The storm came, scared everyone and left. It left behind some amazing clouds. My friend and client helped Manchester High School’s Boosters do a fundraiser of Smoked BBQ. I wasn’t there for very long, but they asked him a ton of questions which he was happy to answer. Three different smokers, including him donated time and energy to help the high school with their fundraiser. He asked me to provide a few photos. To see more photos from this or other events, check out my Facebook Page.
Working with my favorite caterer again. He was busy catering for a local wine club called Richmond Wine Society. They meet in various locations and sample different wines while they learn about them.
I had such a great time the other day taking pictures at Brown’s Island that I decided to go out again… to a different local park that required GPS. It was another joyous 30 minute photo session to remind myself why I enjoy photography so much.
Here’s another round of afternoon, spring time photos of beautiful blooming trees in historical Byrd Park in Richmond, VA.
As someone who really enjoys photography, photography as a career or your passion, can lose its excitement. It’s important to find a one to two hour window where you can go out and just shoot. In outdoor photography, weather plays an important roll which is why I was excited when I found an opportunity to go to Brown’s Island for the blooming trees. It was a beautiful overcast day. When I had taken all the photos I wanted was when a few rain drops began to fall.
It’s good to get in a little camera time without any pressure. It helps to mix things up, try new things and keep the process fun. It can be hard to find that window, but when the weather is right, it is important to go out there and have a good time! Take an little adventure. Explore somewhere new or visit a place that you haven’t been to in a long time (like Brown’s Island or Bell’s Isle).
Not only did I enjoy the process, but I also took in the beauty of the blooming trees, the sound of the river, ducks and even the train. The fresh air (thank you allergy meds!) and breeze was wonderful. The wind blew some pedals off the trees which made me smile (scenes from the “Twilight” series popped in my head). This photo session may have lasted only 30 minutes but it was well worth it and I got some beautiful shots from it. In fact, I enjoyed it enough that the following day, I visited another park and did another session. Be on the look out for those!
Where are some of your favorite places to shoot?
There are reasons why group photos should have a limited color scheme and why we like the white tops and khaki pants group portraits. They look unified. It’s a clean look. The focus becomes the people, not the outfits. Simplicity makes for a image better. Too many colors (and patterns) don’t make pretty photos.
The other reason is because you are a group, a team. You should not have any particular person stand out (except in wedding photos - bride and groom should be a strong focal point). If anyone is to stand out at all, it should be the Alpha (boss, president, etc.) but even then, that person should only stand out slightly.
Unless the team wants to look like the furniture grouping from a country magazine, stripes, florals, polka-dots and plaids should not be worn. Try to keep it to solids with maybe one optional pattern (for ties or shirts under a solid jacket or sweater). Be nice to the photographer and your team members and follow the instructions.
Remember to make sure the background and “staging area” is clear of clutter for a cleaner, tighter look. Plants visible over the shoulder or poking out behind people will look like goofy headdresses or tails! This becomes a distraction from the faces of the team and possibly cause the team to look less professional.
Here are a few photos that I took. Some are from my personal tree and some are of a tree at my church. These are a few photo ideas that would be great for social media! The images are clear and there is plenty of room for text overlays. Of course, your photos don’t need to be religious in theme, but it’s what I choose. Have fun with the photo shoot and try under different lighting for a variety of options. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Chrismon Ornaments
Homemade Bell Angle
Cross and Lights
Manger Ornament
