Sunday, November 25, 2012

BBL 2012-2013 | Purchase Flash Equipment


#11 PURCHASE FLASH EQUIPMENT

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I decided it was time to purchase a new flash because more and more often I was feeling limited by not having one, mostly while attempting to photograph personal events in dim lighting. However, after attending a workshop where I was able to experiment with flash photography, I also liked the idea of being able to do more creative things with it during client sessions.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I haven't done more than oooh and aaah over the flash so far, but I'm sure once I get the hang of using it I will wonder how I managed to go so long without it.

The details...

After doing tons of research and picking the brains of all of the photographers I know, I opted to get Canon's newest addition to their flash family: the Speedlite 600EX-RT. I won't bore you with the reasons why, but I felt like this was the best option given everything I learned.

Isn't it pretty...



Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.


Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Self-Portrait | November 2012

As someone who has spent most of my life living in places where winter = dreary days full of cold and snow, I cannot even begin to express how wonderful and amazing it is to finally live some place where winter = warm days full of sunshine.  For the first time in my life, I feel like I have found where I belong.  I was born to live here!

Almost every day this month, I have walked out the door and turned my face up to the sun to feel its warm rays beating down on me. And each time I do, I can't help thinking to myself, "It's November! I can't believe this is the weather, and it is November!"


And for all of you back home, yes, it is is warm as it looks! I was sweating up a storm sitting out there in all that black, and was wishing I was dressed in shorts and a tank top. I opted for the long skirt, simply because I'm allergic to grass and wanted to minimize the post-photo itching as much as possible.

Did you miss some of my past self-portraits?  Clicking here will take you to all of my self-portrait blog posts. Clicking here will take you to my self-portrait Facebook album.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Jen + Adam + London + Sterling's Sneak Peek

You know when you are eating something you really, really like and you keep telling yourself, "just one more" and before you know it you've eaten the entire package? That's exactly what happened to me as I was editing photos of this ADORABLE family. Every time I decided that I was done, I'd see just one more that I had to include and before I knew it their sneak peek was double the normal size! I hope you enjoy seeing these sweet photos of Jen and Adam and their boys as much as I enjoyed taking and editing them.

Their little guy, Sterling, is 5 months old, and isn't quite ready to sit up on his own but Jen really wanted some photos of him with his big brother, London. So, my (very light weight and easy to move) living room chair came to our rescue. How sweet is this photo of London holding Sterling's hand. Melt.


The whole family got together for some photos in the chair...


And then we took some photos of Adam and London while Sterling had a little snack...


I just have to share a cute little story from the session: I was talking to London, and asking him for ideas about what we should do next. I never realized it before, but apparently I have a habit of saying, "What do you say?" when I mean "What do you think?" or "Is that OK with you?" Every time I said it to London he immediately responded with "Thank you!" Cutest thing ever, right?  Jen and Adam obviously have done a great job of raising him to be very polite.


I love being able to capture fun moments like these!...


If you don't know by now, I have a HUGE thing for shoe photos.  I tumbled instantly head over heels in love when I saw this image...


Jen and Adam changed places with the boys so we could take some sweet mother, son photos...




Then Adam and Sterling joined us for some more shots of the whole family...



Adorable, adorable, adorable!...




Swoon!...


By this point, the boys were tuckered out and London had well earned the treat he kept asking about throughout the session. (He decided that his treat should be to go to Disneyland if we was good during his photos. Smart kid.) So, we decided to take a few photos of Jen and Adam together...




I absolutely have to send a HUGE thank you to my husband for helping me with this session, and especially for keeping an eye on London and Sterling while I captured the photos of Jen and Adam together. My sweet hubby isn't exactly a kid person and he got a bit of the "deer in the headlights" look when we asked him to watch them for a few minutes. It never ceases to amaze me just how far that man will go to help me out when I need him to. He's definitely a keeper!

And last but certainly not least, Jen and Adam, thank you so much for allowing me to take these photos for you and to spend an evening with your precious family. It was so wonderful to meet all of you and to capture these memories for you.  I'm so happy that I was able to give you your very first official family photos with the four of you! :)

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Micaiah + Ben's Sneak Peak {Engagement Session}

This past weekend I had the great pleasure of taking Micaiah and Ben's engagement photos.  I work with Micaiah at my day job, and when Ben popped the question I offered to take these photos as a gift to them.  I couldn't be more honored that they trusted me to take their engagement photos, and I am so excited to share them with you!

I really love photographing couples but I rarely get the opportunity to do so.  Most of the time a couple will have their wedding photographer take their engagement photos for them, and after a couple has children it's tough to convince them to be have photos taken without the kids.  So, this was such a wonderful opportunity for me to do something that I love, and I couldn't have asked for more amazing people to share it with.

Micaiah and Ben are the sweetest couple ever!  These photos tell the story of their love much better than words ever could, so I'm going to let the images speak for themselves and just keep the words to a minimum...











I just love this one!  I was planning on taking some photos of the two of them kissing behind the greenery, so I asked them to position themselves behind it.  As soon as they were crouched down, both of them moved the bush aside and peeked through it, and it was too adorable not to photograph!...


I'm not a TV watcher, so this is totally over my head, but this is from The Big Bang Theory, and has a personal meaning to Micaiah and Ben...









Micaiah and Ben, thank you for spending your Friday evening with me and for allowing me to be a small part of this special time in your lives through your photos.  I wish you a lifetime filled with love and happiness.  Congratulations!!

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Visit Michele's website at michelewhitacrephotography.com. Become a fan of Michele's work on Facebook. Follow Michele's updates on Twitter.