The Balance.

I never ever thought I would be a "working" mom. I also never thought I would be running my own photography business and doing something I love. Both I love VERY much...but of course there is one I love more...being Ryden's mama :) It's something I've dreamed of since I was younger. I have always loved kids! Sometimes I still can't believe I'm a "mom". I still feel like a kid myself at times...life is just zooming by!

Thankfully, although I am technically a "working" mom...I still feel like a stay at home mom :) At the most I'm only away from Ryden one day a week on saturday's when I have weddings or portrait shoots. One day a week away from him is nothing! AND he get's lots of daddy time on those days...which I love.

During the day when I'm home with Ryden I try to do very little work. I will post blog-posts & a photo or two...but no editing. I do this so that I can truly feel like a stay at home mom and give him my full attention. I've found that the couple times that I've attempted editing when he's up, I often get distracted and feel like I'm neglecting him :)

So, I've learned to leave all my editing for after he goes to bed at 9pm. I stay up into the wee hours of the morning editing away! I usually edit from 10pm-3am. I get a solid 5hrs in...and thankfully since Ryden sleeps 12hrs at night...I still usually get 7hrs of sleep! It works out pretty well. Yes, I'm often tired...but I'd rather be the best mom I can be, and give him all the care and love he needs...and make work my second priority.

Like all things in life, finding a balance between the many things going on is often hard. Sometimes editing work is piling up and keeping up with the blog is time consuming...and Ryden needs me more then usual...but I try to do my best! I'm just thankful that I can be a stay at home mom AND pursue something I'm so passionate about! I really owe it all to the Lord...he has blessed my life so much and I am forever grateful!!!

This is a pretty random post...but hopefully some of you mama's out there can relate to trying to balance it all! And hopefully you can be encouraged to continue to put your sweet babies first the best you can :)

Katelyn :)

Ryden: 7months!

Ah! My sweet boy is already 7months and time keeps on flying by! Loving every moment of it. Love how aware he is of everything, how interactive he is and now how active he is! Going from having a "regular" baby, to a mobile baby is a whole different story, haha! Times are a-changing ;) Definitely on my toes a bit more these days. He is still a a slow crawler...so he's easing me into it! Having so much fun with him :) So looking forward to this fall season with him. I actually have been looking forward to fall time with him since before he was born! So glad it's here :) Enjoy these few photos from his 7month "month" photos!

Tip Tuesday: Compositions

I know I say this every time...but this is really important to me! The composition of my photos is one of the key things I focus on to emphasis my style. I strive to have strong, consistent compositions. Compositions that are artistic, yet simple.

Like I mentioned in my 2nd Tip Tuesday post; composition: "the act or process of composing, specifically : arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form". In my words concerning specifically wedding & portrait photography, where the subjects are in the photo in relation to how they are uniquely framed in the photo. 

Having strong compositions will make the subjects in your photos pop, without being distracting. When "composing" your photos there are a few things you should think about. One, where your subjects are in relation to the edges of the photos (how they are framed in the photo). Regardless of your composition, having clean straight edges is important. Think about if you want all of your subject in the photo, not touching any of the edges or if you want to crop your photo in more and have your subjects go beyond the edges of your photo. These two varieties give a very different feel to your photo. Having your composition cropped in closer, with the subject beyond the edges will give you a more intimate, close feel. Where, having a composition with your subjects completely framed in the photo, or partially framed (with one or two sides touching the edge), will allow you to focus more on what is going on in the photo, seeing it more from a distance. Not sure if that makes any sense, haha. (Email me if you need clarification).

The second thing you should think about is what poses your subjects are in in relation to your composition. Different compositions will emphasis different poses...as well as different poses will emphasis different compositions. They work together :) A dramatic landscape shot of your subjects (say a bride & groom)...will need to matched with a dramatic/exaggerated pose or your subjects will get lost in the photo. Below is an example of this.

A more simple pose is well matched with a simple composition. That way focusing mainly on the pose, without distracting from it. As I always say, you don't want your composition & angles to distract from your subjects and what's going on in the photo, you want them to enhance it. So if at first glance your viewer is automatically drawn to your composition/angle the photo is taken at...and fails to see your subjects and what's going on with them, most likely you need to take a step back and simplify your angle & composition.

And thirdly when composing your photos, think about your backdrop/background. What your subject is standing in front of should effect how you compose the photo. Think about the lines in your background. Are they more vertical...or more horizontal? Say you have a tall building and your lines are more vertical, your going to want to compose your photo in such a way that complements this. If your lines are more horizontal, your going to want to compose your photo in more of a landscape fashion. Below are a couple examples of this :)

 Just remember when composing your photos, little changes make a big difference. And pay attention to the details of where your subject is in the photo. Don't crop out a part of the subject that you don't intentionally try to crop.  Keep your lines straight & parallel no matter what the composition. Be consistent in your compositions, to once again emphasis your style. Please, please email me if you have any questions about this! I know it was a lot of information crammed in...and it's very late in the night/early morning...so forgive me if it doesn't make a lot of sense, lol! Thanks for reading and have a happy tuesday!

Katelyn :)

Erin & Rich: Wedding Sneak peeks!

Erin & Rich's wedding was such a fun day! It took place at the gorgeous, Gale Vineyards in Durham :) As Erin would say, the wedding theme was "woodsy chic"...which couldn't have been more perfect for the location. It was a beautiful fall wedding to kick off the first day of fall! Congrats to you Erin & Rich! Enjoy these few sneak peeks :)

Head on over and "like" Katelyn Owens Photography to see more photos & specials! www.facebook.com/katelynowensphotos :)

I'm just in love with their cake!!!

Bobby & Jace: Engagement/Famiy Sneak Peeks!

During this couples engagement session earlier this week...we were able to sneak in a few family photos too! And I'm so glad we did! This family is just TOO cute not to photograph!!! The kids are absolutely adorable!!! Enjoy these few sneak peeks, I just had to share!

Katelyn :)

Tip Tuesday: To Pose or not to Pose?

This is something that is reeeeeeally important to me when shooting portraits...posing. Or I should say "lack" of posing. As I mentioned in the last post, posing is something that really emphasizes your style. Posing effects the feel of your photos. Whatever "feel" you want to your photos to have, how you decide to pose is very important.

When I first started, I had a handful of poses I liked and thought were "cute", haha. As time progressed I learned more poses I liked and didn't like. As more time progressed I learned not only what poses I liked and didn't like...but what "feel" I wanted my photos to have...what I wanted to communicate to others through my photos.

Some photographers may want their photos to reflect a more modern feel...or maybe a more off-beat, quirky feel. I discovered that I love photos that have a natural, relaxed, comfortable feel. Once I figured this out...I began to think of poses that would reflect this. I thought of ways people in love would interact and show each other affection in real life. I then began to incorporate these "real life poses" into my photos.

My advice to you is that you think about what you want your photos to communicate to people. What "feel" you want them to have. Then from that, brainstorm poses that would reflect that. I know it's easy to  look to other photographer's work for inspiration...and from time to time that is good...but try to think of unique poses that will reflect your individual photography style and then your work will be sure to stand out! And of course like I say every time...be consistent! Be consistent in your poses. That doesn't mean you have to do the exact same ones every time. That does mean always try to incorporate similar poses into each wedding & portrait shoot you do :)

Keeping this post short this time. I ran out of time to write much...due to my sweet boy being sick :( I will leave you with a favorite photo from last weekends wedding! And PLEASE if you have any questions at all...shoot me an email: katelynowensphotography@gmail.com. I'd LOVE to address those here :)

Katelyn :)

Rachel & Josh: Wedding Sneak peeks!

I had SO much fun at this wedding! The bride was overflowing with joy and excitement the whole day! I think that is pretty evident from the photos ;) Rachel & Josh compliment each other so well. I feel blessed that I got to capture their day :) Enjoy these few sneak peeks. MANY more to come!!!

Katelyn :)

The Experience.

I heard this quote recently from one of my favorite photographers (Katelyn James) and it just stuck with me! "As photographers, we’re not just selling images, we’re selling the EXPERIENCE….and that experience is what results in great images!" This could not be MORE true!!!

A wedding day is one of the MOST important days in your life. Also, one of the most fun days ever! As a photographer, I of course am there to document your whole day from start to finish with my camera...but that is not my only job. As a bride you see A LOT of me on your wedding day. How lame would it be if I wasn't excited for you, wasn't pumped to be there on your day, if I didn't try my very best to help make it an unforgettable day for you!? Well, that would be really lame!

I know in the past getting your pictures taken on your wedding day had the reputation to be "boring". Just a part of the day you want to get over with, so you can move on to the fun stuff. Well, that is NOT the case now days...or at least it shouldn't be! The industry is now saturated with photographers who want to not only provide AMAZING photos for you...but also provide an amazing EXPERIENCE for you. On your day, I strive to make it fun, help you relax and feel confident as you take your photos.

To re-state the quote above, "that experience is what results in great images!". When you are having an amazing time...it's going to SHOW in your photos! When I strive to provide a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere for you...and in result you are relaxed and more comfortable...it's going to SHOW in your photos! When you are confident...it's going to SHOW in your photos. And this all results in AMAZING photos, that show the real you. Amazing photos that you are going to love!

So know, that when working with me...your not only going to end up with awesome photos your going to love forever...but your going to end up with an awesome wedding day EXPERIENCE! One, that you'll look back on with happy memories :) I know this is the case for me on my wedding day. Not only did the photos turn out amazing...our photographers made the whole day so much fun and I'll never forget that! They set an example for me that I strive to follow.

Below are a few of my favorite photos, that I feel really illustrate what I'm talking about. Can you tell their having a great time!? Hope you all have a great day!

Katelyn :)

Tip Tuesday: Cultivating Your Style, Part 2!

As I was finishing working out...the little wheels in my head were turning, I then realized something. Something VERY important that I forgot to talk about in our last Tip Tuesday post. I forgot to talk about how important it is to have CONSISTENCY in your photos!!! As you stumble along figuring out your style (with time and practice!)...I can not stress enough how important having consistency in your style is. Having consistency through your photos emphasizes your "style". It helps people to be able to identify and recognize your style whenever they see your photos. If people can spot your photos anywhere with no logo on them...then you're doing your job! It means something about them is different then other photographers work. Something about them stands out.

I can tell you, look at a successful professional photographer's work and you are SURE to see consistency and fluidity to their work. Each shoot and edit may be different, but there is still a common thread throughout all of their work and every shoot. There is consistency in their angles and compositions, poses, lighting, backdrops, editing and the general "feel" of the photos.

It is important to be consistent in each of these areas. If I had to pick 2 important aspects of photography to be the most consistent in, it would have to be, composition & poses. Composition: "the act or process of composing, specifically : arrangement into specific proportion or relation and especially into artistic form". In my words concerning specifically wedding & portrait photography, where the individuals are in the photo in relation to how they are uniquely framed in the photo. Okay, that is not the best definition, but I think you get it. I have to say that when shooting, I now solidly use only a handful of compositions and stick to them. At this point in my career, from lots of shooting & praciting, these compositions flow from me naturally, and don't take a lot of thinking. 

The other area to be strongly consistent in is posing. Whatever type of posing your going for...more formal or more candid, be consistent in this! This will strongly help the "feel" of your photos and most clearly communicate your style. I tend to strive for natural, relaxed, candid, "REAL" poses...and in result my hope is that that is the "feel" of my photos and that my style is carried through by this. Of course being consistent in lighting, backdrops & editing is very important as well, if you nail composition & poses first, this will give you a great start to "cultivating" your style!

It's very important to remember to be CONFIDENT in your style. Follow what makes you most passionate about photography. What you love. What makes you get home from a shoot or wedding, SO excited to edit them, you can hardly wait till they're uploaded! The world we live in is saturated with photographers...very talented photographers. But, you have to remember they all started somewhere and I'm sure they all have those first photos their not so "proud" of! It's easy to try to copy other photographers work...sometimes without even realizing it. I encourage you to of course look to other photographers for inspiration...we ALL do it. But still strongly pursue your unique love for photography and out of that will come your very own amazing style, that is YOU and no one else! :)

I will leave you with a recent photo of me and my love! I just LOVE this one! :)

Photo taken by the lovely, Kristen Privett :)