Andi & Ryan {Engaged} | Sneak Peek

 

On Memorial Day, I had the opportunity to do a photo session for a newly engaged couple that happens to also be my neighbors. We scheduled the shoot at a nearby trail since both Andi and Ryan are pretty active people who spend a lot of time outside. An outdoorsy session surrounded by lovely scenery was the perfect backdrop for their photographs.

We incorporated their bikes since it's something they enjoy doing together. While it was a bit challenging for Andi to ride a bike with a dress on, she managed to do so with grace (and without flashing anyone). We worked up a sweat moving all over the place. For Boone, it was pretty hot outside, so we stuck to the shady areas.

At the beginning of our session, I asked how lovey-dovey of a couple they were and whether or not they are the type to make out in public. They shyly responded by saying that really wasn't their style. Although I couldn't get these two to stop kissing the whole time! (hehe...I kid) They were adorable and I had a lot of fun with them during the session. Along with lots of kisses, we also had a lot of laughs!

I couldn't stop smiling when I got back home to look through their images. Hope you enjoy the sneak peek of this fun-loving couple!

Wayfaring Wanderer is a natural light photographer specializing in family portraits (including newborn & maternity photography), and is located in Boone, NC. Instead of shooting in a studio, WW has a lifestyle photography approach and prefers to have a photosession in surroundings that you are comfortable in--whether that be in your own home or another location of your choosing. A dedicated photography website is currently in the works, however, if you are interested in family photos to document your life and think that my style will suit your needs, please inquire via email (wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com) or through my Facebook page. 

Cut out the Crap

Sorry so brash, but I'm in that kind of mood.

It's been a while since I've had any portraits taken of myself.
When you're behind the camera all the time you don't think about getting involved.

Meet WW. Me.


Cody took this photo of me while we were waiting for lunch at a restaurant in St Augustine.
When I first looked at it I didn't like the overall image, but I looked happy.
I wondered what I could do to get rid of the background distractions.
So, I did a little sleuthing and decided to use the Lens Blur Filter.

The tutorial I found was very easy to follow and may be just
what you need to transform any so-so photos you might have.
It gives you a more shallow depth of field which will place
more focus on whatever area you designate.



Above is a comparison of the straight-out-of-camera (SOC) shot and
one with the lens blur filter applied then converted to B&W.
As you can see, it made a huge difference to the entire photo.
I don't love any photos of myself, really, but I do now.

Interested in learning how to apply a Lens Blur Filter in Photoshop?
Len Blur Filter Tutorial

*Also, in the photo at the top of the post, I tightened the crop a little more.
Compare it to the other B&W in the triptych.

Random:

• The weather is super yucky. I feel equally yucky.
• Tomorrow I am getting a new hair style for FREE!!!
  
• I'm thinking about side-bangs?!
  
• My bosses gf opened a salon and I do her books - more free haircuts are in my future.
• This week she's doing free hair styles and is having before and after pics taken by a man who just started working for our company. He has previously been a pro photographer.
• After my 9am haircut, I get to assist him with taking everyone else's photos.
• I know nothing about artificial lighting so I'm looking forward to learning something new.
• Maybe I'll also have some sweet before and after hair pics to share! I'll let you know how it goes!

* Sunshine on her Shoulders *

For a while now, I have been bugging a co-worker of mine to
let me take photos of her very adorable daughter.
It wasn't until after her last day on the job that we decided to
coordinate the endeavor, once and for all.

I have created some scenarios as to when and where
I would capture these snippets.
Kids, on the other hand, have their own agendas......
I don't photograph people as often anymore,
so it was a little foreign to me.

I wish that there would have been more time for her to get used to me, and the camera,
but they didn't arrive in enough time to get to the location I had in mind.
We ended up just having the 'session' in the backyard.

The above shot was the only one out of the handful that I really fell in love with.
Hopefully, in the future, we will have more time to get comfortable with one another.

~

In other news:

• I did go to bed before midnight last night, FINALLY! (and I hope to do so again tonight)
• I have still had an unusually high level of energy. (i really don't know where it's coming from)
• I am feeling 20 lbs lighter since I started cleaning up the house. I am, however, taking it slow, one room at a time. The task just seems less daunting this way.
• I wish I had more willing subjects to take photos of........
  
• I can't believe it's only Tuesday!
  

....::::Lack Thereof::::....

• This photo was not taken with a digital camera.
• It was taken with my 35mm camera my Dad gave me some years ago.
  
• I scanned it in from a print that I found recently.
  
• While at a hostel in 2002, I sat next to this French-Canadian girl whom I did not understand due to the language barrier, but thought she was adorable nonetheless.
• I love the dirt on her nose, and the expression on her face.
  
• I want to break out my 35mm again and show it the attention it deserves, I mean look at the bokeh, the grain.
  

While talking on the phone to my Sister today, we got on the subject of portraiture. And she proceeded to tell me that people always want to know who took photos of Ju-Ju (my nephew) that she has hanging around the house. This lead to the discussion of how I never really take pictures of people anymore, and it's true, I don't. You may see a candid shot of Cody here and there , but for the most part, nature is my favorite subject.

~

Maybe it's because she (mother nature) isn't shy, and I don't have to ask if she minds that I capture her essence. Another reason is mainly because I don't have willing subjects knocking down my door wanting photos of themselves. But willings subjects aside, I love to take pictures of people, I just don't do it all that often. When I go back home for a visit is when I try to get photos of family and friends. This past Thanksgiving, as soon as I got to my Uncle's house I started taking photos of everyone. After awhile they got used to it and didn't really seem to mind a camera pointed in their direction. When I lived in Jacksonville, taking pictures of people took up the majority of film that I went through. It's funny how things change, isn't it?

I sometimes miss having people to take photos of.........my family especially.


MEET JU-JU

*This is a digital photo, taken on Thanksgiving 07*

• See another post with Ju-Ju photos: Here