My Epiphany

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I have written a blog post, I have no real excuse except life gets in the way. I have been busy with work, home and photos. Work is all kinds of crazy with every weekend booked, lucky I am able to share the work load with my colleagues (a few years ago it fell to me to do all the weekends - until I had a tanty and said 'NO MORE I CAN'T DO IT ALL {shouty capitals intended}. Circumstances have changed a bit at home and we have finally been able to get some much needed work done...this will be another post in a few days ***I hope***

In my last post I was talking about finding my 'style' as a photographer, while I still have not found 'the style' I have come to a huge realisation. ***Insert dramatic music*** I do not want to make a business out of photography, not that I don't think I am good enough, I am. I just don't want the stress or the pressure that goes with making money. 
I love photography everything about it (except maybe getting up for sunrise), I loved some aspects of the weddings I have photographed....but I hated trying to get the families organised for the group shots. I will still do wedding photos for friends and families if asked (any excuse to use may camera) I will take baby photos of any babies that are related to me, I just won't do it for money. 
I feel really good about this decision. It means everything I photograph now, I do for me and me alone.

This past few weeks I have been working on ideas, I come up with a image (or I see something on the net I would like to reproduce) then I work on how to do it. I have played with a few ideas that have turned out just how I imagined them too. I have gotten into the habit of sharing my idea with HWMBO or my daughters, so that I have some accountability. To show I am not just making it up as I go and hoping for the best result, not that it matters. 

The monthly challenges on the flicker group help a lot with my ideas, they give me a 'theme' to focus on.

This was my entry for the Up Close Portrait challenge, #2's friends are so much fun to dress up and play with, we had a huge laugh over the makeup session, I didn't know what I was doing and neither did she so lots of makeup wipes later we got the look I wanted. (this image didn't place I was a bit heavy handed with the background, I should really re edit....one day)

This months challenge is another portrait one - surprisingly only it is Portrait showing extreme emotion. This was good because I had the whole hospital garb idea running though my head. my models couldn't quite pull of the expressions I wanted for the escape through the ferns- probably because we were laughing too much. The hollow log provided the perfect hiding spot.

This was is #3 and our beautiful Lilly, I wanted this image to be a bit dark and mysterious,even a bit magical. I know I pulled it off when The Guy Who Taught ME Everything messaged me saying "This image brought to mind Silence of the Lambs"  

Feel free to let me know what you think, I will try not to be so slack and post more often.

Be Happy and smile often

Busy few weeks

Wow doesn't time fly when you are busy, every day I have said I would catch up on my editing, website building and blogging....and every day I have had something else to do. I have been busy at home, busy with photos and supper busy at work. Lucky for me June is a reasonably quiet month at work so I will have more time for the things I enjoy.

#2 is much happier with her travels after the phone incident in Paris, http://rozzy35.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/the-big-adventure.html she has been making friends around Europe and is now spending her last week of travel in Spain. I think my baby girl has grown up a lot in the last few weeks. The photo a day challenge for her stopped when she lost her phone. I have had to be happy with messages on Facebook and a few Skype dates. She is happy and having the time of her life, that is all a mother can ask for.

While #2 Daughter has been gallivanting around the world her friends have been playing with me. I wanted a young pretty girl for a shadow photo - a challenge for our Flickr group. Luckily the friend had a lace parasol that creates beautiful shadows, I was going to use a clear umbrella with hearts on it, the parasol worked so much better. This image won the challenge.

Winner - shadow like a mask

Hiding from the camera

I had been trying for months to get #2 to pose for a few photo ideas before she went OS....she always had an excuse not to come with me, so I asked A to pose at the graffiti wall. 

I need to work on my posing a bit, I am not sure how to direct friends to do what I want and still remain natural... it is all learning 

The other idea I had was a story...Genie in a bottle. Another one of #2's friends helped with this idea. I love when a plan turns out exactly like I imagine. 

I have not finished with these photos, I still have the story line to create.

The costume is mine from my belly dancing days, the wings are my favorite prop. Neek loved running around the beach with them, regardless that it was freezing. 

More photos to come in my next entry...I also have a lot of planned shoots for the next few weeks. Maybe I will start getting paid soon....maybe I need to get the website built....maybe I better get on with it now. maybe maybe maybe............later.