Have you seen totally rads awesome new actions?

a subtle retouch - mouse over to see the before

I'm super psyched about Totally Rads new action set, Pro Retouch 2.0. Wow...it's crazy..... I can't imagine how pumped pro photographers/retouchers must be. It's really quite incredible.

Retouching is a LOT of work...very tedious.... Totally Rad has made the process easy....and dare I say fun!?! Honestly, this set would be fab for any and all. I love it!

I put together a little video for you to check out...A little walk-through retouch.... 

For more info on Pro Retouch 2.0 zip over to Totally Rad and check it out. They have lots of demos.... so you can watch the magic unfold. It's awesome. Well done Totally Rad! 

View on Vimeo

In honour of today's one word prompt.... something white... today's photo was taken in my favourite place.... the 'white room'......with a little Pro Retouch magic and a black and white conversion. We'd love to see your 'something white' photos..... Be sure to tag them with #shuttersisters so they are easy to find and enjoy.

on fearlessness

The context of could you take my portrait would help, because it was fair to assume that she wanted me with her, that we were collaborators. But I wasn't sure it would be enough. When I lifted the camera to my face, would I see the burden, the fear of glass, the uncertainty of self? Would I be able to get past it, taking something of her?

I've felt that way with someone else's camera focused on me. That gulp. Eek. It's not a great day for this. You feel all tight-of-breath and you worry what you're showing, what's being seen. Intimacy, trust, and self-acceptance (or lack of it). And then you become conscious of all those things and then it shows - oh crap it's showing - and you become convinced that you're just not photogenic, just not x-enough or y-enough.

This day, I lifted the camera to see her, wondering how it would go. Aperture, exposure. Turned a bit. The wind picked up, and she smiled, and the rest of the day went like that. She didn't hesitate, and so neither did I. We played. She taught me about the mutual gift of fearlessness. From now on I'm going to cultivate it, in others and in myself. Because it's just like Karen says. We are all beautiful.

Today, share with us your portraits, and your thoughts on capturing people in all their comforts and discomforts. Have you found that sweet, fearless spot yet? Have you photographed despite a lack of it?

feel it all

"I was waiting for such a long time, she said. I thought you forgot.

It's hard to forget, I said, when there is such an empty space when you are gone."

~ storypeople

When you feel something big (love, joy, light, anger, anxiety) grab your camera. This is the agreement I have made with my muse. She provides color and light and sounds of summer thunder from behind closed doors. I provide the camera and the willingness to step into the moment.

I have been smiling so much lately that my cheeks hurt. Suddenly I'm one of those smiley people you see smiling while driving for apparently no reason at all. I used to question those people. I'd wonder "What's making them so happy? Will I ever be that happy?"

This lightness in me was asking to be documented. I want to remember this time of feeling it all. It is simply a time of newness, and I am embracing it for as long as it stays or as fleeting as it floats away. I am here right now. Being happy.

How are you feeling? How is life treating you? Today show us a portrait that reveals a sense of feeling. Let your image tell the story of your heart.

capturing authenticity

There is little I desire more in my work than authenticity, and yet it has often seemed so elusive.

I long for the images I create to say something genuine- to be more than a pose, a smile, a physical likeness. I have frequently struggled with how to achieve that consistently.

In reflecting on past work, I noticed a common factor in the images that really spoke to me- there was an emotional connection happening with my subject. It seems so simple, and yet I have rarely put enough emphasis on the importance of those connections. I might remember every other necessary detail for a great shot, but if that connection is not made, there will be little true depth in the final image.

The connections I’m speaking of happen when I as the photographer honor the humanity and uniqueness of the person I am photographing, and allow that to be the focus of the images.

In every art form, a certain level of vulnerability is required from the artist in order to convey something that is real. In photography, this is in allowing ourselves to be open and thoroughly ourselves in our interactions with those we photograph. Through our genuineness, they will feel comfortable showing us the truest parts of themselves.

This discovery is such a gift, because it makes every session an opportunity for real relationship. If I know my subject already, then I get to know them better, and if they are a client whom I just met, a new friendship is formed. My work has become about connecting with people and telling their stories rather than only being focused the technical aspects of creating great images, and through that I have discovered a new passion for what I do.

When we pour our hearts into our work, the result will be beautifully authentic.

What are some specific ways you connect with the people you photograph? In the comments, share a favorite image that you feel embodies something real.

Image and words by Guest Sister Hannah Mayo. Visit her site Hannah Mayo Photography or her blog to discover more about her and her work.

Familiar

I love meeting new families and creating beautiful, lasting images of their children. My goal is always to try to capture their true personality, but it can be difficult. Depending on the child, meeting a new person can be intimidating, not to mention a person with a big black camera pointed in their direction. I try to remind myself to slow down and relax, so the kids (and parents) can come out of their shell a bit. And at the end of the day, I hope I did a good job.

As I edit the photos, I am aware of certain expressions and faces that I love. But sometimes I wonder if they are typical for that child. Having only known the child for an hour, how can I be sure that I captured the personality that mom and dad know and love? I did my best.

Recently I was able to do a full photo session with the son of our dear friends. Even though they live in another state, we manage to get together three to four times a year. I have gotten to know their little boy since he was just a few days old and love to snap a few pictures of him every time I see him. So it was refreshing to go back reflect on these latest photos and know that his real personality shines through.