learning

Imaging USA | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family Photographer

When my alarm went off at 3 AM, I was seriously doubting my decision to drive to Atlanta for the day.  I watched my family sleeping in bed so peacefully, and almost decided to stay with them.  A four hour drive at that ungodly hour, forget it!  And when I couldn't find a mug to bring some coffee in- well that was just almost too much.

But once I got on the road and got some caffeine in my system, I started to get excited.  I was on my way to Imaging USA, one of the biggest photography conferences out there.  There were famous photographers from all around the world teaching classes, and a huge expo of some of the best vendors around, with tons of products to touch, feel, and smell (what? I love the smell of a fresh printed album). This was definitely an event to be excited about.

Between the classes and the expo, I really enjoyed this event!  I learned a lot from some really amazing people, and found some really great products to offer.  I can't wait to share them with you! I even got to meet the amazing photographer Sue Bryce, who I've been learning from online, and whom I admire very much.

As an added bonus, I was able to meet up with an old friend from El Paso.  It was so great to see her, catch up, and of course talk photography.

I don't have pictures to share, because I was too busy taking it all in, but I can promise you this: You'll be seeing the results in my work and in the amazing new products I'll be offering!

And to all the photographers from around the country that were there- I'll see you next year!

I Shoot... Canon? | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

I was very prepared to shoot some portraits of Meg when we went out to the lake.  I had a big bag packed with everything I own, my tripod, three lenses, my reflector.  The only thing that was missing-- my camera battery, which was plugged in in Meg's kitchen.  That was going to be an issue.

The lighting was perfect and if we went back for the batter we'd miss it.  Luckily for me, Meg had brought her Canon t4i with her 55-250 mm lens.  Unluckily. I shoot nikon and don't know the Canon setup.  Meg uses auto mode, so she wasn't going to be much help, either.

Unwilling to call it quits, I decided to give her camera a try.  I wasn't going to give up that easily.

It took me a bit to get things sorted out.  The setup of her camera is completely different than mine (I feel like my camera does in one button what hers does in three) and I had a few bad exposures because her light meter is backwards from mine.  But I did manage to figure it out and am happy with the results.  How do you think I did?

This wasn't the end of our troubles though.  It turns out that the raw files produced by a canon don't get along with my computer.  Her's either.  It took us about 45 minutes to figure out what kind of file converter we needed to make it work.  But hey- now I know how to work a canon and if the situation ever comes up where I need to, I am prepared.  It's all a learning experience, and what can I say, I'm adaptable.

(click a photo to see the whole gallery)