Pixel Happy | Sweet Shot Tuesday

Pixel Happy

That’s my awesome pixel happy cousin Tina. She likes take pretty pictures too! Her and her mom and sister flew in to visit. Can you believe we’ve never met before now? Me either. All I know is that they’re awesome.

Have you taken some sweet shot’s lately? I would love to see ‘em! Link me up with them in the comments or email them to me. I might even feature them here on the blog!

Graphic Designer Turned Photographer

I am a creative; not a coder. I have no idea the amount of times I told myself that (Twittered and Facebooked it, too).  I was stubborn and kept my graphic design gig going. I didn’t listen to the signs coming from my family: “Hannah, you are always on that stinking computer!” “I really need your help with the Boybarians, Lou.” “Just 5 more minutes and I’ll be off here.”

Finally I realized, “Hannah, you used to be a girl living life and blogging about it. Now you are a girl blogging and blog designing living life and snapping photos in between.” That was a hard blow to take. Then came my best friend Darcy’s post Unsustainable. Both of us were experiencing the same thing and here I thought that I couldn’t tell her I had to stop this madness and unsustainable schedule.

We Skyped because that’s what two geeky friends do [when they live 2 states and many, many miles apart].

I cried because I didn’t want to quit.

She helped me realize that I am a photographer with graphic design dabbled in. Not the other way around.

She has helped me realize my priorities.

That being said, I am no longer a full time graphic and blog designer. I will still accept the occasional graphic design or blog design job and training on that subject, but no longer full time. I appreciate those of you who have hired me and/or helped me learn so much! It’s been such a pleasure.

Photography Basics: Editing Photos

Always have a great shot SOOC (strait out of the camera). It will save you lots of time in the editing process. If you have a really great SOOC shot, you should be able to get by with your basic photo editing. If you have a bad SOOC shot, you will spend tons of time editing only one photo. In the long run, it is better to know your stuff and shoot right the first time. It will save you tons of time and you will get great shots!

Do you have a question about editing photos or a photography related question in general? I’d love to answer any question(s) you may have to try and help you out! Just hit the “Email Hannah” button at the top.

Photography Basics: What is aperture?

Aperture is the size of the opening in your lens when you take a photo. The larger the opening, the more light will get in – the smaller the openinging, the less light will get in. Those different openings are called f-stops.

small f-stop = large opening

large f-stop = small opening

Therefore, when you set your aperature, keep in mind the lighting. If it’s darker where your working, use a larger opening (smaller f-stop). If it’s brighter where your working, use a small opening (large f-stop).

Make sense? Have questions?

Photography Basics: What is exposure?

I’m exposure challenged. If you want me to explain exposure to you in a blog post, I’m not your gal. Ree is.

Photography Basics: What is shutter speed?

Shutter speed is simply this: how fast your camera snaps the shot. It’s easy peasy.

Shutter speed in low light:

If you are in a low light situation, your camera’s shutter will have to stay open longer to let more light in. In this kind of situation, if you aren’t using a tripod you’ll probably get a blurry shot.

Shutter speed in normal light:

If you are in a spot with normal light, your camera will snap the shot faster. Why? It’s because the more light there is, the shorter amount of time your camera will have to hold the shutter open.

It’s really easy. Really.

Photography Basics: Composing

This probably won’t be as confusing as ISO, you’ll be glad to know. :)

Composing a photo is just one way you can let your creativity flow. It’s what makes a photo uniquely beautiful. 50 people could take the same photo and not have the same compensation.

I see a lot of people get in the habit of standing in front of their subject, snapping the shot, and leaving it at that. It might be quick, but you don’t get a great shot! Next time, when taking a photo, get different angles and place the subject differently in your photos.You might sit down and take it, get up higher, or stand to the side of your subject(s).

When shooting people, don’t always have them looking and smiling at the camera; catch them doing something else. Catch the little moments you’ll want to remember- not necessarily the smile. Also, when taking photos of little ones and babies, remember to get down on their level.

Basic Photo Editing

I’m not a big fan of spending enormous amounts of time editing my images. I would much rather have a really great shot SOOC. (Strait Out Of the Camera) No one has time to spend hours on that stuff. The following are 3 basic edits I do to my photos.

1) Lighten it a bit.

2) Bump up the contrast.

3) Sharpen

Depending on the photo and the look I want it to have, I will sometimes add a few other effects. That list above is my basic 3. I love life and love capturing the little moments with my camera. I don’t like to make my photos seem unrealistic or fake. In the editing process I stay true to that.