Inspiration....

Who / what inspires me?

I following a LOT of blogs, but my main inspiration comes from an engagement and wedding photographer based in Orange County, LA.  Her name is Jasmine Star.

Jasmine's images are stunning and I love how her editing style is very modern and natural.  Not only is Jasmine's images my source of inspiration, she shares her knowledge and of her journey of becoming a photographer on her blog along with helpful articles of what she has learnt along the way including equipment, posing, how she shoots, etc.

For children's portraits, I love Skye Johansen of  Skye Johansen Photography.  I love the colours and the creamy tones of her images.

Another source of inspiration is definitely Pinterest, however as of late I haven't been on this very much at all but it is fantastic for me to get inspiration for posing, locations, etc.

WIP & Learning

In our last week of before the holiday break, we practiced with some silouette lighting - both light and dark silhouetting, below are a couple of the images from that class.

One of our assessment we were to do for our Thursday night class was to create a storyboard and submitting 6 images in the form of a slideshow.  I was deciding between a flower from being a bud to opening to a bloom over a week or so.  The other idea was of my daughter getting herself ready to go to dance lessons, which was the one I decided to go with.  My images are below:-

I finally got my speedlight out to have a bit of practice with over the weekend and took some photos of my son.  He was sitting in front of a white paper backdrop with a large window beside him and I fired my speedlite at a very low setting (I most likely did not even need to use it) and it was pointing toward the ceiling.

Learning & WIP - Week 15

Learning:

Ok here is my first instalment for an update as to what we have been learning and any works in progress!

As we did not have Tuesday night at Tafe this week, those from the class who were able to attended Jacqui Dean's opening exhibition in Sydney.  And it was a really great night.  Her images were stunning, almost drawing like and I was glad and privileged to attend.

So the week before we were doing more lighting on the Tuesday which was light / dark lighting and it was a lot of fun.  Below are three of the images we took.

WIP:

During this month I was asked by a relative if I could take some shots for a product.  It was a stainless steel travel mug and as I have never done this before I was quite stressed about how to achieve what they were wanting but after many attempts got some shots that they liked and are apparently are going to use.  To my benefit I am now the owner of a speed light, studio lights and a new tripod (all in one day) - I do have an awesome hubby.

Here is one of the shots.  I have blurred out the brand.

Whois Christian Fletcher - Tafe

In this activity we were asked to do a Whois on Christian Fletcher.

On the Whois website the information it provides is that the domain name 'christianfletcher.com.au' is not available to purchase as it is already owned by Christian Fletcher Photo Images.  The domain name was last registered in February 2013 in Western Australia.

Whois also shows that even though the domain name 'christianfletcher.com.au' is not available, the name 'christianfletcher' with other extensions are.  These other domain names are: christianfletcher.biz, christianfletcher.net.au, christianfletcher.info and christianfletcher.mobi.

Whois also provides other alternative suggestions to a reader you may think may be suitable for the domain name such as:  christian-fletcher.com.au,  christian-fletcher.net.au, christian-fletcher.biz, lifechristianfletcher.net.au, greenchristianfletcher.com.au just to name a few.

Christian Fletcher is based in Western Australia and a has been a professional photographer for the past 20 year specialising in landscape photography.  He runs workshops, has three galleries based in Western Australia and features hundreds of images on his site for sale in a variety of formats including books, mounts, cards, coasters, DVDs.


Lisa

Cluster 5 | Tafe

1.  What are the pros & cons of joining as a student member to the AIPP & ACMP?

AIPP - Australian Institute of Professional Photographers

PROs:

* The AIPP is a large community where people can network and learn from each other.
* Attend AIPP seminars and workshops at discounted prices.
* Access resouces including example business forms such as contracts and documents.
* Enter assessment awards to help you improve in your photography.
* Be offered discounted products and services from AIPP trade partners.
* Receive electronic copies of AIPP and industry specific publications and magazines.
* The membership fee is only $75 which I do not believe is expensive for the information you will receive from this site.

CONs:

I don't see any cons with joining as a student member.


ACMP - Australian Commercial and Media Photographers

PROs:

It offers a free subscription to Capture Magazine and monthly electronic newsletters with association and industry news.
A free copy of the 'Better Business Bible' is offered.
It provides you with documentation about the promotion of best practice.
Discounts are given on marketing software, VW car purchases, Adobe software, insurance for members, workshops & seminars and industry social events.
It also offers special subscription rates for magazines, Photoreview online and PDN.

 CONs:

As a student member, unlike the other some of the other memberships, you do not get access to certain parts of the site including access to videos of recent seminars and access to the member online forum.

It is also nearly double the price to join as a student as what it is to join the AIPP.


2.  Who are PICA and PMA and what do they do for the photo imaging industry?

PICA (who is now known as IDEA Australia (Imaging & Digital Entertainment Association) and PMA are both national 'not for profit' organisations that help in the further development of the photo imaging community by obtaining new information on marketing and promoting new products, new technologies of the industry, educational programs, lobbying, marketing research, importing, publications, trade shows and distributing statistics.

Are they deemed an important part of our industry?

Yes these two organisations are important to the industry as they both promote the growth of the industry through information on new advances, educating its members and by helping to protect the industry by ensuring adequate legislation is in place.

What information can I get from them?

PICA (now IDEA Australia) offers:

*  Industry links including organisations such as the AIPP, ACMP, Australian Photographic Society and the Australian Copyright Council.
* Research and statistics from previous years.
* Classifieds which include advertisements for jobs, equipment, studio / office space available and business opportunities.
* A calendar of events taking place throughout the year and direct links to the websites.
* A free newsletter offering weekly news and industry updates.
* A list of IDEA's national association of companies and a direct link to their websites including Canon, Nikon, AsukaBook and Yaffa media company to name a few.


PMA offers:

* Links to previous media.
* Information on Code of Practice.
* Links to information for small business.
* Dates of conferences / exhibitions.



Lisa

Go for it...

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge | Best Face of 2012

I took this photo of my 5 year old in October.  I love this photo of her.  Her eyes are truly so clean and bright all the time, they amaze me!

Project 52

So I am endeavouring to complete a Project 52 this year.   I am a bit excited hopefully I will see my photos improve along the way.

I am doing the Project 52 through a awesome photographer, Sarah at My Four Hens Photography. I absolutely love her actions which I have a few sets of.  We are now actually into week 2.

Below is last week's entry which was the theme of 'Time'.  I took a picture of my 5 year old at dinner time.

project 52  | week 1

Next week the theme is 'Fresh'....to put my thinking cap on!

First Holy Communion

Cooper and many of his Year 3 class mates celebrated their first holy communion on the Sunday, 16th September.  Before we headed to the church I wanted to get a few quick shots before hand so the only shade there was to be had was at the house across the road, hence the terrible background that is their side fence.   I didn't take a lot of pictures as Cooper only wanted me to take one when I did take photos, so that's what I did!

He looked so very handsome in his white shirt and black tie.  We had a great day spending the afternoon with lunch and drinks with some close family and friends.

[ Click it up a Notch - July 2012 ]

Well hi everyone, this is the first time I have participated.  This image is of my daughter taken in July on our way up to the local park and is currently my favourite.

Check out the other entries here...


Thanks for stopping by Lisa

School Holidays...Yay!

This weekend we have been quite busy, it is school holidays now for the next 2 weeks.  I managed to take my kids out for about 20 minutes yesterday for a few shots on the way to getting some groceries.

Here is one I especially love of my 5 year old's legs

I am linking up with Simple things Sundays at

[ Day 3 | 17.6.12 | Photo a Day ]

While we were away in Wollongong we picked up hubby's new toy and birthday present, a new (well second hand) camper trailer.  We tend to go camping around twice a year but with this new addition, hopefully it will be a little more now.

I captured my son at the door as I just wanted to take a photo of something natural, not posed and this is  what I shot.

Just a quick update...

I am entering this pic on the Simple as That blog because what is more special than spending time with the family and at home, my son loves to be at home and it doesn't happen all that often as life can just get so busy at times.

[Day 2 | 16.6.12 | Photo a Day ]

Well I am posting both my second and third day photos tonight after a busy weekend.  We spent the night down at Wollongong with my hubby's work colleagues for a night out.

The weather was oh.so.crappy with rain and lots of cloud cover into the night.  My photo of the day was a bit of a self portrait as there was not much else to shoot.

[Day 1 - Photo a Day ]

Ok here goes, I am going to attempt to do a 'photo a day' project, I am going to start small, just a week to start with then if I am traveling ok, I will keep going with it.  It is a hopefully a way that I am going to get to know my camera better, I am determined to get manual right and from what I'm told a photo a day is a good way to help.

Today I took a close up shot of my daughter, I would have liked both her eyes more in focus but I am going to learn from what I have done wrong with each shot I see and can only remember for next time.

I currently only have the 50mm 1.4 lens.  I shot this in manual mode with settings f2.8, 1/200 and ISO 200

[ i heart faces Photo Challenge : "hey girl" ]

My entry for this month's i heart faces Photo Challenge is a picture of my 5 year old daughter who struck her own pose!

Be sure to check out all the other awesome entries in this month's challenge by simply clicking on the button below

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

[School Holiday Snapshot]

I'm not a great writer so don't mind me I find it difficult to jot things down, so I will share a picture taken of my son during the Easter school holidays.  His little sister feel asleep in the car and we jumped at the chance while she was snoozing to take a few minutes of photos.

Just as I got out of the car to get my setting rights, yep it started to sprinkler with rain.  This photo I was up a lot higher than he was so he was most likely getting rain in his eyes...such a trooper.  Love u xx

Thanks for passing by,

Lisa

P.S to the head blogger people, you need more fonts, 7 fonts is not enough I need a bit of variety!!!

[ Ta Da! Photos from my new addition ]

Since we had a public holiday on Wednesday due to Anzac Day I asked the kids if they would come out to take some pictures with me and my new camera.  I was given the replies 'yes', so I jumped at the chance.

Amongst all the silly pictures that I got, I did manage to capture some ones that I really love.

Here are a couple of their goofy ones, Miss C could not stop laughing (not sure what about, she went a little crazy for a bit before she decided she had had enough for a while and put her cranky pants on!  She can be a high maintenance gal!

Lisa

[ A few shots from January 2012 ]

I have been very slack with my blog, but life can get in the way.

I have finally updated my DSLR from my Sony a350 to a dashing new, well secondhand, Nikon d700 and oh my gee! I love this beauty.  So before I start posting images from my new addition I wanted to share some pictures I took of my son and daughter from back in January...yep a slacker!!

Around this time I was getting frustrated, I just felt like I couldn't get crisp enough photos and up until this time I didn't actually know when you know you are ready to upgrade but you eventually will.

Thanks for reading,

L

[ i heart faces Photo Challenge :: hugs & kisses ]

I am entering this week's photo challenge.  I took my kiddies to a nearby reserve recently for a little practice and this was one of the last photos I took of my little girl hugging her daddy.

Check out all the other gorgeous entries at

Thanks for looking.

L

[ I Heart Faces Photo Challenge - Sun Flare ]

This is my first evrey entry to the weekly challenge...so here goes!

I took this photo of my 3 year old daughter who spent the whole day in a spiderman costume that our neighbour was getting rid of. I had been reading how to capture sunflare so late one afternoon while she was out the front I took the opportunity to have a practice.

To see all the other entries, head on over to

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

L