your questions answered (part 1)

If I don’t break this up into parts, I will never get them all answered.

Steph asked …

So, I’m well into my second year of owning a dslr (Nikon D60) but have only been using the basic lens it comes with. What is my next step, if I just like to take photographs for recreational reasons and not professionally?

First of all, I think your pictures are just wonderful, Steph, and I adore the moments that you capture with your kids. For the money and flexibility, you just can’t beat a 50mm. The basic Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is just a little over $100 and is truly one of the most versatile lenses out there. It takes some time to get used to prime lenses (ones that don’t zoom), but you’ll be hooked in no time!

I used my Canon 50mm f/1.8 for our entire Orlando trip last summer, and never regretted not bringing my other lens with me!

Emily M. asked …

i would LOVE to know how you learned to use photoshop! classes? books? trial and error? tutorials?

I started using Photoshop about 12 years ago when I was working as the Quality Assurance Coordinator for a regional vending company. My boss thought designing brochures and trade show banners were easy, so he bought Photoshop and told me to get it done. Only problem was that I have a degree in marketing … NOT in design. But I learned a lot of the ins and outs of PS by pretty much sitting in my office day in and day out designing things.

As for the photo side of it, I have learned a lot through trial and error, but I have learned the most through online tutorials. Some of my favorite tutorial blogs are The CoffeeShop Blog, I Heart Faces (Fix it Friday posts are great for learning how to do things in Photoshop), and YouTube. Seriously, if you just search for whatever you want to know on YouTube, there will probably be a tutorial about it.

I am not scared to Google things, though. I am a huge fan of trial and error!

Becky @ Life with Kaishon asked …

Every day you see beautiful images by photographers taken from all around the world. Some of the photographers are famous. Some of them are not. How do you deal with feeling like your pictures are not *as good* as theirs?

Are your parents sad that you are done having babies?

What has been your favorite age Emma has experienced so far?

I know you hike a lot and do all sorts of active things with your family, do you worry about dropping your camera? Would you be fearful to take your camera on the beach?

I just read somewhere that if you are a professional photographer you will need to buy a new camera body every.single.year. What do you think of that? That freaked me out a little.

Haven’t you already interviewed me, Becky?? {wink}

How do I deal with photographers who are better than me? Since I see photographers that are better than me every single day, this is an easy question. I, of course, strive to be a better photographer, so I am inspired by them. I am constantly finding new ideas, especially when it comes to shooting the “everyday” images of my girls, since that’s what I tend to do the most right now. When I look at photographers like Rachel Devine, I’m inspired to shoot in more natural tones (rather than the vintage processing I do all. the. time.) – and when I look at Beth Armsheimer, I am inspired to work with more purples and blues in my processing – and when I look at Kelle Hampton, I’m inspired to just capture my everyday life rather than dressing the girls up and tromping through the woods. Those are just a few of the photographers in my Google reader, but I could go on and on. So to answer your question in one word – INSPIRATION.

I don’t think my parents are necessarily “sad” that we’re done having babies. Are you, Mom? My parents have always been the most supportive parents, and I’ve always been quite an independent little booger. It used to get me into a bit of trouble {ahem}. I know that they would love to have twenty-eight grandchildren running around, so they are probably sad in that extent … but at the same time, they have always wanted what was best for me and my brother.

My favorite age? Oh goodness, that is a tough one. I think two was my favorite. Wait … ack, I don’t know. I LOVE the stage when they start crawling and getting into things. I’m a lazy mom, so I prefer letting them roam and explore and tear the house apart rather than have to entertain them. I really loved two, because her vocabulary was exploding, and her personality starting coming through. Whoever came up with the term “terrible twos” was mistaken, because there was nothing terrible about two. Three has been a little tough, but mostly because I’m quickly coming to the realization that she is a lot like me. And that’s scary. But I’ve also enjoyed three, because she has become a lot more independent and outspoken and curious, so it’s like having a little person in the house. I don’t have to “oversimplify” things … I just tell her the truth and she gets it. So that didn’t answer your question, because I’ve loved it all!!

You can tell you do photographer interviews every week … you have the best questions!

Honestly, I’ve never really been scared to take my camera anywhere. And I have taken it to a lot of places! I’ve taken it to the beach, I’ve (carefully) walked into the water with it, I’ve taken it up high and down low … and I’ve never really been afraid to drop it.

AND THEN I DROPPED IT LAST WEEK!

IN MY DRIVEWAY!!!!

AND IT BOUNCED 3 TIMES!!!

And now my 85mm lens is broken.

{sob}

As for getting a new camera body every year? I think that’s kind of crazy. Now, I fully believe that if you’re a professional, you need to have the best camera body you can afford. I’m not saying you can’t be a professional without the best camera, but I believe that if you’re going to make that jump into “professional photographer,” you should definitely invest in the best camera you can or else you’ll feel like you’re constantly trying to catch up with everyone else. At the same time, if you’re a famous professional photographer with a gajillion clients, then I’m assuming that a.) you can afford to get a new body every year, and b.) you’re using your current body like crazy, therefore rendering it necessary to get a new body. But I wouldn’t know anything about that. I do know that I’ve had my current camera body for a little over two years, and I’m jones’ing to get a nicer one. If I could afford it, I’d upgrade for sure, lol.

Kathy asked …

How does one get to be as awesome as you?

When Emma was around 2, how in the world did you get her to be your model? Like the cute Halloween image I still adore.

It takes a lot of practice to be as awesome as I am. HAHAHAHA!

Actually, I got very lucky with her. Emma has pretty much always liked having her picture taken , so it hasn’t been that hard to get her to model for me.

It’s funny you should mention this particular image …

She was actually getting over a horrible cold so I kept her home from preschool that day, she fell down the hill that we were walking down to get to this little trail, and she was beyond cranky. It took seven takes, and this was the 3rd one, I think? I just told her to “look at me” and then hit the remote (that was inside the bowl). It was pure LUCK to catch that expression on her face. She was a total trooper for this one!

Debra asked …

Right after I purchased my preowned D40 last summer, I decided I HAD to have a prime lens and bought a 35 mm 1:1.8.

I of course researched it at the time & settled on that one, but now it seems like everyone’s ‘Cannot Live Without’ lens is the 50 mm 1.8.

I understand they’re both ‘primes’ so you have to use your feet to zoom in and out, but beyond that I don’t have a clue. It looks like the 35 mm 1.8 is slightly more expensive than the 50 mm 1.8.

Which one would you buy of those two?

Well, I have the Canon 50mm f/1.8, and the 35mm is on my list of lenses that I would like to have. So I’m the wrong person to ask! {wink wink} I love my 50mm so so much, but I’d love to have the 35mm solely for the wider angle. Basically, you’re getting “more shot” with your 35mm … the 50mm is a little more “zoomed in.” However, it really depends on how you’re using it … if you do a lot of portraits of one or two people, then the 50mm is probably your best lens. But if you prefer landscapes or group portraits or entire room shots, then the 35mm would be better. BUT they are both cheap (for camera lenses) – so why not have them both? I’m an enabler.

Also, in looking at the pictures on your blog and your style, I think you would really love the 50mm, so you should add it to your Mother’s Day wish list. You’re welcome.

Edited to add: please read the comments for more information about this … I shoot with a Canon, so I didn’t know that the 50mm 1.8 will not auto focus on the Nikon D40. So sorry!!! There is some good information shared by some awesome readers in the comments.

Okay, I’m going to end with that and get the rest of them another day. This is super fun!! If you missed the “ask me anything” post the first time around, please feel free to ask me something here. I’m always willing to put off writing actual blog posts from my imagination.

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