Well, it's official! I had my first outdoor session on Saturday, and after an entire season of being pretty much confined to the studio, it felt great!
The place where we went had this amazing field of flowers, so I sat this darling little girl down in front of the field and shot away. I really like the results - it kind of reminds me of a Monet painting, in a way...
Anyway, here are my favorites from this weekend.
Enjoy!
Beth
Today I got in the rest of my studio samples for my new line of photo accessories! People have already been commenting on the handbags in the studio, and since the jewelry arrived today, I thought it would be best if I actually posted pictures of the product.
Now I have to admit, I am not a commercial photographer, (so please forgive the images below!) But I am fairly practical, and I like to know what size things are when I see them in a picture. For this reason, I tried to include a rose in almost every picture so you might get a clue how as to the size of the items in the pictures.
All in all, I am really blown away by the quality that the bags and jewelry are made with. The jewelry is absolutely exquisite, and feels very substantial when held. And as an avid sewer, I am really impressed with the craftsmanship of the bags. The seams and attention to detail are amazing. I now understand why these bags are not available to all photographers, but only a select few in each state. (They carefully screen each photographer's work before selecting their merchandisers.)
If anyone would like additional information, please shoot me an e-mail at beth@bethmerritt.com. I would be happy to explain the different options.
So, anyway... happy browsing! (Here is my best attempt at commercial photography! Feel free to chuckle!)
:)
Have a good night!
Beth
In college, a humanities professor of mine forced the entire class to learn some basic html editing. I remember thinking "I am never going to use this..." Boy, was I wrong!
I updated the Blog to make it look at bit more attractive. (Since I hired Tristan, I am getting more time to get some of this stuff completed - finally!)
I have also added "subscribe to blog by e-mail" at the right side of the screen. I personally use this to subscribe to some of my favorite blogs (it's a very convenient!) So anyway, it's there if anyone would like to use it.
Hope all is well with everyone tonight!
Beth
Folks, check out who walked into my studio this morning! The minute I saw this little man and his jaw-dropping eyes, I was literally giddy. This little guy is a photographer's dream... good natured, and willing to put up with us photographing him for almost an hour. (That's a long time for a baby!)
His whole family came for the shoot. His mom is a friend of a friend and received a gift certificate for her shower present. I had heard a lot about her, but had never had the pleasure of meeting her. There are some people you meet that are just nice. I compare them to Melanie on "Gone with the Wind". She is like that...just the sweetest, most genuine person you'd ever hope to meet in your life. (Shelli, Tina, Nicci... if you are reading this, you guys are also like that...) It was the family's demeanor, along with those killer eyes that made this shoot extra special.
I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I smile every time I look at them!
;)
Have a good night!
Beth
So, I got one of those e-mails from one of my good friends recently… and I thought rather than replying to an e-mail, I would go all out and post the answers on my Blog during lunch. So, here is a bit about me:
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I don’t think so.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
When the Tiger’s lost last night… No seriously, I think it was when I got two orders (very large orders) back to back within 5 minutes. I was on the phone with one client and the other came through on the Blackberry. Tears just started streaming down my face. I remember looking up to the sky and asking God what I did to deserve this? Why me? The success of this business has been unbelievable, and I don’t take it for granted.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Yeah… when I started out the business, I had no money to have someone create a logo for me. So I started signing my name with a Sharpie, and scanned it in. (I actually think it’s pretty funny.)
4. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably if I met me in the morning. Probably not if I met me in the evening. I get quiet and sleepy at night and tend to be boring.
5. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Yes – to a fault. I grew up in England (yes, I’ve lost the heavy accent that I used to have). But English humor tends to have a lot of sarcasm…
6. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Not without a Depends undergarment on. ;) I am SOOO scared of heights!
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cinnamon Life. My grandma introduced it to us when I was five. Every time I eat it I think of her kitchen.
8. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF
No - my hands are usually so full coming through the door pull them right off.
9. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG
Yeah… every pick up my camera with the battery pack, flash, and 70-200 VR on it? Try holding that up during a 45 minute ceremony. Your arms throb afterwards!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait. Yum. (I know, I know…I kinda cheated on this question…)
11. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their facial expressions and mannerisms.
12. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I work too much and blow off the ones I love. (My friends, my family, and worse… my husband.) But I’m working on that.
13. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
My family in New York (near Buffalo). I wish I lived closer to them. My Dad and paternal Grandma live near Batavia, and my maternal Grandparents and my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins all live around Buffalo. It would have been nice to grow up around them.
14. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black. (I think I seriously own about 10 pairs of black pants and about 4 pairs of black flat shoes.)… standard shooting attire!
15. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A Greek salad, no olives, no beets.
16. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Silence…
17. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Probably neon orange. (People usually tell me they can see me comin’ a mile away…)
18. FAVORITE SMELLS?
A fresh rose.
19. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My husband… (love him!)
20. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football, hands down - especially when the Buffalo Bills are playing. I also follow the Tigers and the Pistons. Not so much Hockey or college.
21. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde
22. EYE COLOR?
Blue
23. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes. I am legally blind without them. (My prescription is a negative 9.)
24. FAVORITE FOOD?
My Grandma’s Orange Salad. It’s so good!
25. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. I am a total cheese ball.
26. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
I’m not sure this counts, but we have been watching the mini-series John Adams on HBO. It’s really interesting!
27. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Orange. Maybe that explains my answer for #17?
28. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer… BBQ, friends and family… playing cards outside on the back deck until dark. So much fun!
29. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Guerilla Marketing
30. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Big red round mouse pad from IKEA.
31. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Tiger’s game.
32. FAVORITE SOUND?
Les Miserables when Valjean sings “Bring him Home”
33. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles. Beatles 21 is an awesome CD
34. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Germany.
35. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Maybe. ;)
Okay folks, I have something to admit: sometimes I play tricks on parents. Yep, I said it.
If a family does a shoot and the father is a friend of mine, I'll often call up and ask if they want to conveniently hide some of the pictures are frame them for Mother's Day... (Tricky, huh?!)
It’s funny. Sometimes when I look at the pictures I take of my clients, even I get a little teary eyed. Not like sobbing or anything, but I do kinda sit there in awe of the human spirit and just take it in. But whenever I feel that feeling, like “wow,… that’s a great moment”, I know the parents are done for. If I’m moved by the photo, then the parents are almost always a total disaster. (This is the ultimate form of flattery, by the way... please never apologize!) Well, my eyes watered a bit after seeing the photos from Chicago this weekend and how they turned out.
So, I was driving back from Chicago editing the pictures when I realized that the shoot I had just taken may have been my favorite infant shoot ever. I then called the Dad immediately and offered to hide the photos. For that reason, when I posted the original post (below), I posted only the "runners up". I hid the best stuff in case Dad wanted to use it for Mother's Day.
Now if you know this couple, you know that they are like two peas in a pod. Really... it's amazing. I know few couples that are so similar and fun-loving, have so many similar interests, and genuinely care for each other like these two do. So, when Dad got the pictures released to him, how long was he able to keep them hidden from her? Five minutes.
...but the good news, is I get to show you now. Judge for yourself.
(I hope you like them as much as I do!!!!!)
Mom was singing to this little girl. It was absolutely precious. She was smiling and I think this was her way of giving her mama kisses. And she's only sixty days old. What is more amazing that this?? (Folks, if your photographer is getting pictures of your baby without you in it... you're missing out! Getting your relationship on film is the best part!)
She's SMILING at Dad! 60 days old... I love it!!!
Mom and her daughter. What an incredibly peaceful moment.
Okay, so this is it: Probably my favorite infant photo ever. This is a moment you can't fake. This is the real deal. Mother and child. Wow.
One of the main reasons for going to Chicago was to photograph the two month old daughter of our very good friends Scott and Andrea. Their daughter is unbelievably cute. Her eyelashes are incredible!
The shoot went really well - mainly because they were so laid back. I asked them to simply interact with their daughter the way they do normally, and the pictures show how fun-loving this family is.
Here are some of my favorites from the shoot:
Enjoy!
Beth
Okay, many of you may not know this about me, but I actually have an Engineering degree. (I know, I know... it has absolutely nothing to do with artistic ability, but my high school guidance counselor successfully talked me out of art school and into going to GMI in Flint. But that's a long story in itself...)
The reason I am bringing this up, is because if you know me well, you know that my husband (who also went to GMI) and I have a very large group of friends that we have managed to stay close with for almost 13 years now. How large a group of friends? Well, there are about 40 of us. Yes... forty.
We all decided to go see the Tigers play the White Sox in Chicago this weekend.... (for those of you who don't know this, we got slaughtered... but anyway.) I think about 35 people were able to meet up in Chicago. It's a huge crew, and everywhere we went people commented about how many Tiger's jerseys there were.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from this weekend (DISCLAIMER: I only had my little point and shoot camera with me when we were out and about... so please forgive the pitiful picture quality!)
Me and Lee (this is my husband).
My good buddy Josh who I have known forever, playing with his tiger "paws".
About half of the crew...
The guys with their "Rally Caps" on. Attempting to will us back from another loss.
A bunch of us lost on the train. Yes, I say lost because a.) we were standing outside in the 34 degree rain on the uncovered part of the station b.) waiting to go North when we were supposed to be going south. We rode one station and got out and took a cab to the game. ;)
Most all of the crew...
Walking in the rain at the train station. (This is a new filter I got when I was in Vegas... I really love what it does to the colors in this picture!)
My good friends Mel and Shannon, who are getting married soon. Yes, I will be shooting their wedding. (She is going to be an absolutely gorgeous bride!)
This is my brother, who you can probably recognize from previous blog posts. (He married a girl we went to school with...) I love this picture because he is most definitely making fun of me...
Earlier this morning, I had the pleasure of taking pictures of a little girl that our family has known for a long time. It was her first communion.
As a matter of fact this family was the second or third family I had ever shot. I remember that I used a wrinkled sheet, some off camera speedlights and zero posing technique. The family pictures were pitiful. Two years later... and about 20 classes and a hundred shoots later, I was excited to work with them again. This time in a studio with strobes and softboxes. I hope they think they see a slight improvement in my work! (I'll have to see if I can dig up the old pictures and post them. You guys would laugh!)
Well the shoot went great, and this little lady looked absolutely breathtaking in her dress. Her socks and her gloves all had special lace... and everything was perfect.
Here are some of my favorites from the session....
Enjoy!
Beth
