i got the shot photography
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PETS
  • PEOPLE
  • SESSION INFORMATION
  • PRODUCTS
    • Christmas Greetings
  • GIVING BACK
  • CONTACT INFORMATION
  • BLOG
Elaine Mueller Tweedy
           (570) 575-1705

On Being Grateful

11/20/2020

1 Comment

 
This week's blog theme is Gratitude.

I am grateful for many things.  Most of them have to do with my family, home, and waking up every day.  I am grateful for the unseasonable warm weather on any day it happens in November, all of our animals, and parents who placed a premium on education and trying everything at least once.

We have all been going through quite an ordeal in this country, with COVID dominating our news.  My studio was shut down between March and June, and when our state came out of the "yellow" phase and into the "green," I complied with a COVID plan for continuing.

I am so grateful for the clients who called and changed studio appointments to outdoor sessions.  I am thankful for all of my clients in general, but those that went with the flow and still pursued photos of their furkids and families during these difficult times, have a special place in my heart.
Picture
I am beyond grateful for the beautiful surroundings we have in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which afford great backdrops for outdoor sessions.

I am grateful for those who know that capturing a memory with their pet, then valuing it enough to place it as artwork on their wall, is a priority--because time marches on.

I am so very thankful to have been graced with the task of capturing those memories.  This weekend, as I finish another batch of holiday cards for a client, I am aware that 2020 is coming to an end.  We are all unsure what 2021 will bring us, and it's been a very long road to get to the end of this year.  But I do know I will be ready, once again, in the New Year, to make sure that beautiful memories of pets and their people are captured by my camera.

Oh, and I am ready for more Border Collies.
Picture
To see more things that the blog circle photographers are grateful for, follow the links around the blog until you are once again back here.  Start with Susannah Maynard of Pet Love Photography, serving Greater Cincinnati and the San Francisco Bay Area.  Warmer weather for our weekend here in PA!  Get out there while you can!  Enjoy!
1 Comment

The Adventure is Real

11/13/2020

5 Comments

 
In 2012, when I made a commitment to pursuing photography as my second career, little did I know what an exciting adventure that decision would start.

Recently, my continual hard work, education, and willingness to accept technical criticism in order to improve my craft, culminated in my first-time-ever entering into Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition (IPC), where one of my images received Merit Collection status, as well as inclusion in the Showcase Book, that is compiled from images that receive a 5-0 merit rating among 5 judges.  Pure Gold did that.
Picture
Make no mistake, this type of work and competition is not for the faint of heart.  (Watching print competition, and hearing a discussion over your image is nerve-wracking!) However, it is WELL worth the outcomes--the biggest one being, personal improvement.  Here, you compete against no one but yourself, and I think we know how difficult self-as-competitor can be.  Over 5000 images were submitted this year, with 1706 being selected for the General Merit Collection.

Pure Gold is a simple image, taken of a Golden Retriever named Tioga.  Taken in studio with basic lighting, and processed in PhotoShop Elements, it is an image that needed little post-processing help, because I got it right in camera.  I got it right in camera because I have invested time and money in becoming a professional photographer, understanding my equipment, my lighting, and my subjects (which are primarily pets).  Being able to take a client image and compete with it, then have that image succeed, is a big thumbs up in terms of the quality of work afforded to my clients.

My 8 year journey, to date, has seen personal family setbacks and heartbreaking loss.  Still trying to schedule clients amid that family turmoil and loss, served to hold me back from entering print competitions for a while.  Deciding on what type of certification I would pursue, then finally finding the time to do so, was another huge consideration.  Digging deep for the motivation to continue on some days, when the world was especially gloomy--all played a role in where I find myself today.

This past month I also entered Professional Photographers Association of Pennsylvania's Capture 2020 print competition.  Here I had two images receive merit acceptance, with one receiving the highest print score in the Animal Portrait category, and the other being my first-ever challenge to myself in competing outside my comfort zone in the Illustrative category (hummingbird).
Picture
Picture
So I have placed my toe in the water in terms of International Print Competition.  My humble goal for next year is to have a few more images merit, and maybe even one Loan, while keeping time devoted to client work still my highest priority.

Yet another adventure!

This is a blog circle, with the theme this week being "adventure."  To see more adventurous photographers, start here with Pawparazzi Pet and Animal Photography presented by Shae Pepper Photography, then look for the link at the end of each blog to move on to the next circle member.  Enjoy!
5 Comments

    i got the shot

    What People Are Saying:

    "From start to finish I had a great experience with I Got The Shot Photography.  I highly recommend Elaine and her excellent work!"
                                ~Carol C.


    "I LOVE MY PHOTOS. Thank you so much for getting a beautiful portrait of my two babies together.  It is perfect!"
                               ~Melinda F.

    "Elaine’s photos capture the very spirit of her subject."
                               ~Tim S.

    Archives By month

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed

(c) Copyright  i got the shot photography
 All Rights Reserved

Proudly powered by Weebly