Copy of Attention to detail takes time...

Recently I was at an event and someone said the inevitable "That's a really nice camera... it must take really good pictures."  (Insert eye roll by Diane here.)

You see, to me that is like telling Harper Lee she must have had a really good typewriter to write To Kill a Mockingbird.  When I am photographing, the end result is only partially finished at the capture during the session.  SOMETIMES I may get lucky and the stars align and the image is almost flawless straight out of the camera, but that is rarely.

After a session, I will load up the images into a program and sort, or cull, through them.  I pick out what I want to edit.  How do I cull? Well, I can't really explain it.. the same way a teacher just knows a kid is maybe having issues or a nurse knows a patient is going to crump on their shift, its just a gift.  I've accepted that.  But I am looking for things: composition, coloring, good light/dark balance and exposure.  I'm looking at if that looks like, say the senior I am shooting, or a kid posing for senior picture. (There is a difference.)

After I cull, sometimes I do a second cull, sometimes not, just depending on how many images we shot.  The reality is the human brain is overwhelmed with information and data and it is my responsibility to present the "best of the best" of the images to my clients when they finally get their images.
 

Then the post processing/editing/photoshopping (but I don't use photoshop.... ) starts.  For my older clients, I will soften wrinkles, but those wrinkles tell stories and I'm not fully removing them. :) I remove blemishes. I ask clients about scars, if they want them removed or left.  My job is to make the best version of the client, not the "Perfect face/body."  I look at the overall image and enhance colors and lights and darks.  I use my knowledge about what are eyes are drawn to, and the natural path of observation to crop and edit.  And it all takes time.  Time well spent. 

I have attached a before image and a sped-up time lapse video of the works that go into an image.  With this beautiful young lady, I wanted to especially bring out those amazing blue eyes.

Thank you for taking time to read and learn about what I do and my process!

xoxoxo

Diane

Before Image

some blemish removal already done...

Pretty in Pink

I LOVE Newborns sessions.  Let me reiterate that...

I LOVE NEWBORN SESSIONS!!!!!! 

I became an aunt when I was 10 years old.  11 nieces and nephews later, and three children of my own, I'll just say I am comfortable around the wee ones!  I seriously get to make a living do this?? I am one lucky blessed lady!

This little Miss was 10 days old and was the perfect subject.  Once in her milk coma, she just let me pose her however I wanted.  Mom and Dad sipped some much needed coffee and just relaxed.  I love that for the 1-2 hours these sessions take, I can give new parents a moment to "be"... and drink coffee. Or almost fall asleep. Whatever they need. 

Newborn sessions are best done in the first 10 days of life, so if you are pregnant or know someone who is expecting, feel free to contact me!  I love documenting this fleeting time!

Why I do, what I do

In this life, there are no guarantees. 

Not of life, of health, of memory, of physical capabilities.

There are only experiences and moments. 

Moments that you want to freeze like in The Matrix. 

Moments you want all time to stop so you can drink it in. 

Notice everything about it. 

Remember it for always.

Why I do, what I do, is for that purpose.

To try to capture those moments that mean so much, and yet are so fleeting.

Natural Beauty

One of the privileges I have as a photographer, is I get to know people.  I mean I REALLY get to know my clients' faces.  When I zoom in 300% while edit, Nothing hides.  I see everything. I see scars, and wonder the story behind them.  I notice that maybe their eyes are slightly different color.  I see see moles, and scan them for irregular edges (the nurse in me just can't die...)

What I always see, that many clients can't, or won't, is beauty. It is not the beauty of the mass media telling us what beauty is, it is the beauty of story, of Life.  I consider it truly an honor when clients choose me to document them.  I first photographed this woman for her senior photos. She is in college now, and all her images were done completely natural. Not a stitch of makeup.  Sure, I removed a couple blemishes, but this is her pretty much raw.