Finding inspiration and elevating your art: South Shore Boston MA Family Child Newborn Photographer

I mentioned in my beginning photoshop tutorial videos that I have used videos myself along the way to help me elevate my art,  I have used both free and paid tutorials to get to where I want to be.  All of the videos I am working on are basic skill videos and will not in any way take away from the videos that I have used from other professionals.  If you are beyond the beginning stage and looking for a way to take your art to the next level, may I suggest Jinky Art Photography's annual video subscription videos.  Barb uses both Lightroom and Photoshop in her tutorials. As a person that seeks out art and inspiration as well as further learning, I have found Barb's work to be very inspiring and she is an excellent teacher when it comes to laying everything out in a clear concise manner.  Out of all the videos and tutorials I have watched this one has been the best for furthering my photoshop skills and bring out the best in my art.  I can't thank Barb enough for putting out her video series.  If you are interested, the link to her subscription based service is here: http://jinkyart.com.au/product/post-production-videos/

Here are some of the images she helped to inspire of mine:

South Shore Boston MA Family Child Newborn Photographer: Video Series Episode One, Photoshop for Beginners, The Healing Brush Tool

I am so lucky to do what I love to do each day! I am even luckier to be successful at it.  I love photography and especially working with children!  I am also lucky to have had help along the way.  The tutorials that I have used from others have been invaluable in helping me to achieve my goals.  One of my goals for 2016 was to help others, in the same way I have been helped on my journey.  There are so many tutorials out there already for photoshop users but I wanted to break photoshop down to its most novice form so that anyone starting from the very beginning could understand, build on their knowledge of photoshop and grow.  I hope you enjoy my tutorials!  This is episode one, the healing brush tool.  For some it will be too easy, but stay tuned, I will be ramping it up!  Join me on my journey! Adobe Photoshop CC Basics The Healing Brush Tool

South Shore Boston MA Child Fine Art Photographer-Children of 2015

Here are some of my favorite children from 2015.  I am so inspired by all the amazing children I have met this past year!  From Mattapoisett, Plymouth, Duxbury, Cape Cod, Kingston, Marshfield and the list goes on!  I hope you enjoy some of these as much as I do!

When life gives you snow...make snowmen!!!

We have been hit hard here in the Northeast.  No one is venturing out for much.  It has been one storm after another and more snow expected on Tuesday!  For sure we will make it to the snowiest winter on record for Boston.  There is so much time left in winter, how could we not. But we are New Englanders, we need to teach our kids to be tough when it comes to snow!  So we had a blast today playing in the snow and then brought some more inside to  play kitchen with snow and food coloring.  Then the ultimate was our snow volcano!

Here are some pictures of the fun!  Check out some more of my artistic children portraits!

A New take on wedding photos: Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore

Well, this has certainly been a whirlwind of a summer.  Lots of photo shoots and not much time for sharing.  When you are a one stop shop things can get a little hectic this time of year.  No complaints!  I love my job and a love when a job comes along that is just a little different and fun.  This couple approached me about wedding photos and I was able to really go all out and take them out to the beach to do something really creative.  I had so much fun with this shoot! Enjoy!

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!!!

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

Throwback Thursday: The first day of the rest of my life

So last Thursday was my 4 year anniversary with Dave.  So technically this post should have happened last week, but my dad took precedence :)  This is the first picture Dave and I ever had taken of the two of us by my very good friend Laurence when we were with her in Metz, France.  The funny thing is that I knew then that we were meant to be together.  So did Dave.  He went back to Colorado and told everyone that he was moving to Boston.. her didn't know when but he was.  This was the beginning of many of the great things that have come my way..Dave and Lucy..the two best things that ever happened to me!

Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore: The best cheap investment for photography gear

Okay, so as photographers we all want lots of big fancy things to help us do our job better.  What I have come to realize is this.  The person behind the camera is more important than what equipment you have.  Its what you do with what you have.  Also, when you finally go out and buy a lens that you have been yearning for, you need to protect your investment.  I make it a rule of thumb to put a UV Filter on every lens I own.  The cost is 10-15 dollars more.  The most important thing to remember is this..if you scratch your filter you are out $10-15 and if you are scratch your lenses you can loose anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars.  Which choice would you rather make?

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!

Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore: Family Photos at Castle Island #Family

This has been a whirlwind couple weeks with photo shoots and family visits and taking care of a two year old to boot!  But I wouldn't change it for the world.  I am baking a cake, posting a blog entry and ordering an album all at the same time while Lucy naps! That has been the whole last month really with no end in site.  But, when you love what you do, you make it work and I love what I do.  Taking these family photos allowed me to connect with an old friend that I have not seen in 5 years. I loved being able to reconnect and to take her family pictures with her mom and brother.  Take a look:

Professional Photographer Plymouth South Shore: TBT: My Dad #ThrowbackThursday

So anyone who knows me knows that I have a very tight family.  My father is one of the closest people to me.  I could always count on him to be there for me to help in any way and he was always present.  One of my favorite memories growing up was sitting with my father at night and having him read to us.  Not only did that help to instill a love of reading that is strong to this day but it also gave me something special to remember when he spent much of his time commuting to and from Boston each day. Tomorrow my father will be retiring and moving on to another chapter in his life.  It's amazing how quickly time passes.  So today I want to wish my father well and celebrate the man that he is and how lucky I am to have him for my Dad!

Plymouth South Shore Professional Photographer: Small Business of the Week: Martha's

So I am working on getting the word out there about some local businesses that I really appreciate having around.  Local Business is so important to me.  It keeps our communities thriving!  Another thing that is really important to me is the environment and the local food movement.  I believe that this is so important that I choose to put my money where my mouth is and spend more to support the local farmers and other local vendors in the area who also support this movement.  With all the environmental toxins, all the health hazards and environmental repercussions of mass produced meat and pesticides, we need to think about what we are putting in our bodies for food and what we are putting on our bodies the clean, moisturizes, etc... The list goes on.  

What I want to highlight is a local chef that has been doing it right from the very beginning and providing the community with amazing food to boot.

Martha Stone of Martha's in Benny's plaza in Plymouth has been providing fresh, local delicious food to the community for quite sometime and never ceases to amaze me with what she can cook up.  Martha can do more with a hot plate than most people could do with a state of the art kitchen!  If you haven't had a chance to try her cooking you will not be disappointed.  I have been sampling her delectable dishes since she had Martha's Galley and I was still in high school.  I won't call either of us out by saying how long ago that was.

Martha's is located in Benny's Plaza on Court St in Plymouth MA.

Read more about her and her business her!  Nice Job Martha!

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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: 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!