2.28.2010
2.27.2010
Advanced Lighting Photography Class +Norman, OK+
We have had so much fun with our brand new class this month: Advanced Lighting.
Here's a shot Dustin took of me to teach with. I like being the subject. Here's me with no makeup or hair done. ;) That's the sign of a true photographer...
(And you'd never guess that there was a toddler running around turning on faucets and a baby crying right next to me! Ah, the life of a mother-photographer *sigh*)
Gearing up for 3 classes this next month! Dustin's going to keep very busy with 2 sections of Photo Basics I on Tuesdays, and Photo Basics II on Wednesdays! Only a few spots left! Click here to sign up to take photography classes in Norman, Oklahoma.
Happy Weekend!
Here's a shot Dustin took of me to teach with. I like being the subject. Here's me with no makeup or hair done. ;) That's the sign of a true photographer...
(And you'd never guess that there was a toddler running around turning on faucets and a baby crying right next to me! Ah, the life of a mother-photographer *sigh*)
Gearing up for 3 classes this next month! Dustin's going to keep very busy with 2 sections of Photo Basics I on Tuesdays, and Photo Basics II on Wednesdays! Only a few spots left! Click here to sign up to take photography classes in Norman, Oklahoma.
Happy Weekend!
2.24.2010
Jonathan Canlas
One of the first photographers I became aware of in college as I learned photography was another student in one of my photo classes. In the years since then, he's become a big shot, and is internationally known. I enjoy looking at his work, 100% film. You may have heard of his Film is Not Dead workshops. I do enjoy his work. It's simple, and it has a neat quality to it. He has great design sense.
Anyways, he's continually asked so many questions, that he's opened a formspring account that you can just go and post questions. It's simple and awesome. You can spend a lot of time just reading what others have asked (and do, because he won't answer your question if it's been asked before).
Here's just one question someone asked, and his answer. It was perfect for what i needed to hear yesterday:
What is the best thing you've done for your business since you started and this year so far?
best thing I've ever done since I started? not care what other people are doing, especially wedding photographers. no offense, to wedding photographers but, i don't find my inspiration from them or what they do. i found my own path, and have done everything very DYI from the beginning. i stayed true to myself and its paid off immensely.
as far as the best thing I've done for my business this year so far? spend more time with my family. more time with the family means more personal work. more personal work means more time spent refining my vision. more time spent refining my vision makes me a better photographer.
He's real and cool.
So go and check it out here.
2.22.2010
Brand New Albums
I am super excited about our brand new albums that we are offering starting March 1, 2010. They are just delicious.
If you're viewing this on facebook, and the video link isn't working, click here to view it on our blog!
2.20.2010
And the winner is...
We had 4 commenters on the first post, and 3 more in the reminder post.The lucky winner of these adorable bobbies is...
Ambre!!
So go ahead and email me, and i'll get you in touch with Katie to get your prize! Happy Saturday!
Are you living your life in Automatic?
Whether or not you're a photog, this article will give you some great introspection. I LOVE it. I love how Lindsey relates of depth of field to accomplishing goals in real life.
Too often i get distracted by so many things--
but if i have a shallower depth of field and zoom in, those things blur into the background and i can concentrate on the task at hand.
Then once i have accomplished that task, i can put everything into focus again to get the big picture.
Genius analogy. Thanks, Lindsey!
Check it out. Go. Do it.
Too often i get distracted by so many things--
but if i have a shallower depth of field and zoom in, those things blur into the background and i can concentrate on the task at hand.
Then once i have accomplished that task, i can put everything into focus again to get the big picture.
Genius analogy. Thanks, Lindsey!
Check it out. Go. Do it.
2.19.2010
Don't forget...
It's not too late to have a chance to win this:
All i want you to do is click here to check out her Esty shop, and come back here to tell us which item you love most. (You can choose more than one, don't worry).
Tomorrow (Saturday) at 5pm i'm announcing a winner. So come leave your comment, and have a chance to win these pretty pearl hair bobbies!
All i want you to do is click here to check out her Esty shop, and come back here to tell us which item you love most. (You can choose more than one, don't worry).
Tomorrow (Saturday) at 5pm i'm announcing a winner. So come leave your comment, and have a chance to win these pretty pearl hair bobbies!
2.18.2010
2.16.2010
Recording Life
The Shoemaker's kids go without shoes... do our kids go without photos?
Not really. I take TONS of pictures. I just don't ever DO anything with them. One realization I had recently is that the most important to me is recording life.
That is an entire blog post of it's own.
But i do find that i'm constantly playing catch up on the blog, so for the first time in a vary long time, i'm posting TODAY of photos that i took TODAY. And to make it easier for myself later, i already made it into an album spread, so all i have to do is print it when i'm ready to make a full album. I am so excited for this method. We'll see if it lasts.
So here's today's spread. I'll probably make it into an 8x8 album.
(You should be able to see the spread larger by clicking on it)
I had so much fun, and it was super easy. I think i'll convince Dustin to let me teach a photoshop class or two in the summer... if you're in Oklahoma and interested, let me know.
And tell me, friends, what do YOU do to record your life?
Not really. I take TONS of pictures. I just don't ever DO anything with them. One realization I had recently is that the most important to me is recording life.
That is an entire blog post of it's own.
But i do find that i'm constantly playing catch up on the blog, so for the first time in a vary long time, i'm posting TODAY of photos that i took TODAY. And to make it easier for myself later, i already made it into an album spread, so all i have to do is print it when i'm ready to make a full album. I am so excited for this method. We'll see if it lasts.
So here's today's spread. I'll probably make it into an 8x8 album.
(You should be able to see the spread larger by clicking on it)
I had so much fun, and it was super easy. I think i'll convince Dustin to let me teach a photoshop class or two in the summer... if you're in Oklahoma and interested, let me know.
And tell me, friends, what do YOU do to record your life?
Hexter Family Session
I never posted these images! The day before this big wedding, this cute family got together for a present the bride got for her mom for Christmas: a Fife Photography Family Session! These folks came from around the world, literally, and had smiles on their faces, despite jet lag and no naps!
I chatted briefly with the brother on the left in Chinese at the wedding-- he lived for a long time in Taiwan, and currently lives in... China? Man, i have already forgotten! His Chinese is really good.
Check out this adorable face. I wish my almost-3-year-old was as well behaved after plane rides!
Oh, and these lashes?? Beautiful.
These brothers love their baby sister!
This couple was such a pleasure-- such a fun time with them. They made us feel a part of their family at the wedding!
Thank you again, friends for an amazing weekend!
I chatted briefly with the brother on the left in Chinese at the wedding-- he lived for a long time in Taiwan, and currently lives in... China? Man, i have already forgotten! His Chinese is really good.
Check out this adorable face. I wish my almost-3-year-old was as well behaved after plane rides!
Oh, and these lashes?? Beautiful.
These brothers love their baby sister!
This couple was such a pleasure-- such a fun time with them. They made us feel a part of their family at the wedding!
Thank you again, friends for an amazing weekend!
2.15.2010
Hey there friends. Did you know we have a facebook page? Check us out!
What are you most interested to see on our fb fan page?
Photography tips? Opportunities to assist on photoshoots? Classes information? Specials and promotions? Pics of our kiddos? What we had for breakfast? Yep, i'm sure that's it.
Tell us what you want to see!
What are you most interested to see on our fb fan page?Photography tips? Opportunities to assist on photoshoots? Classes information? Specials and promotions? Pics of our kiddos? What we had for breakfast? Yep, i'm sure that's it.
Tell us what you want to see!
Creative Women: Katie Coakley (Plus Giveaway!)
(cute fb image i snagged from her! Isn't she elegant?)I had the pleasure of visiting with this amazing woman on our marathon road trip. I have fallen in love with her Etsy shop, and i wanted to feature her here on this blog. I've scattered some fun images i took when i went to her house in December.
Read all the way to the end to find out what little treasure she's gifting to one of my blog readers and facebook fans. (If you're reading this on fb you HAVE to come comment on my blog: fifephotography.blogspot.com. Giveaways can't happen on facebook pages!)
So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Ok Katie, tell us a little about yourself.
I am a blissfully married 30-something mother of four boys. I am an optimist . . . I think this shows through in my artwork. We live in a 120-year-old farmhouse-style cottage in southern Michigan. I love reading, gardening, walking, creating, cooking and baking, feathering our nest, all things Jane Austen, and don’t like . . . bananas. Spending time with family and friends is my ultimate favorite. I love whimsical things that have a bit of good humor behind them.
What kinds of creative arts have you done in your life?
Pencil drawing, watercolor, acrylics, pastels (chalk), clay, batik, tie-dye, jewelry-making, sewing, metal casting, [singing, playing piano & penny whistle (not sure if these count)], breathing new life into old dressers, chairs, wardrobes, doors, etc. Home decorating in general. Still on my list of arts to learn: welding, photography, and mixed-media collage.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I am inspired mostly by nature. We have a great arboretum here and as I walk around it, I am convinced there is nothing as rejuvenating, calming and awe-inspiring as nature. I am also inspired by ideas and concepts; of good and evil, sanctuary, romance, whimsy, truth, joy.
I loved visiting your house-- how do you decide what you use to decorate?
I absolutely LOVE anything old or used. I love items that have a story. If I need something for my house, I hit the thrift and antique shops first. If something gets broken, I know I can replace it for a couple bucks. I don’t like matchy-matchy. I want everything to have a collected feel, but to also feel right together. Also, besides a tiny bit of black and a few splashes of red, I’m really drawn to all things white or pastel. My goal for our house is for it to feel comfortable. It is a sanctuary from the world and I want all who enter to feel comfortable, content and uplifted.
How did you come about starting an etsy shop?
I’ve been shopping on Etsy for a few years now. I heard it mentioned once and hopped on the internet to check it out. Fell in love with it from the start! I’ve always loved creating, and love the idea of selling to people from all over. I’d been thinking of opening a shop for a while but wasn’t sure how to balance that with being a full-time mom. This year, when all my kids went to school, everything just fell into place for me to open up a shop.
What's your favorite piece you have ever created? (mine is your promise ring!!)
This question is like asking a mother which of her children she loves best. :) Okay, to a much, MUCH lesser degree. I love everything I create. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I might re-work an item until I feel it is just right. Every item I create comes from a part of me, and I’m glad I can share that with others. Some items are romantic, like my necklace, miss Emily remembers. Some are just really fun and whimsical like my neckace, green grow the rushes, o, and my ring, faerie dreams.
Name one thing you are grateful for, and how that has made your life for the better.
Love. Understanding it, receiving it in its pure form, and giving it freely. The world is always hopeful if there is love. Once I started to really understand it, know how to feel and accept it, and learn how to give it unconditionally, it changed the way I view people and life.
With your 4 boys, how do you balance being a mother and creating?
I haven’t mastered this yet. I have found that being very organized with my time is key. I wake up at 5:45 a.m. every morning to do computer business stuff; etsy, email, facebook, twitter, for 45 mins. before everyone else wakes up. Then, I craft, take photos of my items, and ship out packages while my kids are at school. Some evenings, I finish up working on items while my husband and I chat and catch up on our day. Except for shipping items, Saturdays are family time. And I don’t work at all Sundays.
Guess what, my friends! Katie has agreed to offer one of you a chance to win this:
All i want you to do is click here to check out her Esty shop, and come back here to tell us which item you love most. (You can choose more than one, don't worry). Saturday at 5pm i'll announce a winner. So come leave your comment, and have a chance to win these pretty pearl hair bobbies!
Read all the way to the end to find out what little treasure she's gifting to one of my blog readers and facebook fans. (If you're reading this on fb you HAVE to come comment on my blog: fifephotography.blogspot.com. Giveaways can't happen on facebook pages!)
So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Ok Katie, tell us a little about yourself.
I am a blissfully married 30-something mother of four boys. I am an optimist . . . I think this shows through in my artwork. We live in a 120-year-old farmhouse-style cottage in southern Michigan. I love reading, gardening, walking, creating, cooking and baking, feathering our nest, all things Jane Austen, and don’t like . . . bananas. Spending time with family and friends is my ultimate favorite. I love whimsical things that have a bit of good humor behind them.
What kinds of creative arts have you done in your life?
Pencil drawing, watercolor, acrylics, pastels (chalk), clay, batik, tie-dye, jewelry-making, sewing, metal casting, [singing, playing piano & penny whistle (not sure if these count)], breathing new life into old dressers, chairs, wardrobes, doors, etc. Home decorating in general. Still on my list of arts to learn: welding, photography, and mixed-media collage.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I am inspired mostly by nature. We have a great arboretum here and as I walk around it, I am convinced there is nothing as rejuvenating, calming and awe-inspiring as nature. I am also inspired by ideas and concepts; of good and evil, sanctuary, romance, whimsy, truth, joy.
I loved visiting your house-- how do you decide what you use to decorate?
I absolutely LOVE anything old or used. I love items that have a story. If I need something for my house, I hit the thrift and antique shops first. If something gets broken, I know I can replace it for a couple bucks. I don’t like matchy-matchy. I want everything to have a collected feel, but to also feel right together. Also, besides a tiny bit of black and a few splashes of red, I’m really drawn to all things white or pastel. My goal for our house is for it to feel comfortable. It is a sanctuary from the world and I want all who enter to feel comfortable, content and uplifted.
How did you come about starting an etsy shop?
I’ve been shopping on Etsy for a few years now. I heard it mentioned once and hopped on the internet to check it out. Fell in love with it from the start! I’ve always loved creating, and love the idea of selling to people from all over. I’d been thinking of opening a shop for a while but wasn’t sure how to balance that with being a full-time mom. This year, when all my kids went to school, everything just fell into place for me to open up a shop.
What's your favorite piece you have ever created? (mine is your promise ring!!)
This question is like asking a mother which of her children she loves best. :) Okay, to a much, MUCH lesser degree. I love everything I create. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I might re-work an item until I feel it is just right. Every item I create comes from a part of me, and I’m glad I can share that with others. Some items are romantic, like my necklace, miss Emily remembers. Some are just really fun and whimsical like my neckace, green grow the rushes, o, and my ring, faerie dreams.
Name one thing you are grateful for, and how that has made your life for the better.
Love. Understanding it, receiving it in its pure form, and giving it freely. The world is always hopeful if there is love. Once I started to really understand it, know how to feel and accept it, and learn how to give it unconditionally, it changed the way I view people and life.
With your 4 boys, how do you balance being a mother and creating?
I haven’t mastered this yet. I have found that being very organized with my time is key. I wake up at 5:45 a.m. every morning to do computer business stuff; etsy, email, facebook, twitter, for 45 mins. before everyone else wakes up. Then, I craft, take photos of my items, and ship out packages while my kids are at school. Some evenings, I finish up working on items while my husband and I chat and catch up on our day. Except for shipping items, Saturdays are family time. And I don’t work at all Sundays.
Guess what, my friends! Katie has agreed to offer one of you a chance to win this:
All i want you to do is click here to check out her Esty shop, and come back here to tell us which item you love most. (You can choose more than one, don't worry). Saturday at 5pm i'll announce a winner. So come leave your comment, and have a chance to win these pretty pearl hair bobbies!
2.14.2010
Happy Love Day.
I'll give you 3 guesses to figure out what this is.
It's "poor man's lettuce," an edible plant! I saw it on the ground covering next to this tree, and HAD to take a picture. I thought it was perfect for Valentine's Day.
It's "poor man's lettuce," an edible plant! I saw it on the ground covering next to this tree, and HAD to take a picture. I thought it was perfect for Valentine's Day.
2.12.2010
I want.
I want a photo like this of my and my honey. Too bad he was 1800 miles away during this session.
2.11.2010
2.10.2010
Jeremy + Melissa Engagment Session || San Francisco, CA ||
Whew! Back from our trip to California with loads of great photos to share.
These two were so fun, despite the long drive to an obscure beach. The man sitting next to me on the plane to California (brave soul to sit that near 2 kiddos!) told me about this beach. It has a great view of the golden gate bridge behind it, not looking crowded by the nearby San Francisco traffic. It took us 2 GPSs and my G1 phone to find the right spot, but we lucked out for not really planning ahead of time where we wanted to go. The rain held out just long enough until we were done!
These two are so in love; it was just days before their big day!!
Jeremy often grabs Melissa for a quick slow dance without music at random times.
I love the pastel houses in San Francisco stacked on top of each other. It reminded me my trips to Italy!
This grove of trees was just on our way out and I couldn't leave without stopping to catch a few here. It was just begging for a couple in love to come play.
There was some cool foliage on the ground nearby... but you'll have to wait till Sunday to see it! ;)
These two were so fun, despite the long drive to an obscure beach. The man sitting next to me on the plane to California (brave soul to sit that near 2 kiddos!) told me about this beach. It has a great view of the golden gate bridge behind it, not looking crowded by the nearby San Francisco traffic. It took us 2 GPSs and my G1 phone to find the right spot, but we lucked out for not really planning ahead of time where we wanted to go. The rain held out just long enough until we were done!
These two are so in love; it was just days before their big day!!
Jeremy often grabs Melissa for a quick slow dance without music at random times.
I love the pastel houses in San Francisco stacked on top of each other. It reminded me my trips to Italy!
This grove of trees was just on our way out and I couldn't leave without stopping to catch a few here. It was just begging for a couple in love to come play.
There was some cool foliage on the ground nearby... but you'll have to wait till Sunday to see it! ;)
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