The beauty of good equiptment • Idaho Falls Wedding Photographer

As I edit through my first wedding with the new 5d MarkII I am overjoyed. The difference in color and quality is incredible. I felt guilty for spending $2500 on a new camera when we already had enough however as soon as it was in my hands at the reception all quilt went away. I will never look back on a purchase that would improve the quality of an image. This image was shot at 2000 ISO, at 50mm, 1.8 aperture, NO FLASH! To me it is beautiful for more reasons than one. This is one of the points during the dinner that I too let go some tears. I'm so glad that I zoomed into this image instead of passing it up. :) This is what makes weddings so worth the ten hours spent on my feet, the 30+ hours of editing, and the thousands of dollars spent on equipment.

The beauty of good equiptment • Idaho Falls Wedding Photographer

As I edit through my first wedding with the new 5d MarkII I am overjoyed. The difference in color and quality is incredible. I felt guilty for spending $2500 on a new camera when we already had enough however as soon as it was in my hands at the reception all quilt went away. I will never look back on a purchase that would improve the quality of an image. This image was shot at 2000 ISO, at 50mm, 1.8 aperture, NO FLASH! To me it is beautiful for more reasons than one. This is one of the points during the dinner that I too let go some tears. I'm so glad that I zoomed into this image instead of passing it up. :) This is what makes weddings so worth the ten hours spent on my feet, the 30+ hours of editing, and the thousands of dollars spent on equipment.

FAQ: For Photographers • East Idaho Photographer

When I get e-mails from photographers asking me questions sometimes I do a quick reply and think hmm I should add that to my blog but then I never do. I'm going to start trying to answer them more often on my blog so that I can help more than just one. Here is one of the lastest questions I have been asked...

Do you do any prints? Where do you print those? And how would you order canvas prints?

I DO print. I like for my prints to be professional and to be a good reflection of my work. When I edit through my images for proofing and my blog I typically will do quick edits in lightroom. When an image is ordered and I'm sending it off to print I calibrate my monitor (so what I'm seeing on my monitor is what I'm going to see on paper) and then edit the picture a second time in photoshop. I will typically soften the skin, take away blemishes, and adjust the color and contrast to taste.

I use the company WHCC (White House Custom Colour). They sneak lollipops into some of my packages so I think I will keep them ;) You can order canvas prints from them as well. They are AWESOME!!! They are all about service and that is my favorite kind of company. I totally support them. They are fast! Two day shipping if prints are shipped to your studio. Their prints are high quality and packaged really well. I'll pay more for better service and a better product.

Here is Emma with a WHCC complimentary lollipop :)

All images: Canon 5D manual mode, 50mm f1.4, 1/500sec, ISO 125

FAQ: For Photographers • East Idaho Photographer

When I get e-mails from photographers asking me questions sometimes I do a quick reply and think hmm I should add that to my blog but then I never do. I'm going to start trying to answer them more often on my blog so that I can help more than just one. Here is one of the lastest questions I have been asked...

Do you do any prints? Where do you print those? And how would you order canvas prints?

I DO print. I like for my prints to be professional and to be a good reflection of my work. When I edit through my images for proofing and my blog I typically will do quick edits in lightroom. When an image is ordered and I'm sending it off to print I calibrate my monitor (so what I'm seeing on my monitor is what I'm going to see on paper) and then edit the picture a second time in photoshop. I will typically soften the skin, take away blemishes, and adjust the color and contrast to taste.

I use the company WHCC (White House Custom Colour). They sneak lollipops into some of my packages so I think I will keep them ;) You can order canvas prints from them as well. They are AWESOME!!! They are all about service and that is my favorite kind of company. I totally support them. They are fast! Two day shipping if prints are shipped to your studio. Their prints are high quality and packaged really well. I'll pay more for better service and a better product.

Here is Emma with a WHCC complimentary lollipop :)

All images: Canon 5D manual mode, 50mm f1.4, 1/500sec, ISO 125

How I edit in lightroom and photoshop • tips for photographers

While I'm waiting for my pictures to download from last nights engagement session I figured I would do a little post on my processing. I have been horrible about blogging lately and I promise that I will try to do better. Thanks Jeremy for taking this pic for me :)

(I put the image into lightroom and adjusted the exposure since it was underexposed, I then adjusted the blacks and the contrast to give it some pop. Oh and I warmed it up a little since that's what I like)
Mom, I love you but I don't love that you gave me that never ending teenage acne (at least I know something will keep me young!!)

Much can be fixed with a little photoshop though! (before an image goes to print I open it in photoshop for additional editing)
(I used an MCP action (Magic skin) to soften my skin. I then merged my layers and used a clone stamp to hid all the rest of my blemishes)

Dad I love you but I don't love the dark bags you gave me under my eyes. :) Guys I love my parents and we have a great relationship no worries we joke about this kind of stuff all the time.
(I duplicated my background layer and tackled those bags with a clone stamp! I then adjusted the opacity to let back in a little bit of them bags so that I wasn't totally destroying personality)
So it went from WA to WA LA!

And NO mom, my face did NOT freeze like this!

How I edit in lightroom and photoshop • tips for photographers

While I'm waiting for my pictures to download from last nights engagement session I figured I would do a little post on my processing. I have been horrible about blogging lately and I promise that I will try to do better. Thanks Jeremy for taking this pic for me :)

(I put the image into lightroom and adjusted the exposure since it was underexposed, I then adjusted the blacks and the contrast to give it some pop. Oh and I warmed it up a little since that's what I like)
Mom, I love you but I don't love that you gave me that never ending teenage acne (at least I know something will keep me young!!)

Much can be fixed with a little photoshop though! (before an image goes to print I open it in photoshop for additional editing)
(I used an MCP action (Magic skin) to soften my skin. I then merged my layers and used a clone stamp to hid all the rest of my blemishes)

Dad I love you but I don't love the dark bags you gave me under my eyes. :) Guys I love my parents and we have a great relationship no worries we joke about this kind of stuff all the time.
(I duplicated my background layer and tackled those bags with a clone stamp! I then adjusted the opacity to let back in a little bit of them bags so that I wasn't totally destroying personality)
So it went from WA to WA LA!

And NO mom, my face did NOT freeze like this!

Featured on Weekly Photo Tips! • Arizona Portrait Photographer

A while back when I was first starting to get into photography I got to know photographer Scott Eccleston. He has been a tremendous help to me and I have really enjoyed talking photo with him. Well, today I had the privilege of being featured on his blog for photographers. His blog is Weekly Photo Tips. Here is a little taste of the feature. Check out his blog to see the fully post! For all you photographers out there add his posts to your blog lists for some great tips and video tutorials.

In this feature is the beautiful singer and song writer Cindy Standage who I had the privilege of taking pictures of in January see the post here. You can see more of my pictures from her shoot on her website, and her blog. Here is what she posted about the session.

Featured on Weekly Photo Tips! • Arizona Portrait Photographer

A while back when I was first starting to get into photography I got to know photographer Scott Eccleston. He has been a tremendous help to me and I have really enjoyed talking photo with him. Well, today I had the privilege of being featured on his blog for photographers. His blog is Weekly Photo Tips. Here is a little taste of the feature. Check out his blog to see the fully post! For all you photographers out there add his posts to your blog lists for some great tips and video tutorials.

In this feature is the beautiful singer and song writer Cindy Standage who I had the privilege of taking pictures of in January see the post here. You can see more of my pictures from her shoot on her website, and her blog. Here is what she posted about the session.

FAQ: For Photographers • Eastern Idaho Wedding Photographer

Q: Where are some of your favorite locations in the pheonix area?

A: My top two are the Mesa Arts Center and Granite reef.
The Mesa Arts Center is fave mostly because of the water. I save it for the tail end of the session because we tend to get a little wet.

I love the dots

I love the stairs



Granite reef is fave because of the big trees, green grass, and mountains. At different times of the year your pictures will have a different look. It's not always super green but still beautiful.







I do however enjoy shooting at all kinds of new locations. Sometimes we will drive around for a little bit, I'll see something that I like, and we will stop for some pictures.

Business cards •Rexburg Idaho Wedding photographer

Too bad I JUST ordered new business cards! I totally could have made them better!;) (it was a good laugh)

back button focusing • Idaho Falls Photographer

Melissa Jill posted on how to use back button focusing a long time ago and I have been using it ever since i discovered it. LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!!

I was a little confused on how it worked but once you get it down you won't want to go back. Normally you would have to adjust the point of focus manually to get it to focus where you want it but when you have back button focusing you hold the * button down till it focuses in the middle of the frame and then let go of the button and move your camera to get the picture you want. I don't think I explained it very good but here are some pictures I took using it to help illustrate.
This first one I focused on the truck let go of the * button and moved the camera slightly to the right to put the truck off to the side. It still stayed in focus and I didn't have to change the point of focus manually.

This next one I did the same thing focusing on the 4 and moving the camera a little bit to the left.


If your camera uses the shutter button to focus as soon as you move the camera and go to take the picture it's going to refocus in the center. If you separate the two buttons you have SO much more control. I hope this makes sense.

Little distractions

I'm trying to get as much editing done today as I can but I got distracted with trying to change my blog... I'm thinking it might be too wide though. Anyone loosing my blog off their screen? Here is how I got three columns: Blog Tips and Help
Of course now that my blog is changed I have a daughter that won't let me get much done. Fussy fussy fussy. I sure hope she doesn't get my flu! She's already got a little cold.

A Little Shout Out

I wanted to send everyone a link to a new blog that I have found to be very useful. It helps you to learn some blogging basics. I'm sure that if you have any questions she can answer them since she is extremely blog savvy!
Blog Tips and Help

You get what you pay for

A post from my blog for photographers. I did this post back in May.

Sooo.... I go into the camera store to by a 50mm Canon lens. I asked them if there was a big difference between the 50mm 1.8 and the 50mm 1.4. They said the only real difference was that the 1.8 was cheaper plastic and would break easier. I decided that I would save some money. Well after using it i was quite disappointed. I had it for 3 weeks and was suppose to take it back within 5 days if there were any problems with it. I figured I'd try my luck taking it back though because I knew for a fact that I wouldn't be using it again and didn't want $100 to go to waste. The guy at the camera store was super nice (I made sure to look for the nicest one) and he pulled out a brand new lens so I could see the difference (good thing I took my camera). There wasn't a huge difference between mine and the new one so I asked to try the 1.4 lens. WOW HUGE difference!!! I don't think I'll be trying to save money by going cheaper anymore when it comes to lenses. You get what you pay for!!! Unfortunately the guy took a picture of me to test the lenses so you have to see my eye zoomed in, but I did want to show the difference!
This first Picture was with the lens I bought, Canon's 50mm 1.8New Canon 50mm 1.8 lens right out of the box. Even worse than the one I bought!!

This Last one Canon's 50mm 1.4 lens. Can you SEE the DIFFERENCE!!!! Look at the color difference too!
The guy was nice enough to take the 1.8 lens back and give me the 1.4 lens instead. It was a few hundred dollars more but it's worth every penny paid!