I love being a photographer but I hate having my picture taken. Like many women I only see my imperfections when I look at pictures rather than the beauty that my daughter sees. Tonight I heeded my own words, "You children don't care what size you are or what imperfections you may perceive. They see that you are beautiful just the way you are! Don't wait to get in front of the camera. These are the moments they will cherish forever!"
Fun Family Photos
I love working with families that love to have fun! When people enjoy life it shows in their images. You can just tell how much this family is having! This session lasted twice as long as a normal session, mostly because we were all having fun, we kept seeing good photo opportunities and I just don't put the camera down until we are really done (or it is too dark to see!) I hope you enjoy seeing this night as much as I enjoyed shooting it!
Loving the beach babies!
This is such a great time of year! We get to enjoy the sun and the beach! Especially after this last winter! Oh my goodness! We will savor every day of this now! One of my favorite things is photographing kids being kids and what better place to capture those moments than on the beach! A carefree place where families can relax and unwind and kids can be themselves. Love these beach babies!
Autumn Leaves: Fine Art Children's Photography
Love this fine art photo shoot! I love work with kids and seeing their joy and sweetness.
Boudoir Photography: Beautiful Curves: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore
Boudoir Photography is a something that I think every woman should consider these days. Not for their spouse or future spouse or significant other but for themselves. Most women that come to me seeking boudoir photography are doing them as a gift for someone. "M" is no different. She is getting married in a few weeks and presenting these as a gift to her husband on their wedding day. I think it is a wonderful sentiment and something that he will truly love! What I liked even more was spending the time with M and taking pictures that showed her through then lens of a camera how beautiful she is. I believe that these types of photos are a gift to ourselves as well. They take back what media has stolen, a sense of self worth and beauty for every woman. I am sure you will agree that "M' rocks her curves with style! Her soon to be husband is a lucky man! Congratulations "M"!
Bridal Boudoir Session: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore
Boudoir Sessions are a relatively new concept to most people. Some people book sessions for their significant others and some book sessions leading up to a special occasion like a wedding. I believe that the boudoir session should be for the woman who is posing and she should enjoy the images for her own sense of self as much as who she is giving them to.
I want everyone woman who comes through the door to feel special coming in and feel beautiful and thrilled with the images when the session is done.
Here are just some of the boudoir session images I have had the pleasure of taking. This is a recent bridal boudoir shoot before her upcoming wedding! Congratulations G!
Small Business Shout out: Plymouth Bay Winery: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore
I have always been a fan of a nice glass of wine, especially this time of year when I can sit on my deck and enjoy the summer nights and the relaxing breeze. On my travels with Destination Plymouth, I was fortunate enough to spend some time at Plymouth Bay Winery in Downtown Plymouth. They were in the middle of doing a tasting for a super cute couple (with their two puppies) while I was there. I was able to witness first hand the time and care they take with customer service. Not only do they have wines, but they also have wine jellies. In addition, they made suggestions about pairing wines, cooking with wine recipes. It was a long tasting with lots of information. It looked like such a fun time that I am planning my own date with Dave to go there and experience it for myself. Looking for something fun for the 4th? Why not have your local winery provide you with something to celebrate!
Photo Tip of the Week: Taking pictures of Fireworks!!: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore
Happy Fourth of July everyone!!! Leading up to this fun festive time of year, I wanted to give you some pointers on photographing fireworks. First, you need to use a tripod (or another stable surface like a table) to keep your camera from moving. Otherwise you are going to show the vibration of your hand in the picture and it will come out blurry!! We don't want that!
If your camera has a bulb setting, you want to use that and it you have a remote trigger even better. You want to keep the shutter open for the whole time that the firework is in the air to get the most dynamic picture. Open the shutter when the firework goes off and keep it open until it dissapates.
Use a low shutter speed for a clean shot. The natural tendency would be to use a high ISO because it is dark out, but that also brings in all the residual light pollution from every other light source around you. Your sky will look yellow and grainy instead of clean and crisp.
Happy Shooting! Can't wait to see some of those firework pictures!!!
Maternity Session: Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer
This has been one whirlwind weekend; Beach Mini Sessions on Saturday, Maternity Session on Sunday, and in between on Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was taking photos around town for Destination Plymouth. Today is time for one deep breath and then tomorrow is family photos in the morning and another night of Cameras and Cocktails in the evening! Whew!!! My maternity photos were a highlight. It was for a wonderful family that I have done sessions for multiple times in the last couple years. I love so much seeing them and working with them. Also seeing little miss "S" growing into such a beautiful little girl!
This was one of my favorite photos from the weekend!
Photography Tip of The Week: Pay attention to your background: Professional Photographer South Shore Plymouth
There are certain things you start to pay attention to when you take lots of pictures. When you feel like you have gotten the aperture right and the shutter speed right. Your exposure is good. Now how does a good photo become a great photo? It's attention to detail. If you want your subject to stand out you pick simple but picturesque backgrounds. If you are taking snapshots on the fly and you can't control the background then you shift your subjects to make sure that there is no tree growing out of their head or a pole! Seems simple right? But if you don't pay attention to the small details you pictures look cluttered and your subjects get lost. Or worse, they look laughable because some object is protruding at just the wrong angle! I try to pick simple backgrounds; a row of tall bushes, a brick wall, the beach when no one is there. When you have control over your environment it eliminates anything that might get in the way. Happy Shooting!
This Past Weekend's Beach Session: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore
The season is now in high gear and I am having so much fun. I have been having so much fun meeting new people and reconnecting with people I have photographed before. This is my second session with V. Her first session was her cake smash session and it is so much fun to see how much she has grown and what a beautiful little girl she is. She is also so amazingly sweet and fun! I loved spending time capturing her and at one of her favorite places...The beach!
Beach Mini Sessions are coming June 21, 2014 only $99: Professional Photographer South Shore Plymouth
So I am so excited my mini sessions on the beach are almost upon us! I just got another sign up yesterday! It's going to be so much fun! If you have not yet heard, mini-sessions are a smaller more compact session. For $99.00, you will receive a 30 minute session, 8-10 digital images and one 8x10 print from your session. Although most people typically think of this as family photos I have all different groups coming, families, couples, maternity photos, and a group of long time girlfriends just to name some. I still have sometime available if you are interested, Call now! 508-244-4073 or email me at kathy@themirroredimage.com
Creative Photo Shoot: The Elements with C'mor Color Lush MUA
So every once in a while, about 4 times a year, I try and do a creative photo shoot that has nothing to do with anything other than remembering why I love photography. Cynthia Morales, owner of C'mor Color Lush was introduced to me by a friend and we set out to showcase our talents! Here is our result!
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Photo Tip of the week: Taking better family photos!
So now that it is getting nicer out and summer is coming more of us are thinking about taking vacations and getting out and about. In addition to wanting to have loads of fun on your trip, you probably want to capture some moments that remind you of the great time that you had. Here are some things that I find helpful.
1. If you are driving bring a tripod. You want a picture of the WHOLE family.
2. When you set people up look for a location with a bench or some rocks, something that will make it easier to stagger people. Photos are so much more interesting that way.
3. Stay away from bold prints. If one person is wearing a brig floral caftan, that will certainly be the focus of the picture!
4. If you have kids, take pictures in the morning. That is usually their best time and the time they are most willing to listen to direction. Also I am not above bribery (carry a little treat with you, a couple M&M's go a long way!
5. Mid afternoon is the best time to capture great lighting. It's called the golden hour and you have great light if you think you can get you family to pose then.
6. Save noontime for lunch not pictures! There is usually a hazy film on your images when the sun is right over head. I try to avoid taking pictures at this time if I can help it!
If all of this seems like a lot, consider calling a photographer located where you are staying and having them meet you for an afternoon. Family Photo Shoots are affordable and you won't regret having some great images to cherish! Happy Shooting!
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Family Photos and Party all Rolled into one
So here is another great idea that people don't always think of. How about inviting a photographer to a couple hours of your next family gathering and having some professional family photos done? I have booked some events like these in the near future and more coming. It is becoming a more popular idea. For a little more than what you would pay to get your own family photos done you have captured a moment to remember and you have your family on film as well. Here are some of my favorites from the most recent event.
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Throwback Thursday: Baby Lucy
So I planned on doing more photo restoration projects for Throwback Thursday, but my little baby who is no longer a tiny baby is feeling under the weather today. This is actually day 3 of her cold and she is bouncing back, tired and sniffling but otherwise good. Of course that made me digress to think of my cute little baby when she was a cute little baby and then start looking through some of the cute little pictures that I have loved the best of her. Here is just a selection of Little Lucy thus far!
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Photography Tip for the week: What's the right photo equipment for the best picture?
So I spend a lot of time taking pictures both at work and at home...that's probably a given. I had three photo shoots this weekend (photos to follow).What I have learned over the years is this, you don't have to have the biggest and the best to get the best result. In fact, two of my favorite lenses are the least expensive ones I own: 1. AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX Lens
2. Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens
Both lenses were under 200.00 each brand new and I find them indispensable. Fixed lenses make a huge difference in portrait photography. They give you more control over the clarity of your subject and the ability to dial down your aperture enough to really make your subject come to life. Even with a starter camera you will see a phenomenal difference using a fixed lens. The 35mm lens is my most used lens and I love the way my images have changed since buying it.
Of course the bigger and better you camera gets the more difference you will see in the image that is produced as far as image quality goes, but I think you will be amazed at what you see by switching from a to something like this. The onus is on you to do the work of moving around your subject but it is worth all the effort!
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Shout out to Local Business: Second Nature Social Skills
FYI, I like this business so much we are doing a Cameras and Cocktails Fundraiser with them on June 19, 2014 at 7pm. Ask me for more details on that too! I went to Notre Dame Academy in Hingham. I love the fact that so many of the women I went to school with are doing great things with their lives and in their communities. Amy Gordon is a great example of that. She started Second Nature Social Skills on a shoestring budget with no office to speak of. She had an idea that would make a difference in the lives of those around her. I am so happy to say that it has taken off and she is making great things happen along with her team.
I love the way Amy talks about her own business on her website so I am going to put her words here to explain exactly what she does:
Imagine how much easier life would be for people if they had specifically designed navigational tools showing them how to get to through the next social challenge: at school, at work, in life, with their peers.
If they had someone that could just tell them what the answers were in social situations as they learn in school?
Second Nature Social Skills aims to make this possible by using a highly visual, direct and explicit teaching approach in making the abstract and "hidden" rules concrete. This makes way to increase social mindfulness for you and your family.
Our approach is always customized to you and family. Everyone is unique and our teaching is individualized for you and your family learning needs. Second Nature Social Skills embraces this because we understand how you need to learn. We provide individualized social life maps so you and your family can confidently navigate your own journey.
Amy specializes in Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorders and Anxiety. She is highly skilled and involved in her community. I cannot think of a better person to talk about for this week. Keep up the good work Amy! I love what you are doing!
You can check out her business at http://www.secondnaturesocialskills.com or contact her and her team at 508.747.2663 or info@secondnaturesocialskills.com.
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Throwback Thursday: Before and After Family Photos
So we all have those family photos that are great and we would like to keep but they degrade over time. This is one of my favorite photos of my family but it is yellow and starting to show signs of wear. You can see though that there is a lot that I can do with Photoshop to make photos like that better. What about choosing a selection of family photos and create a new album of digital images for an anniversary or a birthday gift. That would truly be something that would be remembered!
Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: First Beach Photos of the Year!
So today was so not the day to be on the beach taking photos! Really that was yesterday, but we made it work and we had so much fun! These kids were troopers and they had so much fun playing in the sand, they barely noticed how cold it was. Their mother should be a stylist too! Look at the amazingly cute coordinating outfits. I had a blast and I am so happy with our shots! If you want to join in on the fun sign up for some family photos or join one of our mini sessions. The first date is listed below in my trendy new postcard, thanks to the Sanford Family!
