Author: alison@tinyblueorange.com

This may be one of the bravest most adventurous families I’ve had the chance to work with to date. When the K. family contacted me to do a session in early December I knew we were going to be in for some chilly weather, but I didn’t expect it to dip to temperatures in the mid 30’s so quickly!  It was definitely colder than average for our holiday session in Brunswick, MD but Daria, Jeremy and son Logan braved the cold with no complaints and I think the results were well worth it! We met up at the train station in downtown Brunswick and captured some shots around the station and down by the C&O canal before heading inside for warm drinks at the local cafe. K, family, thank you for being so open to time outdoors in the cold, I had a great time getting to know you and capturing these special photos. Here is preview of our time outdoors, I can’t wait to show you the rest!

So far the response to Momtography 101 has been great and I am thrilled to see raffle entries and registrations already coming in! I can tell this first class is going to be a huge success and can’t wait for February. I’ve also been answering many questions this  past week about the class and what to expect.  So, I thought everyone could benefit from the Q&A and below is the Momtography 101 FAQ.  Feel free to add any additional questions you may have about the workshop by leaving a comment to this post.

Don’t forget…there are only 3 more days to enter to win a free spot to the February class. Click here for all the details and to register your entries. I’ll be announcing the winner this Friday on on the blog so come back then to find out who the winner will be!

Do I have to be a mom to attend Momtography 101?

No! Anyone is welcome to attend this course. Dads, grandparents, singles, teens. However, the class is geared toward taking better pictures of children so please attend with that in mind. The technical skills can be applied to many photography situations though so anyone looking to learn about their dslr can leave learning something!

What is a DSLR camera?

Most consumers are familiar with compact cameras such as your pocket sized point and shoot. However, DSLR cameras are increasingly becoming much more popular and prevalent amongst the general public.  DSLR stands for digital single-lens reflex. The two most commonly seen brands on the market are Nikon and Cannon.  But, that doesn’t really help explain what a DSLR is or what the advantages are of having one. Let’s dig a little deeper:

• With a DSLR camera, you see exactly what the lens sees and you typically view through a view finder (no LCD screen display)
• You can change the lens on a DSLR
• DSLRs have large image sensors that produce high-quality photos
• A DSLR in the right situation has a near-zero lag time, and is ideal for action photography
• DSLR cameras are versatile.

Do I have to have a dslr camera to attend Momtography 101?

Yes. This is a firm requirement. The technical details we will be discussing will be much more applicable to those with DSLR cameras. We will spend a majority of our time together disscussing manual functions, beginner settings, and lens options. Even though some of these settings are available on compact cameras they are not as sophisticated and do not always function in the same capacity as a DSLR.

What can I expect to learn at Momtography 101?

A little of everything! We’ll begin with the basics of taking better photos from composition to framing to lighting and location. From there we’ll dive into using the camera on a more technical level with basic manual settings. We’ll explore what settings work well in various situations and also discuss the advantages of different camera lenses.  Participants will also be given the chance to ask questions, participate in a hands on shoot with models to practice what is learned, and enter to win prizes and giveaways at the end!

How many participants will you be accepting for this class?

The class is designed for no more than 25 participants.

My wife (friend, coworker, daughter, son, mom, dad…) would really enjoy this class! Can I buy them a gift certificate?

Yes! I am happy to customize a gift certificate just for you.  A spot in this class would be a great gift for any holiday or special occasion.

I can’t attend the class on the date you’ve set. Are you planning to offer another in the future?

This Momtography class is one of what I hope to be many more to come. If the response is positive for this class I will definitely plan to offer another class during the Spring or Summer of 2011.  However, I also am happy to offer private small group classes either in your home or mine (for you and 3-7 of your friends), or one-on-one private lessons. Contact me for details if you are interested in either of these options.

My apologies once again. My track record for family photos on Fridays has not been so good during the past month! However, this Friday brings more exciting things…announcing the winner of the Momtography 101 giveaway. Have you entered yet?! You still have a few more hours. I’m taking entries up until midnight 12pm EST! Details on how to enter can be found here.

How are things in your world these days? Big changes have been going down in our house this month. I’ve returned to work full time & photography sessions are keeping me busier than expected during these winter months (LOVE!). My Calmer began a new job venture & is working on the final few classes of his Bachelors degree (YAY!).  Winter days are shorter and we leave for work when its dark and return home when its dark which leaves little time with Brie, little time for photography, and zero light for photos (DISLIKE!).

However, family snapshots are not always about finding the right light or the right pose.  Sometimes that moment, that time, that place is just right and it needs to be captured. We may not get to spend a lot of time with our little one during the week but the time we DO get to spend with her is so much more special.  The mood, the feeling, the space in this photo is the story of our life right now.  Cold winter days mean snuggling on the couch, trying to keep warm when the wind is howling out your front door, and spending time with those who matter most. And when I look back on this photo I’m not going to curse the poor lighting or the wardrobe they were wearing, I am going to remember how special this time in our life really was.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win a free spot to the first of what I hope will be many Momtography 101 classes. It is fun for me to see so much excitement around this class and I hope all of you who entered will sign up to take the class in February. Unfortunately there can be only one winner and last night after a random drawing using Random.org a winner has been chosen. And the winner is….Megan L.!! I contacted Megan last night to give her the good news and she was soooooo excited because she’s never won anything before. I’ll be featuring a little interview on the blog on Monday with Megan so you can learn a little more about why she wants to take the class.

Until then, registration is open! If you would like to book your spot in Momtography 101 send me an email at info@beyoungphotography.com and we’ll get you registered. Or, get a husband, family member or friend to email and reserve your space as a last minute holiday gift. Gift certificates are available and space is limited so get your spot reserved soon before they run out!

I am thrilled today to introduce to the winner of the free spot for our first Momtography 101 class set for February 27, 2011 at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, VA. Megan couldn’t have been more excited to win the free spot exclaiming “I’ve NEVER won ANYTHING before!!”.  Like most moms out there Megan loves her kiddos, loves her family, and wants so badly to capture beautiful photos using her dslr camera. I asked her to share with us a little bit about her family, her photo frustrations, and some of her images she so badly wants to fix.  It’ll be fun to post some after images once the class is complete to show you all how just a few tweaks with your camera settings can make all the difference.  I can’t wait to help you and all the other attendees in February.  To register for Momtography 101 click the link here and send me a message letting me know you want to be at that first class too!

1) Tell us a little about yourself and your kiddos. What makes your family tick?

My children and family are my #1 priority. I work full time and wish that I could cut back so I could be around more during the days with my kids. Georgia is 3 years old going on 25! and is in her first year of preschool and loves it. She is a very social little red head. Lorelei is our very independant child. She must do everything herself. But shes also a mamas girl and Im enjoying every minute of it. We are expecting baby number 3 in July and we should know the sex by the time of the class! Our family is silly and crazy and loud and we love it!

2) When did you get your camera and how long have you been using it?

My husband and I bought our camera as our Christmas gift to each other last year.

3) What is your number one frustration when taking photos?

My number 1 (I have to pick just one?? grrr) frustration is blurry picture and incorrect lighting. I never know what setting to use. So I end up guessing which leads to blurry pictures and a run away child. Moment lost.

4) If you could come away with ONE thing at the Momtography class what would it be?

What I hope to get from the class is to be able to take classic sweet pictures of my children.

5) What was your favorite thing to play with as a child?

As a child I loved riding my bike. I would spend hours outside riding around the neighborhood until the street lights came on.

If you have a little girl, and have not been to the store UnBOWlievable in the Dulles Town Center mall you need to RUN not walk and get yourself there! Co-owners Kristin and husband Chad excel in creating classy, colorful, stylish and affordable hair accessories for infants all the way to young adults. I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin back in November while shopping for Brie and she is one of those people you feel like you’ve known a lifetime.  She was so kind and helpful while shopping and made accessorizing my little one a breeze!

UnBOWlievable is gearing up for a fantastic 2011 and this weekend I had the opportunity to work with some adorable little models showing off their January 2011 product line and some of their other amazing products.  K., C. , E.1, E.2, M., and their families were troopers for being so willing to spend a chilly afternoon at the Waterford Mill in historic Waterford. VA. They all came super prepared with multiple coats, boots, scarves, and mittens in coordinating colors with the many bows and hats we had to shoot.  And, the snowy backdrop was the perfect scene for these girls to strike a pose! They were so good at posing that I had a difficult time narrowing down my favorites from our session.

Here is a sneak peek of the UnBOWlievable January product line.  I am excited to share these images first on the blog, but you may just see some of them hanging in store too come 2011! Thanks again to the families for all of your assistance and flexibility.  And, a big thank you to Kristin for your organization and making our shoot happen. You all made my job easy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families! I wish you much joy and many blessings as this year comes to a close. My Calmer, Brie Baby, and I will be leaving Christmas Day and spending some much needed away time in Florida with Brie’s  MeMa, Pop Pop, and Auntie Sara. It’s a warm and sunny Christmas for us! However, today we’ll be celebrating here at home and with Brie’s Nana and Grandpa. We’ve already received the best gift in the world this Christmas. Can you tell she is ready to celebrate and ready for Santa to come?

Last year, I was inspired to pick one word to be my guiding light in 2010. A word to keep me grounded, a mantra to get through the tough times, and a path to reach some lofty goals. That word?

SOAR

And now as I sit here SOARing 30,000 feet in the sky aboard a plane back home from the hustle and bustle of the holidays I can’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion and a sense of peace.  My loving husband/Calmer next to me and our 3 month old daughter nestled in his arms. Right now, this is my happiness.  And I am leaving 2010 so thankful, so inspired, so humbled, and so proud I might explode.

It’s amazing what can happen in a year. What can change. What can thrive. What can grow.

On a personal level we’ve been through some crazy times once gain this year but have come our on top. The continued recovery from the loss of our first baby Bella Rose, celebrating a new pregnancy and birth of our daughter Brielle Rose, selling our first house, buying our family home, my Calmer losing his job only 2 days after closing on said home, finding a job 4 months later. It wears me out just thinking about it all again.

And then, there is this business. The growth it’s gone through this year leaves me speechless.   In 2009 I was leaving with the word HOPE. HOPE that starting a business was right and that it would thrive.  HOPE that this wasn’t just some hobby and that I had found something more.  HOPE that there was a reason for Bella’s passing and that she was guiding me down the right path. HOPE that 2010 would be my year to SOAR.  And I think I’ve done just that.  I have found my groove, developed a brand, made connections in the community, and I am leaving this year confident and excited about what 2011 is going to bring. I have met some incredible photographers and worked with some amazing clients this year. AMAZING clients. Thank you for trusting me, letting me explore, experiment, try new things. Your compliments  and referrals light up my days and keep me moving forward. Just as I did last year I want to share just a few of my favorite images from this year’s sessions.

I can’t wait to see what 2011 has to bring. And after lots of thought I’ve chosen my One Word to guide me through this coming year. 2011, it’s time for me to:

SHINE!

As excited as I am, I am also frightened by the potential coming my way this year. After seeing what this year did for my business the thoughts of what might be coming my way in the coming year are limitless.  I am at a crossroads and I hope you’ll come along with me for the journey.

Now, I want to hear your One Word for 2011. Leave a comment below and tell me. Let’s all enter 2011 inspired and motivated by what lies ahead!

Christmas week was spent with the Hurwitch clan in sunny Florida. It was Brie’s first plane trip and first visit with her Great Grandma Michelson. Even though the weather was seasonably cold for Florida we still managed to find some time outdoors to capture some family photos.  What a way to end such a special and memorable year. Catch you all in 2o11!

What do you get when you combine a gorgeous FL winter day, an amazing backyard garden, a golf club, and a beautiful 22 year old on a quest for success? Sara Hurwitch’s Professional Golf shoot 2011. Sara is my amazingly focused, driven, and talented sister who is in her second season of going pro with her golf career.

This year Sara’s mission is to gain 30 more yards off the tee in her golf game. Her goal? To get her game in better competitive shape for the professional level. Visit her at Sara Hurwitch Golf to learn more about her Quest and her professional career.  Or follow along on her Quest for Distance blog to track her progress this year.

Sara rocked this shoot with me. She is a natural in front of the camera and you can just feel her drive, dedication, and focus in these images as she embarks on her quest in 2011. Sara, thanks for an awesome session.  I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you this year!