hello again! as promised here i am with something juicy! so as i shared on facebook last week, i had a very different experience a few weeks ago! usually i’m behind the camera taking pictures to others, but this time i was the one in front of the camera with my pictures being taken by someone else! needless to say that i loved it! the couple doing the pictures was very dear to me and were already guests on this blog – instante fotografia. they are a couple in love by each other and in love with what they do, and that my friends says it all! we started by a delicious brunch in gelados do chef nino and then went for a walk on my neighbourhood, which is particularly charming, if i’m allowed to say this!
the session was supposed to be with mr twiggs as well, but he was away so the family was reduced to two of its members, but i think we did a nice job! what do you say? mr kobe is so photogenic!
and yes, it was back then when the summer was in its full force! we just went for a walk, and they took some photos while we walked and talked! it was such a nice walk… a 2 hour walk, mr kobe was delighted, of course! you can see more of this session on their blog! see you tomorrow with another someone asked post! this will be a good one!
… polaroids! i just got my beloved “instant love” book today and if there’s one thing on my wishlist, it certainly is a polaroid! but the vintage ones! and it’s not because these are cooler or whatever reason you may thing of, the true reason is they are so gorgeous! yes, that reason! i want to put my hands on an old and vintage, but amazingly charming polaroid sx-70, because asides from the magical thing about using polaroids, these are extremely beautifully made. it’s like my yashica, i like it for the weight, and the mix of black leather and silver.
the book was written by jenifer altman, susannah conway and amanga gilligan, quite known in the blog world and for being absolute lovers and followers of the polaroid movement! well, i could even say that these ladies created a whole polaroid movement themselves! they even organized a retreat in morocco this last june for polaroid lovers. now that would be a dream! morocco must be such a lovely place to take hundreds, if not thousands of pictures!
this video is so magical… i think that i bought the book 30 seconds after i saw this video! and i felt the urge of shooting small flowers, dressed in a beautiful summer dress. and i think that polaroid brings back that magical feeling. asides from the fact that you take a picture and you have it in your hands moments after that, it’s the whole mood on the image. the colours, the haziness, the dreamy feel.
and this is it for today! a new weekend is right around the corner, and i just hope for you to have a lot of fun, relaxed moments! it’s for that reason that we actually have a summer season! by the way, what books are you guys reading? i’m not much of a reader actually, so i jump of joy whenever i buy a book, even if it’s not a novel, a romance or a fiction book, but a book like this! last year i bought this one by jose villa! so you see my point on books, right? have a great weekend!
images: #1 is mine | #2 is a video, just click to jump to the original source | #3 a polaroid on etsy, click to read more about this product
ps. have you got any question about business, photography or blogging you wanna ask? just shoot your question + read this and i’ll get to the answers in september! looking forward to receive yours!
hey there! well, can you believe that i started writing another wednesday find feature, everything was almost ready, but you know the feeling of “this is not it… it’s about this i want to write today!” and then i just shifted the topic and ended up with this long question! so i want you to think your work and ask that same question:
what could be the best thing you hear about your work?
i’ll tell you my answer, well i have two answers actually (am i allowed to do that? as i started the topic, let’s admit that i am!)! one is listening to my clients say that they had a great time with me, they loved the photo session (this could apply right before the photo session and/or right after they see the results). that happened yesterday with the group of finish girls. they were three, two sisters and one cousin. they grew up together, they have traveled a lot, they are best friends with each other and they came to lisbon for a week and decided to book a photo session with me to celebrate. but the thing was one of them was not that comfortable with the whole photo thing. she usually didn’t like pictures being taken of her, so she was a bit nervous in the beginning. but then as we were taking a few pictures, laughing, talking about traveling and life in general, drinking some wine… she would say “i’m just so glad we did this! i’m loving this afternoon, i’m loving lisbon, i don’t want to go away and i would like to thank you for such a wonderful time!! i’m really loving this!” and that my friends is the reason why i do what i do…
and the other answer is when someone looks at my work and says that he/she could tell right away that that was my work. style, my friends! this is a huge conquest for all photographers, to find our own style. to find a style and to be recognized by it is a major thing. and even when we admire other people’s work, we may think “oh that is one beautiful image!” and yet, most of the times i know that if i had taken the very same picture, i would edit it differently. and i may be in love with that certain processing by that someone. but i found out this week that though i may find out how to process the images in a different way, even the way i have been admiring for so long, it’s just not me. i may like it, but i’m not sure i’d be comfortable with sharing that kind of new work.
i’ve been admiring some photographers i found recently on flickr! and flickr has been so amazing for my work… i started on flickr! i met wonderful and talented people, i developed skills by learning things on flickr and i just love the feeling of spending some time there. people usually complain that flickr is not keeping up with its rivals, that people are no longer spending that much time on the website, i don’t have the time to be on flickr like i used to, but even so, i make the effort of spending like half an hour per day or a lot more on the weekend, and the feeling is amazing. it’s like a window to the world, just photography for the pleasure of it, and the curiousity about other’s lives.
i’ve been admiring sarah abraham‘s work with film, i absolutely love this by lisa epp, this by kirstin mckee or the delicious food photography by sam. i have also shared my love for catherine giroux‘s gorgeous work on the blog… and if i look at all these, there is a common thread – light. it’s the use of such a low light that impresses me, keeping this comforting mood and beautiful colours. and yet, my work is known for the extreme use of light… almost a little overexposed. maybe it’s that difference that drives me towards these ladies work. so as i was saying this week i found this shop on etsy that sold some presets that matched this kind of processing and finally i would be able to understand it. i’m terrible at these things, as i always try my very best to find how to do something on my own (well, that’s how i came to a point where i get paid for taking pictures, designing websites and logos!) and i couldn’t figure out how to achieve that look. so i bought the presets, i understood how i could get there, i edited some images and then i felt like “ok, i’m done… it’s really nice, but this ain’t me!” and i want people to look at my work and keep saying “this is so you! i knew this was yours!”
these images were edited with bailey film of sunday morning presets for lightroom by cara farnell with some minor adjustments and though i really like the feeling and the mood, i don’t feel it as this is the kind of work i would do. not that i won’t be using this any more, but i know that i probably won’t, unless i’m really looking for a shift at a certain day and for flickr purposes. it’s like editing and i like what i see, but then i try one of my very own presets and i feel like “ahh this is so much me!” but of course this doesn’t mean that my style will remain the same for years and years. we evolve as a person and as a professional, therefore change is expected and very welcome! in the end this is all about finding our own creative voice among all the others we admire and feel inspired by!
hello there friends, how are you doing? i hope you’re having a better weather than we’re having, because today was really one of those days in which i wished i hadn’t to leave the house and drive. well, to brighten up your day today i’m bringing one shop from which i have already purchased something, so i actually have a customer experience to talk about and as you may guess, it’s positive, or else i wouldn’t be talking about this shop here! a few weeks ago i was looking through pages and pages of results on etsy, because i was looking for photo props. i had no idea about what i wanted, so i was searching for something and then every time i had another idea, i would look for that too. and i ended up buying something that serves engagement and married couples, as well as other kinds of photo sessions, as long as there is love…
i really loved my love banner and it was so delicately wrapped and packed, with her business cards and handwritten notes, that the experience can only be positive. as an etsy seller myself, i also write something by my hand to the buyer, letting him/her know that it was a pleasure to prepare that order and wishing a lovely day, reminding about the discount code they have for being a customer, and then i always gather a few pocket size prints and add them to the order as well. i think that these little gestures will make people at least smile and maybe they’ll come back for something more!
i do love this postcard for moms! the fact that it’s sewn just adds even more magic to it! the deer is quirky and vintage, but also very cute! stacey winters is a photographer and the one behind this beautiful and whimsical etsy shop. as she presents herself…
“as a photographer i enjoy capturing images of nature, creatures, vintage items and bits of urban scenery from time to time. this line of work allows me to be creative and to constantly grow and change as an artist. the style of my photography has been described as bright, clean, and whimsical.”
and this last print is obviously sweet and makes me think about sweet and elegant parties with a vintage twist, of course! so if you’re in need of something sweet and different for mom or yourself, you can go to her shop and if you happen to live somewhere near san diego, she’s also available for photo sessions!
images: stacey winters (click on each image for further details)
ps. my main shop is having a bogo sale, which means you buy one print and you get another one of the same size completely free!
you can explore these kind blogs that had me as a guest!
please note that
all images and design layouts are created only for this blog. please give credit where credit is due. for graphic or web-design inquiries, please contact me!
