Candid Veronica
A rarely updated, yet always truthful photographer's blog
The Rollins family welcomed a new member into their family a few months ago. So it was about time to update the ol' family pictures. Since the youngest Rollins family members are itty bitty, we decided to keep the shoot close to home. Literally. Besides, I love taking photos of families where they spend the most time. Not to mention, it's easier on the kiddos (and usually the parents!).
Jordan wanted something different for her senior pictures. Most of her friends have gone to the usual local spots, but Jordan ventured to Oak Cliff with me. So we wandered around the eclectic Bishop Arts District, drank sodas, and listened to good music. All in all, it was a great way to spend a few hours.
This Sunday, I'm trying something new.
I'm hosting a free Q&A type of How to Use Your Camera workshop on Ustream.
I'll be teaching the basics of how a camera works and then answering specific questions from you!
If you've attended a How to Use Your Camera workshop in the past, or are interested in attending (or hosting!) one in the future, check out the stream.
Sunday, January 16th
2:30 p.m. Central time
Have your cameras charged and ready. See you then.
The State Fair of Texas is known for fried food, butter statues, and live shows. It's also a great place to take engagement photos, so I was totally excited when Stephanie and Joe wanted to shoot their first engagement session there.
We went on a Wednesday night and fought the crowds. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but we made out with some pretty awesome shots. I can't wait until their second session. And then the wedding.
Congrats, Stephanie and Joe!
Little known fact about me—I grew up around horses. I'm perfectly comfortable on a saddle, around a horse trailer, and at a rodeo.
And although I live in the city now, my mom still lives out in the country surrounded by horses.
She wanted me to get some photos for her birthday (which was a few months back but we had to wait for the weather to drop below 100).
I finally got around to posting them here. And I must admit, they make me a bit nostalgic.
I'm also attempting to post these as a slideshow. I'm not really sure what that's going to do!
I learned photography with a very old, film-based SLR camera. I had to meter light with a grey card. Assess the shadows and arrange reflectors to adjust the light. Then take a photo and cross my fingers.
Because I wouldn't know what the final product looked like until later. Much later.
But that's not the case anymore. Now, anyone can have perfect photos with the help of digital photography and PhotoShop.
A part of me thinks it's really cool. Because film and developing is very expensive. And PhotoShop is a one-time cost.
The other part of me thinks it isn't fair that anyone can pick up a camera, take a photo, and then fix it later. Because that photo becomes a lie.
PhotoShop is the auto tune of the photography world.
And the few of us out there who swear by taking a photo right the first time, are getting left behind.
So I'm slowly adapting. Creating unique effects for the people who want them. But only if they ask.
I worked hard to learn about photography. I should use those skills instead of fake them with my computer.
Right?
Veronica's Camera is very excited about blogging from a phone. Not sure when/why it'll come in handy. But the creative wheels are spinning.
In the meantime, enjoy this photo of Ross. And this other photo (taken with a phone) of his art.
If super heroes were real, they'd look and act like Kristin Newman. She fell into the sport of Olympic lifting (she's also been a ballerina and a judo master).
How do you fall into Olympic lifting? I have no idea. But look at her body; I think she's found her thing. You may have also seen her inside the pages of a comic book. Maybe.
My husband's college roommate from yesteryear invited us out to Amarillo for Fourth of July weekend.
He also told us he was going to propose to his girlfriend. Luckily for Josh and Julie, I happen to be a professional photographer.
So a small group of us watched fireworks from the lake, and then walked back to Josh's house. On the way back, he dropped to one knee, I grabbed my camera, and the rest of the crew lit sparklers.
It was really fun playing a role in their engagement. And I can't wait to see them get married. Congratulations, you two!
It's time for another How to Use Your Camera Workshop.
This time we'll be in Grapevine, Texas. And we'll really cover the basics ... all of them.
-Using Auto Focus -Using White Balance -Using the Program Settings -When to Use the Flash -Indoor vs. Outdoor -and more
There will be fun (and educational) activities, a take-home guide, and one-on-one instruction. We need ten people to hold the workshop.
RSVP on Facebook. (The list is kept private.)
It's been all of (almost) four months since my husband and I tied our happy little knot. We're both of Irish decent, and we both had always dreamed of going to Ireland. So not ten minutes after he proposed, he asked me, "Do you know where we should go for our honeymoon?"
Of course, he asked with a particular country in mind. And my answer was perfect.
So we planned our trip to the Emerald Isle, where we drove across the country. And along the way, I would ask him for his wedding band.
"Why do you keep asking for my ring?" he asked me.
Well, love, this is why.
I took this the other day during an Ooh La La session.
Granted, this particular picture isn't very ooh-la-la. But it is cool (if you ask me). And I can promise that the model wasn't hurt.
The workshop was so much fun. Thanks to everyone who attended. I can't wait to teach another one.
For images taken during the class, visit the Veronica's Camera Facebook page.
I'm pretty darned excited. If there's one thing I love more than snapping photos, it's teaching. So if you're intimidated by your camera, learn how simple it really is to use. And if tomorrow's already booked, have no fear. I'll be hosting this workshop again.
Here's the event page on Facebook.
Many photographers offer wedding packages. And most of these packages come with one or two separate photo sessions. Usually, these are for a bridal or engagement photos.
But what should you do if, say, you have a friend doing your bridals? Then you have this extra photography session laying around that you don't really want.
Well, trust me, you want it.
Try something different.
Get Spicy with Boudior Portraits
Ladies and gentleman, what better photo could you give your partner besides a sassy, sexy, playful photo of yourself (or several).
Nothing; trust me. Use one of your included sessions and take some boudior photos. They can be shot in the comfort of your own home. Or rent a fancy hotel suite for the day.
Take After-the-Wedding Portraits
Many brides feel a bit of post-wedding-partum depression in the weeks following the big day. Give yourself something to look forward to. Either the day after the wedding or even a few months after, use your photo session to take more in-dress portraits. Heck, both of you get gussied up again, only more casual.
Maybe wear some funkier shoes than you were comfortable with wearing on the big day. Or try something crazy with your hair. Let your imagination run wild ... in a wedding dress ... downtown, perhaps.
Get Family Portraits
From wedding to reception, it's usually a time crunch to get portraits of the entire family. An uncle ran off to sneak a taste of the cake. The children are no where to be seen. And extra people sneak into the photos.
While everyone is in town, get them all together the morning (or early afternoon) after the wedding and do some more organized and fancy family portraits. It works especially well for people with large families.
Plus, it lets each family have the chance to get some individual family portraits. Consider it a gift to everyone for helping out with your big day!
Have "Prom" Photos at Your Wedding
This is something that I wanted to do at my own wedding (but unfortunately didn't get the chance). Have a corner or separate room set up as a photo booth ... prom style! Your guests can get fun portraits done. You can have props, backgrounds, you name it!
It's also another great way to keep guests entertained during the cocktail hour. And kids LOVE it.
I'm so proud of Ross. He's a fantastic artist. And his latest work is being featured in Red Bull's Art of the Can. Honestly, his painting is far too good to be an ad for an energy drink (in this humble artist's opinion).
Anyway, Ross needed a bio photo. So we took half an hour and came up with these.
My favorite place to take pictures right now is in Uptown in Dallas. With the Katy Trail, the American Airlines Center, and the McKinney Avenue Trolly, a photographer has it all! So when it came to taking Courtney and Ryan's engagement photos, I lured them to my neck of the woods. And I think we're all glad I did!
They are so easygoing, so much fun, and so refreshingly in love that I almost feel guilty taking credit for these photos. Courtney and Ryan are almost mind readers; as I was about to ask them to move an arm or stand over there, they would ask me first! Their session was a delight and I'm honored to have been their engagement photographer.
I'd hang on to them for next Easter or something, but we don't have too many little ones in our family right now (at least locally). I thought they'd be cute for a baby shower or something, too.
My husband and I crashed the party at my aunt and uncle's house this weekend. They were playing lacrosse, my younger cousin's newest passion. My husband was quite the player back in the day. So he's excited to have a lacrosse buddy in the family.
I gave it a go myself, but no one in the family felt comfortable enough using my camera to get too many photos of my (awesome) abilities. Oh, well. Perhaps they should sign up for my photo workshop.
Jon is tall. He's very tall. He's not even out of high school yet, and he's a walking tower. So it only made sense to take his photos in the downtown area--where all of the tall buildings are. That and Uptown has so much to offer photo subjects. There's nature, there's urban settings, there's even billboards.
So that's where we shot. Amidst the birds and buildings of Uptown. Not a bad way to spend a lazy Sunday morning, really.
