Best Friends

I am extremely lucky when it comes to a best friend.  She is the best listener, makes me laugh all the time, gives honest to goodness good advice and understands why I nearly cried in excitement when I got a Dyson vacuum. Who else would understand that?!  You can tell when someone is with their best friend...the giggling, smiles, punches in the arm and rolling of the eyes... This is why when I met Kim and Anna I knew I had to do a "Best Friend" session. Had.To.  Just watching the two of them makes you smile!

Anna had the brilliant idea to have their photos done in High Falls.  We drove down after work and kept our fingers crossed that the rain would  hold off.  Thankfully the sun came out and we had some beautiful light!!

To start out we did some "nice" photos to get in the groove...

Got some great shots, and the best part...I did it all manually for the first time! These girls were so relaxed and were so busy just having fun that for once I didn't get that rushed feeling...I put it on manual and whala! It finally seemed to click (get it? clicked? hehe). 

While I was playing with my shutter speeds the giggling started and I thought to myself "PERFECTO! Bring on the natural shots!"  Here are a few that give me that warm best friend feeling.

They even picked out the same color nail polish...and not on purpose!

I had created a collage of Anna and Kim cracking up...it's so funny to watch.  Of course my computer is in the middle of a meltdown and has no space to save it...so I lost the entire thing.  (Trying not to curse). So lunch time tomorrow will be filled with a trip to Staples to get another hard drive.  Next post I'll be featuring collages I've created and asking for your opinions, so be sure to check back!

Anna and Kim - Thank you so much for our outing! I was able to learn a TON in these 2 hours, and had fun with both of you.  Thank you <3

PS - A photo session with you and your bestie would be a great birthday gift for her...1 hour session, location of your choice, $60 - CD for ordering is yours!  Best to do this while it's decent out - get in touch with me, summer dates are filling up fast! (yippee!!)

~Erica

Hmmm what's my favorite??

This thought has been running through my head the past few weeks...what's my favorite thing to shoot?  I feel like I need to pick one or two specialties for Highlight Photography, but at the same time keep finding myself saying "but why?".  Maybe so I can focus on getting better at one or two areas?  Maybe so I can figure out who my competitors might be one day down the line?  Maybe so I can find my niche and get comfortable? 

I know 2 things for sure...I LOVE kids and I LOVE dogs.  But I also love doing engagement sessions...and maybe weddings in the near future.  I also really enjoyed doing maternity photos and can't wait to photograph the newborns that have just arrived :) (although I think I can get away with grouping them into the kids category).  I don't want to limit myself at this point...why not photograph what anyone asks me to?  I don't see the harm in that, especially this stage in the game.  I really enjoy all of it to be honest.  Perhaps in a year or so, once I have even more experience I'll be able to pick and choose what I really want to do...but for now...let's just do it ALL : D

Here are a few photos from the past week's shoots...see what I mean?  How can you not love these faces?  And of course, being able to hold and cuddle them at the end isn't awful either...ok so I LOVE that as well!

At the end of the day, I say, do what you love and don't think twice about it...no need to rush into areas of expertise when I don't yet have the expertise :)

Hope you enjoy the photos - feel free to leave comments, questions or requests!!

Love the little ones

The next month is full of photo sessions for newborns and toddlers - I can't wait!  It's so much fun to spend an hour or so with the little ones, and be able to capture them in their natural elements.  Kids hate being dragged to a studio, so why go through the effort just to get stiff looking photos?  Bring them to a park where they can run and play and be themselves.  I guarantee you will be much happier when you have photos of them with genuine smiles on their faces. 

This past week I met Mya along with her mom and dad, Mollie & Matt.  Mya will be turning 3 in the next few weeks, so it was time for her yearly photos to be taken!  We met at a park in Penfield for about an hour.  Mya brought along some of her favorite toys as well as a few snacks.  Here are a few favorite photos from the afternoon.

-MYA-

Love that little face :)  Stay tuned for updated blogs loaded with the little ones!

Senior Portraits

This week I had my first session of Senior Portraits.  Lucky me, it was my sister Carly!  She graduated from college last week and so we thought it would be fun to take some portraits of her (ok so I asked her if I could).  We went to Highland Park, which was packed with people for the Lilac Fest, so it was a bit tough, but we found several quiet places to snap some shots.  We had a really good time (we always do) and the photos came out great!  It's hard not to have good photos when you have such a good looking model (sometimes people mistake her for me, ok that's a lie...)  :b   Here are my favorites from the evening. Enjoy!

What a week!  I have started to advertise myself as a business...figured I have nothing to lose.  I absolutely love photography so why not try to make it a little business on the side of my full time job.  I created the below flyer and emailed it to some of my co-workers, family and friends.  The first day I scheduled 2 new appointments!

I was excited to get a good response so quickly!  Now if I can keep it going, that would be fantastic :) Fingers crossed for me. 

The past few weeks I've also been learning more in Photoshop.  I've learned how to antique photographs:

How to select certain parts of photographs to be in color/BW:

and my favorite - learning to make collages!

LOVE IT! 

Quick blog today...stay tuned for more later this week!

Wedding Planning and Hiking in the ADK's

This past weekend Jay and I headed to the High Peaks in the ADK's to do some wedding planning and hiking.  We stayed at a nice B&B called the Rooster Comb Inn.  Very cute and cozy!  The owners were very nice and accommodating. 

We started off on Saturday by visiting one of our favorite restaurants, just south of the main stretch in Lake Placid called Chair 6.  Really good food (best breakfast burrito EVER) and at a good price.  Left my camera in the car, of course...

After stuffing ourselves, we headed to the florist: Lake Placid Flower & Gift.  We met with the owner who helped us put together ideas and secure our date.  Lots of variegated orange/yellow/red mums with green ferns, with a few freesias mixed in my bouquet.  I don't have any photos and am unsure I can use others online...sorry. Anyways, she was very helpful and we were able to check one more thing off the wedding to do list!

THEN we hiked! Finally...good to get outside and hiking again.  We chose Dial Mountain.  In order to get to Dial you have to hike over 2 smaller mountains, both with good views.  Here are a few photos from the hike:

Also came across a cool barn...

The trails were wet and muddy, so we were covered by the time we got back to the car.  Headed back to the Inn, showered and went out to dinner at the Baxter Mountain Tavern.   SO GOOD - love the alfredo!

Sunday, we met with our amazing caterer Green Goddess at The Mountain House.  This is where we will be married! Tammy is wonderful to work with.  She has great ideas and has gone out of her way to help us with rentals and reception set-up.  The food is all organic and local and DELICIOUS.  Can't wait!

The Mountain House:

Overall we had a very successful and fun weekend! Looking forward to going back over Memorial Day weekend :)

Photo Outings

Hello!

There's been news that there may be some new visitors to my blog over the next week or so - Welcome!!  Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoy some of my previous blogs.  Feel free (anyone) to post comments, questions or requests.  I LOVE hearing from you!

Just want to point out that to the upper left there are a few links that I've added with information on photo outings.  Please take a look and contact me if you are interested.  May is booking up fast, only a few days left.  June is starting to fill up as well, so please let me know ASAP if you would like to set something up (I would love to!).  Any questions or thoughts - please let me know at highlightimages@gmail.com.  I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Just a few photo samples until I complete my new blog entry on this past weekend's photo shoot (with the Kohlmeiers!). Please take a look at my portfolio if you would like to see more photos Highlight Portfolio

Thanks!!