Posts made in August, 2010
Paper Poms: How To DIY
As featured on Martha Stewart’s site!
Joyous bursts of color dance above a table, imparting a cheerful radiance to a rehearsal dinner or casual reception. The dahlialike pom-poms appear to float in the air; in reality they are hung from the ceiling with monofilament.
Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.
Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.
Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.
Bend wire into a loop to fit around napkin, and twist end around loop to secure. If you want a round pom, tie two together for a top and a bottom.
We all want to be pretty
Oh my goodness, I’m in love with everything from this store! Hate, flowers, bows and feathers!
The best little clippies anywhere!
I ran into these super cute little things on Facebook and had to search her Etsy. I LOVE these so much that I want some for myself! Would they look totally dumb on an adult?
Photographer Interview: Tiffany Burke
Tiffany Burke – Follow Your Art – http://www.followyourartphotography.com/ – Utah
1. How did you fall in love with photography?
I know you hear a lot of photographers say they got into photography to take better images of their own children…well, that’s my story too. I had some pictures taken of my daughter when she was a few months old and I was left wanting so much more. It was then that I started researching other photographers. My eyes were opened to so many amazing photographers. I thought to myself, I want to take pictures like that! So, I taught myself how to shoot manual on My Canon A540 point and shoot. Once I started to figure things out, I asked for my first DSLR camera (a Nikon D80) for Christmas (2 and a half years ago). 2 camera upgrades, several lenses, photoshop, workshops etc. later here I am. I have always been a very artistic person, but I can now say I have found my most perfect medium.
2. What gear do you use and why?
Nikon D700- I adore Nikon’s rich warm tones.
24-70 2.8 – It’s my go to lens for wider shots and creative shots as well. I also love the flare this lens produces.
135mm f/2 – I cannot say enough amazing things about this lens, I adore it! It is in my opinion the perfect portrait lens and the Bokeh is stunning!
85mm 1.8 – this was my favorite lens for a long time but it has taken a back seat lately to my 135mm f/2. Although I still pull it out in tight spots that I can’t always capture with my 135. I hope to upgrade to the 85mm 1.4 soon.
50mm 1.4 – I don’t use this lens often enough but I plan to play around with it a bit more because I hear so many great things about it!
3. What’s your inspiration?
The light first and foremost inspires me daily. I cannot stop myself from admiring the way light illuminates our surroundings, it captivates me. Also the beauty in each and every season. I always find I am most inspired right when the seasons start to change.
4. You seem to really pay a lot of attention to your backgrounds and how you shoot them. How much location scouting do you do and what do you look for?
I am always on the hunt for new locations, it never leaves my mind truthfully. I try to take different routes home or just to run errands etc. to see if I can spot new places to shoot. I have also asked for permission on several occasions to shoot in peoples yards. First and foremost it must have good light, preferably back light. I love to find beautiful fields and natural landscapes. I also look for places with a lot of color and texture that I know will photoshop well.
5. Your photos tell a lot of a story. Do you set up a set or a theme ahead of time often?
Sometimes I will have a theme in mind but not always. It really does just depend on the session and what I am trying to achieve with the pictures. More often that not it is the location that motivates me.
6. We all know that client sessions run a little differently than sessions with our own kids. How do you do things differently?
When I shoot my daughter it truly is an adventure each and every time we go. I have found with my daughter (and most kids for that matter) that I need to give her something fun to do or she is over it fast! I either give her a fun prop or take her to fun new place where she can play. I also know she’s done when she’s done and that’s that. Oh and I am not beyond bribes 
7. Obviously, you’ve worked very hard on your backlighting and it’s a strong suit for you. Without telling us too much, can you give a few tips?
I adore back light! If it’s cloudy on the day of a session I am so bummed. I always shoot my best back lit images in the last hour before the sun sets. What I have learned about back light is you can lose a lot of your shots (too much haze, a crazy flare etc.) so you cannot get discouraged by that because when you succeed it is so worth it. It really is about knowing how to position your client and yourself in the best possible light for the given situation. I try to find light that is filtered (through the trees for example) and not harsh, direct sun. I do use a reflector often as well to bounce the light back on the subject. Also post processing play a huge role in back lit images. A lot of people will throw out an image because it just doesn’t look great straight out of camera. It’s really about knowing how to bring the color and contrast back into the picture.
8. Do you tend to use one aperture or are your settings all over the place?
I really do prefer to shoot pretty wide open. It depends on the lens I am using and the amount of people I am shooting. I prefer to stay at or below 2.8. However if I am trying to achieve a specific type of flare my settings will vary quite a bit.
9. A lot of your clients seem to have celebrity wardrobes. How much coaching on clothing do you do?
t does depend on the session really. I will give my clients examples and suggestions but I am really just very lucky that most of my clients are very well dressed. If I am doing a mentoring session or a workshop though I am usually pretty specific with what my models wear. Seniors are fun too, they often show up with their whole closet stuffed in their car and we just throw fun stuff together.
10. You don’t seem to be a prop-heavy photographer, but sometimes there are a few things. Do you find those pieces on location or do you have a closetful of things to take?
Oh I do love props and my garage is full of them. I try to bring some type of prop with me to every session just for versatility. Some times there are props available to me at a location but mostly I just lug them with me.
11. If you could shoot just for you, what would you be shooting?
My family and I also love shooting nature scenes, I just don’t get to do it often enough. As far as the business side of it, I adore shooting seniors. They are so much fun, up for anything, stylish, and really just entertaining. I used to be a high school teacher so I just love that age!
12. Any parting tips on photography or life in general?
I guess I have a tip that applies to both photography and life. It’s just to take things one day at a time. One thing I’ve learned in my life is that I cannot get too far ahead of myself or things tend to spin out of control. If I take it one day at a time it all seems more manageable. Same with photography, I’ve learned that I grow and mature as an artist one session at a time. It’s about the journey not the destination…..
