Straight outta the camera... no time for edits.

I wanted to share some images from last night's visit to the park, but I didn't have time to edit anything. So, these are SOOC. I actually think the original images are pretty good. It was just before dusk, a cloudless night, and a beautiful location (Festival Park in Elgin). The girls weren't ultra cooperative, but I still got a few that I was happy with. This is definitely a location I'll return to (for fun AND for pictures!).

We didn't have our swimsuits with us, so I had to take pictures of random kids playing in the fountains. They sure looked like they were having fun and I was tempted to run through the water in my regular clothes!

Feeling better about things...

I didn't have some random realization of my greatness, but I did accomplish a few things in the hour or so since I last posted. For one, I finally figured out how to get the RAW images off my memory card. And then I fixed the white balance on several of them. Here is my favorite, taken of Bug...

Edited to reupload this image...to no avail. Does it look a tad pixelated to anyone else, or is it just me?! Trust me, the image on flickr looks FABULOUS!

I am also going to post some more photos that I wanted to add to the previous post. I guess, if nothing else, this doubt that is plaguing me will inspire me to work harder, practice more, and let household chores fall by the wayside while I spend an entire (beautiful!) Saturday on my computer. I so can't wait for my laptop to arrive so I can sit outside while my girls play and work on my photos.

Again, feel free to comment, CC, do whatever you can to let me know that someone reads my blog!

Feeling doubtful...

I'm not begging for compliments... well, maybe I am. I'm just feeling a little down on myself. Not so sure of my abilities. I know I shouldn't, but I compare myself to my fellow photographers. Yeah, I don't have formal training, but neither do most of them! I get frustrated with my inability to capture exactly what I see... my photos don't have the color, the emotion, the "pop" that some of those I see on flickr and the blogs I read.

So, I'm here to share some out of the ordinary shots. You've become accustomed to seeing my kids (and will see Lou in this post, as well), but I'm sharing some other subjects as well. Some from a recent trip to the Field Museum in Chicago, a walk along the Chicago lakeshore, and a visit to a local petting zoo. I have others I would like to share, but Blogger is acting up, so I'll add them to my next post...

Enjoy! Comment! Come back and tell all your friends. To my fellow photographers, I can use the CC. To all the others, just tell me you love my pictures. Haha.

Incredibly Honored

Today I received confirmation that I've been accepted as a volunteer photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, a remembrance photography organization based out of Colorado. I can't adequately describe how I feel right now: honored, excited, anxious, nervous... among hundreds of other emotions.

I am in the process of signing the paperwork and getting involved on the organization's forum so I can get acquainted with my fellow photographers, and discover what exactly I've gotten myself into. I'll be attending a training seminar in South Bend on August 11. I'll definitely be sharing my journey with this company.

If any fellow photographers are reading this, please consider becoming a volunteer. I can't imagine a better way to put our talents to work.

No new pictures... YET!

I've purchased my new camera. I bought a Canon EOS 40D, a new Tamron lens, and a laptop to upload/edit pictures while on the job. I'm so excited. I can't wait to receive the new gear!!! Start playing with it...

Last night I tried to go Manual on my Rebel. EEK! I also shot in RAW. As soon as I figure out how to get those images off the CF card, I will share!

Editing my life... editing my pictures...

I am no longer on the path to unemployment! I was offered a position with Bella Baby Photography , effective September 1, 2008. My new job will consist of taking the very first professional pictures of newborns - in the hospital. Not the typical mugshots that we moms are accustomed to seeing (and buying, against our better judgment). Bella Baby provides an actual photo shoot, with capable photographers - ARTISTS! Not merely someone who is competent to push the button on a camera. I'm so excited... slightly nervous... anxious to start! Thrilled that with the position comes a need to upgrade my camera. Yup... I'll be buying a Canon 40D before the month is over. So, thank you to the ladies at Bella Baby. I'm thrilled to be a part of your team!

The other big news is that I'm finally producing some decent edits. Well, in my humble opinion, anyway! A friend shared with me her basic steps to edit a picture and I've seen a world of difference. It is very similar to what we do at Picture People... upload, crop, correct and balance, and sharpen. But for some reason, I wasn't seeing results on my images at home, until she laid them out for me. I think I was OVER-editing before... So, here are some photos I took at a recent family weekend in Wisconsin. With basic editing. If you have comments, leave 'em. If you have constructive criticism, leave it! If you think these kids are adorable, join the club!

Now I understand...

The 50mm lens my husband bought me IS nifty... the name makes sense to me now. I was in a weepy mood last night, so he thought he'd surprise me with part of my birthday gift. I opened up a lens filter...that didn't fit my lens! I politely said, "um... thanks!" Then, he gave me my new lens. Aha! I was very pleased. Didn't have the energy to play with it, but I took a few shots of my Bug, who was posing for me as usual.

Hubby was perplexed as to why he couldn't zoom in with the lens. Um, honey, its NOT a zoom lens! Which is why I usually don't let him touch my camera!!!! Anyway, here are a couple I took with the new lens... I think 50 and I will be having some fun! Can't wait to play around with it!!!

Looks like I still need to work on the color/exposure settings on my monitor. I'm adjusting the lighting a bit too much. Takes a lot of trial and error, but we'll get there!

In other news, I'm still waiting on news from Essence Photography and its time to give Bella Baby a call again. She told me she was impressed with my persistence in calling her... well, baby, be prepared to be impressed! I will call until you tell me not to.

I WANT THAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to go PRO...

Even though I still have no idea what I'm REALLY doing, I'm waiting to hear back from Essence Photography & Video regarding my interview yesterday. I could be one of 20 new wedding photographers being hired to help with their expansion from 2 local studios to FIVE. Sounds like a great company to join... shooting the pictures of one of the most important days of any woman's life scares the CRAP out of me, but sounds SOO SOO fun and rewarding.

Meanwhile, it seems the studio is gaining faith in me. I've been on camera one a lot lately. Tonight is a challenge... 4 (yes, FOUR) sittings with PETS. A combination of cats and dogs. Babies, I've done. Adults, I've done. Maternity, I'd LOVE to do... But cats? KITTENS? Dogs? I'm nervous. But excited...

Anyway, been working on one criticism I receive at the studio... "Stop taking so many pictures! Once you get "the shot", MOVE ON!" Ok... so the other day, my mother in law was holding my 5 week old neice. I told her to hang on, let me get my camera. Set up the shot, SNAP! Look in the viewfinder... success! And that was it. ONE SHOT. Go Kim, Go KIM! Woo hoo. Of course, that wasn't the case yesterday when I took 52 images of a 5 year old. oops. So, here's the shot of Baby K and Nana.

The coloring isn't perfect (I really need to work on that... and calibrate my monitor), but the composition? LOVE IT.