willy nilly.

I didn't realize I'd been shooting like this until a client pointed it out. With disbelief, she said "You're not even looking through the camera?!" I looked down and realized that indeed she was right... I wasn't. I think it happens reflexively as a subconscious urge to subtract the camera-barrier. This way our faces can meet and interact. This photo probably isn't the greatest example because the little boy is looking away. But it demonstrates the willy-nilly approach. Of course there are tons of crappy shots that come from this roulette-wheel technique. But it's balanced by a few great ones too. And there are always angles that I would have neglected to find had I been thinking harder about it. Sometimes it's just good to give thinking a rest, no?

Do you ever shoot all willy-nilly? We'd love to see some examples and hear your thoughts! 

Also, I have a special holiday treat for you today... (and maybe a bit of a shameless plug too)! In case you haven't heard, I just launched my new website of camera bags for WOMEN! We're super excited and would love it if you clicked over to check it out at www.epiphaniebags.com! The bags are set for delivery in February, but you can purchase gift certificates now! PLUS one lucky commenter will win a free bag of their choice! Leave a comment today and you'll be entered to win! 

And if you'd like to pre-order a bag for yourself or as a gift, we're offering the Shutter Sisters community a special discount. When you check out, type in the code: SISTER and you'll receive 15% off your purchase. This is the last promo that we'll be doing until next spring. And it expires Sunday at 12:01am CST. So don't miss out!  :)

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Updated December 18th...

Using the random integer generator, THE WINNER IS CAROLYN from Silly Happy Sweet! CONGRATULATIONS! I'll be contacting you with the details. Thank you for all the comments everyone! Remember the discount code is good through Saturday!  :) Happy holidays!  

Comments

[ami]

Finally, an absolutely fabulous design!! I will be ordering one, good luck to you!

[Stephanie Fox]

One of your bags would be the best Christmas present ever! I never get tired of looking at your photographs. They are very unique.

[Jodie Cowan]

Love the new bags, on my wish list for sure...and I like the willy nilly approach, it's just fun!

[Melissa B]

Love the way you shoot pictures. I can totally see where it helps with connecting to the kids. Thanks for creating the photo bags. They are stylish, functional and all around wonderful. Hoping Santa brings me one.

[April A.]

love love love the bags!!!

[Victoria]

I love the new Epiphanie bags!!! I cannot wait to get one! And I'm definitely going to try shooting this way...at least some of the time to see what happens. :)

[Betty Crockett]

The bags are amazing! I am a willy nilly shooter.. I always feel stupid trying to take pics of people all the time, plus if they see the camera coming up, they tend to pose... I like the sneak attack better!

[RObin]

what great bags! and I love that shot - I am going to try shooting that way too!

[Martha]

Love willy nilly! Gonna spend more time willy nillying!

[Brenda Geile]

I will definetely have to try shooting willy nilly, what a great picture! Love the camera bags, especially the red.

[jules]

you're right... it's a perfect way to connect!

[michelle]

this is a great self portrait of an artist and beauty, not to mention the kiddos are adorable!!!!

I do this sometimes as well, I totally hate to feel that disconnect from the event or sunset or munchkin and i often line up a shot and just look with my natural eyes for the subsequent angles.....not that I am by any means a pro, like you all!

an example of my un-view finder sighting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49754167@N00/4194352016/

[Rachel]

Willy-nilly - LOVE that! And those bags.. can't say enough good things about them!

[luckypenny]

Your bags are so beautiful! They beat the pants off the flaking leather satchel that my camera calls home!

[Nancy]

Loooove the bags...and I'm so glad to see that they aren't leather (I'm almost vegan and was worried that I'd fall in love with the bags but not be able to buy one)!

As for willy nilly shooting, lol, my #1 "most interesting" flickr image is one that i shot from the hip! http://www.flickr.com/photos/viaveg/447302912/in/set-72157600063599637/

[Heather]

I love your shots. I wouldn't mind a new bag either.

[Teresa]

That's a great picture!

[Wendy Tienken]

Isn't it great when we come across an image and get a peak at what we look like when we're shooting? Love your shot. And I love shooting willy-nilly. Thanks for the reminder!

p.s. GREAT bags!

[Holly]

i shoot willy nilly quite often! some kids just won't look at the camera (and these are fantastic shots, in and of themselves - don't get me wrong!) but they WILL turn and look at your face. willy nilly-ness helps...in a pinch. :)))

gorge photo, by the way! :))) carefree, 'behind-the-scenes' and LOVELY.

[Karen C]

LOVE the bags! I recently started shooting without looking through the lens... mostly high-angle and low-angle shots to try to get a different perspective. It definitely takes practice, especially if using autofocus!

[Helena]

How wonderful that Maile was able to manifest her dreams and create these incredible bags. Bravo!

[Jamie]

My son is just over 1 so I am learning that I need to be able to shoot "Willy Nilly" He just won't look at the camera anymore, but he'll sometimes look at me! So far my angle has been awful - maybe one out of 50 arg!!!!!!! I will Not give up tho!

My goodness, I don't think I've been as excited about a purchase as I am about this camera bag... Absolutely stunning!!!!!!

[Melissa McIntosh]

I'm drooling over those bags! I don't usually shoot that way, but I am going to start trying and see what happens!

[Rana]

I love the bags. I want the red one. I just bought a new camera and it NEEDS that red bag. That is so sharp. I can't wait to order mine.

I love that picture. That little boy looks so cute. I will have to try shooting from that angle or odd angles. Thanks for the idea.

[k. chock]

i can't wait to shoot like this and trust my shot will come out

[Joanna]

I love your pictures, the way you process them, compose them, everything! And the bags are super cool too!!

[leslie]

i am absolutely 100% head over heals in love with those bags.

[Celestial]

I can't decide if I love Ginger or Belle more! What a great idea to make camera bags like this. So beautiful and stylish.

[Sarah]

Willy Nilly - inspiring! Great bags!

[Michelle]

Wow, what a fantastic way to shoot. I really must try this. ps - loooove the bags.

[Michelle]

The bags look fantastic! I would love one, if I get lucky.

[Jenae]

I always shoot willy nily.. I think it is the best way to get a real image.... even if i only get half a face... :-)

[Julie]

I love shooting willing nilly too. I used to do it with film, but digital has made it so much easier for me to afford it. My dad always used to say that the difference between a good photographer and a not-so-good one is the amount of photos they take: it will often take 10 or 100 or 1000 (or more!) bad ones to get one that is truly great. Willy Nilly is SUCH a part of this!

[juuulia]

I do shoot willy-nilly sometimes but it almost seems that the good shots are so few and far between that it's not worth the trouble. Almost. I llllove the camera bags, they're so pretty. Me wants.

[Peggy]

More and more, I've tried to do willy-nilly shooting. WAY more crappy than good. It's not easy steppin' outside that box, but Shutter Sisters always inspires me to do that. Thanks for the opportunity to win the camera bag. I'm heading to your site now!! Peggy

[Bonnie]

Those bags are beautiful! Absolutely on my wish list!

[jen]

your bags are soooo fabulous...long awaited...please tell me they will be available for international shipping???

[Eden]

Now, I really like this shot! I also think your new bags are fabulous!! Good luck with your new venture :D

[Rene]

So chic! I love 'em

[Michelle Z.]

You have no idea how willy our nilly can get. A lot of my pictures are failures, but there are always one or two that are outstanding because I was doing something crazy.

The bags are awesome! I wish they could be here in time for Christmas.

[Kathy]

Beautiful bags! I like concealing the fact that I have a camera with me when I travel and those bags are perfect.

[Karen]

Great shot! LOVE the bags. I've been wanting a bag that would protect my Nikon, but looks like a purse, brilliant!

[carrie]

I need to relax more like that. I always have the camera smashed to my face.

[Kerry]

Hey, I do that kind of shooting too. I just do it to try to get angles/ perspectives that I might not otherwise get or to try to get my baby girl to look at the camera. Now I don't feel so silly about it. I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE those bags! I'm getting the new (real) camera for Christmas this year and I will need an amazing bag to go with it!

[Sarah Jane]

The bags are great!

[Adella]

Oh I would love a bag. The brown one is so hip and cool!

[Alicia]

Wow! Your bags are amazing, and just what I've been looking for. I too am guilty of shoving my camera in my purse and just praying that it doesn't get banged up. The Lola bag is perfect. Red. Fabulous. I can't wait to own one.

[Tiffany Tollefson]

I'm not a pro photographer, but I sure do appreciate photography & strive to take the cutest pictures I can! I love the willy nilly approach...I've never been brave enough to try it because I'm too focused on applying what I've learned about my camera...metering, getting the right white balance, and so it goes...maybe I just need to let go & shoot away! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Beth]

oh please please please let me win one of these super awesome camera bags to replace the ugly pain of a backpack that i currently use!!

[Amarie]

I thought of shooting that way before, but not sure how my photos would come out. Now, I'm motivated to give it a try! Please enter me for a camera bag? :-)