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.

Summer Sunset Sessions!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

The weather is beautiful again!! It's time for our Summer Sunset Sessions on Clearwater Beach! We love this time of year... not to cold, not to hot, nice tropical breezes and a lot of vacationers! This time of year brings clients from everywhere. With all those spring breakers I get calls coming in all the time because they want their pictures to show what a wonderful vacation they had on the beach!

Last week it was a wonderful family from Texas... this week it's a High School Senior... and soon it's a family of 30, from all over the place! I gotta tell ya... If I'm not in the studio, my favorite place to shoot portraits is on the beach! With beautiful backdrops, a relaxed setting, and an enjoyable atmosphere, nobody can go wrong with beach portraits.

I usually start with the group shots in the dunes, then move to the waters edge for a few more group shots. We don't want little ones to get wet and sandy before it's time! Once we have the whole group done (depending on the head count), we move to individuals, or smaller groups, using a variety of poses. After that... the fun begins! Now we can get our feet wet and frolic in the waves! The little ones love this... as well as some of the grown-ups! After several candid shots of everyone, I usually ask the adults if there is anything they have seen that they would like to try (they usually always have something in mind). When it's all said and done we end our session with my all time favorite "The Jumping Shot!" Everyone loves it!!

Beach portraits are normally scheduled in the evening when the light is prettiest. If not evening, then early morning although light in the morning in much cooler (hues are blue) where evening brings nice warm light (golden). I'm not much of a morning person... that's not to say I don't rise early, but it takes me awhile to get moving in the a.m. As the day moves on... so do I!

So remember this... beach portraits are beautiful, relaxing, and fun. Evening or morning light is best. And children of all ages have a wonderful experience!

Until next time...

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images capture with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media.

Family Beach Portraits

copyright © Spellbound Images by Wendy - all rights reserved

Living so close to Clearwater Beach I get a lot of calls for family and group portraits on the beach. Sometimes I do groups of 30 or more. Organizing a group that size can be pretty grooling, not to mention getting everyone to look in the right direction at the moment you snap the shutter. My motto... if almost everyone is looking... go ahead, and make sure you snap several more, eventually everyone will realize "oh, she's taking the photo now!" When you get large groups together especially if they haven't seen each other in awhile they like to talk and catch up.

I like to have everyone seated, and create a nice triangle effect (taller subject(s) in the center and bring them down on the sides and in front). Children are probably the hardest ones to get to look at you... they love the sand and the water, and frankly, if their on the beach they think it's time to play, not sit still! I always tell them they can play after I take a picture of the whole group as long as it's OK with Mom and or Dad. Makes for great individual shots... parents love pictures of their little ones playing along the shore! Usually after a few group shots my clients like individual family pictures done. So they break into smaller groups... and we sometimes move from the dunes to the waters edge. Take advantage of that... I guarantee it will boost your sales!

I schedule my beach portraits in the evening hours when the sun is setting and the sunlight is beautiful and golden. Early morning is a great time too... but I'm just not a morning kinda person. :) Another good time is when the sky is overcast or cloudy... dramatic skies can give some phenomenal depth to your images!

I usually suggest clothing when I meet with my clients, and let them know if there is someone important (grandparents, boss, VIP) that they want to stand out in the photograph, they should put them in a different color than everyone else. For instance if everyone is wearing white shirts or dresses, put the person or people to stand out in red or black, etc. or better yet... put everyone else in a darker color and the person to stand out in white. Nothing should be too flowery or bold shapes, as with any portrait. Long sleeves are good when you're trying to slenderize someone. Bare feet is always a good look whether you are on the beach or not. There are several clothing tips for portraits, and I try to give them some basic ideas so everyone will look their best and be comfortable at the same time.

So take advantage of the beach if you have one close... if not... try a beautiful park! Outdoor setting ideas are endless! Enjoy!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

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

Images printed by Black River Imaging.