ericamay | photography blog. » about erica http://www.ericamay.com/blog The photography blog of www.ericamay.com Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:01:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Photography Basics Class for Beginners! :) http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-basics-class-for-beginners/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-basics-class-for-beginners/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:42:33 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7176 Did you get a new camera for Christmas? Maybe you’ve had a digital SLR that you bought when your kids were born to take better photos of them, but then never learned how to use it. Or maybe you love photography, but find it hard to master all of the settings on your camera (what do all of those buttons do??). Fear no more, my friends. :) And join me for a small group class designed for beginner photographers! Yay!

I’ve been doing one-on-one mentoring sessions for a while now, and have been hoping to do a class-type of setting for people who would benefit from a detailed, yet quick lesson in the basics of camera controls and shooting techniques. I figured the new year is a great time to help you learn how to document your own life and start preserving your memories! So, I’m excited to announce the first class available:

 

Photography Basics (a class for beginners)!

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Kansas City, MO

 

Topics covered:

1. Manual camera settings (what all of those buttons are for!) and understanding them so they’re not so scary (I promise, it’s not as hard as it sounds!).

2. Exposure basics (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) and how they interact to produce the look you want.

3. Basics of light (since photography is all about light!) and how to use available light and turn off your flash for natural-looking photos.

4. General photography principles to give you a good foundation, like compositions and finding the right kind of light.

5. Making the most of the equipment you have, as well as information on camera gear that can get you different results for a fairly low cost.

6. Practice shooting! Bring your camera with you, this will be a hands-on time! This class is designed for beginner photographers with a digital SLR camera.

7. Q & A… whatever else you want to ask. :)

 

Cost: $150. This class is limited to just FIVE people, so don’t wait! :)

 

To reserve your spot and find out all of the details, just send an email: me[at]ericamay.com — replace the [at] with the @ symbol. I’ll reply to let you know how to register!

Let’s start 2012 off right — mastering something new (or something that’s been sitting around your house!). :) Now is a great time to start preserving your life story, no matter what stage you’re in. I can’t wait to help you get started!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-basics-class-for-beginners/feed/ 1 Chicago portrait special: this Sunday only! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/chicago-portrait-special-this-sunday-only/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/chicago-portrait-special-this-sunday-only/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:50:36 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7031 Hi, friends!

It looks like we’re going to be in Chicago this weekend! I LOVE that city, and the awesome people who live there, and would love to be able to take some photos of families or couples or anyone else who would love some fun pre-holiday photos in the windy city. :)

I’m even offering a super portrait special for sessions that book for this Sunday, November 20th! If you’re in Chicago or know someone who is, feel free to email me[at]ericamay[dot]com for the details, or just visit the Contact page at www.ericamay.com!

Deep dish pizza, here we come! :)

 

Totally unrelated to Chicago, but here’s another fun photo from our recent trip to California:

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/chicago-portrait-special-this-sunday-only/feed/ 0 Bikes and palm trees by the Newport Beach Pier http://www.ericamay.com/blog/bikes-and-palm-trees-by-the-newport-beach-pier/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/bikes-and-palm-trees-by-the-newport-beach-pier/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:33 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7026 We stopped in Newport Beach on our drive down Highway 1, to pay homage to one of our favorite TV shows, The O.C. (Don’t judge! It totally has redeeming value!). :) It was an unusually cloudy day in Southern California, but the rain let up and the clouds parted a little bit as we walking on the pier.

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/bikes-and-palm-trees-by-the-newport-beach-pier/feed/ 0 Los Angeles Sunset http://www.ericamay.com/blog/los-angeles-sunset/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/los-angeles-sunset/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:00:21 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7022 This is what our view was like on Mullholland Drive in Los Angeles, right as the sun set on Saturday night. I love it when the sky turns pink.

 

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/los-angeles-sunset/feed/ 2 We’re on the West Coast! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/were-on-the-west-coast/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/were-on-the-west-coast/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:14:56 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7017 We are on a little West Coast tour. We’re currently in San Diego, working on a huge project that we can’t wait to share once it’s ready to go. We originally had plans to attend a conference, but decided to turn a few days of our trip into a “work retreat” to get away from the distractions of home and do some intense work on something we’re super excited about (coming soon!).

The beginning of our trip, though, involved hanging out with my BFF and her husband, and driving from Los Angeles to San Diego down Highway 1, where we pulled off the road, took photos, enjoyed the beach towns along the way, and looked up real estate on our iPhones (which made us really appreciate Kansas City!). Ha ha.

We stopped at a scenic overlook along the coast where a huge swarm of seagulls had stopped for a rest, and we photographed them for quite some time. We’re realizing that we don’t stop to take photos of things that inspire us enough.

Here’s one image that I can’t stop looking at.

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/were-on-the-west-coast/feed/ 1 On this day: http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-this-day/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-this-day/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:00:46 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6770 I’m celebrating us.

I’m joyful in the fact that you love me, unconditionally.

I’m smiling because you’re silly and you make me laugh.

I’m thankful because you’re a constant source of encouragement.

I’m remembering four years ago, when I put on a white dress and we promised everything to each other.

I’m aware that back then, we had no idea what it really meant… but I’d say all of those things again today.

I’m realizing that nobody else gives their wife a foot rub every single night.

I’m thinking about all of the fun we’ve had, all of the places we’ve explored, and all of the memories we’ve made in just four short years.

I’m wishing you a Happy Anniversary, because that’s what we are. Happy. :)

(A little photo taken of us by our friends The Beatys while we were in New York City a few weeks ago!).

Happy Anniversary, Jeffrey! I love you so much!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-this-day/feed/ 1 I went to Washington, D.C. with my siblings! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-went-to-washington-d-c-with-my-siblings/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-went-to-washington-d-c-with-my-siblings/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:14:26 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=5996 My little brother graduated from high school in May. To celebrate this big occasion, my older brother, his wife, Jeff and I took him on a trip to Washington, D.C. (where he said he’d go if he could go anywhere in the U.S.). Never mind the fact that he qualified for a nationals forensics tournament in D.C. the SAME WEEK we booked the trip. Two trips to D.C. in one summer? No problem. There is plenty to do. :)

I took some photos on one day of our trip, and thought I’d share a few here!

P.S. When did my baby brother grow a “beard”??

Here’s the ceiling of the rotunda inside the Capitol:

Arlington National Cemetery is heartbreaking, yet beautiful. The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is something to see.

Hey, look… I’m actually in a photo. :)

The Capitol Building at sunset is a must-see. It looked so grand.

Washington Monument — on the left is a view of it from the WWII Memorial at night.

The photo on the right was lit using two iPhones with the flashlight app. :)

Korean War Memorial at night:

Iwo Jima Memorial on the left… and on the right, Jacob RAN up those stairs (a broken escalator) in 20 seconds flat. It was a huge flight of stairs. If you like running stairs, there are a lot of them in D.C. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/i-went-to-washington-d-c-with-my-siblings/feed/ 2 My house makes me happy. http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-house-makes-me-happy/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-house-makes-me-happy/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:54:36 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=5322 I just thought I’d share a few things around our home that make me smile… old books, old cameras, the color green, good music on vinyl, canvas prints, fun pillows, patterns, and pretty vases. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/my-house-makes-me-happy/feed/ 1 Photography for a Cause: Beginner’s Photography Class http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-for-a-cause-beginners-photography-class/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-for-a-cause-beginners-photography-class/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:21 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=5295 April is the month that hosts National Volunteerism Week. In the spirit of volunteerism and giving back, I’ve been announcing a lot of ways for you to get involved with me to make a difference in a variety of ways.

The first was the Photography for a Cause efforts — where a group of photographers (including myself) have chosen to sell art prints and donate 100% of the profits to two charities each. If you missed that post, click here to read about how to get involved in that.

The second way we’re giving back is by booking portrait sessions that are super on sale to benefit Kansas HOBY, a youth leadership organization that Jeff and I volunteer with. If you missed out on that awesome opportunity to get a portrait session at a great deal AND have 100% of the amount go directly to a local youth program, click here to find out more details. I only have a few spots left!

Finally, I’m announcing the THIRD way we’re joining together to give back: a photography class for beginner photographers where 100% of the profits go directly to… you guessed it, my favorite youth program, Kansas HOBY! :) Chris with La Brisa Photography had the idea to do this class an extension of Photography for a Cause, and asked if I wanted to partner with him to teach new photographers the basics of photography and how to use a camera. This is a great class for beginner photographers, parents who want to take good photos of their kids, people with D-SLR cameras who don’t know how to use them, etc. Here are more details, directly from the Photography for a Cause website:

—-

What is it?

Introduction to Portrait Photography by ericamay.com and labrisaphotography.com.

Who is it for?

New and aspiring photographers who want to take better portraits of their loved ones. Or simply, anyone who has a DSLR camera and has no idea what all the little buttons do! =)

Where will it be held?

Rock Springs 4-H Center in Junction City, KS (near Manhattan, KS).

When will it be?

Monday, June 20, 2011, from 9am-6pm (lunch included).

How much is registration?

April 19th-April 26th = $149

April 27th-June 1st = $199

Registration is limited to only 16 students and must be paid in full at signup. First come, first serve.

What topics will be covered?

  • Beginner mistakes
  • Learning your camera
  • Understanding exposure and composition
  • Posing
  • Editing

How do I register?

For registration (or questions), kindly send an email to chris@photographyforacause.com with your interest and you will receive a questionnaire and instructions on where to pay your registration fee. Thank you!

Why should I learn from you two?

Well, Erica & Chris have a fun photo history together. One of Erica’s first engagement sessions ever was of Chris and Brisa. And Chris’ first ever wedding was of Erica and Jeff!

—-

It’s going to be a LOT of fun, and all for a really good cause… so stop leaving your D-SLR in your closet, and come learn how to use it! :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/photography-for-a-cause-beginners-photography-class/feed/ 1 On a journey… http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-a-journey/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-a-journey/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:11:48 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=5239 … and I’m excited to have you here with me. :)

This photo is from Red Rocks Canyon in Nevada.

(Have you heard about Photography for a Cause? Click here to find out more information about how you can help me support two awesome charities!).

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/on-a-journey/feed/ 0