Oct 3-10 Weekly Photo Challenge

This week's Weekly Photo Challenge is to illustrate your favorite verse or quote with a photograph:

 Photo by Wendee Schmitke

 Photo by Merry Parks

 Photo by Kelsey Ensz

 Photo by Jill Van Well

Photo by Mary Fast

Sept 26-Oct 3rd Weekly Photo Challenge

This week's Weekly Challenge theme is The Number Seven:

 Photo by Lisa Preston

 Photo by Jill Van Well

Photo by Lindsay Button

October Meeting Recap

This month Jill & Wendee led us in a discussion on Lifestyle Photography which was really helpful.  Afterall, we all take photos of our families and kids!  Here's a quick recap of what they went over:

What is lifestyle photography?

• The opposite of still smiles and cheesy poses
• When stories and images of life intersect
• Documenting daily life
• Capturing the little moments
• A reflection of reality
• Capturing moments that make TODAY wonderful
• Random, but very real to your family
• A true depiction of life in its natural setting as it unfolds in front of your eyes

What should we try to capture?

• Everyday stories
• Life happening right in front of you (which means the ugly stuff too!)
• Special toys, time-era items, important objects, and the people that belong to them
• Relationships: Remember the grandparents, the cousins, friends, pets...
• Think about the big picture, and the details

How do we capture these moments?

• Keep your "photo capturing device" (cell phone, point and shoot, SLR) handy and accessible!
• Get to know your camera settings
• Be a fly on the wall; observe, don't try to control or manipulate the situation
• Take a couple shots, and then stop and enjoy the moment
• Embrace imperfection. Life is not perfect...our photos do not have to be either
• When in doubt, (Is this the right setting?  Is this good lighting?) shoot!
• All that said, it is important to train your eye for good lighting, backdrops etc.
• Don't make things more complicated than they need to be. Just take the picture.
• Change your perspective, not your subject
• Be weird, be you
• Wait for those expressions...be patient