But, I don’t know.  Have I found my style?  I still feel like I am struggling to find it.  And I guess that’s what makes an artist.  I am constantly evolving and challenging myself to be innovative and creative.  Are there days when I think I suck?  Totally.  But, I learn from it and strive to do better the next time.  Do I look at other photographers work and think I wish I could do that?  Um, yeah.  I think if I ever become content with myself and my work then I won’t be challenging myself to do better, right?

The one thing that has always remained constant with my work is I ask myself, if this were my family or my wedding or my baby’s first shoot how would I want the pictures to look?  What would I want the photographer to focus on?  To capture?  I try to put myself in the moms shoes and find the connections within their family.  The little things that their kids do at that point in their lives.  I try to put myself in the brides shoes.  I think back to my wedding and remember how I felt that day and what I wanted captured.  I try to use my life experiences to relate to my clients.

It’s my clients that inspire me.  Their happiness.  Their joy.  Their love.  Every single one of them and their stories inspires me to capture them as they really are.  Not magazines or other photographers blogs.  Just my clients.

What inspires you?

3 Speedlites (2 580EX and 1 580EXII) – I use one camera flash and two off cameras.  If you want to know how to use off camera flash I suggest you take the same workshop that I did this past Spring – Off Camera Flash workshop with JVS.  I went specifically for the wedding lighting, which was a very small part of the workshop.  But, it really helped me understand my Speedlites much better.

Lots and lots of rechargeable batteries – I think they recycle faster than normal batteries.  And it’s also environmentally friendly and more cost efficient in the long run.  Make sure you label the batteries with the date you bought them so you know when it’s time to eventually retire them.

3 Quantum Turbo Batteries (one for each flash) – Do you ever have that problem when using your flash where it will take one picture and then it won’t fire again for 10, 15, 30 seconds?  You end up missing the shot!  And that stinks.  With the Quantum Turbo batteries your flash will have extra power and will recycle much faster.  It’s a bit cumbersome and you have to wear it on your pants, but the new version is much lighter and it’s totally worth it to not miss the shot.

I love the natural look when using 3 Speedlites for the dancing shots

I don’t usually do a lot of off camera flash for portraits, but when you’re stuck in a dark casino you have to do what you have to do.  These were taken at the Wynn Las Vegas last year.

Off camera flash is also great for ring and detail shots

One of the biggest compliments I’ve received was when a couple came to meet with me about shooting their wedding.  They had been guests at a wedding that I shot.  They didn’t even realize I was there until the reception.  They were so impressed that I had gotten such great shots without even being seen by the guests.  That’s my goal!  Don’t get me wrong.  Sometimes if you’re in a big church or it’s a huge wedding you will have to get a little closer even with the 70 – 200, but you still don’t need to be totally intrusive.

I have this lens on my camera for the ceremony and during the reception for toasts and first dances.  The lens is very versatile since it’s a zoom lens and it covers a good range.  The “IS” in the lens stands for image stabilization.  If you’re going to invest in this lens, I wouldn’t try to save a few (hundred) bucks and go without the image stabilization.  With a telephoto lens like this you will need it!  The IS will help a lot in getting a tack sharp image.  Especially when shooting in low light situations and no flash (like a church).

A lot of photographers will use a lens like this for their family and engagement shoots.  I choose not to because, well, I’m lazy and I don’t like to lug it around.  It’s a pretty big and heavy lens.  But, the results for any type of shoot with it are great.

Here are some moments captured, very non-intrusively, with the 70 – 200.

For my everyday shoots (engagement, family sessions, etc.) I carry my Shootsac.  The Shootsac is great, but it only carries 3 lenses and maybe your keys and chapstick.  For weddings I need something more substantial.  In addition to my Shootsac (which I carry the lenses that I know I will need right then and there, plus my phone and extra batteries) I also use the Airport Airstream Roller from Think Tank.  I love this bag for some many reasons.  Let me count the ways:

1)  It fits in the overhead compartment on airplanes.

2)  It has a lock.

3)  Not only does it lock, but you can also lock it to something.  That’s rad when you’re shooting a wedding and you need to leave it for a few minutes.  As someone who is super paranoid about getting her gear stolen, that’s cool.

4)  It has a special compartment for my laptop that can also be locked.

5)  The dividers inside the bag can be rearranged.

I’ve just about outgrown this bag, but will be upgrading to the Airport International next.

And if you order through this link to Think Tank, you get a free gift with your order over $50.  How rad is that!  You can get an awesome gift like the Pixel Pocket Rocket, which is my fav!

This week (and maybe next) I will be doing a feature on all the equipment I carry in my camera bag (and Shootsac) with explanations of why I use it and examples.

First up, the 100mm Macro.  The Macro lens isn’t a necessity, but it sure is a lot of fun! If you’re shooting weddings it is the lens for shooting ring shots and details.  I have used it on some newborn sessions, but honestly, it gets so close it kind of scares me.  Too much detail in a person isn’t always a good thing!  I use the Macro for ring shots, jewelry, and detail shots at the reception.  Here is a shot from my wedding yesterday of the Bride’s Grandmother’s crystals that she wore.

I love ring shots.  Always something fun to do if a reception is dragging a bit.  Here’s one of my favorite

It’s just a great lens for capturing the really small details that you really want to focus on and isolate.  At weddings it’s sometimes the small details that mean the most.  Here is a ring that was the Bride’s Grandmother’s engagement ring tied to her bouquet.

There is a newer version of this lens that I’m dying to get my hands on!  Looks beautiful!  But, really for as often as I use this lens (not very often) it’s just not worth the money at this point to buy the new one.

1)  It’s important to learn how to shoot in Manual mode.  In automatic your camera can lie to you.  I know.  Not cool!  It may not know exactly what you are trying to do.  With Manual YOU are in control!  If you are shooting in auto, make sure that you have the mode set to “action”.  The icon usually looks like a guy running.

2)  Make sure your shutter speed isn’t too low!  If your shutter speed is too low it won’t freeze the action.

3)  Make sure your aperture isn’t too wide.  The lower the aperture number, the harder it will be to get your image in focus.

4)  Take a ton of pictures!  That’s the great thing about digital.  Shoot a lot and trash the images that don’t turn out!  Remember that even professionals don’t get every single frame spot on.  The more you shoot the more likely you are to get a few images that are perfect!

Brayden is really at an age where he does not like to have his picture taken.  That’s not a lot of fun for a Mom*tog.  I knew that I would have one chance to get this shot of him running around the corner in his Dad’s shirt and tie.  I tested out my light on Hauggy right before Brayden turned the corner to make sure that I would get it right.  You can see the motion in his feet and the shirt, but his face is in focus.  I had my shutter speed high enough where there wouldn’t be too much motion blue.  My aperture was at f 2.0.  I shoot at 2.0 all the time so it’s easy for me to do.  For beginners you’ll probably want to stay at a higher aperture (around F 2.8) until you’ve practiced a lot!  You have to be spot on with your focus to shoot at a wide aperture so practice, practice, practice!

There are toys everywhere.  The carpet is dirty (getting new carpet next week!).  It’s not a perfect shot.  But, it’s a memory.  Chuck comes home from work and Brayden says, “Daddy!  You change clothes!”.  They go into the bedroom.  I hear laughter.  Brayden comes running around the corner wearing his Dad’s shirt like a superhero cape.  He’s happy.  And that’s what I love about this image.

F 2.0, 1/320, ISO  320

*** There are more specifics on everything in this post in the UNmanual.

Here are some observations / tips on how to enjoy yourself while documenting your families trip:

1)  Don’t be afraid to leave the big, fancy camera in the hotel room.  When I have my DSLR down by the pool I’m scared that it’s a) going to get stolen b) going to fall in the pool c) get dropped.  So, I never leave it’s side.  I don’t get to go have fun in the pool.  I get to sit with my camera all by myself.  Just because you have a big, fancy camera doesn’t mean you have to take it everywhere with you.  It’s okay to leave it in the hotel room every once in a while.  I really only bring mine out when I know the light is going to be just right.

2)  Take the point and shoot.  If I leave the DSLR in the hotel room I bring my point and shoot with me.  That way I have it to snap some pictures if something fun is happening and I’m not stressed about it getting broken / stolen.  Also, if I want to be in a picture it’s important that I have it because people either don’t know how to use the DSLR or are scared of it.

3)  Don’t miss out on the memories because you are too busy capturing them.  My husband will tell you that I am guilty of this.  I’m so busy making sure I take pictures and video of everything that I’m not always enjoying the moment.

4)  Every image doesn’t have to be an amazing, blogable picture.  Shoot for yourself.  Shoot for your family.  And have fun with it!

I told Drew that the gist of my blog would be about what it’s like to be the “40’s Momtog”. I wanted to title it The Forty-ish, Fabulous and Fit Photographer. But let’s be honest… Unlike Drew, I would only run if chased by a lunatic wielding an impressively big weapon. And even then I might try to negotiate. So “Fit” is definitely out. And while I have days when I am totally feeling my Fabulousness, I mostly think that it’s a term reserved for the Beyonce’s of the world. I mean, that girl OWNS Fabulous.

So, we are left with Forty-ish and Photographer (of course I need to include the title of Mom as well but I couldn’t come up with an “F” word for that).

I’m sure you’ve all seen the 1,258 Oprah shows that have documented how AWESOME the 40’s are, and how CONFIDENT you can be in your 40’s, and how 40 is OF COURSE the new 20. I remember being about 32 hearing all of that and thinking, “Sure, that is what women in their 40’s have to say in order to feel better about being so freaking old”. Well, here I am. Forty-ish. And I am here to tell you that it is all true. Except for the one about 40 being the new 20. Because, last I checked, I can’t hold down nearly as much liquor as I could back then.

But there is something that happens when you enter the decade of the 40’s. For one, you stop caring so much about what other people think of you.  Which leads to a newfound confidence.  Which makes you start to evaluate your life from a more personal and more powerful perspective. Which starts to make you feel like it is time to start doing something for you instead of everyone else all the time.

Now, I’m not saying that once you turn 40 it’s like “BAM!”. You can totally rock your old leg warmers and tube tops because you don’t care what anyone thinks. And you can’t stop feeding and bathing your kids because you’ve suddenly decided that you need to focus on YOU (unless you would like unscheduled monthly visits from the Department of Child and Family Services).

What I am saying is that there is this subtle catharsis that occurs. And those changes in how you view the world can be perfect for starting a second career… especially if this second career is something that you have a passion for.

I had a big career before kids… lots of money, travel, perks. But when I had my first baby, I left it to become a stay-at-home mom. And I decided I would THROW myself into the job. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I essentially made the decision to make my life about everything else BUT me. I was solely focused on being a wife, a mother and a “domestic engineer”. And I expected those things to make me happy instead of ME making me happy. And anyone that has seen an episode of Dr. Phil knows that the only person that can make you happy is YOU.

So, I decided to embark on my second career. I decided to become a professional photographer. And I will say that I think entering into a second career, especially as a mom, is a lot different than doing it the first time around.  For one, I will always be a mom first. And unless I decide to get a full-time nanny with references rivaling Mary Poppins, I am still the go-to parent in my household. And two, I have much different expectations for what this second career will look like.

I will offer some advice as someone that has made the leap (and is still very much in “mid-leap”):

• Learn everything you can. Read, talk to friends, research your field.
• Learn from the best in your field. When I decided to make photography a career, I picked two mentors, Drew Bittel and Nick Carver . And I spent a lot of time learning everything I could from them. And I know now it probably saved me at least 18 months of start-up headaches).
• Don’t expect to become an expert anytime soon. Whatever you decide to do as your second career, you’re not going to nail it in six months. Jessica Claire said it took her three years to really find her “style”. I can certainly give myself at least that long.
• As Drew once told me, set office hours. As a mom, the time with our kids is precious. I don’t want them to remember me as a mom who was in front of her computer for most of their childhood.
• Don’t let the business side dampen your passion. Sure, I’m a mom. But this is a business. And the business side can get a little… DULL.  But, I try my best to never lose sight of why I love doing photography.

Going into this, my desire was to have something that was my own… something that I could feel good about, that I could be proud of.  I wanted to have something that would add dimension to my life outside of my roles as wife and mother. And while I understand that not every mom needs this, I have realized over the last year that I have become a much better mother and wife for doing it.

So, if you are considering a second career and are on the north side of 39, go ahead and channel that inner-Oprah and believe that you are worth the risk. And don’t you dare feel guilty for doing something for YOU. Commit yourself to a new journey. And just like it is with being a mom, or anything else in life for that matter, the journey really is better than the destination.

I don’t know about you but I would be thrilled if my 7 year-old showed an interest in photography. Right now she’s still figuring out what she’s good at. But, when I was a kid, I can remember setting up mock photo shoots with my dolls. I would drape a blanket across the back of a chair and pose my dolls with props and everything. Who knew that seeing those pictures years later would jumpstart my career in photography.

Summer is a great time to inspire a love of pictures in your kids. You don’t need a fancy camera. A simple point and shoot will do. The idea is to make taking pictures fun. Here’s a list of 5 things you can to do help your child fall in love with photography.

• Start a scavenger hunt. Create a list of things for your child to photograph around the neighborhood. Try to come up with items that are easy to find but not so obvious. You don’t want your child to get frustrated but you also want to encourage them to think creatively.

• Create a picture book. Teach your child to tell a story with pictures. They can choose their favorite stuffed animal, a doll, or even a pet. Photograph them in a variety of places doing silly things. Let your child be the one who sets up the shot and then put all of the images together to make up a story.

• Make silly shadows. Head outside on a sunny afternoon and see what kind of fun shadows you can create. Teach your child to ‘see the light’ and where it’s coming from. Explain how the shadows will sometimes be taller or shorter depending on what time of day it is.

• Teach them about perspective. Your child’s experience with photography has probably always been in front of the camera. Now that they will be behind the camera, encourage them to play around with angles. Show them how to shoot from above, get on the ground, tilt the camera, shoot from below, get in close ~ anything that helps them see things differently.

• Go on vacation. When you go on vacation you are exposed to things you don’t see on a daily basis. Take advantage of the opportunity to record all of the details from your trip. Have your child take pictures of their favorite people, places and things.

These are just a few examples of things you can do to encourage your pint-sized shutterbug. Before you know it, they’ll be begging you to upgrade that point and shoot to a fancy pro model.

So you want to grow your business?  I know this might sound crazy, but one of the best things you can do is get to know your “competition”.  Really… get to know the people in your area that do what you do.  And I don’t mean in a stalkerish (yes, that is a word ) , competitive type of way.  Get to know them as people.  Learn about them and make them friends.  Why, you ask?  Well, there are many great reasons to get to know the members in your community who are in the same line of business as you.

Many people think I am crazy when I tell them this, but I truly believe that most of us photographers are out on an island.  We work, shoot, edit, make business plans, and everything else alone.  We don’t have the advantage of having a cubicle mate or co-worker to bounce ideas off of.  I don’t have the advantage that my husband has when he goes off to work.  I can’t lean over and say, “Hey, Howard, can you come check this out for a second?”   Sure, most of us find places online where we can share our work, get critiqued, and generally find people who will take the time to look at a picture for 30 seconds and give us some feedback.  Those avenues are invaluable.   BUT, try to go out and find a community of photographers in your area that will not only tell you how it is, but guide you in how to fix it.  Most importantly, they can tell you when something just doesn’t work.  And if you can do it during a mom’s night out, that is even better.

One way to connect is to go to Happy Hour events hosted by camera stores, meet-up groups, traveling seminars, etc…  The chance for networking there is tremendous.  The reason I love the meet-ups and sponsored happy hours is because I get to put my grown up clothes on (maybe even something that had to be dry cleaned – woo hoo!) and I get to meet photographers that specialize in all sorts of subjects.  I specialize in child and family photography.  It is so great to sit and chat with a wedding photographer about their business and how they do things.  Not all of it applies to my business BUT hearing different ideas can be inspiring.   I never knew how to do a multiple edit in Adobe Camera Raw.  I was completely oblivious to that fact.  But someone turned me on to that at a happy hour and it has saved me HOURS and HOURS of time in my editing chair.  Something so simple…that I should have already known… but didn’t.  And in a brief chat, in a bar, in downtown DC, on a Tuesday night, it seriously revolutionized my editing.

You may also get referrals from networking with other photographers.  I get some of my best customers from referring photographers who cannot take clients for one reason or another.   One photographer cannot be all things to all clients, so I love having a network of very talented people that I can refer people out to.  That makes me look helpful and hopefully those people will remember me when they need family pictures in the future.

But here is a word of warning about these events. When you go, behave in a way that will make people want to refer business to you.  Recently at a photographer event, I had a wedding photographer say something extremely crude to me within the first two minutes of meeting him.  It was apparent by his harsh demeanor and free use of foul  language that he was just being himself and didn’t mean anything by it, BUT I would never in  a million years refer any of my clients to him.  If he was that rude to me within two minutes of meeting me, what would he say to my conservative client base?   Make sure your reputation stays intact, even when letting your hair down.

So I encourage you to get out, make friends, and connect on a face to face basis with all the talented people out there.  Don’t be scared if you are just starting out or aren’t in this to make a full-time career.  Some of the best people to talk to are the ones that are doing it purely for the love of the lens, not the love of the money.  No matter what, you have something important to share and people will embrace it.  You can do it!