Life Lately

We started this year with a trip to Florida in hopes of sunshine, sand between our toes and that warm winter breeze Florida promises. We were met with gale-force winds, snow and a winter cyclone...whatever that is. Since then, winter has been a roller coaster of rain, dreary days, cold weather, an occasional snow day and a peek at the sun here and there. Winter this year has been rough. It's be slow going and the signs of spring seem to only last a quick hour before winter returns again. I used to celebrate winter and being at home and snow days full of hot chocolate dreams and movie mornings. Now that both of my kids are in school all day, winter just seems to drag on and on without an end in sight. I don't remember winter feeling this painful in years past.

Pulling out my camera and trying to find the beauty in these moments has sort of been my saving grace. It's such a good reminder that there truly is beauty in everyday...some days you have to try harder to find it. I find it funny looking back through these photos of our everyday because they depict such joy, happiness and sunshine.......which I guess is alway my goal, but it's ironic how what we show vs. what we actually feel isn't always equal. Kinda like social media, right? Instagram and Facebook are a highlight reel of the "best of" moments. The photos that made the cut. The cute moment that seems idyllic and picture perfect. Sometimes the reality is oh so different. Totally being real here, though...no matter what my Instagram or Facebook shows, this winter has been anything but. Finding the beauty and joy in the everyday is sometimes challenging, but it's there. A little deep for a Monday, I know. Here's to seeking out the beauty in each day.

Film + the magic of light leaks

Film is magical to me. It has completely changed how I photograph both my own family and others. I see the world differently with a film camera. There is just something about film that moves me in ways that digital never ever did. I still have a hard time finding the right words to actually explain it to others who don’t shoot film, so I'm sure most people probably think I'm a little weird (and obsessed) but it has completely stolen my heart - (and don't forget, 2018 is all about embracing my weirdness, so.....).

One of the things I love most about film is that it gives me the ability to get creative without initially having to worry about the end result. With digital, I was often so disappointed with the images I was seeing on the back of my digital camera and that always put me in a negative place. Now, I'm giddy excited about WHAT I am creating and am not really worried about the finished product. The process has FINALLY become more than the end result, and to me, that's what photography is all about. 

Light leaks are an awesome way to experiment and play with film! I love the haze, light, color and just plain randomness of light leaks. No two are really ever the same and you can't really plan what you're gonna get. Basically you're leaving it up to the film gods.

To achieve a light leak, all you have to do is open up the back of your camera while you have film in there! Or you can use a loosely sealed toy camera (like a Holga or Sprocket Rocket), which will often result in various light leaks around the edges. I suggested opening the back of your camera in a darker area (rather than in bright overhead sunlight). I usually open mine either shielded closer to my body or in a darker room of my house. I find the result is less harsh than in bright overhead light. But again, it's film...and anything can happen! I've also had good results by trying to hand roll an exposed roll of film in a super dark (but not completely dark) closet. I kinda did this by accident because my camera wouldn't rewind, but the results were magical and now I try it every once in a while just for the heck of it!

So go grab your camera and experiment! Film is purely magical and the process is always the best part!

A new year. A new start.

A new year. A new start. 

I know we all feel ready to conquer the new year and all that it holds. I always try to reflect on what I might be able to give the new year and how I want to approach the months in early January. I usually struggle quite a bit because I always end up thinking about what others may expect of me or what path I'm "supposed" to take. I wish I could remember at what age I found my “comfort zone” because I would totally go back and say "peace out" to that.

After really thinking about the year and what I may like to accomplish, I decided 2018 is all about stepping out of said “comfort zone” because, honestly, following rules and worrying about others expectations are so last year. So.....2018 is allllllll about being different, seeking out weirdness and embracing whatever the heck I want...whatever that might be. So expect some weird stuff here.

And in no particular order, here are some things I'd love to accomplish in 2018:

-Be a better mama and wife to my kids and husband.

-Be present and truly focused on what is going on around me.

-Stop worrying about rules and others expectations.

-Read 100 books.

-Meal plan.

-Exercise more.

-Travel for family sessions + connect with clients who want what I can give them.

-Blog more personal stuff.

-Rave on and on and on about film because it has changed my life.

Fuji 400H

Fuji 400H is an amazing film stock. It's definitely one of my favorites and I find myself gravitating towards this stock often for newborns and family sessions. This is also my go-to stock for most indoor photos. The stock is incredibly soft and delicious and skin tones are always amazing. The film itself has blue/green undertones, which I think always makes whites and skin tones seem more neutral and natural than some of the other film stocks out there. The key to this stock, though, is that it LOVES light. Like for real loves light. It might be rated at 400 ISO, but I feel like Fuji could change that to big ole 100 and be just fine. I have rated this stock anywhere from 100-800 and have loved my results each and every time. If I can rate at 100, I totally will, but I feel like you have to live on the sun to rate it that low, lol. My happy place is usually between 200-400 ISO. When I'm rating between 400 and 800, I typically always have my lab (Indie Film Lab) push my film 1 stop (which basically means they leave the film in the developer a weeeeeee bit longer so the highlights are a bit brighter).

Below are some of my favorite Fuji 400H images!!

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Around Here

Where is the year going? We are so on the countdown to summer over here, but I'm already stressing over the summer flying by. I just can't seem to make time stand still. I've managed to keep up with my Project 365 and it's by far one of my favorite projects here. Documenting those little snippets of our everyday is priceless and so worth the effort. So much changes with these little ones, and the interests one second are gone the next. So thankful for my camera and all of these memories I've captured. Here's a look at our life lately. You can see more of my Project 365 here.