Experimenting with film.
Read Morepersonal photography
Always searching for the light
My little ones on film. Joy joy joy.
Read More
Banff, Canada on Film
A dreamy trip to Banff, Canada on film.
Read More
Follow Your Heart | Raleigh Film Photographer
Thoughts on following your heart…
Read More
Wrightsville Beach on Film
Summer memories in Wrightsville, North Carolina.
Read More
4th of July at the Lake
Fourth of July fun on film…
Read More
Exploring Raleigh | Mordecai House
A sweet day with my children at The Mordecai House.
Read More
Costa Rica on Film
The magic of Costa Rica.
Read More
Lately
Peeks into our summer in Raleigh, North Carolina and beyond.
Read More
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.
The magic of film
About a year ago, I remember standing in my backyard with my kids trying SO hard to capture this "perfect" moment I had envisioned in my head. I was frustrated, disappointed and discouraged in so many ways. My kids were absolutely NO help what-so-ever and as hard as I tried, and no matter how many pictures I kept snapping, the image I had created in my head just wouldn't come. It was a click-click-click-check viewfinder-click-click-click-click-check viewfinder process and it was at that moment that I realized I was no longer trying to capture a special moment...I was trying to orchestrate a moment that didn't even exist. I put my camera down and walked away.....wondering if I would ever even want to pick it back up again.
The inability to "create" was just as bad as not "creating" the image I had envisioned. I am a creative person by nature and I always need to be doing something with this creative energy. Over the years I've dabbled in just about every creative outlet - painting, writing, knitting, cross-stitching, scrapbooking, book making, jewelry making, and of course, photography. Photography has always been THE outlet. When I did dabble in any other areas, my favorite part was always taking the pictures of the process or finished project. So when I found myself at a cross roads of disappointment with photography, I knew I needed to switch gears. Enter film.
Film is purely magical to me. I loaded a roll of film into a camera for the first time less than a year ago. Since that moment, I have shot way too many rolls to even count, and have transitioned all of my client work to film. Film brings back the joy of photography to me. It lets my inner "weirdo" seep out. It reminds me that it's ok to be different. And it allows me celebrate who I am. The absolute best part is that my attention is now focused back on the process of creating....not the finished product. You don't have the luxury (or curse...) of a digital display with a film camera. You can compose in camera, you can change your angle and set up the shot through your viewfinder however you want, but the finished product isn't an immediate result. You have to wait for that image to appear in your inbox from your lab. And when it does it's magical. I no longer pick apart my images or get disappointed with my results. The anticipation is crazy and the feeling of getting scans in your inbox is like Christmas morning EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Sure...I get plenty of images that COULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING but weren't, but that's just par for the course. That's part of the process. These "mistakes" help me learn.....they encourage me to try again...or change something and try something different. Film gets you back to the PROCESS of photography. So if you've ever found yourself in your backyard feeling discouraged by what you are seeing on your digital display, picking up a film camera is what you need to do.
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.
Holiday Style | Tea Collection
Only 46 days until Christmas! Time to get your holiday dress on! Our family had the pleasure of trying out some of the latest holiday styles from Tea Collection a few weeks ago and these photos alone have me so excited for Christmas! And of course I will do anything to get my two kids together in front of the camera!
Tea Collection offers special occasion styles for every party, every family dinner, and every family photoshoot so if you're looking for the perfect holiday attire, check out their newest line. You can purchase Tea online or at a local retailer in your area! Visit www.teacollection.com/shop-locations to find a store near you.
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!!
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.
Around our clocks - 11am
Happy Monday, friends!
The "Around Our Clocks" blog circle continues and today we are all sharing a glimpse at what our 11:00am looks like! This 11am over school track out was fun of family fun, sandy toes and lots of giggles. The beach is just a few hours drive from us, so we got up super early and headed to the beach for a relaxing day. The water was FREEZING, but my two obviously didn't care. It's times like these, too, that remind me just how important it is for us to get away as a family. xo
Thanks so much for stopping by today! To continue on the "Around Our Clocks" blog circle, click on over to Camille Arner, Family Photographer in Brooklyn, NY, to see what her 11am looks like.
He, She + Me - March
HE: loves being the first one up • wakes up to his alarm clock every morning, turns on the fireplace + makes his breakfast 😳 • pulls out my chair at dinner • tells me his "glad news" everyday • still has a major crush on a girl in his class + blushes when you mention her name • insists he’s going to marry Anna and me (please don’t ever grow up ❤) • filling out his March Madness bracket like a champ • bites his nails when he’s excited • loves salted caramel ice cream the most • has the most adorable secret handshake with Anna
SHE: celebrates her EIGHTH birthday in a few short days 🎉 • has been counting down said birthday since Halloween • has moved from Shopkins to Num Noms • is obsessed with Moana • had two speaking parts in her school program + nailed them • scored her first two goals EVER in soccer and was so incredibly proud of herself • carries around our old iPhone like an extra appendage and blares awful Kidz Bop morning + night • is dying to be done with her booster seat • steals alllll my bags of frozen grapes • asks her magic 8 ball questions all.day.long
ME: craving the beach • counting down the days until I’m in sunny California • downloading books galore on my Kindle • making my way through This Is Us and trying to hide my eyes and cover my ears whenever anyone mentions the show 🙈 • already mourning the end of basketball • so thankful for photography classes that help to push me creatively • loving on my Helios lens • making lists and setting daily goals • going on almost three months of daily blogging + tutorial sharing • thinking of starting Whole 30 aggggggaaaaain (but really all I want is tacos 🌮
Project Mama + Me is a monthly project created to remember all the little bits + pieces of our everyday. Follow #projectmamaandme on Instagram.
follow on instagram
Around our clocks - 9am
Happy Monday, friends!
The "Around Our Clocks" blog circle continues and today we are all sharing a glimpse at what our 9:00am looks like. We have been tracked out of school for the past three weeks, so our 9am looks very different now than it did a month ago. During the weekdays, my two are at school, but over their track outs, we venture out to a new spot almost every day. We love exploring our local parks and lakes. On this day, Anna was with a friend, so Drew, Chase and I went exploring around the lake. These two are just two peas in a pod and I love around water (and sand and rocks), they are in their element.
It drizzled on us when we first got there and we alllllllmost left, but the rain passed right on by and we had the entire lake to ourselves. Such a peaceful morning.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! To continue on the "Around Our Clocks" blog circle, click on over to Anna-Liisa Nixon Photography, South Florida Documentary Family Photographer to see what her 9am looks like.
Best of February 2017
Moving right along on my Project 365! The process of this project has definitely gotten easier and has become less stressful. The thought of HAVING to capture something every.single.day almost sent me straight into panic mode when I started in January, but now that we are more than two months in, it's just part of my day now.
I knew when I set out to complete a 365 I needed to approach this as something FUN rather than a chore. (And side note - it totally felt like a chore those first few weeks, just FYI.) It took me a good solid month before I could step out of my comfort zone and be free of the "I have to capture a perfect shot" mentality. Photography is an art and it definitely takes a ton of patience. I know that not every shot is going to be amazing, but that the whole of them all together will be absolutely AMAZING.
I love looking back through our month and seeing the sum of everything. This project is SO worth it and remember it's still not too late to start. Heck - you can start in November if you want! There are no rules to capturing your everyday!
