The family

So here's one of the few that I actually liked... at least the boys aren't scowling :)

The young man in the middle is heading to Afghanistan next week (say a prayer).

ISO640, ss160, f6.3

Carousel Fun

I actually ran a color pop action on this one. I don't usually like those, but I thought it worked for this image.

Here is another shot from yesterday's engagement session. I'm editing from this weekends wedding, so these are probably what you'll be seeing for the next couple of days!

Family pics

Was asked by a good friend to take some quick (as in VERY fast) family photos today and I grabbed this one of Mom and Dad....the whole session took 10 minutes (I kid you not)...her boys are extremely anti-camera and were barely cooperative (as boys tend to be). I will try to find one decent one of their kids for tomorrow.

ISO640, ss160, f 6.3

Engagement Session Today

You know, with the winter weather we are having, it is really hard to find nice spots outdoors to do engagement sessions. Fortunately, Huntsville recently opened a new shopping area that includes a carousel and gondola rides. I met this couple there today to do their engagement session. I was able to take their photo on the carousel and as they took a ride on the gondolas. Now, check this image out. The upper gondola in the image is their shot added to this mural.
Too tacky?

Can I share 3?

Our nieces and nephew are here for Christmas, so I took advantage of the fact that they don't have the photographer's child syndrome yet and got a few images with eye contact. My nephew had severe crossed eyes last time we saw them and just recently had surgery to correct them, so I was glad to finally have a few of him actually looking. Oh yeah, Ruth, these are the kids that live near you, if wasn't for the fact that I am doing fairy pics with them on wed. I would be sending them to you. Maybe this summer I'll get them a gift certificate from you, we don't get to see them nearly as often as I would like.

1/200, 6.3, iso 100
1/80, 2.8, iso 200 bounced flash
1/160, 2.8, iso 200 bounced flash
Did anyone notice that it is only 10 more post to 1000!

Last Wedding

Just got home from my last wedding of 2007! Now for all the PP work...

Anyway, this is a quick shot of one of the bridesmaids while the bride was getting her dress on. I wish I had closed down the aperture so hands and face were both in focus, oh well.

Flying

I really need to be packing for my trip. Danny is packed and ready to go but you all know me!!!!! If I have a session well I can't NOT look at them. I can't wait to get back and start playing with them. I'm happy and feel that the session went great! They were both so pretty it is hard NOT to get some great shots. Also, I got my wacom tablet so I'll be setting that up when I get home. iso 100 ss125 f5.6. This is 1/2 sepia. You can try it by going to image>Adjustments>Hue Saturation then click on colorize and move the settings to 25 25 0. Then go to edit and fade back to 50%. I love the affect!!! I won't be on until after the New Year so I hope everyone has a great one!!!!!!!!!! See you in 2008.

Poinsettia

Different view of my poinsettia that I was given for christmas - it's huge and out on my deck - too big for inside and it didn't come with a drip pan so I don't want to get my carpet wet when I water it. It really is beautiful and I wanted to capture some of the rain drops on it this morning. Enjoy!

No Flash - SS:1/125 AP: f/1.8 ISO: 200 - Early morning light

Chalk Board

This is a picture of the new easel my kids got for christmas - it's the chalkboard side. I just loved the texture in this image and the b&w conversion just did wonders for it. I may just get this big and put on my wall.
SS: 1/125 AP: f/1.8 ISO: 200 Flash bounced off back wall/ceiling.

Just Me

This was taken today - hand held camera bounced flash - ISO 200 not sure on ap or shutterspeed. Enjoy!

Playing with Mono Images

I'm reading through the December issue of Digital Photo (HIGHLY recommend this magazine). The focus this month is on mono images. I used this image of Jessica trying to learn to use the circular polarizar to play with one of the tutorials. The mono looks is supposed to have high contrast and look like it was taken with a pinhole camera (more focused in the center). I also added grain to go along with the look. So, what do you think?

December???

Okay, it is 55 degrees here today. It just didn't seem like Christmas with this warm weather. Since it is so nice, I took my youngest up on the mountain to a nature trail and let her use my D70. She's actually shooting in manual now and today learned how to use the polarizing filter. Isn't she a cutie!

Merry Christmas from the Hightowers

These are our Christmas cards for this year.

Merry Christmas...

...from our house to yours,

The Garvers (and Buster :)

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Took this on Christmas Eve of my step children with their half brother. Try to figure that one out! LOL They are in their new Christmas jammies!! Have a wonderful, safe holiday!

Merry Christmas!

This is just a quick picture that I took with the timer - ya know camera on tripod and run to be in the shot...lol It was alot of fun. Going to send it to my brother in prison. It was taken w/ the flash bouncing off the wall/celing in front of us, no light sphere used.

SETTINGS: ISO: 200 AP: f/5.6 SS: 1/90

Merry Christmas

Grabbed this quick shot of my neice tonight after dinner. Gotta love those redheads!
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Everyone have a very Merry Christmas!!!! A shot of my nephew Drew.

Peace on Earth!

Wishing everyone Peace on Earth this Christmas! Here's my little guy, actually cooperating with me during this mini-shoot. There's more on my blog if you would like to take a look! http://courtney-lifebehindthelens.blogspot.com/

f 7.1, ss 1/80, iso 100

Not MIA I promise.

Sorry Girls, I have been MIA for a while, my family has been here for the past two weeks, finally a break in the action. Plus my Lizzy has started walking so I have been chasing alot :). Here is a shot of my little Diva that I took just getting settings ready for a shoot of her little cousin. Those pictures will be next.

The New Year - New Challenges

I read on another forum about a good photography exercise that I thought we might try in the new year. The idea is to find an advertisement and try and reproduce it - lighting, look, feel, etc.
Does anyone else think this is something we might be able to attempt?

Concentration

ISO 3200, ss 320, f3.5

Bring Him Home Santa!

I posted this on my blog.

This is a wonderful song that was played
on a Virginia Radio Station.
50% of all profits go to
St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
I encourage everyone to remember
and pray for our troops that can not
be here with their families this
holiday season.

Have a tissue handy.

Click Here

Just too happy!

The prettiest Fairy of them all!!

Lexi is my first model for my Fairy pictures. I just pulled this out at random. Isn't she beautiful. Thanks Lexi!

seems like forever ago!

I decided to take a walk down memory lane and show a picture from before I got my "big girl" camera. This was taken with my point and shoot of my daughter and her "then" fiancee. This feels like so long ago but was actually my very first photo shoot!!! Wow

Just an Update!

I know many of you ( Ruth and Cindy) are thinking "WOW, Michelle is still here!" hehe
I have been keeping busy with work, volleyball and the kiddos.
I am finally done for the Christmas Season and
getting ready to get all the taxes done
for this year. Blah!
All of my family is coming in January
which I am really excited about since
I get to see my niece that I have not
seen for a year. Needless to say, she will
be hanging out in the studio alot! :)
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday
season.
Here is a shot of my two kiddos finally together.

My blog!!!

ok now that I have a blog I would like to add all of your websites to it. So please send me your site address and the city and state you are in. thanks all!!! Don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you can see when I post new things...

from my last session of the year

This was a really great family...Very tall family too! iso 100 f8.0 ss125. Hey and everyone I finally started a blog for my photography business. I don't have any images there yet....but it was a New Years goal for me. I like that one better than loosing weight! So mission acomplished. hehehehe My new blog is www.shotbyruth.blogspot.com you can subscribe to it so that you get an email whenever I post. I thought that was pretty cool too!

Yes Ruth....

...it's basketball season :)

and Hi from Hanford Kim (they killed us!)

ISO3200, ss 320, f3.5

Our Tree

I took this image with my new toy - a point-n-shoot camera - a Sanyo VPC-T700. I got it yesterday as an early birthday/christmas gift. I wanted one to just have on me always so I wouldn't have to lug my D70 around with me all the time. I put the camera on my tripod - no special attachments required and the ISO was on 400 (the iso goes from 50 to 400 and I can change it - amazing for a pns) No flash, Ap was 2.8 not sure what shutter speed was it didn't really say. This is strait out of the camera too with the exception of sharpening for web, cropping and resizing for web.

Hope you all are enjoying this holiday season - I know I am!

I NEED A MODEL

ok I added the ferns....and it is ready to go. I'm actually in the process of lining up a few models now so you won't have to be looking at "old" faires for long!!! Note the smiley face pj's I'm wearing...ya I'm hip!!!!!

1st Basketball game....

...and it's my boy! (Wilson)

ISO3200, ss320, f3.5

Here's to you Grandma!

My grandma turned 80 last September and I finally got it together and got a portrait done with her. My dear friend Denise made this portrait for us this afternoon. We (grandma and I) share the same birthday and we always spend it together doing something fun but last Sunday she asked me "when is your birthday"? I am not going to have her around forever and want to cherish the time we have doing meaningful things. She loved riding through the Gorge to Denises home in Hood River, Oregon and talked of their camping trips in the Gorge area when her kids were growing up. She had a good day today.

Here's to you Grandma!

my family

Here we are right after getting home from church today.

Another Ornamental Image

I took some fun pictures of the ornaments on our tree the other day, and since it seemed like this was a theme I thought I would share my favorite. This is actually a clear glass star, but with the reflection of the lights it looks like stained glass.

Ornament

This ornament was created by my oldest Aaron. He wanted to make his own ornament - so here is his ben 10 alien for our tree.

ISO 1600, AP 1.8 SS 40 or 60

My Ornament Play

Okay Tesa, you've inspired another. The first is my try at the ornament . I may have over done the soft focus. The second is for Ruth and Michelle!

I love Christmas...

...especially the decorations!

ISO1000, ss15, f4.0

I found a model!!!!!

Isn't my son-in-law just the nicest guy???? So am I getting there? Just a few plants around the water and I'll be ready with this set....

next try

k here is another one. She is not my model....I'm just using the image because I'm not ready for a model yet....but this will give me a better idea. I did a 1/2 sepia thing and muted the colors...what do you all think?

is this getting better???

Is this getting better? I used some tutorials and a plug in. That is my kitty playing on the plexi glass. Still waiting for the rocks.

Bah humbug!

I have the hardest time coming up with holiday scenes that I like. I guess it turned out ok but probably way too much in the scenery going on here. Of course it is helpful to photograph the easiest baby in the whole world! Oh well I have a three year old demon child on Saturday to make up for it!

watercolor

Hey all: I'm getting ready to start working on fairy's. I want to make them look like watercolors. I don't have a wacom or painter. All I have is photoshop. How close am I to the mark? Yes, I don't have a fairy in the picture...LOL got a child to spare? I'm just trying to find a technique. If you know of a cool tutorial or have comments please let me know. I've just begun to figure this out. Thanks...This is my background I bought from Tammy and my NEW mushrooms. I'm still waiting for rocks...so I cloned these and did a bad job of it too... hehehe

Team hands

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit...whole family has been sick this last week (oh well, maybe now we'll all be healthy for Christmas :) This was from one our last games.

ISO1600, ss320, f3.5

Lunch

ISO:800, AP: 1.8, SS: 60 No flash, just overhead lighting in diningroom.

My kids lunch today - flower and foot pb&j sandwiches, carrots w/ranch and a cheese stick

Dolly Love

bounced flash, 50mm 1.8 lens, ISO 800

my last session of the year

just gunna send you there!!!! Some have pp done others are just cropped and defogged so that they can decide faster and order the xmas cards.

www.printroom.com/pro/myproofs

password Christmas and the book is McGuire Family

My oldest DD

I took this image the other night trying out high iso and low light. It didn't have much noise in it but I was going for a more gritty, contrasty black and white so I added some grain in PS. Does it look too bright? I am on a new LCD monitor and am having problems getting used to the brightness with it.

ISO 1600, f5.6 (sorry shutter speed is missing in the exif data)

I used my flash for this image - not alot of light in the home - or I just couldn't find it I guess. Feeling off my game. Very cute family and loved working with them.

ISO 800 used my crappy kit zoom lens and hated it! because I didn't have enough room - I need to get a wider prime!

Anywho very cute kids and a joy to work with so were the parents...I wish I could have taken them outdoors - but it's ok they really liked the images.

a cute family!

iso 100 f5.6 ss125 These are two girls from a family session tonight. First time using my blue...love it!!!

volleyball coach

iso 100 f5.6 ss125 Here is one of the coach's for our club website.

Let it Snow!!!

This is a picture of our dog, she was only out for a few minutes. 6 inches so far.

As Edgy as She Gets

This is the only non-traditional style image that I did. Her mom loved them. HA! Posted a pic two days in a row! go me!

wedding album

Here is a page from the wedding album I worked on today. I'm getting caught up. I never thought I'd see this day!

Bridals Today

This is my bride for the 29th of this month. She is VERY traditional, but I did manage to get a couple of non-traditional shots from her. Here is one that her grandmother loved (yes, I had a LOT of help today-haha) He skin is scarred from acne, so I ran a smart blur and really softened it up. Does it look bad? I didn't do it on all the images, but on a few I did. ISO 200, AP 2.8, SS 1/60, bounced flash off ceiling and used the Demb Flip-it to throw some forward as well.

Here's Winter!!

We got between 4-6" of snow yesterday so I got to take my 2 year old out on a walk. This was a great opportunity to try out my new Sony A-700 and 18-200 lens.

iso 250, f9.0,1/125

The twins

Here is one that I took this summer but I just finally am starting to find the time to go and do pp on non revenue stuff. Colors always look funky on 365 for me when they don't in photoshop. Oh well, as long as it prints out good, that is what's important. I love not working on Friday's. :)

Stuff going on

I have been going thru alot of stuff lately so I haven't had time to pull out my camera. We just found out not long ago that my husband is going to need brain surgery for his aneurysm - between that and VA stuff I have been run ragged. I hope to be posting more soon. I have a session tomorrow so I will post a picture from that when I have them done. I am trying to raise some money for the trip to the hospital and the prolonged stay we will have afterwards - more information on my BLOG

I love coming in here and seeing all your wonderful images - coming here has really kept me sane in my insane world of late. I hope that next year my business is booming and that I have so much work I have to turn clients away or have a wait list...lol

Y'all keep posting and I will comment when I can! You all ROCK and inspire me to be a better photographer! Keep up the great work!

One of My Hubby's

This is one of the pictures my Hubby took of our Daughter Lizzy. I am so proud of his improvement in the past few months. Now I have to teach him to work in Manual, slowly but shirley.

JENNIFER JENNFIER JENNIFER

I was saving the best for last :P lol and giving you your very own post :P your work is amazing Jen you have come so far, just since we have met earlier this year...you have found yourself and it shows :) you have a great eye and it keeps improving and I really enjoy visiting your blog to see what your up too :P keep up what you are doing gurl you rawk at it.....and when u coming to do family pics for me? :P

Hey Gals :)

Well I see you are all doing well and keeping busy, that's great! I hope all your dreams and ambitions come true for the next year. All of my focus lately has been on my family and running around with my husband to his tests, appointments ect. I am hoping in the New Year I can come back to posting here regularly and maybe venturing into wedding photography. I have a huge interest and people wanting to book me but I'm on the fence about it. I am doing a wedding in April for a friend so I guess I will decide then hehe.

Meg..........you RAWK woman! I am so proud of you! I want you to say from now on "I'm a photographer" cuz you are and I love your stuff! You are improving with every photo, its awesome to see :) way too go you deserve it your a wonderful person and I happy to know you, maybe someday we can have a 365 meet in person holiday..cuz I’d love to meet you!

Ma, Ma, Ma you have always been too busy LOL! I hope next year has a holiday at a fancy spa for you in it, cuz you certainly deserve it **hint**hint** to husband/Santa for you :) I admire how hard you work, your superwoman! You’re also a great woman and a wonderful photographer! (In or outside of your box) :P

Lindy - is missing in action! I have to say I haven't talked to her in a long time hehe! I just hope that her life gets better in the New Year!

I don't know the rest of you so well but I certainly wish you all the best in all you do. I love coming here seeing your work and hope in the near year to be back on track posting with you all.

I love Christmas and I hope each and every one of you has a Merry Christmas and may the Lord fill your lives with his love, peace and joy! God Bless and keep snapping I have enjoyed looking back on all of your wonderful photos :P

Take Care and here are a few shots of my kids and our sad sad lil tree haha!

I really should have ticked off naughty haha...how come its so hard to get a shot of your own kids but not such a problem with kids you don't even know!

This is Kelsi, my oldest she is 12 and very mature and responsible, she's a good gurl and makes me proud daily...I truly believe I took home the wrong baby at the hospital cuz she can't be related to me she's just too sweet LOL

This is Kendall the middle child, she will be 10 in March and she is our lil drama queen. She is very outgoing and makes us laugh daily.......she also has a smart mouth like her mother lol. She is very strong willed and stubborn lol not sure where she gets that haha! She was not feeling well in this picture and told me "its enough all ready mom I am gonna puke on you and your stupid camera"

He does have a great smile...

...maybe I should at least be grateful for that!

ISO400, ss200, f4

Growth....

This next year I have plans to grow by business, we are starting over again here in Colorado. We love it here, but have to get our word of mouth business back up to what it was. Plus I really need to get an advertising plan figured out, or at least started.

My Husband is my other photographer, and he is really learning I will post some of his pictures next. His might be a great photographer for stock. He is learning the portrait business, and I really want to teach him my set up, but you know how it can be.

I am also still perfecting my set up with the Nikon CLS system, I want to get it tweaked down to a science. I also want to find some great location sites, that are near my house, we found some great parks, but now I need some buildings with texture.

I am attaching a picture for Meg, this is why I moved to Colorado ;) My husband took this.

Cindy's Thoughts

I agree, I want to grow in the new year. I know that I love sports and weddings - so I want to improve in those areas. Since I don't have a studio space, I'm not sure what to do, but I want to learn studio lighting. I'm getting a softbox for Christmas and a friend gave me a monolight to use/borrow and an umbrella. I also have several strobes, so I can use a hairlight and background light, if needed. So I want to play - in the garage, maybe.
I'd like us to have more challenges like we did with the dragging the shutter. I learned SO MUCH that week. Maybe posing challenges (like themes or groupings, etc.) Just challenges that will push us to think outside our "comfort zone."
Basically, I want to learn and improve. I'm looking forward to the new year! I want to enjoy with all you guys!

Great Post Ruth....

.....and what a question! So here goes.....This is my year to start making money (so we can eat...or buy new lenses...whatever :) I know that probably sounds juvenile to all you pros but I am new to the game of actually charging for my photo 'skills' (such as they are).

I also need to define what it is I want to do in photography. I've sort of fallen into sports photography and I really like it. I think I'm starting to know what I'm doing and I love getting feedback from parents (as well as sales!) but I do still want to take Senior pics. I haven't had much time to get out and practice tho; I've only done 5 kids so far, and I know that I need to get better at post-processing so my shots look less like snapshots and more like something you'd be willing to pay for.

I know that I never want to do weddings...hats off to you Ruth (and Cindy and Michelle) and any of you gals that shoot weddings. I've done 3 and hope to never do another (tho I am back-up photog for a wedding my friend is shooting in the Spring - all of the glory, none of the pressure :)

I'm also interested in stock photography, love the idea of being totally in charge of what I'm shooting and setting my own hours...so to speak.

OK, that's my story..... next....

I'm baaaack

Ok the volleyball meeting is over. 90 girls, 180 parents later and everything is delegated out. Now I can get back to my happy place and start posting again.

I think we should all start thinking about our goals for next year. So lets think about it, make it attainable, photography related, and be able to share with us. And then GO FOR IT!

I have a lot of things I want to achieve next year but here is one. By the end of next year I will know if I am going to be a wedding photographer or not. I keep vasilating back and forth. I really believe that you can't be a photographer in every area!!! My mind says.....weddings/money big money.... but when I do them, I dread them. Post processing kills me, I get so nervous because you only get one shot at making their lifetime memories.

But I don't want to give up weddings until I am comfortable doing them and can still say "It's not for me" Because I don't know how much is still just a learning curve with me. I shot a wedding with Michelle (Heirloom) and she makes it look so easy, but I'm a wreck! LOL

who's next????????????

For a guy...

...he was sure cooperative....too bad my equipment wasn't. (whine whine)

ISO400, ss320, f6,3

Senior Pics

And I'm SO frustrated with this session. I've actually offered to redo the whole day...boohoo Everything was either under or over-exposed and my lens was back-focusing on half the shots (that issue has been fixed-I think). Live and learn!

ISO400, ss200, f4

A shot from this summer

This is my kid's favorite babysitter. The kids love her, too bad she still lives in Cali. I can't find the settings, but I know it was in aperature mode.

One serious band kid

ISO 3200, ss320, f3.2

Still Jordan

Another capture from my shoot with Jordan. I'm going to dodge the shadow on her leg, anyone see anything else that needs to be done?

Brooding Biker Boy

I love this little guys pout! He had the coolest black leather jacket and tough guy attitude to go with it.

1/125, f 8, iso 160, 50 mm, studio lighting

Yes, I am in FRONT of the camera...

YIKES! Can I mention how much I loath being in front of the camera? But I really wanted something of me and dh, so here it is.

my session Sat.

I totally liqufied her!!! And it looks mahvelous, if I do say so myself..... Does he look too red? I don't know if it is my monitor or not!!

Christmas Picture

This is the Christmas picture that I took at my latest Engagement session. I was disappointed with the shadow on her face, but their bulldogs were a little crazy and it was the only picture where they were behaving. Manual ISO 250, f4.8, ss 1/250.

Ornament

This is a picture of one of our ornaments on our tree. I was trying to do low light, high iso - 'cause I need practice...lol It's a dove with windchimes below it and as you know I am working on my b&w's as well perfecting it to where I am happy...Lord only knows when that will be...haha I hope your weekends are going well.

f/1.8 ISO 1600 shutterspeed is somewhere betwen 30-60 I can't remember

Practicing

My 15 year old is going to a banquet next week. So, she wore her dress today and I practiced some of the things I learned at the workshop. This is one of her favorite images from today.