Where's Wendy: June 2011

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Indian Shores Beach With the Powers Family!

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, between school, beach sessions and editing. Although this post will not be filled with information on my experience with the Powers family it will have some nice photo's and some thoughts about beach portraits.

I was called to two different beach locations last week, and even though I was a little out of my element, it was nice to mix it up some. I love doing beach portraits and have been for over 5 years now... however, sometimes I think "wouldn't it be nice to shoot in the mountains, or even the desert?" Just a different setting would be nice... but alas, I am "The Clearwater Beach Photographer." Please don't get me wrong... I love Clearwater Beach, and I absolutely love all the great families I meet there! So... going to the rock jetty at Sand Key Beach, and Indian Shores Beach last week was a welcome change!

Sometimes our skies in Florida are pretty plain... Oh we do get some nice dramatic skies, but those are usually just before or after a storm. As a photographer those skies are sometimes what we pray for, even when it's a close call on our session schedule. When we have to shoot a sky with no texture it's kind of a bummer, but we still capture the memories and fun times on the beach.

Every now and then we come across a few beach images that just scream for a black and white conversion! If you're a photographer... you'll know it when you see it! Even though the photo above had beautiful beach colors... I love the black and white version!

Sunsets are great for back light... just be sure to use your fill light so you don't end up with a silhouette... unless of course you going for a silhouette! :)

If you can get your subject to stand still on the shoreline long enough for a wave to come in it gives your photo more texture, dimension, and character... it doesn't always happen, especially with little ones, but give it a try. It's not as easy as you think, since you have to watch for facial expressions, where the wind is blowing things, and the waves all at the same time... but it does make for a nicer shot.

Get out there and enjoy the natural backdrops that are available to you!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Trying to figure out who’s with me, and who’s against me!

Doesn’t it make you mad when someone says, “You should put down the camera and enjoy the moment?” Or they say something like; “It’s not always about the picture you know?”

Well it infuriates the hell out of me! Because in my world it is always about the picture! And I am enjoying the moment! It is always about the recorded image from a fleeting moment in time that helps us remember people, places, and events. Photographs also help us share those moments with loved ones, and the world! Photographs help us pass on our life to those who come afterwards, with images that recreate the nostalgic moments of our past!

After all, how could we share things from our past, and move forward into the future if not for photographs? Ok there is always the very descriptive writer… but you know what they say a picture is worth don’t you? I’m so tired of getting dogged for doing what I do by the people who are suppose to love me! Either you’re with me, or against me! Everyone comments on the beautiful work I do… “Oh… that’s so pretty, you’re so talented!” Yet in the next sentence they are saying things like, “is that all you do?” Or, “I’m surprised you don’t sleep with your camera!”

Well here’s the deal… in my portfolio I have collected images of landmarks that no longer exist. I have captured loved ones that no longer exist, and I have captured babies from before they were born, to new born, to grade school, and beyond. For parents to display, cherish, and share! Someday they will be able to show their child that picture and say, “Look, that was me when I was little.”

Photographs are also great for comparing likenesses. “Oh look, he looks just like his father at that age!” Or “She has her mothers eyes… see!” Photos are also great for comparing space and time, and the world around us. I remember when I was a young girl reading the book “The Titanic.” Now there weren’t many pictures in that book, but the ones that were there…. Amazing! I looked into the eyes of Captain Edward Smith, I could witness the size of the massive ship, and most importantly it brought the past into perspective for me. Do you think the movie “Titanic” would have been produced if not for some type of photographs as a guide? That is only one for instance in a world of many.

So to all you people out there who don’t like what I do, or don’t like looking at me with a camera in front of my face… Go to Hell!! Someday you will be looking at a photo of someone, or something that I captured, and you’ll appreciate that you have it! So in the future don’t tell me it’s not all about the photograph… because, really, it is!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The New Hard Rock Café’ and The Katy Perry Concert!

Saturday was awesome! Around 3:00 in the afternoon we headed for the new Hard Rock Café’. I’ve been wanting to get over there and see what they did with the place since it was added to the casino, and hotel. It was very cool… although I’ve been to some cooler Hard Rock Café’s. We ordered the three way BBQ for dinner (chicken, pulled pork, and beef ribs). Totally awesome! Of course cocktails were in order since we were celebrating a birthday, and headed to the Katy Perry Concert afterwards! For the first time I hit the slot machines… won a little… and spent it. :) Hit the gift shop for a new Hard Rock T-shirt, and of course checked out as much memorabilia as time allowed.

The concert was amazing! Katy Perry puts on a great show! Not only can she sing, she can entertain the pants off ya! Her stage was truly set up like a perfect teenage dream… with pink puffy clouds, candy, and bright colors. She gave the crowd everything, from a stage presentation that resembled a Broadway play, to fog machines, bubble machines, and water cannons. She tossed coins into the crowd, invited about 50 people on stage to dance with her, let two youngsters take their picture with her (on stage), brought out a couple dozen beach balls during her song “California Girls.” She blew out tons of heart shaped, and candy shaped confetti! The pyro-techniques were great during her song “Firework,” and she changed her clothes within seconds on stage (behind screens) during “Your Hot and Your Cold.” The audience was filled with teenaged girls, and adults who wanted to be teen-agers (myself included)… the whole show was immensely enjoyed by everyone! Flouncey dresses, and blue and purple wigs were everywhere! She did her hit song E.T. in a black cat suit that was both sexy, and amusing! It was a perfect evening of good music and great entertainment!

I'm sorry I dont have any more images to share, but the ones from the concert were captured on a little Olympus point and shoot, and for some reason they do not want to download to my laptop (which is what I have to work with while I'm out of town). The photo's above were captured with my cell phone... not great quality, but I have since gone out and purchased a new phone. So... the next time I have to sneak a camera in to an event, I should get some good pictures! :)

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Monday, June 6, 2011

Gearing Up for a Busy Month!

As the week starts here in Mulberry… I look over my calendar and realize there are so many things to get done. It all starts with a drive to Clearwater first thing Tuesday morning… to avoid traffic I try to be out of the house by 10:30. It will be an easy day, as I just have to meet with my daughter who will be attending her 8th grade dance on Wednesday and celebrating the end of middle school and the step up to high school.

On Wednesday I will be meeting her at school to photograph the event... at her request. Sometimes it’s good to have a mom that is a photographer. In the evening I have to meet with a former bride to help her choose the photos for her album, and slide show. I did her wedding in February and have been waiting for her to decide… she needs my help.

While I’m traveling to Clearwater, and shooting, and meeting with former clients I still have an essay to write for my composition class before Thursday, and other school work to do before Sunday rolls around (which I will work on over the weekend).

Tuesday of next week I have another family session on Sand key beach in the evening, which will bring about the chore of editing and posting to the web. I’ll be sure to blog on that next week, and share some photos.

Saturday the 18th is my good friends birthday bash… still in Clearwater. I can’t wait to get together with everyone, and I’m sure there will be more images to share from that event.

When the 20th rolls around I will be doing another beach session on Indian Rocks for a family of 8, three of which are children, and the parents want to do clothing changes. Should be fun!

That brings me into the beginning of July when I will be doing a beach portrait session/wedding vow renewal on Clearwater beach again! A large group of 19 will surely keep me hoppin’!

I love the summer time, and the tourists it brings to the area! I never suspected when I set out on this adventure that my business would be based on tourism, but it certainly is! In fact I used to complain when the snowbirds would hit the West coast, but these days I welcome them all!

Enjoying the Memorial Day Weekend With the Mendez Family!

Last weekend I met with the Mendez family on Clearwater beach. A couple days prior, Ana, the mother, and wife, of this great looking group called me with an unusual and kinda funny story. It seems that her and her husband George were married on Sandkey beach on Memorial day weekend 5 years ago… now I don’t know if any of you have attempted to get to Clearwater beach on Memorial day, during Spring break, or any other holiday for that matter… It is no easy task! You can plan on sitting in traffic for hours, and when you do get to the other side of the causeway… good luck with that parking space, or even a place to rest your butt once you do get to the sand! As it turns out Ana never made it to her wedding! Therefore never got any beautiful sunset photos on her wedding day. So this is what we set out to accomplish when we met.

Our appointment was for 7:30, I left the house at 6:15, (and I’m only 15 minutes from the beach), by the time I hit the round about (which is another real pain about Clearwater beach, because the tourists don’t know how to work a round about), Ana was calling to say she was already at our designated meeting spot. Neither one of us was going to be late! We started shooting in the dunes around 6:45 and spent more time there than I usually do on any normal session. After we had exhausted every pose and grouping we could think of we made our way to the water. The sun had come down enough to get those nice sunset shots she was hoping for.

This family was not only beautiful on the outside… they were just as lovely on the inside. We talked about the beach, family, astrology signs, and raising children, all the while getting some great shots. I assured her that teenage boys will eventually grow up to love each other… give them a few years. George and Ana’s little girl was as sweet as could be, and her brothers were very attentive to her needs. It was definitely one of the nicest and easiest sessions I’ve had in a long time.

Ana and George did eventually get married that day… their archway was moved to their reception venue, and a quick ceremony was preformed. Even though last weekend wasn’t actually their wedding, people were walking by congratulating them… and now they will have their sunset photo’s to cherish and enjoy for many years to come!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy