I just took a look a my blog and I could hear the crickets chirping as the silence settled over the dust. So, I am blowing off the dust and trying to stay on top of this opportunity.
Please understand it has not been for lack work. On the contrary, the entire month of April was so crazy I was having 1, sometimes 2 shoots a day. I couldn't keep up with them!
But then a wonderful thing happened. I went on vacation. Aaah! What a blessed event. My sisters , my mom and I went to Orlando for a fabulous week of what else?! Disney. Orlando IS Disney. Everyone on the plane was families heading to Disneyworld or old people heading to time shares. (Not sure exactly which one we fit into as we did a little of both). So I had to include one of my favorite shots from the week.
Picture of the Boardwalk in Orlando by the Disney's BoardWalk resort.Okay, so here is the real purpose of this blog today. This is the first part of a two part series.
Let's just say it right up front -- Get in front of your camera. That is basically the gist of this post. If you read nothing else, know that.
Over the years of being a photographer, I have met several people who are not just camera-shy, but rather camera-phobes. They will literally run away when the camera is brought out.
Now having been raised in a family where a camera is a natural part of each family reunion (we take not just one family picture, but TWO large group family pictures of the same 40+ people in each) so this reaction is a little foreign to me.
I really don't like to get my picture taken as I always wish that the person taking the picture could make ME look as good as I try to make my customers look. I am afraid, however, that camera has just not been invented. Oh it's not that they aren't fabulous photographers, it is just the subject matter with which they have to work.
Now, having said that I will again say, get out from behind the camera and get into the shots.
Let me reiterate this with a story. A very good friend of my son's would always hide when the camera came out, or he would put a pillow in front of his face, or make a face, or . . . well, you get the picture (pun intended).
This friend died at the age of 15.
Do you think his mother wished he would have been in more pictures or behaved while he was having pictures taken of him? Believe me, she does. I know because I have talked with her about it.
So why don't we get in front of the camera? Usually it is because we don't like what will come of it.
I was reading another
photographer's blog today and had to agree with her reasoning:
1. In five years you will look five years older….you WILL look young in the pictures you take today!
2. Ten years ago I thought I was fat. Oh my goodness….I should have taken pictures THEN.
3. Your children (and your family) look at you all day long. THEY know what you look like. They won’t care how you look in the picture.
...I still want to look like I did when I was 25 years old. And really I’m shocked that I don’t.
But seriously. My children (and family) love me just the way I am. Chins and all.
I would also add -
4. If you are planning to go on a diet, think of your pictures as your BEFORE picture...
So use this as a call to action and ask a nice looking person walking by to take your picture -- they are everywhere. Believe me. I am one of them.
Stay tuned for part II of this same series.
- Liz
ME in front of the camera with my sister Jann at Disneyworld.
Picture of the Boardwalk in Orlando by the Disney's BoardWalk resort.
This lovely girl turned 17 this month. She has a lot going on in her life right now -- moving to Albuquerque, finishing up school for the year, going to Mississippi for the summer, helping out at home, etc. What could be more fun than to do a photo shoot for your birthday? Here is your sneak peek Carolina...
Meet Ashley. Isn't she beautiful? She and her cousin came for a photo shoot and I had such a great time. She started the session wearing her glasses and about a half way through the session she took them off. Wow-ee. Wait until you see these pics. She was probably my last Senior of the season. So here's to the Class of 2009. I have had a great time. 
