1 Year

This month I am celebrating my one year anniversary of starting my photography.  I have really grown a lot this past year and I just wanted to share about the changes I have made since then (shooting & post processing) and share my photographs with you all!

September '12

This was my rough beginning (I won't blind you with the extra terrible images I had taken) but I didn't edit them at all.  I didn't even change contrast or put filters on in iPhoto and not to mention I shot with Auto Focus and Auto Settings.  I took all of these with my Pentax K-r with the 18-55mm kit lens.  I really did try REALLY hard and I thought they were just the freshest things since sliced bread. There isn't much else to say about these other than the cliché "Everybody starts somewhere!"

October

October I was in the hospital having surgery in Boston for the second time on my silly infection prone toes so I didn't do much then but I figured I would include these two anyways.  Once again, taken with a Pentax K-r with the 18-55mm kit lens.

November

Oh goody, we are at November now. ;)  To put it lightly, a little part of me cries/laughs/screams/cringes when I look at these sets. I did not edit and I didn't understand what RAW files were and why I would always get two images (one RAW, one JPG) on my camera.  I am a bit hesitant to post that on here or anywhere for that matter but IT NEEDS TO BE SAID.  So many photographers won't admit that they started at a place as low as that but we all did and there is no avoiding it.

The bokeh phase, anyone else understand how that goes?

December

December I started getting my stuff together.  I really studied and worked really hard to learn what the heck I was doing.  I had a meet up with some other young photographers that month and I got to test out a Canon EOS 5D Mark II for two days which I fell in love with.

!

This was the first shot I was REALLY proud of.  I even still like it

Christmas Eve I got this beauty from my parents.

January

January.  Had a sweet new camera, knew what I was doing setting wise, and then I began to experiment with styles.  I also began my 365 day project (which I quit in July) and I'm so glad I did that!! Probably one of the best decisions I made with my photography.  Although I was making a lot of progress in the photographs, my post processing was just iPhoto (as it will be for several more months)

Day 1/365

February

Ooooh, February was an interesting time.  I had different people model for me which was a bit of a challenge for me.  At this time I really thought I wanted to get into conceptual photography rather than portraiture or fashion.  I wanted my photographs to make someone really think and I know I had some good ideas but my execution was just not quite there yet.  I'm sure some of you reading this know EXACTLY what I am saying and have been there yourself as well!

March

Started April off average but it ended on a much higher note!!  I started editing more in iPhoto (not much, I know) but I could give my photos a different tone like the one below.  All I did was turn up the brightness, turn down the contrast, desaturate, and bump up the temperature but it did help the photograph! :)

Bryley, from the meet up in Central Park

Ellie, from the meet up in Central Park

I was so proud of this photograph.  Yes, it was really that purple!!! I just bumped the contrast higher and cooled it a little bit in temperature and voila, the final image!

April

April was nothing special photography wise.  I guess you could say I began my love affair with magic hour?  

Social networking wise, I began this blog!  Big step and I'm so glad I did it!

May

MAY :)  Oh so much to tell of May, so I'll make a list of good & bad:

• I broke my 50mm f/1.8 lens (my favorite lens I had)
• Got my first sponsor, Go Jane!
• Shot my first sporting event (my little cousin's baseball game) Set here.
• I volunteered at the local animal shelter taking adoption photos of the animals for their website. Set here.
• Met up with Viv while I was visiting family out of state for a fun afternoon at a park (you can see her in the river) Set here.
• Had my first studio shoot (which isn't pictured here but you can see the set here. 

Outfit post with my lovely wedges from Go Jane

June

I'm liking making lists so here we go again!

• I had my first family session (Set here.)
• I began using photoshop!  Yaaaay!  I finally came to the light :)
• I got a 50mm f/1.2L lens (my baby. wowzas, loving him)
• Played with a snake for photos. Eeeeeek! (Set here)
• Shot my first editorial :)  (Set here)
• Left for LONDON :) 

July

July was probably the most important month of my progress in the past year.  I did so much and learned so much as well.

• Was in London & Manchester for nearly two weeks :)
• Spent three days with the master herself, Rosie Hardy!
• We had a fashion, conceptual, and a wedding workshop together (SO fun!)
• Really got with it in photoshop.
• Did my first expansions!
• I chopped off 13 inches of my hair (totally unrelated but I figured I would just throw that in there)

August

In with school, out with photography.  Not much time to shoot and edit anymore but I was able to do a few shoots!

Danielle, full set here.

JeLynn, full set here.

Kelsi, full set here.

Before and after edit!

Full set here.

September '13

Only 3 days in to September now but this is just so far!  Two self portraits along with before and after edits and then a few from the football game last Friday night! :)