The sunsets in Rock Hill, South Carolina are some of the best! This is due to the high humidity here, especially during the summer. It has to do with the shorter wavelength colors (violet,indigo, blue, green) being deflected by the extra particles in the air, while the longer wavelengths are still getting through (yellow, orange, red). Enough of the science lesson now. Here comes the photography lesson.
For fellow shutterbugs: Nikon D5500 18-55mm kit lens (18 mm) ISO 400 Aperture f/4.5 Shutter Speed 1/1250 I did not pose my daughter as she played with the refreshing water at the edge of Lake Wylie. She was picking for shells and I moved around her to get the best shot. These are usually my favorite pictures because they are more natural. As a family photographer I try to find the best lighting and composition for my situation and I move myself to it. I made sure that I was in manual mode for this shot because it would be hard to get with the priority modes. I metered on the sky, but then focused on my daughter. I made sure that my shutter speed was high so the sunset would not be blown out and my daughter would be more silhouetted. This image is not SOOC (straight out of camera). In my post processing (using Lightroom) I decreased the exposure slightly, and brought down the highlights and whites. I increased clarity to give it a sharper look because the focal point was slightly off (a little behind her). I also increased the vibrance to give the sunset more color. I did not want the sunset too orange after I lifted the vibrance so I also tinted towards magenta.
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My mom and step-dad decorated their truck in red, white, and blue and we were off to be in the Baxter Parade in Fort Mill, SC. It was a terrific and patriotic time enjoying the small town feel of Baxter and practicing our princess waves as we threw candy to the parade watchers. My daughter is an expert princess waver....lol!
I took my Nikon D5500 DSLR camera with the 18-55mm kit lens. I usually prefer my 35mm 1.8f Nikon prime lens (prime lenses do not zoom in or out) because of the ability to open the aperture larger and the better portrait quality. I also like prime lenses because it gets me up and moving as I take pictures. I feel more of a connection to my subjects when I do this. However, the prime lens was not necessary since I was not taking pictures of clients, but my own family. I also felt like the zoom was the better option when being a part of a parade. The ability to zoom in so that I wasn't running around everywhere trying to get the right placement for my pictures was important. Although the parade watchers might have found it entertaining as I tripped over myself! My best suggestion to you, if you are taking pictures in a parade, is to make sure you have a high shutter speed (1/500 or more) so that you are capturing motion and don't get a lot of blurry images. If you need to raise the ISO (mine was set at 800, but I usually like to keep it at 200 for sunny outdoor images) in order to do this go right ahead! I would personally rather have a little more grain in my pictures than blur....unless you're being artistic and want some blur in your pictures! When it comes to aperture you will want to have it at f4.5 or higher number (smaller opening) so that you get more depth of field (things closer and farther away from your focal plane are in focus). Note: These suggestions are not the only way to take pictures of parades. You should try different settings and see what works best for you and the feel you want to convey in your images. Have fun and get out of your comfort zone! Beautiful weather? Check! Amazing city? Check! Incredibly gorgeous and smart senior? Check! This girl could not have been any more sweet and fun to work with. She loved all the same 90's bands that I adored while I was in high school (Greenday, Bush, Blink 182, etc.) and she is going to major in zoology; I have my 4 year degree in Biology! We were like kindred spirits! Her mom was awesome as well and had a photographer's eye, so we worked together in finding creative spots around the Charlotte, NC area. And we had a blast as we strolled through the city and looked at unique spots with perfect lighting. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this dynamic duo and can't wait to hear about the success she will have as she embarks in her future!
#charlotte #rockhill # We had a fun birthday party for my kids and they are obsessed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse so we themed it up Disney style. I bought a lot of the decorations at Target, but when it came to buying all the kiddies Mickey Mouse ears I stopped because they were charging a bit more than my budget could handle. I figured I could make my own for much cheaper and create a fun activity for the kids to do at the party. Read further to find out how to make your own.... All you need to make mouse ears are a few simple things that can all be found at your local Target or Walmart. - Poster paper (the bendable type) - head bands - a red cup or other cup to make circles with - scissors - stapler or tape - pen/pencil Follow the steps below: 1) make circles on the poster paper using your red cup as a guide, but you should make them an inch or two away from the edge. 2) Draw 2 lines about an inch apart from each other from the circle to the edge of the paper. 3) Cut out the shape you drew. 4) Make enough for two ears on each headband. 5) Staple or tape the shapes onto the headbands to make the ears. (I used a stapler because I felt they would stay better that way.) Make sure you put two on each headband! 6) Continue doing this for all the headbands. (I made baby ears for my niece by using the opposite end of the red cup, which makes a smaller circle.) 7) Let the kids have fun and get creative. You can use markers, crayons, paint, glitter, or puffy paint to decorate them. We used washable paint because my daughter requested it, but I probably would have rather used markers because it takes a while for them to dry. Luckily we had some extra plastic grocery bags we put them in for the kids to take home so they wouldn't get paint all over their parent's car! This little guy didn't want to sleep but we made the session work because he was just so happy! His big brother was proud and excited to show off his little brother. I was so honored to be able to capture these precious moments of the family and their newest addition!
Rock Hill, SC When that one year mark hits you cannot believe how quickly time has flown by! That precious little newborn baby has turned into a sweet, cuddly, strong-willed, and funny toddler! From first smiles that melt your heart to their first messy pasta meal to the first time they slept through the night, it has all gone by way too quickly! How did that happen in the blink of an eye? Whatever goes through your head at this moment you know it's a huge cause for celebration. A one year old photo shoot is the perfect way to take this moment and make it tangible. Whether it's a large canvas over your fireplace that makes you smile right back at their beautiful face, a one year photo album that makes everyone swoon as they turn the pages, or a collage or 5 X 7's framed in the hallway that make you stop and stare with a happy heart as you walk by. These are all great ways to make this time more than just a memory! This year my Senior Reps in Fort Mill, SC are a couple, and not just any couple! They are one of those couples that just gets each other. They have a kind of secret language where all they have to do is look at the other to know what the other is thinking. During the photo shoot they had an awesome sense of humor and were up for my crazy photog antics! I was then lucky enough to do a fun session with them before they danced themselves silly for Prom! There are a lot of us out there....Family Photographers! It's pretty overwhelming trying to figure out who to choose. You will be spending your hard earned money for a boutique family photographer and you want to be more than happy with your experience and portraits. Here is a guide of how to determine which photographer is best for you and your family.
1) Do you like their style? Photography is an art. Each photographer sees the world in a different way and has their own style. Some are more traditional with a studio where people are looking directly at the camera, others are lifestyle photographers that focus on connections in a family, and then there are some photographers that do a little bit of everything. Before you choose a photographer make sure you check out their work. Look at their website, Facebook, Instagram, and email them to ask for some recent work, since not all photographers have time to continuously update their website portfolio. 2) Are they available? Photographers that are well-known typically book up quickly, especially April-November. Start searching for a photographer at least a few months before you actually need them, especially for newborn sessions. If you need a photographer last minute you will find one, but it may not be the one you absolutely love. You want to find one that will be your official family photographer for years to come! 3) Do you like their personality? Choosing a family photographer is like choosing a friend. Someone who will be there when you need them, make you laugh, help you feel comfortable in stressful situations (aka the photo shoot), and someone who develops a relationship with you and your family. You need to like their personality, otherwise you and your family will look stiff and uncomfortable in front of the camera and it will show in the final product. You can get a feel for their personality by checking out their Facebook page, Instagram, and website. But meeting them in person is an even better way to figure out if they're a good fit. Most photographers are happy to meet you in person first so they can show you their work and get a sense of what you are looking for. 4) Are they experienced? You should ask any photographer you use how long they have been a photographer and worked with families or children. Just like any profession, the photographers who have more experience will typically be able to provide you with a professional product and give you what you really want. Experience is not everything, but they should at least have a decent amount of different clients in their portfolio! If you have anything you'd like to add to this list or have any questions please comment below or email me at photographybylarisa@gmail.com. Good luck in your search and I hope you find your ideal family photographer, even if it's not me! :) My Rock Hill Senior Reps of 2016 did an awesome job of posing, having fun, and looking beautiful! I was so happy to work with them in Downtown Rock Hill. We had a variety of backgrounds and were so lucky to get a perfect sunset with golden hour light. Gotta love it when things just work out perfectly! A huge thank you to my Senior Reps! You ladies are awesome! Rock Hill Senior Photographer, Northwestern High School Senior Photographer, Rock Hill High School Senior Photographer, Senior Photographer in Rock Hill, South Pointe High School Photographer I absolutely love doing 6 months portraits because it's always been one of my favorite ages. I remember when my kids were 6 months old. They were so happy, had lots of baby fat, and could't get into much trouble because they couldn't crawl yet!
This sweet baby girl was so easy going and at that happy baby 6 month stage. We started the session with her waking up from her nap and finding me with a camera in front of her face. Instead of being scared and crying she stared at me with curiosity and wonder. Those big beautiful blue eyes just made my heart melt and I instantly knew what I needed to focus on....pun intended! I couldn't get enough of her eyes locking onto my camera. She is such a little beauty and I feel honored I was able to capture these precious moments that fly by way too quickly! |
AuthorLarisa is a natural light photographer and teacher in the Rock Hill, SC and Charlotte, NC area. Archives
January 2023
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