I dreamed another dream...

Last night I had the craziest dream. Me and Kenzie (pictured below)

we were galavanting all over the country side looking for areas to shoot her bridals. We climbed ravines and I carried her on my back so her dress wouldn't get ruined. 

 

We ran into poachers and I bargained with them so that they would give me their hunting area and I wouldn't report them.

We then ran into a farmer who lived in a hut by the most beautiful tree and I wanted to shoot that tree so I bargained with him he let me shoot the tree. (with my camera turned gun)

Needless to say, It was a crazy dream!

But reminded me to blog these pics!

journey.

Don't stop belieeeevin! Ha couldn't help myself. But, also so true.

There's a depression that can come from owning an digital SLR camera after purchase I feel. The depression from this thing that you own that you know can do amazing things but you have no idea how to use it.

I remember wishing I'd be watching tv and an infommercial saying this would come on,

                 "Do you suffer from owning a digital SLR camera and just don't know how to use it? Do you get frustrated with taking pictures and they don't turn out the way you want them too? They just don't look like the professionals on the blogs you look at. Well have no fear. The answer is near!" Then I would be given the go to book that would explain everything I ever needed to know.

But then I realized I have PVR and don't watch commercials and no such book exsisted.

So while I was on my photography journey, friends were kind enough to have me take pictures for them. OH, and something to learn about me? I hate saying no to things. {Unless it's my mom asking me for help with anything, ha then I seem to have "no" problems. hee hee Let's just say I'm a work in progress.} So I did it, but deep down I didn't want to, ONLY because I knew I wasn't gonna take good pictures. These pics were taken about 3 weeks after buying my camera.

original

my attempt of an edit

Eck! Isn't it just gross to look at? Not Ashley and Wendell and cute little Wyatt of course but what I did to their faces and to the trees? Whyyyy?
So I surely didn't want them to pay me! Again, no desire to go into business, but I loved helping (or at least I thought I was helping) and hanging out with my friends! They even said they liked them. Ha I still don't know if they were just being nice or not. I'm gonna go with being nice. 

And to think the photo could of looked like this. If only I knew.....I was learning though and I sucked! I almost hated taking pictures cuz they looked so bad but I knew it was the only thing I could do to get better. I can tell you everything NOT to do cuz I learned everything the hard way. I didn't have the ability to take a course at a school or anything cuz I worked late most nights. But I paid for an online course that taught me so so so much! I also paid goooood money to do a one day workshop with Angie Monson of Simplicity Photography. And I "self taught" myself anything I could. 

I remember so clearly looking at my camera the night I bought it and being in awe of all it's buttons and menus. There was SO SO SOOOO much to learn and I was clueless to this fact. I was shocked! Seriously, dumb founded. I had NO CLUE there was so much that goes into taking a good photo. And then there was the unknown land of photoshop! I immediately started reading everything and anything I could get my hands on too learn how to take pictures. I combed through my manual over and over just to learn how to use my camera. {I believe those things are two completely different things. You can't just learn how to use your camera. You need to learn how to take pictures before.} I read pioneer womans posts on the exposure triangle, bought 3 Byron Peterson books and searched for everywhere and anywhere online that gave photoshop tutorials. I was lucky enough to also have a sister who was kind enough to show me things like masks and other photoshop tricks that she had spent time learning herself. No one showed her! Ha she reminded me how lucky I was too :o) Each shoot I did I got a bit better each time. It's practice that eventually makes everything better! 

1st attempt

now aways edit

 Now, anywhere I see where the pictures are cute I comment on them. I have just  a little bit of understanding of the hard work that took to getting them. Whether it be a credited education or a journey of workshops and courses and reading that got them there. Either way, it's tough work and not at all easy. They might not know me but I would LOVE for a random to comment on my pics. It's super easy to just be to cool for school and just not tell the person, "Good work! Cute pics!" You wouldn't believe how far those four words can go. I challenge you to leave a comment on someones blog who you "secretly" follow. Comments are like chocolate is to me. THE BEST THING EVERRRR!  I have the opinion if you think it, then COMMENT! Unless it's mean and in that case, go ahead and keep it to yourself :o)

easy peasy lemon squeasy

Pushing publish on that last post took me a good 20 minutes to work myself up to. Scariest thing ever. I'm a chicken obviously. Just to clarify I am going to launch a photography company in the spring. I will also be offering video shoots along with photo shoots.

The journey to this "business" thing hasn't been a easy one. Really, I felt like I already fell into a business by accident. Maybe I'm making to big a deal outta this but I'm excited so cut me some slack!


So, let's take a journey. To my thought process of 14 months ago (pre camera purchase) when I used to sit and stare at my computer screen at photographers blogs ever so often and think,

      Seriously? They're job is soooo easy and soooo fun! You get to take pictures of beautiful people all day. And I'm sorry but you want to charge how much money? But you don't do anything? At least anything hard. You put a nice camera in front of your face and push *click!*  OH and where do you come off thinking people can afford to pay you that much money? Oh and excuse meeee but you didn't even go to school for photography!! You picked up that nice camera, attached photography to the end of your name, started a blog and now think your a big shot. Your sorely mistaken. Your pics aren't even that good. Nothing special that's for sure. I sure wouldn't ever pay you what you "think" your worth. Crazy photographer...  OH and you don't even give me all of MY photos? I have to pay you EXTRA from your silly "session fee" to purchase MY photos? Crazy photographer... Oh and I only get like 30 photos to even choose from??? I know you take like close to at least 200 pictures during a session. Who's to say I even wanted them edited? It's not my fault you want to spend all the time you do on a computer doctoring them to look better. Maybe if you just took better photos you wouldn't have to waste so much of your time editing? Ever think about THAT?!? Crazy photographer....

No joke. No exaggeration. Those were my thoughts EXACTLY. Then I bought a camera. Boy oh BOY did I quickly begin to understand. I was ignorant. Soooo ignorant and so clueless. I didn't plan on this whole business thing and making the decision to take the plunge was hard for me cuz I knew I'd go all in if I decided this. I also knew I'd be eating my words and THEN some if I started an actual business. I struggled for a long time with the fact I didn't have a credited degree behind me but learning all that I have has most definitely been a journey. I'll be telling you more about that soon....

And for your viewing pleasure. Here's some pics though from the Angie Monson workshop of Simplicity photography that I attended back in April. It's a repost for some pics but hopefully those who have already seen these pics will enjoy seeing them again!

I have a surrrrprise!

 I'm not pregnant! Ha but wouldn't that be juicy gossip

So there has been something on my mind for the past year and a bit. It was a question I asked myself at least 2-3 times a week. I could never come up with an answer and usually just tried to avoid thinking about the topic all together. 

Lately though it's all I've been able to think about. I've put so much thought into this and I have FINALLY made a decision. I'm SUPER scared about this but also pretty darn excited!

Watch this video to learn more...

Everybody from Leah Lacey on Vimeo.

whip it real good

I had one heck of an imagination as a kid. I had many imaginary friends and would always dance in my room when I thought no one was looking. Unfortunately we lived in a house with no door knobson our bedroom doors  til I was about 14 so my siblings were always trying to spy on me while I wailed myself around my room. I never knew til I heard the snickering.

Anywho, I loved to dance. Still do! But at ten years old, next to this girl below? I maybe amounted to hold the same amount of style, personality and legit talent in her one pinkie in comparison!

If you don't know who she is I ask you, Have you been living in a hole? I kidd, kinda.... She's will smiths TEN year old daughter is responsible for my new favorite song.

Seriously blown away she's only ten!!! Now watch her performance on Ellen. 

BANANAS!