Just so you all know...

Well hello there blogging world! It's been a while since I've posted on this blog...not because I haven't been taking photos though! Life just gets crazy, I'm telling you.

Just a quick update on my life: 2 weeks ago I moved back to Edmonton and started a new job. As many of you know, photography is not my main career; I am a Registered Nurse and have been juggling the two for the past few years. It has worked quite nicely by giving me a little variety, but I was never really satisfied with how my nursing career was going. I wanted to work in the more exciting, challenging areas, but always found myself taking random jobs in random places. Well I think I can say I've found my niche. I have been hired into the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and I love it already! All new hires into the ICU are required to take the Critical Care Course, so the past couple of weeks have been a combination of lectures, exams, and buddy shifts in the unit. It's exciting, fast paced, and, well, intense.

With the new year I've done some reflecting on my life and things that I need to change, and I've decided that the main thing I need to focus on is simplifying my life. I have a tendency to spread myself too thin, saying yes to everyone and anyone and anything. Which is why I have decided that I am taking a leave from my photography business for the next little while. I truly love photography, and I hope that by taking a leave from doing it as a business will allow me to truly enjoy it and further develop my talents, instead of stashing my camera away until my next shoot.

I apologize for the unreturned emails and anyone who is waiting to get their photos back...they are coming I promise! I regret that I will not be able to share your memories with you, but I also look forward to focusing on the career that I am trained in, having spare time to spend with family and friends (without feeling guilty about not editing pictures!), and spending more time in the mountains!

Week 4

Last one?! Crazy how time flies. This week part 1 of my assignment was to work on thematic and conceptual shooting. There is so much fun to be had with this assignment! I was in Edmonton and did a shoot of my cousin's family, so I decided to use the theme of family togetherness. I'm only allowed to post ONE photo, so here it is!


I'm only going to say one thing to critique myself...I think this image would more strongly portray family togetherness if I had changed my angle just slightly to see more of Erin's face. That is all.
Part 2 was SO HARD for me! I had to get in my own pictures! I'll admit, I figured the self timer would be my best bet. Ha! You should see what I came up with. They're awkward. So awkward that I refuse to let anyone see them. So I chose a different route. Since this is a lifestyle class, I chose to post a photo that I AM in, doing something that I love to do:

Yes, those are my hands. Since attempting this part of the assignment, I've come to a decision. I'm constantly giving my mom a hard time because she ALWAYS wants me to be the family photographer, which I don't mind doing, except the fact that I never have pictures of myself! Well my friends, this week I am teaching my mom to use my camera. And then...(drumroll please...) she's going to take pictures of me. And more than just one! I'm pretty excited about the whole situation really.

Challenges from this week? Again...shooting a baby. They just move so fast! And the whole self-portrait thing. It's going to take some work. I think I'll give it another shot during the makeup week.
Questions? What is the best way to focus when using a self timer? That was my biggest struggle.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay...this week was my FAVORITE project. After Thanksgiving dinner my cousin Payton and my Grandma Dudley were having a chat on the couch so I stole them for my models. My assignment was to portray some sort of conceptual contrast, so I decided to contrast the old vs. young, as well as the wisdom vs. the ignorance of youth. Here's a couple of favourites:

I cannot even tell you how much I LOVE the images I got from part 2 - the decisive moment. Without Grandma knowing, Payton decided to start a little whipped cream fight. I have to admit, I took more than the 3 pictures allowed, but I feel like they all captured the moment so well! Here's my favorite:

Thanks Payton and Grandma for your cooperation!

Week 2 Assignment

Part 1 of my project this week was to take a shot, and then take it from at least 20 different points of view. So naturally, I chose to shoot my nephew, Nick, playing with his toys. Little did I know how hard it would be to get that many different points of view with such an active little guy!
Here's my initial shot - not my favorite, but he's a cute little guy anyways!

View 1:

View 2:


Part 2 of the assignment was practicing the "Less is More" principle. We were to photograph a scene and then break it into as many smaller scenes as possible. As many of you know, I'm from a small town in Southern Alberta called Raymond. Among many other things, Raymond is known for being the home of the first stampede in Canada. My grandpa and uncles have participated in the Stampede (which takes place on Canada Day) for as long as I can remember, and it is tradition that we attend the rodeo every year.

For this project I wanted to portray how deserted the stampede grounds become in the fall by showing "less".

My original shot:



And less:


Challenges - an active little boy! Trying to come up with TWENTY different perspectives (although I loved it and am definitely going to practice this more!)
Discoveries - surprised by the story that such a small detail can tell.

Papa Squat

as he is affectionately known. I have recently started taking a photography class from the wonderful Brooke Snow (if you haven't checked out her work, you need to!) and this is my first project! The class is titled Lifestyle Photography: Telling the Story and our project this week was to document a character and capture them in some sort of conflict. Here's what I came up with!




Challenges - 1) Shooting in low light. I love natural light but wanted to capture the environment of my dad's "office". One day I will master situations like these. 2) Narrowing down the photos to really tell the story best and capture the conflict of tying the masterpiece fly.
Discoveries - Confession: I rarely shoot ENTIRELY on manual. Aperture priority is my go-to. Not today. I decided through this course I am going to always do everything manually so I can get really comfortable with nailing my exposure. I think it worked well? I also thought that I really loved the shots I was getting from right in front of my dad, but once I tried some different angles, I found I liked the different perspectives better.

Loving the class already Brooke!

Paula + Jeff Wedding

These two are just the greatest! I lived with Paula for a bit and she is one of a kind. Never a dull moment with that girl! She and Jeff are so great for each other. Congrats you two!

Bevans Family

Oh. My. I am so so so happy with how these turned out! This was the perfect shoot. Natty and Bruce are such great company (it's a genetic thing I'm sure...did I mention we're related?) and little Eric is just the most adorable one year old you've ever seen. Bring along Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Joel for smiling purposes and BAM! Favorite family shoot ever.






Eric is a HUGE fan of Uncle Joel. Who was standing behind the camera...


Usually I LOVE color, but I am obsessed with how some of these black and whites turned out. Natty, you are a babe.



I also love not posing people and catching candid moments like this:




Those eyes!



Doesn't he just melt your heart?




Of course baby Eric was born to be a hiker. Natty and Bruce are starting him young!