January Reflections

At the start of January, I was begging friends to model for me (and they did, because they love me). 
By the end of January, STRANGERS were PAYING me to take commercial photography, headshots, engagement portraits, and booking me to shoot their WEDDINGS!

THANK YOU to the Friends who let me take their picture for my portfolio!
1) Christie & Sons 
2) Elizabeth & Ian
3) Kesha, Lamoryea & Maverick
4) Kirsten & Ciaran
5) Leslie, Daniel, & Libby

1) I was NOT ready for this session. I wasn't finished with the Shooting and Editing Course, and I had just purchased a new camera from FB Marketplace that I hadn't entirely figured out yet. I was shooting in Manual--where you are supposed to be in control of all the settings. However, I found myself fighting against a bracketing preset that I hadn't realized was on, as well as an automatic ISO-Sensitivity  setting that I also didn't know what on. It was frustrating, to say the least. Sorry Christie! I guess it was all part of the learning experience ;)

2) We met up after school (with ONE hour of sunlight remaining) and drove around downtown looking for good lighting. I would scream "STOP THE CAR!" and then we would all jump out and take some pictures wherever inspiration hit. It was SO FUN, and I was thankful for such spontaneous souls to adventure with me! :)

3) I drove up to Roanoke to meet my new baby friend-nephew, and took some in-home family portraits. It was challenging, for sure. There were many tears (not from me, surprisingly). But I came away with my first newborn session, and some sweet family portraits.

4) I contacted a friend from college who had been recently engaged, and was able to take their engagement pictures in Downtown New Bern! It was a similar experience to Elizabeth and Ian's Anniversary session (the running around downtown bit), but I had a better understanding of lighting for this one, and the pictures are more impressive (sorry Elizabeth & Ian). 

5) I took portraits of this sweet family in December and did not expose the images as much as I would have now (after understanding light more). Sorry! We'll do it again soon! :)


PAID GIGS!
Thumbtack has been a GREAT tool for me! It was how I connected with a man to take his professional headshots, and how I can contacted to take pictures of some signs and measure them. 

Wonderful friends have helped me out in ways other than standing in front of my lens! :)
Over breakfast one Saturday morning, my friend Emma told me that her coworker's photographer flaked on them, and that their wedding was the following weekend. 
I'm not sure what came over me in that moment, but in 10 seconds of courage,
I said I would do it. *gulp* 
These are the moments when you just have to go for it. 
I did (and I'm so glad).
I took their engagement pictures THE NEXT DAY,
And showed up to their rehearsal dinner five days later! 
It was an incredible learning experience for me. 
I then spent the day after the wedding editing pictures for 11 hours...
And then vowed to better understanding lighting principals
So to never have that happened ever again. Ever.

That's all for January! 
​More on Wedding Reflections later...