New Home For the Blog!

Hey guys!
So the time has finally come where my blog has officially move. It has had a little facelift in the process as well. Please visit me over at http://blog.whitneylanephotography.com :D

Flashes of Inspiration

in·spi·ra·tion  

/ˌinspəˈrāSHən/

Noun The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "flashes of inspiration". Sometimes when I have been looking at a lot of work in weddings, I find I compare myself to often. I know this is not good for me creatively and that worries of self doubt are what hold us back from accomplishing our goals and dreams often in life. One thing I have found that really helps me get out of a rut and not try to re create the same wedding portrait that others are doing is to find different inspiration. I love to read magazines, and books featuring photographers in a completely different field then me. Fashion, Architecture, Glamour, Landscape, Humanitarian. These images help me come away with a completely different look at the world. One wedding photographer who I do find myself constantly being inspired by is Jasmine Star.  One of my goals of 2013 was to have the chance to meet her and learn from her in person.That is happening a lot earlier then I ever expected on Creative Live TODAY! So tune in if you would like and you might just get the inspiration bug yourself. -WL

Wedding Songs: A first dance resource

When we were getting married the only decision I found extremely hard to make, and so let Kel decide, was our wedding song. Growing up I had all these visions of " Etta James", "Frank Sinatra, "The Spice Girls"( hey they were cool to preteens in the 90's) singing away as my new husband and I danced a perfectly choreographed dance in front of a ballroom of people. I had a really big imagination.  When the day actually came I couldn't decide if classic was to cliche. I was also worried that if we went mainstream in a few years I would hate the song. I think I was reading into the song too much (thanks a lot JLO, the Wedding Planner scarred me) In the end we went with one of Kel's favorite songs by the "Black Keys" and I'm happy to say I still love that song.

Here are some random ideas trending on twitter that might help you pick your wedding song.

* A thousand years: Cristina Perri

* I won't give up: Jason Mraz

* I want to grow old with you: Westlife ( for notebook lovers)

* Kiss me : ed sheeran

* Marry Me: Train

* Stay: Rihanna

* Strange & Beautiful: Aqualung (classic)

* Here comes your man: Meghan Smith

* All I know: five for fighting

* I do: Colbie Caillat

* Crash Into Me: Dave Matthews Band (classic)

*Cowboys and angels: Dustin Lynch ( for a country vibe)

I hope you find your perfect first dance!

European Photography Adventure: You say Venezia I say Venice

Once in awhile you visit a place that makes you feel like you stepped right out of one of your dreams. Venice is one such place. From the first moment I saw it I knew I would have to come back. It was surreal that people actually got to live somewhere so beautiful, that this wasn't disneyland. Wandering through the tiny alley ways their is a darkness about the city that transports you back in time. It is a toss up as to what is more beautiful Venice by day or by night.  Now my favorite city, I  hope we can go back someday and enjoy another bottle of Prosecco on a street that dead ends on a canal.  Maybe even for a wedding. Can you imagine how beautiful the wedding photography would be!!!

Photography 101: First steps into the LIGHT

Have you ever been on vacation and taken a picture of something amazing? Have you ever felt guilty because right after, you turned around to see a big sign with a big X through it saying "no flash photography"? Pretty sure we have all been in that boat. Whenever that happened to me I would look both ways and high tail it out of that room for fear a security guard would be on to my ruining of an ancient masterpiece.

Well I am here to help you take images of the masterpieces in these great places, like the Louvre, sin flash. Flash of course has its place but in most situations the natural light is so beautiful that that flash is not necessary. Although your camera will always tell you otherwise. Here are some tips to help you take control and avoid the guilt.

The first way of taking control of your camera is by understanding how to control the light. To do this we need to have an understanding of ISO. ISO is what, when you used to buy film, was the film speed. When you bought  film for your camera it would have an ISO number. That ISO number in digital photography  is telling you how sensitive to  light the sensor is. A simple way to put controlling ISO is the brighter the environment the lower the number you want to select. The darker the environment the higher the number you want to select. The higher your ISO the more light your allowing into your camera through the sensor allowing you to use a faster shutter speed. Pretty great right? ISO is essential in low light situations. The important thing you need to remember though is that the higher you go the more noise you introduce into the image. Noise is the grain in the background of an image. I personally don't mind a little of that natural noise. I feel it can be an interesting artistic effect. That being said there are different levels of that noise you really don't want to go past. On a lower end DSLR such as my Canon Rebel XSI I find anything higher then 800 on the ISO introduces way to much noise to my image. On a 5D mark ii or a 7D I would not push my camera past 2500 on the ISO. A high performance camera such as the  5D mark iii has ISO capabilities that are incredible allowing you to push your camera to the ISO 6000 range and still attaining good results. 

So how can you do this? Take your camera and identify where the ISO button is ( this will then bring up ISO numbers on your LCD screen or on an SLR within your view finder that you can scroll through and select)

Look at the situation you are in. For example are you on a bright sunny beach at 12:00 pm? In that situation what kind of ISO would you choose? ….If I was in that situation I would probably choose an ISO of around 100 because a lot of light is already coming into my camera. Now what choice would you make in  a dimly lit restaurant or coffee shop. You may then choose to raise that ISO to try and capture as much of the ambient light in the room to make your exposure. Depending on how dark the room is, and if there is any window light, you would probably choose to be in the 800 or higher range. Always be looking for available light to illuminate your subject though. ( Natural light for me is always best)

Now take your knowledge of ISO and practice it this way. On a Canon Camera the dial ( as we talked about here) is marked P, TV, AV, M, B. Turn the Dial so that it is set on P for Program. This is your first step towards taking control of your cameras brain. When you are on this mode you are fully in control of all decisions regarding the ISO ( your flash will never pop up automatically). Your camera is still in control of all other things regarding exposure but it is starting to listen to your advice. So give yourself an assignment. Go into different environments with different lighting situations and challenge yourself to decide what the best ISO for the situation would be.Choose that setting and snap away. you may be surprised with how much better your results will already be, then when you were on FULL AUTO. In most low light situations, such as receptions, restaurants, etc.., you will have to take advantage of off camera lighting. For now though work on mastering your skills with ISO.

In this example we only had one tungsten light on the cup's right on the ceiling to illuminate it. I wanted to imitate being stuck taking an image at a table in a restaurant. The result is okay but I find it too grainy and I don't have the ability to get more of the writing on the cup sharp because there is such a lack of light. In this situation moving the subject closer to the light or using off camera lighting ( a more advanced technique)  would have worked the best.

 Here are some images from the Louvre in Paris. I had to fight Ms. Mona Lisas Flashing Paparazzi for 10 minutes to the front of the pack to take this image. Thanks to the beautiful light no flash was required.

 NEWS FLASH: Due to a number of requests we are excited to announce that we are creating an online workshop in the new year. We have found that so many people love photography and have either invested in a gorgeous camera for themselves or were gifted one. The problem is you have this beautiful toy with so much potential but the manual puts you to sleep. That's where we come in. We are hoping to create a curriculum that involves understanding your camera, understanding light, posing techniques, and basics of editing your images. Our goal is to help you become a photographer in whatever capcacity that might beWe will be limiting the class size so that we are able to have time to answer, and help, all who are involved so please let me know if this would be something you would be interested in by leaving a comment below or e-mail us: whitney@whitneylanephotography.com

Music: A Friday Random Post

There are a few things in life that will make people realize just how weird I really am. Kel would interject here and say their are A LOT of things. One of those things is always music. I have had people walk in on me dancing to ridiculous songs more times then I can count. That is always such an awkward moment where you don't know if you should keep dancing like a maniac with hopes that they will join in, or if you should act like it never even happened. You know what I mean. That moment your husband walks in on you practicing your 'Gagnam style skills', or no one but you got the memo that it was "Hammertime". Admit it you've  all  been there!

Here are some musical thoughts to help you have a great weekend.  "Word to your mother"...............

Still a problem nine years later

Source: imgur.com via Shanna on Pinterest

Source: onestophumour.com via Whitney Lane on Pinterest

Source: weknowmemes.com via Dawn on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Whitney Lane on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Joy on Pinterest

Tiffany, Lifestyle Photography I Ravenna, Italy

  The air was warm, the pomegranates were hanging from the trees and the beautiful yellow and red light was dancing across the the ancient walled city of Ravenna Italy.  We made  our way to  Italy in late September  to photograph Tiffany for a lifestyle portrait session. Dodging Vespas, and bicycles on narrow streets we admired the historic piazzas, and cooled off with some incredible gelato.  Tiffany was great with her laid back attitude fitting right into the italian lifestyle. Sitting on ancient steps we were not the only ones taken by her, other photographers came up and took her photo as well, which just made us all laugh harder. A talented graphic designer she has made italy her home this last year and is soaking up every minute of it. I am looking forward to showing another project we worked on for my website while we were with Tiffany in Italy soon!
For now here is the lovely and ever classic Tiffany...

Tiffany their are no words

Here is a little behind the scenes of Kel ...yes he had been backpacking..and yes those were the only clean clothes he had that day. Gotta love him

If anyone is looking for a graphic designer and would like Tiffany's information please message me below in the comments section or e-mail me at whitney@whitneylanephotography.com