Contest.... oh yeah!!! FREE STUFF!!!!

I just love shooting couples, so I've decided to jump on the bandwagon and offer a couples photo shoot contest. Below are the details.

Anyone can enter. Email me a photo of you and your partner at evening.star.photo@gmail.com. I will post the photos onto an album on my Facebook page. I will return the email once the photo has been posted. Only one photo per couple will be allowed to be used.

Once posted on Facebook; email, share, or contact your friends in any way you can so that they can go on to my page and LIKE your photo. The photo with the most likes wins the contest.

This contest will remain open for entries AND voting until 11:50pm February 29th.

I encourage you to be creative in your photo choosing. Pick one that represents your style as a couple and also the most recognizable so that others can see who it is. 

The winner will be announced on facebook as well as through email on March 1st.

The winning couple will receive a FREE 3 hour photo couples or engagement photo shoot, and 1 CD with photos from the shoot.

Growth

It has been 15.5 months since I have started my business and I have watched it grow before my eyes into something I didn't know was possible. I'm still the newbie in the business, which I rather enjoy. I am just soaking up all the new techniques, information, poses, prop ideas, angle ideas, lighting ideas, and editing ideas. Through all this learning I believe I have discovered my distinct and unique style within the photography community. I call my style fresh, unique, and modern with a twist of traditionalism (if I'm wrong, I would certainly love input on labeling my style).

I never thought I would ever feel comfortable photographing people, until my room-mate at the time and her husband pushed me to go outside my comfort zone. As a trained traditional landscape photographer I never thought I would trade my manual camera in for a digital one... I fought the concept for many years, but I'm glad I made the switch. I still own and use my manual camera from time to time, I don't think I could ever give up my dark room at Photoworks in Glen Echo Park. All I need is an ipod with some Pearl Jam playing and I am in my idea of what heaven will be like for me.

This photo shoot in particular is extra-special to me. 348 days ago I photographed this couple on a deary snowy covered day, and was pleased with the results I had then. This shoot is so special to be because not only is it family... but it also shows my growth and comfort in my business and my talents. So some of you may know, over the summer I ran into a hard time finding funding to continue my business. I was researching grants and tax breaks to help funnel funds into equipment I needed desperately. I was just about to pull the plug of the business when in September I received a very small $2,000 grant, it was enough to change my attitude and continue investing in my business. These photos have refueled my passion and my drive to watch my business grow and succeed. Also some of you may know, my birthday is January 21st... I can honestly say these photos (seeing the growth in myself as a photographer and my work) is the best birthday gift I could ever ask for. This new drive and actual proof of improvement (and a large amount of improvement at that) has solidified the thought that I was designed, created, and called to work in this industry.

Mike and Christie are a super cute couple who are very photogenic. I ask them to do a pose, and they move it to their comfort adding small surprises with each and every frame. They're very creative and came up with multiple poses on their own, which is so much fun!

Before

After

Some more before (aka 348 days ago) and afters (today). I am just amazed at how much I've learned and experienced between the two. Not to mention how much these two have grown and matured over the year. 

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

 










 Now just to show how adorable this couple is, I asked them to do the pose in color, the next frame had the photo in black and white. (insert "awwws" here). I know its just so adorable. I aww every time I see it. The love they have for each other just pours out of every photograph.

 There is one special photo that will be introduced on Tuesday, January 10th that I can't wait to show. It will be posted on my Facebook page. They each wrote a special message to each other and doesn't know what it is... I can't wait to unveil it!!!

I just love this one so much!!! They're just too precious for me to handle. I am just so thankful for the experiences, clients, blessings, and knowledge I've had over the year. Not many people can walk away from a job saying they love what they do. Well... I love what I do every single day and I have fabulous memories to show for it!!!! I hope in another year Mike and Christie will invite me to do another shoot so I continue to evaluate my growth in this industry.

Portraits with Sam

This is me playing catch up. These posts are out of order but for the sake of catching up we'll allow it. Blogging after a photo shoot is a new thing I hope I can get used to. 

After doing headshots for Alex for a photogenic competition I was asked to do some for Sam. Its nice when you get win wins. Sam gets photos and I get to try out new techniques I have yet to research yet. WIN WIN! 

Our first stop was this farm not to far from Sam's house. I had this open field vision for her. When I saw this farm it was immediate this was really the vision I was hoping for. This fence was just absolutely amazing and so glad we stumbled upon it. 

 

Then we moved to Main Street in Ellicott City. 

This is my picture haven. I love all the new ideas I get while I'm down there. 

Sam was just so much fun to work with and even more fun to go exploring with when looking for new locations. We wish all of the girls who are entering the competition the best of luck and we especially hope those who had photos taken by us win! 

boy its been a long time.

Sorry its been so long. School was rough this year. I'm devoting myself this summer at working on my blog and bringing it up to date. As some of you might have noticed, I redesigned the website. It is more professional and much easier to navigate compared to the old one. Websites are a continuous works in progress so visit often for updates.

Wedding Season

WE BOOKED A WEDDING!!!!


Since the wedding is so close, I will be doing some practice shots. One of my ballet girls have agreed to assist me in this on Thursday. Will post the pictures later. Editing will take place Presidents day!!!!


So EXCITING!!!!!

Challenges

I love a good challenge. I was thrown a couple on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; and I loved every second of it. In my learning process to creating a diverse and creative portfolio I was asked to come over to my aunts house and photograph her daughter. Thrown off guard a bit she asked to do a few brother-sister shoots and a couple shoot. I loved the challenge and I learned to think on my feet. I usually spend my time preparing for the photo shoots the night before looking up creative poses and reinforcing elementary ideas such as remembering my angles and using all of them to the best of my ability. I envision the angles and the shoots with the location and go in with a clear idea of what I want accomplished, while be blinded by my image I have sometimes found different angles that have worked out better. Thankfully this has never impeded my ability to take a great picture... just a thought of crap I should have considered that idea before wrapping up.

I digress (as I often do when I get on a tangent). Unprepared for the brother sister shoot (it was hinted as a possibility but not fully confirmed) I am thankful I had a few tricks up my sleeve that I had planned for future shoots. Those turned out excellent and I love them.

As mentioned my second challenge was the couple shoot with my cousin and his extremely adorable girlfriend. This being in my comfort zone I mastered! We got some amazing shots at a barn behind their house. I love this barn and will definitely be in contact with the owner to take future pictures there! While taking a break in the warmth they both jumped straight on the computer to get a few more ideas that I had not already expressed. (this is a perfect example as to why I always set up a mini consultation to talk out ideas they have and I have, which worked excellently on the fly). I'm so happy to have creative and innovated cousin and girlfriend because they jumped right on the ball. My motto has always been I'm here and I don't want you to leave with a regret so if you have an image you would like to pan out to bring it up. Better it be done then not at all. We hit some great shots with their last minute idea to do some research on their style.

Aren't they the cutest? I told you she was adorable!!



My goal starting in February is to keep my camera glued to my hip and taking pictures and blogging at least once a week; maybe more!

Clausen Family Reunion

As my first official post for my blog as well as for a new year; I find it only fitting to include my family. My uncle, aunt, and three out of the four cousins visited over the holiday season from Colorado. It was lovely having them here and heart-breaking seeing them leave at the same time. As a close family, we have get togethers for just about every holiday there is. Its wonderful, dramatic, exciting, and overwhelming all in a span of a few hours. The family is so big, it is not unusual to see a new cousin each holiday (as our generation is hitting the age of family building). Not to mention we are quickly expanding to the point were only a few houses can hold our size. I imagine one day will need to find a rental space (fortunately I work room rental facility… DISCOUNT!).

laying down in the middle of the inner harbor

Any who the visiting family hasn’t been here in seven years. Its so hard to believe its been that long, but sadly its true. Make the journey across the country with children, economy crashing  prices, and school is not easy. As it also keeps us from visiting them. Solution present: they must move here immediately! (only in dreams I suppose). They caught wind of me starting my own business and playfully hinted they would like some senior pictures of their oldest… which turned into me telling them I’m taking them and turning it into an entire family affair. We stretched the photo shoot into a two day affair due to lighting, early morning set backs, over booking, and getting lost (ahem… thanks to me).  Our first part of the photo shoot was taken at the inner harbor in Baltimore City. The family hand picked the location for its beauty and the double whammy of seeing the sights of the area. Hehe… I convinced the family to lay down in the middle of the inner harbor for a picture; which is hands down my favorite picture I have ever taken so far in my career.

The next day early in the morning on New Years Day (no my finest moment from a festive night before) we completed the final shoot in Historic Ellicott City. Its one of my favorite places to take pictures. The vibe, the history, the quality, hometown feeling, and personal love for the place makes it my favorite. I had had just the two girls and had them pose in various locations.

I loved every second of the the time I spent with them; but I especially loved photographing them. They are truly an amazing family and I can’t wait to see them again.