My photography business takes flight—Beth Shepherd Photography

March 20, 2017 by Beth Shepherd

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? This is the quote on a paperweight sitting above my desk, given to me some years ago by my husband. The answer to this question is not difficult for me. Photography! However turning my answer into reality took many years. And a lot of courage.

I’ve fantasized about being a photographer since I was in high school. Anyone who knows me knows photography is, and has always been, one of my greatest passions. Doing something for money doesn’t make it more real, I understand that, but doing photography—and getting paid for it—is something I’ve dreamed about for eons. I confess I’ve spent too many years being afraid, telling myself I’m not good enough to put myself alongside the thousands upon thousands of amazing professional photographers out there in the world.

But you know what? Life is short. I have enough regrets already, like not being fluent in another language, or spending years (and $$$) chasing college degrees instead of traveling the world. So I decided to take the leap! Insecurities be damned.

And with that, welcome Beth Shepherd Photography! I’ve got a new website with a blog, and a business Facebook page. You can read about how I found the chutzpah to turn my dream into reality in my first post: Hello World—Let me take your picture!

Pampers and Paklava won’t be going away! But I’ll focus this blog on adoption, travel, gardening, cooking—musings about life in general, whereas Beth Shepherd Photography will be tailored to showcase my photography business and projects like my 365 Project (now in its second year!), highlights of photo shoots with clients, and any of my gal-about-town photography excursions and exploits.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

52 weeks in my garden: One year in photographs

January 19, 2017 by Beth Shepherd

This year I completed two photography projects! For my 365 Project I took one photo every day, of whatever I wanted, for twelve months. But I’ve also had another project in mind for a long time: Take pictures of our garden for one year. And in 2016, I did it!

Once each week, I stood on our deck and took two shots of our tiny—14′ x 48′—garden. I wanted to document the seasons, see which plants bloomed when, how plants grow and then fade away over the course of the year. I also took a few photos each week of the “highlights,” a few specific plants or something remarkable going on in the garden each week.

When I started my project, trees were bare, soil was exposed. The garden beds were empty. Spring came quickly, buds poking their heads from the cold soil, leaves springing from trees, birds returning to nest.

By June I was planting vegetables in our garden beds, tiny apples began to form on our espaliered apple trees, bees everywhere, baby birds finding their way to our birdbath.

As summer warmed, our plants grew and before long our tiny yard filled with shapes and colors and scents.Then came harvest, apples and tomatoes, basil and beans, all made their way from the garden to our table.

And as they did, summer turned to fall, leaves glowed in mind-blowing colors, brisk breezes through our yard, and once or twice, we woke up to a dusting of snow. Slowly, one by one many of our plants disappeared into the earth, and by December 31, it was all as it started one year ago.

By the time this project ended, I’d taken 104 photos of our backyard and several hundred of the various plants, trees and flowers in their glory. Here are a few photos, taken from the porch, to give you an idea of what happens in one garden throughout the year. Our tiny slice of urban heaven.

January 2016

April 2016

July 2016

October 2016

December 2016

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 photos in 2016! 12 months of collages

January 4, 2017 by Beth Shepherd

366 days of photos in 2016! Here they are: January 1st though December 31st. The square format of the collage template I used cropped out bits and pieces from the edges, but what I saw through my lens—day in and day out—is there for the viewing.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Four fun—and FREE—family holiday photo-op spots in Seattle

December 6, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

‘Tis the season for holiday family photos. Yes, of course, there are always the usual spots to catch a photo session with Santa, but if you want to shake it up for a change, consider these four Seattle locations for fun—FREE—family holiday photos.

Pacific Place

Want to get a couple presents for the good kids on your list and snag a some fun photos at the same time? Then head downtown to Pacific Place and search each floor for the illuminated GIVE, LOVE , and JOY marquee signs!

Beginning December 2, for three weeks, a word will be “dedicated” each week. If you to take a photo in front of the marquee sign (by yourself, with a family or with a friend, or just of the sign itself), and upload to Facebook and/or Instagram (with that week’s corresponding hashtag: #PacPlaceGIVE #PacPlaceLOVE or #PacPlaceJOY, you will automatically be entered to win a $250 gift card to the Pacific Place store or restaurant of your choice. One winner will chosen each week. December 2-8: GIVE; December 9-15: LOVE; December 16-24: JOY.

And—If you’re visiting Pacific Place at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, look out for snow flurries. Indoors! November 25th through December 24th you can enjoy the Snow Show in the Atrium.

Bonus: Want to practice your night and lights photography? New this year there is a 3D projection mapping show on the 6th Avenue street side of Pacific Place—a magical lights begin at night-fall each evening from November 25 – December 31st.

Last year, 2015, we had a blast going up and down the escalators (what kid doesn’t like that) to check out the creatively painted Nutcrackers hidden around each level of the mall.

Archie McPhee

Is Bigfoot more your bag than Elf on the Shelf? How about a snowy white unicorn? Got folks on your holiday list who thrill at a quirky gift? Archie McPhee is the place to be! On the corner of 45th and Stone Way in Wallingford you can get some great photos against the really cool murals on the outside walls of their building. And then? Head inside for all gifts bacon and cat lady!

We used the photo I took of our daughter against their glorious red wall (in her Santa mustache that we purchased inside the store) for this year’s holiday card.

Swansons Nursery

You can buy your tree and your poinsettia at Swansons Nursery in north Ballard. But did you also know you can see real reindeer, a camel (the famous Curley), and a model train with a unique theme every year (this year’s theme is the Grinch)? Plus you can take photos in one of their two decorated sleighs. Swansons’ annual Reindeer Festival runs from November 12 through December 24 at 3:00 p.m.

Bonus: This year, if you post photos of your Swansons’ holiday traditions on Instagram or Twitter through December 12th, (using hashtag #sharingswansons) Swansons will share the holiday spirit by donating one food item to the Ballard Food Bank for every photo posted. At the end of the 12 days of sharing, one lucky participant will win 12 fabulous Swansons’ prizes!

McCaw Hall

Love the classic feel of the Nutcracker but can’t count on your kids making it through a 2-hour performance? Then go check out the lobby at McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center which opens 2 hours before each performance! You can find cute photo-op spots like the enormous Mother Ginger statue with the “peek-a-boo” skirt, and giant mouse, three mini-stages, plus Seattle’s tallest Christmas tree.

Sometimes when the stress of holiday happenings gets you down, you need to think outside the box a bit. Wishing you a fun and photographic holiday season!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Rounding the final bend in my 366 photography project

December 1, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

I am entering the final month of my 366 photography project. Thirty-one days remain in 2016, and I am determined to complete my project despite the fact that I will be having knee surgery in seven days. Even if I have to resort to taking gory photos of my knee, I am going to finish this!

The past eleven months have been fun for me. Fun, a challenge, and a great learning experience. I enjoy shooting every day. To be perfectly honest, it’s going to be hard for me to stop this habit, so maybe I won’t! The more I shoot, the more I learn about my camera, my world and myself. I look forward to discovering something new each day to take a picture of. Practice and discipline has helped sharpen my photographer’s eye.

This month I also embarked on my first Clickin Moms photography class, One light: Off-camera flash. I am really excited about this class because I know virtually nothing about flash. Plus, I live in Seattle where it is gray, dark and cloudy for many months so flash skills will come in handy, especially post-surgery when I am stuck in my tiny house with minimal natural light, in the middle of December. Light and shadows. That’s what it’s all about, in photography and life.

In photography there are no shadows that cannot be illuminated.

~Berenice Abbott, 1898-1991

And with that, here’s November!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 Project: October 2016—10 months in, one photograph every day

November 2, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

October’s end celebrates the completion of my tenth month. Two months remaining in my 366 Project. Reaching the 300 photos milestone on October 26 was a big—I got this–moment!

Fall is always dramatic, which is one of the reasons I love this season. But, for a photographer, fall weather brings challenges as well as rewards. Clouds might add moody interest to a picture but they can also create a blah background of gray verging on white. And then there’s the rain…

This particular October turned out to be a record-breaker where rain is concerned. Seattle had more rain this month than ever before. In fact in just one month we got more rain than typically falls in two months! 10.05 inches fell where normal for October is 3.48 inches and normal for November is 6.57 inches. Even as I write this post, on November 2, rain is falling outside my window.

But if you can get yourself outside, there is beauty to be found, whether vistas of mist and storms.

Or the small details of droplets on a brilliantly colored leaf.

On occasion, when the sun pops out, the view can be spectacular. Trees aglow in shades of rust, gold and green as far as the eye can see, magical sunlight against the clouds and reflections on still water.

And with that, here’s looking at you October.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 Project: A few things I learned during the month of September

October 5, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

I can hardly believe I’ve entered the “final quarter” of my 366 Project. Only three months remaining! I’d been feeling like I’ve got this in the bag, until I scheduled partial knee replacement surgery for early December. My first thought: “What will happen to my 366 Project?!” Well, there may be a few shots of my knee—before and after—but I am still committed to completing this!

During the month of September I learned a couple things about taking photos of birds, namely it does really help to increase my ISO (film speed, for you non-photogs) so I can also increase my shutter speed. The photos do have more “noise” (less crisp), but it certainly helps with birds who are moving or flying, as birds so often do. I’m going to keep playing with this and see how it goes!

The second thing I’ve learned is that it does indeed make a difference if you have a lens with a bigger “reach.” I’ve been experimenting with a nifty new “toy,” a 150-600 mm used lens I bought. The lens is super large and heavy (I won’t be backpacking with it, let’s just say that) but it does what it’s designed to do…get right up there and personal with my little feathered friends.

On the people front, I continue to try new “tricks” when taking photos of my daughter. As I’ve mentioned, she isn’t always the most willing muse but if I get clever, “Do you want to go see the spaceship?” I’m definitely more likely to pique her interest.

The other trick is I try not to “wear out my welcome.” I’ve always been envious of moms (and dads) whose kids pose for the camera—easily. No bribery necessary. My kid is not that kid. But if I catch her at the right moment and in the right mood…and I’m quick about it, I can usually get a few good shots. Of course if she’s really into doing something (like throwing water balloons with Dada), I have a lot more chances to get it right.

No matter the season, there is always something happening in my garden or in the natural world around me. Sometimes it’s really subtle and you might pass by if you weren’t on the lookout, like when plants flower before they go to seed. I am a big fan of spring and autumn—they are each dramatic in their own way, one season bringing new life everywhere you look and the other flashes of brilliance before quieting down for winter. The lesson is to look, look for the subtle changes, the tiniest of details.

And the final lesson is pretty obvious. Get out there! Take a few minutes to stroll along the lake or sit on a park bench. We all (me included) get so busy with our days that we lose awareness of our surroundings, running from here to there with our gaze locked onto our phones. Take some time, get out there and look!

And with that, here’s September!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 Project: Three things I’ve learned during my seventh month

September 2, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

I just wrapped up the month of August for my 366 Project. 245 days of taking pictures! Every month I learn something new, about my camera and myself. Here are a few insights from August:

There is a never-ending learning curve: My biggest take-away from the past seven months of my 366 Project is HOW MUCH there is to learn about photography! Light, camera settings, post-processing, working with kids, couples and locations. I’ve been taking photos most of my life, but still feel like I’m at the tip of the iceberg in terms of how much I know and how much I want to know. My “to do” list for learning is quite lengthy. A few things I’d like to learn: how to use a flash, batch editing in Lightroom, really understanding my camera settings, being able to anticipate what I need to do in a wide array of shooting circumstances such bright sun or flat gray sky, night time shots, how to use my Lensbaby lenses and how to get my business off the ground.

There are a lot of local resources for me to tap to become a better photographer: This month I took two free classes at a Kenmore Camera. One was ‘Birds 101‘ which was suggested to me by several of the Mamas with Cameras, as in “Beth you have to go!” So I did and not only was it fantastic, I heard about the upcoming Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, Washington on September 9-11. And, when I heard about the bird fest, I found out there was going to be a photography exhibit. I entered and one of my hummingbird shots–which you can see HERE in my June post–will be one of 40 photos at the exhibit!

I like a fun challenge…especially if it involves a list: In June, a couple of the women in my Mamas with Cameras 365/52 Project Wonder Women group suggested a “Summer Scavenger Hunt Hashtag Contest.” There was a list with 46 hashtags of things having to do with summer, like: #MWC_kite, #MWC_last_day, and #MWC_splash. And…there was a prize for the person who completed the most tags by Labor Day. On top of this, if someone completed all the hashtags she’d be entered to win a photography headshots session.

If there’s a list, I’m in, although I confess I become a bit obsessed with crossing off as many things as I can (I am like that any list). Labor Day is just around the corner and I’m close, but it pains me to say I won’t get every last hashtag. Hoping for 41 out of 46.

And with that, here’s August:

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

366 Project: Four things I’ve learned during my sixth month

August 12, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

I’m still taking pictures every day, loving it and learning so much! Here are a few of my takeaways from my 366 Project during the month of July.

It’s all about the light: Low light, sunny days, skies filled with clouds. Each offers its own challenges and rewards. The blue tones in dusk are so moody and lovely but then I struggle with getting my camera settings right. A bright sunny day–fantastic–until I realize the dark shadows obscure my daughter’s face or blow out all the details on a leaf. Clouds and rain, the bane of a Seattleite. Yes the grays can wipe out everything of interest in the sky but then I find colors are more deeply saturated and the shadows softer in my images. I still have so much to learn about how to get the most out of what kind of light each day (or time of the day) brings!

Don’t be afraid to fill the frame: I waited and waited for this peacock to spread his wings but when he did, he was farther away then I would have liked and the background around him was distracting. I decided to tightly crop my photo which put the focus on his colors and patterns in his beautiful feathers. There is always a place for broad beautiful vistas but sometimes, filling the frame with one detail, like just the petals of the flower or your child’s hands playing in the water, really brings home the shot.

Edit, but edit with caution: I like to explore creative ways to select the parts of my photo that tell a story, but I try to be cautious about over-editing. Too many special effects or too much over-processing can ruin the natural beauty already in the picture. That said, sometimes it’s fun to add a bit of drama with a dark background or bump up the color so your subject really pops.

There is so much beauty in our world! This isn’t an epiphany, but I do find that the more I shoot the more I see, and the more I see the more I want to get out my camera. I love watching the seasons change, the ebb and flow of plants and animal life. Nature amazes me. There is always something spectacular to discover around the corner or right in my own backyard.

Here’s July:

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Five hot tips on taking photos of kids who hate having their picture taken

July 22, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Summer is here. Kids are out of school. Families take vacations. You swim, play in the park, take road trips and go camping. There are endless opportunities to take photos of kids, especially your own kids: frolicking in the waves, blissed out by the campfire or lying in a field of daisies. This is the time of the year when children are freest to do what they do best–be a kid.

But what if you’re the parent of a kid who hates having their picture taken? I understand, because I am that mom. Left to her own devices, my daughter rarely stops moving and will do her best to look anywhere but at the camera. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks with infrequent or limited success like mounting a cute Pez container on my camera’s hot shoe, bribing her with various edible and non-edible treats, and making jokes about an [imaginary] bird pooping in my head (however using the word “poop” does work, at least once or twice). There have been plenty of times where I just gave up and went outside to take pictures of real birds who I have good success capturing with my camera, despite their flighty ways.

Don’t despair. There is hope! Take it from me, the mom who struggles on a regular basis to get “a good shot” of her daughter Here are five hot tips that work!

Shoot like there’s nobody’s watching

What would happen if I stopped worrying about whether my daughter smiles for a photo? What if I quit begging, pleading and bribing her to please look at me? Why do I feel like I need to sell my soul so my kid’s eyes will be in the picture? These are questions I’ve asked myself a lot in the past six months. I know it’s said “the eyes are the window to the soul,” but I’ve discovered the truth is I can catch the essence of my daughter when she’s not watching me, not dutifully looking at the camera. The “trick” lies with me, not her. When I shoot with my own eyes, and stop caring about hers, those are the moments I get some of my best “captures.”

Make them laugh

Saying “cheese” never works, unless you like cheesy, fakey photos. And do as I say and not as I sometimes do because “Look at the camera” rarely works either. I’ve also tried “Where are my eyes” from time to time. That usually ends with her reaching out her arm and pointing her index finger in the direction of my eyes…which covers her face. The way to get natural smiles, easily, is to forget about any and everything having to do with SMILE. Tell a joke. Get goofy (you too mom). Ask her to tell a story or you tell one, “Remember the time the cat chewed holes in your shoe?” Or ask her not to smile, no really I mean it, don’t you dare smile.

Think out of the box

Or under it and over it. Almost every “tips” article I’ve read talks about getting down to kid level, like kneeling or lying down on the floor. And that works, but also think about shooting from above, from behind and from a distance. BONUS tip–Sometimes shooting with a longer lens, like 85mm-105mm, helps you get”closer” than you might shooting with a 35 or 50mm. Being stealth is what it’s all about, especially if your subject is camera shy or downright camera averse like my kid. This resonates with me too. When someone sticks a camera lens right in my face, I know I’m not my most photogenic self.

Embrace worse for the wear

Yes of course she looks cute in that adorable dress her grandmother bought her, but I can guarantee you’ll get better shots if she plays dress up instead of getting dressed up, even if all you do is give your kid a pair of sunglasses to put on. What kid doesn’t love sunglasses? Plus, she puts them on and her eyes “are covered.” She feels safe in that comforting, “I can’t really see you and you can’t really see my eyes…so, we’re cool” sort of way. Try not to worry so much if her hair is messed up (and my girlie is the Queen of Messy Hair), whether her shirt clashes with her skirt, or even a smidge of yogurt on her lips or snot under her nose–it’s all part of kid-charm, plus there’s always Lightroom and Photoshop for the really egregious boo-boos. In fact, sometimes, the best part of the shot is mismatched socks, hair flying wildly about and pants that are on backwards. You can save coifed and color-coordinated for the Santa photo booth.

The bottom line? When my daughter is in her own fantasy land (instead of mine) is when I get the best photos. I’m not sure at what point in life we get so concerned about the right outfit and the perfect smile, all poses and matchy-matchy. It’s kind of a shame, really. Because it doesn’t get any more authentic than when you shoot kids in their element.

Find the story

Do you really need all of your kid in the shot, or maybe just a close up of just her tiny feet in bunny slippers? Could you crop out half her face, just shoot her from the neck down, take a picture of her hands drawing? And now for the big kahuna of questions: Does it really matter if your kid looks at the camera? As it turns out, no. If you look through this post, there is only one photo where you can see my daughter’s eyes–well, an eye and it’s underwater at that. So much for all my attempts to get my daughter to look at the camera and not make a silly face. That said, even though I now know this, I still keep trying more than I’d like. Thankfully I am solidly on my way to recovery.

In the past six months since I started my 366 Project, I have learned a lot about photography. Some of the things I’ve learned have come from trial and error, a LOT of trials and a lot of errors. I once joked (but it was “for real” and not a joke) that all it took was three shots to get a good picture of a bird and 53 shots to get a good picture of my daughter. You know who else has my back? Other photographers, particular photographers who are moms like me, so a shout out to my beloved Mamas with Cameras who have given me encouragement, shown me creative angles (literally) and are always inspirational.

Rock the shot!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Note: I used her exclusively because I have a ‘her,’ but everything in my post applies whether you’ve got a boy, a girl or more than one of either.