Portfolio, Photography, and Professional Experience

Aspect Ratio in Photography Explained

September 13, 2012

Sometimes I am asked why some images are proofed with a lot of extra space around the shot. The simple answer is aspect ratio! Now, I am not going to pretend to be an awesome explainer of things, but in short, all of the most popular print sizes (4×6″, 5×7″, 8×10″, etc) have a different aspect ratio. If you go back to your days in geometry (pretty sure it was geometry and not trig or calculus) we all learned about ratios. 2:3, 4:5, they are all different sizes.

I’m more of a visual person myself, so I put together an example to show you. The green box is the ratio that most DSLRs shoot at, a 2:3 ratio, which would be print sizes 4×6″, 8×12″, 16×24″, etc.

The red box is a 5:7 ratio, which is pretty much only a 5×7″ print.

The blue box is a 4:5 ratio, which is an 8×10″, 16×20″, etc., crop.

Below is a PNG that other photographers can save and use to help explain this to their clients, or that you can use to see how your own images will crop based on the size you want!

First Day of Preschool!

September 4, 2012

This morning was Maddox’s first day back to preschool! He started last year and excelled, and was so excited this morning! I just wanted to share a few of the smiling face that I wake up to every morning. He looks so much like Daddy, but he has my smile and eyes. Just love him to pieces, and I hope his little brother or sister is half as cute as he is!

Big announcement! Bun In My Oven!

August 28, 2012

I really don’t think this post needs too much explanation. 🙂 We had a lot of fun setting up this photo shoot, though! I made the dress and apron, Christie and Kamry did my hair and makeup, and Christie drove the hour to my grandma’s house with me to help do the shoot! My grandma didn’t recognize me when I walked into the room, it was hilarious!

We are very excited and can’t wait to share the next 6 months with everyone, and to meet our little bun!

by Wendi Riggens

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Dave - That’s such awesome news! Congrats to all of you!
Now you need to do some different outfits as a future project!
30s, 40s, 60,s 70s, 80s…

Photography Workshop at WRP!

August 25, 2012

Last Saturday was our fall photography workshop at the studio in Burlington! We had a GREAT group of people, very interested in learning more about how to work their cameras and the technical side of photography! We covered a lot of information, including camera functions, aperture/shutter speed/ISO and how they work together to create a good exposure, metering and histograms, white balance, editing programs, Lightroom, and more! They were such an awesome group, catching on quickly, and applying what they learned during our model session!

Near the end of the day, we played with dragging your shutter speed to create movement. Check out the last couple of images on the post to see the results, it was a lot of fun!

If you are interested in attending a WRP workshop, shoot us an email and we will get you added to the mailing list and keep you updated!

Why have a photographer at the birth of your baby?

August 22, 2012

I had first experience with hospital photography long before I ever decided to become a professional photographer, when my sister gave birth to my nephew, Josh. Those moments right after his birth were so precious and amazing! Now, almost 11 years later, births are one of my favorite things to photograph.

9 days ago, my best friend, Devan, delivered her baby girl. Devan photographed the birth of my son just over 4 years ago, and to be able to return the favor was an incredible experience! To follow her on this journey and be a part of the day was something I will never forget.

So often, I hear, “Why? Why would I want someone at the hospital when I have my baby?”

Well, lots of reasons!

First and foremost, you are there for one specific reason – to have a baby. Your husband, boyfriend, significant other, mom, sister, best friend, whoever you choose to have in the room with you, are there for one reason – to support you while you go through one of the biggest experiences of your life. The nurses and doctors are there to make sure your baby and you make it through safe and healthy. The last thing anyone should have to worry about is remembering to take pictures!

Second, there are so many moments that go unnoticed. The dips and rises on the contraction tracker. Your significant other holding your hand as you push through a contraction. The moment your baby is born, and the look on your face when you hear him cry for the first time. The look on your mom’s face when she realizes you are now the mom, and she is the grandmother. Daddy standing over the warmer as the nurses clean up your new baby and get her ready for the big outside world.

Things also move very quickly in the delivery room, especially after baby arrives. The cord cutting happens in seconds, and the baby is only on your chest for a few moments before being put under the heater to be cleaned up and measured. ID bands are strapped, baby’s first diaper is put on, footprints are made – and then, baby is placed back in your arms, and the rest of your life begins.

These are moments that will be hazy and foggy days and weeks and months after your little one’s life begins in the outside world, but with professional birth photography, are moments you will never forget. Daddy should be able to enjoy these moments and not have to worry about working a camera. Chances are, he’ll be crying (even if he doesn’t think he will) too much anyway!

If you are in the fence about whether or not to have a photographer there during the birth of your baby, check out the images below.

And now…introducing Lauren Kay! Devan, I am so incredibly proud of you and happy for you!!!!!

Contractions

Check out Rusty’s face, he was pushing right along with Devan!

Baby Lauren is here!!! Mommy getting to hold her for the first time!