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While my business is a HUGE part of my life so are a lot of other things like family, crafting, travel, cooking and vintage things. This is the place where I get to share those things. Thanks for reading!Folks We Love
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Tag Archives: Photography
Photography Assistants
I can’t remember what shoot I was on where I finally said to myself, “I can’t do this successfully alone.” I want to say it was back in 2009, in Tulsa at a wedding I was shooting. I could have the dates wrong, but I’m pretty sure it was right around that time. I immediately started day dreaming of having an photography assistant.
I thought about hiring an intern, but that would mean I’d have to raise my prices to pay them. I have a really hard time asking any intern to work for free, though there was a time where I did and I learned a lot. But still, I wanted to keep my prices reasonable (also why we have a home office and not a store front studio yet), but I also needed help. About 3 months later I was at an Imaging USA convention and I heard Jeff and Julia Woods speak (they’re an amazing husband and wife wedding photography team). It was then I remembered I had an assistant, a life long assistant, my husband Bill. And after much pleading and coercion and begging because he loves me Bill agreed to assist me on shoots.
There was a slight learning curve at first. He definitely blindly agreed to help, I’m certain he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. If he had I’m positive he would have said no, or at least thought about it a little harder. But I taught him about light and light manipulation and angles. He was already pretty good at hauling equipment and props around. He picked everything up rather quickly (he’s smart like that) and soon he started mentioning little posing and location ideas and thoughts during shoots that were pure genius. I stopped having to ask him to shade certain things or pop light here or there because he just saw it and knew.
Then there were the children. I hadn’t had much of an opportunity to see Bill with children, other than briefly with his niece and nephew in Philadelphia. I had been told by different folks that he was great with kids. But it wasn’t until he started assisting me on family and kid shoots that I realized how truly fabulous he is with them. And they absolutely love him to boot! And sometimes while shooting the parents, or a different combo of kids, I turn and I see this…
…and then I melt a little. Cause it isn’t just that he acts goofy to get them to laugh or smile, but he plays with them and entertains them while I’m working with other members of their family. And seriously they love him. (This little one said she’d like to come home with us.)
I have tons of these kinds of pictures of Bill being awesome at what he does floating among client photos, but the photo above is from a more recent shoot and it absolutely kills me. Maybe it’s pregnancy hormones. Maybe it’s that in three short months he’ll be holding our little girl. I’m not entirely sure. But what I am sure of is that he is going to be a fantastic dad and I couldn’t ask for a better photography assistant.
Posted in Families & Kids, Life, Photography
Also tagged Family Photographer Houston, family photography, photographer spring tx, photography assistant
1 Comment
Niagara Falls : Summer 2012
As I’ve shared before in the last 5 things post, we did an extended vacation to visit family in the northeast. One of our stops was at Niagara Falls because Bill had never seen it in the summer (it’s a completely different experience in the winter). I always take vacations as a time to play with different photography shots. Luckily it was sunset which was a great time of day for some interesting shots with incredible lighting. So this is what we came up with…
Can I please make an announcement, people still go over the falls and die, about 20-25 people per year. If you haven’t been there you’d imagine that every dangerous area is kept from people by railings and signs and guards. The thing is, it isn’t. If you walk over the bridge (the top photo on the right) onto Goat Island there are all kinds of wooded areas and trails that just lead right to the edge of the water just before the falls (seen in the bottom photo on the right). Niagara Falls are actually made of three separate waterfalls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian (or Horseshoe) Falls and you can go over any of them quite easily.
While walking one of the trails we saw this man and his young son IN THE WATER! They were picking up change that people had thrown into the water in probably the calmest area right before the falls (the picture on the right was taken just a few feet from where these people were in the water). There are signs posted everywhere about being fined for getting in the water but these people didn’t care. The mother was just standing there watching them. They spoke very little English but when we said THEY WILL DIE she quickly collected her family. Amazing.
And that was Niagara Falls.
A Glimps of Vermont, Winter, and Peacefulness
I was pulling together a few photos from Vermont for a friend and stumbled upon this one. I realize I was supposed to share more from my Vermont Trip this February, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I’m sorry. I’ve failed.
When I ran across this image, as I was digitally shuffling through so many of them, I was instantly reminded of the peacefulness I felt in Vermont. Since I got back from that trip I’ve been going non-stop with photo sessions, graphic design work, etsy sales, events for family and friends, birthdays, anniversaries, more photo shoots, travel, and just life. It’s gotten really really busy. And I’m not complaining at all, I enjoy it, but I’d lost sight of the clarity I found in Vermont.
We’ve got a few more trips planned in the coming weeks and I’m hoping to find that clarity again, to escape for a bit and refocus. To breathe again.
Also, I want to do a photo session in the snow. It’s on the bucket list.
5 Things: Raw Milk, Ten, Yard Work, Youth, Puerto Rican Food
1. Raw Milk- I spent all of last Thursday on Gramen Farm in Tomball, Texas, starting the work on a brand new project. A cow licked my arm. Their tongues are HUGE. I learned tons and tons about raw milk and farming. I met some really amazing folks who I think will become fast friends. Best of all I came home with a trunk full of delicious raw milk, kefir grains, soap nuts, local honey, and farm made soap. It was a good day.
Making kefir with raw milk and kefir grains.
2. Ten- Ten is the number of photo sessions I did in April. (Also, how the heck is it already May? When did that happen?) For a lot of studios 10 is a measly number, it may be the number of sessions they do in a day. But considering I’m a 1.45984 man operation boutique photography studio (Bill helps out when he can, which is reason for the decimal) and I spend at least 2 hours prepping for a shoot, 2+ hours on the shoot, 4+ hours editing, 2+ hours putting together custom artwork, not to mention client meetings, answering e-mail, and actually placing orders to our vendors as well as all the other stuff that goes with running a business, it’s been a crazy busy month. The thing is I LOVE IT.
Part of my workspace, it's definitely not always this clean.
3. Yard Work- When I was not working I’ve been outside. We’ve spent a lot of time working on the yard. At dinner Bill and I planned out our dream back yard, I even sketched it out. Our vegetable garden is flourishing and we had an influx of plants after the Plant Swap on Saturday. Bill makes fun of me because I just go out there and stare at it. But it’s relaxing and it makes me smile.
Our current project, making a path around our raised beds.
4. Youth Group- Our youth group is growing. Oh yeah, Bill and I lead a small in home youth group (it’s hosted by another family). It was an opportunity based out of a desire of a few kids that sort of just fell into our laps. We’ve been doing it for almost a year and last night we had 23 students. In a living room. Twenty-three. What? Yes. 23. It’s blowing my mind that A. that many kids want to listen and have discussions with us. and B. See reason A. I’m amazed.
5. Puerto Rican Food- My best friend is Puerto Rican and we have some very good friends here in Houston who are also Puerto Rican. And they have been teaching me how to make Puerto Rican food, which is delicious and makes me happy in a way I can’t describe. So a few weeks ago I took on the task of feeding 12 people with what I’d learned from my friends. The verdict was I succeeded. Rice, beans, flat steak and Tostones (twice fried plantains). My next task, Mofongo!
Yummy Puerto Rican Food
Making tostones, Bill did the smashing.
Posted in Five Things
Also tagged gardening, kefir, keifr grains, puerto rican food, Raw milk, tostones, Youth
2 Comments
Jaclyn ~ A Senior Photo Session With Horses
When Jaclyn e-mailed me and said she wanted to to her senior photo session at her horse stables I was a tad giddy. I love horses. My uncle shoed them for a living when I was little and he had a horse named Major and I would go with my uncle to the stables and ride. And then he would let me clean Major’s stall. I was quite proud of myself every time I looked into the stall after I had cleaned it. Little did I know I was doing an unwanted chore. And I’m about 99% sure my uncle had to go back into the stall and redo everything because quite frankly I was little and poop is heavy. And thus my love for horses was born.
Bill wasn’t quite sure about the horses. He’s from Philadelphia and I guess in that city horses aren’t as natural an occurrence as they are here in Houston and the surrounding areas. When we met Jaclyn’s horse I walked right over and pet his head. Bill stood back and stated quite frankly, “wow, that’s a big animal, I’ve never been this close to a horse.” He eventually warmed up to them and both of us stood in awe as Jaclyn maneuvered her horse and went soaring through the air as they jumped over a fence we had placed in the middle of the field.
Here are a few of our favorites from her photo shoot.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the shoot! Leave us a comment.
Posted in DP&D Photography Sessions, Photography, Seniors
Also tagged horses, houston senior photographer, senior 2012, Texas, Tomball
2 Comments
Melissa ~ Whimsical Senior Photo Session
Melissa and I worked together to style her senior photo session. The goal was dreamy and whimsical with a touch of mystery. She has a great eye for fashion and picked out all her clothes. This was actually the same location we did the photo session with Tiffany and her girls, but to our surprise all the the tall grass had been mowed which completely changed the landscape of the location. It also revealed a plethora of blackberry vines which Melissa, Bill and I ate from throughout the shoot. Oddly enough, Melissa eats blackberries every morning and so it made the session even more “her”.
This lady is a fantastic woman. There is so much about her that reminds me of myself at that age. She’s beautiful and thoughtful and just all around awesome. And I’m in love with her photos…
(Because I take a feet shot of every client. It’s kinda my thing.)
(This one was an artistic experiment, I’m still not sure if it works.)
(Berry Picking)
And that is Melissa.
PS. I’d love to hear your feedback on these images; which is your favorite, likes, don’t like, etc. Just leave it in the comments.
Posted in Photography, Seniors
Also tagged houston senior photographer, senior photography, spring texas, whimsical
4 Comments
Five Things : Galveston/Anniversary, Busyness, Photographer, Garden, Fabric
1. Galveston- Just after Easter Bill and I went to Galveston, TX to shoot Riann’s one year photos and decided to use the time there (since we had to get a hotel anyway) as a mini anniversary getaway. Our 3rd anniversary was actually this past Tuesday but Bill is in Atlanta for work so we thought it was appropriate to celebrate a little early. We stayed at the San Luis Resort and I highly recommend it. All the rooms have a balcony view of the ocean, they’re huge, and the pool has a swim up bar. Awesome. We spent a lot of time exploring the island, looking for shoot locations and trying out the local fare. I always forget how great Galveston is, I spent a lot of summers there as a kid, and it’s a stones throw from our house (or like an hour’s drive). I need to take advantage of that more.
1. Our feet in the sand (I need a pedicure, don’t judge). 2. The view from our room at the San Luis Resort. 3. A DELISH shrimp Po-Boy from Shrimp N’ Stuff, go there, it’s AMAZING. 4. Breakfast at ShyKatz Deli, adorable little place, great food, great atmosphere. 5. Bill drinking a giant orange juice at Easter breakfast with mom before heading out to Galveston. 6. The new Pleasure Pier, opening soon!!
2. Busyness – In high school I went to a church by myself, not that my parents didn’t go to church I just really liked this one church so they let me go there. It was them allowing me to define my own path and faith. Anywho, on father’s day they gave all the dads this book called The Man in the Mirror. Somehow I ended up taking one home and since I read just about everything back then I thought hey, why not. One of the main things it mentioned was that it was ok to be busy but you had to be busy and balanced. It’s something I’ve always strived for but I think the busy has been outweighing the balanced lately and I’m working on that.
3. I am a photographer. – When there is a desire deeply rooted in your heart it becomes the thing you question the most about yourself. It’s personal and it’s tied to you. I constantly have to remind myself that I am a photographer. When people ask me what I do and I say it out loud I always sound silly to myself, or like I’m faking them out. But I really am a photographer (along with a lot of other things: wife, counselor, graphic designer, christian, daughter, gardener…), and sometimes it surprises me. For example I did a photo session with Tiffany and her two adorable girls and I don’t know if it was their beauty, or the location, or that it was the magic hour or a combination of all of those things but when I finally got the photos on my computer a few of the images made me gasp. I questioned if I actually took them. I don’t mean to sound conceited or anything but they blew my mind a bit, I surprised myself. This both frightens me and excites me, because I think it may mean I actually am a photographer. (You can see more images from their session here.)
4. My Garden Is Growing – We planted our veggie garden a few weeks ago and it’s doing VERY well. I’ll actually be picking our first banana pepper sometime this week. My parsley, cilantro, cucumber, and basil that I planted from seed all came up. I worked in the rain on Sunday putting weed block (that black plastic stuff) all around the outside of the raised beds so I can eventually build little pathways around them. The whole thing makes me SO happy that I just sit out there and stare at my plants. (This picture is actually from two weeks ago.)
5. I Have a Fabric Addiction – I bought more fabric recently from Five Monkey Fabrics on etsy, from Paper Thread Fabrics and Joanne’s. I have about 5 or six sewing projects going all at once. The quilt for the living room, a second quilt (though it’s just in the planning stages), the fabric rose tree skirt, reusable swiffer dusters, a vintage half apron, and this tutorial from A Beautiful Mess. I have SEVERAL others in the hopper too (top of the list is this burp cloth tutorial from Made for all my friends who are about to pop out kiddos). Basically my pinterest has been filled with sewing ideas and fabric swatches.
Posted in Five Things
Also tagged Five Monkey Fabric, galveston, gardening, Paper Thread Fabrics, Pleasure Pier, sewing, Shrimp N Stuff, ShyKatz, The San Luis Resort, TX
2 Comments
Why Hello New Year
We’ve hit the new year and here at Diliberto Photo & Design we’ve started at a full sprint. Senior photography sessions, for the love of couples sessions, family sessions, and corporate photography sessions are filling our calendar quickly. We’ve also got loads of corporate graphic design jobs starting as our business clients are gearing up for a new year and a new start to marketing efforts. Basically the first four days of the year have been busy and insanely satisfying.
The first session of the year to hit our client’s section of our website was Annika’s Senior Session. We had a few hiccups at our first location but we found this fantastic field and went to town! Here are a few of my favorites from Annika’s session.
I also put together a few samples of an artistic story board and custom graduation invitations using the photos from Annika’s session. Creating them was quite fun and as we round the second semester of many seniors’ last year I’m looking forward to creating them for all my seniors.
Posted in Photography, Seniors
Also tagged artistic storyboards, Custom Graduation Invitation, diliberto photo and design, senior photography
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Where The Wild Things Are Inspired Photo Session
This weekend I had the pleasure of shooting Ezra’s one year old photo session (I shot his sister’s one year photo session a few years ago). His mom wanted to do a Where the Wild Things Are themed photo session which I thought was the best idea ever. I got to work doing research on the book and the illustrations and put my creative thinking cap on and started building a few props for the session (with the help of Bill of course).
On Friday morning we ventured out into the parks of Houston to find a great spot. There is a cluster of crepe myrtle trees I’ve wanted to shoot at since high school and Ezra’s mom was a trooper as we pushed a baby and a whole lot of props through a park and across a busy street to get to the location. It was worth it because the photos turned out great. Ezra is such a happy baby and he was super cooperative, plus he’s cute which helps a lot.
Posted in Families & Kids, Photography
Also tagged baby, One Year Old, Themed Photo Shoot, Where the Wild Things Are
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The Taylor Family
This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the Taylor family. Jennifer and I worked together to come up with the photo shoot theme. I’d been dying to do a cooking baking family session and the Taylor family loves to bake together so it was perfect. We had great fun and there was even a cookies and milk picnic!
Posted in Families & Kids, Photography
Also tagged Cookie Baking, family, Houston Photographer
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