Whats in my Camera Bag and Whats on my Drive

Photo of April by Photographer Glenn Stott ---Image Design by Videos from the Heart

This is the picture that made me want a DSLR camera, ----and to learn how to be a better photographer.   ​The pretty gal in this photo is my niece, April. 

The photographer who shot the picture of April is Arial Photographer Glenn Stott.  This photo, and a thousand more like it came about while my dear friend Glenn was setting up a new studio in his home and needed a subject to test out the studio---so we got April.    For this post, I embellished the unedited jpeg copy with some scrap-booking materials just to have some fun and tell people about me, a progressing Photographer and Videos from the Heart.     

Anyhoo, we spent the day in the Glenn Stott studio with April shooting somewhere near 1200 photos.  It was a great day; and my first time in professional photography studio.  It was there where I was instantly hooked to this art form.   Prior to that, I was just shooting willy-nilly.

As you can tell, the camera loves April and when I saw all the images at the end of days' shoot, it was right there I was left wanting my own DSLR camera.   Today, I finally shoot RAW with the Canon 70D ----and I purchased two Canon Professional Series Lens from my photographer friend, Glen Stott. 

​I got his ...

• Canon EF240105mm F4L IS USM, and his
• Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM

Glenn, is upgrading his photography gear and I'm waiting patiently to pick-up his well cared for Canon Mark V calibrated for both those lens to add to my Camera Bag.   It's coming soon.  Anyway,

The photo below came out of a little make shift basement studio and the one of the new lens.  Its a shot of one of the two kittens my husband and I rescued from our front bushes.  I'm not sure, but it's probably the best portrait photo I've taken to date with the Canon 70D.   

Using Affinity Photo by Serif ($49) I developed the RAW file, put a little vignette around it, added a border and a watermark (which needs improvement) and used this photo on my phone to try and find Laylea (and her brother, Lincoln) a home while travelin' down the cat food aisle at the grocery store. 

Oh, everyone in cat aisle loved the photos of Laylae and Lincoln, and each of them did find a forever home.  Laylea is right now finishing my left over breakfast off my plate that is sitting right next to me on my desk.   And Lincoln, (image below) is laying next to the Parakeets cage being entertained with bird chatter.

​I entered the photo of Laylea (pronounced LAY-LEE) in a photography challenge with GURUSHOTS.COM ---their aggregated data tells me this photo got ALL STAR status with 1349 votes in their, Anything Cute Challenge. ​  So I guess its an okay photograph.   But one of my favorite responses from people, is when they use my images as their profile pictures---there is no better validation that I'm just might be getting better and better with each shutter movement.  

​The image below is from my Sony Cyber-Shot DCS-70.  It's the first image I ever sold. It all happened in Colorado.  It's where Photography found me. 

​While living in Canon City, Colorado and part of an Artist Co-Opt I sold this image framed. 

I'll never forget the feeling seeing the lady who selected it, take it off the wall and bringing it up to the counter for purchase.   The gallery was called The Movement and it was started because my friend and owner of Canon Framing had a renter who purchased is own building and now her building space was going to be empty. 

Among other duties, it was my job to sign on a variety of juried artists for a 6 month contract of wall space.  The only reason why I had anything hanging on the wall was because we needed to fill the space for the grand opening.   Personally, at the time, I was a bit skeptical that my work even belonged among the talent the The Movement had garnered for its opening debut.​

​Then someone browsing through the rack of matted photos by a variety of the gallerys' artists choose one of my prints to bring up to the counter for purchase.  Again, I got validation that people could like my work.  Yet,

Calling my self a Photographer doesn't come easy.   I over heard others refer to me as such with my first digital camera.  I don't even have a photo to show you from that camera; and I regret terribly selling it at garage sale.  But this first digital was by HP I believe and it came to me at discount with a Dell computer purchase.  It also came along with fun software that allowed me to manipulate the photos I took.  So I had everything I needed to try an impress someone with my photo creativity.

Child at Play - Canon 70D - Family Reunion 2018

​But the first day I was referenced by others as being a Photographer came when I attended my neighbors wedding.  I went to the church, snapped a few pictures, and went straight home to see what I got. 

I printed out a picture of the bride and grooms' hands over her bouquet showing off the rings.  I framed it and took it with me to the reception and placed it on the Bride and Grooms table before they arrived.  ​ It was a big hit. Everyone was delighted.  

The Bride and Groom loved the photo so much she took it with her on their honeymoon.  Let's face it, I worked quickly and social media accounts wasn't our yet ours.   Anyway, while moving through the reception event I had chats with folks who would say, "Oh your the Photographer who put that picture on their table. What a great idea."  It was a great idea, as it was going to take weeks before they would see a return of proofs from their hired Photographer.  I was only a guest, but people there were referring to me as a, Photographer.    

Look, at this particular moment in time---its now some 18 years after Photography found me, and I've only been working with my Canon 70D for the last two years.   I still have so much to learn about developing RAW images and working the settings on my camera for particular types of photos.  I'm taking courses and I'm following and taking advice from talented photographers like Glenn Stott and Peter McKinnon.   I'm in such talented company with access to Youtube, that striving to become a better Photographer is happening quickly.   

I set up a little studio on my back porch to shoot feeding Cardinals, Sparrows and Chickadees---but he showed up. Shot with the lens that came with the Canon 70D.

I'm not sure if any of my photos will ever make it into a gallery to be sold off a wall or rack of matted prints.   At some point, I'm sure I'll try out my progressing photography skills in that vein.  But, for right now, my real passion for photography is attached to MUSIC.   Which by the way is in my genes, as I am the great great great grand-daughter of the Maestro Von Kogel, the conductor of the German Symphony.  So, your photos old and new are like a symphony to me, and I get to conduct where each should go to tell the story that brings tears to your eyes. That is why my business is called Videos from the Heart.   It's my goal to make you cry.    

Every reason is good reason for a Photo Slide Show. I use the Cadillac of programs PROSHOW PRODUCER to create my slide shows from Memorials to New Babies.   I always try to throw in something unexpected or personal to the project somehow.  I'm passionate about working with people and their treasured photos.  Mixing photos with Music just makes everyone happy, including me.   

​That is one of the foremost reasons why I wanted a DSLR camera in my camera bag, and a decent software for editing like Affinity Photo.  I wanted to be able to deliver quality content if you needed me to photograph your event or product for a video production or for a photo slide show.   If you need something a little extra special, please consider me, Videos from the Heart.   

Below is a production I did highlighting my animated cartoon character HOOT! offering the dates when Blues Guitarist Theodore Alexiou from Greece would be on Tour in New Jersey.   The music alone is worth the watch.  Music Copyright laws don't allow me to showcase VFTH photo slide show productions but if you visit Videos from the Heart you can see some of the comments from past productions. ​  

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​Videos from the Heart
Video Editor / Animator / Photographer
​Let me help you create the perfect production for your needs.

Austintown, Ohio
Email:  thesestars@gmail.com

Email me with your interest and supply a phone number and the best time to reach you.  I'm looking forward to being a part of your success and eager to add a little something special to your business or gift.

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