, it was requested of me that I use my time and talents to create an age-progression painting or drawing of this lady, to be sent on to her so she could see herself 10 years from now. Unfortunately, she doesn't live close enough to do a photography session with me so that I can capture her with my lighting and composition to aid me in the illustration process. But I was able to get a few headshots emailed to me, and I decided that traditional drawing and art techniques would be too time-consuming. It was impressed upon me from the beginning that time was of the essence.

I decided digital techniques, photo enhancement, and then, digital painting on top of the photo itself would be the least time intensive of my creative choices, so, I set out to age this attractive person.

I'm not going to go into each step of the process here.  Suffice it to say, I literally painted age on her face, using my Wacom pen and tablet.  Then I altered the background with various brushstrokes, and brush stroked her hair, skin and features so they felt painted more than photographed.  I changed her hair, and her garment.  I spent time considering the color tonalities of the nearly-finished piece.  I wanted her to glow, to look like she was elegant, mature, and living fully.

This morning, I emailed the final result to the woman who approached me.  It will be forwarded along to Helen, and I hope it helps her.  I hope she looks at her older self with love.  I hope she can feel the wind in her hair from that beach, and smell the ocean crashing on the sand.

And, as I clicked "send", I thought about how I am growing older too, and someday will be 10 years older than I am now.  If I am lucky.  I think about how many things can happen in 10 years--careers rise and fall, families are built, homes are moved into and sold....I thought of how I complain about how I look now, and the changes that are going on in my own face.  I am small.  All of us, who are focused on the little creases and folds and laugh lines to the exclusion of loving ourselves and the reality that we are alive---we are small and misguided.

Here is to the next 10 years.

A Fascinating Saturday, PART 1

I had a fascinating day last Saturday.  I was able to photograph a family as they celebrated the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa.  I have had the privilege of working with this group before as I did Wedding Portraiture for two of the granddaughters a couple years ago (YIKES for their parents--two weddings in something like 4 or 5 months!).

 We traveled an hour south to do this gathering, which was a complete surprise for the honored couple, and did a bunch of Family Photography before they got there. 

When they arrived, they were totally surprised and incredibly struck at how much stealthy work had gone into this gathering.  There were enlargements surreptitiously made from their Wedding Album, a cake with their portrait on it, a banner, 50 Memories From 50 Years that had been written, compiled and printed, then strung up as an incredibly long banner across the porch of the lake house where the party was held. 

We even had them re-enact the photograph of the bride feeding the groom cake just as it was captured 50 years ago.

We photographed EVERYONE together.

 And there was a very beautiful video slideshow of the history of their lives together in pictures.  My husband always goes with me on these shoots, and I found great inspiration and gratitude in being able to see this big family as they celebrated their history together with him.  I hope that one day, he and I will be able to revel in a family such as theirs.  Coming up at the end of this month, we have 16 years in.  Still a long ways to go.  What is it they say?  "Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many."  And I totally agree.  After seeing these folks all together, from the tiniest baby up through the generations to the happy couple themselves, it is very profound to experience the cycles and rhythms of life at all stages.

Thank you, Falk Family, for letting me not only express myself through my camera, but for allowing me into this very personal, joyous time. 

And this was my FIRST job of the day....the second one, which I will write about tomorrow, is just as interesting, especially when considered in light of the Anniversary I had just photographed.  Later!

Art Was Her Thing...

She was shy.  You know, when they pull up in their cars, I try to go out to meet them, to say hi to them while they're still strapped into the safety of their familiar car seats, which over the course of the past couple years has molded itself to the shape of their tiny bodies.  And I could tell, when I met this one, that she was going to be a little...shy.  She looked at me out of the corners of her eyes.  She focused on her chubby hands or her  mother's smiling, hopeful face.  I led them inside, to the studio, chatting with Mom, my mind turning furiously to find the THING, the one single THING that would unlock this little girl's personality.  And this time, it came in the first few minutes, before we even started shooting.  Her mom volunteered that she loved to draw.  

"How about I tape up some paper and give her some chalk," I asked.

And that was all it took.

                                                                      She drew. 

She stepped on pastels and looked at the smears of color on the bottoms of her feet.

She had some really cute feet.

She ended up with pastels EVERYWHERE...

     Which opened up other ideas.  

Wings inspired lots and lots of running.  

      And grinning.

 

And tippy-toeing

We did all sorts of things.

Wen went outside and rode the swing.

          And slid on the slide.

And rode the horsie.

And stuck our fingers in the fountain.

 It was a really good time.  Really good.  And she was glorious.  An 18 month old filled with light and energy.  And it worked, because, in those first few moments, we found her THING.  The thing that let her personality breathe for the camera.  Pastels and paper.  That was all it took.  So, when you decided it's time for portraits for your child, and if you sense that "natural ham" does NOT describe him or her, ask yourself, what is their THING?  All kids have something that lights them up, makes them open to showing their innate delight and wonder. Bring it with you.  Mention it.  Talk about it beforehand.  Then, the pictures are easy.