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Holidays At Home

12/21/2018

My home is not just the physical building in which we live, but it is also the area that surrounds me in my region. So this week, because I spent some time in shopping lines, and finalizing deliveries for clients, I thought I would share some of the things I love about spending the holidays at home. This will be a bit of a departure from my usual pet-filled blog, but I promise there will be a dog at the end.

I love decorating the house. This is me, leaving to deliver photographic ornaments to clients who ordered memories for their tree. I don't take that many selfies for sure, but thought I would take advantage of the fact I was having a good hair day, and also show you a bit of the decorated door.

I was out most of Thursday finalizing my Christmas list shopping. One of my most favorite places to shop is the Waverly General Store. Stopping there on a rainy evening around 5:00 p.m. presents some problems in not only crossing the street from the parking area, but also in getting the angles I wanted on photographs.

Don't these shop windows look warm and inviting? I am thinking that in better weather, a dog in the doorway could be a great shot. Here is that window, up close and personal. There are so many lovely things to gift from this store. I have a hard time deciding.

I really enjoy living in the region where I am located. I have lived many places, but find that, despite the wettest year on record, and the snow I complain about when it comes and stays too long, I love Northeastern Pennsylvania. I also love my clients, and their pets. This year I was fortunate to meet many new furry friends.

And, when I get home, there is always this girl waiting and watching for me.

I think she loves Christmas just as much as I do.

My last session for the year is on Sunday, and after that I think I will settle in for a long winter's nap. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! Merry Merry whatever you celebrate!

For more insight into the holidays, the blog circle awaits. Start with Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography fetching portraits in Coppell and surrounding communities in Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas.

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Sit

12/14/2018

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There is nothing like a good "sit." It's often a question I will ask an incoming client. "Does your dog sit?" I ask this because if it's a portrait you want, then sitting may be the key to getting it.

All of our dogs sit. Even our deaf dogs. They sit for a treat, and no treat is doled out until they do. It's one of the first things we teach after "look at me."

If your dog lacks a good sit, then it's off to Plan B. You sit and hold the dog. Often a dog will settle into a nice sit on its owner's lap, and then I can work on attention.

These tiny tots were much more relaxed on their Dad's lap than on their own. It just so happens that their Dad is Santa!

What about cats you say?

Well, cats are a different story all together. You have to sort of wait cats out. Then when they finally sit, use something to get their attention. In some cases, it's just easier to take a cat portrait and insert it where you'd like it.

Chair props are often handy with kitties, because most will jump on a chair if it's the highest point in the room, after exploring the whole-entire-every-corner-every-inch of the room first.

We are getting close to the end of another blog year. Just a few weeks to go. To see what others have in store for today's post, sit yourself down and read on. Start with Pawparazzi Pet and Animal Photography presented by Shae Pepper Photography. Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend!

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High Key Christmas

12/7/2018

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It's that time of year where everything is sparkly and bright. Very bright.

I have mentioned that working on designing Christmas and Holiday greetings have kept me busy, but what I haven't said is that creating unique and personal messages for clients is one of my most favorite things to do!

The theme for this week's post is "high key," and although I may have covered this topic before (several years ago), I realized that some of the design work I do calls for high key images. I am going to take one example from my last year's work folder to show you how a high key image can make for a great design concept.

This is one very prized kitty. He is well known in his inner-family circles and has somewhat of a reputation.

He was not too keen on a camera or off camera flash. He could care less about my feather on a stick or catnip mouse. His main thought, I am sure, was "when are you going to leave."

He was not a steady eddy, and often would move just when you thought you had the perfect "snap!"

Yet, his parents said, "if you can...make him our card."

I will usually do a few designs (in this case 4 x 8 card-sized) and send them on to the client for review and selection. Based on Frampton's overall attitude, one of my designs centered around turning the photo black and white and bombarding the shadows to a more high key look. I then added some verbage and a somewhat hasty, slapdash hat (believe me, he would NEVER wear one) which also fit his personality. The result is below.

Frampton is suddenly bright and Christmassy.

I am not a fan of colorizing an image (taking a black and white and adding color to certain areas) EXCEPT for fun cards during the holidays, where the technique can serve to heighten a design.

As a Christmas greeting image, it would be pretty boring if I left it as just a black and white Frampton.

The planning of this design included my adding some of the words in now.

I can then use some stock images, backgrounds and textures to finalize the look of the greeting, and make Frampton stand out.

The final design (and the one selected as THE Christmas greeting) is below. You can see how high key Frampton stands out from the traditional reds and greens of the holiday colors. The card was printed with a "pearl" finish, which gave it a festive sheen.

High key can be shot in studio with proper lighting, but Frampton's original photo was taken elsewhere with one light. As you can see, it is possible to take an image and turn it into a high key photo if the photo lends itself to the switch and the conditions are right...and if you watch a cadre of YouTube tutorials.

To see what others have done with high key, you can read through this week's blog circle. Start with Lynda Mowat from Heartstrings Photography, based in Hamilton, New Zealand. As we get closer to the holidays, we are once again, a smaller circle.

While I have finalized Christmas greeting session for this year, I am still fulfilling Christmas "GIFT" sessions. I do have a few spots open and available during the week of December 10th, however the weekends are booked. Last scheduling day is Friday, December 14th in order to have photos selected and in before Christmas.

Didn't make it this year? It's never to early to book your session for 2019! I do send out reminder cards. Have a great weekend! Meow.

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Holidays At Home

Sit

High Key Christmas

i got the shot

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Holidays At Home

Sit

High Key Christmas

i got the shot

Archives By month

(c) Copyright I Got the Shot Photography All Rights Reserved

(c) Copyright I Got the Shot Photography
All Rights Reserved