This week’s Wisdom Wednesday was inspired by a recent question asked by one of my lovely Facebook followers. Shannon asks:

Do you provide assistance with selecting cameras? I’m looking to make the leap and purchase my first SLR.

As my photography classes has grown over the past few months, I have been asked this question more and more. At class last week one of the moms in attendance had actually purchased her camera only weeks before attending, after some consultation with myself and the internet. I definitely have a few thoughts on selecting an entry level dslr and I think this question is perfect to springboard into today’s blog post.

First of all I must admit, I am a little biased and will be talking mostly about Nikon cameras in this post. I have been a Nikon shooter since starting my photography journey and absolutely love the way both of my Nikons have performed. I do not have anything negative to say about Canons or any of the other major brands, in fact my point and shoot camera is a Canon, but I simply don’t have the experience or expertise in their dslr capabilities.

Now, first things first. I want you to answer two important questions before we begin talking more about the camera of your dreams:

1) What are your photography goals?
As a “momtographer” what will you need the camera to do? Portraits of lazy days at home or vacations with the family? Sporting events and lots of action? Crisp tack sharp focus? Video functionality? Extra durability when those kiddos accidentally knock the camera off the table and on the floor?

2) What is your budget?
The range of camera available to consumers these days is impressive. Entry level dslr cameras are at a price point accessible to most families, but keep in mind that more functionality and more bells and whistles usually comes with a higher price tag. Also, buyer beware the too good to be true sale or wheeling and dealing that often happens online. One of my recent class attendees bought her shiny new SLR on Ebay. She came to find out once it arrived that it was an overseas model and all of the menus were in Japanese and could not be changed to English. I personally found it VERY helpful to go to my local camera shop, try out a few different models, see which felt right, and purchase locally. The prices were comparable to online prices and I felt like I had really purchased the camera that was meant for me.

Now, as a mom I know there are a few top priorities on my list when it comes to having a nice camera. I want it to be able to: be easy and quick to be able to change settings on the fly (kids move a lot!), handle a quick shutter speed (to avoid blurry images), and have low light sensitivity (so I can take good photos indoors with out my flash), and have video built in so I only need one device to tote around.

My current top Nikon performer is the Nikon d7000. Why? It’s recently been released to market so it is new technology.  It gets glowing reviews for its ability to handle low light situations, it has a great video feature that has auto focus built in, it is durable and weather resistant, and it has many many many focus points (great for tracking moving targets!).  However, this is also the top of the line consumer dslr. If you are looking to pinch some pennies than the Nikon d5100, or d3100 would be my next momtographer picks.  My top Canon performers would be the Canon 60D (similar to the higher budget Nikon d7000), T2i or T3i (similar to the lower budget Nikon d5000 or d3100).

However, even more so than the camera are the lenses you will want to use after purchasing your new toy.

Lenses are really the star of the show. A lot of times it is the lens that determines what your camera can handle.  The lens can zoom or not zoom. The lens can tell the camera to be great in low light or not so great in low light.  The lens is what allows the camera to create a tack sharp image or not.  The lenses that come with these entry level SLRs are not always the most ideal for the momtographer.  They have minimal zoom capabilities, they don’t produce the most sharp images, and their capabilities in low light stink.

My #1 must have momtographer purchase to go along with your new shiny camera is the 35mm or 50mm / f 1.8 lens.  It produces GORGEOUS images. It shines in low light. It’s absolutely an amazing lens. And its a rather affordable top performing lens option.  The one downfall is that it isn’t great for sports because it doesn’t zoom. If zoom is what you need then I recommend investing in a 70-300mm zoom lens. That’s the lens for you.

Is your head spinning yet? I know there is a lot to think about when making this big investment. And don’t forget that once you’ve brought that camera home and you’ve started to play I’ll be here ready to teach you what you need to know to really use that baby to it’s fullest potential.

BUT, if you’re looking for a head start in your learning, hop on over HERE and sign up for Christmas in July. I’ll be sending free gifts to your inbox all month long with photo tips and tricks to get you snapping better photos this summer. You don’t need the dslr for this one so come join in on the fun!

I am really excited to be bringing back the Meet a Momtographer blog feature! And, after just completing the third Momtography 101 class yesterday, I thought this would be the perfect time to do it.  This week’s momtographer took part in the very first Momtography 101 class and I must say she’s been one of my most enthusiastic. Meg’s awesome husband bought her a gift certificate to my class as a Christmas gift and I was so excited when she sent me a picture of her opening up her gift on Christmas morning. I am so glad that her participation in the class lived up to the hype and I am so excited to share her interview and her wonderfully improved photos.

I also want to remind you that my Christmas in July email freebies will begin later this week on July 1st. Don’t pass up the opportunity to get summer photography tips and tricks delivered straight to your email box all month long. Click HERE to get on the Be Young Photography nice list!

Name: Meg Holden

Camera: Nikon D80 with 35mm  & 50mm lenses, and a zoom lens.

How many kiddos: 2 kids & a husband (big kid at heart)

Age(s): 3.5 year old and a 3 month old… both boys

Tell us a little about what makes your kids tick. What are their interests, hobbies, and favorites? What makes them unique?

My older son is very inquisitive and likes to discover how things work, or the why’s of the world.  He’s a typical 3.5 year old, high energy and enjoying discovering his (limited) independent world.  Right now he loves being a big brother and all the “jobs” that come with it.  He takes his role very seriously.  My younger son is brand new, still figuring the world out.  He just started smiling, giggling, and finding his voice…   The boys are learning to share mom, and are starting to interact more and more everyday.

Tell us what you love most about being a mom.

It’s such a gift watching these amazing little boys grow into young men.  I love being there to share in all their “firsts” and all the everyday stuff in-between.  I love the quiet cuddling, the funny faces, being there to kiss their boo boos, or wipe the tears away, or just being there watching from the sidelines.  I cherish every moment I get to share with them.  Watching them learn to spread their wings and fly.

Biggest frustration(s) with your photos pre-Momtography?

Having a really great camera and getting “point and shoot” looking pictures.   I wanted that “professional” look to come out of my fancy camera… but was afraid of taking the camera out of auto mode for fear I might mess up the settings forever; or completely miss the photo opportunity because I was either a) playing with the camera settings, or b) took the pictures only to find later that they were no good.  Another one of my biggest frustrations was Christmas picture or low light, either to ruin the moment with the flash and deer in the headlight expressions, or to take a chance and get a blurry shot.  Getting kids to sit still is not possible, so I tended to either only take pictures outside in bright sun, or use the flash and was disappointed with the results.

What was the best tip or trick you learned from attending Momtography that you were able to use right away?

Turn your FLASH OFF!! And click click click…

What is the BEST moment you’ve captured of your kids or family ever on camera? Anything special come to mind?

Introducing the boys to each other.  As a parent there is no greater gift you could give your children than a sibling, a lifelong friend and companion.

 

 

Why should other local moms consider attending a Momtography class?

Beryl has a gift for teaching.  She breaks down the complicated world of photography, and finds a way to put it all into mom terms.  By using examples that a typical parent might run into when trying to capture their own personal tornados, photography comes to life.  I am a complete amateur with limited time (Baby Finn was born 1 month after I took the course) to practice all that I learned from Beryl’s course.  But my photos improved leaps and bounds already. It’s like motherhood, sometimes you just have to take off the training wheels and hope for the best.  I am more confident to leave my camera OUT of auto mode, and so much happier with the results.

 

When there aren’t enough hours in the day and your to-do list is a mile long, don’t forget to BREATHE.

When life throws you a curve ball and the odds seem stacked against you, don’t forget to BREATHE.

When you’re striking a new pose on the yoga mat, don’t forget to BREATHE.

When the kids are all going bonkers and you need that one photograph of them all smiling at the camera, don’t forget to BREATHE.

When it’s time for bed and your mind is still racing, don’t forget to BREATHE.

When another year seems to be passing by waaaaaay to fast, don’t forget to BREATHE.

Today begins my annual summer vacation.  8 years of teaching complete.  The perk of having a teaching job by day is the annual hiatus that begins every June. This summer I’ll be snuggling with my “little love”, relishing in 6 weeks of stay at home motherhood, and launching some really special new photography ventures.

But for tonight I am going to forget responsibility, put away the camera, enjoy the sound of silence, ignore the to-do list and simply BREATHE.

My fellow baby loss moms, I’m going to let you all in on a little secret tonight. You all are such an inspiration to me. I shed more tears this week than I know what to do with. For your babies. For your pain. I have been deeply touched by each and every one of you who have already reached out to me through our Vision of Baby Loss contest.  Your stories. Your words. Simple. Beautiful. Strong.

Your revealed your stories of emptiness, the cries you’ll never hear, the unused belongings, the ways you remember, the siblings left without a brother or sister, the favorite outfits, the tiny toes and fingers, the wishes you keep in your heart, and the hope you still cling to dearly.

I am even more empowered to get the first Illuminate class underway and continue the process of using our cameras to process our emotions and heal.

I am also so thrilled that Kristin Cook, founder of Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope will be joining on with the first group.  If you want to be a part of the Illuminate e-course, registration is still open HERE and there are only a very few spots left for our July class.

However, one lucky mom has won a free registration.  After a random drawing using random.org the winner of the free seat to our July group is Sefanie S! Her powerful image titled “Four Hands” is featured below and she shares these words:

I only wish all of my clients could be as super organized, adventurous, and fun loving as the B. family. When mom Gina contacted me after winning my auction offering for the Playmates in Heaven foundation annual charity golf tournament, she had her session all figured out already.  From wardrobe, to styling, to props she knew what she wanted and she arrived with two laundry baskets full of stuff for us to play with!

We chose a sunrise shoot. We knew the light would be perfect. We knew Kate would be happy as a clam. And we knew that we’d have the opportunity for some gorgeous images. But I didn’t know I’d fall in love with so many of them.

I don’t usually post this many photos from a session, but this time I just couldn’t resist…enjoy!

 

 

 

As I sat down to write this post, I all of a sudden had a vision of Julie Andrews in my head: “Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things.” I think I need to add tiny baby toes to her lyrics too. And then, the song would be perfectly fitting to be my new theme song.

When was the last time you took a picture of your favorite things?

In life it is so easy to begin just going through the motions. Wake up. Shower. Commute. Work. Commute. Dinner. TV. Bed. Rinse. Repeat. Life becomes stale really quickly using this formula and we begin to lose sight of the details all around us. Day, months, or even years go by. And we realize something has put us in this rut. We’ve lost our sparkle. We eat the same things for dinner every week. Watch the same TV lineup. Our kids are growing bigger. The seasons keep on changing.  And we have not stopped to take a breath or explore the entirety of the world around us.

Details get us out of the rut.

Details help us see creatively.

Details allow us to gain a new perspective.

When we photograph the details in our world we find beauty in the insignificant. We are able to remember the way our cats love to be nestled up in our laps – tickling our legs with their long whiskers, the mess we made in the kitchen baking cookies with our kids – flour leaving a blanket of snow across our counter tops, or the way the sun was shining dew on the grass in the morning just for us – as if it was beckoning us to be bathed in warmth.

Go photograph the details in your life right now. Regain your sparkle. Get out of the rut. And come share your new found beauty in the comments.

 

 

In 2009, my world came crashing down around me. This easy-going optimist was forced to deal with the loss our first baby and be challenged by feelings grief, anger, sadness, and solitude. I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time when our plans, our dreams, and our future were whisked away in an instant. I was not prepared to embark on such a lonely journey and deal with the emotional roller coaster that was to follow.

My first baby gift, during my first trimester, was a shiny new camera. A dslr.  A camera that I longed to learn to use like the pros so I could take beautiful images of Bella once she arrived. Instead, I used it to learn how to process my grief.

After Bella was gone, I scoured the internet looking for bereavement resources that spoke to me. I searched for a community that could relate to my pain. I needed someone to talk to and I wanted an audience who could understand the source of the imagery I was creating. I came up with nothing.  I learned photography on my own, as I grieved, and slowly grew from amateur to professional. I vowed that one day I would create a photography experience like the one I was looking for after our loss.  And now I can not believe that only 2 years later it’s finally here.

Illuminate has arrived. And registration is open.

Here are all the details you may be wondering about before you begin the registration process:

What exactly is Illuminate?

Illuminate is an online based 4-week creative photography journey designed especially for the grieving mother. Together we will learn to find beauty in our world and heal after the loss of a baby in pregnancy or early infancy. Through a series of weekly photography and journaling assignments presented via blog and video cast, participants will learn how basic photographic principles go hand in hand with the bereavement journey.

What photography concepts will be taught during Illuminate?

During the four week e-course you’ll explore the art of photography through storytelling imagery. You’ll learn to find light and shadow, use mood to convey emotion in your images, vary your perspective to add interest, and play with processing for enhancement. Each technical or compositional element we discuss will align with your own personal healing needs.

What are the dates for the first class?

The first class will run from July 6 – August 10

What kind of camera do I need to participate in Illuminate?

Whatever camera you feel most comfortable with. Point and shoot, dslr, or camera phone even! As long as it takes pictures you will be prepared to participate and will be able to work on your photography skills and think creatively.

Are there any other requirements for participation?

All participants need to have a computer, be able to access the internet, and have a connection fast enough to allow for the streaming of video content. Participants will be asked to create a blog in order to share assignments. However, Beryl will provide a video cast with instructions on how to create a blog and even make it password protected if you are uneasy about sharing your work for public view.

How large is the class size?

Class size is limited to no more that 15 participants to keep our community intimate, safe, and special.

How much does Illuminate cost?

Registration is $150 with 20% of the class fee donated directly back to Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope.

Pre-registration began last week for our Illuminate Interest Group and I am already so inspired by the women taking the leap and joining in on the Illuminate journey. Are you ready to be a part of the experience, improve your photography skills, think creatively, and begin to heal from your loss?

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

I am also thrilled to announce that I’m teaming up with non-profit Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope for a truly inspiring contest. The contest officially launches tomorrow but if you are a be young photography follower you can get a sneak peek and enter today by clicking HERE.  Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the emotional challenges surrounding miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. As part of the Illuminate kick-off we’ll be awarding one special baby loss mom with a free registration. However, due to the limited number of participants for the e-course I wouldn’t wait to register if you’re interested. If you register today and go on to win the contest, we are happy to refund your registration fee right away.

Let’s begin the healing journey. Let’s explore our world behind the camera.  Let’s shine together and begin to live again!

Baby P.’s mommy and I have been friends for just about 18 years now. We met the first day of 6th grade, we bonded over being the new kids in town and kept each other afloat as we swam through the awkward sea that is middle school. We used to have marathon phone dates, playing MASH to plan our future (anyone remember that game? anyone?), swooning over this week’s crush, and imagining what life would be like when we were “old and had our own kids”. Well looks like that day has arrived (whoa what a thought!). Little did we know back then that we’d still be so close now, still live in our hometown, have husbands that get along swimmingly, AND have babies 8 months apart from one another.  MASH couldn’t have planned it any better.  Now we’re onto plotting how these two adorable girls are going to be best buds as we all grow older together.  Born at a healthy 9lbs 8oz, Baby P. was just 7 days old when I had the opportunity to shoot her session, but she’s already looking so awake – alert – and adorable!

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Henry David Thoreau

If all has gone according to plan today you should be viewing this blog post on the freshly updated be young photography site. If you’ve been following along for awhile you know this is v.4 of my online photography journey. That’s four sites in less than 2 years. Indecisive? Yes. Inspired? definitely. Visionary? without a doubt.

VISION can be a funny thing. I’ve decided of late that it’s impossible to be 20/20.

In my mind, my life was already planned out. school. college. job. marriage. kid(s). stability. retirement. Somewhere along the way I forgot about unpredictability.  That storm cloud up ahead ready to rain out my photo shoot scheduled for the afternoon. Ready to bring on the bad hair day. Soak the cuffs of my jeans and leave a chill in my bones.  Bella was my storm cloud. She was more like a hurricane, quietly building intensity, charting her course toward us, winds whipping around, leaving a path of devastation, and a whole lot of broken dreams.

As the clouds began to part, I placed my camera in hand and saw an opportunity for evolution. The camera that was our first baby gift. The camera I was going to use to learn to shoot like the pros. The camera that would take beautiful pictures of our first daughter. Instead, I used it to show I was emotionally drained. I used it to hide. I used to to create. And I used it to heal.

It was a time for a re-VISION.

What I was looking at during that moment of unpredictability was loneliness. sadness. grief. My camera took the pain I saw and processed it into beauty.  Photography allowed my emotion to be transformed into VISION. A new vision for the present. A new vision for business. A new vision for the future.

Think about the possibilities for unpredictability in your life. Good or bad. Getting married. Starting a new career. The death of a loved one. Car accidents. Surprise parties. Having a child. Losing a child.  All of these events may be a call for your own re-VISION.  We need to learn to be ok with re-VISION in our lives to move past unpredictability, be forward thinking, and process emotion. Think about how you would feel during any one of these unpredictable instances. Dream up your own.

What is your VISION looking like these days? Share in the comments.

The VISION for be young photography has its own unpredictable turns over the past few months.   I hope to be shooting less, teaching more, and inspiring you on your creative journey. The freshly launched be young photography site is only the start of this re-VISION process. New classes, new surprises, and a special launch party are on the way. But if you want in on the celebration you better get on the mailing list by CLICKING HERE.