let's dance

Have you heard? Today is National Dance Day. I know! Who knew?

What could possibly a better prompt for a photo? So, how about it Sisters? You ready to have our own photo dance off today, right here? 

Let's dance, rock out, spin, shake it, jump, twirl, get Dizzy, and snap, snap, snap, and then share your action shots with us.

Shooting from the Heart: Expressive Photography

 

We are bursting at the seams to share with you the arrival of our new book Expressive Photography –A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting from the Heart!

Insert flattering cat calls and cab whistles from supportive sisters everywhere.

Working on a project like this has been a passionate, intense, even arduous labor of love from inception to writing, gathering, shooting, editing and writing some more. Any author will attest that the process of writing a book is indeed a creative gestation; a growing and birthing of a baby with body, mind and soul power fueling it. Behind Expressive Photography, there are 10 proud mamas who worked at it; nurturing, feeding, coddling, cajoling and loving it like only true mamas can. Between myself, Andrea Scher, Kate Inglis, Sarah-Ji, Maile Wilson, Irene Nam, Stephanie C. Roberts, Karen Walrond, Paige Balcer and Jen Lemen, we’ve birthed a pretty darn adorable baby, don’t you think?

Of course, every mother thinks her baby is the cutest baby on the block, and we’re no exception. She is a beauty, both inside and out. And she’s all gussied up and ready for her debut in her red sparkly shoes even (with the help of Sarah-Ji). So, without any further delay, we present the bright and shiny new book we have lovingly named Expressive Photography –A Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting from the Heart. 

The best part? You will soon be able to take her home with you! Expressive Photography will be officially available online and on the shelves of your local bookstore in October 2010 through our publisher Focal Press. But because we couldn’t be more thrilled to be sharing her with all of you first, we’re giddy that you can pre-order the book now, so you get your copy hot off the presses! Expressive Photography has a home on Amazon just waiting for you to come by for a visit. All you have to do is click. Cooing encouraged.

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Congratulations to the winners of the Hello Gorgeous contest:

The Grand Hello goes to Jade Sheldon of her self portrait. Stunning!

And the 2 runners up are:

Darrah Parker for her shot Reflection

& Puna Miller/Life Signatures for her shot Hello Gorgeous

Thanks everyone for playing along. We loved all of your images! The next mini-contest will be on Friday.

girl seeking whimsy

When I think about the whimsy in my life, I default to the obvious; life with daughters. Dressing-up, imaginary play, fairies and princesses, tea parties, bubble blowing and balloons. But there are many women that not only welcome whimsy into their daily lives, they use it as inspiration both in their creative work and their style sensibilities.

A recent visit to a Trina Turk clothing boutique inspired this in me. The shop was full of splashy color and styles that were fresh and fun. Every detail accounted for, each element was deliciously thought out. My sister and I each had our cameras shooting little things here and there and from floor to ceiling the boutique made me feel dizzy with whimsy. It was delightful.

Where do you find the kind the kind of inspiration that makes your grown-up heart sing? Share with us the whimsy you've discovered lately. 

observer.

My friend Cara leaned over to me that night to comment that I seemed quiet. I replied that my husband had oddly said the same thing to me earlier that day. Suddenly feeling like I should offer up an explanation, the truth was that I didn't have one. While I'm usually fine at holding up my end of the conversation, that night I guess I just felt like observing. Which can be admittedly awkward.

Except that it wasn't. Because I was with great people. And great people don't require you to perform.

Also, I had my camera, which is a huge security blanket for me. As someone who is a closet Introvert, I love my camera for all the expected reasons: she allows me to re-tell stories, she empowers me with the ability to share my perspective.

But sometimes I love her just because she's something legitimate to hide behind. She's an understandable, even condoned way of becoming invisible. And sometimes (frankly) it's freeing to sink back and let stuff happen... without being responsible for an outcome.

How about you? Do you ever personify your camera? We'd love to see your examples of what she (or he) means to you.

Genuineness

Genuineness (noun): the act of being true, unaffected, open, honest, forthright

One of the best ways to find real genuineness (yes, it's a real word!) is to go on vacation.  When you have the ability to escape your day-to-day life and get away from it all, genuineness will most definitely occur.  I just got back from a week-long, spring break vacation with 4 other families.  This is one of the best times that I love to photograph my friends and loved ones. Every single smile I capture is authentic and real.  No one is worried about their hair and make-up being just right and even those men who usually look so uncomfortable in photographs will pose willingly for me.  I don't worry about getting that 'great shot' or about composing the photo 'just right'.  Instead, I just take pictures for the sheer pleasure of taking pictures. 

When all was said and done, I came home with over 400 photos.  As I went through them all, one thing was evident: genuineness.  It was in the smiles, the expressions and in the laughter that I heard all week long.  I couldn't not share with everyone so I made a slideshow for them, letting them see the genuineness of it all, too.  As I state in my slideshow, whether or not it is clear to us, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. The evidence is plain to see.

How about you? Do you have a photo from something or somewhere or someone that shows true genuineness? Please share.  We'd love to see them.