Dress in layers. The warmer you are the more you will enjoy your outing. I like to wear small thin gloves under my mittens so when I do start taking pictures I can easily use the buttons on my camera without my fingers freezing. Mittens with the removable fingertips would work well too. This is also beneficial when you are out with your family enjoying the winter weather.

Batteries drain quickly in cold temps so keep a spare or two in an inside pocket close to your body. Also keep your camera in a pocket or camera bag between shots to keep it from getting too cold (do not put it inside your coat close to your body as this can create condensation on your camera and fog up the lens). Transfer your camera and lenses to a sealable plastic bag BEFORE going indoors and leave it like that for several hours until it has reached room temperature. This will keep any condensation from occurring inside your camera, which could cause mechanical failures.

Your camera will want to underexpose the bright white scene and make the snow look blue instead. Try shooting in a setting other than manual (ie. shutter priority) and use exposure compensation (+/- symbol) to overexpose up to 2 stops. If you are shooting in manual just increase your exposure by changing the shutter speed or ISO. Your owners manual can help you with how to do this with your camera model. 

Hope this helps!  

Fine Art: 

More custom and personalized to give you a unique experience

Fine art products to decorate your home

Entire product line available

Involves more time and planning (I help with the entire process to make it as easy as possible with both in person pre-consult and order consult)

Mini Session:

Great for updating family photos or holiday cards, etc.

Smaller packages and limited products available for easy ordering

Involves less time and planning (pre-consult done via phone/email and ordering products via online image gallery)

I hope this helps!

Wargo Nature Center - Introduction to Dragonflies Aug 11 2-3pm, learn dragonfly identification and search the peninsula's wetlands, prairies and flower gardens for these creatures. Binoculars and nets are provided. Pre-registration required $5 per person.

Aquatore Park in Blaine

• Aug 3 - Tricia and the Toonies (musical puppets) 10:30am
• Aug 9 - The Backyard Band 6pm
• Aug 10 - Bob the Beachcomber (children's concert) 10:30am
• Aug 17 - Kids Dance Party 10:30am

Aug 1 - Jam Hops Dance Show at Blaine Town Square 6:30pm

Aug 17 - Movie in the Park "Wonder" at Lino Park starts at dusk

Aug 22 - Minnesota Blue (bluegrass concert) Blaine Town Square 6:30pm

Every Thursday through mid-August - Bald Eagle Waterski Show on Centerville Lake 7pm. Bring lawn chair or blanket

Set your focus point by tapping on the screen where your main subject is, you will see a yellow box appear to show your focus point (it may be a different color for a smartphone). You can even lock focus by tapping and holding on the screen where your subject is, AE/AF Lock will appear on your screen along with the yellow box. To see more about this and exposure see my post on Better iPhone Photos http://www.mworm.photography/blog/2018/5/better-iphone-photos.

Use a tripod or other object to stabilize your phone. There are many small tripod options available for smartphones. You can also prop it against a tree, rail, ground or anything else nearby. Sometimes I have just sat on the ground with my knees up and propped it on my knees or feet. Whatever you can find that is stable will work. 

Use adequate light when possible. The dimmer the light on your subject the slower your shutter speed will be which will result in a blurry image. 

Hope this helps and have fun shooting!

Rock Art: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/make-rock-art/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=kds_Family_Field_Guide_20180418&utm_campaign=Kids_Newsletter&utm_rd=17855343

Make a Paper Boat: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/make-a-paper-boat/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=kds_Family_Field_Guide_20180418&utm_campaign=Kids_Newsletter&utm_rd=17855343

Seed Bombs and Slingshots: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/seed-bombs-and-slingshots/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=kds_Family_Field_Guide_20180418&utm_campaign=Kids_Newsletter&utm_rd=17855343

Wargo Nature Center: Wargo Butterly Walk July 26 2-3pm, take a stroll through prairies and flower gardens, spy butterflies and other pollinators through binoculars. Pre-registration required, $5 per person.

Aquatore Park in Blaine:

• July13 - The Alphabits (Children's concert) 10:30am
• July 17 - Family Fun Night (games, face-painting, food, music) 6pm
• July 20 - Wendy's Wiggle, Jiggle & Jam (children's concert) 10:30am
• July 27 - The Bazillions (children's concert) 10:30am

July 26 - Family Corn Roast at Sunrise Park 5:30-8pm

Every Thursday evening Bald Eagle Waterski Show on Centerville Lake 7pm. Bring lawn chairs or blanket 

Set focus: While the camera app does a pretty good job guessing on what you want to be in focus, it is not always correct. Simply tap on the screen where you want focus to be and the yellow square will show you your focus point.

Set exposure: Same with exposure you may need to set it manually by tapping on the screen where your main subject is that you want correctly exposed, then swipe up or down to brighten or darken the image to your liking.

Lock exposure/focus: You can also lock your focus and exposure so that if something is moving within the scene the focus or exposure doesn't keep changing before you have a chance to take your image. To do this tap and hold on your phone screen and the yellow box will show up along with AE/AF Lock (see image below of orchids). It will remain locked until you tap on another part of the screen.

Screenshot

• Remind them to hold the camera straight when it is required
• Pay attention to backgrounds for distractions. Move around to change the background when needed.
• Shoot from different perspectives: up high, down low, wide angle, close-up, etc.
• The focal point should be something of interest. What was it about the scene that first caught their attention?
• The subject does not always need to be in the center, in fact often it is more visually appealing if it is off center. For older kids consider having them look into the "rule of thirds".
• Most cameras and also some smartphone apps have different shooting modes such as macro for closeup, sports for action shots, portrait which would blur the background, and landscape when you want everything in focus.

Backyard photography or photo scavenger hunt: encourage something creative by giving your kids the camera or smartphone and send them outside with assignments or a scavenger hunt. You could even do this inside if it is a rainy day. Some easy tips for children when photographing: get low (which they typically are already), get close and try different perspectives. Tell them to get creative!

Hula hoop science project: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/books/try-this-hula-hoop/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=kds_Family_Field_Guide_20180418&utm_campaign=Kids_Newsletter&utm_rd=17855343

Wargo Nature Center: Howl With The Wolves - June 23 1-3:30pm. Learn about wolves and play games. Pre-registration required $5 per person.

June 2 - Kite Day at Rice Lake Elementary 10:30-11:30, includes free kites

June 7 - Centennial Community Band at Golden Lake Park 7-8:30pm

June 20 - Teddy Bear Band at Blaine Town Square 6:30pm

June 21 - Musical Puppets at Golden Lake Park 1:30-2:30pm

June 28 - Rockin in the Park, concert with arts & crafts and bounce house at Sunrise Park 6-8pm

June 27 - Night Light Creatures at Centennial Library 2pm, pre-registration required

Every Thursday starting mid June Bald Eagle Waterski Show on Centerville Lake 7pm. Bring lawn chairs or blankets

I got to thinking about how I rarely pull out my camera during the harsh midday sun to photograph my family. I am more likely to just take a quick snaphot with my iphone considering the squinty eyes and harsh shadows. However, often times the most family fun can happen during this time. What if I could change my outlook by learning to embrace the sun with camera in hand instead of cringing from it. The following are some tips that I have learned along the way that may help you with your summer candids.

1). Capture activities instead of close up portraits. Try stepping back and including the environment. Look for vibrant colors or interesting surroundings that will compliment your subjects.

2). Use open shade. Look for foliage, overhangs, tunnels, decks, cliffs or beach umbrellas. Just be watchful of dappled light falling on your subjects. No shade around for miles? Try shooting with your subjects facing away from the sun to avoid harsh shadows or raccoon eyes. Hats and sunglasses can also help with this (and look adorable as well!).

3). Keep a look out for natural reflectors such as sand or patios to bounce light onto your subjects face.

4). Move around your subjects until you get the light falling on them in a pleasing way. Sometimes just changing your position can make all the difference!

5). Get in close and focus on the details instead of the face. Things like sandy toes, hands holding a flower or pushing a truck are great ways to add to the story.

6). Include interesting shadows. Lines, patterns and shapes can be used to create an interesting composition and lead the viewer to your subjects.

7). Contrasting highlights and shadows can be great for black and white images. Most cameras (and phones) allow you to shoot in black and white so that you immediately see the results. This will help you learn to see in black and white before you even press the shutter!

So don't keep your camera tucked away during those bright summer days!

William O'Brien State Park: 

Beneath the surface of Lake Alice- May 19th & May 27th 2:00-3:00

Under the Almost Full Moon- May 27th 6:30-8:00

Kite Day: June 2nd 10:30-11:30 at Rice Lake Elementary

Snapseed - for basic editing

Formulas - for textures 

Brushstroke - for turning your images into paintings

Rollworld - a fun app for tiny planet photos or distorting images (another good one I have heard about it Tiny Planets)

Mextures - for textures

A couple fun ones to use instead of using your native camera:

Hipstamatic - has lots of fun effects

Slow shutter - great for blurring subjects

I will follow up with more information on how I use each of these apps in later posts.

mpix.com

• Accordian mini album: you could even leave a blank page or two and have the kiddos or yourself hand write a message or picture
• Keychain
• Luggage Tag
• Keepsake Box
• Photo Magnets

photobarn.com

• Photohearts
• Heart Collageboard
• Heart Magnets
• Heart Coasters

Here are the links to these products and more https://www.mpix.com/valentines-day-photo-gifts, http://www.mpix.com/products/funstuff, http://www.photobarn.com/specials

Photobarn is offering 60% off heart shaped products!

Custom family or child/children session:

• session created around your family's or child's hobbies or personalities. Could have a specific theme or story.
• includes pre-consultation and order consultation where together we will plan the best location, wardrobe, props, wall art, albums and to help with any questions you may have.
• includes many various poses and family breakdowns, wardrobe changes and background/location changes. Final images may have a more artful approach.

Mini family or child/children sessions:

• session with simple basic poses.
• pre-consultation done by phone or email and ordering done via online gallery.
• limited session dates and locations pre-selected by the photographer.
• includes smaller amount of poses and few family breakdowns. One outfit and background/location.
• smaller amount of final images offered which is best for gift prints, holiday cards and maybe updating a wall portrait.

Hopefully this helps, however please contact me for more details or any questions you may have.

Life was very busy for a while and my blog posts suffered for it. But hopefully now I will be back to blogging more regularly again. Just like most people at the start of a new year I look back and decide what was working, what is not and where I can make changes for the better. I have made some small changes to the types of sessions I offer so that clients have better options to fit their needs. More information on that to come in a future post.

With my nature photography, I have recently made the realization that I am more of a fine art photographer than a documentary photographer. Instead of capturing exactly what is in front of me I like making choices in camera to help convey the mood or highlight the subject in a certain way, and further it in post processing. This is something I apply to my flower photography, which became a huge passion of mine over this past summer. To see some of my new work visit http://mwormphotography.com.

I am always learning new things and looking for ways to challenge myself. I will be interested to see what 2018 brings!

tips:

1). Set the lens to manual focus and set apeture to lowest setting. Meter and adjust shutter speed or ISO accordingly for correct exposure all the while considering that more light will be entering with the lens detached.

2). Detach lens but keep it close to the camera body. Tilt the lens up and down or left and right to see how the plane of focus changes. The farther the lens is from the camera the less will be in focus, which is something you can experiment with as you become more comfortable.

3). Best focal length to start with is 50mm. The lighter the lens the better since you will be holding the camera with one hand (unless using a tripod) and the lens with the other while trying to focus manually.

4). Use live view on a DSLR or the LCD on a mirrorless camera to help achieve focus where you want it.

5). You will be exposing the inside of the camera body as well as your lens to the elements so be careful of things such as dust or moisture. You may need to carefully clean your gear afterward.

Have fun experimenting!

The tween session would basically look like a cross between a senior session and a milestone session. I feel that this age is often skipped over but it shouldn't be. That step between being a child and entering the teenage years is just as important and should not go overlooked!

I am still working out the details for these, but I am very excited!

Have a great Memorial Weekend!

1). Capture activities instead of close up portraits. Try stepping back and including the environment. Look for vibrant colors or interesting surroundings that will compliment your subjects.

2). Use open shade. Look for foliage, overhangs, tunnels, decks, cliffs or beach umbrellas. Just be watchful of dappled light falling on your subjects. No shade around for miles? Try shooting with your subjects facing away from the sun to avoid harsh shadows or raccoon eyes. Hats and sunglasses can also help with this (and look adorable as well!).

3). Keep a look out for natural reflectors such as sand or patios to bounce light onto your subjects face.

4). Move around your subjects until you get the light falling on them in a pleasing way. Sometimes just changing your position can make all the difference!

5). Get in close and focus on the details instead of the face. Things like sandy toes, hands holding a flower or pushing a truck are great ways to add to the story.

6). Include interesting shadows. Lines, patterns and shapes can be used to create an interesting composition and lead the viewer to your subjects.

7). Contrasting highlights and shadows can be great for black and white images. Most cameras (and phones) allow you to shoot in black and white so that you immediately see the results. This will help you learn to see in black and white before you even press the shutter!

So don't keep your camera tucked away during those bright summer days!

climb a tree

pick berries

smell flowers

catch bugs

build a fort

hide and seek outside

outdoor scavenger hunt

build a birdhouse

collect rocks (just not at a county, state or federal park as that is illegal)

roll down a hill

gaze at the clouds

find a secret hideaway

follow/look for animal tracks

balance on a log

star gaze

make a willow whistle

splash in puddles

catch tadpoles (and release unharmed of course!)

make mud pies

read books outside 

have a picnic

listen and identify frogs 

Most of us did a lot of these as a child because our generation spent every moment outside! Put a copy of this somewhere in your house or your phone to keep it handy through the summer.

There are also so many beautiful parks, nature centers, beaches, rivers and trails to explore without traveling to far. I try to post once a month a park that we have visited and enjoyed.

We had fun exploring the trails and seeing all the different migrating birds, especially a group of white pelicans (one of Minnesota's largest birds) which is becoming a more common sight on Albert Lea Lake. I went back to the same spot (the great marsh) just after sunrise the next morning hoping they would return. I was lucky enough not only to see them again, but the group was larger this time. I captured this image with my Canon 7d and Sigma 150-500 mm lens from the far shoreline to avoid disturbing them while they had their breakfast. It was so peaceful, I really enjoyed observing these large birds.

Later that day we hiked by that area again hoping they would be there, and we got to see them take off and land on the water as a group, it was a cool sight. 

The photographer will probably ask you what kind of session you are looking for (ie. baby, family, etc), but if not it is something you want to bring up right away. A photographer who specializes in couples and weddings may not be a good fit for your 3 year old toddler.

1. "Do you offer pre-consultations and/or order consultations in-person?": I would ask this because I feel that with having little kids it helps for them to meet the photographer first (especially if they are shy). It is also nice to have someone help with planning the session details like what to wear or what location to go with. After the session it is helpful to have their help with picking out your portraits, since that can be very overwhelming. On the other hand some photographers will do this by email or phone and if you are strapped for time and feel you do not need to meet the photographer before hand or have that extra help planning, then that may be the way to go for you.

2. "Do you specialize in selling prints, wall art or albums?": Some version of this question is important to ask because there are quite a few photographers who will do the session and then just sell the digital files. I prefer to invest the extra money to have a tangible product to display in my home (without having to do the work myself). Again this would be based on what you prefer (I highly recommend getting some kind of printed product).

3. "Can you give me a ballpark of how much most clients spend?": Another very important question. If your budget is for $300 and most clients invest in $800-$1200 then this photographer is probably not a good fit for you. You don't want to invest all this time just to be frustrated in the end because you cannot afford the products that you were hoping to get. 

I hope this helps next time you are shopping to find the right photographer for you!

1. Staying healthy/active: I am sure you can relate. Trying to find the time to workout so that you have enough energy to keep up with the family that keeps you so busy in the first place.

2. Setting aside time for my hobbies/myself: You can probably relate to this as well. As much as I love being a mother/wife, I feel like sometimes I get lost in the shuffle. I am still here under it all, all the busy days and lists of things to do. However by the time I get some alone time I am exausted and in a coma type state of mind.

3. More time to spend alone with my hubby: This can be another one that is easy to let slide. Most nights I am either ready for bed shortly after the kids or we sit in front of the t.v. for a little bit before giving in and going to sleep. Date night is not always easy to plan either. You have to find a Friday or Saturday that is open and work on lining up a sitter (and paying that sitter if necessary).

All of these I feel are so important to healthy living (mind and body). The hardest part is finding the time without sacrificing your fun family time as well. So I sat down with a notebook, pen and calendar to try to figure out how to fit it all in. It was very tricky and I had to shuffle some things around, or sacrifice in certain areas. I also went over it with my husband because it effects him too, and he has to be on board in order for it to work. I keep it on our calendar or dry erase board as a visual reminder. One tip I had learned from a course I took was that when you put something on your calendar, like soccer practice, make sure to include things like drive time and anything else extra so that you are not overbooking yourself. Anytime you are planning to add something to the schedule make sure you have the time for it, there is nothing worse than running around like crazy because you committed to more than you should have. That may mean saying no sometimes, which for me can be difficult.

Any special goals or resolutions you have for yourself? Feel free to share your experiences, tips or thoughts.

Family yearbooks or scrapbooking: I know many of you who are scrap bookers and good for you! For those of you who are more like me and don't have that itch for scrapbooking then family yearbooks may be the way to go. You can go to just about any photo editing website (I prefer the reasonably priced, but high quality of mpix) and pick out a digital book and easily upload your photos and create a digital album. Some sites will even setup the album for you based on the photos you have selected. I started doing this a few years ago. A way to make it even easier on yourself is to download your photos monthly, sort through them if possible, and put them in a file labeled with month and year (you should be doing this anyway - see my blog post on the importance of backing up).

Copies of several photos from the yearbook printed in 4x6 prints for handing down to both kids: While I love the idea of the family yearbook, I recently realized that it would be hard to give copies to both my kids when that time comes. A couple solutions would be to have multiple yearbooks printed to hand down to each child, or for a less expensive method just print 4x6 copies of several of the images that are included in each yearbook to hand down. Or do both!

Printed copies of photos from your phone using an app such as mpix. You could also just download these snapshots to include in your family yearbook.

Large wall portraits or professional albums and other printed products to hand down (usually these are your professional portraits). Just be sure to store them safely so that they stay in good condition.

Digital eventually fails, digital never means safe.

There is no such thing as a digital heirloom.

A fine-art print, mounted, framed and hanging on the wall has a much higher value than a digital file.

The mediums that you store your digital images on will not exist in the future.

Closer to the heart…..

Tragedy strikes, such as a fire or sick family member (I pray this is never the case for you!)

Prints are important because it increases self-esteem for children to see their portrait hanging on the wall. It has been proven in psychological studies that they feel more connected and important in that family.

Printing and displaying your photos tells the story of your life and leaves a lasting reminder for your family to treasure forever.

There really is no valid excuse not to do this! You can even print those snapshots from your phone easily with a mobile printing app such as mpix. Throw them in a box if you have no time to scrapbook or put them in an album. At least you have something for the kids to look through and to hand down to them in the future. Also keep this in mind when having professional portraits done. Why spend all that money just to have your images stored on a disk!

Please contact me for more information or click on the following link: http://mwormphotography.wordpress.com/give-and-receive-session-event

42% of people between ages of 30-44 will likely look back and wonder where photos of their childhood, get-togethers, relatives and friends have gone decades from now, and, reportedly 67% store their photos solely on a computer alone. A whopping 70% don’t have photo albums and 42% no longer print photos at all. That is terrifying!!

We are being dubbed as the “lost generation” because as a whole we are printing and preserving our histories less and less. In my opinion this is not good!

An entire generation, the millennials, could grow up without printed photographic records of their lives. How scary is that!

​If you feel strongly about this post please pass along! Stay tuned for post 3.

Now I know you are crunched for time so I will break this down into several smaller posts so that you are more likely to read this information and absorb it completely. I feel so strongly about this! So stay tuned for my next post which will include some very important reasons to get those files off your digital media and into your hands (both professional portraits and family snapshots)! Keep an eye out for the next post in this 4 post series.

Buffalo heard, yes you heard me correctly, they have a buffalo heard! You can take a nice drive through the buffalo prairie, which we did several times. The kids loved this! I think only once it was hard to spot the buffalo, otherwise we saw them every time, including close up a few times!

Several short hikes, one of which leads to an old picturesque mill. These shorter hikes were nice for the kiddos who don't make it so far.

Waterfalls. There are two waterfalls. The first set is just a short walk from the parking lot. The second is a short but more adventurous hike that we all really enjoyed.  

I hope this encourages you and your family to get out and explore. Stay tuned for the next park we decide is also a favorite of ours.

The company is called Planet Jill, here is the website.

http://planetjill.com

Any questions about creating custom jewelry from your next portrait session contact me through my website.

http://mwormphotography.wordpress.com/what-to-wear-guide

http://mwormphotography.wordpress.com/makeup-tips

Camera+ : I prefer this camera app to the default one on the phone. You have a little more control with the additional settings such as; focus and exposure seperate, ability to change shutter and iso settings, macro option, and stabilizer button.

VSCO: in addition to above stated, presets and filters for editing.

photoshop express: presets and editing

pic tap go: filters

mextures: textures and overlays

tadaa: blur and layer mask

square ready: allows you to use landscape or portrait orientation for instagram

pic jointer: collage your photos

All of these are great to use in their own way! Have fun playing!!

This includes those digital files you purchased from a professional photographer!!

http://melissahoffmann.com/7-products-every-woman-needs-spring/

In a later post I will be talking about some great makeup tips to help you look your best on camera, so keep an eye out.

Processed with VSCO with b5 preset

had a great time on our girls trip to Oregon! taken with iPhone and processed with vsco

Contact for more information

612-384-4834

https://mwormphotography.wordpress.com/celebration-of-smiles-event/

I am the kind of person who loves to laugh. I tend to gravitate to people or situations that I know will give me a good chuckle, which is probably why I love photographing children. I am also more of a listener then a talker. I enjoy camping, hiking, art, landscape photography, books and movies. I love spending time with my family and friends.

My love for nature definitely shows in much of my photography. I love doing sessions with children outdoors surrounded by nature. I feel that most children are really in their element when exploring outside. Children have such incredible imaginations; they can turn anything in their surroundings into something creative. The possibilities with little ones are endless. Much of my photography is simple, timeless and organic.

I prefer to be a low volume, high quality business that is built on relationships. I strive to provide a personal and specialized experience. Most of my sessions include a pre-consultation and an order consultation so that we can get to know each other and work together to plan everything from the details of the session itself to picking out the artwork for your home. Because I place such a high value on a printed portrait, most of my products and packages revolve around wall art and albums.

I hope this helps you decide if I am the right fit for you and your family!

Thank you!

Get down to eye level with the kids.

Move in close.

Don't always put your subject in the center of the frame - get creative and compose your subject off center. Just make sure the subject is facing towards the negative space so that it feels more balanced.

Turn off your flash indoors and instead increase your ISO to avoid blurry pictures.

Be candid instead of shooting posed pictures. Avoid saying "smile" or "cheese" and instead get those genuine moments that come with the holiday season.

Don't forget to put the camera down and just enjoy the moment as well!

Hope your family has a safe and happy holiday season!🎄

You: Dress in layers. This may seem like a no brainer, but the warmer you are the more you will enjoy your outing. I like to wear small thin gloves under my mittens so when I do start taking pictures I can easily use the buttons on my camera without my fingers freezing. Mittens with the removable fingertips would work well too.

Your gear: batteries drain quickly in cold temps so keep a spare or two in an inside pocket close to your body. Also keep your camera in a pocket or camera bag between shots to keep it from getting too cold (do not put it inside your coat close to your body as this can create condensation on your camera and fog up the lens). Transfer your camera and lenses to a sealable plastic bag BEFORE going indoors and leave it like that for several hours until it has reached room temperature. This will keep any condensation from occurring inside your camera which could cause mechanical failures.

Your camera settings: your camera will want to underexpose the bright white scene and make the snow look blue instead. Try shooting in a setting other than manual and use exposure compensation (+/- symbol) to overexpose up to 2 stops. Your owners manual can help you with how to do this with your camera model. 

Hope this helps! Feel free to comment below. 

Chilly crisp air

Beautiful blanket of fresh fallen snow

Frost covered trees

Monochromatic scenery

Quiet stillness of winter

Low sun which creates better light and long shadows

Catching snow on your tongue

Snow angels and snowmen

Sledding

PJ day

Curling up with a blanket and book

Hot chocolate with marshmallows (and Baileys for adults)

Movie/popcorn night in front of the fire

All of this has inspired me to offer outdoor winter sessions for kids (and adults if you like). More about that to come in a later post so check back.

I absolutely love this portrait. Let me tell you why. The gorgeous lighting on her face surrounded by darkness brings your eyes directly to her. It also shows those lovely long curly locks she has. Lastly it leaves you wondering, "what is she thinking" or "what is she looking at". That sense of wonder can be something that leaves you wanting more. One last thing about this portrait, it goes to show that not just smiling and looking at the camera makes a great portrait. In fact sometimes the opposite can make an even more stunning image!

While most of my sessions in the warmer months are done outdoors, on-location, I have an in-home studio for the long cold winter we have here in Minnesota. For the past few years it has been a work in progress, and with my hubby's help it is now exactly what I envisioned! The top left image shows the fold down desk where I now do all of my order consultations and work. The bottom left image shows the desk folded away to create a sitting area for when I am doing sessions in the studio. The bottom right image shows the space where I am setup for creating images. The two windows have sheer curtains, along with room darkening shades, so that I can easily switch from natural light to darkness for studio lighting. I mostly use this space for photographing children and babies, however I also do family portraits in the studio now as well. I do what I can to create a relaxed atmosphere for the little ones by having themes or activities based on their hobbies and personalities. Some examples would be painting, chalking, puzzles, blocks, tea party, cars, camping, storybook themes, etc. While I have pondered the idea of having a storefront studio, I decided that an in-home studio really works best for me and my family. My space is small and modest but I absolutely love it!

Thanks for taking a look into my humble little space. Feel free to leave any comments or questions.

In addition to my regular outdoor children and family sessions, I will now be offering what I call photographers choice session events. Basically, it is a family session for 45 minutes at an outdoor location of my choosing on a given date. With this new type of “batch” scheduling I will be charging the studio fee instead of the full on-location fee for these sessions. They still include the pre-consultation and order consultation. You get a great on-location session for your children but at a lower investment. These special session events will be held during the outdoor season from May – October. I will announce the dates and place in the previous months newsletter, my blog and on Facebook. The first date and place for this year is October 10th at Lochness Park in Blaine. Just a reminder that I will donate $25 of your session fee to PPA Charities for Family Portrait Month. Contact me with any questions by clicking on the contact page above.

Click on the Family Portrait Month link here to view more information: https://mwormphotography.wordpress.com/family-portrait-month/

Digitals are corruptible, prints are archival.
Digitals may never get printed.
Digitals printed elsewhere may have poor quality.
The value of a print increases while a digital file loses value.
High quality portraits can be passed down and treasured for years to come!

While digital copies are fun to have for sharing and reprinting, I feel it is very important to walk away from a session with printed versions of your favorite portraits. It can be wall art, gift prints, albums and other kinds of tabletop items such as a custom wood photo box.

Instructions

1. Put on a pair of lint-free cotton gloves. Touching the photographs with your bare hands will leave behind oil prints that will stain the picture over time.
2. Place the picture in an aluminum or other metal frame. Unlike wooden frames, metal frames do not produce the acids that yellow pictures over time. When choosing a metal frame, the United States National Archives recommends one that has archive-quality, low-acid, lignen-free ragboard or matboard backing. This backing will not yellow the pictures over time or cause them to stick to the glass frame.
3. Drape a clean sheet, canvas cover, cardboard frame box or fireproof box (for valuable photos) over the frame.
4. Place or stack the framed pictures vertically in a dark room. For the most ideal storage conditions, the National Archives recommends an above-ground closet. Closets have the consistent temperatures (between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit), and low humidity (between 35 and 50 percent) that framed pictures need for long-term storage.
5. Check the frames once or twice a year. Moisture leakage, insect infestation or other problems may destroy even expertly stored pictures. Minimize any damage by catching the problem early. While examining your pictures, put on your white gloves and leave the frames open for a few minutes. This helps to dissipate any gas that has built up.

Tips & Warnings

I found this article on ehow. Click on the link below to see more.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_8140171_store-large-pictures-frames.html

Shutter priority mode: (Tv on Canon, S on Nikon) This mode lets you have control over setting the shutter speed and ISO. Once you have picked which shutter speed you want, the camera will automatically set the aperture to correctly expose the scene (to a point). Shutter speed controls motion. A slower shutter speed (i.e. 2 seconds) will blur movement and a faster shutter speed (i.e. 1/500) will freeze movement. If you want to avoid blurry photos when handholding the camera a good rule of thumb is to use a shutter speed that is at least the same or higher than the focal length you are using (for example, if you are using a 50 mm lens use a shutter speed of at least 1/50th).

Aperture priority mode: (Av on Canon, A on Nikon) This mode lets you have control over setting the aperture and ISO. Once you have picked which aperture you want, the camera will automatically set the shutter speed to correctly expose the scene. Aperture controls depth of field. A large aperture (i.e. f2.8) will have a shallow depth of field, or blurred background. A small aperture (i.e. f11) will have a larger depth of field with more detail and sharpness throughout. Remember to keep an eye on the shutter speed the camera is choosing, if it is to low you will end up with blurry photos.

Manual priority mode: This mode allows you to have full control over all three settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Remember in all three of these modes you are setting the ISO. Keeping the ISO at a lower setting will keep the image from having digital noise (or grain). However in low light conditions you may need to increase the ISO the get a correct exposure and keep your shutter speed or aperture set where you want it.

Hope this helps and have fun getting creative with your photos!!

Zone cleaning: Break your house down into zones.

example:

• Zone 1: bedrooms/office
• Zone 2: bathrooms
• Zone 3: kitchen/entryway
• Zone 4: living/family room

Focus on one zone weekly, taking care to do a more detailed cleaning. Work in 15 minute chunks and set a timer if need be. This will help you move faster and get more done in that 15 minutes!

Weekly tasks: also done in 15 minute chunks.

• dust
• vacuum
• paperwork
• polish mirrors and sweep

Daily tasks:

• wipe down kitchen sink at the end of the day
• wipe down kitchen counter and stove at the end of the day
• swish and swipe bathrooms (swish the toilet bowl with the brush and wipe down the counter)
• de-clutter (for any spots in your house that tend to be hot spots for clutter, paperwork, etc)

Tips:

• schedule 15 minute blocks of time for certain cleaning tasks to keep you on track
• use a “home routine” app (iPhone) or something similar to keep track of your schedule/to do list
• set timer
• be flexible when need be

This is just an example of what I do, but you can tailor it to your needs. Hope this helps you busy moms keep up with your house cleaning without feeling like you are spending too much time on it. If you decide to try it out let me know your progress. Or if you have any tips yourself feel free to comment.

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27728959/minnesotas-10-most-popular-state-parks