Fort Mill Wedding Photographer Blog

101 in 1,001: Create & Sell a book on Blurb

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Another 101 in 1,001 goal is complete! In 2011 I had a goal to create a coffee table book, but I had a hard time coming up with a topic for the photos. Late March I went on a retreat in Montreat, NC, and the idea hit me – a book of moments that have made me stop in my tracks. Sometimes when we go on vacation there are just those moments that make you stop and thing “Wow, we’re really here.” This book is compilation of those moments and memories. It’s important to note that these are my “wow” moments – everyone won’t be as moved by these images, verses and quotes, but for me, these images still make me appreciate life every time I look at them and I’m thrilled to be sharing these with everyone on Blurb.

So check and mark again – goal #78 is complete!

Tags: 001, 101 in 1, 101 in 1001, be still book on blurb, Red K Photography, selling a book on blurb

by Kelli

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February 2, 2012 - 8:15 am

Brittani - Kelly this is so cool! Those images are absolutely beautiful. What an awesome goal, too.

Baby It’s Cold Outside! Tips for getting great photos indoors.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January and February are definitely not the busy season for family portraits, weddings and kiddos in the south. Once it hits around 50 degrees we’re ready to bundle up and make chicken noodle soup. :-) But that’s actually one of the things I love most about winter – you spend more time indoors with your families, so it’s a great time to get some candid indoor shots showing your daily life as it happens.

How often do you get a Saturday morning free to bake cookies with your kids or watch a movie snuggled under a blanket? Take advantage of those moments and capture them as they happen, I promise you won’t regret it. Some of my favorite photos from my childhood are candids of us around the house. Those simple moments are sometimes the most special.

Here are just a few tips on how to take advantage of those cold, winter weekends and put your camera to good use! First, turn off your flash. If you’re not sure how to do that, spend your first free Saturday reading your camera documentation and figure it out, it’ll change your photos forever! Now that you have no flash, you need to find the light!

1. Position your subject so that they are facing a window (you should be standing in front of the window so the light is hitting your back). Window lighting is some of the best and most flattering lighting you’ll find, and it adds a great dimension to your picture. With the window light hitting your subject, they should be well lit and you shouldn’t need your flash. Here’s an example of how your photo should turn out in this situation. Molly actually has a window behind her as well, so your photo might have a darker background, but you can see all of the details in her furry face, and that’s the idea.

2. Position your subject so they are near a window but not directly facing it (and you can be off to the side). The idea here is that you might actually want to create some depth in the photo by having shadows and highlights. This is actually my favorite way to use window light, so here are several different pics to give you an idea of why I think this is a great use of indoor lighting…

3. Position your subject so they are facing the window and you are off to the side. This angle lights their face well, but you still get some highlights and shadows from standing at a slightly different perspective.

Window lighting isn’t the only great indoor light source. Try to think of others you might have around your house. How about roasting marshmallows over a fireplace or someone reading by a lamp? Most importantly – HAVE FUN! Break that camera out in the winter as much as you do in the summer and capture some memories.

Tags: charlotte photographer, Fort Mill Photographer, photo tips, photographer charlotte, photographer fort mill, photographer rock hill, Red K Photography, Rock Hill Photographer

by Kelli

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Inspiration Monday – Medal of Honor

Monday, January 30, 2012

About 5 years ago I was at a leadership conference and I had the opportunity to hear a Medal of Honor recipient speak. To hear Colonel Fox recount the moment during the Vietnam War when he performed an amazing courageous act for our country was powerful beyond belief. There have been over 3,400 recipients, and at the time I heard Colonel Fox speak there were only 115 still with us. He recounted his story like he it was just doing his job, what he was trained to do as a Marine. He didn’t sound proud or boastful, just the opposite actually. He seemed so humble that he almost didn’t understand why people were willing to stand to hear his hour-long presentation. But it really wasn’t a question – the room became standing room only about 15 minutes after the doors opened, and I’m willing to guarantee that no one regretted that decision.

The crowd from the room poured out into the lobby after the presentation to buy a copy of the book and have it autographed. I snatched one up and it was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. When I’m feeling a little down or struggling with motivation I can just pick up this book, read any story inside and it immediately puts my world and my problems into perspective. Thanks to all of our brave men and women serving our country, and for those that have received the Medal of Honor, you are my hero.