Love <3
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Me Myself and I | 1 Comment
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day!! I know some people think it is a contrived holiday made up by Hallmark, but contrived or not, I had a great day with my wonderful husband and kidlings.
On top of an extra sleep in day my fantastically awesome husband got me this necklace of our family tree:
Love it! It was made by Lisa Leonard and if you haven’t been to her site, go now. I love ALL of her goodies!!
Our day continued on to the park to let the Crazies, er, I mean kids, burn off some energy, and then to a super yummy lunch at Memphis BBQ. My belly is full and my heart close to bursting. I love you Jeff, thank you for a wonderful day!
Protected: Jumbo Mumbo {Las Vegas Photography}
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Las Vegas Children's Photography, Las Vegas Photography, Me Myself and I, My Beans | Enter your password to view comments
What I Shoot People With {Las Vegas Newborn Photography}
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Las Vegas Newborn Photography, Las Vegas Photography, Me Myself and I | 1 Comment
I get a lot of emails asking what I shoot with and what lenses I use so I’ll just give a rundown here of my current lineup {and my wish list lineup as well}.
Camera Bodies:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 50D [my backup camera]
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS Point and Shoot that I use mainly for its video.
Lenses:
Canon 50mm f/1.4 - By far my favorite lens. One day I hope to own the 50mm f/1.2, but until that day comes the 1.4 is just peachy. It is SUPER fast, great focal length, sharp, and produces the best bokeh EVER. LOVE this lens for portraits and I use it at 75% of the time at every shoot I do.
Canon 24-70 f/2.8L - I just got this lens as my old Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 is not compatible with a full frame camera. So far I love it, although it is quite the BIG and HEAVY beast. A zoom is way more convenient, especially for the little tots, but I’m a prime lover at heart so while this lens will be used, it won’t get as much use as my 50mm.
Canon 28 f1.8 - I got this lens when I only had my 50D to use at newborn shoots when my 50mm was too long and I was in a cramped working space. I have used it a handful of times and while I do like it I am considering selling it now that I have a full frame camera. I don’t see it getting as much use as say an 85mm would [which is on my wish list]. I would LOVE the Canon 85mm f/1.2, but whew, it is NOT cheap.
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro - I used to use this lens for nature, flowers, insects, etc. but now its main use is at newborn shoots to get the little bits [ears, nose, feet, hands, lips]. This lens is also great for portraits, although it is almost a little TOO sharp. Who wants to see closeups of wrinkles. =)
Tokina 50-135 f2.8 - Again, I got this lens when I only had my 50D and since it is not compatible with my 5DII I’m not sure how much use it will get. I am contemplating selling this one as well and getting an 85mm.
Also on my wish list is a Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 and once again it is NOT cheap so I’ll keep dreaming. =)
Accessories
Canon Speedlite 580EX - I never ever use this. I much prefer natural light. Once upon a time it didn’t leave my camera, but these days it sits on a shelf and collects dust.
Slik Tripod - I rarely use a tripod. I don’t take many self portraits and really have no use for it when I photograph people as I’m running around chasing kids like a loon.
Wireless Remote Shutter Release - Eh, I could live without this. I never used it for Macro which is why I bought it so it too has a layer of dust on it.
Camera Bags
Shootsac [by Jessica Claire] - I recently got this bag [again, thank you wonderful husband] and LOVE it. It is not a typical camera bag - this one is for your lenses to make it easy to change them out while shooting. Very comfortable, very convenient, very awesome!
Lowepro 200AW - My main camera bag that I used for years. It straps on and is pretty comfy. Holds two bodies [one with no lens attached] and two extra lenses. Has enough storage for cards, batteries, cell phone, etc. Now that I got my Shootsac I don’t see this bag getting as much use.
Misc
Extra batteries for both cameras
16gb Compact Flash, 8gb Compact Flash, 4 - 4gb Compact Flash, and a 2gb Compact Flash
Hand Strap from My Funky Camera on my 5DII and soon to be on my 50D.
My friend Denise gave me an old Kodak Duaflex II- TTV [thru the viewfinder]. I do LOVE this look and as soon as I get more than 5 minutes to myself would like to start playing with it again.
And because every post is better with a photo I’ll leave you with Baby G. You’ll see more of this little honey in a few days.
The Evolution of My Camera
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Las Vegas Children's Photography, Las Vegas Photography, Las Vegas Twins Photography, Me Myself and I, My Beans | 2 Comments
Many years ago I got a film Minolta Point and Shoot for Christmas. I still have this camera and even though it is old, beat up, and retired, it reminds me how my journey began.
[My little curly haired ham.]
About 6 years ago I got my first DSLR and my world was officially rocked!! I had the original Digital Rebel and LOVED this camera. I took it everywhere and learned the ins and outs of the world of DSLR. Sadly one day it just up and broke {the mirror lockup broke} so even though I was bummed I was VERY excited to get a new camera. My next camera was a Canon XTi. Oh how I loved this camera. It too went everywhere I went. I continued to learn my camera, constantly trying new settings, practicing on friends and family, shooting lots of nature with my Macro lens, and improving my photography. Before long I felt I had outgrown this camera and was ready for an upgrade. Enter Canon 50D. Ahhhh, what a great upgrade. This camera is pretty awesome. And then of course the 5D Mark II came out and my dream of owning a Full Frame camera began.
[This is what I get when I ask Heaten to show me his eyes. =)]
Let me just go off on a little tangent for a minute and say how incredibly lucky I am to have such a wonderful, supportive, and awesome husband. Without his support, help, encouragement, and gentle push I would not be where I am and doing what I love. Thank you SO MUCH Jeff for being amazing and awesome.
So my amazing and awesome husband got me my DREAM camera for my birthday {and yes I know my birthday is not officially here, but whatev, we like to get presents early around here}. I am the proud new parent to a brand spankin new 5D Mark II. Ahhhh, this camera is just too amazing and wonderful. And yes, it is just like my third child. =)
[Shenzie has started posing for me when I bust out the camera, so cute!]
I am officially in camera heaven with my 5D Mark II and my 50D as backup. I am still learning the video feature of the 5D, but already I am blown away with the perfectness of it’s images.
Thank you Jeff for the best birthday present EVER!
All photos above taken with the 5DII and 50mm f/1.4. All shot in Manual, the two top photos at f/2.5, ISO 200, 1/640 sec. Bottom photo taken at f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/500 sec.
Oh So Thankful
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Las Vegas Family Photography, Las Vegas Photography, Las Vegas Twins Photography, Me Myself and I, My Beans | Leave a Comment
I have so many great things to be thankful for, but first and foremost is my wonderful, loving, happy, and healthy family.
<3
I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember all of the things you are thankful for.
Kinda Spoiled…
Las Vegas Children's and Family Photography: Business News, Las Vegas Photography, Me Myself and I | 4 Comments
but SUPER excited for March to get here. Every year I contemplate going to WPPI and then for some reason or other (namely two reasons, Shenzie and Heaten) I don’t end up going. This year however I bit the bullet and registered. A couple of days before registration opened I called my sister Kristy to see if she was in. She was a go so not only are we going to WPPI! we also registered for three Master Classes with the pros!!! We will be spending 2 hours each with Jose Villa, Nicole Van Valkenburgh, and Alycia Alvarez!!!! Holy smokes, talk about awesome! Not to mention all of the fabulous Platform Classes including one of my favorites, Jasmine Star!
As you can see I am quite jazzed about this event. =) Jeff will be taking some vacation days in order for me to go - HUGE THANK YOU to my fabulous and wonderful husband for being so supportive and fantabulous!
My brain is bursting with excitement already about the entire shebang and you would think it couldn’t get any better right? That’s what I thought too until my brain burst with too much happy. Nate and Jaclyn from the Image is Found are hosting a workshop while they are at WPPI and guess who is going?!?!?!!? Yep, me (and Kristy)!!!!! For over a year now I have been wanting to attend one of their workshops, but for many reasons have not. Not only are they AMAZING, they seem so fun and laid back that I know it will be fabulous and wonderful! Yippee Skippy!!!! Yeah Boi!!!! Hurrah Hurray!!!!
*Jump Jump Jump* And just igore how completely dorky I look…oh, and the fact I’m TOTALLY out of focus. Can you tell I don’t take many self portraits. =)