Christa Hann

March 9, 2010

Let's Chat

I've had so many "aha" moments as of late.

So many ideas for my blog, my photography, my life.

I'm loving it.

One of my "aha" moments for my blog was to start a conversation....

I'm not really sure how to start the conversation. I'm thinking blog about a topic and then have the conversation in the comments section.

What do you think?

What would you like to talk about?

Any topics of interest that you'd like me to ramble about or give my two cents?

It can be about life, being a mom, photography, the weather....whatever :)

Speaking of the weather, it's been awesome

Check out this sunset

Happy Tuesday :)

March 8, 2010

Photography 101 - In Camera Settings

Today is the start of my Photography 101 series.

I'll try to do a post once a month about general photography questions you might have.

Answers will be directed to people owning DSLR (digital single lens reflective) cameras.

I'm not the most knowledgeable or experienced photographer in the world but I do know some things and if this helps anyone then yay!!

Today's topic: In Camera Settings

Do NOT be afraid to use them!

The idea behind great photography is to take an awesome picture that doesn't need to be touched up in photoshop, lightroom or any other editing software program for that matter.

I'm also assuming that you already know how to shoot in manual mode and not auto.

If you do not know how to shoot in manual and would like a photography 101 post about how to do that, shoot me a quick email or leave a comment and I will do that for you.

Okay.....all of the following photos were taken in a shaded area with the exact same lighting and settings.

They were as follows:

Focal Length: 50mm

F-stop: f/1.8

Exposure time: 1/125 sec.

ISO speed: ISO-200

Secondly, it's VERY important to know your camera

The first 6 months I had my camera I think the owner's manual was like my Bible.

If you don't know your camera that well I strongly encourage you to go grab your manual....I'll wait.......

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Okay....got it? Here we go

On your Nikon camera go to

SHOOTING MENU

OPTIMIZE IMAGE

Here you'll see your options of normal, softer, etc.

If you're using a Canon camera, here's what I could find on my hubby's camera

SCROLL TO THE RIGHT TO THE SECOND CAMERA ICON (I don't have his manual so I don't know what the option is called)

Scroll down to PICTURE STYLE

There you can pick various settings, I played with it a bit and did NOT get the results like I did with my Nikon. Sorry Canon users this photography 101 lesson apparently is not for you :(

On with the lesson....

Here's the straight out of the camera shot

No editing has been done on this photo

Then I changed my settings to portrait

I didn't see "that" much of a difference with this setting

On to the softer setting

I loved this setting, I think it would be so nice for elegant bridal portraits or newborn photos

Then we have Vivid

I really like the subtle extra punch that was given with this setting

So I tried the more vivid setting

And wow!! Too much for a portrait but this would be awesome for detail shots

And then there's good ol black and white

I loved this, I would touch this up a bit of the contrast in photoshop for a final proof for a client.

But overall I did like the results.

Here's all the photos side by side so you can get a better idea of the differences

And that's today's lesson.....any questions leave here in the comments section and I'll reply accordingly :)

Happy Monday!

March 5, 2010

The Discount Rack

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I've had a few things on my mind.

I was reading the blog "In the Name of Love" earlier this week and the post was about knowing where you came from so you know where you're going.

The question was asked, where did you come from?

I had been thinking about this very thing as of late.

I've been thinking about my childhood and where I came from.

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I grew up in a small fishing village. A town with less than 1000 residents. We didn't have much money. But we certainly didn't live in poverty. We had a roof over our heads, we had a car that got us from point a to point b, we even had cable.

However I do remember one winter when I overheard my Mom crying on the phone.

They didn't get enough working hours with the local fishplant to claim unemployment insurance for the winter.

It meant that we had to rely on welfare. I don't think it was the welfare itself that my mother was so upset about but the stereotype that people would label us with.
Fear that people would think she and my dad were lazy, abusing the system. Which just wasn't the case. I even remember my Mom telling me not to tell my friends of our financial situation.

I again remember her crying when our church brought us groceries. It was "that" moment...when our church showed us this charity that I realized how poor we actually were that winter.

Somehow growing up in a home filled with a lot of love but not much money has made the idea of being a high end photographer such a far fetched idea to me. The idea of photography being my sole source of income a dream that will never come true.

It's like I feel un-deserving of such an honour. It's like I'm afraid to actually ask for it to happen.

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Then on to Annette

I don't even know how Annette came about adding me as a friend on Facebook? I know she's a photographer and she's located in California.

But she is phenomenal and has regular blog posts that move me. This one rocked me to the core.

I strongly encourage you to read it.

The jest of it is to take yourself off the discount rack and stop lowering your value.

Yeah I can definitely understand that, especially when it comes to placing a value on myself, my photography.

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But most of all it was the Nelson Mandela quote in her post that was my main confirmation, that I do have value, that I'm not wrong to place value on my services of photography. That I am deserving of a rich life.

It is with mixed emotions....of fear, excitement and a lump in my throat that I share this quote with you....

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God."

~Nelson Manda

March 4, 2010

The Price of Beauty

Did you ever have times in your life where you have thoughts going through your mind?

They linger there and show themselves time and again?

Then all of a sudden, you see something, read something, or hear something that confirms what's been on your mind.

This week it happened twice.....because of that I'll do two separate blog posts.

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The first confirmation that I received was yesterday while watching Oprah. I don't watch Oprah everyday but on yesterday I really wanted to because I'm a Jessica Simpson fan. Today just re-confirmed WHY I like her....she's not the perfect Hollywood weight, she wears her heart on her sleeve, she's REAL!

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Those close to me know how angry I get by people so influenced by the media.

Hollywood - schmollywood!

I know people who are willing to pay $300 for a 'brand name' dress or shirt to show up at the same event as me in my $30 shirt or dress (and that's a splurge for me) and nobody be none the wiser. And on some occasions I even receive more compliments on my outfit.

I'm not saying this to brag about how oh so awesome and beautiful I am (note sarcasm here!) but I am saying it to show that unless your job is to know designer clothing (which is a minority of our population), nobody has a CLUE what brand name you're wearing. Nor does it matter....did your designer label get you the attention you had hoped for that evening? I think not....

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So on to what's been on my mind....

It's been on my mind lately about my photography and who I truly am.

I've followed various photographers the last few years and the really successful ones I've wanted to be "just like them" so I could be just as successful as them.

Yet they INSIST to just be yourself. That being yourself will be the reason you're successful, not copying someone.

They were right....

It hit me lately that the TRUE me, isn't trying to book "perfect model looking hollywood type" clients.

Now please don't take that the wrong way, I don't think my past nor future clients are ugly.

I just think my clients aren't your typical media beautiful people.

I think MY clients are REAL beauty. No let me re-phrase that...I KNOW my client are REAL beauty.

They are the real deal.

MY clients are true to life, not plastic not fake. I love my clients....they're people that I aspire to be like. They inspire me.

I'm not perfect, I'm seriously flawed.

To prove this point, I'll share this little story.

A few weekends ago, Kristen's grandparents were visiting us. I was watching the Olypmics when a particular athlete was being interviewed. Me being shocked by his appearance said "man, he's ugly!"

Kristen's grandmother VERY quickly stopped me and said "Now Christa, you know NOBODY is ugly"

I sat there stunned and ashamed. Cause she was right....nobody is ugly.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

I sheepishly agreed and felt guilty.

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Now back to Jessica Simpson (I'm so all over the place with this post today) and Oprah.

The show was about how women of the world go to such extremes to be what the media says is "beautiful"

It was when Jessica talked about her "aha" moment that I sat there and started to cry (yes I'm a complete mushball)

She said "It really is about the heart of a woman that makes her beautiful"

I say Amen to that sista!

That's the clients I want.....women who are beautiful. But beautiful in the terms of true life. Beauty by their terms! Not the terms of some media personality who says what's trendy right now.

Here's the link to VH1 where it's talking about Jessica Simpson's new show

The Price of Beauty

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Let me conclude with this little story from last summer.

I emailed a client to tell her, that her sneak peek of photos were up on my blog.

I thought she looked amazing and was extra proud of myself.

I waited patiently for her to write back and gush on about how I was such an amazing photographer and how happy she was with how beautiful she looked in the photos.

Well....she didn't

When she wrote back, she didn't gush....in fact she critiqued. I was crushed.

It wasn't until we later talked that I realized her less than optimistic remarks weren't because of my photography but because of her insecurity.

As amazing as she looked, she wouldn't dare admit it. She had to pick on every flaw that she had.

Which honestly was just ridiculous....this girl is gorgeous...you know the one that never wears makeup and still looks perfect. You know, the girl that you love to hate.....lol :)

But this just furthers my point.

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Girls! Let's be proud of ourselves. Our own unique beauty.

Yes on the outside but most importantly from the inside!

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On that note of 'true' beauty I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to a couple of the most beautiful women I know; My Mom and Mother in Law.

Happy Birthday, I love you both :)