Since I became a bunny “mom” last year to Lucky (who passed away in July 2011) and now to Cinnamon (who is 10 months old) I have become more aware of how many pet bunnies are neglected, abused and abandoned.  I’m not sure how someone could neglect, abuse or abandon such beautiful, loving creatures but it happens.  Late last year, I read about a charity called Baskets for Bunnies (www.basketsforbunnies.org) and thought that their mission and outreach was wonderful.

Then, the beginning of last week, I was listening to a photography podcast about non-profit organizations and it hit me, smack dab in the face!!  Why not host an event where I combined two of my passions (bunnies and photography) to help an organization that also helps bunnies???!!!  Ding Ding Ding!!  Amazing thought! So, my plan was to sponsor a “bunny portrait day” where bunny moms and dads could give a donation to the organization and receive a portrait session and a print from the session!

I immediately searched for a contact for Baskets for Bunnies (at -yes- 5:30 in the morning!) and shot off an email detailing this plan.

All day I wondered and worried and then late that afternoon I received a response that they would be very interested in this Bunny Portrait Day!!

So, I’ve been planning and thinking and masterminding it (and finding some roadblocks that have to be overcome – as are in any good plan) and the details are below.

I would love for you to attend this event and hope that it will encourage you to learn more about bunnies and how to keep them safe.

The Bunny Portrait Day is on Saturday April 7, 2012 at Wilson Agricultural Center from 1PM until 5PM.  With a donation to Baskets for Bunnies, you will receive a photo session of you and your pet bunny as well as a 5 x 7 print from the session.

There are limited time slots available so if you are interested or know someone who is,  please contact me as soon as you can at (252) 299-3613 to reserve your spot!

I look forward to seeing you there,

Sara

Also, after much thought, I have decided to concentrate on serving engaged couples, new families and children in the toddler years to their mid teens.  I believe that this concentration will allow me to meet my client’s needs better and will give us an opportunity to develop long lasting relationships.

I have many ideas for the up coming months so be sure to stay connected via my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/SaraVogtPhotography).

I have also started a monthly email newsletter with tips for taking better photos.  If you’d like to receive this email, just let me know on my facebook page!

Now, on to my manifesto!!!

   On November 17^th  I had a session with my cousin’s family inWakeForest for Christmas.  I had taken their photos two years ago (when I was more inexperienced) and I hated how they turned out (grainy and the lighting orangey).  I did my best to salvage them but was very unhappy with the results and was ashamed to give them to my cousin.  I did give them to her, however, and she liked them and gave them out proudly. 

 This year, she asked me to do their Christmas photos and the first thing I asked was, “What room in your house has the best lighting?”  Two years ago, lighting was the farthest thing from my mind (until I got to the session that is).  My cousin informed me that it was their living room and thankfully they wanted photos in there.

 I went to the session armed with an extension cord, prepared to amp up the lighting with any moveable lamps if need be.  Fortunately, I did not need the extra lamps because the lighting in their living room was adequate.  I was so happy!!

 I began the session shooting in Aperture Priority Mode but could not seem to get the skin tones and hair (several in their family have light skin and red hair) right.  Finally, I (somewhat shamefacedly) switched to Auto Mode.  I suppose I have the mindset that a “real” photographer doesn’t use Auto Mode.  But sometimes if the situation is tricky and your time short, you have to do what you have to do!  I’m learning not to be ashamed but to take great photos, whatever mode I’m using!

  The rest of the session went smoothly.  I was able to set out props and go over posing beforehand since we only had a 15 minute timeframe to work with.  I posed the family, made them say “cheese” and shot as fast as I could!  The photos turned out much better than I had expected (100% better than two years ago!) and I just received a text this morning from my cousin saying she loved them photos and greeting cards!  That made my morning.

 I learned the hard way that Aperature Priority Mode isn’t always the best mode to shoot in.  I had a session with a friend’s family at my local library on November 26^th and shot in Aperature Priority Mode.  The library is shaded by many trees and since the session was at 3PM, it wasn’t very light out.  I used the widest aperture I could but when I got home and loaded them onto my computer, every photo had a blueish tint.  Thankfully, with the help of Autofix in Picnik, I recovered the true color and tone of the photos but it wasn’t the same as if I would have changed some things in camera before clicking away.  I know now that I should have shot in Manual Mode. Manual Mode seems to be best in a situation like this as well as resetting white balance and changing the metering.

 On Sunday, November 27^th I had a session with my cousin and her husband.  I have wanted to photograph them since they got married three years ago but we were never able to get our schedules lined up. 

  I came into the session with several posing ideas as well as having my meter already set to Matrix.  Since the location I shot at was brighter than the Library, I felt comfortable using the  Aperture Priority Mode. 

  As soon as I began taking photos, I noticed how beautiful the skin tones were.  The session proved a great success and I got to play – which means I got to experiment with several different posing ideas I wanted to try! 

  Both my cousin and her husband were willing subjects and the day after the session my cousin texted me saying that her husband said he felt like they were newly engaged again!

 What a feeling of exultation!  That is what I want to give to my clients, the brand newness of  being photographed and the joy of being with the one or ones you love.  I don’t want stiff, bored clients who aren’t happy and aren’t having fun.  I want clients who unwind, let themselves show through and are willing to put themselves out there, realizing the importance of the photographs that are being taken.

 When I photograph people, I am not just photographing them but a piece of what is in their hearts, minds and souls at that moment.

 Tonight I will be photographing a two month old baby boy and his almost year and a half old sister, Indoors!  I have only done a few sessions indoors but I am very excited because of the tricks that I have learned over the past month or so.  We will see how these photographs turn out.  I hope to show them to you very soon!

Sara♥

So, this morning it’s 5:50 AM and I am about to photograph my adorable bunny, Cinnamon while she is eating her breakfast.  Going to try and get some cute, creative shots of her while she is in her cage. 

So, just a word of encouragment for those of you who may have set down your camera (whether you’re participating in the 365 Project or not), pick it back up today!  Don’t let it be like a diet where you say, “I’ll start tomorrow” because it wont happen.  Just pick it up and begin snapping away!

It is challenging to find different things to photograph but maybe I am just not looking at the things around me correctly.  Maybe I need to change my perspective.  Get lower, get higher, be on the same level….The options are endless.

One book that I read a few years back about photography that still sticks with me is Home Photography  by Andrew Sanderson.  If you are interested in photography or are just looking for new ideas, I suggest you read it.  It covers many different areas to photograph and gives you a new perspective on what magic you can make with ordinary things.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 13 Making Pictures Happen

“Have you considered that you could be a little more in control and instead of waiting for pictures to make themselves known to you, you could make pictures from your current surroundings?  Look around the room that you are in at the moment: can you see anything that has been around for a long time and hasn’t really been looked at?  What is the most banal thing in the room?  The more ordinary the subject, the more likely that you have stopped looking at it, looking properly that is – really seeing what is there.”

P. 102 from Home Phography by Andrew Sanderson

Yes, I know!  Pretty powerful, huh?  Are you already looking around the room you’re in seeing stuff you’ve seen every day but seeing it differently?

If you’re interested in purchasing the book, you can find it on Amazon for as little as $.50!  Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Home-Photography-Inspiration-your-Doorstep/dp/0817439897/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317948651&sr=8-1

If you have any ideas that have helped you overcome the “photography rut” we sometimes get in, let me know!  I’d love to get some fresh ideas and perspectives!

Sara