Category Archives: Inspiration & Fun
Jacksonville NC Photographer | Behind the Scenes | Renting Lenses: Review of BorrowLenses.com
I’ll start this post off by saying that BorrowLenses.com had nothing to do with this review! I know several friends, colleagues, and family members have asked me to keep them posted on my experience with renting lenses over the internet…so I knew a blog post would be in order!
I set up my rental from BorrowLenses.com up about a month in advance. There are options for renting lenses in increments for 3 days to 4 weeks. I chose 4 weeks to not only have the lens on hand for the Swim for the Warriors, but also to play with for the rest of the month!
The online process almost seemed too painless to be true…click a lens, click a date, fill out the address and credit card information…and that’s it! Now the anxious anticipation could begin!
Confirmation emails found their way to my inbox, and then a shipping notification. The package arrived at my doorstep exactly on time!
I appreciate that BorrowLenses.com (BL from here on out in the post) re-uses their shipping material. You can tell this box has been well-loved, but still serves the purpose!
Opening the box, I found the lens I reserved in a lens case, and carefully cushioned with some industrial-strength foam. It doesn’t look like a whole lot, but there was no wiggle room and the foam was definitely enough to protect from quite a bit of rough handling.
And there it was, the lens I truly hope to own some day soon!
This beast of a lens was in great condition (you could tell it’s been used, but nothing major) and came with everything I needed to use it. Lens cap, hood, tripod mount, and UV filter (AWESOME that this is included and fantastic to know for future reference…since this protects the lens!) were all included inside the case.
Meet my (ok…at least for a month anyway) Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM lens! Fellow Canon users will appreciate the red ring at the end that represents the luxury line of lenses. Luxury means weather sealing (on the right body), ALL glass inside, and metal mounting to the camera body. It weighs about 3 pounds, 4 ounces…yes, it is heavy…and awesome! The only thing that gave the lens away as a rental is the little BL sticker on it. Not very conspicuous when you’re using it!
Pulling it straight out of the box, I had to look at all that magnificent glass. Do you see all the individual window reflections? I was already super excited about this lens even before I took the first picture!
So which is faster, Lightning McQueen, or this lens?
Ok, just kidding…that was more of a comparison for size with the hood. But 2.8 aperture IS very fast for a zoom lens like this. Definitely fast enough for a lot of action purposes. And sharp…even opened all the way up! Ok, forgive my techie-camera talk. It will definitely be worth the investment one day.
Back to my BL experience (that is what the post was about before I started rambling on and on about how cool this lens is, hehe). I rented two items from BL at the same time. The other was a waterproof point and shoot camera which has already been returned effortlessly.
When I have to send this lens back (sniff, sniff), I just put it back in the box and on the front porch again.
BL uses FedEx to ship their packages, and I set up an account with them (input address, provide phone number…done!). Now all I have to do is set up a package pick-up, use the enclosed pre-paid shipping label and put it outside at the right time. SO EASY. And beyond all bonus points imaginable, it eliminates having to go to the post office with 3 kids!
That brings to mind the only con of renting from BL…the shipping was a little on the pricey side. BUT, keep in mind that the package has to be insured for the equipment and it is pre-paid BOTH ways. Considering I didn’t even need to use any gas to return the lens, I think it was well worth this expense.
I highly recommend BorrowLenses.com to anyone who needs to rent a lens. It truly couldn’t be any easier to rent exactly the camera equipment you’d need for whatever your purposes. Unsure about a future purchase? Needing some extra zoom for a big event? Just want to treat yourself to something fun? Borrow it!
It truly is as seamless and effortless as a few clicks from the comfort of your own home!
If you’ve got any questions or input, I’d love to hear from you! And I’ll be sharing some more of the amazing photos I’ve taken with this great lens soon.
Oh, and P.S. Ian thought the lens was a spy scope when it arrived. Arrrgh! I had to have a little fun with that one! 😉
*Julie
I am a Jacksonville NC photographer with a passion for photographing real life memories. Renting this lens from BorrowLenses.com is just one way I make use of the best resources out there for delivering the perfect shots to my clients. Whether you are looking for newborn or maternity portraits, family or children’s portraits, military homecomings, or other family events, I will be sure to have the right equipment for the job…and have fun with it! Contact me for more information on booking your session in 2012 in the Jacksonville NC area including New Bern, Wilmington, and surrounding towns.
Jacksonville NC Event Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
One week ago, I was preparing for Jay Platt’s Swim for the Warriors near Friar’s Point, Mississippi.
His story is one that overcomes many challenges that each could have spelled a life with the “best days” far behind. Instead, Jay has used every obstacle as a chance to show that nothing can stop a person with Christ in their heart, and determination in their actions. But the most inspiring thing of all to me is that he uses every opportunity to help others.
Veteran’s Day, 2011, here he is, swimming across the Mississippi River…handcuffed, shackled, and blindfolded in honor of men and women that were injured in combat.
Jay Platt is truly Unstoppable!
A full blog post is coming soon, but you can visit his site, www.SwimForTheWarriors.com for more information and to see links to other current news stories.
*Julie
Wherever my camera brings me, I am out to capture life stories that inspire, encourage, and show the true emotions of the heart. Whether this is an event like Jay’s, children’s or family portraits, newborn and maternity portraits, or military homecomings and other family events, my specialty is life as it happens. I am now booking limited sessions for 2012. Contact me for more information.
Jacksonville NC Children & Family Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
With the Jacksonville NC fall weather in full swing (and the illness that goes with it!), we’ve had a little more cuddle time lately! Even though it’s better to be in full health, I sure have enjoyed some of these quiet moments.
Laying around on the bed reading stories proved to be another wonderful photo opportunity. These two brothers definitely love each other more than I could express with words!
I hope that wherever you are in this chilly weather, you feel the warmth of love in your heart!
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God… 1 John 3:1
*Julie
I am an on-location children’s and family photographer in Jacksonville NC and the surrounding areas. I specialize in capturing natural and candid moments that express the love and joy of family…from maternity and newborn portraits, children and family portraits, to family events like birthdays, reunions, and military homecomings. To find out more information and book your session, contact me.
Jacksonville NC Children’s Photographer | Behind the Scenes | Set It and Forget It!
Apparently just by looking over my shoulder all this time, my husband has become quite the photographer. After I spent some time getting the settings just right, he took some amazing photos of Eli and me this evening!
So, take it from my husband Matt, if your manual mode adventures aren’t going quite as planned…find a photographer to set it for you and forget it! Hehehe! 🙂
Which brings to mind, I am continuing to line things up for a photo fun “class” at some point. If you would be interested in learning some fundamentals and basics of photography, send me an email and I’ll get you on a list for more information! We’d talk about the basic controls of your camera and some simple tips to help you take better photos in your daily life.
And if Matt can be taught, I guarantee you can too! 😉
*Julie
Jacksonville NC Children’s Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
So after playing in the ditch and getting covered in mud…it was definitely time for a bath over here! One of the best parts of children’s photography is that so many expressions are priceless! Matt took one glance at this photo and called it, “Classic!”
I know I’m pretty partial, but it’s funny how even dirty little kids still manage to be cute…maybe it’s the whole channeling the little lost puppy dog look she has going on! Hehe. 😉
*Julie
I am an available light, on location photographer in Jacksonville NC that specializes in children’s and family portraits. With small children of my own, I know that a children’s photographer has to be patient, fast on her feet, and above all fun to capture lasting memories to treasure for a lifetime and beyond. If you’re interested in maternity portraits, newborn portraits, family portraits, military homecoming portraits, or other family event photography, in the Jacksonville NC or New Bern NC areas please contact me for more information on booking a session!
Jacksonville NC Children’s Photographer | Behind the Scenes | Tips for Deleting Photos (Part 1)
Earlier this week, I posted a photo collage of a “mini session” with Ian. Seventeen photos…can you guess which six I decided to keep?
Thanks to everyone who guessed and congrats to Heather & Amanda who had the most correct guesses! 🙂 (Check the bottom of this blog entry for the answers…I moved it there so I wouldn’t give away anything if you wanted to guess!).
What started this little game anyway? A question…
How do you decide which photos you’ll keep and which photos you’re going to delete?
This is quite a common question, and I almost don’t feel qualified to write a post about it because I still feel like I have WAY too many photos! 🙂 Also, photography is SO subjective. One person’s keeper and favorite will be another person’s least favorite. (Which is why I include so many photos on session CDs!) With all that being said, I’m continuing to develop strategies, and hopefully a few of these tips I keep in mind as I take my own photos will be helpful to you!
(By the way, organizing goes hand in hand with deleting photos, but that is a whole different can of worms! So these tips are specifically intended to help you decide which photos to keep and which photos to delete once you have a system. Some time soon I will talk about systems.)
Keep in mind as you read these tips that they are mostly intended for when you have many similar shots from one sitting. If I only have one or two photos from a single event I really want to remember, I usually keep both. But if I have 10, 20, or 30 pictures from the same day, it’s time to toss a few!
Step 1 – Admit you have a problem!
Yes, it’s a little cliche…but I had to admit that there really was a problem with having too many photos! And these concepts apply whether I have taken 5, 50, 500 or even 5,000 pictures a month! (No, I’m not quite up there yet, but pushing halfway!). If there are a few “extras” every time I pick up my camera, that really adds up!
If you’re not ready to admit you might have too many photos, consider just a few of many reasons for condensing your memories.
- Having a manageable amount of photos will make it more enjoyable to look at them! – It’s hard for me to enjoy my month in review if I have 70 versions of each photo!
- It will be easier to back up and store your photos. – Even if you only take 50 photos a month, that will eventually add up…why not get to the bare minimum now? It will save you money on CDs, external HD space, and time!
- Fewer trips to upload photos because your camera’s card is full. – Who doesn’t want more room on their memory card?
- You will become a better photographer! – It’s true…learning to become more analytical about your own photos will help you develop the ability to take the kinds of pictures you want to keep!
- Friends and family will be more likely to enjoy all of the photos you share. – This might be the hardest thing to keep in mind…but most friends and family want to see the “best” pictures…not all 575 pictures of your dog & son chasing the ball across the yard or 10 different angles of the same activity. As a general rule, people will spend more time enjoying photos if the number is not overwhelming.
Will other people like to see this? Does this photo look very similar to others I have already taken? Do I want to see this photo again a year from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now…?
What I consider my best photos are not always perfectly focused, perfectly lit, perfectly centered, or perfectly anything! “Best” means the few photos that are best at capturing that memory and telling the story. These photos convey the emotion, the moment, or that silly face that I was out to remember. They are my favorites!
Questions I ask myself about the quality of the photo also help me decide which photos to keep or delete…
Do I love this photo? Or do I have other ones I like better? What stands out about the photo…the settings/pose/angle I could have changed OR the memory, emotion, and story behind it that are perfect?
If I love the photo, even if it’s not my best work, I keep it. If there are lots of things about the photo I wish I would have changed, or I look at the photo and think it would have been a little better if he was just slightly to the left, I delete it! I want to think happy thoughts when I look back, not remember that I could have taken a better picture! And I usually have at least ONE picture that really stands out. Why keep a very similar one that is only so-so?
Determine why you’re taking a photo.
When I pick up my camera to take a picture, I think about my purpose right then! This has helped me more than almost anything else.
I consider if I am going to share the photos online, make a photo book, print and send to friends, or if I am practicing my camera skills. Having a goal in mind helps me take pictures that will be best for the intended purpose…and helps me say goodbye to the ones that won’t (or shy away from taking a picture I won’t use)!
For example, what runs through my head as I capture a milestone of Eli’s life…
Is this photo going in the baby book? Do I need one photo for the page or five or twenty? Do I want horizontal shots or vertical or both? Have I told the story completely with the photos I have? Will these photos print well? Do I have other photos that tell the same story that are better than these?
If I have a series of photos where they are changing their faces, and making a variety of smiles, I will often keep several different looks for collage potential. But here’s where I get critical! If I have lots of photos, I consider if I’ve already captured that “look” on a different day recently and I like it better. If the photo is telling a story, and I am going to use it for something, I keep it. If I realize it just going to sit on my HD and I’m not actually going to print it up because I have many other favorites, I delete it. I am really trying to downsize photos that aren’t there for an actual purpose other than I’m scared to delete it! 🙂
I’m going to continue more tips on another post…but I hope these thoughts and tips that I utilize will help you! Remember that nobody else will see your photos the same way you do! The goal is to become better and better at taking the photos you love and want to share and look at again and again over the years! And there’s no right or wrong way to go about that…just don’t be scared to delete what’s in the way of keeping the memories that matter! 😉
And without further ado, here’s my picks from the “mini session”…
…I’ll explain why I chose them in the next post!
*Julie
I am an available light, on location photographer in Jacksonville NC that specializes in children’s and family portraits. With small children of my own, I know that a children’s photographer has to be patient, fast on her feet, and above all fun to capture lasting memories to treasure for a lifetime and beyond. If you’re interested in maternity portraits, newborn portraits, family portraits, military homecoming portraits, or other family event photography, in the Jacksonville NC or New Bern NC areas please contact me for more information on booking a session!
Jacksonville NC Children’s and Family Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
So we were driving down the highway in Jacksonville NC last night, and I slapped myself in the forehead. No camera! The moon was up, the clouds were gorgeous…and no camera! I really wanted to share a moon photo as the photo of the week…but never fear, photoshop is here!
I don’t usually rely on photoshop since I’ve only scratched the surface of it’s abilities (and don’t have much free time!). And, really children’s portraits don’t require much heavy editing!
Anyway, here’s the two photos I decided to merge.
And here’s what happens when I have 10 minutes of absolute fun with two photos and Photoshop. Matt calls this, “Apocalyptic Moon.”
Don’t rush outside to see this rare event. It exists only on your computer screen! What do you think?!
*Julie
Although playing around with Photoshop is a lot of fun, I have even more fun photographing families in the Jacksonville NC area. Contact me for more information on booking a session for newborn portraits, maternity portraits, children’s portraits, or family portraits that will be lasting and unique memories.
Jacksonville NC Children’s Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
Ian was asking me if dragons were real. Of course! There’s definitely a reason that the legends about in every culture! They saw them!
And here is more of what legends are made…I can’t wait to tell the tale of Eli’s brave conquest of the front yard dragon. I even have pictures to back it up! 😉
*Julie
P.S. If you were curious about dragons, I just read an interesting article about a historian that wrote about them here.
Julie Gayler Photography is passionate about capturing life in photos. She is currently booking sessions in the Jacksonville, NC area for children’s and family portraits. To book your on-location session or find out more information, please click here. From maternity and newborn photography, family portraits and events to children’s portraits and more, your photography session will showcase your family’s unique style and capture memories to enjoy for a lifetime and beyond. 🙂
Jacksonville NC Event Photographer | Inspiration & Fun | Photo of the Week
This week’s photo is from a wonderful trip to the Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC. The gardens are a remarkable photo opportunity at every turn! We’ll definitely be going back again very soon for more photos.
Quick tip for SLR users…to get the most blur possible in your flower photos, switch to manual mode and use the lowest aperture possible. Since you’re opening the lens to capture so much light, you’ll also have to speed up the shutter significantly on a sunny day. You can also check out a tutorial on taking a photo of a flower here. Of course, getting the bees to cooperate is an entirely different post! ; )
That’s it for now…but more photos from our excursion will be coming soon!
*Julie
Julie Gayler Photography offers memorable natural light, on location photography in Jacksonville, NC, New Bern, NC and the surrounding areas. Currently booking sessions for November 2011…including maternity portraits, newborn portraits, military homecoming, children and family portraits in the Jacksonville, NC area. For more information, click here.
Jacksonville NC Children & Family Photographer | Behind the Scenes | Don’t Trash It Yet
I peeked at the photos on the back of my camera, and kept working for a better picture. There are so many elements of composition, camera settings, and real life merging in a split second as I’m trying to capture that perfect shot…
Delete, delete, delete…
There was a lot about this particular series that I didn’t like (technically speaking). Window light and areas of shadows and overexposure in the photo, distracting elements, and an impossible-to-get-right white balance were things my critical eye had picked apart in the moment.
Later in editing, I was so glad I didn’t trash them. I fell in love with a simple switch to black and white.
Maybe I’m completely head over heels for my subjects, but I think these just “work” for some reason.
So take it from me…don’t get too crazy with the delete button. Reflect on what you have later with fresh eyes.
Keep focusing on the memories that matter. 🙂
*Julie
I am an on-location photographer in Jacksonville NC. I love to take children’s portraits and family portraits that capture moments of love and life in natural light. If you’re looking for unique photos that showcase your memories and tell a beautiful story, contact me for more information. Currently, I’m booking sessions on a limited basis for maternity and newborn portraits, family portraits, children’s portraits, or military homecomings, birthdays and other family events.
Gayler Photography 