GIVEAWAY!!!

june marks my one-year anniversary! i wanted to celebrate with all of you who support me and keep me going with a GIVEAWAY - A FREE mini session!! yay, i'm so excited!
this is my way of saying THANK YOU to all of you who continue to visit my blog and support my work. you have no idea how much i appreciate your comments and support.

to be eligible for the contest, you must become a "fan" on Touch of Grey's facebook page.
if you don't have a facebook account, get one! :)
i will select, at random, one of my "fans" for the free mini session.

click on the link below to go directly to Touch of Grey's facebook page to become a fan.

Touch of Grey facebook page


to those of you who do not have a facebook account and don't wanna get one, but would like in on some of the action, leave a comment and tell me who you are. i would love to get to know more of you!


if you want to be entered into the drawing for the free mini session become a "fan" on facebook or leave a comment.

thanks!!!

macey, macey anne!

my niece is a year old, but she's so mini and i love it! she's just a couple months younger than my boo, but she's so much more petite. she has such a timid little personality too and wasn't too sure about having her picture taken, especially if her mom wasn't holding her. so cute.
i love you macey anne!

just a few more...

she requested this truck in the shoot. i don't blame her. i'm kind of in love with it myself. :)








i had to post both of these because i love her expressions in both. isn't she BEAUTIFUL??

my fabulous college roomy

i was so excited when one of my FAVORITE roommates from college called me and wanted to do maternity pictures. she is one of THE funnest people i know, and we had such a blast during the session. it has been a long time since we've hung out and it made me very nostalgic about the good ol' days.
linds, i love you and am so excited for you. you will be an excellent mom. baby boy nielson is so lucky to have you!

here's a sneak-peak from our shoot!
(i'm a little behind on my blogging! sorry!)

wedding part II as promised.

this "getting ready" picture may be my favorite.











and this little girl eating her hot-dog makes me so happy. she had no idea i was there because when i went to take her picture later in the evening she totally posed for me. so disappointing!

wedding part I

i was lucky enough to be invited by jessica kettle to one of her weddings as a second-shooter. jessica is amazingly talented and i was more than happy about another opportunity to work with her and learn from her.

i have three weddings coming up this summer, one of which is in cincinnati! so it was so great to get to see the dynamics of a wedding.
our day started at about 12:30 and went to about 10:30 that night. it was a LONG day, and when i woke up the next morning, i felt hung over. yikes. a little different than my two-hour family shoots. :) jessica said after doing a few weddings, you build up your stamina. we'll see. haha.

as a second shooter, my job was to be where jessica couldn't be. doing so, i was able to take a lot of candid shots, which are my favorite. here a few that i took throughout the day. there will be a part II so stay tuned!















thanks jess, i had a blast and learned a ton!

PHOTO TIP of the WEEK!

check out what kind of lighting you are working with before you shoot. it is generally a good idea to shoot with your light source behind you, unless you are going for sun flare. always check for squinty eyes and unflattering shadows.
i really like my subjects' eyes to have catch lights. it makes them twinkle. otherwise, i feel like their eyes look dark and dead.

there is a big difference between a photo with a subject who has a soft, even light across their face and one with harsh shadows under their eyes, nose, etc.
side light can be a cool, dramatic effect sometimes too.

lighting can change the entire feel and look of your photo dramatically.

lighting, to me, is the most important aspect of photography. without it, it would not exist. i know that sounds ridiculously obvious, but if you think about it, it's actually kind of an interesting concept. you can capture a photograph from the slightest light of a candle, just as long as it exists. deep, i know, i know! haha.

experiment with your light! i would love to see some of your work too, so e-mail me some pictures of cool uses of light! if i get enough, maybe i'll do a little contest or something.

my one-year photo anniversary is coming up {wahoo!} and i'm trying to decide how to celebrate it - if i should do a Q&A type forum, a give-away, contest... not sure. if you have any suggestions or preferences let me know!

ok, i am seriously in love with this baby girl.

this family was so fun. they are totally people i could hang out with. i love that i come away from my shoots with new friends. i have the best job!
i especially loved shooting little camille. she was all smiles and had crazy amounts of personality.
i have to add that nicole was referred to me by one of my favorite clients. referrals are my favorite and i offer fantastic incentives for them!









i love her little feet poking out of her dress in this one. isn't she to die for??