Here's Looking at You! Photography by Shirley Pearce

Galveston Engagement Session

2010-07-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Headed to the beach before 6am this past weekend to try and catch the sun rising over the water only to be hampered by low clouds on the horizon...probably from the tropical storm churning in the gulf near Florida at that time. We waited it out and eventually saw the sun!! Wanted to show you a few of those shots on the beach. Notice the water? The camera saw it as blue and it was so pretty I just left it that way! Hope you like them.

Lauren loves this one the most because she loves the little crab she captured inside her ring!!

Celebration Party

2010-06-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Celebrating my sister's remission in Fallopian Tube Cancer this weekend with Mimosas!! My five sisters and Mom came to visit me and we had lots of love, laughter and much noise around the house. I'm sad....they are gone back to their day to day lives. We are so thankful to have this celebration with my sister!!

Went for a small outing on Saturday to Galveston. They have taken some of the dead oaks there and have had them carved into sculptures. So inviting in the private yards. Here are some of the ones we saw.

Viral Meningitis

2010-06-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ever had it? You don't want it....take it from personal experience! It wasn't until I read what it was all about on the internet that I realized....bummer I was bad off and didn't know it!! :(

Wish I could say I jumped up from my bed and snagged the above photos, but soooo untrue! These actually came from a visit to my sister in March who was undergoing chemo. Sat around and snapped them for something to do while entertaining her for six hours. Who knew I'd find a use for them here! I guess that's why we aren't allowed to see our future! Anyway, I'm back to posting. So see you in the funny pages,....soon.

How To Take a Photography out of a Plane Window

2010-05-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here’s a quick set of tips for those of us lucky enough to be taking a trip in a plane and wanting to get the classic ‘out of the window shot’ that often is featured early in a travel photo album.

One common mistake that people make with taking this shots is to put their camera’s lens right up against the glass of the plane window in the hope that it will help cut down on reflections and in the hope that it will steady their shot.

While it might help a little with reflections it generally does anything but steady the shot and will often usually increase camera shake’ due to the vibrations of the plane.A better strategy, if you’re using a DSLR with a fitted lens, is to attach a lens hood to your lens and get in as close as you can to the window without actually touching it. Alternatively, use your free hand to cup around the lens as much as you can to shield it from reflections.

Of course for high quality aerial shots you’ll want to shoot out an open window from an appropriate altitude – but then most of us are not in that league so the window seat on an airliner is our best option.

Here are five more tips that come to mind on photographing out a plane’s window:

1. Switch to Manual Focus

Quite often cameras get confused when shooting through glass (and on most planes its two or three scratched and marked sheets of glass). Switching to manual focusing mode and locking your focus on your main focal point can help a lot.

2. Shoot early in the Flight

Windows tend to ice up or get condensation on them once you’ve been flying for a longer period of time. Shoot early when you’re window is clearer and your shots will be better for it.

3. Be ready for the Plane Banking

It is difficult from an airliner to take shots of the ground (due to window size and the angles that are possible through them) but opportunities do present themselves for such shots on the few occasions that the plan banks before landing and after take off. The key is to be ready and to shoot fast as these moments don’t last long.

4. Turn off your Flash

For starters it’ll have no impact on your shot (its not strong enough to have an impact beyond a few meters) and secondly it’ll just cause reflections against the window.

5. Look for points of Interest

Sometimes the scenes out of plane windows seem quite spectacular to the eye but when you look at your photos they can be a little empty and un-inspirational. Look for a point of interest to bring your shot to life. It might be the wing or engine of the plane, it could be a cloud formation, another plane, a coastline, a change in the landscape below or a setting sun etc. It could even be something inside the plane.

www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Amateur Photographer: Your First Wedding? Wedding Survival Tips

2010-05-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

To the inexperienced photographer, the first wedding is that single most daunting event that stands as Mt. Everest in one’s profession. It is a feat that could define success or failure for the rest of one’s career. Much preparation is required. Much focus is essential. Much passion is critical.

Every detail of the day is important. The clothes. The favors. The people. Tensions are high. Schedules are tight. Emotions are charged. A wedding shoot is not the time to test one’s people skills or experiment with portraits. It is a day that an experienced photographer must practice everything he or she has ever known.

However, each wedding photographer has had a “first time”. On this day, the photographer discovers the key to thriving in the world of wedding photography: An ability to take the unpredictable in stride and thrive amidst challenges.

What does this look like to an inexperienced wedding photographer? How does a novice go about capturing beautiful shots in unpredictable and varied settings? With a little bit of hard work, these 8 tips will help you cover essential preparations for a successful wedding shoot.

1. Do your research!

Find a local bookstore with a large selection of photography books. Take some time to look at books from Bill Hurter and Amherst Media. These resources will give you an incredible amount of information to walk you through the wedding photographer’s experience.

2. Determine the couple’s style

As a wedding photographer, your job involves more than capturing the events of the wedding day. You must have the ability to do so in the style that signifies the bridal couple. Are they traditionalists? Are they contemporary? Do they want color or black and white? If they aren’t sure what they like, take the time to go through a wedding magazine with them to find clips that match their style. Once you know what they are expecting stylistically, you can shoot to capture just that!

3. Create a Master Schedule

Arrange a pre-wedding meeting with the bride to plan out a 15-minute incremental schedule of the wedding shoot. This should include wedding preparations, bride portraits, bride and bridesmaids portraits; the groom and his groomsmen, the full wedding party, the family portraits, and the bride and groom. If you aren’t experienced shooting weddings, plan for extra time so you won’t be rushed or distracted by the time pressures.

4. Be connected

Be sure to get the phone number of the wedding coordinator, the best man, and the bride’s personal attendant. If (and when) the wedding schedule gets off, you will want to be sure that the wedding coordinator is in the know. And when the time comes to hunt down rogue bridal party or family members who are missing out on the shoot, these numbers are handy for extra help.

5. Have help!

Shooting a first wedding is best done with another primary shooter, or at least an assistant. An assistant will help you keep track of your shot list, schedule, managing the individuals for large group photos. In the very least, an assistant is available to carry equipment, keep track of the cell phone, and holding reflectors.

6. Make a shot list

The bridal couple will undoubtedly have shots they want. Generally, the couple will stress the importance of photos with family members attending, and the bridal party. Once you have this initial list, you can build a more detailed list for your own reference. A shot list will keep you focused and on top as you go about the 5-8 hour shooting day. As you refer to your shot list throughout the day, won’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

7. Scout out your locations

Arrive at the venue at least an hour before you are to begin shooting. Once you are on location, map out your location flow. Where will you start out and what shots will you take in that area? Where will you go next? What distractions must you watch out for in each location? Where is the light? Have a flow plan for your shoot and both you and your clients will stay relaxed through the day.

8. Put on your game face!

Remember that no matter what happens on the wedding day, there will be a plethora of uncontrolled variables. Your role is to take the unexpected happenings and run with them! If you are the picture of calm and the voice of reason, everyone else will be ok! The mark of a good wedding photographer isn’t a perfectly planned and executed shoot but rather a wedding shoot in which the photographer was able to adapt to each scenario and still capture the beautiful moments of the day.

No matter how much reading and research time you put into preparing, there is a large degree of learning that will come from that first experience. Above all, set your mind on enjoying the experience no matter what comes your way. While the pressure is on, so long as you can take nervous pressure and channel it to anticipated excitement, you’ll be just fine.

www.hereslookingatyou.biz

1877 Tall Ship Elissa

2010-03-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

ELISSA is a three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall & Company. She carries nineteen sails covering over one-quarter of an acre in surface area. Tall ships are classified by the configuration of their sailing rig. In ELISSA's case, she is a 'barque' because she carries square and fore-and-aft sails on her fore and mainmasts, but only fore-and-aft sails on her mizzenmast. From her stern to the tip of her jibboom she measures 205 feet. Her height is 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast and she displaces about 620 tons at her current ballast. But, she is much more than iron, wood and canvas...

Elissa Volunteers

2010-03-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

ELISSA sails several times every year. Every spring, she goes out for a series of day sails over the course of a two-week period. Those who participate in the seamanship training program, which includes maintenance tasks such as chipping rust, painting and tarring the rig, have the opportunity to learn ancient skills and techniques. After completing the classes, which take place on designated Saturdays, and contributing the required hours of work on the ship’s upkeep, participants are eligible to take ELISSA to sea.

ELISSA was never a pirate ship, but as a British cargo ship of the 19th century, she specialized in calling at smaller ports of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. She twice loaded cotton at Galveston. It was this local connection, and the authenticity of her iron hull, that led Galveston Historical Foundation to purchase the vessel, then a cut-down motorship and undertake her restoration. Today, ELISSA is one of only three pre-20th century sailing vessels in the United States that have been restored to full sailing capacity.

Elissa

2010-03-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

Lacey, my daughter, and I boarded the Elissa in Galveston this past Saturday. It was windy, about 63F and very cloudy! We set sail around 10 am and were back in port by noon. Thirty minutes later the cold front hit with 40 mph winds, dropping temperatures and rain. I went out on the Elissa last year and regret that Lacey did not get to experience more of the ship, but a taste of what they do was fun! This is the quartermaster, Phil. This crew of 30+ gathers each year during the spring to take Elissa out on the waters to keep her "healthy". They come from all over the nation. This is Phil's 17th year to be here along with the captain of the ship who comes from Maine.

High School Seniors

2010-03-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

We can create anything you are thinking of! Take a look at our gallery here.

Bay Area Christian School ~ Seniors 2011

2010-03-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Another great photo for Bay Area Christian School silent auction. This is the Junior Class of 2010 and the Senior Class of 2011. I look forward to working with each of them on their high school portraits. Will be tagging them soon for their Facebook pages.

High School Seniors - Bay Area Christian School

2010-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

This photo was sold in a silent auction fundraiser for Bay Area Christian School in League City, TX. It sold sight unseen for hundreds of dollars so I'm kinda proud of it. We matted it and had the seniors sign the mat. Will be tagging the seniors later so they can pull to their Facebook pages.

Spring has sprung!

2010-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well.......almost! Seniors, do you have your wallets for graduation and the portrait for Grammy? Come and visit my website for ideas.

High School Seniors Wanted

2010-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost sprung! This type of portrait is called "high key" with selective color. This is an opportunity to get individualized portraits for yourself if you are a high school senior. Check out photos at this site.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

This is my friend, Abel. This is his self portrait entitled "Sensor of Humor". I wanted to post it here because I have so much fun with High School Senior Portraits! I hope no one is looking at you like this when they see you pointing a camera at them! Sometimes I feel this is the way I'm viewed when I see people looking back at me wondering what they are supposed to do, smile ?.... pose?...whaaaat???!!

www.hereslookingatyou.biz Give me a call when you are ready for your High School Senior Portraits.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Oh come on now! Getting your portraits done can't be this bad!! Look me up in Friendswood, TX. My website is www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Senior Prom is nearing! Where is your photographer?!!

2010-03-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

High school graduation is an exciting time for seniors including special ceremonies, proms and after-parties to attend. Lots of things to do and think about to pull this off!!

Don't forget the photographer when getting ready for this exciting time.

High School Senior Portraits

2010-03-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

High School Seniors! Time is getting near for those of you who are procrastinating on your senior portraits. Are you looking for someone who can express the uniqueness in you? Look me up. I'm located in Friendswood, TX. My website is www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Do you know a good wedding photographer?

2010-03-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

As a wedding photographer, I advise all my soon-to-be married/cash-strapped couples to spend their money where it counts—on great wedding photography. No one will remember what your invitations looked like or what your wedding favors were, but you will always have your photographs. I also tell my couples that you have to love your wedding photographer because he or she is with you every step of the way. You want someone who not only knows how to catch the right light, but who will hold your hand when you get nervous, hop on a chair to get the right shot (even if the maitre d’ says, “no!”), handles your crazy family with ease and makes you look amazing in every single shot. That’s what a photographer does for you on your wedding day.

It’s the photographer— not the camera—that makes the images stand out. I definitely don’t believe you need $5000 lenses and a top-of-the-line camera to be a good photographer. Creativity is the key!!

Even if you are not a wedding photographer, take a moment and gloriously celebrate those who do document these singular events for couples worldwide, turning the day’s images into visual love stories. And future brides take note, those creative photographers are worth every penny!

Shooting in Bright Sun

2010-02-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

Shooting in Bright Sun

Most photographers, including myself, don't normally shoot under bright sun. The light is harsh and usually not very flattering for your subjects. Ideally, you want to use diffused light from a soft cloudy day or that magical early morning/early evening light. But sometimes you don't have a choice and you have to shoot in bright sun. You may be shooting an event that is outdoors. You don't have control over the time and you don't have control over the weather. So you have to make the best of it. Think outside the box, think perspective and most of all think shadows. Probably the only advantage about shooting under bright sun are the amazing shadows you can capture.

The following picture was taken during a bright day at an old Western Town in Arizona. There were people walking around dressed in western period clothing posing for tourists. There were also shadows being cast on the dirt. They were fantastic. A cowboy wearing knee high black boots passed by. With the boots large in the frame a strong shadow emerged out of the boots. The bright sun did that. When shooting in bright sun, look for interesting shadows and show the connection of your subject to the shadow. The results can be striking.

TIP: Think of the person, animal, object as a supporting actor. Your main character is the shadow.

Don't overlook shadows on walls. The light is harsh, but the shadow is awesome and this portrait really defines the dog. I love how she is connected to her shadow and the contemplative look on her face. Don't overlook unguarded moments. They can be some of your most intimate portraits.

The following picture is at a Renaissance Fair on a bright sunny day. The bright sun actually shined through her skirt and helped to illuminate the underside of her skirt. Observe your subjects before photographing them. Look for interesting characteristics and ask yourself what you want to focus on or portray. Then take it one step further and think about perspective. Consider lying on the ground and looking up. It's a great way to photograph your subject.

Neat buildings and architecture are perfect candidates for showcasing great shadows. Bright sunny days in Texas are a common occurrence all year round. The contrast of the bright blue sky against the architecture is beautiful. This photo fills the frame with the slats of the patio cover and showcases the geometric pattern and interplay of light and shadows. Interesting shadows are not always on the ground or against a wall. Don't forget to look up.

TIP: Use bright sunny days to find interesting shadows. Look up, down on the ground, against walls .... every where. Bright light is not always bad, even when photographing people. Find an interesting focal point, think about perspective, tell a story, be creative with light and seize the moment.

www.hereslookingatyou.biz

Trash the Dress

2010-01-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

New Year’s Resolution: Do Something with That Wedding Dress! aka Trash the Dress

Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to actually do something with that old wedding dress of yours? You didn’t actually think it would be in style for your daughter 25 years from now did you? Why not wear it? Today we’ll examine the world of Trash the Dress. That’s the trend of hiring a pro photographer or videographer for a creative portrait session modeling your dress.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to actually trash the dress. But you might actually have some fun wearing it around town, on the back of a motorcycle, or walking through the woods.

Shirley Pearce,Photographer, says,”what are you realistically going to ever do with that dress again? Not many girls wear their mom’s out of fashion dress (or you wouldn’t see so many bridal shops around). The huge majority of dresses just sit in a bag forever. Many photographers and brides feel like this once in a lifetime expense can be put to great use to create art.

It gives you a chance to get all glamorous again without all the pressure of keeping the gown clean, in fact it’s a riot to see what brides want to do with a dress they don’t have to worry about and how much fun they have getting it dirty. In some extreme cases they shred the dress or paint it or even set it on fire!”

I did a Trash the Dress session last weekend. To me it isn’t so much about destroying the dress as it is placing the dress in a place where a “wedding dress” doesn’t belong. Ex: railroad tracks, playground, water, etc. What a fantastic opportunity at that once in a lifetime shot!

Shirley Pearce adds, “Our favorite Trash The Dress session so far was in an industrial park in Pasadena, TX with lots of pipes, valves and high voltage signs.

She continues, “Trash the Dress sessions are not for every bride. I love the idea of a photo session with a bride in her dress in an unconventional location, but the dress doesn’t necessarily have to be ruined. Most brides know they will be spending hundreds of dollars to have the dress cleaned and preserved, so they just want to get a little more life out of it before it goes into a box.”

Your Trash the Dress selections are no limited to still photos. Our studio, Here's Looking at You! Photography, captures Trash the Dress in video and stills in your own personal slideshow on DVD.

Of course, the go-to place for all things TTD, is www.trashthedress.com. That is an entire site dedicated to the art of Trash the Dress. Whatever you choose to do with your dress, sell it on Ebay, store in the closet, or cut it up for a baptism gown, try to find a way to cherish your memories of the gown beyond the wedding day. Contact me for creative new ways re-live your wedding memories.

Newborn

2010-01-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday morning at the hospital photographing a newborn baby. I should have gone naked because it was so intolerably hot in there that I walked the quarter mile back to my car two hours later with my jacket in my hand in 40 degree weather to try and recover!! OK....now that that is out of my system...on to the photography.

Kingston was about 40 hours old in these photos. We did maternity photos with his Mom, Dad, and older sister on December 19th and he arrived Jan. 3rd. That's cutting it pretty close for belly photos! While this was interesting....I am opting next time to do "call me when you get home photos"!!!...did I mention heat stroke?

Maternity Photos

2009-12-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

I may have accidentally found my next child model! Mom and Dad and Kinleigh came in to my studio for maternity photos and in posing Kinleigh I think I have found a "natural" in front of the camera! She was more than willing to do whatever I asked and even smiled on cue. This photo with the glass....she gave me the exact expression I asked for. The tummy photo I caught by being quick on the shutter! Mom is due January 1 so it was questionable that we would even be able to get together with the Christmas rush to get this done. I'm really glad we were able to do photos and know they will be pleased with them....after all, Kinleigh stole the show!!

Trash the Dress Lensbaby Style

2009-11-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

Lensbaby is a selective focus SLR camera lenses that brings one area of your photo into sharp focus with that sharp area surrounded by graduated blur. It is used quite frequently these days for artistic ventures. You either like it or you don't. I happen to be one of those who like it!! I don't get to use it much because my subjects usually don't stand still long enough, but in portraits you have a better chance of expressing your art with this lens. Here are a couple of my model, Lauren, during one of our Trash the Dress Series.

Trash the Dress

2009-11-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

When we reached our destination, our backdrop was in the shade so we made the best of it and really did well with the backlit sunshine on their left sides. I didn't use a flash as I really liked the backlit situation. Upon reflection, I think next time a snoot on their faces would help.

Runaway Bride!

2009-10-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

I didn't plan this title. It just jumped out at me after I saw the series of photos I created with Lauren and Cory and his Harley. It was such a beautiful morning and even with the sun in the camera we were still able to show mood in the moment. Enjoy!