My Head shots | Angela Ingram | AJ Photography

A Big Thank You to Kristyn Harder Photography

Your Job Is Easy........

I always get mixed feelings about the comments people have towards photography and all that I do. I hear all the time, "Your job is so easy", "You must love your job and have so much fun.". I do I love my job and enjoy everything it brings, it is truly a blessing everyday. Like anything it always has it's ups and downs, parts that are less desirable and can be challenging but that is what make it interesting. Is it easy not in the least! But I wouldn't change it for the world!

Yesterday I had a blast shooting a group of girls problem being I am part of this group of girls..... So this makes things a bit harder. With remote in hand and a tripod I can be part of it all, but is it really that simple? Not in the least, when in front of the camera getting your picture taken you can't double check all the elements that go into creating a great photo aka the photographers job. 

With my camera in their hand one of the girls shot a couple head shot for me which I truly appreciated. She followed it up by saying "this is easy and so fun!".  Now she knows as good as anyone it's not that simple and has appreciation for what I do but yes it can seem that way. Remember I set everything for her, made sure my lights were where they needed to be and double checked my readings.... 

Now here's the biggest part the part so many don't think about. As a photographer we see everything, we check everything and we learn to pose our clients and alter them to create the best photo. Anyone can take a picture and anyone can take a nearly perfect photo when in auto or when everything is pre set but have you check the background, readjusted your stand point based on the actual client (big one since I am 6 feet with heels and my stand in photographer was 5'7" with heels lol). Are you telling your client what she needs to know, the things that she can't see, are you repositioning her for what will suit her best. All things that we as professionals use to create the perfect image. 

All in all the experience always reminds me of what I truly do and what makes me a professional photographer, last night I received the biggest compliment. While preparing to stand in front of the camera with this great group of girls tripod set, remote plugged in, my remote died and in came my boyfriend to the rescue. I set everything double checked the background got the girls in place, hoped in and he hit the shutter. In the end when reviewing pics I started pointing things out things I forgot to check or changed as we shot but being in front I was unable to see what was happening and make the adjustments needed. He tried and truly was such a help but there is no way he could have seen what I seen or known what to do. His final comment to me was, "There is so many factors and so much to do and beware of, you truly need a eye and I can't believe all that you do."

The camera is a tool, the photographer is the artist and we truly are the creator.

AJ

Say Cheese

Say Cheese and some kids are right on it but most will give you a strained face that's not so attractive lol. Kids know when you want them to do something and they feel the tension of your expectations. I deal with this all the time when shooting and get asked by parents, "don't you get frustrated". Over the years I have really stuck to the philosophy kids are kids they have good days and they have bad and each and every expression is adorable in it's own right. Everyone has expectations for their child and the perfect smile, even for me I always have this great idea of what I plan to shoot or capture all planned out but realistically...... it's not up to us. Some of the cutest pictures are the ones were there goofing around, pouting or plain just being them. I can be the most inpatient person in the world but when it comes to shooting I have limitless patience the best thing you can ever do is stay calm and wait it out. When kids are put on the spot they freeze or rebel but when they can play and just relax it's amazing what they will do!  ;)

Love My Clients

I am truly so lucky and thankful to have incredible clients with both my professions. I came into work a couple days ago to find these lovely flowers on my desk. Now they sit on my counter and brighten my day.

Prop Madness

Took some time last Friday to get out and about (get away from the computer time). Driving with the tunes blasting is one of my favorite ways to get away and lift my energy quickly (Booster Juice in hand of course Mmmm). 

I decided to stop and tour some stores, now with most you would look at clothing or new shoes not this girl (don't get me wrong I love new shoes) but I found myself lost in prop madness (like a little kid at Christmas). 

With a big smile on my face and a spring in my step these awesome new additions made there way to the studio.

 

 

Even the seasoned get nervous

You would think after all this time I wouldn't get nervous, wrong. When it comes to wedding consults I always get nervous. I can sell anybody just about anything but when your selling yourself, your work, when your the product line the game changes and the consult is only the writing on the outside of the box. Same goes for weddings themselves, I always get nervous the night before doesn't matter how many I've done or how prepared I am each one is so different, now comes the time to see if the box you bought has anything good inside. 

I was told a long time ago when your passionate about what your aiming to achieve it will always give you that feeling. You realize and know each one is unique and strive to make it the best, that feeling should never go away. 

You never want to here a photographer say oh I got this, 

done it a hundred times.

 The consult is the box, my drive and passion the day of the product and the photo's the results. It puts a whole different perspective on it. The last thing I want is to be a generic product.

AJ