What’s In My Camera Bag? | Annie Manning, Paint the Moon Photography and Photoshop Actions
Posted on February 2, 2012
One of the questions I am asked most frequently is what camera and lenses I use. So let me start by saying I really love my Nikon camera and lenses. They are amazing tools that help me make the images I see in my head a reality. But I’d like to state for the record what you already know. The camera, lenses and gear are not what make a great image – the person using it does. There are so many things that you need to pair with that great gear to realize a fabulous photograph … knowing how to compose your image and create unique art, how to capture true emotions, how to achieve proper exposure, how to nail your focus, how to process your images well, etc., etc. I do believe, however, that having the right tools to do your job as a photographer will definitely improve your final results and in some instances give you more creative freedom to get the shots you are dreaming of. I think there is a balance between “the camera doesn’t matter at all – an artist can create beauty from absolutely any gear” and “you must have the latest and greatest expensive gear to take good photographs.”
Writing this post has made me realize I have *way* too many lenses and need to sell some of them, especially since I only actually pull out about four or five of them on a regular basis (I left the most unused lenses out of the photos). Focusing on creating your art, educating yourself and growing in your photography and processing will always be the truest road to creating better photographs. It’s not the camera that makes the photo, it’s the photographer. Now, with all that said … let me introduce you to my large family of tools that do such a splendid job in helping me create my images. ;)
Note: this is part one and just about what I personally use. Part two will have recommendations for those on a tight budget and for those shooting with Canon gear. I tend to ramble and include a lot (too much?) information, so I didn’t want this post to be overwhelming. For those wanting to see what I use in the studio when I am forced to take my shooting indoors in the middle of our Oregon winters, see my Studio Spotlight.
Click name to jump to more information, example images and details on each item.
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The camera bodies
The miscellany gadgets and helpers:
Photovision Digital Target (For Checking Exposure)
A handful of 32GB Sandisk CF Cards
Function and Fashion
Belle in Turquoise, Lola in Red, and Stella in Gray
See the “Thank You” Giveaway for a Chance to Win Your Own!
First, let me say that every photographer loves different lenses for different reasons. While some lenses may be suited better for some situations, it highly depends on your individual needs and style … there is rarely one “right” lens for any given need. I am a prime lens girl all the way (this is a fixed focal length lens). They are incredibly sharp lenses and we know they are faster which allows for a few things including better shooting in low light situations. They also allow me to shoot wide open at an aperture of around f1.4 when possible, which has has become a signature part of my style.
For the very reason some prefer zooms is another reason I love primes … you need to use your “feet” to zoom. For me this means I have to constantly be moving around and finding new perspectives and ways of “seeing.” I think sometimes you can get a bit “lazy” creatively with a zoom lens, or at least that is what my experience was personally. Of course others may have a totally different experience with zooms, love them for their versatility, etc. It’s a highly personal choice (and many use both zooms and primes). Remember that it very much depends on the actual lenses you are comparing … you can’t very well say that Nikon’s lowest end prime lens is going to be comparable to it’s top of the line pro zoom lens. You’ll see I only have one zoom lens in my stash, the 24-70mm 2.8, which is a super sharp and lovely lens but it’s only still in there because I’ve been too busy to get around to selling it. I used it briefly for studio only work while I was shooting with a cropped frame body. I shot with a Nikon D300 before upgrading to the full frame Nikon D700 (which is my backup camera now) – it was a lovely camera and much of my work on Flickr was taken with the D300.
Keep in mind while looking over the lenses I use, love and recommend that I shoot with a full frame camera. If you’re using a cropped sensor your experience and lens needs will differ greatly because of the crop factor. Some of this will be covered in part two of this feature.
Another question I hear a lot is what do I actually carry with me in my bag. I admit, it’s a lot (but only roughly half of what’s shown in the main photo – the other half is inside the cabinet you see my baby peeking out of). I happen to think that putting one or two more lenses in the bag isn’t going to make any discernible difference in weight or difficulty carrying the bag around (or in some cases, having my assistant – aka, my husband – carry it for me). And because I’m awful at narrowing things down I tend to carry all my favorites with me all the time. I don’t necessarily use all of the lenses I bring, and if I’m not working and at a client’s session then sometimes I haul the bag around and never even take the camera out – but at least I know I have it just in case. I tend to always have my D3s with the 85mm 1.4G on it, the 35mm 1.4G, the 135mm 2.0, the 16mm fisheye and sometimes the tilt-shift (unless I know there is no chance of taking a more “artful” photo, then I leave it behind because it’s too spendy and heavy to tote around for the heck of it). And note that I really USE my gear … I take excellent care of everything, but it’s definitely not coddled or ever left behind for fear of damaging it. This Nikon gear takes a beating and does it beautifully – it’s built to handle much rougher assignments than chasing around little ones and families.
I recently upgraded from the D700 to the D3s and just adore it. I’m finding the high ISO performance is much improved (ahhhh-mazing low light capabilities with minimal noise), and my general experience has been more accurate metering and smoother color and tonal gradations. The low light handling with so little noise is really important to me because I never shoot with a flash and love natural light … however, I live in Oregon and it’s dark, rainy and gray here 6-months of the year. Being able to crank up my ISO without worrying about noise is wonderful. The video function on the D3s is lacking for those wanting serious video, but is fun for taking quickie videos of the kids or for a “just for fun” video for clients. It also has the benefits of a much longer battery life (I rarely even think about the battery even though I always carry a charged back up with me as well as one sitting on the charger in the studio) and two storage card slots. And, finally, even though I’m not a sports photographer in any sense of the word, I love the faster continuous shooting when working with speedy little ones. Being able to shoot 9fps versus 5fps can mean the difference between getting the perfect shot and getting one with eyes closed or a finger up the nose.
I really love the D700 … I have nothing but fabulous things to say about this camera body. It also has the benefit of being much less expensive than the D3s (and lighter, however, I always used the battery grip with mine so the size difference was minimal when I upgraded). A fabulous camera for portrait photography and handles high ISO and low light situations beautifully.
The 85mm 1.4G is my favorite lens – I never go anywhere without this one. Absolutely dreamy bokeh that looks like smooth velvet with your subject popping off the background … images can look almost three dimensional when you’re nailing your focus at a wide aperture (and I almost always shoot in the f1.4 to f2 range unless shooting more than one subject). It’s also a fabulous focal length for flattering portraits, fantastic in low light and very sharp.
Following are a few examples using my Nikon 85mm 1.4G. The first was shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/2000 second (it was pretty bright out and right before the sun was slipping away so my shutter speed was very high). Look at that yummy bokeh (and the cute baby is pretty yummy too)! Processed with Wonderland and Picture Perfect.
Nikon 85mm 1.4G - again at f1.4 with ISO 1000 and 1/125 sec (the sun had just slipped below the horizon so I had the ISO cranked up a little). Processed with Wonderland.
Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/200 second.
Some detail shots turning one … Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 250, f1.4, 1/160 second.
Another example of the pretty bokeh from the 85mm – f1.4, ISO 200, 1/250 second.
Shot at sunset with the 85mm at f1.4, ISO 200, 1/500 second.
This lens is a go to lens for times when I need a good “walking around” lens and need to either be in close range of my subjects (babies or little ones that speed away from me too quickly) or need something that will capture full body shots easily and take in the surrounding environment as well. It’s a wider angle lens, and therefore has a bit of distortion that can be noted especially when taking photos at close range. This bit of distortion with children’s photos can be cute and add a bit of whimsy to the photo, but point a 35mm up close to an adult and you’ll end up with a not so flattering portrait that widens and distorts the face. I use this one a lot for group shots or for those images where you want the entire scene and story captured along with your subject. It’s fabulous in low light conditions, produces pretty bokeh and is super sharp, is my main lens for shooting sun flare shots and is light weight. It produces beautiful images and is a good “essential” lens to own.
Below are a few images shot with the Nikon 35mm 1.4G.
This is one of my favorites of my girls … shot just as the sun was going down and you can see how beautifully the 35mm did with the sun flare. Nikon 35mm 1.4G – taken at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/1000 sec. Processed with Fresh Wonderland 2.
Nikon 35mm 1.4G. Shot at ISO 1000, f1.8, 1/160 second. Processed with Wonderland.
This was definitely one of those times where my need to be up close to my subject was apparent. Yes, I’m bonkers to bring my big camera up there on a crazy fast, spinning ride … but it was so worth it to catch her expression on her very first big girl ride! Note that the lighting was horrendous (either pitch dark or neon green and orange flashing lights as we spun around). Nikon 35mm 1.4G – shot at ISO 2500, f1.4, 1/160 second.
Nikon 35mm 1.4G – shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/640 second.
I adore this lens. I would say it might be my favorite lens, but all things considered (like the fact that many times with babies and young children I don’t have the ability to get enough distance from my subjects) it has to remain a tie between the 135mm 2.0 and the 85mm 1.4G. It’s one of Nikon’s pro limited-production lenses, and therefore sometimes hard to find in stock (and there has been rumors of it being discontinued). It’s the sharpest lens I own and the bokeh is out of this world. An AMAZING portrait lens. It also has a specialized feature called Defocus Control. It’s been designed (and this feature is patented) for exceptional bokeh (for those who are new bokeh is the appearance of the out-of-focus areas) and helps give your bokeh an extra creaminess and smooth feel. Even without the DC feature this would definitely be my favorite lens if it weren’t for the fact that I find it a little too long for my shooting style sometimes. I like to get up close and personal with my subjects, whether it’s with my kids or my clients, so the 85mm 1.4G allows me to do this better. Otherwise, this one would be at the top of my lens loves list.
Below are a few shots taken with the Nikon 135mm 2.0.
Nikon 135mm 2.0 – shot at ISO 200, f2.0, 1/400 second.
Nikon 135mm 2.0 – taken at ISO 320, f2.0, 1/500 second.
The close up of my daughter here with the 135mm 2.0 was taken at ISO 250, f2.0, 1/200 second.
Tilt-Shift lenses are frequently used for architectural photography to control perspective, however, they have recently become very popular among portrait photographers for achieving beautiful selective focus by using the tilt feature. It’s a very distinct look and one that I personally adore. I believe it’s best used sparingly and with intention. I can tilt the plane of focus to create just a sliver of the frame as my focus point with a very unique bokeh in the out of focus areas. They are manual focus lenses and also take some time getting used to, but are really worth the extra special touch they can add to a photo.
Below are a few examples of the 45mm Tilt-Shift lens. The left photo’s settings were ISO 400, f2.8, 1/160 second. The sun was going down (evidenced by Mr. Moon already peeking out to say hello), so it was rather dark out. On the image on the right the settings were ISO 640, f/4.0 and 1/250 second.
This third example of the 45mm Tilt-Shift lens was set at ISO 800, f2.8, and 1/250 second.
Fisheye lenses are definitely a lot of fun, but a novelty lens for most cases (not that a novelty lens can’t be an integral part of a photographer’s style puzzle). A fisheye will take an ultra wide angle (most of the time 180 degree) with a very distorted, hemispherical result. I think they can really be fun for kid’s portraits because they match the carefree, silly nature of childhood and add to the personality of those shots. You really have to have a “vision” of how your shot will be and how the fisheye distortion will come into play and enhance your shot. Taking your standard portrait with a fisheye won’t generally give you pleasing results. It can produce some really artistic styles, but give a thought to *all* your surroundings because it captures every little detail. I also like mine for family snapshots when I want to take in *everything* and also stay right in the action.
And another example of a silly snapshot taken with my 16mm fisheye lens. I like how it captures every “real life” detail with the surroundings of your subject and the “lollipop head” distortion just adds to the emotion the viewer feels at seeing her happy laugh.
Not just a fabulous macro lens, but the 105mm is a great portrait lens as well. I don’t do a lot of true macro photography (such as water droplets or teeny tiny spider eyes), but I love getting up close and personal with small details. It’s a great lens for baby bits … the little eyelashes and chubby toes. It’s also fun for floral and nature photography.
Below are a few examples using the 105mm 2.8 macro lens.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro at ISO 250, f3.2, 1/160 second.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro – taken at ISO 320, f3.2, 1/160 second.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 Macro – taken at ISO 200, f3.2, 1/250 second.
And in this close up shot you can see the 105mm does amazing portraits.
The Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 is a really great lens if you are a lover of zooms. It’s nice and sharp, but I just prefer prime lenses and, therefore, never use it and haven’t picked it up in several years.. (Note to self: list unneeded lenses for sale!) I used it primarily for studio shots when I shot with a cropped sensor camera because it gave me the extra room I needed in my tiny studio.
This example uses the Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 at ISO 200, f5.6, 24mm and 1/250 second.
The 50mm 1.4 is a fabulous little prime lens and affordable too. I tend to never use it simply because I love my 85mm and 135mm more and if I need to have more room than the 85mm gives me then I love the 35mm focal length. The 50mm is a great starter lens for those moving into the world of prime lenses and is one of the first I recommend to those who are beginning their lens collection (and I think it’s just a must have for most photographers to have in their bag – it’s a staple lens). It creates beautiful bokeh, is fast and very sharp.
Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens – taken at ISO 200, f4.5, 1/250 second.
This entire session was shot with my D700 and 50mm 1.4G lens.
Another (in studio) shot with the 50mm 1.4G.
And a final with the 50mm 1.4G … settings were ISO 200, f5.0, 1/250 second. Processed with Texture Collection Two and and Picture Perfect Photoshop Actions.
A great macro and portrait lens, but something I only used with my cropped sensor body (which was the D300). Creates very pretty portraits as well as detail and macro shots. It’s a wonderful starter macro lens. For a full frame camera or very minute details I would recommend the 105mm over the 60mm.
Lensbaby Composer + Sweet 35 Optics
Very fun little lens to play with, however, I haven’t put it on my camera since getting the tilt-shift lens last year. It’s manual focus and also takes some time playing around with finding the “sweet spot” but can be a nice novelty lens to own if you want to get artistic.
I rarely use the light meter. I first bought it to use in the studio when I was forced inside under my soft boxes and Alien Bees. If I think I’m getting an inaccurate meter reading in natural light, I’ll bring it out very rarely (I use spot metering, so I’m usually pretty right on with exposure using the in camera meter).
3 Epiphanie Bags: Belle, Lola and Stella
I don’t carry or really care for purses … I carry pretty camera bags packed with all my gear, my iPhone, iPad and small wallet (my one girly allowance is lip gloss … which my six year old uses more than I do). I love my Epiphanie bags. I have tried almost all the major brands out there. The ones I’ve purchased (and ended up either re-selling or returning) are mostly the “pretty” camera bags, but I started out with a very functional and very ugly, black Lowepro sling backpack. On family outings and sessions my husband will end up carrying my beautiful camera bag – thankfully he’s man enough to feel secure even while toting a bright turquoise “purse” with flower hair clips pinned to the side. He still begs me to please go back to the ugly, black backpack. ;)
So, I was saying how I’ve tried all the bags out there over the years and I keep going back to Epiphanie. As I stated above, I like to carry the whole shebang around with me in my bag and also need to have my lens attached to my camera body so I can grab it at a moment’s notice. The Epiphanie bags give me everything I need … lots of room, plenty of customizable compartments for whatever my needs are, easy access to my camera so I can sneak it out in seconds for unexpected moments that beg to be captured and they are gorgeous. I’ve never talked with the company personally and don’t really do “sponsor” type partnerships because I don’t want my customers and fans to ever feel like I’ve “sold out” or am just trying to plug products to them, so I am sharing all this information out of a pure love for their product. I love you all so much and want to thank you for your support so I’m actually giving away one of these beauties with a few other goodies … just to say thank you.
I use the Expodisc to set my custom white balance every time I shoot. It’s super duper easy and takes seconds. I have the 77mm size disc and am lazy so I usually just hold it up to my lens (owning the largest size allows me to use it with all my lenses) and take my shot. If there is a lighting change or change in color temperature – for instance, moving from sun to open shade – I’ll take a new shot and set it again.
I love my little wristlets from My Funky Camera. I find a neck strap gets in my way and were uncomfortable for me to wear. These are an extra security measure without having a noose around my neck. She also has lovely neck straps. Even my little girl has one for her camera – and pink and sparkly is right up my alley.
Photovision Digital Target (For Checking Exposure)
I’ll sometimes use this target to check exposure … simply taking a photo of the target (subject holds the target up where they will be standing) and checking my histogram for exposure.
A handful of 32GB Sandisk CF Cards
I don’t really have a strong preference for one brand of card over the other. I do carry a handful around with me in varying sizes, my two main cards I usually keep in the camera are 32GB sizes.
A circular polarizer filter will absorb light, helping to deepen colors and take glare off water and reflective surfaces. It’s used a lot in landscape photography. I like to use it on very bright days (I usually only shoot during the golden hour, but sometimes it can still be very bright) in order to be able to continue to shoot with a wide aperture and to help keep more detail and color in my skies.
The Color Checker Passport is something I recently purchased and haven’t been able to really sit down and explore/experiment too much with it yet. It helps you create a custom camera profile for using with RAW images. I don’t use it for white balance, just the RAW camera profiles. The jury is still out on whether this was a good purchase or not … it wasn’t inexpensive so I’m hoping to see some improvements in my image color when importing my RAW files.
Miscellany Stuff – candy, wild hair tamers, pony clips, the fun sign, lamp and cabinet. ;)
You also notice I have a bit of candy (for bribes) and a few hair clips on my bag strap (I have to have my hair back and completely out of the way while shooting lest a stray hair get blown in front of the lens and ruin a shot). Other miscellaneous items include pony clips (big clamps) for everything from holding up props or backdrops (like quilts on outdoor shoots, etc.), microfiber cleaning cloths and a lens pen, some spare cash, business cards, and my usual iPhone, iPad, etc. I do have a separate bag of “emergency supplies” in my car for location shoots (which is pretty much 99% of them) which includes baby wipes, bubbles, cute toys like wooden trucks and vintage teddies, a bunch of hats and other accessories, emergency snacks for cranky and tired kiddos (I swear I never break into the Z Bars for kids, cough, cough), a reflector I never use, a few vintage cameras (adorable in tiny hands and it keeps them in one spot for a few minutes while they explore it – then even cuter when they start playing photographer with you), hair brush and hair clips, and other little bits for touch ups and those frequent mishaps kids playing will have (I even have a couple changes of clothes for the ones that explore the pond a little too closely).
For those asking … the yellow sign in the top photo with all my gear is a hand painted wooden sign you can find here. The lamp is from Pottery Barn Teen (yes, I’m just a 14 year old girl at heart). The rustic cabinet is made from old reclaimed barn wood and I found it on Haute Look.
Now that you know what’s in my bag, I want to give you a chance to win one of my favorite bags (as well as a few other goodies).
The good news is this giveaway is about as simple and hassle free as they get. There aren’t 20 other vendor pages to like and no requirements to spam all your friends (although any time you share my content and links out of a genuine love of Paint the Moon and the goodies and content I provide it is always very much appreciated). All I ask is that you place your entry here on Facebook in the giveaway tab (NOT a comment on the wall … needs to be through the giveaway tab linked). You have until February 14th to enter. This giveaway is 100% sponsored by Paint the Moon, and is simply my little way of saying thank you for all your support.
PLEASE do NOT comment on Facebook about the giveaway – entries are only counted via the link below. :) Thank you!!
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Paint the Moon Photography and not to Facebook.
The lucky winner will receive…
A New Stella Epiphanie Bag in Gray
A Vintage Style Cast Iron Business Card Holder
{Not Shown} A New Copy of the Book Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography
An Adorable Little Felt Vintage Camera Pouch
(Vintage camera on the left is not included – sorry … I just thought it looked too cute with all the pretty goodies)
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52 Week Photo Project: Week Two Wrap Up – Let’s Do 52 Challenge With Paint the Moon { Photoshop Actions }
Posted on January 15, 2012
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Welcome to the wrap up for week two of our fabulous 52 week photo project! With over 2900 (and growing) contributing photographers to the Let’s Do 52 group it getting even more difficult to choose just a few images to showcase here as Picks of the Week. If you’re getting here a little late in the game and just seeing this – no worries! Join anytime! And a little off topic note … thank you to all the people who were so nice to take time out of your busy days to leave such warm and kind comments on my Rock Star Party photos and post – I really appreciate all of you so much.
If you need a refresher on the guidelines and details, please see the original post for the 2012 Let’s Do 52. A couple points to note …
• I am just loving all the photos being shared on the Paint the Moon Facebook page and invite anyone involved with the group to come share too!
• Be sure to keep checking in on the Paint the Moon blog and Facebook page for articles, inspiration and the weekly themes! This coming week keep your eye out for the much anticipated article on finding fabulous light and getting eyes to pop with crisp catchlights!
• And, also, I need to remind everyone that this is a *weekly challenge* … which means as part of the group you are encouraged to take a new photo each week just for this project (as opposed to pulling up older photos that you think might “match” the theme). This is what helps us stretch our creativity and grow as photographers. And remember to try thinking outside the box for the themes … you can interpret them any way you see fit. Get creative … think in new ways and challenge yourself!
• For those who want to show off your commitment to the Let’s Do 52 group (or who have been chosen as a Pick of the Week and want to grab the special button), please see the button page for easy code to copy and past on your blog or site.
Click here to jump to the Kid’s Click Too group details and picks.
Here is my Let’s Do 52 photo for “Responsibility” – Week Two. My daughter, Adeline, had a blast helping me set this one up … even down to the one shoe, “because the kids were using one of my shoes as a race car for the doll.” She picked the dress because it “has a stain on it and is all messy like mamas are sometimes.” She was a natural when I said, “Okay, just pretend you’re mommy … you’ve just cleaned the entire house and turned around and the kids have made a whole new mess!!” ;)
So many funny expressions … I’m hoping the exasperated, not angry, look is more like what she sees coming from me – LOL! Cute banner by Starlit Nest Gifts & Photo Props! And the super adorable dress by none other than Lil Blue Boo. :)
See the below talented photographer’s original images posted on Flickr by clicking the corresponding numbered link below (no particular order … and let me say there were TONS of amazing images, so just because these are showcased doesn’t mean all the others weren’t just as wonderful. We have 50 more weeks for your images to be a pick of the week here too!). The themes for week one photos was either Responsibility or Open. Kid’s Click Too group picks and the new themes are below!
1. Jacinta McLoughlan
2. Juneberry Photo
3. Debbie Hartley
4. Catherine Larsson Lubbat
5. Amanda Rolfe
6. Lindsay Calcerano
7. Ruth Hillman Photography
8. Rebecca Doyle Photography
For the third week of 2012 the themes/ideas are …
Important links:
Original Let’s Do 52 Flickr Group (for us big people)
Original Let’s Do 52 Details (again, for us old folks)
Paint the Moon Facebook Page – Come Share, Be Inspired, Ask Questions
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Flickr Group
Let’s Do 52 – Kids Click Too! Original Blog Post
And now the kid’s special group (see the original post details here). Adeline, my six year old is the team leader and selected all the picks for this week herself. Like me, she had a hard time choosing as there were so many fabulous images … these kids truly rock! The themes this last week were Favorite Toy and Red. Some of these young artists even did the editing work themselves with Paint the Moon actions. Here is Adeline’s images for the week, completely photographed and edited by her.
By Adeline, age six, for the Kid’s Click Too theme “Favorite Toy.” She used aperture priority mode, auto focus and selected her Paint the Moon actions by herself (Beloved from Blessings).
The picks are in no particular order … and let me say there were TONS of amazing images, so just because these are showcased doesn’t mean all the others weren’t just as wonderful – it’s not a “best of” contest, or contest of any kind – just a special treat to showcase random photos that caught our eye each week. You guys all rock!! We have 50 more weeks for your images to be a pick of the week here too!
1. Ryan, Age 7
2. Jacob, Age 9
3. Ella, Age 5
4. Isaac, Age 5
5. Lizzie
6. Bradley, Age 13
7. McKenna, Age 8
8. Zoey, Age 3
9. Georgia, Age 4
And for the kid’s … your new themes for week three:
Rock Star 6th Birthday Party – We Cranked It Up to 11 { Paint the Moon Photoshop Actions }
Posted on January 14, 2012
Miss Adeline Brett’s rock star 6th birthday party was a super blast to plan and even more fun getting to play there! Our kiddo parties are usually more along the lines of some pizza and friends in the backyard garden … but this year she asked for a punk rock star theme and we had so much fun planning and ended up getting a little carried away with the fun of it all.
Keep in mind that all this wasn’t *just* for Adeline (we’re not into the spoiled kid parties or getting so wrapped up in making things “pretty” that we forget to enjoy the important things and have fun) … it was for us, for her sister, for all Addie’s friends and all our friends and family to come and be silly and have fun! Apologies for the photo overload … this post is very image heavy (and all processed with Paint the Moon actions that are coming soon)! :)
The party was as surprise … the first surprise party Addie’s had, so there was extra excitement in the preparations. The awesome part was that I did all the planning and preparing while the kids were sleeping, and when it was party time I had most of the photos out of the way so I could put the camera down and not miss out on any of the fun!
It was bone chilling cold outside … the poor girls were troopers and we just took ten minutes to take a few shots of all of us decked out. I very rarely wear make up and felt SO weird with so much piled on. Both Scott and I agreed it just emphasized how dang old we are (he was the proud recipient of heavy black eyeliner errr… GUYliner, ha!). We looked like washed up oldsters who’ve seen too much rock and roll, drugs and alcohol and were refusing to admit we were washed up. LOL!
Getting ready Miss Eliza loved the boots and leg warmers but wanted nothing to do with any stinkin’ clothes.
The invite, aka, Rock Concert Ticket. She had her own little site set up for the invite and RSVP as well … adelinebrett.com. The graphic designer in me took over with the design of everything … late at night as the girls slept is when I worked on all this. And, yep, the QR code worked to bring the guest to the invite/RSVP site. We also had QR codes set up on the back of the backstage passes … the kids were met at the velvet rope out front to be given their exclusive, personalized Backstage All Access Pass and their pass code was scanned – on the screen they would see this pop up: backstage pass code, so we “knew” they were cleared for access. ;)
After photos outside, as far as Addie knew, I was going to go run errands downtown after they dropped me and Eliza off. I was actually setting up the party while they picked up some cupcakes … and then they came back downtown to “pick mommy up.” She walked in and still didn’t understand it was HER party. She was going to beg her daddy to just bounce one time on the bounce castle before she had to leave to go home to the tiny family get together she thought we had planned. :) Imagine her surprise when we told her THAT was her party … and the bouncy castle was her birthday gift! Okay, you don’t have to imagine it because I snapped a picture!
The very moment of surprise when she walked in, saw everything and realized it was all for her!! Also note that all these indoor shots were taken in a dark ballroom at night with no flash … so we are talking an average of 2500 for ISO.
The band invited ALL the kids up on stage with their little inflatable guitars from their swag bags to “play” guitar. It was quite a sight seeing 25 kids lined up rocking out together … the guitarist stood in the back playing so they all felt like they were the ones making the amazing music.
This is Adeline and her best friend, crazy Miss M.
The band played Happy Birthday to her as we all sang along … it just happened to be the coolest and the LONGEST rendition I’ve ever heard. She was *dying* to eat that cupcake and blow out those candles and kept a smile glued to her face the whole time, but it lost it’s luster about two minutes in. You could see the “Come on, already, there is cake to be eaten!!!” written all over her face!
We were so excited to have the amazing artist Miranda Vettrus play for us all night. We have friends of ours to thank for hooking us up with them (and for helping manage all the music and sound that night – Jason is an awesome friend and massively talented in numerous areas). Adeline had heard her music before and actually asked if she could come to her birthday party … I explained famous musicians were very busy, so I didn’t think so, but I would sure check. Imagine her surprise! And she played all of Addie’s favorites for her … a little Johnny Cash and the Bright Eyes song that was playing when she was born. This mama was a bit teary eyed throughout the night. Our good friends are up there playing too (Jason on drums and Silver on bass guitar) … take a look at their sweet little girl, Echo, rocking out with them!
I took a super simple light set up down with me so I could get mug shot style photos of any guests who wanted to jump in before leaving the party. Should have taken a seamless paper backdrop with me (the brown carpet and walls are not so punk rock), but in the end I poo poo’d the idea of dragging down the softbox, light and a giant 107″ roll of paper plus stand. :)
And here are some of the party details. I went a little overboard and designed a whole “brand” for Adeline’s party, right down to the little punk girl graphic that looked just like Addie and her own site (adelinebrett.com) was transformed for the party! I got so involved in the festivities and just enjoying watching my little girl have fun and be a total crazy girl that I never got to snap photos of the set up all complete, which was a bit of a bummer, but I don’t regret missing some silly photos in exchange for playing with my girls and being totally present in the moment. As many photos as you see here (and, yes indeed, there are a lot), they were taken very quickly so I could just enjoy the party and special moments without the camera in front of my face.
And in response to some of the nasty comments I received yesterday that I had to hide …
Note: There was no elaborate spending being done here, just the combination of lots of hard work and creativity as well as being lucky to pull some strings including being blessed with friends in the music industry, finding a space where the rental fee was going to a good cause to help teens in need, taking advantage of this mommy’s graphic design skills and making it all come together. This was a super fun gathering of family and friends in the middle of the holiday season and I really don’t see why I’ve heard so many negative comments about throwing a fun party for our loved ones to enjoy. Everyone had a blast, and we don’t regret it for a second. For her party next year she has asked for her friends to come over to our place in the country and pet her animals – that’s it. :) She’s definitely not suffering from spoiled kid syndrome. And I suppose I have to be a little snotty and say, even if I did decide to spend a lot of money on my kid’s party and could afford to do so, ummmmm … who cares!? :P
And while I realize the punk rock theme may not be for everyone, the party was for a little girl who absolutely adores music (and, yes, she loves some authentic but kid appropriate punk music in there as well). We have many friends in the music industry and who are musicians themselves (half the band are close friends of ours). She loves dance, music and art. Her mommy and daddy and all her friends also love music and everything creative … so it was a natural pick for her to have a party celebrating those loves. To each their own! I know that all her friends and our friends and family all LOVED it, so we’re good with it! I’d also like to say that our usual party is somewhere along the lines of pizza and friends in the backyard … but this was a unique and fun experience too. :P
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Photoshop Actions | Family Photo Session … Fluffy Bear Cubs in the Woods
Posted on January 1, 2012
I hope you don’t mind a little personal photo share of some images of my family over the holidays. Processed with Texture Collection Two, Fireflies and Wham Bam from Fresh Wonderland 2 and a few actions from something new I’m working on (sign up for the newsletter to be sure you don’t miss out!).
One of my favorite shots of my baby girl over Christmas. :) When she wears this outfit I just can’t resist yelling, “She’s so fluffy, I’m gonna die!!!!!” ;) I know it’s ridiculously furry. I’m not sure what it is about having baby girls that gives me the irresistible urge to dress them like baby animals.
You can see the snow and rain coming down around us … it was blustery, freezing and wet! We had planned on doing a whole family session, but settled for a few *very* quick shots before getting drenched (and ruining my camera gear). And, yes, I look like my head is not attached (or I have no neck??) and am missing a hand that’s pulled up inside my sweater.
And we are off and running back to the dry, warm car!!
