Date Archives October 2012

Alex & Sam | Raleigh Cary Family Photography

0 Comment Children, Family

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I was thrilled when my girlfriend of many years asked me to photograph her children this year.  We used to hang out a lot when they lived in our neighborhood, but they’ve since moved away.  We do our best to see each other as often as life allows, but sadly it’s just not often enough!

These children are super kind and you can tell from the pictures how much they really love each other!

This session was held at their house and I loved incorporating their beautiful home into their photos.   There really is no place like home, especially this fabulous daybed on their screened in porch!

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It was a perfect North Carolina fall day!  The weather was simply divine – we stayed outside for the rest of the session and found lots of gorgeous color!

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Thank you mother nature for the breeze that so perfectly arrived for this image…

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Thanks again Stacy – loved seeing you all!

~Kathy

Ocracoke 2012

0 Comment A Slice of Life, Beach

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Every year, for my birthday, we make a family pilgrimage to one of the best spots on Earth.  If we’re lucky we make it twice in the same year.

Friday we woke the kids before sunrise, and began our 3 hour trek to the ferry.  It’s exciting, and we all love it!

Upon arrival to the ferry I pulled out my camera (well, yah!) only to discover that my favorite work horse lens wasn’t working.  I panicked, thinking how could I make this trip without a camera? I don’t have an iPhone (yet), so that’s not an option for me.

I then discovered & remembered that in the rush of packing I had in fact put my oldest lens in the camera bag.  Yup, the one that came with my original camera several years ago.  Thank goodness, although she doesn’t take sharp pics as I like.  But that’s okay.  I learned to let go and I think I took more pics than usual this year just because of it!

Sunset on Ocracoke Island.  Life IS good.

Looking forward to lots of fall shoots coming up this month & next – whoo hooo!

~Kathy

Simple Lighting Technique Pt.3 | Raleigh Portrait Photography

1 Comment Portraits

The third and final installment of this series.

(You can read part one HERE and part two HERE.)

You may recall in part two I utilized a lighting technique called split lighting.  This type of lighting splits the face  into equal halves with one side being in the light, and the other in shadow.

For part three, I decided to face my subject towards the light 100%.  I wanted to achieve soft, bright & even light.

We are using the larger piece of foam board for the background.  We are using the smaller piece for …. a man made breeze!

This is the result:

ISO1000     f/3.2   1/250th

First of all, I LOVE this image!

  Second of all, I love sharing it because you would never know she was in pajama pants on my front porch with her big sister waiving a foam board in her face – which of course resulted in this fabulous grin!

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Time for big sis to step into the wind zone …

ISO 500     f/3.2    1/400th

I love the soft, flowy feel to this image.  I wish I had unpinned her bangs – probably would have resulted in more hair movement.

And lastly, we stopped the wind and used that same piece of foam board as a reflector placed to her right waist area (you can see it in her eyes if you look closely)

ISO 500     f/3.2    1/400th

Mmmmm love those freckles.  Mmmmm I dig the light in this image so much.

If this was a paying client I would probably remove some of the redness from her eyes.   If I print it I will!

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I hope you enjoyed this series & are inspired by this information. I’d love to read any comments that you may have!

If you are on Pinterest, I have a board dedicated to lighting.  Click HERE to visit.

If you have any other ideas for tutorials please leave ’em in the comments too.

Thanks!

~Kathy

Amy & Brad | Jones Chapel Meredith College Wedding

3 Comments Love

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From the moment I met these two at their engagement session, I knew right away that this love is true & lasting.  I feel so blessed to have met these wonderful families, so open hearted,  kind & just great folk to be around!

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry ~ Tom Mullen
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Much love & happiness to you both!

~Kathy

Simple Lighting Technique Pt.2 | Raleigh Portrait Photography

1 Comment Beauty, Portraits

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This post is part two (see part one HERE) of my fun & easy simple lighting set up.  I am so excited to share because it really is so darn easy and produces great results.

Cloudy day.  Part one showed how we were on my covered  (important to acheive this look) front porch with ten dollars worth of foam core board we are using for background and reflectors.

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This image we are in same location with same set-up, MINUS the reflector to the right side of her face. I wanted more light/dark contrast for this portrait.

This type of lighting is called split lighting. It splits the face  into equal halves with one side being in the light, and the other in shadow.

I had her look her eyes to the sky to get those gorgeous catch lights …

My youngest assistant was holding a small piece of foam core at the subjects waist

(you can see how the foam core lightened the bottom of her iris a bit).

I really like it in B&W too

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Simple & effective.

Part three will show how I moved the set up slightly & gained some wind in the hair without the convenience of electricity!

~Kathy