Photo Tip Friday: 5 Minute Photography Challenge

by Mary Denman              Twitter: @MaryDenman            Instagram:@MaryFDenman

Recently, my photography business has been taking off! 

It's been amazing!

Also, I've thrown myself into  learning more about photography by being in the Headshot Crew run by Peter Hurley. It's been amazing as well! 

Sadly, my blog has suffered, but I'm getting a handle on balancing everything. I've thought about my blog and you, a lot, though. 

One thing Peter keeps saying is, "Get people in front of your camera." It's his way of telling us how to get better doing headshots. 

Then, it dawned me, I could apply that here. 

Monday's Musings: How Traveling Changes my Perspective

by Mary Denman                   Twitter: @MaryDenman              Instagram: @MaryFDenman

I love traveling. 

But I especially love flying. And pretty much everything about it. From planning a trip to booking a window seat. From arriving at the airport to finally getting to my destination. 

Why?

Because flying and traveling is one the times in my life where I can walk out of my daily routine and experience something so different. I walk away from all the "I should be doing [fill in this blank]" and into a different mindset. 

Traveling changes my perspective.

Photo Tip Friday: Backgrounds in Photography

by Mary Denman                   Twitter: @MaryDenman              Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Backgrounds make a lot of difference in photography. 

While they can show context of the picture, sometimes, they distract from the true focus of the subject. 

Today, I want to show you an incredibly simple technique to play with different backgrounds. This exercise will help teach you 2 things. 

1) How much of a difference the background can make. 

2) How lighting changes as you move an object around, or, as you move around the object. 

Let's get started. 

Monday's Musings: 3 Things Instagram Taught me About Beauty

by Mary Denman                 Twitter: @MaryDenman              Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Heard the phrase "Pinterest Perfect?" 

It means a life, or make-up, or hair that's perfect and pinned on Pinterest, inspiring others.

Or, it means someone else's life looks perfect on Pinterest compared to yours! 

Instagram can do the same thing.

However, as I've used it more, 
Instagram has taught me 3 things about finding beauty all around me. 

You'll see the very rare selfie on my feed and I generally don't follow celebs. Instead, you'll see the beauty I spot. 

Here's what I've learned:

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Yellows

by Mary Denman                Twitter: @MaryDenman            Instagram:@MaryFDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! 

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Recent Photo Tip Post: Move to Get a Better Shot

Recent Monday's Musings: Broken, but Beautifully Strong

Photo Tip Friday: Move to get a Better Shot

by Mary Denman                   Twitter: @MaryDenman                 Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Often, when we're taking pictures, we simple take photos from where we stand. While this can yield some good photos, here are some tips to help you think more about how to get good shots. 

The overall tips? Move to get a better shot. And, learn to brace your camera to get a better shot.

Here are some poses and ideas you can use. 

Let's get started.

Monday's Musings: Photography can be a Blessing

by Mary Denman       Twitter: @MaryDenman     Instagram: @MaryFDenman

There’s a reason about why I love photography as much as I do. 

It’s not just the satisfaction of taking a good shot. That would only be for me.

No, the reason I love photographing people, especially those who hate to have their picture taken, is because of the difference it can make for them. 

Photography can be a blessing to others.

Let me tell you how it started.

Wordless Wednesday: Leaves and Light

by Mary Denman       Twitter: @MaryDenman     Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! 

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Recent Photo Tips: 

Taking Family Photos During the Holidays

Taking Great Inside Holiday and Family Photos

Upcoming tips will be about using your photography for gifts for loved ones.
 And gifts for photographers. 

We've had a super long fall this year.

 It's almost December and there are still gorgeous leaves on trees. 

It's beautiful, but I'm ready for winter! :)

Monday's Musings: Autumn is a Second Spring ~Albert Camus

by Mary Denman      Twitter: @MaryDenman    Instagram: @MaryFDenman

I love this quote by Albert Camus. 

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

As a photographer, I must admit that spring and fall are my favorite seasons. I tend to carry my camera with me daily because there's a new view to see in either season. 

This made me think more about why I love spring and fall so much. 

Part of it is the excitement that comes from an ever changing palette of colors that beg to be noticed. 

Photo Tip Friday: Part 2, How to Photograph Ghosts

by Mary Denman    Twitter: @MaryDenman   Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Photo 1

Today's tips are part 2 of how to photograph ghosts. Last week, I explained about needing a trip-pod, using a high aperture value, and using a longer exposure. A link to that post will be at the end of today's post. 

This week, I'll show you a couple of other ways to create ghostly pictures for Halloween and how to use long exposures to make people do a double take at your photos!

How do you like Photo 1? My son was breathing on the window from the inside of the house and I was outside. He held a flashlight below his face. Pretty cool, huh?

Let's get started with learning how to photograph ghosts.

Monday's Musings: Look for Beauty in the Mundane

by Mary Denman     Twitter: @MaryDenman    Instagram: @MaryFDenman

For those of you have followed my blog for a while, you know that I had a very rough time in 2013. 

I lost my mother and father-in-law two weeks apart. It took a toll on me. But it's been 3 years now. I've learned a lot during that time and I wanted to let you in on a where am I now. 

First of all, I learned that God could get me through the hardest time of my life. For that, I'm extremely grateful. 

But I've also learned to look for beauty in the midst of the ashes. In the midst of the mundane. 

Beauty doesn't always jump out at us. 

Sometimes we have to be quiet to see it. Sometimes we need to look for it. 

I want to share some of the beauty I've found in the mundane.

Photo Tip Friday: Find Interesting Subjects in the Midst of the Ordinary

by Mary Denman     Twitter: @MaryDenman    Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Sometimes we have false thinking that if we could just go somewhere gorgeous, we could get fantastic pictures and be a better photographer. 

But really, we can look for beautiful or interesting images all around us. 

So today, I want to show you a part of my yard that's a bit overgrown with weeds. 

Why in the world would I do that?

Because there is interest to be found for the looking. 

Let's get started.

Photo Tip Friday: How to take Better Shots in Difficult Conditions, Part 1

by Mary Denman     Twitter: @MaryDenman    Instagram: @MaryFDenman

A large part of improving your photography is learning how to utilize light to best advantage. Whether it's understanding Golden Hour (read part 1 and part 2) or understanding the direction of lighting, the more you can utilize proper lighting, the better your shots will be. 

But here's the thing. 

You can't always shoot under ideal conditions. 

When I was in Paris recently, one day had bright sunlight and the next day was overcast with periods of rain. Since I only had those 2 days in Paris, what was I going to do, be upset and not shoot on the rainy day? Of course not. I just had to alter what I was doing and make the most of it. 

We're going to learn about how to take great shots when you have difficult conditions like an overcast sky, fog, or rain. 

Let's get started. 

Photo Tip Friday: Improve your Photography with Reframing

by Mary Denman     Twitter: @MaryDenman    Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Today, I want to teach you a simple, yet obvious technique to improve your photography. 

When I tell you what it is, you may roll your eyes. 

But stay with me.  

Here it is: Take more than one picture of a scene. 

Don't throw tomatoes at me just yet. :) 

Let me explain and give you some examples! 

Wordless Wednesday: Paris, France

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday!

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Here are some pictures from our trip to Paris

Monday's Musings: I'm Back to Blogging!

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Hello my friends! 

I'm happy to be back to blogging! I had a great break and got my kids all situated in their schools. My son had his surgery and is doing well. I also had a bad fibromyalgia flare which delayed my return, but I'm so much better now and happy to be back.  

Fall is finally thinking about showing it's head here in the deep south and I can't wait for cool nights!! I'm tired of the summer heat!

I wanted to show you a bit of my summer and where I went with my husband and family.

First, Todd and I headed to France. (He had to work, but it was still a great trip!)

Wordless Wednesday: Head Shots Galore

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday!

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Recent Tips:
Personalized Father's Day Gifts from your Photos

Portrait versus Landscape, Part 1
Portrait versus Landscape, Part 2

Here are a few of my wonderful clients from the conference! 

Monday's Musings: Life Lessons from Migraines

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

I had a great post planned for today. But it's too hard to think right now. 

Why? I'm in the throes of another migraine. It will end. Eventually. But in the mean time, it makes thinking hard. Especially if I want to stay on track with my thoughts! 

I've suffered them for quite a while now. Years, in fact. I am doing better overall. Yet, at this moment, this particular one has been going on for quite a few days. Twelve to be exact. But who's counting? 

I know I'm not alone. Millions suffer from migraines. It can just feel like I'm alone during ones that drag on for days. 

I'm thankful it's not a full blown 10-pain-level-go-to-the-ER-kind of migraine. 

Wordless Wednesday: Graduation Time!

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! 

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Prior photography  tips:

Photo Tip Friday: Change your Perspective in Photography and Move

Learn the Craft of Photography, Practice and have Fun!

In May, we celebrated 2 graduations in our family:

 My son from Gardner Webb University and my daughter from high school. 

She starts college in the fall. 

We're very proud of them both! 

Our son graduated from college! 

Photo Tip Friday: Learn the Craft of Photography, Practice and Have Fun!

by Mary Denman     @MaryDenman

Recently, I was asked to talk about my personal photographic journey. About how I developed my style. How changing technology has impacted my photography. 

I'm so glad I was asked.

Why? 

I was surprised by what I found, and I think it might be encouraging to you!

Let's compare some photos I took in 1997 with my old print film cameras versus some 2016 shots taken with my current camera. 

Honestly, I'm surprised people told me I was a good photographer back then!