Calling all SENIORS!!!

And I'm not talking about Senior Citizens...I'm talking about

SENIORS of the CLASS of 2010!!!

Upon moving to the Duluth/Superior area, I have been really wanting to build up my Senior Grad Portfolio!

Here's the 411:

I'm looking for male/female models ages 16-18. You don't have to be a Senior...but it would only benefit those who are; as my models will get some fun FREE goodies for participating! My sessions are fun, fresh & unique. I promise you'll have an awesome time! And remember, all modeling sessions are done for the benefit of my portfolio, therefore, there is NO session fee! I am hoping to schedule the portfolio sessions during the month of June. If you or anyone you know is interested or would like more details, please feel free to email me! staci@stacilphotography.com Availability IS limited, so modeling sessions will be done on a first come, first serve basis! I look forward to hearing from you! :-) Thank you!!

Pictures of Hope

Giving back is one of the reasons why I love what I do. I am a volunteer for a few other organizations (which you can view on my main website: http://www.stacilphotography.com/ under the link section of my website). Being a volunteer photographer has changed my life. I have been a part of some very difficult moments with families that I wouldn't wish upon anyone, however, the hope that all of the families I have met has been so incredibly humbling and I feel so blessed to not only serve such wonderful families, but to be working with such amazing organizations.

Recently, a fellow photographer friend, announced her participation with the Pictures of Hope Foundation. I looked into the organization and was very interested in applying as my mom is a NICU nurse at our local trauma center and her and I were looking in to ways to give some special attention and a gift of photography to the families who have babies in the NICU. This organization was exactly what I was looking for. If you know a family who could benefit from Pictures of Hope, please pass this website along and help spread the word.

http://www.picturesofhopefoundation.org/

Below is a little more information about the Pictures of Hope Foundation. You can read more by going to the above website. Thank you ahead of time for sharing this website with others. It is truly a blessing to be involved with the Pictures of Hope Foundation.

What is the Pictures of Hope Foundation?

Pictures of Hope is a charitable organization of professional photographers who provide complimentary, documentary-style, photography sessions to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their families. The Pictures of Hope Foundation is comprised of photographers (many of whom are “NICU mothers” themselves) from across the United States and Canada who are dedicated to donating their time to a cause they believe in, and sharing the gift of photography with families in need.

Why Pictures of Hope?

Throughout pregnancy most parents don’t anticipate the possibility of their baby needing to stay in the NICU after birth. Whatever that reason may be, time spent in the NICU is often an unexpected journey for families, a journey full of overwhelming emotions…sadness, confusion, hope, celebration, and unfortunately, at times grief. Throughout this roller coaster of emotions, many parents do not consider the importance of documenting these precious moments in their lives nor do they think about how much they will truly cherish these images years down the road. In some cases, a little extra TLC from the NICU is needed to be sure the little one gets off to the best possible start, for these families on the road to well being, photographs are a wonderful reminder of just how far their little one has come, however, photographs also play a necessary and very important role in the healing process for other families. In the most heart breaking circumstances, photos may be the only tangible keepsakes some parents have of their precious little one. All Pictures of Hope participating photographers are dedicated to providing NICU families with invaluable images you will cherish forever, captured in a sensitive and caring manner.

Stay tuned...

So, my wheels are turning. And turning. And turning. I'm working on some unique projects and I am going to be needing some very special people in the near future to be my "models" a.k.a guinea pigs. Okay, I promise you will be treated like a person and not a rodent. :-) I would love to expand here on my blog...but the details are not all quite completed yet. However, I just wanted to put this future need "out there" so many of you can start contemplating if you're up for some Staci L. Photography creativity and would consider being a part of a long awaited project! I would anticipate that the details will be wrapped up and completed within the next few weeks...so be on the look out for my needing some help in return for some pretty cool stuff. :-)

I promise not put you through too much!! :-) haha.

Photography :: My Style

I didn't go to school for photography. I never even took a photography class in college. However, I have always had a love for photography & pictures in general. I might not know all the "right" terminology in the photography realm...but as I move along in the photography industry, I know a beautiful photo when I see one. It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this couldn't be more true. There are so many styles in photography and so many ideas as to what makes a "great" photo. Everyone has their own tastes, their own "things" in images that draw them in and everyone has their own preference for what they like to see and/or take photos of. And each style has it's appropriate place for certain goals, purposes and results.

I personally love to take photos of people. People being themselves. Capturing the moments that show true expression, true emotion and what is really going on at a particular moment. Whether it be a silly hearted child, whose parents want their child to give me the perfect smile, but I capture that silly little grin that portrays exactly who that child is or maybe it's a bride flashing me one of those nervous smiles that only she knows is her nervous smile...but she loves that photo of herself because it tells a story. Her story. And how she felt at that particular moment.

I don't like to pose. I keep posing to a minimum. I don't like to make someone do something that sure might be beautiful, but isn't who they are. I don't like to make couples over indulge in the romanticism if that is not how they truly are. I am not saying that I don't gently encourage certain positions...but I always talk to my subjects and/or let them add to the creativity to try to pull out personality & facial expressions of who they are. I always tell them to talk to each other...(because we all know when we know we should be being serious and looking at the one we love right in the eyes while we're being photographed...it can always brings out laughing and fun!!!) ...and after we get past the laughing of two adults looking at each other right in the eyes, the moments that follow are some of the most genuine and honest feelings & expressions between two people. I take many of the laughing and of the fun, but those moments where two people look at each other and realize all over again how much they love the other and how beautiful/handsome the other is; are some of the most amazing moments in our lives. Or to encourage parents to interact with their children as they typically do during a session, to capture the beautiful moments and the bonds that a parent and children share. I strive to see real people. I strive to see love. I strive to see beauty. I strive to see all the good in the world...just through people coming together and being themselves. If I were to try to stage all of that; expressions, atmospheres and tell them what to do the entire time, I would be photographing what I WANT to see, rather than photographing what actually IS. I think there is a time and a place for that...but for me, I appreciate the realness of photography. It can sometimes get mundane when visiting other photographer's blogs and websites and seeing many of the same poses & even the same facial expressions. There is so much chatter right now in the photography realm about being yourself and being unique and being your own photographer. Many people are copying photos, copying ideas, copying other photographers wording & text...and even though as photographers we all get inspired by other photographers, what we do with our inspiration is more important than the inspiration itself! It takes a truly unique and talented photographer to see something they love and be inspired to the point of creating their OWN ideas and images. I admire so many photographers in the industry who encourage creativity and step out of the box themselves and try to be different rather than mimicking someone they admire. In this day and age where everybody's work is "out" there...it can be a real challenge to be yourself and step out of the box. But, just because it's difficult, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't at least try.

I get so many emails from people thinking about getting into photography and many ask the same few questions:

What should I do?
What did you do?
How did you get started?
What camera do you have?
What lenses do you have?
What webserver do you use?
Where did you go to school?
Did you take photography classes?

I do my best to respond to everyone that I can because if I can spare them some of the early frustrations I had in the industry, I can guide them to success and toward being an individual in their photography. I am honest about how much work it really is and I always tell them to practice and then go through all of their images and make a note of all the photos that really stand out to them. I then encourage them to examine those photos and write down why they love those photos. I believe this helps one develop their style and helps them determine what they are drawn to in images. I know for me, that I am drawn to the eyes in a photo. A photo can have the most amazing composition, the perfect depth of field, the perfect sharpness, the perfect feel...but if the eyes don't pop--I have a hard time loving it. But, that is my preference. That is one of the things that I am drawn to the most.

In my photography, I have a million things that I could do better, but I know for myself that I know what I love, I know why I love it and I am always looking for the beauty & realness in every person that I photograph. Capturing real moments is my personal style. I admire many other styles of photography & I really enjoy seeing some of them, but shooting moments & being myself is my story. :-) It is my hope that when people look at my photos that they see beautiful people with individual stories to share with the world through their smiles, through their eyes and through the expressions that have been captured.

Changes...New Design!!

Staci L. Photography has a few new CHANGES!!! You may notice a few here on the blog (new color schemes) but my website has had a face lift. :-) Go check it out & let me know what you think!

www.stacilphotography.com

April in Northern Wisconsin

Yes. Snow. In April. At least I got a few pictures of this wonderful, spring gift. :-)













Happy Spring, everyone!!! :-)

P.S. It's already melting...but I heard of the possibility of snow this weekend. Okie dokie!!!