Redding California Boudoir Portrait Photographers

Want to see more?  This is my OLD LAME BLOG...check out my new one!  Hopefully, not as lame! lol!  I actually like the content on this blog, just not the look of it!

This post is about boudoir and glamour portrait photography in Redding, CA by me...Jamie Solorio!  So, please take the leap over to my new site at Jamie Solorio Photography or blog HERE.

Thanks!!!!

xoxo,
Jamie

Nikon Back Button Focus

Back Button Focus!  I am sorry if you made it all the way here to my site to read about Back Button Focus for Nikon lovers!  I actually have the tutorial posted on my new and updated blog Jamie Solorio Photography Blog if you would like to check it out!

Are you asking yourself why there are no pictures on this old blog of mine?  Well, my dear hubby was helping me out by setting up my new phone and accidentally deleted them all through the cell phone...crazy...who would of thunk it!  Anyhow, please very careful if you get a new phone and you are asked to delete your pictures! lol!  The good news is I have been meaning to start up a new blog anyhow, so this was the jump start I needed.  So, having said that...please check it out!

xoxo,
Jamie

Newborn Photography Tips

Please visit my new site HERE to get some great tips on posing adorable newborn babies for photography portraits.  Also, sorry about the lack of images on this site!  They were accidentally deleted by my hubby who was setting up my new phone!  Oh well, good reason to start a new blog and website anyhow!  To view more of my work, please visit www.jamiesoloriophotography.com or you can click HERE to see my site.

New New New {Jamie Solorio Photography}

If you happen upon this little OLD blog of mine, you will see something a bit off.  Hmmmm.... where did all the images go? lol!  Well, funny thing is...I recently got a new phone and as my hubby was kind enough to set it up for me, he accidentally deleted all the images off of all of my blogs!  Yikes!  Be ware out there, so this does not happen to you.  I was fine with it, and just created a new better blog!  Now, if I would just post more often!

Here is a sneak peek from a maternity session I did 2 weeks ago and to view more images please visit the new blog Jamie Solorio Photography Blog  to see more of this adorable maternity session in Redding, Ca.  Or you can always check out a larger portfolio of my work at www.jamiesoloriophotography.com or simply click HERE

Just Do It!!!!

Okay....if you haven't heard of this contest yet...then you should go visit http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway/ .  I am seriously really wanting to get this one...would be Ah-Mazing!

MOVED....Check it out!

Out with the old and in with the new! Please visit my new blog site at http://jamiesoloriophotography.blogspot.com/

Though...I am still in the process of adding all my sessions to it...I am a bit behind. :)

Flash Practice {Jamie Solorio Portrait Photography of Redding, CA}

Thank you so much Mirandi...my twin for your help tonight!  Also, a special thanks to my real sister, Erin for helping me too!  Oh...I can't forget Ryan too...thanks for that delicious round of Bloody Mary's and our fries! 

Some specifics about this shoot.  I used TTL flash in a soft box, some bare speed light, and max sync speed of 1/250th.  Metered for the ambient light in all cases and adjusted light on Mirandi from the flash!  I also worked on short lighting tonight! :)

To see more of my work...well, natural light photography please visit http://www.jamiesoloriophotography.com/.  I am still trying to wrap my lil brain around this off camera flash bit! :)

Flash Practice with strong backlight and indoor TTL Flash

Okay, today I was trying to replicate a picture I saw in a magazine.  The picture had really strong back light and then a gradient of light across the models face with the darkest part being closest to the highlight hair.  This is my attempt with trying to recreate this type of look. 

To begin I metered with spot metering on the brightest part of her hair, which is why when I took the picture that she is totally underexposed.  So, you can see how much TTL flash was used in the 2nd picture to illuminate her face.  I positioned my flash to my right and had it bounce off a wall near me at a 45ish degree angle.  I had to play with the flash compensation a bit to get the right amount of light on her face too.  I am having some pretty big issues with White Balance with flash, so I need to look into that too! :)

Just playing around on this next image! :)

Bouncing Flash Random Notes

To begin, notice how the light is already hitting the subject.  Decide how I want to change the light in order to make a better looking image.  Bounce light off the walls near me either to the right or left usually angled around 30 or 45 degrees.  Use exposure compensation in TTL mode to add or subtract light.  Meter off the ambient light, if the ambient light is the same as light on subject...meter 1.5 to 2 stops less.  If the ambient light is brighter than the subject, meter of the brighter ambient light behind the subject.  In this scenario I want to have less light in the background I can either change my aperture or my ISO to get desired effect.  This is because I am working in TTL mode on my flash, if I had been working in Manual flash I would drag my shutter speed.  In low light situations have the shutter speed be at least 1/10 to 1/20th of a second to make sure I get a sharp image.

So, if I have almost a correct exposure, but the contrast between the highlights and shadows is to much, then I can use my flash as Fill-Flash to lift that contrast.  I would then bounce light behind me just to lift a tad.  I think!

Here is a cute baby, since this stuff is pretty boring!  Plus posts are always better with images! 

{365} Flash Practice with a Head!

Okay, here is day 3 of the 365 project...starting with Flash Photography.  I did take several pictures last night, but didn't put the effort into getting them off my card to the net.  Here is todays test!

I bought a head for $4.00 at the local beauty store and thought I would start practicing on her instead of my hubby.  He was getting a little tired of being flashed all the time.  Anyhow, this will work just fine and when I feel closer to getting a technique down I will use a better looking subject! lol!

This was taken around 4pm in my front living room.  The sky was mostly blue with some clouds.  ISO 400 F/1.8 Spot Metering 1/200th for the flash shots and 1/160th for the no flash shot.  On the flash shots I bounced the flash to my left at a 45 degree angle with a black foamy thing attached.  While was practicing I metered off the brightest part of the head, since it was blowing out in the histogram.  I also tried moving the flash more behind me and at different angles...this was the one I liked the best.

Yes, pretty boring stuff...but...this is how I learn!  Practicing and then writing about it here in my little photography diary!  More interesting pictures to soon come!  I still have a newborn session to edit and a new little guy to take pictures of this Friday...as long as I am no longer sick!

{365} Day One

Flash practice is still in full swing!  So, even though Jesse and I are tired, hung over, and freezing...since I procrastinated til 10pm to do my picture today...we still got a shot in!  I would like to figure out how to get this type of look quickly and I hope to figure it out soon!  Any hoo...this was todays shot...barely! lol!

365 Flash Practice

Okay, here I go again...trying to do another 365!  Anyhow, this month is 100 % dedicated to Flash Photography.  So, my plan is to research a new technique each day and try it out and post my results here.  The pictures might not be the greatest as far as composition or interest...though they will hopefully show me where I went wrong, right, or who knows!

This image was taken around 3pm on a some what overcast day.  The first image was taken with my 180mm lens at F 2.8.  I used center metering, though I usually would spot meter.  Kya was standing under our patio in the shade with bright light right behind her.  The first shot was taken in manual mode at ISO 400 1/250th F2.8 WB Cloudy and no flash.  In t he second image Kya is standing exactly the same, the only difference is I metered off the ambient light in the background hitting our grey fence in the backyard.  The result was ISO 100 1/250th(max scyn speed for flash on my camera) F 2.8 WB Cloudy TTL Flash with -2.0.

These images are SOOC, so the WB would of been adjusted on them...the patio has a red/pink color and you can see that being reflected on Kya's skin.  I actually like the catch lights in the first picture(no flash) best and the detail on her hat.  Other than that, I like the flash picture better in all ways.

I of course still need to work on my flash, but for a first attempt...I am pleased. :)

To see some of my natural light photography please visit my site www.jamiesoloriophotography.com.

Paisly the Most Adorable Little Girl {Redding, CA Newborn Photographers}

Just a little sneak peek of a session I did yesterday!  To see more of my work please visit my new blog http://www.jamiesoloriophotography.blogspot.com/ or my website http://www.jamiesoloriophotography.com/.

Solorio Family Portrait for 2011 {Jamie Solorio Photography of Redding, CA}

Merry Christmas!

Trusty tripod...check, well sorta...it was a little wobbly with my heavy lens on it!  Family...check.  Gorgeous light....check.  Run down building with weeds, my favorite...check.  Happy kids...check.  All in all I am pleased with our family portrait this year! 

Our eyes look VERY overdone on the web image...especially mine, it is just the compression of the file and extra sharpening for the web.  The origianl doesn't look so overdone!

To see more of my work please visit http://www.jamiesoloriophotography.com/.

2nd Saturday ArtHop of Redding, CA November 12, 2011

This piece was my very favorite of the night!  Stunning!  Loved it!

 Award of Merit "Wolf" -  sorry, I forgot to include that on the image. :)

This was another favorite of mine!  Loved the colors!

I was only able to attend one ArtHop event and I picked the North Valley Art League located at the Carter House Gallery who was hosting the 1st Annual Juried Student Art Show.  The juror was Derek Grinnell.  I was very impressed by the amount of talent that was up for display by some very young artists. 

The 2011 Student Art Show Prizes and Awards

7th and 8th Grade Winners

1st Place: Alexandra Neil  "Leaves of Fall"

2nd Place: Michael Schmitt "Fire Breathing Dragon"

Honorable Mention: Michael Schmitt "Coral Reef"

9th and 10th Grade Winners

1st Place: Jade Podtetenieff  "The Tree"

2nd Place: Isaac Marfin "Wolf"

Honorable Mention: Monica Seitz "Waterfall"

11th and 12th Grade Winners

1st Place: Haeun Bang "Mixture"

2nd Place: Abigail Jones "Melody in the Making"

Honorable Mention: Haeun Bang "Contemplation"

Clam Shell Portrait Lighting {Jamie Solorio Photography of Redding, Ca}

Okay, next project for the mean time....portrait lighting. The first type of lighting setup I am going to try and fully understand is called Clam Shell Lighting. So, I am going to use this post as a place for all my clam shell lighting tutorials that I come across and the web. I CAN NOT wait to start practicing! This post might take some time to finish, since it is an ongoing experiment for the next week or so.

http://www.lighting-essentials.com/clamshell-lighting-for-a-glamourous-headshot/

Fun Family in the FREEZING Cold Downtown Redding, CA {Jamie Solorio Photography Family Portraits}

I am trying to start a new blog just based on my professional photography.  To see more images from this session please check out http://jamiesoloriophotography.blogspot.com/2011/12/redding-ca-family-photographers-jamie.html

To see my portfolio please visit http://www.jamiesoloriophotography.com/

Photography Monitor Calibration

Just more notes from a webinar I attended for my photography:  They are sloppy, but make sense to me. :)

• STEPS TO MAKE YOUR CALIBRATION BE BEST POSSIBLE

1. Let monitor warm for 30 mins to 1 hour, just turn off screen saver if need be
2. Consider Ambient Room light, don't sit in a dark room or too bright of a room.  Need to be in a somewhat lit room.  A room comfortable to read a book in, light wise.
3. View prints in correct light, will talk about later.

• SOLUTIONS FOR CALIBRATION

1. Linering the monitor: brightness, contrast, gama
2. Characterizing the monitor:

• d50 for white point
• gama 2.2
• luminance value_if working in a bright room 120, moderate room 100, dim room 80

• sets background of his desktop to black
• choose advanced mode
• d50 or d55, but he likes d50
• luminance
• research the flare options on my calibrator...use it, since I do not have a hood
• contact lab for free calibration prints, lab will send 2 copies of each....ones they correct, some I did.  They should match!  Then open the images again in photoshop and compare the image on the monitor and the print in hand.  They should match!  Take into consideration of type of light and brightness.  If calibrated at 5000k lighting condition, can get a light box or open window light crack blinds and let a some sun light to come in.  Not direct sunlight.  Should be close to monitor. contact customer service for prints. do 5 test prints, be selective good exposure and white balance. do typical locations etc
• make sure that the screen is always at same tilt when editing
• print to dark? monitor is too bright
• edit color setting in photoshp
• go to working spaces, rgb

2nd Saturday ArtHop October 8, 2011 of Redding, CA

The 2nd Saturday ArtHop of Redding, CA held on the 8th of October, 2011 was really fun.  I was lucky enough to have a good friend and fellow photographer Steven Solinkski join me for the evening.  We began our adventure by going to the Maratime Seafood and Grill located at 1600 California Street to see the Mixed Media Show "View From a Trail Group".  The room in which the art show was held was absolutely packed full, to the point it was difficult to walk around.  There were many talented artists being displayed who had been inspired to create by the local trails of Redding, California.  The sponsor of the show was the Trails and Bikeways Council of Greater Redding.  According to their flyer, this group is;

 "a non-profit organization made up of local citizens who believe that the existence and use of regional trails and bikeways benefits the health of residents, the safety of non-motorized commuters, the enjoyment of all users and the economy of the whole region."

Mary Lake Cottonwood Mary Lake Trail

By Marlene Woods

$95

The View from the Trail 2011 Silent Auction

Crystal Creek

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

By Gene Knaebel

27"x20" Framed Photo on Photo Canvas

was being auctioned off that night.

My favorite piece of the night was this one called

Trail Ferns

Pacific Crest Trails

(Near Burstarse Falls)

by Lydia Budai

Next stop was Pacific West Graphics Printing and Design located at 1455 South Street of Redding, CA.  Their featured artist was the very talented Lydia Budai.  Funny thing was that her picture happened to be my favorite of the night from the Maratime Seafood and Grill show, and I was so drawn to her work, that before I had left the house I had decided to visit her display.  Lydia is a self-taught photographer, though her mom has been a huge influence in her photography as she is a photographer as well.  Recently, she and her mom had taken a trip to Africa to experience a safari.  She ended up with around an impressive 3,000 images from the trip plus many interesting stories...including one about a Rhino Storm! You will have to see her Safari Photographs to really appreciate her experience in Africa.

Here is some her work that was on display, I couldn't help myself and had to buy the cutest stationary kit from her!  To see more of her images please visit her site http://www.nothingisordinary.photomerchant.net/.

Image of Photographer Lydia Budai

More of Lydia's work on display

The last place that Steve and I visited was Eddy's Grill located at 2151 Market Street of Redding, CA.  Judy Forney was the artist of choice there that night and her paintings are magical.  The light was very low, so my images do not even come close to showing the beauty of her art...please look up her site to see for yourself how amazing her paintings are.  Unfortunately, it also was a little loud (in a good way...Mike Cox was singing and playing his guitar for everybody...which was great!) in Eddy's to speak to her about her art, so I have included a tid bit from Judy's site telling us about herself;

"When I connect with the magic of the universe everything flows with inspiration and guidance. My paintings frequently reflect a lonely quality which I feel represents each souls individual journey through life. The style of my paintings border between surreal and romantic but they always represent my unique perspective."

To see Driftwood at Twilight on her site please click HERE.

To see Sacred Pool by Judy Forney please click HERE.

 This was my favorite piece of hers from the night.

The next 2nd Saturday ArtHop of Redding, CA is going to be November 12, 2011.  Please visit http://anewscafe.com/index/takeoutwindow/placeholder/arthop-2nd-saturday-map-downtown/ for more information. To get in contact with the people in charge of the ArtHop you can email them at  hawkmanstudios@yahoo.com.