Start your own photo blog.

Why is it important to have a photo blog? I can think of 5 very important reasons to start your own.

Reason 1:  It's fun to show your clients "teasers" of their own photo shoot before all their images are turned over to them. Teasers do exactly that and tease your clients, it provides them with instant gratification about their photo shoot and they just love it.

Reason 2:  It's very important to start documenting the pictures you take so that later on you can go back & see the improvement you have made in your photography skills. If you take a second to search through my archives, you will see my growth as a photographer, it's clearly noticeable.  I love to look back and see how far I’ve come, especially when I know there is alot I can still learn.

Reason 3:  Having a photo blog is like your own digital resumé.  It allows people to view your work and your skills as a photographer.  In turn, clients will keep coming back to you and/or refer people to you. 

Reason 4:  Have kids? I'm sure "grandparents" love seeing their grandkids on the world wide web.  Surely they will be your # 1 readers.

Reason 5:  Photo Blogs are a great way to build a network with all different kinds of photographers.  They can offer advice and critique your work.  There's always room for improvement.

Get started and create your own.  Here are a couple of websites where you can start.

tumblr.com

wordpress

blogger

livejournal

Wonder How to get Beautiful Pictures?

Trying to get that perfect shot? Do you ever wonder how photographers make their images look sharp? Well, the magic does not happen by just the click of a button. It's not the camera that freezes a magical moment in time or the location that tells the story of a picture, it's the person behind the camera who dedicates each shot for perfection and uses their device properly... in manual mode!  Yes, step out of the box, get rid of auto shooting and into manual.  To get a beautiful exposure, you need to set your aperture (f stop), shutter speed and iso manually, according to your scene.  It's called  the "exposure triangle."  Make sure to select your focal point, then click! Oh, but if it was only that easy.  It takes lots of practice to shoot in manual & when I say lots, I mean LOTS.  So, don't get discouraged when your shooting in manual and see a completely black or white washed picture.  Keep practicing & remember, I was once just like you, trying to learn.
Check out the pictures below and judge for yourself.

Auto Setting:

Manual Setting:

Photo of the Day!

Today's photo of the day is of my daughter Abi, who loves to arch her neck in the most awkward position. She already loves being in front of the camera.

Love the texture I added to the photo. Check out Flickr for lots of free & unique textures.

Picture of Summer

Do you remember your summers as a child running through the sprinklers? I do.

Today I took my girls to cool off at this small neighborhood park. This picture brought back memories of my summers as a child and running through the sprinklers. This picture screams "summer."  What's one picture that can sum up your summer?

Military Family of the Year 2011

Back in May of this year my family was chosen as the Military Family Of The Year by the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA). My family was excited beyond belief, I think it took us a while before it actually sank in. To be selected as the Military Family of the Year, one or both family members must be active duty and/or involved in the military community. My husband has been an Active Duty Marine for 11 years; I have been actively involved with the ASYMCA since 2008, volunteering for several events as a photographer. Apart from the ASYMCA, I was also involved with the Family Readiness Group at my husband's unit, assisting the Family Readiness Officer in the organization of holiday parties for over 200 families, attending meetings to better disseminate information to family members and creating templates for the unit newsletter that are still utilized today. The ASYMCA is a non-profit organization that provides lots of fun events, emergency assistance, summer camps, counseling and much more to military familes. We were honored to be acknowledged during the 6th Annual Military Appreciation Day at the Cox Celebrity Championship, Golf Tournament, hosted by Drew Brees. Yes, that is correct, Drew Brees! It was great to have met him. Drew Brees was the NFL's 2009 quarterback of the year. Mr Brees and his wife Britany love to give back to the community and created the Brees Dream Foundation. This year the Brees Dream Foundation donated over $100, 000 to the ASYMCA, can you say, WOW! That money will go to good use in the hands of the ASYMCA and help many military families who come from all walks of life; thank you Mr. Brees.
Our main prizes include a 47'' Plasma TV from Evolution Home Theatre and a free gallery wrap from Picture It On Canvas . Thank you to all the companies and organizations who graciously provided the ASYMCA with all our prizes.

I would also like to give a very special thank you to Karena Vigliotti, for giving me the opportunity to volunteer, which allowed me to grow as a photographer, and more importantly, allowed me to capture beautiful moments in military family's lives. Without her, I wouldn't have had so many wonderful opportunities with such amazing people. She will always have a special place in my heart. Thank You!

Turcios Family with Mr. Brees

Miss Turcios saying the Pledge of Allegiance w/ such grace.

Marine Corps Family

The girls getting Recognized.