2018 Photo Review - With Tips for Photographers
2018 was a year I’ll never forget. It was the year I really went all in with my business, took some risks and grew leaps and bounds. If you would have told me in January of 2018 that I would purchase my first Full Frame DSLR, book 4 weddings and have such incredible Seniors to take photos of; I would have told you you were lying!
Thank you so much to anyone and everyone who has had a hand in my journey to becoming a professional Senior and Wedding photographer in southeast Missouri. It’s been a wild ride but I’ve loved every second.
Join me as I look back on 2018 by showing you my favorite photos of the year.
Here’s my very first session of the year, from Spring of 2018 and it’s also one of my favorite type of sessions to do (please hire me to do more of these. For real). They are so much fun. The excitement a young couple has on the day of their prom is just precious and fun to capture.
Photography tip: I got this photo using a prompt for the first time. I told him to whisper something in her ear. Since then I have used prompts frequently with my couples and love the results.
My next favorite photo of the year was Liliana and her dog Gunner. I had fun shooting this family session which included their horse and their dog.
Photography Tip: You have to have a lot of patience when taking portraits with animals, expect the unexpected and just capture what happens.
I might be a bit partial since this is my nephew and sister in law, but this image is just so sweet to me.
Photography Tip: To get this one, I told mom I wanted one of her kissing his cheek but I wanted him looking at me. So I instructed her to kiss him as soon as she saw that he was looking at the camera.
And then I got the 6D. I got my new camera right before our family camping trip. I brought it with us and I fell in love. My kids were great models to practice on of course.
Photography tip: When it comes to kids, give them something to do and then take lots and lots of photos in bursts. This was the moment before she lost her balance a bit and stepped backward off of the log. I love the way it made a sort of dainty looking pose.
Soon after I organized a styled session and it really stirred in me an even deeper love for photography. I got so many favorites it’s impossible to pick just one.
Photography tip: Follow you-tubers for inspiration. This shoot was inspired by a summer tutorial by Irene Rudnyk.
Then I did this in-home/down-town session for my grandparents. I wanted to test my camera’s low light ability and it didn’t disappoint!
Photography tip: When it comes to in-home lifestyle photos, make sure to take out any distracting elements but yet keep all the personality and character of their home. Let them know its okay to talk, interact and laugh with each other. Be silly and they will too.
you can see more of this session here
Ya’ll, why can’t I just get paid to take photos of dogs all day? They are the cutest and sweetest things to take photos of. I mean come on! look at this sweet puppy love
Photography tip: Have the owners right outside of the frame to keep re-situating or instructing them and to keep them from running away. Then, just take quick bursts of photos and you’ll be sure to get something super cute like this too!
The next photo that is on my Favorites list is one from a last minute wedding I did. This wedding was a huge confidence boost and portfolio boost as well! It was an incredible experience and I was so blessed by this couple’s obvious love and devotion to each other. It was the sweetest.
Photography tip: Prompts! Join the Facebook group Promptography, read and write down prompts and look through wedding photos for hours on end. You’ll start memorizing things that’ll come back to your memory when you need it.
you can view their gallery here
Honestly this entire Senior Session was my favorite. Its so hard to pull one from this session but this one has be one of the tops for sure.
Photography tip: I think what makes this one stand out is the way her outfit matches the environment. Always look for these opportunities. Also, water always makes a great backdrop.
You can view more from this day here
My next favorite is of this little Angel, Ansley! This was from an amazing fall family session I shot at golden hour in down town Sikeston, Missouri.
Photography Tip: To create this image: First of all, I placed her with the setting sun and colorful trees directly behind her. After seeing that she was feeling awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera, I then gave her “Swirl your dress around like a Princess” Prompt. The painterly edit effect is something I learned from You-tube tutorials.
My family Session Gallery
Next is from this moody fall session I did with my kids. I took them in my neighbors hard, it’s a pretty normal everyday backyard but they came out so good.
Photography tip: When you have great lighting, cute kids, fall colors and editing abilities GOLD happens!
It was right after this Senior Session with Lauren, that I realized my favorite sessions of the year were senior sessions. This made me decide to focus 2019 on getting as many of them as I can!
Photography tip: I had her reach her left arm over her head with her hand hanging loosely by her ear. Then hold her left elbow with her right hand. I made sure she was holding everything loose and relaxed and looking casually off to the right. This was inspired by a photo I saw right before the shoot.
View my full senior session gallery here
This next image It was held was my favorite from Erica and Dylan’s lake side wedding at The Water’s Edge in Cape Girardeau Missouri. So moody, woodsy and gorgeous. Give me all the moody Vibe weddings and I’ll be a happy girl! (Stay tuned for a blog post for this wedding coming soon!)
Photography tip: You can never have too many detail or ring shots.
View their full gallery here
My next favorite is this one of Wes’ Senior Session in down town Advance, Missouri. I love interesting buildings to shoot in front of and as soon as I saw this one I knew I had to use it as a back drop!
Photography tip: Use interesting buildings and pay attention to details in the background. If you notice, the lines of the building are perfectly situated behind him to bring Him front and center in the photograph!
View my senior session gallery here
2018 was definitely a launching point. A launching point to the even greater things in 2019, my husband and I becoming business owners together and letting go of our fear and comfort zone. I can’t wait to see what I accomplish in 2019.