"Pick-me-up/kick-my-butt"

So the day after I finished my Spring Semester I was booked for a family shoot. Needless to say, I was burnt out from all of my finals and I was NOT in the mood to go out and get back on the horse, but I put my feelings aside and pressed on. I got in the car with my older sister and I drove to the boondocks.. Well, not really, I mean, Yorkville DOES have a Super Target now. Anyway, that's all besides the point. The point was that I went on and shot, no matter how I felt.

I guess it helped that this particular "pick-me-up/kick-my-butt" shoot was for my awesome cousins, Andy and Megan, along with their kids, Lilia and Sam! And you know what? We had a blast! I got some of(what I think are) my best photos, to date, and, on top of it all, we got to celebrate Sam's 1st birthday after we finished! Yes, that's right, I got some amazing Oreo pudding and Gummy Worm cupcakes to reward myself for waking up and pushing past my fears.

Here are a few photos from our shoot :

Vanda+ Angelo : Married

So, Busy as usual BUT, happily, busy with stuff.

I have recently completed editing photos from a wedding of the sweetest couple I've photographed, yet! Angelo and Vanda, you guys are the best!! Thank you for allowing me(and Hope) to be a part of your big day and being your true selves in front of my lens! I truly enjoyed every moment.

Here are a few of my favorites.





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Bare Truths: Rules, What Rules?

I started out in this game completely organic. It was neither something I felt needed, nor required, boundaries. The rectangular frame was merely a box in which to house my creativity. Never did I imagine that it would become something which would slight me in one way or another.

I've been editing my heart out lately - trying to plow through events and projects. I've stumbled upon a few weaknesses, a few frequent weaknesses, which I'm happy to have noticed, but unsure how to fix. Composition/framing was not something that I really paid attention to until I got into college. I mean, a photography major should know how to frame a shot, right? But oddly, I cannot remember once hearing a teacher deliver a composition lecture, and now that I'm earning a living through photography, I realize that "um, duh, framing is a big deal!!" I mean, it's not like I am horrible at it or anything. I mean, I know the rules of thirds and whatnot, but what are the rules for composition? Are there specific guidelines I'm supposed to be following?

And corrections - color, exposure, black and white points? I know how to deal with such things, in a very textbook manner, but is it mandatory that I always edit "by the book?"

Often, I feel that a picture can do without an absolute black point. And maybe, every once in a while I'd prefer a few blown highlights... What if I want majorly low contrast? Is that such a horrible thought? A photo which has low saturation and high vibrance, coupled with low contrast and no absolute blacks. Can't we just call it vintage and leave it alone? Teachers say "no!", but what are your thoughts?

What do you think of the rules? Are they meant to be followed? Broken? What ARE they, anyway? What happened to creative license?