Sheridan - Assignment #1

Let me introduce myself! My name is Sheridan and I'm a native to Arizona.  By day I'm a banker and an artist by night...afternoon...lunch...and any other waking moment.  I've had the idea of owning my own business since I was a small girl.  I wasn't sure what kind of business it would be, but I knew it would invovle my creative smarts.  I dabbled in photography in high school after I discovered my grandfather's portfolio of pictures.  Little did I know, I would follow in his footsteps by becoming an artist as well as a banker. It started out as a way to capture my own images as inspiration for my drawings and paintings.  Then, it grew into making the photographs the actual art.  Photography lets me create a piece of art by using unique photo angles and subject matter, but I put the artist in me to good use by creating works of art by manipulating the photos when I edit them.

I started my business a few years ago, but only recently made it official a little over six months ago.  Since then I've put my efforts into growing my business and trying to figure out the ins and outs of owing your own business.  I've been afforded some amazing opportunities already and I'm excited for future endeavors.  I've always been an artist, it's just who I am, and photography has become something I love.  You can visit my website http://www.silverlashes.com/ as well as follow me on Facebook and Twitter (Silver Lashes Studios, LLC) or follow my blog http://www.silverlashesstudios.blogspot.com/

Here are a few of my favorite photos:

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A few of my favorites - Sarah

I'm totally with ashley in that I have SO many photographers that I love and admire. I am going to cheat and post four because I feel like they all fit into a completly different style category and I just couldn't compare and narrow it down any further than I already did :)

(in no particular order)

Sloan Photographers
Matt and Angie have to be one of the hippest photographer couples out there. They both have such fun personalities that toally shine through each one of their gorgeous images. I have to believe that the fun and upbead nature each of them must bring to their shoots is what makes up half of their success - all of their clients look so genuinely happy and I am pretty positive it's because these two are just that much fun to be around. They are even Arizona locals! :)

It's pretty much impossible to sum up their greatness in one image so here's a couple of great ones :)










Next up

Natalie Norton
I don't even know where to begin describing this amazing lady. She and her family are absolutely beautiful just like her photography. Her images are so pure, clean and true to life that they simply amaze me. She is so open an honest and her personality just draws you in and makes you feel like the world is a better place because she is so positive in every aspect of her life.






The Image is Found
Nate and Jaclyn are grouped with the Sloans in the "hippest photographer couples" category. They have an amazing style all their own that blows.my.mind pretty much every time I look at their blog. One day, I will be lucky enough to attend one of their sweet shoot shops! They capture such real moments in their photographs that evoke so much emotion you feel like you're standing right there looking at it first hand.






Last but by no means least is...

Sheye Rosemeyer
The best way I can describe Sheye's photography is Magical, because, well - it totally is. Not only does Sheye create awesome images - she also has created an incredible set of actions and does online workshops (which are both on my "wants" list). She takes the most beautiful shots of children (most of which are her own adorable children) I have ever seen. Literally. She really knows how to capture the magic of childhood.






**Just a disclaimer that all images in this post are sole property of the respective photographers listed. I am simply posting them here to give others a sample of my favorite work in hopes that they, too, will be inspired by them.**

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My Favorites-Ashley

I have come to find so many great photographers who I truly love. It's tough to narrow down my top 3 but I think I can do it.
Aurbry Startin Photography: I absolutely love her style. I love the antique vintage look that she gives her photos. She also has such a relaxed style and isn't too into posed pictures!

This is one of my favorites of hers....although she has so many great ones :) check out her blog

Treasure the Time Photography: This photographer is amazing!! I love the picture quality on every image. I also love the editing that she does to her photos. By far my favorite part about her photographs are the locations that she finds!! She has such great backgrounds that have such vivid color. The urban settings are to die for :) That's my favorite style. Industrial and urban locations.

A favorite picture of hers. I just love the rich colors and the subjects are too cute :) Check out her website



Radiant Photography: I just love radiant photography. I have really never found a picture of theirs that I didn't love. They provide such great image quality and clarity with just the perfect amounts of editing. I love how they make their photography into art pieces for their clients. I just can't rave enough about them!!

This picture is just one of the cutest pictures I have ever seen!! I love the flower behind his back and the antique wash on the photo is perfect. Check out their website

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You're the inspiration (aka Assignment 2)

Disclaimer: First off I want to remind you all that I am no professional here. I am sort of jumping into this head first with no idea what I am doing. If the assignments I am posting are boring or lame - let me know! If I say something wrong (which will inevitably happen) - let me know! And if you know a better way of doing something - Let me know! Honestly - I welcome it. The whole purpose of this group is for us to learn from each other and that includes me! So feel free to share any and all ideas you have. If you have a request or idea for an assignment just send it to me :)

Okay - onto the assignment.

I figure since we're first starting out we might as well get to know each other and our photography styles a bit - I think it will help us a lot as we get going on some of the other assignments later on...

So this time I'd like you all to leave a post with links to three of your favorite photographers with a little blurb about what about them you like so much about them and/or their style!

Also, my goal is to post an assignment every week or so - but I prefer not to post new ones unless we've all had a chance to complete the current one (hopefully that makes sense). For larger assignments I'll leave longer time in between so we all have time to finish.

Would it help if I sent an email when a new assignment was posted? Or would you rather just check on your own?

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Ashley - Assignment 1

Hey! I'm Ashley! I'm 22 years old and my husband Travis and I just bought our first home in July. We have been married for 2 years and just absolutely love married life :) I have my bachelors degree in Elementary Education but haven't been able to find a teaching job. I currently work as a nanny for 3 kids. Most of the day I hang out with the youngest boy Tyler who is 4. I'm teaching him how to read and I love it :) at 2:30 we pick up his twin brother and sister (they are 9) from the bus stop. They are super sweet kids and makes my job just that much more enjoyable. As much as I enjoy the job, I truly want to be a teacher at heart. However, if I had it my way I would do photography full time!! My dream is to one day become primarily a wedding photographer.

Right now I feel like I have some pretty good experience with photography as far as composition. I have done tons of sessions trying to build up my portfolio. I feel like I'm at the point right now that I really want to work on saving up for more equipment, learning lighting techniques and editing techniques in photoshop. I took a few photography classes in high school but nothing since. I'm self taught as well and find it hard to seek others for help. Seems like everyone wants to charge a high price for their expertise.

This is one of my favorite images and the little boy in the picture holds a special place in my heart. He was the first little boy I was ever a nanny for!

This next two pictures are from the most recent photo shoot that I did for some engagement pictures! I love these pictures because they really show my photography style!!

Please check out my website

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Tami - Assignment #1

Hi, I'm Tami! With the arrival of my 3rd child I finally got to be a stay at home mom, although I am kept super busy, I'm living my dream of being able to raise my children and be home when they need me. I got my first DSLR 3 years ago and have been trying to learn pretty much on my own how it works and how to get the most out of it. Just in the last year I've gotten to where I shoot in Manual more than anything else if I can and I love it!
Although I have always love to take pictures and look at pictures, I didn't really fall in love with photography until I had children. I'm pretty much self taught, I've never taken any classes in this subject but hope to someday! I love casual, candid style pictures......I think they are real, and catch us all at our best and that is when personalities come through a photo.

I have a Canon Rebel, but will be upgrading soon to the 50D. My favorite lens is my fixed 50mm with an f stop of 1.8.
I wish I had more time or I should say made more time to practice taking pictures than I do. I know that it takes practice to get better.

Right now my biggest frustration is clarity and focus. But I think it's the camera and not so much me! Ü At least that is what I tell myself!

Here are a few of my recent favorites

I mostly love the catch lights in these and the innocence of the subject.

I took this one shortly after I learned about focal points.
I love that Mom is in the background out of focus.

I have a photography blog
http://tamimccoyphotography.blogspot.com/

One of my favorite photographers is here. Probably closest resembles the style I love and strive for.

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First Assignment - Sarah

Hello! It's Sarah - I have been interested in photography since Jr. High when someone in a class of mine showed me pictures they had developed in a darkroom. My love for photography blossomed in high school when I took my first classes and really began to appreciate not only the art behind the photographs but the hard work that went into creating them. I LOVE film photography. I loved spending hours on one image because when it came out perfectly I KNEW that all my hard work was worth it. (fun fact about me: I actually own an entire darkroom set-up!) Unfortunately in my high school days I wasn't as dedicated as I should be and refused to grasp the manual settings of the camera (I still kick myself for it) and cheated by using a regular film camera rather than the SLR.

Anyway I am 23, I work at Insight selling IT equipment to corporate businesses. I am in school to become a nurse and hopefully I will be accepted to the nursing program in the next semester or so. I have been married to Benson for about a year and a half and we own a house in Mesa!

I shoot a Nikon D90 and have a 18-105mm lens as well as my new baby 50mm 1.4 that I LOVE.
I shoot in all Manual and mostly RAW format.

I feel like I am at sort of a plateau in photography - I learned SO much last year and am at the point where I am trying to perfect and fine tune those things I learned so it's slow moving right now but I am hoping starting this photography group will create more challenges and learning opportunities for me!

This is one of my favorite images I have taken - I love the warmth and depth of the colors. I always like off balanced composition for some reason so that appeals to me as well. It also helps that I absolutely love the subject of the photo (my niece) :)


This is another favorite of mine - not so much of composition but more because it was my first shot at my first engagement shoot. While I could pick it apart compositionally now, I still feel like it turned out pretty well for a first! :)




You can follow my blog or my temporary website :)

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First Assignment!

Hey ladies! It's time for our first assignment! Once you've signed up to contribute to the blog create a post that includes your favorite picture you have taken! Also list a little intro, a link to your blog or website (or both) and where you feel you are at with photography!

Please be sure to add your name as the label to the post as well as "Assignment 1"

If you have any questions leave a comment on this post or email me!

Be sure to leave comments on each other's posts so we can all get to know each other!

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