I would like to introduce you to my Simple Stand…

Before purchasing this Stand I had the most ghetto set ups for taking clients photographs. For one of my favorite shoots with newborn twins, I used a pile of gravel and a flower arrangement hanging off a window to prop my back-drop on… It was crazy!

It did work, but it honestly just made things awkward… and was very unprofessional. Praise the Lord I didn’t loose any business because of it. The mother of those twins has actually been one of my best clients to date… despite the gravel under her newborns during that 1st shoot

After that shoot I realized I needed to invest in something.. and was told to buy a $90.00 Back Drop stand off of ebay. Two photographers I know use this same stand and LOVE It.

It has been one of the best purchases besides my camera and lens so far. It gets the job done and is very easily packed away and transported for on location shoots.

The Stand works great for:

• black backdrops
• solids of all shades/hues
  
• fun patterned fabrics

I recently started experimenting with fabrics… and have found that busy patterns look so fun in pictures.

Here’s what you do:

• Go to your local fabric store
• grab some fun prints (I normally get a yard and 1/2 for newborns/ 2 yards for toddlers)
• pin the prints to the stand
• steam the fabric
• you are ready for some fun!

I went with more muted tones… nothing too bright. I would personally only use these fabrics for children or newborns. I also found that they didn’t really go well with BOYS. I am currently in search of a more boy friendly fabric

*Just a side note.. These images were snapped quickly.. before I steamed the fabric (hence the crease down the center). Also my props don’t exactly match the fabric well.. but you get the idea!*

Just try and picture a cute 2 week old newborn in those photos… HOW PRECIOUS!!

Below are some real examples of fabric pattern backdrops being put to use.

(This backdrop cost me only $7.00 from Walmart.)

Posted by Drea - Panamerican 25 yr. old, Mother of 2 boys, Aspiring Photographer and Pastors Wife. I am told that I “Live in a Fish Bowl.” I want more than anything to be transparent and honest… and welcome the world into “our bowl.”

You often hear about getting down on a child’s level when taking his photo.

The same applies to all sorts of small “stuff.”

Here’s an example of how “playing in the dirt” can improve your photography…

This is an o.k. photo of mushrooms that were growing in our backyard… you can tell they’re mushrooms, but it’s kind of a blah shot.

Now this photo makes me feel a bit like I’m Alice in “Alice in Wonderland!”

The mushrooms look HUGE. In fact, I bet some people wouldn’t KNOW they were mushrooms…


Give this technique a try. All you have to lose is getting dirty pants and, perhaps, a few creaking bones. I experienced both while photographing these mushrooms, but I think it was worth it.


When she’s not working or taking photographs, Rebecca blogs at Ramblings by Reba. She posts photos there, too.

“love & hate”

click image to enlarge, click again to shrink

by *_Abhi_*, seen on Flickr

licensed under CC 2.0

…that is the question! And then you ask, what is this “bokeh?”

Bokeh is the name for the effect that denotes the appearance of an out-of-focus area in a photograph, produced by using a shallow depth-of-field.

It’s a Japanese-derived word, and I quite like saying it.  More than the love I have for saying it, I love using bokeh in my photography.

Recently I used this image for Wordless Wednesday on my blog:

I could have used this one, though:

Both shots are great, in my opinion.  Both capture the exquisite autumn colors in the trees and in the pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn.  But they are worlds apart when it comes to ambiance and aesthetic qualities.

Which one do you like better?  Why?

I’m curious to hear what you have to say about Bokeh Effect. I’m also curious to see some of your Bokeh Effect images. 

Leave your link in the comments and I’ll pop on over and we’ll dish the bokeh.


[Mishelle is the author of Secret Agent Mama and Mishelle Lane Photography. Along with her husband, four children, whom she home schools, she resides northeast Metro Atlanta.]

I used to think that taking pictures was just taking pictures. I have learned that taking and editing pictures is an art form.

I find that I am thinking about photos I want to take and how to edit photos I have already taken during the day. Just like painters or writers, a photography artist is always looking for inspiration.

Inspiration is what pushes us to be better at our craft.

There are times when I find that I am at a loss as to what to photograph, or what to do with the photographs I have. I stare at them or at my camera and nothin’.

It’s during these little dry spells that I search for inspiration.

A few places I like to look are:

• Flickr.com. Just click on the “Explore” button and you will find page after page of amazing photos.
• The local book store. Here you can browse through photography books and magazines and pick up a few helpful tips.
• Art Museum. Many art museums have a whole photography section. Or you can find a museum showcasing a certain photographer.
• Travel. Sometimes just going somewhere I have never been before can inspire some great photographs.

What inspires you?

Elissa (aka Punk Rock Mom) is a blogger, wife, mother, knitter, photographer, a Scorpio and all around cool person. You can follow the adventures of Punk Rock Dad, Punk Rock Mom and The Phi at Punk Rock Parents.