Timeless: My Love Language of Birth Photography

by Jessica Strom

I was 16 years old standing outside the delivery room when I heard my oldest niece's first cry. I remember thinking it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.  All I wanted to do was hold her close and I was 'just' her new Auntie.  Fast forward 10 years and I am with my mom looking through a window watching my youngest nephew come into the world, not sure if the baby was a boy or girl, but hearing that little cry so loud through the window.  The memory still gives me goose bumps.

I don't remember whose birth photography I saw first but I do remember when I saw it, I was so taken by the love language those photographs were able to speak, and how incredible I thought it would be to have the honor myself, of interpreting a live birth through the lens of my camera. 

I had tried many different areas of photography to see what made my heart leap, but nothing did quite so much as the passion of photographing the grand entrances, of new little beings into the world. Perhaps the drive was fueled by the desire to be a mother myself, something in which my husband and I have been striving for, for many years.  Ultimately, it was driven by the song of my heart to forever document the beginning of not only a new baby's life, but the creation of a new mother, a new father, a new family. Pure innocense, completely fresh, starts the hope of limitless possibilities for the future. The intensity of these emotions, and these new realties are only describable through seeing the outward expressions, that completely over-take those experiencing them.

Giving that birth is such an intimate time, tasteful professional photographs are not only essential in being able to share the experience with others, but also for the family to be able to look back on, and truly cherish the sacred start of their childs life. Besides, how cool will it be for that child, 20-30 years down the road, to be able to compare what they looked like the moment they were born, to the moment their own child is born?  How amazing will it be, a few generations down the line, to have photographs of their great-grandparents and great-great grandparents? These photographs truley stand the test of the time, and as a photographer,  I know that they will be cherished by future generations long after I leave this world, and there is no greater satisfaction to my work than knowing that.

All of the births I have had the honor to photograph, have all been so very different and exciting. As a photographer, the uncertainty and the unknowns in ever changing situations is such a high. There are no dress rehearsals and no second chances. You have to be ready and prepared at all times. You can't pre-plan any particular shots, you truly need to take whatever comes at you, and think fast.

Many births are photographed in dimly lit situations and you have to know your camera so well that when you think of what you want to do, your fingers just know what to do on the camera without stopping to translate in split seconds.This is when your camera is truly an extension of yourself. And of course, it's crucial to have a back up camera in case of a camera malfunction.

The best part to me is showing the parents the birth photographs and experiencing the whole event with them again. while seeing the little details they didn't realize happened, as if looking at themselves through a window. These emotions are so intense that they don't last. Over time they become grey, foggy, almost dream like in that they remember bits and pieces but can't quite put it all together. When I first started on my photography journey, I created a phrase that unknowingly, suits birth photography and all its majestic beauty so perfectly.

"A photograph speaks a language only your heart can ever truly understand."

Birth photography helps parents always remember that 'come what may' in life, they felt more than just happy the day their child was born into this world. That, my friends, is what makes my heart leap with joy.

~Jessica Strom

Jessica Strom is a maternity, birth, and newborn photographer based out of the greater Kansas City Metro

www.jessicastrom.net

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicastromphotography

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Ciao Bella!

by Laureen Carruthers

History...amazing architecture...rustic castles & churches...Italy is like nothing I could ever imagine.  When Terri and I arrived, all the trees were just beginning to blossom and it made me ache to stay here long enough to see it in full summer bloom.

We came to Italy for a photography workshop [Becker & Dale & Meredith Benfield wedding workshop], but mostly because I was desperate to see Ilaria (our foreign exchange student) and her family again. 

The people were lovely, the red wine, cheese, and gelato, amazing!  But the most delicious food by far, came from Ilaria's home kitchen, where her grandmother and family did all of the cooking for us.

 

The best way to experience another country is to stay in a native home and experience day to day life, culture, and food.  True Italian Lasagna is like nothing I could ever describe...it was so good, I just wanted to keep it in my mouth and savour it forever!

Getting off the beaten path, and into the heart of the country, is where we were able to see and experience so much more.  Although I'm not Italian, something about Italy just made me feel like I was home.  I made a promise to myself that I will go back one day.  I don't feel like I simply "love" Italy...I feel like I "need" it!  

Equipment used:  Canon 5D Mark II, 50 mm 1.2, 100 macro, 35L, and my lensbaby composer (the cheapest, but most fun piece of camera equipment that I own!) 

Often I see friends on facebook or various places asking for a good point & shoot camera recommendation, because they don't want to take their good gear on a big trip.  Seriously??  Take the GOOD gear!  I would've gone crazy if I had seen so many amazing sights without my good equipment!  Take less lenses if you must...but if it's a trip of a lifetime, these will be memories worth capturing with your good gear!

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LVP's 1st Annual Cover Contest!

Have you ever wanted to see YOUR photo on the cover of a magazine? Here's your opportunity! Beginning October 1st, you can submit your entry to be on the cover of the December issue of Las Vegas Photographer Magazine.

How to Enter:

• Click here to submit
• Images should be JPG, sized 600x800, 72 dpi. No watermark or logos, please.
• Images can be any subject of your choice, portraits, weddings, landscape, pets, etc. (No pornography or nudes, please, G rated content only)
• Any photographer, amateur or professional, can enter.

All entries will be placed in the "Cover Contest 2011" album on our facebook page. You can like as many photos as you want, but official voting will not begin until the finalist's photos are uploaded on November 1st.  

DETAILS

Any photographer, from any location, and any skill level is eligible to enter. Submission deadline is October 31, 2011. Winner will be announced November. Entry is free. Only one entry, please. 

Image submitted must be original and you must have written releases on file from any subjects pictured in the image. Photographer must have captured and created the original exposure. All digital photoshop editing must have been performed by the entrant. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification of entry. The decision of the Contest judges is final.

Images should be JPG, sized 600x800, 72 dpi. No watermark or logos, please.

The photos will be judged by Las Vegas Photographer Magazine's founder and editor, Cindy Larkin, and editor Amy Leavitt. The top 5-10 chosen photos will then be voted on by viewers. The photo with the most votes, or "likes" will win the prize of Cover Photographer.

To vote, you must "like" Las Vegas Photographer Magazine on Facebook. Then, you may vote by "liking" the image. You can "like" as many images as you want.

Voting begins the week of November 1st and ends November 15th.

If you become a finalist, direct your friends, family and other photographers to our facebook page from November 1-15 to "like" your photo!

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September 2011 Cover

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Storytelling

Storytelling is our way of holding the truths of the present for the future to remember. Anyone who knows me, knows I can tell one heck of a story. This is the very thing that inspires my photography work. People are my business, my lifeline & the reason I continue to do what I love. I like to say I shoot relationships, journeys & memorable events. Nothing is too small nor too big.

Some people can go on and on about how photography was their dream job or maybe they have been taking photos most of their life, but I am not that person. I was an elementary music teacher for 7 years and just recently resigned to take my photography business full time. My mom shared her secret wishes of being a photographer and how it was ‘too late’ for her to begin taking photography more serious. Her dream somehow became mine.  I started to realize that the disposable cameras I carried around for the last 10 years could be upgraded to something fancier. Something Digital! After looking through hundreds of 4x6 prints my family has collected and seeing the memories stored in the top of my parents laundry room in giant Christmas popcorn tins---I realized there was a passion for preserving. Nonetheless, I spent every penny I had on my first DSLR. After photographing every friend, neighbor & child I knew, I decided this was something I could get used to.

People have always been important to me. I want to continually walk in humility and learn the stories of those that may go untold. I want my photographs to serve as footprints and memoirs of things that once existed. It’s truly an honor for someone to put their trust in me to cover some of their most important events or share their story through photos with the world.

This particular session was a spur of the moment session. No plan of attack. No prep time. Just a single dollar bill and a camera. It was approximately 11am on a Sunday morning on Royal Street directly across from Bourbon Street in downtown New Orleans. The streets had just been given a good soapy scrub and the hustle and bustle of morning goers filled the sidewalks. There was the occasional straggler left sitting on a street corner from the night before with their head in their hands trying to avoid any contact with the human kind. I’m guessing they probably had way too many Hurricane Drinks the evening before. The city is alive and I’m also guessing most of the people up this early were not on this very street the night before when the smell of cold beer and jazz music filled the air.

I was on a mission. A mission to find someone unique. A story.
I was passing this young man with a skirt made out of a cloth material and knotted on the side and not a stitch of clothing more. His hair was wrapped up in a high ponytail and his facial hair showed no signs of taming. I told my husband as we walked by that this was the guy. He was going to have a good story and I was going to shoot with him today. We snuck into a nearby hat store to kill time while he set up his drum and assorted instruments. I guess about 10 minutes went by and we walked back towards the stranger. Almost immediately I noticed a sign sitting inside of his drum. “Please leave tip AND THEN take a picture. Thank you”. I just looked at my husband and chuckled. He wasn’t even set up when I threw a $1 bill in his box. I told him that I was tipping him before I even knew what he was going to do and that I was just roaming the streets looking for “cool” people. He said he always wished he were “cool”. I replied, “me too.” He continued to set up his gear and I asked him if he minded I took some portraits of him. I didn’t really want to refer to these as pictures because I knew the power that would come from them later. Portrait seemed to be a fancier word and maybe he wouldn’t mind so much. He had no reservations and continued to set up. As he was dressing himself with bells and kazoos I continued to talk to him. He revealed he was a gypsy of sorts- a traveler. He had been in New Orleans for a few years and liked performing on the streets. But his time would soon end here and he would move on. He actually has an 8-piece band, but today would only be him and his saxophone player. His tattoos were plentiful and unique. He took a moment and I held his hands to detail all the artwork. Purposeful and well-placed markings that told his beliefs and the story of who he was. He had a very easygoing, positive vibe about him. Very soulful. It was time to play. He warmed up his kazoo and had to replace it with another kazoo because that one just didn’t sound right today. I stepped back and watched as one of the most unique performances began to play out. I shot. I got video. I gave a simple wave and thanked him. Street photography was never really an option. I like the fact there is no formal money exchange, no hiring, but a highly inspirational conversation and photos that hold that feeling for a lifetime.

My name is Leaha Bourgeois and I’m a people photographer from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Gear used on session: 5d Mark ii, 50mm 1.2 & a dollar bill.

I would like to send a shout out to my family! They are my everything. My amazing husband Jeffrey, my beautiful teenager Madi & my sweet baby Trace. Thank you for allowing mommy to venture out into the world and love my life. And most importantly God for helping me to reach more people for Him.

http://www.popography.org/
www.facebook.com/popography
www.twitter.com/popography

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Traveling the World

~by Shauna Roughley 

People gave us crazy looks and shook their heads when they heard my husband Gareth and I were quitting our jobs, renting out our house and abandoning conventional responsibility to spend a year traveling.

London - Westminster Bridge

Adventure, fun, and fulfilling a dream was the aim for our year away from Edmonton. The amazing photos we have captured has been a side effect of visiting so many awe-inspiring places, having the time to set up for shots, and constantly keeping our eyes open for opportunities.

Walking the Lanes of Wales

Misty Morning Shot. Towy Valley, Wales

 We left Edmonton on December 8, 2010 and headed to the UK to spend some much-needed quality time with Gareth’s family. This would be my first UK Christmas, and my first Christmas away from home. The weather was beautiful when we arrived, the warm days a welcome relief to the freezing temperatures of Edmonton. We took advantage as much as we could, jogging in the sleepy lanes of Wales and walking the hilly countryside to visit castle ruins.

Dryslwyn Castle. Towy Valley, Wales

Snowy morning in Wales

The beautiful weather was not meant to last for us, and one morning we awoke to thick, fluffy snow.

Snowy Cotswolds, England

Queensferry, Scotland

The snow didn’t stop us though; we soon headed to the Cotswolds. The stone cottages were covered with snow, an uncommon sight not many people experience. The area came to a standstill, cars abandoned on the side of the road, their drivers welcomed into the pubs and restaurants to sit beside the warm, blazing fires.

Hogmany, Scotland

Edinburgh was in the cards for Christmas and their massive Hogmany new years eve celebration. The streets were packed with people celebrating, cheering, in jovial spirits. Everyone was friendly and welcoming as we wandered Princess Street, taking in the spectacular views of the night. Seeing the fireworks over Edinburgh castle was the perfect end to our time in the UK.

Markets. Hong Kong

We hopped on a plane for Hong Kong in the early days of 2011. The warm weather, busy streets and smoggy air was a shock to the system after the snowy Christmas we had just experienced. We soaked in this new culture, seeing as much as we possibly could in the six days we were there. We hit the pavement taking in the various markets, the temples, the old culture mixed with the new technology. Our taste buds were tantalised by the street food, from noodles to meat on a stick to sugar cane tea. Hong Kong is a constant contrast of old and new, high culture and street culture, calm mornings and frantic, busy nights.

Tai Chi in Kowloon Park. Hong Kong

Kung Fu Corner. Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

Next up - Tasmania, Australia. We visited friends who showed us some of the best Tassie has to offer. We drove to Bicheno, and spent a day hiking from Wineglass Bay to Hazards Beach on the Freycinet Peninsula, enjoying the hot sun and the turquoise ocean.

Bicheno, Tasmania, Australia

Hazards Beach, Tasmania, Australia

We reached our destination for the year on January 27, 2011 - New Zealand. We had no set plans, no obligations, nothing set in stone for a year. Our only plan was to buy a camper van and tour the country.

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship. Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Gareth and I quickly fell into a routine with our home-on-wheels. Our living space was smaller than a queen sized bed so everything had to be kept in its place, at all times. Every nook and cranny in the van was utilized – the glove compartment became our medicine cabinet, our closets were plastic buckets that were shifted to the bed during the day, to the front seat at night. We each had one mug, one plate, one set of cutlery. We learned how little we needed to survive, how little material possessions were necessary to keep us fed and clothed.

Elliot Bay, New Zealand

Matai Bay, New Zealand

The benefit of always having our home with us has been obvious on numerous occasions. Its not possible to forget anything, because everything we own comes with us! If we fancy a swim, we can grab our suits from the back. If it gets late, we can camp out on the side of the road for the night. This has allowed us to view some splendid sunsets, and be in a perfect spot for spectacular sunrises.

East Cape, New Zealand

Taking the time to drive around New Zealand with no set plans and no firm timeline has presented us with many opportunities. We have worked in a small winery called ¼ Acre Wines in Hawke’s Bay through their busy harvest season. Our passion for good wine is now accompanied by a healthy appreciation for the amount of work that goes into a good bottle of wine.

Gisborne, New Zealand

Tangoio, New Zealand

We still have half of the country to see - the spectacular south island. We have been told by numerous people that the south island is a photographer’s paradise, so we can’t wait to head down and explore. There is so much more to see, so much more to experience. We feel like we’re just getting started.

Bridal Veil Falls, New Zealand

Bingo the Bongo Mazda Van

We’re documenting our trip on our blog, we would love for you to come along with us on our adventure: www.roughleyoriginals.com

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