Where's Wendy? Weedsport, Winterhaven, and a Few Places in between!

© Spellbound Images Photography - All Rights Reserved

Ahhh.... it's been awhile since my last blog post! I've been working hard at my studies, and have done a little traveling in the past month. The semester is almost over and final exams will start soon! I decided to take a trip to see my kids and grand kids in Weedsport, New York, and ended up doing portraits the whole time I was there! Honestly there was no time to get out and do any landscape shooting! Now I'm spending some much needed time in Winterhaven with my oldest daughter, and grand kids... we've also done some portraits here, and are planning to do more. I have a wedding booked for April 30th on Sandkey Beach, and another bride to meet with soon! During all of this I have gotten through a really bad cold (well, almost through... my voice is still a bit raspy). All in all it's been a pretty busy month! I'll be glad when the semester is over and I move on to the summer semester of only two classes.

 

Front cover of "The Florida Info Guide" Magazine for this quarter!  :)

Business Portraits on Clearwater Beach.

Working on some still life stuff... inspired by my art classes.

Engagement portraits of my daughter and her future hubby in New York! :)

Easter Portraits of the grand children! :)

Downtown Ybor.... very cool building with lots of character!!

So many more photo's to share... not enough time!

Until next time!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 and E420 on Lexar digital media.

Where's Wendy? Fort Desoto... Day One!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Enjoyed a beautiful weekend in Fort Desoto, Florida!  The Fort was closed but we enjoyed the museum, fishing on the pier, boating, and camping!  Here are a few images from day 1!

I'll be back soon with day 2!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 and the Olympus E420 on Lexar digital media.

Where's Wendy? Shooting Sexy Ladies!!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Since Mid November I've done several Boudoir Sessions. It has come to my attention that as the holidays get nearer the more requests I have for this type of photography. Beautiful women from everywhere... ranging from 20 something to 50 something want to do something different for that special someone in their life. Every woman wants to feel sexy and beautiful no matter what their age is. I consider myself pretty lucky when it comes to Boudoir Sessions most female clients prefer a female photographer for this type of sitting, and have expressed that in their initial phone call, up to the time there prints, albums, calendars, or any other material has been delivered. Remember... DO Not shoot this type of session for anyone under the age of 18, and always get a model release form for this or any type of portrait photography.

this...

became this...

 

Here are a few things you should know about shooting Boudoir Portraits:

When a model or client is changing clothes... and it doesn't matter whether they are putting on, or taking off, they should always be allowed their privacy. Everyone likes to be comfortable in their own space even when it means taking off clothing or wearing very little clothing for their session. So each and every time a garment change takes place they should have a private place to do so.

Always take a couple test shots. At first everyone is a bit stiff or nervous... take some test shots, show them to your client while letting them know what looks good and what they might want to change in their posing, or expression. As you talk to them and show them, they will start to trust you are there to make them look good... and they will become more and more comfortable.

Always compliment your client. While you are shooting your subject you should always express that they are doing a good job with comments like “Good” - “Cute” - “Very Sexy” after each click of the shutter. It will reassure her that she looks good, and that her photographs are going to be awesome!

You should never touch your client unless they ask you to. If and when she does ask, you should always try to be helpful with things like garter straps, buttons, stocking hooks, bra straps and shoe straps. In fact it would be even more helpful if you had an assistant, or suggest beforehand that she bring along a friend to help her out with such things. Which brings me to my next hint...

Boudoir sessions are fun in groups! It can be a bit tiresome for the photographer, but when you get a group of girl friends together for the same purpose they usually jump right in and have a wonderful time! They help each other with clothing, with posing, with expressions, and usually break out the wine and munchies to make it all a great experience!

Before you try to succeed in Boudoir Sessions be sure you have honed a few Photoshop skills. When all is said and done no one is perfect, but with a little blemish removal, skin softening, eye brightening and sharpening you can bring out the true beauty in anyone. I do not remove anything that isn't requested. Some women like their freckles... some don't. They will let you know. I do however remove stretch marks, and scars, unless they tell me otherwise (some women are proud of their stretch marks, although I haven't found many).

There you have it! Follow my advice for a successful Boudoir session and you'll not only get some great photographs but you'll have bunches of fun... and so will your clients!

 

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

 

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar Digital Media.

Happy Thanksgiving!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

With the Thanksgiving Holiday behind us I would like to share a few things that I'm Thankful for...

I'm thankful that I have beautiful children who try to understand all my faults, all my quirks, and all my anal tendencies.  Together we have survived a lot.  Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong they stand beside me, encourage me, and always have my back.  They are wonderful in every way possible... even with all their diversities.

I am thankful for the man in my life... even though some people may not understand, and even though every moment hasn't been easy... he has allowed me to be "what I wanted to be when I grew up", he has faith in me, and even though we are completely and totally different in so many ways he listens to me, excepts me, and opens his mind to things that have been unusual in his upbringing.  He is and always has been my biggest fan.   

I am thankful for my friends, new and old.  During the past year I've made some new friends, and more importantly have found some old ones who came missing after an ugly employment situation.  We have picked up where we left off and for some us have become closer than ever before.  I have also found high school friends that I had lost touch with, honest to goodness people who haven't changed a bit over the years, and I only wish we hadn't lost so much time between then and now.

I am also thankful for the clients I have met over the past year... the local ones and the ones who come from far and wide to visit Clearwater Beach, and who have contacted me to photograph their families and loved ones.  Photography around here can be a tourist industry, so I'm also thankful that this is my home.

I have so many things to be thankful for that I could go on for ever, but alas the day has been as long as it has been wonderful, and now it is time to rest.

Here's hoping you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Holiday and celebrated with good food, good cheer, and with loved ones that you are Thankful for every day of the year!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

Where's Wendy? Creating Pre-pre School Portraits!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Yesterday was my Grandson's 7th birthday... and I always try to celebrate with my children, and grandchildren on their special day. I have 10 grandchildren, some in school and some not. A couple days before the party my daughter messaged me and asked if I could bring along my equipment and take a few pictures of her youngest daughter Lileigh, who is not in school yet. She was looking for something to go along with the older kids school portraits. Even though I'm not a fan of typical school portraits I understood what she was looking for, and why.

My daughter lives in a nice apartment... however it is filled with furniture and kid stuff... not to mention we were having a birthday party! So room was a little bit of a factor. To pull it off we cleared a spot of toys and candy in the living room. I pulled out my blue backdrop from the van, which was about the same color as the other kids portrait backgrounds. Instead of putting up my stands I just had two of the guys hold the backdrop up behind her, about 4 feet away. We used a small table to sit her on, and I brought along my light stand with flash/umbrella bracket. I set this up about 2 feet away from my subject... camera right, and had my daughter hold my silver reflector at a 45% angle to camera left. I captured this one with my wide angle zoom lens.


Now Lileigh may only be 3 years old, but since she's MY grand daughter she knows exactly how to pose... she knows what Nana is looking for, and even though everyone else was running around having a great time, she sat long enough for me to pop off 4 shots, and smiled beautifully!


When I returned home I went to work in the digital dark room to recreate the texture in the background from the other children's portraits, although it's not perfect, it is a pretty good match. I removed some boo-boo's, softened her skin just a tad, brightened her eyes, and did a quick overall sharpen. Wa la! A pre-pre school portrait.


I wasn't sure what to call it at first since she isn't in pre school yet, but my daughter thought pre-pre school was the best name for it. I remember when I was younger, and we did school portraits, my mother was allowed to take my younger sister to the school to have her portrait done... why don't they do that anymore? Something to think about if you're a school portrait photographer.

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

Images captured with the Olympus E500, on Lexar digital media, with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom lens.

Lowry Park Zoo! Five Dollar Day!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

I created this image at Lowry Park Zoo on Sunday in Tampa. If you've ever been out to Lowry Park you know it's a pretty nice zoo, with the exception that in the summer it is sooo hot most of the animals hide in their shelters to get some relief from the exhausting heat!

It was $5.00 day, and I had to chuckle as I fought the crowd of frustrated parents, and crying children as I entertained the idea that “Humans are the only animals dumb enough to be out in this heat!” Yet there we all were taking advantage of the cheap admission along with the distant parking, the jam-packed attractions, and the debilitating sun!

In my life time this was my second visit to the zoo. If you read my last post concerning the Lowry Park Zoo you know that I had a great time and captured some nice images, even though it was as hot then as it was this past Sunday. It was mid week, there were very few people there, and far less cranky children! The price for admittance was about $21.00, and on both days that did not include any rides. I'm tellin ya... there were people coming in by the bus loads! I talked to one mom with 5 little girls who not only paid $30.00 for all of their admissions, but then also paid $18.00 for each of the children to have an arm band so they could enjoy the rides. Only to find out she had spent $18.00 for one child that was too small to go on most of the rides. Not to mention she also had to rent a stroller large enough to get a few of them around! Something not right about that! Anyone who knows me knows that I am the Queen of dealing with kids... I have several of my own, and a few strays, plus 7 grandchildren. In fact I took my two teenagers on this little excursion. Not so bad for teenagers... they have been to the zoo several times and know their way around, so it wasn't like I was dragging them along, or pushing them in a stroller. So here is my thought... why not drop the regular price of entree... forget about the crazy $5.00 day... therefor attracting more people to the zoo all year round?

I think the best part of my visit was petting the sting ray (who are just as cute as all get out), because for a few moments you can delight in the placement of your hand or hands in some nice cool water! I literally wanted to stick my head in the pool with them! We arrived about 10:30 and by 2:00 I just couldn't take anymore! We had packed a picnic lunch of sandwiches, soda, water, and snacks, but then had to park so far away that we decided if we're going to make the trek back to the car to eat, we may as well head home. By the time we walked the distance, heat exhaustion would have been inevitable and we would not have made it back. I swear most of the Tampa Police Dept. was on duty to direct traffic (I'm sure the blazing sun was getting to them too)!

Now I'm sure the zoo brought in a lot of revenue on five dollar day... and I'm sure it helps take care of all the beautiful creatures that reside in it's realm, but I believe they should rethink their strategy on the $5.00 day and attract more folks all year round! I'm sorry for the negative remarks, but I hope someone from the zoo finds this blog, and gives it some serious consideration.


As always,


Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy


All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar Digital media with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom, and the Zuiko 40-150 zoom lenses.

The K.I.S.S. Theory!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

We've all heard it... some of us live by it, some of us need more of a challenge, and others swing both ways! I'm more of a swing both ways person, in that some days I just want things to be simple, easy and clutter free. Other days I want to incorporate as much chaos, depth, and fun as I can cram into my photographs. However, since this blog is titled the K.I.S.S. Theory, that is what we will be discussing.

The Keep It Simple Stupid acronym (KISS) is believed to be the key goal in design... according to Wikipedia. Sometimes in photography it's nice to keep it simple, for the photographer and the client. Some clients want simple. I have to say there is nothing quite like a simple high key, or low key portrait. It's crisp, and it's focused... targeted towards your subject and only your subject... what they are wearing or even not wearing.

I liketo use a nice clean seamless paper for my KISS photographs, or the newer Diamond cloth that boasts less wrinkles, easy to store, and easy to clean. Diamond cloth doesn't tear like paper backdrops either, you can put a model on Diamond cloth and not worry about those 6” heels popping a hole in your backdrop. Muslin's are also nice for the same effect. Anyway... you get the point. No clutter in your images, just emphasis on your subject(s).

There are many great quotes about simplicity.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler. ~Albert Einstein~

Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication. ~ Leonardo De Vinci~

Perfection is reached when there is nothing left to add, yet nothing left to take away. ~Antoine de Saint Exupery~

How ever you see it... try the K.I.S.S. Theory in your photography, put the focal point on your subject, and relax. Things don't have to be crazy to create a great image!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media, with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom lens.

Where's Wendy? Snapping Dating Portraits!!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Internet dating has become very popular over the past few years. It seems that as soon as someone breaks up... they are hitting sites like Match, Plenty-of-fish, or e-harmony in search of the perfect partner. Recently I have received several calls to do head shots and portraits for these types of personal sites. Both Men and Women of all ages inquire about digital images to use on their profile for dating sites.

A good photo is going to be more successful and is surely to get you more hits on dating sites. You can try to take your own photo... you know... the kind where your arm is up in the air from holding the camera at the right angle, or there is always the bathroom mirror shot. Sorry... not going to get you a lot of lookers or responses!

These are not glamour shots, or fantasy shots... these are just well done photo's that bring out the real you. Tasteful images that show what you really look like, and that are enhanced only to remove blemishes that normally wouldn't be there. When people meet you they wont be frightened because you've shown an old photo from when you were 21, or one that has been manipulated to look like someone you are not! They will see what you actually look like when you meet them live and in person!

When people contact me they are actually embarrassed to tell me what their photo's are for... No need to be embarrassed people! If you're looking for the right partner... then why wouldn't you want to do it with the right photo?

Just my two cents...

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom lens

Where's Wendy? Under the Stars!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

I set out Thursday night (early Friday morning – 3 am) to capture what was suppose to be a spectacular show in the night sky, the Perseid Meteor Shower.  Maybe I was to late... maybe the South East just didn't produce as nice a show as other places... or maybe it was just the weather conditions. After all... It was sprinkling when I left the house, but mostly cleared by the time I hit Clearwater beach. We did see a few meteors cross the dark sky but none in the direction my camera was pointing. And believe me... it was pointed in several different directions. After a couple hours of laying on the beach in the humid air... we gave up.

On our way back to town I decided I was going to make the best of my early morning and capture a few things that I had been wanting to photograph for some time. We stopped just the other side of the Clearwater Marina where I had always noticed these mesmerizing blue neon lights sweeping across the water when ever I headed to the beach after dark. The photograph above turned out as nicely as I had imagined, so I continued to capture some other shoreline in the same area.

So here's the deal; Never walk away with nothing... always find something in your attempts... and don't worry if you don't capture what you set out to! Shoot for yourself and shoot from the heart!

Until next time...

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media with the Zuiko 14-54 wide angle zoom lens.

Where's Wendy? Clearwater Beach of Course!

All Images © Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Last night was another beach portrait session in Clearwater. By now you are getting the idea that I spend a lot of time on Clearwater beach. It's true... a lot of my business comes from vacationers visiting the Clearwater and Tampa Bay area. As I've said before... beautiful backdrop, great light, and lots of space!

Last nights clients came from Texas, although they are originally from the Tampa Bay area. I gave them a couple places to choose from on Clearwater beach, but they went with my old stand by location because of the lovely dunes and less populated shore line. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and three children were my victims for the evening. We had great fun capturing youthful smiles, and family love. The little ones were a bit tricky as they were high energy, and free spirited, but I chased them around on the sand to capture some good stuff!

The light changes rapidly as the sun gets closer to the horizon, so working quickly is a must for sunset sessions. If you start too early the sun is too bright, if you start too late you lose your light quickly and wont get in all the poses you came prepared for. I give 45 minutes to an hour for my sunset sessions to capture the magnificent light as the hues change across the sky. Using fill flash and a fast lens (especially for playful children) is another must with sunset portraits.

Enjoy!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media, with the Zuiko 15-54 mm wide angle zoom lens.