Learning Curve

I've spent some time playing around with Photoshop Elements this week

And by "playing," I mean crying hysterically and asking "Why won't you listen to me?!"

I may have also made a desperate call to my brother-in-law.

And may have sent an email to Rachel begging for help.

Sorry about that guys.

I have, however, learned alot.

I've watched a ton of tutorials and read a bunch too.

I'm making progress and that feels great.

One thing I learned how to do was to make a watermark.

Although most of my pictures mean nothing now, and I doubt someone would take them, I still wanted to learn how to protect my images in the future.

In case, you know, I'm ever any good.

Just in case.

But first I had to come up with something to put on the watermark.

Should I give myself I name? Really? I thought it might be a little too pretentious to call what I do photography yet.

And I knew I didn't just want to put my name on there. You know, Brittney Galloway, and that's it.

In the end, and after hours of talking this through with my sweet husband {who wanted me to find some cutsey Arabic word to use and I really. Really. didn't} I decided to go ahead and give myself a "photography," name.

Because I could.

So, without further ado, please welcome ....

Ruby Key Photography

I wish I had a reason for the name. I mean, a good reason. But, alas, I'm just one of those people who likes rhyming names, and I wanted to include the "Ruby," from my blog "Far More Than Rubies."

And Ruby Bee sounds a little scary. Like an angry insect.

and Ruby Tree? Yup, that didn't work for me either.

So Ruby Key it was.

Plus, I could make a watermark out of a key. Score.

So here's my first fully edited, processed, and watermarked photo.

I can't wait until we're around people again and can start taking more photos!

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Learning Curve

A Peek Inside

Here's a little peek inside my beautiful Jill-E camera bag:

For a shoot, I packed my bag! There are three inner compartments. Really you could have it however you want because of the removable dividers. I wanted three:


In the first one, on the left, I packed several age appropriate toys. A dump truck, a set of stacking cups, a squishy toy, and 2 spoons. The spoons might be my favorite thing to pack, because most kids under 2 can be distracted with something bright and shiny. Also, if you have two, you can hand them to the parent to clang together, and, voila, instant noise maker!This is the compartment on the far right, where I usually store my camera. It has an extra piece of cloth on the bottom for added screen protection.

The dual zip top of the camera bag has these great mesh pockets, where you could store memory cards and such, but I use it to store assorted ribbon and my receipts. The ribbon is great for when a client's outfit/hair needs a little bit of a punch. or if you want to add something to a prop!


The outside of the bag has two giant pouches that magnetically close. I keep a lens cloth and my battery charger in one, and my phone and keys in the other.

I LOVE how easily accessible this bag is and how comfortable it is to wear!

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A Peek Inside

The Photo Shoot

So.... Yes.

Saturday was awesome and amazing in the fact that I got to do my first ever photo shoot.

Even more amazing in the fact that it wasn't a high pressure situation since they are my friends, I have tons of experience with this baby, and I've informally "shot," him many times before.

And then the panic set in.

I realized, if I don't get them good photos, they will have lost the chance to have "1st Birthday Portraits," forever!

Well, I took the plunge and headed to the park to meet the family at 4:30. As soon as we got there, I just had this sinking feeling in my stomach. Something wasn't right. The baby was happy, I was {semi} confident, and the day was gorgeous. But what was it?

Oh, yes. The sun. I had forgotten, in my time calculation of when baby would be well fed, well rested, happy, and when the sun would be less harsh and more diffused, to take into account that the Vancouver Sun was setting later and later.

Translation: The 4:30 sun that I was shooting in, was as harsh and bright as the 2:00 pm sun. And who chooses to shoot at 2? (unless they have more equipment then me and my camera and 1 extra lens, not many people would!)

Well, we made it work and did our best. I learned that I'm going have to become more confident in controlling the photo shoot, like telling the parents to stop making noise on either side of me, but to get directly behind me.... I couldn't get a straight on head shot!

So, after I got home and reviewed the pictures, I wasn't too happy with them. The focus on most of them just wasn't right and the shadows and lighting were unflattering. AND I didn't capture the type of "frame it and put it on the wall," kind of portrait that I knew they were wanting. I am very hard on myself, and I'm okay with that, because it drives me to be better.

So, I asked my friend if, about 30 minutes before our small group Bible study (aka house church,) I picked up J and took him downstairs to the adjacent park. It would be at 6:00 pm and I wanted to see if I could get a better portrait or two.

So when I picked him up, my friend warned me that he was in a funky mood, probably tired and hungry, but we persevered and tried gallantly to get him to smile. Unfortunately he kept doing this maniacal laughing and waving his arms, but I thought I captured I few cute faces of his despite that.

Over all, I think it went great! I wish I could have gotten that crystal clear, tack eyes that I've gotten with him before, but now that he's mobile it's much harder. I will just have to keep practicing!

An urban shoot with a 2 year old girl is scheduled for Sunday! I'm so excited!

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The Photo Shoot

{Before} The Shoot

Today's the day!

In about six hours, I will be standing in a park, scoping out the best locations for a photo shoot with a one year old.

A one year old! What was I thinking? If I want to be traumatized by my love for photography, this was definitely the way to go! Why didn't I line up a shoot with a happily married couple first? People who would sit still, smile, and, I don't know, understand me?!

Sorry, that was a momentary lapse of pure panic.

Alright, I'm better now.

So, I told my friend, J's mom, to bring at least 2 different outfits, plus a favorite toy or two, plus his name sign that's in his room.

And the cupcake thing would be perfect, except they are doing that at his party next weekend and don't want to spoil the fun of the party.

Boy shoots are SO hard to figure out.

Girls, well, you just throw in tu-tu, a lollipop, or a cute bow/hat and you've got a great picture.

But boys? I'm kind of at a loss. I've scoured the internet for "how to do a 1st birthday shoot for boys," but haven't found anything!

Any ideas?

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{Before} The Shoot

So Cute It Almost Hurts...

I'm so glad I get to be "aunt," to this little boy! It's such an honor to be in these kids' lives!

On a purely photographic note, I've almost worked up the courage to ask my friends to "pose," for me so I can practice taking pictures!

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So Cute It Almost Hurts...

Photography Thoughts And Other Whatnots

I was reading an article today from MCP about how annoying it is when people ask you what camera you use, implying that the only reason your photos turn out the way they do is the equipment that you use.

Also implying that as soon as they get their hands on the same equipment they will have pictures as good as yours.

And, I have to agree.

Not that I have a ton of experience with that or anything, seeing as I'm not very good, but after recently posting some favorite pictures on FB I was immediately asked what camera I had.

Ummm.

Yeah, it was strange.

To prove my point a little bit, there is a girl, also on FB, who just got a camera that is 3x more expensive than mine and she has been trying her hand at the whole photography thing. And, even though her camera is AWESOME and would totally rock my world, her pictures aren't amazing.

It almost pains me to look at them. (that sounded way more horrible than I meant, please continue reading!) I mean, I can see how great the picture would be if the ISO was lowered, F stop adjusted, or SS messed with.

{remember, I'm not at all talking about how this person is or is not a great photographer, I'm just making a point that the camera doesn't make the pictures great or not.

With all of that said....

I'm so tired of my lens!!!!

I feel so limited in what I can or can't take!

Haha. I'm a walking contradiction, aren't I?

I REALLY want this baby:

From Amazon.

It's inexpensive, it has about the same focal length as the kit lens that my camera came with (which, I really want a bit more, but oh well,) but the great thing is how low the aperture can go. I love getting the "haze," look and bookah in my pictures, but my lens stops at 5.6 ( boo .)

Anyways, that's it for now on my whining. Sorry about that. I've just noticed I've become alot less interested in taking pictures in the past two weeks because I

a.) never carry my camera with me

b.) there is no people around us when I DO have it

and I'm feeling a bit discouraged. Maybe I'll work up the courage to ask some of our friends to let me do a photo shoot with them.....

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Photography Thoughts And Other Whatnots

Gotcha Day!

Today, was our "Gotcha Day."

Not to steal thunder away from all of those adoptive families.

I mean,

My 'baby' is not human.

And, in fact, is not alive.

But OH stinkin BOY, am I excited, because this baby:

Is mine!

Or, you know, "ours," with us being married and all.

But who I am I trying to fool?

It's mine.

I called dibbs.

And Ian doesn't really care, haha!

Lots of reading and fiddling, practicing and researching!

Speaking of research, I agonized over the Canon T1i and the Canon xsi, with the xsi being a step below the t1i but also being less expensive.

In the end, we chose the T1i so that it could take me further (since we'll be moving overseas,) and because of the live video option.

Now for research on a camera bag!

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Gotcha Day!

{Savor}ed

Ian and I got our pictures done by Rachel, aka American Mum, at Savor Photography in Naples last month!

I had been looking forward to this for literally a year, and was so pleased that she was available on such short notice!

Rachel was the best to work with! She was a real person, though quite professional, and she made us feel right at ease. I had no doubt that the pictures that she took would turn out gorgeous and I would highly recommend her services to anyone!

We had some weird requests too, so her flexibility really impressed me! We needed some "couple," pictures that didn't necessarily have us all over each other, since we are moving to the Middle East for work and want to be able to display our family pictures without offending anyone.

That also means that we needed to be dressed more conservatively, which wasn't really an issue, it just meant our wardrobe was more limited to winter ish clothes on a warm Florida beach. Which was just odd.

Well, here you are, tell me what you think!

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{Savor}ed