Way Back Wednesday

As my first year of business comes to a close, I thought it would be fun to show everyone my photography from the time I started photography school in January 2001 until right before I started my business in January of 2014. Like all photographers my technique and style has changed a lot over the years. Yes, I have gotten so much better, but also, I have has actually developed a style that I am really proud of. Since this is more of a fun blog, I didn’t go into Photoshop and make sure the color balance or anything else was perfect before I posted these pictures. I am just posting what I had. I tried to pick only two to three pictures from each year so the blog wasn’t endless although it ended up really long anyway…Sorry…

These are my two favorite pictures from 2001. In school, you start out with the basics, how to shoot in manual mode using black and white film, developing your own film, and printing pictures in a dark room. It doesn’t get more basic than that. I still have a deep love for black and white film and still shoot it. Crazy, I know. On the left, a church in my hometown of Okmulgee, Ok and on the right, my very good friend Jessica on her wedding day. These two pictures still hang in my home.

2002-After several classes of learning how to shoot color film, we moved on to a class called simply “Studio 1”. We learned how to use medium and large format camera’s and studio lighting. We did a lot of still life set ups as seen below. I look back and know now I would do so much better with the set ups but at the time, you are just happy an image was there and properly exposed when you developed the film.

2003-This is my husband. At the time he was only my boyfriend. We were at his house one night and he was sitting on the floor going through his records and playing with his DJ equipment. I liked the whole scene and it inspired me to do a photo shoot of him. He zoned in for me and I loved the serious look he gave me.  His right (our left) eye is out of focus but I don’t care. Sometimes something special about a picture far exceeds any flaws it may have.

2003-This was a project I did for my last semester of school. I had to pick a department at school and create a brochure for it. I chose the Orthotics and Prosthetics department. There were a lot of different pictures we had to take. One of them was a still life set up. I had no idea what to do. I went over to the department and looked around to get ideas. I saw all these limbs and such laying around. I asked permission to take them and piled them all in a box. I went to the studio, set them all out on white plexi glass and this was the outcome.

2003-I had just graduated photography school and asked my parents for a macro lens for graduation (a macro lens focuses up close). It was liberating to not be in school anymore and knowing whatever pictures I took would not be graded or critiqued or have to fit into any assignment parameters. I began shooting abstract objects in strong afternoon light with my new lens.  I also began to play with shooting black and white slide film.

2004-I got married this year and all of the photos below were taken in our small, humble apartment. I was playing around a lot of strong light and shadows. This type of look can also be seen from time to time in my portrait work now.

2006-These began the years I was very into my studio lighting. So the look is noticeably different than natural light. This is my nephew Evan. He was a year and a half here. He was and still is the sweetest, cutest kid. Makes me want to cry just looking at these pictures. There was a series of nine of these pictures of him in this shirt. All great pictures with very different expressions. The series hangs in a frame in my guest bedroom still. They are so fun and show off his personality.

2006- That’s my Josie on the left maybe a week after we adopted her from the Humane Society. She looks pitiful here and is really good at pulling that off. Trust me, she is spoiled rotten. This is my sister and again my nephew on the right. He was changing and growing so fast.

2006-Josie again changing and growing fast too. This at the end of a very long photo shoot about seven rolls of film in and we were wrapping up. She was pooped!

2007- My friend April on the left. This picture still hangs on my wall. I love the lighting, her expression, how she is straight onto the camera (a no no) but still love it anyway. Who needs all those rules! This picture of April was at a time when I was playing around with strong (sometimes harsh) studio lighting. I love strong natural light too. My nephew Evan again on the right.

2007-Another example of strong studio lighting. I looove this picture. He was a high school senior and pulled off the serious look very well. I plan to start using this type of lighting in the very, very near future.

2008-My Josie on the left and a friends dog we dog sitted for on the right. His name is Jake and I love the serious look he is giving me.

2008-From a bouquet of flowers my co-workers got me for my birthday. I heart tulips and anything yellow.

2009-My best friend Jennifer and her new baby Avery. These began the years I didn’t pick up my camera much. I started business school in the fall of 2008.  And working full time, going to school and doing photography became too much. In the end, I am glad I took the break.

2010-Josie.

2011-Josie, getting scruffier as the years pass by.

2012- These pictures of my jewelry on the window sill was the start of something important for me as a photographer. I was inspired by the light coming through the window on that Sunday morning and decided to take these pictures. I hadn’t picked up my camera much in about three years. Looking back I know that break was good for me. I came back with a fresh perspective and renewed love for photography. Eventually I would decide to start my business.

in 2012, I had been in business school for over three years and hadn’t had one semester off. But because there were no classes offered that I could take the summer of 2012, I took a semester off and had definite plans for it. Take LOTS of pictures, particularly of old things. I have always had an obsession with antiques and weathered things. I did just that that summer and my love for photography blossomed even more. I mostly shot black an d white film. I would drive around and find old cars, buildings, signs, anything. All that driving around exposed me to tucked away little spots which are now perfect for my portrait business.

With the summer off, I asked my best friend Jennifer if I could do a little project wit her daughter Avery. I simply took pictures of her in my living room sitting in our old dining room chair. I shot black and white film only. She was a perfect model.

For college credit, I went to Costa Rica over Christmas break 2012. I took tons of pictures. These are some of my favorite from the trip. Below a Catholic Church in San Jose and the flowers are at a Flower Farm in Cartago.

2013-This summer, I took pictures of a lot of old things again but this time shot more color than the summer before. I was obsessed with blue skies and white puffy clouds.

2013-Avery again. I took these in October 2013. I decided in September that I would start my own photography business but couldn’t really start it until after I graduated in December. But I knew I needed to get back into the swing of shooting portraits so I asked my friend Jennifer again if Avery would model for me. She is a great model and wears the best outfits.

Thank you for reading my very long blog (or just looking at the pictures). Either way, I appreciate your interest- Jessica

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