Kickin’ Up Some Sand with the Curran Family!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Beach portraits seems to be my forte these days, and even though I do them in the same area each time, I try to switch them up a bit, and get at least one specialty shot that everyone falls in love with. Beach portraits should be fun, and natural, but as a photographer there should always be that one great shot that has everyone in awe!

The Curran family called me from North Carolina about a month before their arrival to Clearwater Beach to book a Beach Portrait Session. I gave them instructions on price, where to meet, and what to wear. You know, the normal information for this type of shoot.

On Saturday evening I met with this wonderful out going family at one of the beach access roads that I typically use when I’m shooting on Clearwater Beach. We were both there on time, and the introductions began. The oldest son seemed to be in charge as he was the one who made the call. Mom and Dad (or the Grandparents) where down from Orlando, The oldest son, his wife, and two children where here from North Carolina, another brother with his wife from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and lastly a sister who also had two children, but I didn’t get where they were from. We chatted about where everyone was from as we kicked off our shoes, or flip-flops, about where everyone was from, and how long they would be in town. We headed off for the dunes which is where I like to start me beach sessions, because the sun is usually still pretty high in the sky and I like to wait for it to come down some before trying to get those lovely sunset shots. In the dunes I like to use a reflector when possible, or my flash unit to put some light back into the face and knock out those harsh shadows. We got off several shots of the whole family where I tried to keep the focus on the parents/grandparents, and then broke up into smaller family groups, and children groups before we moved out to the waters edge.

The oldest brother and his wife had a four-year-old little boy, as well as a little girl who wasn’t quite a year old. They informed me their daughter wasn’t real happy with the beach… they had visited earlier and since she was so new to walking the shells hurt her feet. However, they really wanted a shot of the two of them walking on the beach together. Each time baby girl was stood in the sand and her brother took her hand she would cry, so I figured this shot was not happening! Their mother on the other hand had other ideas and kept trying to get them together so I could get the shot. I didn’t want to waste valuable time, or light, so I continued to shoot the other family members and turn my attention back to the two children whenever I thought their mama had them set. It did take several times but with persistence and determination I finally got the shot they were looking for. I loved it, they loved it, and even my fans on face-book loved it! We call that the money shot, and I’m here to say if you have a lot of patience when it comes to children (and sometimes adults), you will get the shot that makes an impact on everyone! I would like to add one note… as soon as I got the shot, the beautiful wave that surrounded their feet went back out, as they always do, baby doll fell splash down on her butt, and screamed as though someone just took away her lolli-pop!

Until next time…
Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Where’s Wendy? Trashing the Dress!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy

In the process of moving my things from one place to the next I came across the wedding gown that I picked up at a local thrift store a couple years ago, in hopes that I would find a willing victim (model) to wear the darn thing. It was very cheap, no rips, or stains. In fact when I purchased it, I did so with the hopes that I would find someone to trash it! I threw it in the washer with some bleach, popped it in the dryer for a bit, then hung it and fluffed it while it finished drying. On Monday I talked my daughter Holli into putting it on for a few shots. Actually I’ve been trying to get her into it for a couple years, but she was reluctant because lets face it… she’s not the “Southern Bell” kind of person. However, she is a good model, and loves her mother, so she accommodated the photographer. Since we didn’t get dirty, or greasy, or wet, we will call this “The Almost Trashed the Dress Session!”

I’ve been yearning to do a “Trash the Dress” session for quite some time. Not only because I want to add the images to my portfolio, but also because I knew it would be great fun! The problem with this is… most brides pay a lot of moolah for a dress that they will only wear once in their lifetime, and then it will be cleaned, stuffed in a box, and put away in a closet, or a storage chest, or the attic, for many years. Chances are no one else will wear that dress because we don’t live in the days when grandmothers passed down their dress to daughters, and in turn that daughter passed it to her daughter and so on. Lets face it, we live in the days where every new bride wants her own dress… something fresh, something new, something stylish. So when a bride goes out and spends 2K or more on her gown…. She’s not likely to want to get it dirty.

You know all those sexy, grungy, photo’s you see of the bride in her wedding gown? Those aren’t the kind of photo’s you’re likely to capture at any normal wedding day shoot. First there is the expense factor that I spoke about above, and second the beautiful bride has to stay that way for pretty much the rest of the day. She has to at least make it through the reception where she will gather with her guests. I’m sure she doesn’t want to do that after getting sandy, greasy, or even wet! So here’s my suggestion to any bride who would love to do a “Trash the Dress” session… go to the thrift store, or yard sale, and find a dress similar to the one you wore or are going to wear on your wedding day. I really don’t think anyone will notice the difference any way, once they see the amazing photographs! Pay a small price, and enjoy yourself! Call me… we’ll both enjoy ourselves!

As you can see during this session we didn’t really trash the dress. When we finished, although Holli did roll around on the ground a bit (in the grass and leaves), the dress is still waiting to be TRASHED! I do have another model willing to destroy it for me, so stay tuned… those will be coming in the near future!

So to all you brides out there who are looking for those special, sexy, grungy, off-the-wall photo’s, you now know how to get them without trashing your own dress! Oh… bring your hubby along… we’ll trash him too! :)

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Where’s Wendy? Shooting Equestrian Portraits!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Feeling down? Saddle up!

~author unknown~

Last weekend I had the opportunity to capture some equestrian portraits in Pinellas Park, Florida. If you’re not familiar with the term equestrian it is defined as “a person who rides horse back,” or “pertaining to horse back riding.” I love photographing horse and rider for two reasons… First, I believe horses are one of the most beautiful and most majestic creatures on the planet, and second, I have witnessed the unconditional love between human and animal every time I’ve been around people who have horses. Today I would like to share the love that I captured between two horses and their riders, as well as give you some tips on photographing equestrianism... incase you would like to add these types of images to your portfolio.


The first thing I suggest is to keep an eye on the weather. Now I know there isn’t a darn thing we can do about the weather but sometimes horses don’t take well to thunder and lightning, and it’s really not safe for horse or rider to be out in a storm. If by chance you run into undesirable conditions where the weather is concerned (as I did last week), try to capture some portraits inside the barn while you are waiting out the storm. Bails of hay, milk cans, or old stools work great for posing your rider. While hats, chaps, bridals, halters, horseshoes, and other barn accessories make great props. Shooting through the barn door to the outside and stable doors make for great natural backdrops when you have to shoot inside.

Just a word to the wise when it comes to what to wear to this type of shoot… pants and long sleeves are best if the weather permits. Stables and barns tend to house a lot of bugs, especially flies… that bite! So this type of session isn’t for the faint of heart, or at least anyone who isn’t wiling to walk away with a few welts. I also recommend closed toed shoes! When horses turn… they turn wide, and you would do best to be aware of what they are doing, and back up when you know a horse is turning. A good pair of shoes or boots will definitely save your tootsies!

Remember to shoot close up and far away… a nice wide-angle zoom lens can come in handy for equestrian sessions. Some horses like to kick so I don’t recommend getting to close behind them, and some horses don’t like flash as much as they don’t like lightning. Nonetheless, try to capture them at a distance… riding away from you, (like off into the sunset), and riding towards you. Be sure to also capture them up close… the eyes, the mane, the mouth, and the markings on both horse and rider. :)

While you are there be sure to look around and shoot interesting objects that may not be the rider or the horse you are there for, but things that pertain to the lifestyle of the combination. Bridals or halters hanging from a nail on the wall, a saddle over the fence, bails of hay stacked in the corner, chickens, kittens, puppies, and even other horses with their heads peeking through a stall door or window.

Finally, remember to capture the love between the two! Capture the way the rider looks at the horse. Capture the way the horse looks at the rider, and any connection you can find or create between the two of them. You may even capture the connection between two horses… whether they like each other or not. Not only will these make great shots for your portfolio… I guarantee the rider will purchase them every time!

Yee-haw!
Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Where's Wendy? Expanding Her Horizons!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy

Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we have to do our best to catch it before it's too late.  Sometimes it's not what we expect, or what we want, or even what we like, but we have to roll with the changes, grab for the ring, or even make alterations.  Change always means leaving behind something, but from experience I know that change also brings new things... without change there is no growth, and without growth you wouldn't have become who you are.

It has once again been awhile since I've blogged... lets face it... things have been a bit crazy.  Between packing, moving, trying to keep teenagers on the right track, taking final exams, and running my business, life has been in a bit of an uproar.  Love is a funny thing... we have different types of love for different people in our lives... for instance the love we have for our mate is different then the love we have for our children.  And the love we have for nature can be different than the love we have for inanimate objects.  In any case... it's all different. 

I want to share with you the love between a bride and groom that I photographed on Sand Key Beach a couple weeks ago... but first I just want to say that this was the most beautiful Sand Key Beach Wedding that I've ever done.  The company that set it up was Weddings on a Whim... and I would surely recommend them to anyone getting married on the beach!

The spring semester is over, and I've passed all my classes.  Summer classes start in a few short days, and I don't know if I'm ready... but I have cut my classes down to two, so cross your fingers!  In the mean time I have gotten out to my favorite beach spot... The Palm Pavilion where my friend Andrea works....

She's very good at what she does... pictured here making "sexual alligators."  If you follow me on Facebook you already knew that! :)

I've also spent some time alone... whether it was because I wanted to or not I learned to enjoy the new Clearwater Marina, and have spent quite a bit of time there recently.  I captured this shot looking up at the causeway bridge one afternoon before a storm rolled in...

I also had the opportunity to photograph a nice family in their home... I used two large soft boxes and the available lighting in their living room.  This one was enhanced in Topaz Adjust... pretty cool huh?

Today I went out and took a look at my plants and flowers in the yard and debated on whether or not to take them with me.  I've decided to leave them for reasons I care not to explain... they will be better off where they are.

On a good note... not only will I be expanding my horizons I will also be expanding my business area to cover not only the west side of Tampa Bay but also the east side all the way to the Lakeland area!  Tomorrow I'm off to shoot horses and their riders again.. and some possible shots at a 1 year olds birthday party in Ruskin.  A little boy that I shot when he was only a few days old... Happy Birthday Alec!

So remember... Every possession and every happiness is but lent by chance for an uncertain time, and may therefore be demanded back the next hour. ~Arthur Schopenhauer

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy