Got an idea... bring it on

So since it is a week where we say what we are thankful for...I'll admit that I am super lucky. I'm surrounded by awesome people that not only support me as a friend, but also as a photographer. My business was built solely on referrals from a circle of friends and now has me so busy that I book out during the holiday season.

Not only am I surrounded by people who support my talent, but there are also those friends who share in some of the same creative visions. I definitely love to have freedom with my photography, but with my advertising background, I LOVE the challenge of realizing other peoples' visions.

Recently a friend of mine with a wonderfully artistic eye approached me with a vision she had for photos of her girls. She'd done lots of research and forwarded me her ideas which had a theme of monocromatic backdrops that emphasized a glowing light. With her ideas in mind, I picked a location where I knew we could capture the type of light she was looking for. The evening we chose turned out to be even more beautiful than I could have asked for and in the end we produced these amazing photos. Doesn't hurt that the subject matter was just as beautiful as the surroundings.

So case in point...if you have a vision, share it. The more upfront you are about your vision, the more likely you are to get what you want. Come the day of the shoot, trust the professional that you hire, let go and go with the flow and let them figure out how to recreate you vision.

Wham Bam...Thank you Ma'am

Mom's read on but be aware that you can forward this to your hubbies...but this is an exclusive photo session just for the dads (don't worry...you are the beneficiary of the final project)

Okay, it’s not exactly what you are thinking, but i grabbed your attention didn’t I.
How many of you spend the Holiday Season searching for that perfect gift for mom.
And when I say searching, I mean wandering the malls for endless hours in hopes that something will reveal itself as “THE GIFT.”

In the Gift Giving handbook it clearly states that ALL mom’s LOVE gifts accompanied
with photos of their kids. Now add some sentimental value and a unique presentation as well as a built in way to display and I’m guaranteeing she will be speechless
(and dad’s you know that us women are rarely speechless.)

You’re in luck...I’m here to help!
I like to call this particular holiday session the
“Wham Bam Thank you Ma’am”

If you’re intrigued and want to find out more details contact me at
claire@withinsightstudio.com

Gifts start at $125 and include 10 minute photo session
(this offer is only for dads)

I started this project last year when a friend approached me about helping dads out with a sentimental gift. Here is an example of what was created last year. The project this year is completely different, but it will give you a basic idea.

The power of the digital darkroom

When I began my career, the photography world was on the brink of moving into the digital revolution. Film forced me to learn the technical aspects of my camera since I couldn't instantly see my results and errors cost lots of money. The disadvantage was the planning that was involved. I'm not one who enjoys the challenge of thinking ahead. After purchasing my first digital camera I quickly felt a positive impact. I was able to take ALL the photos I wanted plus decide later how I wanted "develop" them.

Since my passion for graphic design is a close second to photography, the digital darkroom became the ideal tool for my expression. I've come to love the production on my photos just as much as taking them. I can take one session and express a different mood with each photo. My vision is formulated from studying the colors, the emotion and the environment. The result is whatever I want it to be. That is powerful!

I recently photographed a few sessions at Crystal Cove. Since it was a beautiful evening I had a hard time stripping the photos of all the brilliant colors. Rather than converting the photos to black and white, I processed the photos in a vintage look by subduing the colors, and slightly blurring the image. I was able to achieve the same overall nostalgic feeling without losing the color.

Take risks and have fun with your photos on the computer. You'll be surprised by the great results.

Jaime and Petar

There are two main reasons I love my job. First I simply love to document life's events. All of those moments we can't repeat. Secondly I love to experience relationships outside of my bubble. I've truly benefited from all the colorful people I've met along the way.

For example the couple I photographed in May. She just finished her residency to become an ER doctor. He was born and raised in Serbia and studied in the US. Both driven, fast paced people who sandwiched their wedding between a 30th birthday blast, a move across county and the end of residency.

It was a beautiful wedding in Laguna Beach. The day started off with a slight drizzle and gray skies, but cleared away just before the ceremony unveiling a gorgeous backdrop of the hills highlighted with a gorgeous golden light. What made this wedding so fun and unique for me was that it was the joining of two people from different countries and cultures. I enjoyed my first taste of Serbian music and this groups abounding energy.

Here's a sample of the photos.I've included a video if you'd like to catch a bit more of their day.

A breath or fresh air

Ahhh, the beauty of nature. I'm talking serious nature. The kind where bobcats roam, snakes slither and eagles fly. Yep it exists out there, just far, far away from our convenient life surrounded by stores, homes and restaurants. It's awesome to see how the environment alone can evoke different emotions. By positioning a family smack dab in the middle of nowhere, I immediately felt a sense of innocence and family connection. I won't go on and on with my deep analysis, but check out these photos taken amongst the preserved land in Monterey County and you can analyze for yourself.

The "No Fuss" Session?! Speak English please.

If you haven't been introduced to my "No Fuss" session here is the skinny. This is the perfect session to update photos in your frames, plan for holiday cards or document your family for the year. These are quick 30 minutes sessions on set dates and pre-determined locations at a discounted rate of $100*. The session includes 30 online proofs, an online slideshow and 1**digital print ready file. Can't beat that! Check out the "no fuss" calendar here. To find out more visit the everyday section of my website.

*beach sessions are an additional $25 to cover the cost of the beach permit.
**weekday sessions include 2 digital files

The 2011 No Fuss schedule is now available. Book in advance because there are limited spaces and these usually fill up by the end of summer.

I'm a big fan of walls and other textured backgrounds that lend themselves to more natural (in the moment) posing rather than the perfect triangle poses. This isn't to say I don't take posed photos, but the more open you are to being in the moment the more we'll capture the "experience" of the session.

If your purpose is to capture one posed family photo with everyone looking at the camera please let me know ahead of time and we'll spend the entire session concentrating on getting you the photo you have in mind.

Check this "No Fuss" session out to see how much can be covered in 30 minutes
(it might take a second or two to load)

Kids + Mess = lots of good photos!

Next time you fret about pulling out paint or any other type of messy substance, think about this very important photography equation - Kids + Mess = Lots of good photos. Instead of hovering, take a deep breath, go get the camera and enjoy the moment. You'll love the results. Dying Easter eggs was that PERFECT messy activity to capture my boys. Nothing's better than a messy table, dyed hands and lots of colorful eggs.