I photographed these children for the HES magazine. They are writing a story about the Child Development Learning Center. So, it was my job to capture their precious expressions. I would have to say that it was the most fun that I have had at work in a long time. Photographing those children made me want to be one of them again, especially this time of the semester when life gets crazy. As soon as I pulled out my camera all eyes were on me. “What are you doing? What’s that for? Can I try”? They would ask me over and over again.

Children are really fun to photograph; you can get some of the best expressions from them. I really enjoyed my day of photographing children, they made my crazy life a little more uplifting.

When I first began my career in photography, I was skeptical to switch to digital. I was worried that I would not get the best quality that I needed for my photographs. I thought that film was never going to die and will always be number one. So, I decided to give it a shot and I fell in love with digital photography. I am absolutely obsessed with it. Not only is it fun, but it also has very quick results.

About two years ago, I finally gave in and purchased my very first digital SLR camera. My digital camera is a Nikon D70 and yes, I did pay a good amount for it. But I feel that this has been one of the BEST purchases that I have ever made. And with technology on the rise the prices are always becoming more and more available to the average consumer. I totally recommend digital photography.

Recently, I had a photo shoot in front of The Wes Watkins Center while it was cold and snowing outside. Yes, my hands were hurting because of the cold weather. Not only does the weather affect the photographer but also the camera equipment. Going from the cold to the inside of a warm building creates condensation and your lens will fog, this could be a problem. Also, the cold weather can affect how your shutter works, it tends to slow it down. Of course there are other weather conditions such as rain and wind. Even though these can be a problem, when overcomed they can also result in some outstanding photographs. So, don’t get discouraged, embrace this opportunity.

When I first started taking pictures I decided to try the water out and help a friend shoot a wedding. It was one of the most horrible experiences that I had to endure. First of all, I would like to say that weddings don’t always go as planned, things are always going to happen. So, when shooting a wedding keep that in mind.

I use to hate shooting weddings. The stress of knowing that this is the “big day” for my clients and that there is no room for mistakes, was a lot of pressure for me. After several horrible experiences, I decided to look at this whole wedding thing in a different perspective.

When I shoot weddings I prepare myself to expect anything from an annoying mother-in-law to horrible lighting in a church. I tell myself that this is my client’s day, and that whatever they want I will do. Every couple is different and therefore every wedding is going to be different. I tailor my photographs to the personality and character of my clients. I think about their story and tell that story through my photographs. In the end not only am I happy but so are my clients.

Tips:

Always stay calm. Things might not be going exactly your way but stressing out only makes your model feel uncomfortable.

Be yourself. If you are yourself around your model then that makes them feel comfortable to be themselves around you.

Don’t be cheesy. I can’t stand it when some photographers say really cheesy things. You want them to have a good time too.

Get happy. If you are excited about the photos that you are taking then your model becomes more relaxed because the photographer is pleased with what they see.

Don’t make them feel insecure. Not every model is perfect and some might have better features than others; however, never make them feel uncomfortable and DO enhance their best features.

Don’t be so uptight. If the photographer is having fun and then the shoot will go a lot smoother.

So, these are a few tips that I have found very helpful when shooting portraits. I know they work because I have tried them myself. I have had the opportunity to take photos of many different people here at OSU such as President Schmidly, Coretta Scott King and many other professors and faculty; and using these tips have helped me do an efficient job. I hope everyone lets their true self shine through when photographing people.

Photography
I was always a visual child. My mother had put me in all sorts of art and drawing classes and I was always making or creating something. I became interested in photography when I was 16-years-old. One of my older brothers had a nice SLR (single lens reflex) camera that he never used. So, I started taking candids of my family and of things that interested me. At the time I was very interested in nature and B&W photography.

One of my art teachers had told me of a photography program at Tulsa Technology Center; she encouraged me to apply. The only thing was you had to have a portfolio in order to be accepted. I was nervous because I didn’t have a portfolio and I didn’t have any teaching in photography. However, I decided I would give it a shot. I started taking pictures of everything and used my background in art to help create exciting compositions for my first portfolio.

After being accepted at TTC, I learned the basics of photography and how to develop and print your own photos. Through this experience, I learned that photography can be relaxing and a stress reliever. Yes, you can be very technical and precise when photographing but you can also be creative and care-free. When I am taking photos I see the world in a different perspective. I want to capture moments and feelings that tell a story. I want to show others what I see through the lens.

Photography can be a very powerful form of communication. It’s sometimes difficult to explain how photography makes me feel but all I know is that it is a very satisfying and rewarding experience that helps me release my stress. So if you are feeling stressed out, try taking some creative photos. Who knows? It might work for you too.

This is where I met my mentor Bill Welch. Bill is the owner of BW Studios and has been such an inspiration to me. Bill gave me the opportunity to use amazing equipment that helped me produce a portfolio. This portfolio has given me a wonderful job working in the univeristy’s marketing department as a photographer. If anyone is serious about photography, I recommend doing an internship.

I would like to share a little bit of my background with you. I am from a family of seven children; I have four protective brothers and two sweet sisters. I know most people think this is a rather large number but for me it’s comfortable. I was born in Oaxaca, Mexico but raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My father is from Mexico and my mother is from Kansas. So, all I can really say about growing up in a multicultural family is that it’s CRAZY!

I am a transfer student from OSU-Okmulgee. Yes, Okmulgee. This crazy little town is where I received my associate degree in applied science and it is also where I learned the art of photography. So, now I am at OSU Stillwater where I will be receiving my degree in advertising. I currently work for the univeristy’s marketing department as one of their photographers.

Photography has been a passion of mine from a young age. I began by photographing my friends, family and pets, and now I have already been published in magazines and on billboards. I would like this blog to be focused on photography and all aspects of it. I do all kinds of photography from nature to weddings. So this is going to be a very broad discussion on photography and on how I see the world through the lens.