lemonade and lenses

New Home

2012-01-26T10:00:00.002-05:00

We are so excited to be able to say that we have moved to not only a new beautiful blog but our own domain name. Please check us out and update your bookmarks.
http://www.lemonadeandlenses.com/

February Contest Winner

2012-01-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

A 'HUGE' congrats to our February cover contest winner Karina Lange of Amadeus Studios!
I also want to send out a big thank you to everyone else who entered this month and a huge thank you to our other top 5 finalists Michelle Moore, Esther Mathieu Photography, Joanne Spencer Photography and Sandra Bludau Photography. And of course a big thank you to everyone who voted!!

Feb Cover Contest

2012-01-09T12:59:00.004-05:00

Due to issues with Facebook we will continue voting on our blog only, to be fair to everyone. I have taken screen shots of all the images on fb and the number of likes each photo has at the moment (1pm EST) will be the number I will count from fb as votes. I will put this number next to the image. Please comment below with the photo number or name of the photographer you would like to vote for. Only one vote per person! We will be checking IP number to make sure. Sorry for the confusion I am just trying to be fair to everyone while we work out this issue.

Final count.
One - 49
Two - 317
Three - 286
Four - 130
Five - 136

(one) Joanne Spencer Photography (42 likes from fb)

(two) Karina Lange | Amadeus Studios (216 likes from fb)

(three) Michelle Moore (185 likes from fb)

(4) Esther Mathieu Photography (121 likes from fb)

(five) Sandra Bludau Photography (104 likes from fb)

January 2012 Issue

2011-12-31T12:18:00.000-05:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More january

tuesday's theme {happy}

2011-12-27T11:33:00.000-05:00

For our last Tuesday Theme of 2011 I think we should all take a picture of something that makes us happy. But remember to step out of the box a little. We all love our husbands and children but beside that; what makes you happy?? For me, owls make me happy so I took a picture of a little owl I got over the holidays. Remember Tues Themes should be taken between now and January 10th. The point of it is to go out and be creative after the theme is given and not to go through archives and find an already taken image that matches the theme ;)

january contest winner

2011-12-15T13:52:00.000-05:00

A big congrats to Casey Rose as our first cover contest winner for our January magazine!! And a big thank you to everyone who entered!! We had over 50 wonderful submissions and it was 'so' hard narrowing it down to 5 amazing finalists!! And lastly a big thank you to everyone who voted!!
Details for entering the February contest will be included in the magazine and posted about on January 1st!!

tuesday's theme {baked}

2011-12-13T09:16:00.002-05:00

It's the holidays, so I know at some point everyone will be gathering around in their kitchen with friends and family baking up some holiday goodies. Therefore, in honor of the season...gingerbread men, cookies, candy cane reindeer...our Tuesday's theme will be 'baked'.
come on! get your baking on!

©kiwistreetstudios.com

Speaking of food...keep an eye out for a new blog, 513 {eats}, coming out January 1st created by our very own Gigi about food, foodies and photography.

our secret and tuesday's theme

2011-11-29T10:14:00.001-05:00

   So I have been 'dying' to share our little secret with everyone, as I am sure a bunch of you have been dying to know. Yes the multiple e-mails of photogs 'begging' to know kinda gave that one away. But I wanted to make sure everything was set in stone before I announced the big news.
   As I am sure some of you have noticed, it's been a little slow around L&L recently. Gigi and I have both been a little overwhelmed/busy with our own businesses the last month, or so, and have had little extra time to put into other things. In an attempt to make L&L a little more unique and less stressful on us, Gigi and I have decided to do a little changing around here. Yes, L&L will be getting a makeover. Keeping up with our L&L blog has been hard for us and when the busy season comes again we don't want to drop L&L because of lack of time. So our solution is simple. Turn L&L into a monthly on-line magazine! Yep, you heard right. L&L will now be a 'free' monthly photographers magazine filled with everything and anything a photographer can dream of. And as for our little contest we are having.....yep you guessed right. The winning picture will get to be the cover of our first ever magazine due to be released on January 1st!! How exciting is that!! And don't worry if you forgot to enter, we will have a contest each month for the cover image! Gigi and I still want to make L&L all about you guys so we would love to hear your feedback on what you would like to see in the magazine. Please leave comments below for ideas or comments on our facebook wall!!
    Now for our Tuesday's theme. This will change a little bit as well so please read on if you would still like to participate in our bi-weekly theme. A new theme will still be announced every other Tuesday on our blog. Only images taken after the theme is announced may be submitted. Remember the point of the Tuesday theme is to go out and be creative. You can only grow as a photographer if you push yourself out of your comfort zone. Each photographer who wants to submit a picture must post it on our facebook wall themselves. Images no longer have to be e-mailed in and if you do e-mail them in you will be told to go back and post it yourself. Then each month, for each theme held, Gigi and I will pick, what we think, represents the theme the most from the images posted on our facebook wall and feature them in the magazine. We 'LOVE' images that show creativity and that step out of the box. Remember a human does not have to be in ever picture!   So....before I forget to post it, our theme for the next two weeks is 'sparkle'. I'll give you a little hint. Think glitter, bokeh, holiday lights! It's the holidays, I am sure we all surrounded by lots of shinny things.   And because I know some of you will ask, there is no other limit on the image. It can be horizontal or vertical or any size/shape you want it to be.
Again thank you guys so much for being so supportive of L&L. We still have other big things coming up, like another L&L meeting, but we couldn't do all of this with out the support and help of all of you!!! p.s. the 5 finalist will be announced today!!

Winter Contest

2011-11-21T18:17:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to share with all of you our big surprise/change that is coming to L&L this winter, but first I have a little contest for you. The contest involves the surprise and the winner's image will be featured in a very special way! Below you can find all the information you need for the contest.
Good luck and have fun!!

The rules.
Each photographer is allowed to enter one image.
Images must be sent to info@lexivornberg.com
Entries must be portrait oriented.
You may place a watermark on your entry but if you images wins a clean images must be available to us.
The contest starts Tuesday, November 22nd.
You will have till Monday, November 28th to send an image in.
Our panel of judges will then review all entries and post the top 5 on fb by Thursday, December 1st.
Judges include, Lexi Vornberg, Gina Weathersby and Renee from Ribbons of Red.
On December 1st we will also announce what our surprise is and what the image will be used for.
From December 1st till December 15th you can vote, by liking, one of the 5 images on fb.
The image with the most likes at 12 noon on December 15th wins.
If you have any questions please contact lexi at info@lexivornberg.com

Featured Q&A Photographer Michelle Moore {The Answers}

2011-10-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

Yay! It's time to read the answers to YOUR questions from this month's featured photographer
Michelle Moore!

Welcome Michelle!

http://michellemoore.com

http://facebook.com/iammichellemoore

http://twitter.com/iammoorephoto

http://saltprep.com

Q and A

Sveta asks... "How did you get started? A few shoots here and there that's what you said, but what next? I am at this point right now - I shot weddings, babies, families, couples and can't decide what to focus on and what to do next. What area to target and how to get the word out? Thanks!"
I shot EVERYTHING, and ANYTHING - ANYTIME as long as it was paid. Now that you have done it all, it's time to decide what you are most passionate about. Surely there was a reason you got into photography? What makes you excited? What keeps you up at night? Start focusing on that, and coming up with ways to reach the clients YOU want. Then go from there! It's a long, windy and hard journey, but once you are only doing what you truly love the most - it's all worth it in the end. You can hear more about how I got started on my recent [FRAMED] episode here,
http://www.framedshow.com/archives/2552

Sarah Perkins Photography asks... "How did you transition from doing 'everything' photography to just seniors? How do you say no?"
I did it all, until I started to drop things one by one, and then slowly narrowed to a few things that I enjoyed the most (Weddings, Fashion, Seniors & Headshots) and then eventually I did not have enough time to do what I REALLY loved the most (Seniors & Fashion) so I completely cut out Weddings, and now only focus on what I am most passionate about. It's easy to say no because I am too busy, but at first it WAS scary. I had to take that leap of faith, but sometimes there are things I can't say no to and I evaluate whether I have time to work on it, or can refer it to someone else in my network.

Kami asks "I would love to know how you get a senior comfortable with going towards a stylized shoot instead of capturing them in their own element? (their own sense of style)"
We actually do not style our high school senior portrait clients. One of my biggest philosophies in working with our teens is about bringing out their TRUE beauty and TRUE sense of self through their own style. I have spent years developing my brand based upon being "YOU" and we give suggestions for clothes, and clients read our blog - therefore we attract a very specific client - but they are wearing their own clothes, and style themselves. I would never want to talk my clients into a stylized session, unless they wanted to create that. I don't believe in putting props in their hands, or using locations that don't speak to their true identity. What you are seeing in our high school senior portrait portfolio are REAL teens in their own clothes.

Kerrie Mitchell asks "I would love to know how Michelle converts her shoots to sales. I love photographing teenagers here in the UK but without the same demand for shoots here (we don't have yearbooks) I find it hard to sell any products afterwards. The teens just seem happy with one picture to use on facebook. Does Michelle market to parents instead? Thats an idea I've been toying with but don't want to alienate the teens. It's them that I want talking about me and recommending me to their friends afterall.
I've said this from day one - always give your clients complimentary facebook photos with your logo on them. They want them - and it prevents them from scanning prints, screen-capturing your proofs, etc. I always include this, BUT I never post them until they have seen their gallery. We market towards parents and teens, and we teach them the value of our services, and quality products. Believe in what you sell, price yourself correctly, and you will win your client's trust (and those sales!).

It also helps to offer neat and unique products that your clients can not get anywhere else, and that they are dying to have. We keep our product line-up simple and classic, so they stay fresh and modern for years to come. Sell products to the parents, and throw in the goodies for the teens (such as Facebook photos), and you'll have a winner!

Jen Story~Storybook Photos asks... "I would love to know if and how she stays busy all year with seniors? It seems here to be busy a few months leading up to graduation and then nothing until the next year. How do you keep them coming all year long?"
It's a few simple marketing techniques,
1) Educate your client (tell them it's okay to do your portraits year-round)
2) Keep your blog, social media and website updated with work year-round

Many of the schools I personally work with do not have yearbook deadlines, so this helps. Our season fluctuates - but we do shoot year-round, and as often as the weather will allow it in Seattle during the winter. Our busy season is April through early November. January through March we work with the upcoming senior class Senior Reps for our studio.

Ellie asks "How DO you find magazines that will feature your work? Is it possible to find them and build relationships without needing to physically be in the same place/at the same events?"
Yes we live in a technologically advanced world, but NOTHING beats face to face interaction. You can try all day to email everyone and their mother about working together, but nothing is going to replace meeting someone in person over coffee, or at an event. It puts a face to a name. Going to events, meeting people for coffee, networking and getting your name (and face) out there will get you leaps and bounds further (and faster) in the editorial and commercial world.

Erin Scott asks "Might be a funny question, but I'm always wondering how to keep both parents and seniors comfortable with the logistical aspects of the shoot. Specifically, how do you handle transportation logistics? Do seniors come to your studio for their makeup and then drive separately to the location? Do you go back to the studio when the shoot is done? Thanks!"

We always meet at my office before the shoot, and our clients have their make-up application. From there we head out to the location. Clients are asked to drive themselves due to liability reasons. Everything is laid out for our clients before-hand, so they are completely aware of our policies and what happens "The Day of the Shoot". Lay everything out for your clients, and there will be no awkwardness or questions the day of.

Toni asks... "What is Michelle's focusing method? Back button? Centre point recompose? Toggle focal points around? If recomposing, is she doing that wide open? Doesn't that shift the focal plane too much wide open?"
I am constantly switching between focus points on my camera. Luckily I shoot with the 1ds series, so I have a dynamic range of focus options. I usually stick between f2 and f2.8 so as to make sure the eyes stay sharp!

POSING QUESTIONS:
To everyone who asked about posing, and working with teens to help them be comfortable in front of the camera, please PLEASE stay tuned to my website and official fanpage in early 2012 for more information regarding this topic. Can't wait for what's coming next year!! XOXO

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:I tried to answer as many questions as I could, so I apologize if I didn't get to yours! If you want more answers to your questions, please check out my Gear + Photographer Q&A page here,
http://michellemooreblog.com/gear
There are a lot of great interviews where you can glean a ton of information about how to submit work, how I got started, and how to work with natural light. THANK YOU!

***

Thank you Michelle for taking the time out to be a guest on our blog and for being so open/honest and inspirational to all. Thank you for all the questions that were sent in! This is what makes this feature work...YOU!!!

Take a minute and thank Michelle for sharing the love!

And...a few more...just because we can!

thank you Michelle!
xo
gigi and lexi

Questions & Answers {Featured Photographer}

2011-10-03T07:33:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!
It's time for another in our series of featured photographers where you ask the questions.
Up this time...maybe you've heard of her? Michelle Moore. Yes, I thought so...we're beyond excited!

Welcome Michelle Moore!

"Michelle Moore is fashion editorial and high school senior portrait photographer working in both Seattle and Los Angeles. She had the pleasure of shooting her first Magazine Cover last October with 90210 star Jessica Lowndes. Michelle loves helping high school seniors see their inner and outer beauty with her boutique-like portrait experience, and bringing awareness to healthy body image through her fashion and celebrity editorial work. Learn more about Michelle and her photography at www.michellemoore.com "

http://michellemoore.com

http://facebook.com/iammichellemoore

http://twitter.com/iammoorephoto

http://saltprep.com

When I asked Michelle what topic she'd like to cover, this is what she sent back:

Topics can be:

Working with natural lighting

How to find your style, or specialize in a market (i.e. finding your niche)

How I got started, any of my background, etc.

How to set up a fashion shoot - how to get started in that

Submitting to magazines, how I got my gig with Jessica Lowndes, working with celebrities, etc.

Why what I do is so important to me

What gear I shoot with, etc.

SO excited!!

-Michelle

So...there you have it. Not one, but 7 topics to ask about from today through this week!
Ways to ask your question? You can post in the comments section here on our blog, you can post on our lemonade and lenses facebook page, or you can email your questions directly to michelle at studio@michellemoore.com

Look for all the answers on our blog next week.

And...here is some eye candy to get you going!

Let's get started!

tuesday's theme {iphoneography}

2011-09-27T00:05:00.001-04:00

i am so excited about this theme!
who doesn't LOVE their phones and all the great apps that add that
little sumthin sumthin to your image!
hipstamatic, instagram, retro camera, toy camera, shake it photo...
can you tell what kind of phone i have???
so...go forth...shoot with your iphone or whatever phone. just shoot with a phone.
just in case you need some cool new apps...check out photojojo's list of suggestions.

can not wait to see what kind of cool, crazy, artsy-fartsy imagery you all come up with!

Featured Q and A Photographer {Michelle Morris}

2011-09-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

It's time to get all your questions answered from this month's featured photographer Michelle Morris!
We introduced Michelle a few posts back (here) and we are so ready to sit back, enjoy, learn, and be inspired by what Michelle has to share with all of us.

Welcome Michelle!

michelle morris photography
facebook

Q and A

I would love to know some processing tips. And her go-to equipment. I love to shoot wide open, and that seems to be her style too.

Go to equipment - The only camera I use is the Canon 5D Mark II and the lens I use almost 100% of the time is the Canon 50mm f/1.2L. I don’t use a flash (don’t even own one) and I always work at times I can use natural light (either indoors or out). I will occasionally use a reflector - but not as a standard practice.

As far as shooting wide open - yes, my goal is to always be as wide open as possible. Usually when my sessions start (about two hours before sunset) I am somewhere around f/2.5 - f/3.4 when the sun is highest in the sky. The lower the sun gets, the more wide open I am. The only times I am down to f/1.2 are in open shade, not ever when I’m shooting directly into the sun.

I would love to know more about her post processing, maybe some before & afters?

Since there are so many little ins and outs of post processing, I think one of my most valuable “tips” would be to sit down and finish a session at one time. I’ve found that doing edits here and there from different sessions really interferes with my creative process. I try to carve out 2-4 hours to sit at one time and just run through an entire sessions edits (that is after I’ve selected which images to edit and I’m good to go). That has helped me tremendously, not only from a time management perspective, but also from a consistency and creative prospective. Pandora, coffee, edit.

After a session I download my images, which are anywhere from 600-1200 files from one session, and I rate the images either 5 stars or no stars (trash). I do that right away upon initial download, and I always go with my gut on what to keep and what to purge. I can quickly get that 800ish number down to around 100. Those 100 are my files to edit in Photoshop and whittle down again to about the 50 image mark (for the final proof set).

My editing usually always starts with an adjustment in curves for exposure. After curves, I will adjust the levels and get the image to where I am ready to play some actions, and I’m happy with the colors and exposure.

I typically use the Florabella Collection on my images that are shot directly into the sun. On the shots that are more in open shade, I tend to use Totally Rad Actions. I have the full collection for both of those sets and some of my favorites from the Florabella Collection are Milk, Vanity, Tuesday, and Swoon. Some of my favorites from TRA are Lux (soft), Flare-Up, Ged Faded (winter), and Pool Party.

When I use actions, I don’t use them at full opacity (that usually looks really funny to me) and I play around with the opacity of all the layers inside the action to achieve the desired look. I also use masks in Photoshop to apply certain affects of the actions to only portions of the image.

Ok here is one that’s been on my mind! What’s the best to do: custom white balance, kelvin AWB or other? If custom white balance what’s the best way to set it?

I use AWB for everything.

How do you deal with focus when shooting into the sun and it’s almost impossible to grab a focus point?

Patiently. It can be frustrating to not be able to quickly grab a focus point quickly - especially when your subject is two years old and running away from you like you’re a monster. If I am working with a subject that can be coaxed to stay in one place for a brief minute (usually those older than 5 or 6) I will just continue to talk and engage them while moving around ever so slightly until the camera focuses. Sometimes it just moving your body inches here or there and then it focuses. I keep trying while I keep chatting with them, so that when I finally am focused and ready, they are still expressive and natural.

For those that don’t really stay still.... I will pull out my bag of tricks in making animal noises and singing and doing everything an unashamed mommy/photographer will do to get their attention. As I keep trying to get their attention with my nutty behavior, I work on the focus. It’s multitasking at its finest!

The image below shows one of my favorites from a shoot earlier this summer where the camera grabbed the weeds as a focus point and not my senior, and it ended up being one of my favorite shots. I loved the perspective of both her in and out of focus. So again - patience is key, and sometimes you get lucky with a neat shot that was otherwise unintended but turns out nicely in the end.

Best time of day for sunflare?

I tend to get my best sunflare about 1 hour before the sun sets. Afternoons always seem to work better for me than mornings. There’s a little window of time in there where the sun is too bright and the flare is just very exaggerated, and then the sun sets a bit too much and there’s no flare, just a golden glow. I like to find that 30ish minutes of time where the flare is just enough to be fun, but not so much that everything is blown. I usually start working about two hours before the sun sets, or about 20-30 minutes after the sun rises. I find that working during those times gives me a good variety.

For example, the first image (1.jpeg) shows quite a bit of exaggerated sunflare, and was taken at the beginning of the session. The second image (2.jpeg) was taken about thirty minutes later and while it still has sunflare, it’s not over the top. The last image (3.jeg) was taken just before the sunset and there really is no flare at all, just a nice soft glow. I think it’s important to walk that fine line with your clients of providing consistency in style, but also variety.

f/2.0, shutter 2500

f/2.5, shutter 2500

f/1.8, shutter 2000

I have also found that it’s important to only work during those times that you know will produce your best product. Weddings and events are different in that you have to work with the timing of the day - but for me in my work with children and families, I only schedule sessions during those times. I am familiar with how the sun falls and rises in those times and sessions are easy and comfortable for me because of that.

How do you keep the subject fully lit from the front while still catching that beautiful sunflare?

The truth is that the subject is not usually fully lit from the front, SOOC. First that has to be dealt with in camera using proper exposure techniques. And secondly, that’s adjusted during editing. There are several examples below that show the SOOC (straight out of the camera) file and then the edited finished product. You can see that the face and focal point of the subject is not perfectly lit until some editing is done. However, as it is said frequently, you’re not going to be able to really “fix” an image with editing. It needs to at least start with proper exposure in camera. All of the edits listed below have the cliff notes version of how the edit was completed. It’s worth noting though that all of these images had some form of hand editing and masking to achieve the final look. For example, I may lighten the face in an image using masking, so that the rest of my image stays “as is” and I am only adjusting the selected areas by hand.

How do you get your school portraits so well lit and crisp?

I work closely with the Directors and Principals of each of my schools and we chat about what’s best for them logistically as well as what’s best for me from a technical aspect. We always have a plan in place with a detailed schedule before we start shooting. I prefer to shoot all school portraits outdoors, facing the kids into light - but using only open shade. I use a professional backdrop and stand, layering my backdrop with additional fabric to keep all the light from filtering through the back. I have the children stand up (I have found that to be better than sitting) and I use the light to my advantage, which usually requires me to move my setup around a bit here and there throughout the day. I place the kids anywhere from 3-6 feet away from the backdrop to create that bokeh. Proper exposure is everything and in these cases so important because I have less than a minute with each child to get the “money” shot. My settings for school portraits are usually somewhere around f/2.5 - f/4.5 and shutter around 300-800 depending on the time of day. I check my shots frequently throughout the day to be sure I’m on the right track.

The crispness and light in the images are all handled in camera, and the school pictures are minimally edited as a finished product due to the high volume, and the fact that everything is batch edited and nothing is done by hand.

***

Thank you Michelle for putting so much effort in and taking the time to answer such great questions. Thank you everyone who asked such great questions! If you learned or were inspired by anything here, take a moment and thank Michelle personally at michelle@michellelmorrisphotography.com.

It's photographers like her who are so open to sharing that make this such an incredible industry.

I think it's pretty evident that Michelle likes to teach and likes to share. So much so, that she is launching an entirely new store and site that is called UNPACKED and it's a "for photographers" business complete with one on one mentoring and lots of instant downloads and tutorials. There is not an official launch date, yet, but we will be watching for it to be announced and will surely share it on our facebook page with all of you too!
And...just because we love her imagery so much...here is more of her lovely sun drenched
eye candy for you!

thank you Michelle.
xo

gigi and lexi

tuesday's theme {blurry}

2011-09-15T18:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry this is coming a little late, that would be my fault (lexi).
I'm sure as we all know sometimes life gets busy ;)
For our next theme I want to push everyone to be creative and a little out of focus. Yep that's right, our theme is {blurry.} We are always trying to make sure what we are shooting is in focus, why not try making sure it is out of focus now. Some of my favorite images are actually a little blurry and I feel like it adds a little artsyness to it! (And yes I just made that word up)
I'm excited to see what everyone comes up with. Enjoy!!

Questions & Answers {Featured Photographer}

2011-09-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

if you're new to this feature...this is where we introduce inspirational photographers and instead of us asking all the questions, we open the floor up and get all of YOUR questions. that's right...YOUR questions. the one's you've always wanted to ask, maybe afraid to ask. here is your chance to get some answers from amazing photographers who are willing to share and inspire.

so...who is our featured q&a photographer this time?
it's the wonderfully talented michelle morris.
michelle morris photography
facebook

{While I love (*really, love*) being a photographer, I will always relish in my identity as a wife and mother first and foremost to a wonderful, honest, and real family. My life is so full - and is only getting busier each passing day. Between loving my husband and empowering and encouraging my
three young boys to become solid, confident, strong men, I'm also a full time photographer. I'm absolutely in love with light, laughter and movement. I believe photographs multiply in substance and power over time and I'm daily encouraged at how a simple photograph can bless and speak to
the soul of another. I'm a firm believer in the simple, and capturing the simple moments is where I'm most content.}

we were especially drown to michelle's work because of her magical use of light.
one look at her imagery and you'll know why. here are a few that we just love...

for the rest of this week you have a chance to ask michelle about her images, her approach, who inspires her, how she looks for light...anything. just post your questions in the comments section on our blog, on our facebook wall or if you're a little on the shy side, you may also email your questions directly to michelle at michelle@michellelmorrisphotography.com.

we can't wait to see your questions, michelle's responses and more of her gorgeous light filled imagery on next week's blogpost!
xo
gigi and lexi

tuesday's theme {yellow}

2011-08-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

i am absolutely gaga over the color yellow. it really can't make you anything less than happy.
earlier this year i joined in on a hue/texture project hosted by marta locklear that revolved around colors and textures. so much fun.
a couple week's ago, i noticed this on lindsay's little one love blog, and was totally inspired again to make yellow our theme for this time.
just think of the possibilities...even all the names for yellows are fabulous!
mustard, marigold, lemon, butter, ocher, banana, daffodil, maize, goldenrod, sunflower...
are you inspired!

so, go out and create some new imagery around {yellow}

here are one of the boards i put together for the hue/texture project and to give you some ideas...

good morning mondays {inspiraton}

2011-08-29T13:01:00.001-04:00

stylized sessions. they're hot right now. so hot, you almost never see a session blogged without 'some' styling involved. for some this is a breeze, for others, no clue of where on earth to begin.

the very first workshop i ever attended was amy wenzel's. it was everything i thought it would be and more. amy was (is) a wonderful, giving, sharing human soul. one of the many reasons i was drawn to her photography was the fabulous sense of styling she showed in her sessions. everything from locations, wardrobe, even the smallest details, it's all important and she knew how to pull it all together.

so, for our good morning mondays {inspiration}, we thought we'd get you all a little extra excited about your next styled session and share a post directly from amy's blog called, 'tips for styling your shoot.'

thank you amy!
{and a little birdie told me you'll be seeing more of amy on our blog...soon!}

Tips for Styling Your Shoot

I’m fascinated with kid’s fashion. I must admit it’s a huge source of inspiration for my photography. I’m always excited to get the new Crew Cuts or Mini Boden catalog to see the adorable way they’ve photographed the kids in the clothes. Heaven help the day that I have my own children and constantly “dress them up” to take their picture. Maybe they won’t like their mommy so much, ay, ay, ay.

As a photographer, if you are working towards a commercial or editorial look, clothing choice can make or break an image. Putting in the extra effort to help my clients select wardrobe helps me achieve the “Amy Wenzel” look and keeps me in love with what I do! For those of you who would like to invest more creative vision into your shoots, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on how to go about it. I’ll start by sharing a few favorite images from a shoot that I styled in June.

1. Start with a Vision

If you don’t know where you are going, how will you ever get there? I approach each shoot with a distinct vision for the look and feel of the photographs. In custom portrait work, you are not only the photographer but also the creative director, so I like to keep a running list of ideas and ‘dream shoots’ I hope to carry out someday. When I book a new session, I see if the client is a good fit for any of my current ideas and then I suggest my concept to the parents. Sometimes clients come with their own great ideas and that works too! Usually I choose the location first, and then select clothing that will compliment and complete the vision. The above session took place in the evening at this family’s farm, so I wanted the clothing to be soft and elegant with a touch of ‘country’ to it.

2. Offer to Style the Session

I don’t personally style every single shoot, but I always like to offer assistance with wardrobe to the parents. My level of involvement is different with each client, but most of the time they take me up on my offer when I explain how strongly styling affects the final outcome of the photographs. Help your clients become excited about what you are excited about and they will want to come on the creative journey with you. Be sure to tell them how fashion inspires your work and that you’d like their session to reflect your personal artistic vision. Remind them that the styling in your portfolio is part of what drew them to your images.

3. Go the Extra Mile

There are many approaches to styling a session. Possibilities range from consulting with their current wardrobes to shopping with Mom online or in person. I often send emails with links to clothing that inspires me, and I’ve even shopped for clients at the local children’s boutique and left clothes on hold for them to make selections. Do whatever works for your business plan, but make your session fee is high enough to compensate for the added time and effort. Remember that better photographs can also mean higher sales, so I personally believe in going the extra mile to make my photos as awesome as possible!!

4. Compliment Your Subject and Environment

When choosing wardrobe, I look for unique items with a great cut and fit. I tend to choose fashion forward clothing rather than traditional styles. I’m not afraid of using patterns and mixing colors, and I usually suggest an entire size down from what the parent typically buys. This ensures the clothes fit snugly without the “growing room” for which parents usually allow. I always keep in mind which colors look good for individual skin tones, and I also consider the colors in the setting so that the outfit will stand out against the back drop. For instance, a green dress in a green field isn’t so compelling. But a royal blue dress in a yellow field is dynamite! Remember your complimentary colors (red & green, blue & orange, etc) to know what will look exciting in your composition!

5. Don’t Skimp on the Details

It’s amazing how simply adding a headband can complete the look and take it to the next level. Never underestimate the power of a hairstyle, a pair of shoes, or a bangle bracelet. Props should blend seamlessly with the vision and should enhance your image but never distract! I bring along a couple of small props to each shoot. I may or may not use them but I like to have options. The little antique fishing pail featured in this session was a prop I’d been holding onto for awhile just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Also remember that it never hurts to take a few risks, so I’m not afraid to suggest a change in hairstyle if I think it will compliment my client’s face structure or add interest to the look. Great style is from head to toe, so don’t go to all the work to pick out a great look and then just throw on any old pair of shoes. In this farm session I think her Hunter galoshes make the whole outfit!

6. Inspire Through Your Website

It’s a great rule of thumb not to display photography on your website that isn’t an accurate reflection of the type of work you’d like to do. For instance, if you don’t want to shoot families in matching white shirts, don’t put that type of work on your website. If you can point your clients toward a dynamic portfolio filled with images in cute clothes, it’s much easier for them to lay hold of your vision and select an appropriate outfit. If necessary, do a few free shoots for friends where you style the kids yourself to build your portfolio. It will be well worth the investment even if you have to pay for the clothing yourself! Your website is your selling tool and should attract the right type of client for you!

I hope these tips are helpful for both parents and photographers as you approach an upcoming session. Thanks for reading!

website:     http://www.amywenzel.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amywenzelphotography
twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/amy_wenzel
swiss miss design haus:   http://www.swissmissdesignhaus.com

wednesday's {eye candy session}

2011-08-24T10:27:00.002-04:00

I have 'always' loved Amanda's work. From her amazing seniors to breathtaking weddings she is, and always will be, a huge inspiration to me. Here at Lemonade and Lenses we like to showcase every type of photography, not just something specific, and since I am a senior photographer I thought it was time to show an 'awesome' senior eye candy session. So ladies and gentleman get ready to be inspired.

Name: Amanda

Business name: Amanda K Photography

Website : amandakphotoart.com

What Camera and lens was the session taken with: Canon 5D MarkII, 35mm 1.4L, 85mm 1.2L, 45mm T/S

Stylist : Styled by Danielle of SIMPLE MARIE

If you have a session that you would like to feature, as eye candy, on our blog please send an example to info@lexivornberg.com. We love to showcase our readers work.

{Featured Photographer}

2011-08-18T12:25:00.001-04:00

We have an awesome post today that actually ties in with this Tuesdays 'selfie' theme! Today's guest blogger is an amazing, inspirational artist who really takes self portraits to a whole new level. She was kind enough to take some time to put together seven tips/steps to helping you with your self portraits and to give you a little push to be more creative. Who may this amazing artist be you ask?? Well it can't be anyone else but the talented Alex Beadon!!

Hi everyone! I am so thrilled to be guest posting here on the Lemonade and Lenses blog! Today I am going to be discussing self portraiture which, as of January of this year, has been my new-found photography crush. It has helped me grow so much as an artist by showing me what it feels like to be in front of the camera, and by teaching me that you need to rely less on your subject and more on your creativity to make an image stand out. Here are my top seven steps to creating beautiful self portraits. I really hope you guys find this helpful!

1) Make sure you have the right equipment!
You will want to have the following:
1) A camera with a self timer option, 2) A tripod to hold your camera at the right angles and heights, 3) A remote control so that you don't have to continually run back and forth between you and your camera.

I use a Canon 5d mark ii, a Velbon tripod and a Canon RC-1 remote control.

These three things will make your life so much easier.

2) Find a focusing system that works for you.
I place an object in front of the camera in the exact spot where I will be standing or sitting. That way I know that I will be in focus and I won't have to waste too much time with focusing issues.

3) Know your concept before you set up.
What kind of image are you going for? A natural self portrait? A conceptual self portrait? A moody self portrait? Find inspiration in the world around you - base your self portrait on the last movie you watched, one of your favourite songs, an event that's going on in your life. Or set yourself a challenge to create a self portrait that represents a certain word - love, envy, nature, and so on. Let your mind run free and try to push yourself to create something absolutely incredible. Everything matters - clothes, make up, hair, location etc.. - so make sure it all comes together with your concept, no matter how simple or complicated it is.

4) Think about the set up and perfect it before you start shooting.
As mentioned earlier, I always put an object in my place so that I can focus on it properly and know where I'll be in relation to everything else in the picture. I think about the lighting, the composition, the camera settings. When I have everything perfect in camera, I turn on the camera's self-timer option, get into position, and click away with my remote. I take about 10-20 photos, moving just a little bit for each photo so that I can pick my favourite afterwards. Then I run to the camera to check that I am in focus etc.. Then I go back to the position and try a bit of a different pose/look, take 10-20 photos and then run back to the camera to check that I'm in focus... and so on.

5) It's okay to mess up.
I've been doing self portraits since January of this year, and to this day I still get the focus off in every self portrait shoot I do - it's impossible to get it perfect 100% of the time when you can't be behind the camera and in front of the camera at the same time. I found that using an object as a focus point has been very helpful in speeding up the process to perfect focus, but I still get it wrong from time to time and as frustrating as it can be, I've come to learn that it's okay to mess up. Practice makes perfect, and sometimes the blurry ones look pretty cool blurry and can be a happy mistake :).

6) Once you have the "safe" shot, try something different.
You're on location, you're there with your tripod, camera and remote (and focusing object), you might as well take a few more - right? Look around you in search for the perfect light. Having amazing light and a bad location beats having bad light and an amazing location every single time - hands down. So - look for the light. Then see how you can incorporate yourself into that location with the amazing light in an interesting and unique way.

7) Be Original!
Think outside of the box. Erase all of your preconceived notions of self portraiture, and create something for you. Forget what everyone else will think or say. All that matters is that you are creating something that your eyes and mind will enjoy looking at and find visually interesting. Don't pressure yourself, just create.

And there you have it - seven steps to creating beautiful self portraits! Now it's up to you to rock it out! :) Good luck!

♥ ALEX'S SELF PORTRAITS ♥ LIKE ALEX ON FACEBOOK ♥ FOLLOW ALEX ON TWITTER ♥

Thank you again Alex for taking the time to put this together. I think it's exactly what we needed to get inspired to go out and try a self portrait!! What do you guys think??

tuesday's theme {selfie}

2011-08-16T22:08:00.005-04:00

oh yes, you read it right and oh yes, you...can...do it!

but first, lexi and i want to thank everyone who shared their lovely images for the {love} theme. from little girls and puppy dogs to lovely entwined vines on a tree. it's all about the interpretations. it's part of the magic of each and every one of us and what makes this project sing.

now, on to the next theme...push yourself, use your imagination, step way out, be daring, be soulful, be sassy, be sweet, be someone else if you like...just come and play and make a self portrait.
need some inspiration? remember this post from a couple weeks ago? a starting point if you're already wondering where to begin. 16 great images for inspiration.
need more? this is the perfect time to introduce alex beadon of alex beadon photography as you will see her shortly as a guest on our blog. her topic...you guessed, self portraits. she is in the process of her own 30 day self portrait project now. you can see her beautiful, expressive, artistic work here.

a quick note: we've had a few inquires asking if the images should be new or can they be pulled from past work. yes, the images should be new, shot after the theme is posted as this is an exercise in growing and pushing yourself to make new art around your vision only. if you happen to find that image on a session, fine. if you need to go out on your own to create it, great. just make it a new one.

ok. i'll go first. the light was beautiful late this afternoon, so i thought i'd twirl in a dress i picked up from the flea market and maybe even dream a little in that beautiful light....

tripod, remote, 5 minutes shooting, 5 minutes processing.
now it's your turn...

xo
gigi and lexi

our first gathering

2011-08-08T00:16:00.002-04:00

i was so hoping to have this post up right after our gathering, but...better a little tiny bit late than never.

let me start out by saying thank you to lexi, again, for coming up with the idea of
'just getting some photographers together for a fun evening.'
who would have thought all this from that?
but, as we know, most wonderful things start with a quiet, little thought.

next, lexi and i both want to thank everyone who came out, joined in, shared, laughed, chased spiders, sat side by side and even got up for the photo booth (yes, i already wrote that on our fb wall, but i still mean it and it makes me smile;)
lemonade and lenses would not be possible without each and every one of you coming together as a community. thank you for bringing your smiles, friendship, knowledge and most especially, your sweet selves. an extra hug to those of you who drove in from far, far away...
all we can say is WOW!

i'm going to post a few shots even though many of you did a fabulous job of that already. if you'd like to see what i'm talking about, you can go here, here, here, here and here. (if i have missed anyone, PLEASE let me know!)
thank you all for capturing the evening so beautifully! an extra special thank you to renee of ribbons of red for the cutest little burlap bags filled with goodness and the even sweeter little buttons! and, did all of you notice how beautiful the floral centerpieces were?
that was all angel of angel pope photography...who says you don't have a green thumb? xo.
i didn't have a lot of time to pick my camera up (and lexi's was in the shop) but when i did, this is what i saw...

and now for photo booth fun!

next time...

EVERYONE GETS IN FRONT OF THE PHOTO BOOTH!

tuesday's theme {stripes}

2011-08-02T13:41:00.001-04:00

yay! here' are the images for tuesdays first theme project!
thank you to everyone who played along and hopefully this will inspire others to jump in too!
we love lots and lots of company!

{stripes}

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (heather), 6, 7, 8

a little note...and some changes

as much as i love putting boards together...i can foresee this being a bigger and bigger task as more and more peeps join in.

so, i'm going to change the way images are submitted and showed that i think will be easier all the way around. i hope this is alright with everyone!

i want to create an album on the l&l facebook page for each themed week and have all the images in there, in one place and easy to check out.

in order to do that i would love to ask all of you to do this... (pretty please):

• email your images to me (gina) at gina@kiwistreetstudios.com NO LATER than the second sunday following the announcement of the new theme. be sure to add my email to your contact list too;)

• the images need to be submitted in the following format - .jpg format, 72dpi, the longest side no larger than 720 px wide.

• i will post the images in the themed album as soon as i can upon i receiving them. absolutely tag yourselves when you see them!

• please feel free to watermark your images...but, try to watermark them in such a way that it doesn't hide the image;)

•please please feel free and i actually encourage everyone to leave your comments on each others images. i know we are all sooo busy, but if an image really speaks to you, let that artist know!

the last thing i'd like to say is that this is meant for fun, stretching and growing no matter where on your own personal journey you happen to be. your interpretation, your vision and your art.

ok...the new tuesday theme is {love}

xo
gigi

good morning mondays {inspiration}

2011-08-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

one two three four five six eight nine ten

(seven in unknown)

Questions and Answers {Featured Photographer}

2011-07-28T10:29:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago we asked our facebook followers what they would ask an amazing natural light photographer? Well we sent your questions over and I am excited to share the answers!! This is definitely one to read! Stephanie of Bellini Portraits, yes the amazing photographer who shoots for the measure, was kind enough to take time to answer your questions and share some of her beautiful work. So with out hindering you any farther....enjoy!!

Name: Stephanie Piscitelli

Business name: Bellini Portraits

Website/blog: http://www.bellinipics.com/ / http://www.bellinipics.com/blog

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellini-Portraits/112009414309

Area you work: Boston, North & South Shore and Cape Cod

How long you have been photographing? Full time professionally for 4 years, "on the side" for 10+ years and aspiring since I was in my teens!

What Camera do you shoot with? Canon 5D Mark II plus a bunch of L series lenses; 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.2, 24-70mm 2.8 and 100mm 2.8

What is your fav. lens? It's a total toss up between the 50 & the 85! Love them both!!

I generally use backlight with portraits because i'm afraid to use directional lighting, are there any good tips on directional lighting ( if that's correct terminology haha! In others words facing subject towards the light)?
(Asked by Nichole Buckner Crowley)
I'm a backlight shooter as well. Very seldom do I ever turn my clients into the light UNLESS I have open shade or if it's at the very end of the day when the sun has gone just below the horizon or, of course, if I'm shooting indoors using window light. When shooting outdoors, try to get your clients in a doorway, on a porch, under an overhang or within the shadow of a tree. This will keep them shaded and out of the harsh sun but will allow ample light to hit their eyes, giving those gorgeous catchlights, producing a great result!

How do you use the light to your advantage when it's the middle of the day and the sun is directly on top of you causing shadows and squinty eyes?
(Asked by Melissa Copeland )
This is pretty easy to control. Just turn your clients so the sun is hitting the back or side of them. Always be mindful where you might have hotspots and keep turning them until their face(s) are completely free of any harsh shadows and glaring hot spots. Shooting mid-day is never ideal but this is a great way to get around it!

Best times to schedule outdoor shoots! and when and why to use flash outdoors!
(Asked by Michelle Prano )
The general rule of thumb is just after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset. Getting your clients to commit to an early morning session is usually difficult but the results can be stunning. Unlike the warm, golden tones of shooting late afternoon you get soft, cool blue tones during those early dawn sessions! As far as when to use a flash outdoors, personally I never use a flash. It's just my preference in style and general aesthetic however I do understand that there are some times when fill flash will come in handy. This might be when you are shooting in mid-day sun and want to POP your subject with the flash vs. overexposing for their faces when shooting without the flash resulting in a washed out, hazy look. Perfect segue into the next question....

How and what is the best way to expose a photo to get that hazy look shooting into the sun? Like when there are rays of light behind the subject?
(Asked by Brittany Ostrov )
Ahhh, my favorite! This can be achieved by shooting into the light. This works best when the sun is lower in the the sky, versus directly overhead, positioning your subject so the sun can be blocked by their head or shoulder. Then you will make small movements around your subject until the sun is just sneaking around them. Too much and you'll completely blow out the image but when you hit it just right it can be magical! Shooting without your lens hood will often get you that delicious sun flare as well!

I second the tips for mid-day. I have some clients who in spite of my best efforts to get them to choose a morning/evening session, seem to want to shoot mid-day. Obviously, we look for open shade, but other than that? Any tips?
(Asked by Cara Genton Harrison )
When your client WANTS to shoot mid-day versus NEEDS to shoot mid-day it may be just a lack of technical knowledge on their part. Try explaining why it's best to shoot during those optimal times. Often times they will defer to you for your professional opinion. If it's because of necessity and there is no working around their time constraints then I would suggest shooting the same way I explained above for using light to your advantage with mid-day sun. Always keep the sun at their back, make sure there are no harsh shadows/hotspots on their faces and expose for their faces. Good luck!!

Thank you so so so much!! Stephanie for taking the time to answer our questions!

Your work is such an inspiration and I am sure all of us learned something from reading your answers!!

Make sure to leave Stephanie some love below and check out blog/website and fb page!

Now gigi and I are off to get ready for our first gathering tonight!!

Don't worry we will post pictures!!!

wednesday's {eye candy session}

2011-07-27T10:22:00.002-04:00

I first came across this session by Kara while browsing around Sweet Violet Jane's facebook page. It caught my eye and I was immediately brought back to my childhood and my young imagination. Who isn't a fan of "Where the Wild Thing Are"? It was a brilliant and unique idea to bring it to life through pictures and I can't imagine how much fun it was to do so. I hope you enjoy this childhood fantasy eye candy as much as I did and walk away with some amazing inspiration.

Name: Kara May

Business name: Kara May Photography

Website : www.karamayphotography.com

Blog: www.karamayphotography.com/blog

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Kara.L.May

What Camera and lens was the session taken with: I shot this session with the 5D MarkII and I used my 24-70 L 2.8 lens as well as my fish-eye lens.

Any venders from props used: The Boy's Crown was made by 'Sweet Violet Jane'

Thoughts behind the shoot: When I received this crown from Sweet Violet Jane to photograph, I immediately thought of one of my favorite childhood books, 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak. My mind immediately started spinning with ideas. This session was super impromptu (I work best if I don't over think things and just go with spur of the moment ideas). We used just a couple of props and we spent 40 minutes in an abandoned lot playing and acting out parts from the book. My son really got into it, and I loved every minute of this session. We stayed at the empty lot after our session so the kids could run around. We played till the sun went down.

good morning mondays {inspiration}

2011-07-25T06:48:00.000-04:00

who couldn't use a little visual java on a monday morning...just enough to get you excited about the week ahead?
here is some deliciousness from flickr...can you tell what they all have in common?
leave your guesses in the comments below.

{good morning mondays}

1. peach intoxicate me, 2. Untitled, 3. girl with apple. and pumpkin., 4. Untitled, 5. {her again}, 6. Untitled, 7. *Enjoy Camera Life, 8. barefoot dust, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled, 11. Untitled, 12. Untitled, 13. winged being, 14. simple joys, 15. she holds his heart in her hands., 16. Untitled

happy friday

2011-07-22T16:49:00.003-04:00

wow. i'm sitting here thinking about how lexi's tiny teeny little statement/idea of, "wouldn't it be cool if we could get a bunch of photographers together for a little get together. you know...meet each other, have fun, talk, share..." has turned into just that (our first gathering is just 6 days away!), then a fb page and now a blog with an agenda full of goodness to share and inspire us all.
well, the truth is, it's that simple. that's how thoughts come into being. it starts with the seed of an idea and then, if watered, grows.
we are beyond delighted that so many of you are joining in and playing with us at lemonade and lenses.
we hope that you loved, learned and were inspired by what was shared with all of you this week.
it's only the beginning, we have so much more to come.

so, for our very brand new first week we want to say...

we will spend the weekends with our families and we hope that you will do the same.

happy weekend!

lexi and gigi

Questions and Answers {Featured Photographer}

2011-07-21T09:33:00.000-04:00

we weren't kidding when we told you we had lots of goodness lined up!
one of our goals for this blog was to come up with some new and fun ways to share, inform, educate and, of course, inspire.
'wednesday's eye candy'...was one, where we feature over the top, amazing sessions and have the artists themselves share their thoughts/processes/inspirations behind that particular session. if you missed yesterday's...be sure to check it out here.
today's post is another idea we had. we thought...as much as we love to read straight interviews of featured photographers, what if we let everyone know (in advance on our facebook page) what the topic and/or who the featured photographer will be and then let you post (on our facebook wall) your own questions. love it!

last week, we asked the question, "what would you like to ask a wedding photographer?"
there were some great questions and thank you to everyone who wrote in.
we collected them all and sent them to our featured photographer who did an amazing job of answering all the questions!
so, are you wondering, yet, just who the fabulous wedding photographer is that answered all your questions?

we want to welcome jessica freely!

The Introductions:

Business name
Jessica Feely Photography

Website/blog
http://www.jessicafeely.com/blog

Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/jessicafeelyphotography

Where are you located
Sacramento Area (just moved from Seattle)

How long you have been a photographer
4 years total- 3 in business!

What Camera do you shoot with
Nikon D700 and hoping to upgrade if Nikon ever gets a replacement out.

What is your fav, lens
50mm 1.4 + 35mm f/2

***

The Questions:

How did you become a wedding photographer?
(asked by Casey Rose Photography)
I was asked to shoot a wedding and thought, what do I have to lose? If I can take portraits, then I can do a wedding. After that first wedding, I decided I was never going to do weddings again. Too stressful. Then I booked another, and the rest is history. And by that I mean, I love it!

Did you second shoot with a local photographer before you started?
(asked by Casey Rose Photography)
I 2^nd shot with one local, but she was as new as I was. I pretty much have learned everything I know on my own. I have only 2^nd shot a handful of times. I prefer to take on my own weddings.

How did you build your portfolio?
(asked by Casey Rose Photography)
I built my portfolio by doing bridal shoots, and by 2^nd shooting. When meeting with brides in person, it was weird to show them an incomplete wedding. As second shooters, you don’t get everything, only bits and pieces. That is why I decided to build up my portfolio from my own weddings.

And what would you have done differently now?
(asked by Casey Rose Photography)
I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Is it better and easier to have a second shooter?
(asked by Jessica Mays)
From a head photographer’s point of view, yes. I feel a lot of the stress is taken off of me for the wedding day. I know they have my back and are there for whatever I need. Plus, its great having the company!

How do you delegate the duties of a second shooter and how do you prepare for the day?
(asked by kiwi street studios)
I usually let the 2^nd shooter grab detail shots when I am working with family or bride and groom. I take on the most important events in the wedding, and I make sure that my 2^nd shooter is covering me where I can't be. Basically, if I am needed in two different places, the 2^nd shooter does it for me. For example: Bride and groom getting ready, I let the 2^nd shooter always shoot the groom while I shoot the bride. Especially if they are two completely different locations.

What lenses are your favorite for weddings and which lens does you prefer using for the ceremony, reception, etc.

(asked by TornPaper Studios)
Believe it or not, but I love mostly primes for weddings. I use a lot of 50mm, 35mm, 85mm, and my go to wide angle that I keep on my camera is the 17-35. Its an amazing lens and it is a must have. Each wedding is so different with lighting that I use different lenses. For a wedding I had in LA this year, the ceremony was SO dark that I couldn’t use my 70-200mm. I opted to use my 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 lenses. I was literally shooting wide open.

How do you go about getting good reception shots? and what type of flashes do you use?
(asked by Shawna Roberts Peto)
IF I use a flash-right now I have my sb600. I also own a couple AB-800s that I plan on using more at weddings. A lot of my weddings don’t need flashes because they are outdoors and its still light outside. I think having a plan and knowing in advance what the lighting will be like is extremely important. I always ask and find that info out.

What is your work flow like after the wedding is over? How do you efficiently get everything organized, edited and delivered to your client?
(asked by Michelle Prano)
After a wedding I back everything up in several locations. I back up to my main iMac, then my laptop, then my external hard drive and then DVDs. I wont erase the cards until backed up. I also have online backup which has been amazing.
I like to wait a few days to look at the photos. I usually am so tired after a wedding that I need a break from everything. Once I open the images, I start sorting them in ACR. If the images aren’t good enough- I trash them. Everything else gets batch edited and saved in a final folder. I take my favorites from the wedding and do a harder edit on them in Photoshop and post those to my blog.
All wedding clients get their images on a custom cd + case! I like to throw in some unexpected goodies too.
The key is to do it all in one editing session. I find it harder to stay organized and focused if I am continually interrupted.

***

thank you jessica for being a part of our lemonade and lenses family and for sharing so openly with everyone!

xo
lexi and gina

wednesday's {eye candy session}

2011-07-20T08:13:00.002-04:00

happy wednesday everyone!

we have chosen wednesdays (sprinkled here and there) to be our eye candy day...with a twist.
we will not only share an amazing, crazy inspiring session we have come across...you know the kind, where you're eyes are glued to the screen, your mouth is open and you're thinking...omg!!!
...but some of the thoughts and processes behind the session.
beauty + brains. perfect.

i am so excited to start our first wednesday's eye candy post with a photographer who captured an almost
'i can't believe it' family session that i came across a few weeks ago. i think you will agree...amazing on every level possible.

first, lets talk a moment about...family sessions. how many of you cringe when you know you have one to shoot? be honest. i think we can agree, they can be...hard, posed, uncomfortable, stressful...
i'll stop now.
but, have you ever stopped to think why? what is it about them that makes them so difficult?
when you see the images from the session below, i think you'll immediately see what made this family session so amazing and out of this world and hopefully ignite some new ideas and inspiration into your next family session.

so, who are we talking about here?
her name is sarah wert and well...she is amazing! a little side note...she already had me when i first saw the images, and then when i saw the session was shot on film...unbelievable.
i'll let sarah tell you a little bit about herself and share some of her thoughts with us on photographing family sessions.

welcome sarah!

About Me:
Hello, my name is Sarah and I own Modern Kids Photography. I live in San Francisco with my husband, Joe. I'm a portraiture photographer but I also shoot commercial and editorial kids photography. If I wasn't a photographer I'd probably be a chef. I love food and San Francisco spoils me! Right now, I'm obsessed with Pinterest because my husband and I are renovating a house.

My approach to family shoots:
I adore family shoots. They aren't always easy but they can be very rewarding. There are a few rules to live by in making them go as smoothly as possible:

Gain trust quickly: It's incredibly important to gain the trust of the kids and the family as soon as possible. I like to briefly say hello to parents and bigger kids then do my best to spend time with the little ones (secretly I'm also taking note of light in the home and looking around a bit). I will almost immediately drop to my knees to be at a child's level and follow all of their cues on how comfortable they are. If they still seem a little shy I'll back off and talk to the bigger kids for a bit. Every child is different so respect that. Also, avoid making wild gestures or being too loud with a child right away. I often find myself talking a quiet voice and sometimes I'll even whisper. I will also sometimes ask the kids to give me a tour of the house so they are immediately engaged with me. If you win the little ones over the rest of the family should already be quite relaxed.

Make sure everyone is engaged: For the Blair Family I was particularly worried about photographing such a large family. I've done it many times before but you really need every family member on board otherwise the energy can crumble. I quickly realized that the Blair kids are exceptional and incredibly sweet and hospitable. They were genuinely interested in me being there and were well prepared for the shoot by their parents (which is another important factor). Also, I think my American accent helped as well since they were used to everyone speaking French. I was immediately familiar to them. If the kids aren't quite prepared to take direction from you, then involve them in the process. Talk to them about what you're doing. Show them how to take photos and have them do your meter readings. You will quickly win them over.

Try new things, fail quickly, and move on: Once you gained trust with everyone the real hard work begins. Family shoots require quick thinking because you're in varied lighting scenarios (indoors, outdoors, shade, full sun, etc.). You have to be constantly going over the photography compromises in your head (e.g. do I have enough light to pull my f-stop up so everyone is sharp, where to meter, when to direct and when not to, etc.) all the while maintaining a rapport with with family. For instance you may have a large group and it's important to find the best light quickly. Do not be afraid to make mistakes and correct quickly. If the light you chose is not working do not be afraid to say "Never mind, I like this other spot better" instead of shooting through bad light. Move everyone along to the next spot. You can't always be right when shooting. Photography is a game of constant compromises and the best photographers I know try new things but move on if things aren't working.

Good luck and have fun on your next family shoot!

thank you so much sarah for taking the time to share you insight and approach with us.
and now...the gorgeous images from the blair family session that took my breath away.
{get ready...there are a lot!}

i love how sarah captured everything from a sense of place, to individual shots, playfulness, quiet moments, details, and of course, the coveted group family shots.
thank you, again, sarah.
simply lovely.

our first theme inspired project {tuesday's theme}

2011-07-19T10:20:00.000-04:00

it's no secret, i love projects...they are so important for so many reasons, one being...to grow creatively.
as photographers and artists, we know all too well how automated we can get only shooting for our 'jobs.' i have a personal rule that goes something like this: shoot three for my client, shoot one for me. i will always give my clients what they want and then hopefully suprise them with what they never knew they wanted. how do you do that? by experimenting and pushing yourself...way beyond the lines.
one place to play and practice this is with creative outings and projects.

lexi and i have been working on a fun project together since the start of the year...a mother and daughter collaboration called gigi & lexi. you can check it out here. we've each taken turns picking one word or one theme and then interpreted it photographically (of course.) at the end of the week, we put the two images together on a diptych. it's been crazy amazing how different our images have been sometimes! but that's it...they're our own visual interpretations and that what makes it (and us) unique. we really try hard to push passed the expected. that's the point...to push ourselves.
and it's funny how it can manifest later...that new idea or 'push' remains in our minds and can come out...during a session, or better yet, just lead you to a thought or another idea that you otherwise may never have come up with. growing!

so, now...we'd love to invite you too! for lemonade and lenses, we thought we would do basically the same except instead of there just being two people, there would be as many who want to participate. on every other tuesday, now called 'tuesday's theme' there will be a word/theme posted here and on our facebook page. we will create an album on facebook for each word and after you post your image on our facebook page we will move it to that album. for the sake of giving us all enough time within our busy lives, this will be a bi-monthly project. we would love to create one big storyboard with everyone's images at the end of each 2 week period ~ which will run from tuesday to the second following friday. then, a new word the following tuesday.

a few guidelines:
please choose your one, single favorite image to send over per theme.
the images for this project will all be vertical in orientation...make it work!
post your low res (already sharpened for web) images sized right around 369x555 pixels to our facebook page. as they will be placed in a storyboard like the one below.
of course, feel free to put your logo on your images and add any description you'd like to show on facebook in your post
if you have any questions feel free to ask on our facebook page or e-mail gigi at gina@kiwistreetstudios.com

let us know if you have any questions and we can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

let's start off with a fun and pretty easy theme

{stripes}

{all images by kiwi street studios}

A Brand New Gathering Place {Welcome}

2011-07-18T10:33:00.000-04:00

Why Lemonade and Lenses?

(The Cocktail Version)
Lemonade and Lenses was created out of a desire for a place where photographers, beginners to seasoned pros, could meet, share, learn, grow and inspire each other along the way.
(The Story)
This was originally Lexi's (my daughter) lovely idea.
It started out simple enough. Plan a day for photographers in our surrounding area to meet up in person, connect and have fun for an evening. Of course, we would need a name and a theme. It would, after all, be a party.
Lexi chose 'Lemonade' as our first meet up would be in the summer and, well, lemonade goes with summer!
I chose 'Lenses' because...our group would be photographers and photographers have cameras and cameras have lenses and it sounded good together! Done!
Of course, the whole idea turned into a springboard for more ideas all revolving around community, sharing, learning, growing and friendship...which led to, a facebook page!
Now, our vision is to see this blog grow into an extension of our 'live gathering dates' and to be an open forum for fun, inspiration, industry and resource shares...just about anything that can inspire and empower all of us as creatives. So, here we are!

We would love to see everyone get involved, leave comments...come out and play with us!
And, we love guest bloggers. We have an amazing line up already. We are so excited to share!

Your Lemonade and Lenses' hostesses are photographers Gina Weathersby {kiwi street studios}
& Lexi Vornberg {Lexi Vornberg Photography}

Welcome! We are so glad you're here!

xo
lexi and gina

So, who are Lexi and Gina?

Who am I?

I'm Lexi and I am proudly following in my mother's footsteps by enjoying being behind a lens, not in front. I am a simple person. I love muted colors, quite, light and getting at least 10 hours of sleep at night. I also love my husband of almost one year and my two pups.

What do I like to shoot?

I {LOVE} working with high school seniors. Just something about their energy and excitement about life and the future really inspires me. I love light and everything organic.

What's in my bag.
Canon 7D and a 50mm 1.4

you can contact me at info@lexivornberg.com

* * *

who am i? (i prefer lowercase)
my name is gina, but i also answer to g, gigi or gretchalina. i won't tell you how many years i've been shooting, but i can tell you it's longer in years than my biggest girl, lexi, and she is 22. i can thank my father for putting a canon in my hands at 15 and a canon girl i have remained…except for my hassy, my contax, my diana, my duaflex and my assortment of polaroid cameras…i love photography...but, my biggest loves are my spee and my three girlies.

what do i like to shoot?
anything with soul and great light. well, not really anything. i believe in making images of what speaks to you authentically. you shouldn't have to dig too deep, it's right there. for me, it's children (real life or styled), models, actors, seniors, fashion, and now, food. yes, i am foodie shooter too and i love it!

what's in my bag?
canon 5d and 30d. 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8 an original lensbaby and a 580 ex ii (rarely use it)

you can contact me at gina@kiwistreetstudios.com

we want to give loads of love to renee of ribbons of red for creating our fabulous logo!!!