A New Direction
Yes, I’ve decided to point this blog in a new direction. It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for awhile, but wasn’t sure how or when or even what I would blog about if not my personal life.
I started TheLeftBrainedPhotographer.com as a way to get some publicity for my not-off-the-ground-yet business. I wanted to have created a following on the internet by the time I officially went into business. But, alas, since I was living in an area where I knew no one and wasn’t sure how to go about creating interest in what I do, I had no photo sessions to blog about. So I blogged about boring old me. Some of you seem to appreciate that. And I totally love you for it!
However, I am entering a few photos in the county fair. They will include my watermark, to which I have added my website address, which I hope prompts people to look me up. And I want a more professional tone on here when, or rather, if they do.
Also, I have a small handful of sessions I will be doing later this summer so I will actually have some photos to blog about. Yay!
And I have an idea for some kind of ‘Portrait-Building Special’ that I’ll definitely be posting about.
And I think I will continue putting my You Capture contributions here as well.
But please don’t think you’ll never see my ramblings on my life again- I think I’m going to create a new page with a tab labeled ‘Personal Blog’ or some other such boringness at the top of this page. So, if you’ve subscribed to this blog because you actually like reading about my life, you can just subscribe to that URL. Whenever I get it put together, that is. And I won’t forget that section. Trust me. I have a lot to blog about. Including a completely crazy, 1700 mile road trip I am planning to take in about 2 weeks. Just me and Gabe and my honkin’ big pick-up.
I enjoy reading your blog as I’ve started getting into photography. I live in Bismarck. Do you have Photoshop or want have you done to learn the editing side of photography?
Wow! That’s so cool that someone I don’t know reads my blog! Lol.
I use Photoshop Elements 6 for my editing. It would be nice to upgrade to the full Photoshop program, but this works great for now- plus, it’s a whole lot less expensive.
http://www.thepioneerwoman.com and http://www.digital-photography-school.com both have some amazing articles and tutorials dealing with editing. The Pioneer Woman deals mostly in Photoshop, but a lot of her tips can also be applied to Photoshop Elements. Digital Photography School has articles pertaining to editing with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and a few other random programs. These two sites have been the most helpful in my editing education.
Also, experiment, experiment, experiment. Just get into your program and play around.
I always recommend starting out with PSE (Photoshop Elements) just because it’s not a huge investment, but is well-equipped and good prep work for if you ever do get the big girl panty Photoshop version.
Hope this helps a bit.
Thanks! I appreciate the information! Yes, somehow I got to your site from That Wife…she had a link for ND photographers. I am recently married and hoping to start a family so I figured it would be nice to learn how to take some decent pictures. We bought a DSLR a couple months ago so I’ve been slowly learning how to use it. Luckily, the camera is pretty nice so it seems to take good pictures without me knowing really what I’m doing.
I downloaded the trial version of elements a couple weeks ago but havne’t played around too much with it. I started to use Picassa and that was very simple to learn. Are you able to do Actions in Element? Also, do you have a wide variety of lenses? They are pricey!!
YES! Lenses are SO pricey- particularly the good ones! So that’s the reason that I only have 2 lenses- a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and a Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5. I used to have the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5 (?) VR, but sold it after I got the 50mm because the incredible sharpness of the 50mm spoiled me and the 18-200mm just was not sharp enough any more. I have seen a lot of reviews and a lot of people seem to love that zoom lens, but maybe they’re using a tripod? Or maybe I got a lemon, I don’t know. All I know is that I started to become more and more dissatisfied with the images I was getting with that lens and used it less and less until it hardly ever came out of my camera bag. So I sold it on Ebay and bought a Nikon SB900 speed light, which I love. So yeah, that’s my kit. I’ve learned to buy stops, not zoom. Just because something has a long zoom does not mean it’s a great lens.
I’ve never used Picasa, but I have heard that it IS really easy to use. Actions and Elements? That’s kind of a yes and no answer. Yes, you can get actions for Elements, but you can’t use a Photoshop action in Elements. It has to be written specially for Elements. Thankfully, http://www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com has a TON of actions and presets written for Elements. And I’m sure there are other places around the web that have actions for Elements. But Coffee Tea Photography’s stuff is free so I love to browse and download from there. Yes, I’m cheap!
Keep me updated on the family plans! I love babies and birth and everything involved! If you think you might like to have a birth photographer, please, please, PLEASE look me up! I want to get into birth photography so bad and am willing to do some super cheap deals in that department, just so I can build that part of my portfolio.
I’ve haven’t heard much about the Nikon SB900 speed light? Do you use that for pictures outside too?
I think maternity photos would be wonderful and so incredibily special but I might have convince the hubby on that.
Unfortunately, there’s only do much you can do on the baby making front. We’ve been trying for awhile and I’m starting to lose my patience!
Thanks for that link…I’m going to check it out.
Aw, I think I know a little how you feel about the whole baby-making thing.
Hope something happens soon! It’s definitely a patience-building exercise. Ok, that line could be taken a lot of different ways, lol. 
I try to use natural light whenever possible, so very rarely use my SB9oo outside- except in the case of parties, barbecues, etc., where it might be dark or near dark.
However, I’m sure a lot of pro photogs would use it outside, particularly to counteract strong backlighting (sun behind the subject, etc.). I prefer to use a reflector. I think. I just ordered my first grown-up reflector and can’t wait to use it!
I still struggle with how much I should connect my personal and professional blogs. When I’m writing fun, cute, wiggly baby posts it’s a good thing. When I’m writing controversial ones… not so much.