Warning!  It’s a long one…

Well I am back to work after a long week of indulging in lots of things I probably shouldn’t have indulged in.  Everything from the best of the best turkey feasts and turkey leftovers to the “I don’t feel like cooking” pizza, wings, cookies, and pop.  All of which tastes so good headed down, until the guilt trip that I gave myself of wondering just how many calories I’m going to have to work off in the gym later.

There is one thing that I never have a guilt trip about, and that is my Grandma’s homemade apple pie.  For years now my Grandma has been bringing homemade apple pie and others to our Thanksgiving meal, they are indulgent to say the least.  The warm apple and cinnamon just melts in the hand rolled crust greeting your mouth.  After I married Brad and knowing just how much both of us loved Grandma’s apple pie, I knew I had to learn how to bake them to pass on the recipe.  So the first Thanksgiving after we got married three years ago, my Grandma taught me and my Mom how to make her apple pie.  Every Thanksgiving since then I have thankfully been able to spend quality time in the kitchen, baking alongside my Grandma and Mother making her apple pie and dumplings.  We have made it a tradition and I can’t wait to teach it and pass it on to my kids some day!

See Below for some of your Answered Questions…

Another thing I have been thankful for is loyal blog, website, and facebook fan page followers.  All which have blessed me in a way that is indescribable.  There are a handful of you who have sent me some questions about photography and business in general.  I thought I would put some of those questions and answers out there so everyone can enjoy the fruits of my answers.

Q: LACY WRITES I am trying to start a SMALL photography business down here in SC where I live. I am going to take some photography classes while I go back to school. I was hoping you could help me out with any suggestions you have to get started.  First I need to find a good photoshop that I can use to fix pictures. Do you have any suggestions about a software to use?  Like I said I’m just getting started and it’s just a small business on the side of my teaching. By the way, you have done a great job with your business and are taking amazing pictures! Congrats and hope things are going well for you!! 🙂

A: First off- know that things don’t always come right away and that baby steps are a part of the process. Also one of the biggest tools of advice that I would have is take a portion of what you make off of shoots or even the full amount and put it right back into equipment, programs, etc. It will help jump start you in the right direction. As for a an easy start- get a blog, look up wordpress.com it’s free and easy and there are many free templates to get you started. For editing software Adobe Photoshop, it’s the best program out there. That or Lightroom, all the work you see on my blog has been edited in Lightroom and/or Photoshop.

Q: RACHEL WRITES I have a quick question and I hope it’s not too personal but I was just curious how much you charged for the first wedding you ever did? I’m trying to get an idea from a few photographers. I just want to make sure I’m not charging too much or too little. Can you give me an idea of how much you charged, how many hours you were there, and maybe any other details that might help with photographing a first wedding? I’d appreciate any help! Thanks so much!

A: It’s not too personal to say, but the first wedding I ever shot I only charged $300! I didn’t have my degree and needed the money. I was there for over 8 hours just like a typical wedding day which sometimes stretches to approx. 10 hours.  That bride and groom sure got a deal but sadly they didn’t get the best they could have.  I was young and still learning.  I want to encourage you and others to make sure your ready. I didn’t have the equipment I should of had and let alone back up equipment just in case something went wrong. If you think your ready to jump in and shoot weddings make sure you are taking everything you need and more, just in case. Ask yourself now what I should have asked myself then…would I hire me for my wedding day?… knowing what I know and with the equipment I should or shouldn’t have. If you are ready and don’t have the equipment make sure you get it! Or if you think you need to learn something before the wedding learn it! Be ready, it’s a lot of work. And on top of the 8-10 hours you put into shooting you will put that much more into emails, phone calls, consultations, and 8-10 hours especially in editing.

Q: NATE WRITES I’ve started photographing a bit more as a hobby as I travel, and this past spring bought a DSLR camera. I got the Canon EOS d1000–very entry-level. The kit came with an 18-55mm lens. It takes some great shots.  I was curious, though, what different types of lenses are offered to me? What do the “mm” measure that I’m increasing if I get a 100mm lens? With a smaller aperture, what difference will I notice in my photos (say a 1.2 vs a 1.8?)

A: You do have a DSLR and a basic factory wide angle lens. This lens allows you to get the bigger picture. In order to get a close up because it’s a wide angle you have to step much closer to your subject to get the shot.

The mm is millimeters. It’s the distance or range that you can get with the use of your lens. “If I understand how this works, the MM is the measurement of how much magnification the lens can “see” at infinity (which should be the end of a lens focal length). Thus a higher MM lens will have a higher magnification and will enable you to get in closer. ” Basically since you have a lower number like 18 mm you are getting a wider shot. If you have something that “zooms” to 200 mm you are going to get a much tighter shot from a far distance. (I hope that makes sense.)

A standard 100 mm lens is a FIXED lens. That means there is no zoom or range involved. You literally would have to take steps forward or back depending on what your photographing. There is no ability to stand still and zoom in or out. When looking at lens that can zoom like your 18-55 it will always be stated as that, x range- x range. If it’s just one number such as a 100mm there is no zoom involved. You commonly find these lens like the 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm etc. If you like the 100mm it’s a good macro lens meaning that in manual mode you have the ability to get EXTREME close ups.

Now with aperture, the lower the number that aperture goes to the better the lens. You will notice they will get significantly more pricey. There is not a huge difference between a 1.2 and 1.8. If your just using it as a hobby right now you would be fine with getting a 1.8 lens aperture. Do you shoot manual? And if you don’t know what I mean by that you shoot judging the shutter speed and aperture on your own and not on auto when the camera tells you what to have your settings at. The nice part about having the lower aperture if you shoot manual or are learning is that you have the ability to blur out the background shooting at the lower aperture levels. Lower aperture numbers also allow you great “movement” in your camera when you are in dark situations and DO NOT want to use a flash. FOR EXAMPLE if you look at the photos that I typically take during newborn sessions, you can tell I don’t use flash because the rest of the photo has dark areas. I turn my flash off and use my ISO (light sensitivity) and low aperture to gain the light that I am looking for to make the picture lit dramatically.

As far as lens that are available to you, there are MANY options out there it just all depends on what you want, and the effects that you are going for.

Q: BRITTA WRITES Echo. Your work is nothing less than amazing.  What exact program did you go through at Bowling Green, and was that your only photography training to get you where you are now? I went into teaching, but my passion is photography, and I am really wanting to go back to school so I can take images like yours. Any help/advice you have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

A: The program that I went through at BG was the Visual Communications and Technology (VCT) program. It’s not a specialized photography program so I didn’t feel like I learned everything that I could about photography. It’s a rounded program where you learn print, graphic design, video, photography, and web design. That is a 4 yr. program which also made me acquire three internships that equaled 3 semesters. Most of what I learned was through those internships. Hands on training with photographers that were willing to teach me for minimal pay. Everything I have learned I equate to hands on training and practice with the camera.

If you want to learn photography well and get a degree Caplan University in Dayton is well known for their photography program. It use to be OIP&T-Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology. That is a 2 year degree, expensive. But will be specialized photography training.

It took me a lot of self training and help from mentors to learn what I do. I also attend conventions etc in Las Vegas annually. It’s well worth it if it’s your passion. I told myself I would never work a job a day if I hated it! I’m lucky to have my own business now and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

If you have a question for me, feel free to email me or message me for your answer!  Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for all of you!

..APPLE PIE AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS..

love, echo

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