Whale Watching!

My husband is a Santa Cruz native.  I'm a transplant to Santa Cruz, but was born and raised in California.  As a married couple of almost 20 years, we have lived close to the beach.  We have spent many summers on the sand while raising two boys.  Growing up, I would go to the harbor every Sunday with my dad and his best friend and take the sailing boat out onto the bay.  We love the water, the sand, and the sea life!  But, we have n e v e r taken a whale watching boat tour before... until this past Sunday.

We had been hearing about the Orcas in the bay surrounding and killing a gray whale calf.  We know it's the season for humpbacks, blues, and gray whales.  So we said, let's do it!  Thanks to Groupon, I had our Sunday morning tour booked within minutes.

We boarded the Sea Goddess vessel at 0930 hours.  As we maneuvered through the harbor, the Captain said he could already see a "blow" right outside of the mouth of the harbor!  All I could think was, YAY!!!  And he was right!  We were maybe a football field length outside of the harbor when there were humpback whales to the port side of the ship. We were on the starboard side, so we waited and were patient.  We saw a white-ish nose of a whale pop up - full of barnacles - and then lost him.  That was our first spotting on our side of the ship.  We later found out that was the only gray whale of the day.  Bonus!  The rest were humpbacks.  We eventually got to see some humpbacks on our side of the ship.  So fun!  We could call the trip a success and go back in the first 30 minutes.  Buuuut... it was a two-hour tour.  So the captain continued on.  We stopped at the 1-mile buoy to watch more humpbacks and their calves.  So fun.  Then we made it out to about 2-3 miles.  It got quiet on the water for a little bit, so we eventually made our way back to the 1-mile buoy where we saw more, or the same ones but we saw them again. :)

The captain put the engine in gear and was just starting to go when, right in front of us, a humpback whale breached! Almost clearing the water with his/her entire body!  And for whatever reason, I was the only one of the boat who captured the breach on camera.  And there were about 50 people who had cameras up and in hand the entire tour! Crazy!

High School Graduation Photo Shoots!

'Tis the season for graduation announcements!  Hence, photo shoot spring season commence.  Ha!  I love these kids.  They are just about to leave the nest of home, they are adults now, and they have some confidence.  So it's fun to capture all of that in a photo session.  All the seniors I have had the privilege to photograph seem to embrace the spotlight - even if they don't admit it!

Capitola Beach - May 2017

Capitola Beach - May 2017

Boulder Creek - October 2016

Boulder Creek - October 2016

Capitola Village - November 2011

Watsonville - June 2011

Placerville - November 2015

El Dorado Hills - August 2013

El Dorado Hills - August 2013

Nursing Graduate - April 2015

Babies!

It is an honor and a privelege to be able to capture newborn babies!  Every time I get a call for a newborn session, I am filled with excitement and nerves!  The best time to do a newborn photo shoot is right after they are born. Literally, within the first week. Why?  Because they sleep sooooo much and can be "bothered" enough to (usually) sleep through the whole thing.  However, I rarely get babies that want to sleep.  Isn't that funny? I'm still learning all about newborn photo shoots through the actual shoots.  I don't think I've mastered it, but I do think I capture enough of the newborn-ness that makes a parent happy.

Newborn - natural light - April 2017

Newborn - natural light - December 2016

Newborn with Dad - natural light - December 2016

Newborn - natural light - January 2015

Newborn and big sister - natural light - January 2015

Adoption - 2 years old - natural light - November 2012

Head Shots

I was going through my computer (and external hard drive) looking for a specific photo when I stumbled upon these beauties that I took back in 2013.  It wasn't the photo I was looking for but I decided to stop anyway and thumb through the photo shoot.

I don't know about you but I love looking back at photos from six months ago to over a decade ago to remember my style back then and see if I can identify where I have grown and developed as a photographer.

What I found with this specific photo shoot is that I still really like them. Now, true be told, I have over 200 photos from this shoot.  I edited about 50 of them and out of those these four are my favorite.

Why do I like these four specific ones? Let me break it down for you...

Number one: "Movement"
I love it when I can capture movement.  Even the slightest movement of hair reminds me that it was a sunny but slightly breezy afternoon.  I also like that she is looking away - almost candid.

"Movement"  {Aptos, CA - April 2013}

Number two: "Sunlit"
I really like it when I can catch the sun on the back of their hair giving a sort of halo/angel effect.  I also really like the depth of field/bokeh-esque backdrop.  On a technical level it is slightly blown out on the right.  However I like it.

"Sunlit"

Number three: "Pop"
The eyes really pop in this photo.  She's got some grown up model-like pose going on (yes, she's missing her other arm) but her eyes are staring at me - dead on - and they are bright and light.  She is definitely telling me something, maybe even with some sass. Love it! :)

"Pop"

Number four: "Youth"
Even though this young lady is, at the time, a pre-teen she definitely is ready to bounce onto broadway with all her amazing vocals and acting skills as well as owning her photo shoot. :)  However this photo reminds me that she is still young and innocent, sweet and kind.

"Youth"

Smiling,
Melody

Spring Has Sprung!

I have been photographing both of these girls since they were newborns, about three times a year.  One of them has a March birthday but we just did not get to photographing her until April.  And I'm so glad it worked out this way because so many wild flowers were blooming!  I was a little concerned about the outside temperature though...

...We decided on a 10am photo shoot, which is smidge later than preferred due to less shadows, but sometimes all that extra light ends up working in my favor.  Anyway, one thing I did not consider was the temperature.  I had looked ahead to the weather for rain/clouds/sunshine/etc and sunshine was in the forecast.  Yay!  But when I pulled up to the location I noticed my cars outside temperature read 51 degrees.  Yikes!  I knew that would be too cold for the girls.  For anyone, really - as it pertains to being comfortable enough to be yourself when you are getting photos taken of you.  But we were all on site, dressed, and ready to go.  So I told myself, "Self, we just gotta make it work!". 

As we were on our short walk from the parking lot to the field of purple flowers I started to believe it would be warm enough IN THE SUN.  So I knew I would have to do all my photography in the full sun. 

Their faces had to be in front of the sun (meaning the sun was on their back) so a little bit of metering, adjusting up a stop, and changing my ISO, seemed to help me in the field.  There ended up being some major lightening up in post processing so their faces lit up a little bit more.  This is where I will continue to grow as a photographer.

Overall though, I'm pleased.  Very pleased.  Their clothing accented perfectly with the purple flowers and the greenery all around them.  I knew there were wild flowers on site, I just did not know what color or how many, if enough at all.  (side note: this is where pre-planning and scoping out your photoshoot is really helpful BEFORE your shoot) But it all worked out!

And with all kid photography, there will always be a few outtakes that are necessary to post process because, come on - look how adorable! :)

Smiling,

Melody

Family Photo Shoots - what to wear?

Immediately after I book a client for a family photo shoot the next question is, "What should we wear?" If this is you, you are not alone.  I even struggle with it for my own family.  But over the years I have learned a thing or two about what seems to work when it comes to clothing for family photos.  Hopefully you will be able to get a better grasp for clothing options at the end of this post.  I should first mention the biggest rule here: THERE REALLY IS NO RULE.  But I know that some will still want guidance.  So, here is goes:

Scenery

Old Town Folsom, CA - just before sunset - Nov 2015

First, think of where you will be taking your family photos, is it at the beach? the forest? your home? on a bridge?  Next, think about the time of year for your photos, fall? spring? summer? winter? And then finally consider the time of day you will be taking your photos.  Usually you will be taking photos in the early morning light (the best is to be done with photos by 10am) or early evening photos just before the sun sets - this is what photographers call the "golden hour".  Almost all of my family photo shoots have been just before the sun sets - where the harsh light is gone but there is still enough light to bounce beautifully off faces - no shadows, just perfect. 

Comfort

Next, consider how comfortable your family will be in the clothing they are wearing.  Without a doubt if you are not comfortable in the clothes you are wearing it WILL show in your photos.  Every time.  This is especially true with kids.  If the clothes are new, too big, too bulky, etc they will be fidgeting with their clothes, maybe throw a tantrum, and their smiles are usually forced... no matter how hard I try or their parents.  The other thing to think about is style within the comfort category.  If you have a teen who always wears a t-shirt - always - and you put him/her in a dress or sweater for the first and only time it will also show in your photos.  Plus, is it truly a good representation of who they are/where they are currently in life if you are putting them in something they would not normally wear (or yourselves) just so you have a coordinated family photo?  Really try to embrace who they are in life - right now - and try to find an outfit that will reflect it.  If your teen likes t-shirts, maybe find a newer t-shirt in their style but with colors that will have some connection to the rest of the family.  It's a win-win! The other option (for my planners out there) is to buy the new clothes in advance of your photo shoot date.  Give them time to wear their outfit a few times - wash/dry it - try it again until they get comfy in them. 

Capitola Trestle, CA - right at sunset - Oct 2012

Colors - Layers - Patterns

Being part of a family includes connection, cohesiveness (we hope), consideration, etc.  So it is natural to want to have your photos showcase that connectivity, cohesiveness, etc.  The easy way to accomplish this is to have some sort of a theme in clothing for each member of the family. I will tell you that when everyone is matchy-matchy it almost is TOO much cohesiveness. :)  But you can still gain that coordination with a few simple steps.  First, start with inspiration - usually this will be the patterned shirt/blouse/dress for one member of your family. Next, build the rest of the family members clothing (think shirts - pants can be the same if needed) from that pattern by picking out one color that is in the pattern for one family member and then another color for another family member, etc until you have some base pieces for everyone to wear.  Finally - this is usually for the ladies - add some layers, a scarf, cardigan, belt, statement necklace, shoes, etc.  If after you layout your entire family's outfits and there is not a "pop" of color yet, that's a good time for (usually) Mom to change up the belt, necklace, etc for a accenting color.

Folsom, CA - an hour before sunset - Oct 2014

What Are You Going To Do With Your Photos
Finally, what are you going to do with your photos?  Are they just going to be Christmas cards? Engagement/Baby announcements? Are they going to be pieces of art in your house? Are they gifts for family/loved ones? This is probably the most important thing you need to answer before you start planning on what your family is going to wear for the photo shoot. If you want to hang these in your home, then where you go and what you wear should be the basis of what your family will wear.  For example, if your house is light and bright and coastal - and you are considering a photo shoot at the beach (which would make sense) - then your clothing colors should be light and bright.  If your home is rustic/woodsy then consider an apple orchard or an old barn for your photo shoot location and then add some clothing colors that will compliment your home/style.

Felton, CA - just before sunset - Oct 2012

Corralitos, CA - just before sunset - Nov 2012

So, here we are, at the end of another post.  I hope you learned something.  Or I hope you have a better idea of how to dress your family for a photo shoot.  As I mentioned at the beginning of this post - I'll reiterate it here, there really is no rule when it comes to picking out clothing for a family photo shoot.  My goal of a family photo shoot is to have everyone together (which is a real struggle for some of my clients!) in one photo and to capture everyone's personalities as best as I can.  If that happens to be with non-coordinating clothes and a just-come-as-you-are photo, then so be it.  It is a treasure, no matter how everyone looks.  But if we can plan ahead and get some coordination going - then I'm in!

Old Town Folsom, CA - at sunset - Nov 2015

Smiling,
Melody 

Backdrop, Bunting and Babies

Well, here we are.  Another blogger in the universe.  I like to [try and] speak through/with photos.  Hopefully someone will see parts of my heart, maybe my soul as they scan through the photos.  And I guess I'll write a little bit too.  Just don't focus on my grammar. :)

Backdrops: I have never bought a real backdrop.  I usually don't use them as I am not such a lover of studio photography.  My favorite place to shoot is outdoors, with natural light.  However, some clients really want that indoor shot.  And honestly, newborns need to be indoors.  I don't know if it is because I don't want to spend a lot of money of them or what?  So I end up at the fabric store with a 40% off coupon and grab four to five yards.  There you have it, insta-backdrop.  This gray fabric is a concoction of felt and ?? I don't know.  I found it with with the burlap.  It sort of reminds me of suede, where if you swipe it one way it leaves your "swipe" mark on the fabric.  That, I did not notice when I bought it.  Oh well.  I still like. (all three photos are with the same backdrop)

Bunting:  I've also never bought pre-made bunting before.  I always make it from scratch.  Usually it's paper or burlap.  This photo shoot was no exception, definitely paper as I cut and taped them together about 30 minutes before the shoot.  For putting it all together I had nothing but butcher's twine and it worked just fine. 

Babies:  Well, one of my favorite subjects to photograph are children.  There is something about capturing THAT moment.  If I know the parents I usually know when that moment and I smile behind my camera because I know I got it.  If I don't know the parents I can usually tell when THAT moment is happening by the way the parents react when their child smiles the way they were hoping.  Truly, it is so fun and an honor to be part of capturing the moments these families will cherish forever.  That's what it really is about, right?  Documenting life to recall later in happy (and quite frankly, sad) times. 

So, that's my first entry.  I'm guessing most entries won't be this long.  

Who knows.  

We'll see.  

Smiling,

Melody