Photography Goals
Three current photography goals:
1) work on eyes. Addison has incredibly difficult eyes to photograph. They are essentially black. So instead I usually work on eyes with Noah who has amazing eyes with all kinds of different colors. I know the key to good portraits is to get good eye focus and get those eyes to pop. Another thing I’m working on is catching more catchlights. It is so hard to get my kids to hold still in exactly the right light, outdoors, for me to practice. So this weekend was a rare treat. This weekend I caught a really good (and extremely rare) eye pic of Dalton too.
2) find filtered sunlight and ways to use it to take great pictures. This is soooo hard for me. We have TONS of shade but it is like winning the lotto to go outside with the kids at a time of day when the sunlight filters through the trees and then catch the kids in a good shot right IN that filtered sunlight. I could take 1000 shots before I get ONE good shot in filtered sun. Today we went to the arboretum and I took hundreds of pictures and only caught TWO in filtered sun. There was a really great filtered sun location but it was already in use by some damned bride! ha.
3) spend more time post-processing. I’m so lucky to have PhotoShop but it is such a processor-heavy program that I only really use it if I’m working on graphics or need some MAJOR photo processing (like removal of backgrounds, erasing of blemishes, etc) and this happens pretty much only at holidays. So these days I’m relying heavily on Flickr’s photo editing software, Picnik. It is simple enough to use quickly but versatile enough to do 75% of what I would ordinarily want it to do. The only major problem is that sometimes I really LOVE the effect I get but Flickr doesn’t allow uploads in sizes large enough for me to order actual prints so I still have to replicate the effects in Photoshop before putting in a print order. Oh well - it works for now.
{Dalton)
{Noah}
{Addy-Mai}
Bad light, no eyes but damned cute outfit!
Funny story about Addison’s outfit. I fell in love with it (the whole line actually) online, it sold out quickly but I found it in our local store so I snatched it up. Brought it home, it was WAY WAY too big but omg, I decided it was my all-time favorite outfit and I just HAD to keep it. So I went and bought the same outfit in a smaller size. This is actually the 12-18 month size for both pants and shirt. I don’t think a single other outfit Addison has worn has EVER attracted so much attention. It is just the most adorable thing EVER! And lucky for her, she gets to wear it for the next 3 years! haha.
April 20th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Ok, you’re right. That outfit is sooooo cute! And the sun glasses bring it all together - they’re the perfect accessory…
I know what you mean about the sun issues…we rarely have a “mostly cloudy” day, which is ideal for outdoor shots. It’s usually either full-on sun or rain. I hate that too, because 99.9% of the time the sun is just too harsh to get anything good. Let me know if you find the secret to getting good shots in the harsh TX sun…you’ll be my hero…
[Reply]
April 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I think a big part of the secret is to go out really early or really late. Anything past 9am or before 7pm is probably out. And today it was overcast ALL day but it was still so harsh that the kids were squinty and the shadows were insane. So even when its cloudy its not cloudy!
[Reply]
April 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
That outfit is insane cute! I love it. Who makes it?? The sunglasses really are hilarious. The sun in TX is hard, but you are right, either late or early are the best times. I got some great shots of Lucy tonight around 6:30, but they turned out great because the sun would hide behind a few clouds for a few minutes and I would snap away. I have already said this, but I love that shot of Noah. And yes, the girls eyes are hard, but Noah has great ones to work with.
[Reply]
April 20th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
oh boo hoo “we never have any cloudy days” - cry me a river! ALL we have are cloudy days!! LOL. Ok, we do get a few sunny days, but dang I sure could use more of them. And I think these are great pics, regardless of the light! LOVE the outfit!!
[Reply]
April 20th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I’ll admit that I haven’t even read your post yet. All of your kids look adorable, but I saw the picture of Addy in that outfit and nearly DIED. That is the cutest freaking outfit I’ve ever seen on a little girl. I might want to know where you got it so I can buy one for the daughter that I don’t even have. I had to leave a comment before I did die! It’s too much with the sunglasses. I love it. LOVE IT.
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 7:07 am
It’s just baby gap!
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am
Cute cute cute outfit!!
My problem is no time of day is good. Because I have no trees on my yard at all, all day it is harsh sunlight I am dealing with. On top of that, I have very fair skinned kids, so they always look over-exposed even when the photo really isn’t it. I’d like to get a polarizing filter to help since I have sun issues. Other than that, I have to do heavy post-processing to get the photo in balance.
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 10:06 am
http://thepioneerwoman.com/
The pioneer wiman has a good tutorial on eyes
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I totally came back to see if you’d posted where you got it ’cause I was going to send you an email to ask. I’m going to the store to buy it (if they still have it)- for someone, anyone. It’s so cute I must have it. I have issues, but Addy looks so sickeningly adorable in it that I’m obsessed. Anyway, read the rest of your post as well. I’d love to learn to take quality photos. Perhaps I’ll have time in the next few months to learn a thing or two, because right now, my skills are limited to point, shoot, upload. Sad, sad, sad. Photos like yours and some of my other favorite bloggers inspire me to stop being afraid of the camera and start learning to use it.
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I agree, that outfit is stunning! And I love that last shot of Addy, she has such attitude!
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I love Addy’s outfit! Too cute. There have been a couple of outfits I wished I had bought every size in for Chloe.
[Reply]
April 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Oh, yeah — I’m loving the outfit, too. With the sunglasses and the added little bit of sass from Miss Addie Mai, that outfit is totally to die for!
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 am
What a little model she is ! All of the pics are great.
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
LOVE the outfit!! She looks so sassy wearing it! Love the pictures Nicki - and yeah, a kid with eyes like Noah’s is every photographer’s dream! I know I say it all the time, but all your kids are gorgeous subjects.
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Great photos. Adorable outfit. CUTE kids
[Reply]
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Seriously, Seriously- that last photo of Addy - is like runway…. and yeah it is the sunglasses that make the outfit!
[Reply]
Nicki reply on April 23rd, 2008 8:43 pm:
Oh yeah she works it! No idea where she gets it, certainly not from her mama!
[Reply]
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
FANTASTIC photos! I love Addie’s outfit. I want one for my girls.
[Reply]