I feel the need to shoot things.

... but not in a disconcerting way.

Since I've gone a fairly long time without doing regular photography experiments, I thought it was high time I started enforcing a shooting regimen.  So, I now have to upload at least one thing - something, anything - for stock photography every week.  I'm going to start out by playing around with food related items.  Even just playing with arrangement and textures.

Yup.  At least one thing a week.  Even if it's not all that impressive.  Like garlic cloves on my fireplace hearth.

Boom.  Weekly goal realized.

What I Do All Day

You may wonder, "Andrea, you're a photographer, you currently work in the photography field, and you never update your blog EVER.  What do you do with your time?"

I'll tell you what, I do lots and lots of editing!

I have been working for another photographer for a while doing primarily editing - and BOY is it time-consuming!  The process he chooses to use brings in a lot of lost detail in post-production, so I spend hours painting windows and other details back into images of buildings.  Below is a before and after example of one instance where I both shot and edited for one of his clients.

This is one of the less dramatic examples (some images have such extremes between light and dark that once I pull the detail back in, the two images look starkly different), but the amount of time it can take to accurately trace around windows and objects is exhausting.  Note all of the bright window spaces that are completely blown out in the original image on the left - it's my job to make those visible again, then make sure all the colors are accurate and pretty, contrast is nice, the image is sharp... yeah.  Every single one of those tiny, bright windows and lights and bright patches of sidewalk.

So, now you know.  Instead of pursuing art projects, I've been painting windows.

On the bright side - I've gotten SO good at painting windows, and being that far up in a highrise for a shoot was terrifyingly cool.

Merry Christmas - Family Head Shots

I can't remember the last time we had formal pictures done of family members, aside from my college graduation (workin' the silly hat like a boss and all).  When I updated my head shot, I got a request from my mother to get a similar shot of my brother and send prints for Christmas.  Done and done... although I suppose I could have smiled better.

Katie & Brock Wedding

December weddings are so much less... snowy and unpredictable in Texas.  This wedding was down in Houston, in a really lovely area, I might add.  The couple was adorable and their family was a lot of fun.  It was an all-around good day.  Now to catch up on editing...

Utah Trip - Family #3

And now that I'm back in Texas and working through photos - here is family number three.

Their little guy was the oldest - and by far the squirmiest of the bunch.  I'm pretty sure all he wanted to do was run full speed at the nearest pile of leaves and have at it.  In fact, I'm positive he wanted to do just that!  It was a lot of fun to play with him, but I had to be fast on the trigger for photos.  In the end, it all worked out quite well, and I think he enjoyed the park... if not the pictures.

Fun fact - this was a nostalgic location for their family shoot.  A few years ago, I did their engagements at the same park.  I'm super glad I got to work with them again!

Utah Trip - Family #2

Glory, Hallelujah, the weather warmed up enough to shoot outside!

There are many more pictures, with many more family members involved, but I've still got sorting to do.  Chloe and Ryan have added on little Tucker to the family since I photographed their wedding ages ago.

Utah trip - Family #1

I'm having a romp back in Utah to see some family and friends, and while I'm here I get the chance to catch up with a few people photographically.  Specifically, three of the couples I've taken engagements for in the past few years have started their families and are blessing me with the opportunity to work with them again.

I don't have a lot of spare time for posting at the moment, but while sorting photos, I just couldn't stop smiling at this one.