I wanted to share a few photographs of one of my favorite singers/musicians and one of my very favorite venues, The Down Home, in Johnson City, TN (my town)! This is John Cowan, formerly of New Grass Revival. I was an avid fan of New Grass Revival for many years before they split up. John is currently the bass player for The Doobie Brothers.
I asked the bride to share how she and her groom met. They are such a cute couple! :
“I had a crush on him in middle school, but he swears we did not really know each other. My first day of freshman year, a girl stopped me in the hallway to lipstick me (it is a tradition they used to have at my high school). Justin stopped and lipsticked me as well and then we ended up going to the same class right afterwards. We talked for a week and then he asked me to be his girlfriend. We have been together for seven years. There have been some rough patches, but we made it through, and I could not be happier. We haven’t even been married a week, but I already know he is going to be the most amazing husband.”
In my previous blog, I talked about how I got into photography and about all of the photos I have saved in albums, boxes and on hard-drives.
I sometimes wonder where all of my photos will end up–in a landfill, an antique store?? I always wonder why there are always a bunch of family photos in antique stores. Didn’t anyone in their family want them (or even know about them)?? Makes me sad. And because I don’t have children of my own, I’m afraid that’s where mine will end up. Although I have a wonderful stepdaughter who is now 20, I seriously doubt she will want to keep my thousands of photos and albums. I’m posting a photo of some old family photos taken YEARS ago! I cherish these old photos of our family and ancestors.
I am so happy that I am now taking photos of other families. I hope they will be passed down from generation to generation. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been fascinated, looking at those old, fading photos of my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents when they were children.
I am what is called a “shoot and share” photographer. I don’t sell individual images, but try to give clients all of the images from a session I determine to be acceptable. I realize I may not know what the client will like the most. Clients can choose which ones to download, print, share or save (look under my tab that says PASS galleries for more information about that).
I think it is so important to have photos you can cherish and pass down to future generations. Skip the local, discount store photo studios with the backdrops and over-posed shots. And, although you probably take your own photos for posterity, try to make sure your photos are in focus! Please contact me if I can help you create some wonderful heirlooms and memories.
Loved this playful shoot with Bailey. Her mom wanted some with her overalls with the tractor. That’s Bailey!
This is Madison, a gorgeous junior from Mitchell High School, which is located in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. These photos were taken in Spuce Pine and Little Switzerland, NC.
Many people ask me how I got into photography. Well, here goes:
I’ve always been a photographer. I’ve taken pictures for over 40 years, for as long as I can remember, definitely since grade school. I have old fading photos of friends sporting their orange and white safety patrol belts, hanging upside down and doing handstands on the playground and just hanging out being kids. I was fortunate to be raised in a neighborhood reminiscent of the “Wonder Years” back in the good ole days of the late 60s and the 70s. I know I’m now telling my age! To you “youngsters,” I must sound like I’m ancient, but you know what “they” say, “50 is the new 30…?” 😉
Many friends say that if it weren’t for me, they would have very few photos of their families. I always have a camera with me, so they expect me to be there to take photos of whatever we’re doing. I have countless albums of cruises, trips, just cats, tons of flowers, sunsets, family and friend get-togethers, and thousands of loose photos stored in boxes.
I remember the first camera I used had the cube flash. 4 flashes, and you had to change the cube. Then came flash stick. I think you got about 10 flashes with that one — amazing!! Then came the camera (film) w/ a BUILT IN FLASH!! Woo Hoo! I’ve gone through several point-and-shoot digital cameras (both film and digital), the handy dandy Polaroid and countless disposable cameras! And, how can I forget the iPhone! I can’t imagine the money I’ve spent on film and prints over the years. Thank goodness for the invention of the digital camera!
In the 90s, my uncle gave me my first SLR, a Canon EOS 10s. I was thrilled! However, I never had the sense back then to take the thing off auto. Cringe! What a waste!! My uncle is an awesome landscape/ wildlife photographer and I had admired his work since I was a tike. He did try to explain Aperture, ISO and shutter speed to me, but for some reason it seemed too much like algebra to me (NOT my best subject in High School). He is a doctor, so I knew he was probably a lot smarter than I was!
Last year, I finally got my first DSLR, a Canon T3i. I decided it was finally time to take my camera of auto and actually learn how to use it! With the help of several mentors and hours and hours of studying, I now shoot in manual, RAW, and have decent editing software. I recently updated to a full-frame camera, a Canon 6D, and LOVE it!
Now I have thousands of photos stored on my computer and back-up hard-drives! More on all of those photos in my next blog…….
I had the opportunity to do a session in Cancun, with these beautiful sisters, Jordan and Camryn, and their parents! What a fantastic experience!
Lifestyle Photography
I was very flattered when a fellow photographer (brytneeannephotography.com) asked me to write a guest blog about lifestyle photography. That was when I also realized I rarely blog (or write) on my own blog site! I admit I can be a slacker when it comes to writing.
So, what the heck is lifestyle photography? I guess it is kind of self-explanatory, but I think of it as capturing those moments when the subjects aren’t really paying attention to the camera. It’s capturing them, living their lives without being posed. I prefer natural light, so my shoots are usually done outdoors. I seem to favor black and white images for lifestyle photography, probably because of the mood it creates and it is not as distracting as some color images.
Because I seem to always have a camera in my hand, my friends and family now expect me to be taking pictures of all of our get-togethers and of other life events. This also makes my gift giving easy. Those photos make great Christmas and birthday gifts!
I love shooting children interacting naturally with their parents. It’s amazing to look at the photos later, and see where you’ve captured tiny, loving nuances in their expressions while they play, smile, tub noses and kiss. Those are memories to cherish!
While doing actual family portrait sessions, I try to snap lots of photos in between trying to get the child(ren) to LOOK at the camera! Ok, don’t look at the camera! Now I’m off on a tangent, but don’t you hate having to say the child’s name, over and over…I feel like I sound like an idiot. And, I’m sure the child agrees! And, I often use a “shutterbuddy,” * which is a silly looking little lens cover of an animal and has a SQUEAKER. So, I’m running around calling the child’s name, “squeaking ” and pleading with the child to LOOK at the animal (or whatever it is). Well, for what it’s worth, it does work. Sometimes. I can’t imagine what the parents are thinking.
I think it’s also important to catch those moments when a child isn’t so happy. That is usually when the child is tired of the “old” lady with the black box in her face, following them around. So, don’t forget to get those pouts and tears, too! Those will be great shots for their parents to embarrass them when they’re older and they show them to their boyfriends/girlfriends.
Of course you always want to try to get shots of genuine laughter. I can usually get those shots when I’m backing up and falling over a rock (or a big stick, or a dog). They always seem to think that is pretty hilarious. They also find it amusing that once I am on the ground either from falling or trying to get “at their level,” I can’t get up, not very easily at least. I sometimes have to roll around to get to up on my good knee. Ha ha. Very funny. “I meant to do that!” ;-p I get so wrapped up in shooting, I fear one day I’m going to back over a cliff I’m sure many of you can relate.
Ok-seriously though, just get out there, let the parents play with the kids and shoot away!
I have found that many of my clients’ favorite images are the ones they did not know I took. Sneaky, huh?
This fun family shoot was shot at the beautiful home of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. I love the pond, especially when I can get some good reflection shots! Look at all of Reagan’s cute expressions.
lisalemmonspowersphotography 