Category Archives: me

Why I Do What I Do

I started “Why I Do What I Do” with this image a while back…and after digging through many 2011 files and personally gasping over certain ones…I found those ones I gasped over…were the ones in between. The ones before the shot, in between the shot, after the shot that the frame was intended for. I was there, ready and watching and waiting for a moment…the moment…and snap…immortalized for the client and you all to enjoy. THIS is why I do what I do. I love the images I compose, create and bring to life from the visions filtering around my brain…but the ones that happen that I secretly snag out of the air…THOSE are the images that fuel me…make me love photography more than I already do (and that is a hard task to accomplish).

So here is to a new blog series for the year of 2012. Why I Do What I Do. Single frames…a capture in time…a moment happened…a moment unexpected.

The image above is of the lovely Bride Marina from her May 2011 wedding in Roanoke. You can see the blog post here.

View full post »

Bean . 13 & Mentoring

A couple of frames from a recent mini shoot I did with my Bean, we are not so patiently waiting for the film to return…but I promised her I would shoot a few digi for her instant gratification :). She turned 13 less than a week ago :(…sigh. I can’t believe how fast it is going.

On another note, I am considering doing some online mentoring with live video demos and such. Please let me know if you are interested in this and I will start putting something together for the New Year!

OX Marta

View full post »

Elf John . Christmas 2011

Tradition…getting back to it that is…is something that was VERY important to me this year. See, the last few years my focus on growing my business to a successful level has taken a tole on my family/domestic life. I am so lucky to have a very supportive and understanding family, and have pushed, helped and sacrificed to get my business where it is. I cannot thank them enough. So this year I made a personal goal to take back some of my life and be the “Marta Stewart (dubbed by old friends)” that I once was…and loved to be. I regained a focus on my home, my kids, and building memories for them.

So this year we ended it with 2 big new traditions. We traveled out to some land and hunted down a wild grown Cedar Tree and cut it for our home (it was a blast). And Elf John (named after my Grandfather who passed this November) entered our house. I was worried at first that he would be a big bust since out of my 3 only 1 (the 4 year old) believes in Santa anymore. I say that lightly because my other two are amazing kids and play the Christmas/Santa thing so well for their little brother…you kinda would never guess they did not believe (or know the whole gig). They were honestly more excited to see what Elf John was up to each day, and yesterday expressed their sadness that he had to leave. We all kinda got a little used to his silly little grin and twinkling eyes staring at us. Elf John, apparently was not much happier about having to go. We will await his return next year with open and eager arms. And I promise to do a better job at processing the images more similar :) (it took all I had not to re-edit these on my phone). They were all taken with my iPhone and posted to Instagram.

So with that said…I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Be sure to add some new family traditions to your line up next year. It is worth every ounce of extra time it takes.

View full post »

bw . a study

A little challenge we did with a Film Group I am in. Shoot BW, Day in the life type shots. This was my first BW roll in my process of learning film, and I have to say I LOVE it. I need to adjust my exposures just a bit in camera, but over all I am super happy with it.

They were all shot within 2 days. The first are just everyday moments that happen in my home…the second is our first trip out to my husband’s cousin’s land to literally hunt down our very own wild grown Christmas Cedar Tree. It was SOOO much fun. Their uncle drove them around on the 4 wheeler (guy with the gun ;)) and we toted the rest in the Bobcat…went through the woods and huge puddles and found her! Apparently I had no concept of size while I was out there, because what seemed to be an average sized tree in the woods ended up being 11.5 feet tall…lol. I ended up chopping off the bottom and making garland for my stairs out of the extra.

It was an amazing day, and we will for sure being doing that every year!
Tree pics in color to come soon.

View full post »