Welp! Maternity leave is ending and we’re gearing up for not only a WEDDING this weekend but also prepping for our FIRST WORKSHOP in the new house! To say I’m excited is an understatement! Each year when I’m getting ready to start wedding season again I like to establish some GOALS for the new season! One year, I had the goal of getting better at Off Camera Flash! I challenged myself at EVERY wedding to create unique and creative portraits using flash and it helped me grow immensely!
I’m a firm believer that if you don’t verbalize what areas you want to work on, you will stay in the same place year after year! I have found that it is really powerful to name at least ONE key area that you’re committing to improve, at the beginning of each season, and so I’m going to share some of my goals for our 2017 wedding season in hopes that it inspires you to create your own as well! :
1 . TIGHTER BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAITS:
I naturally shoot wide portraits! I’m drawn to creating compositions and backing up to fit full trees or rolling hills in the background! That part of shooting comes very naturally for me! However, what isn’t QUITE as natural is remembering to shoot really TIGHT and close up whenever I’m photographing a Bride and Groom! Whenever I do shoot REALLY tight, I always love it and so I want to commit to doing more of that this season!!!
2. STEP UP MY FLASH GAME:
You may think “Didn’t you already have this as a goal before, Katelyn”? Yes! However, I haven’t always been super great about using an umbrella to soften light for detail shots. I normally just find other ways to diffuse the light and that approach works just fine, but I want to get better about using an umbrella because I think that if I got used to it, it would eventually save me some time and mean fewer test shots! I also have some Mag Mod covers that I want to play with! I sound like I’m SO techy right now and that couldn’t be further from the truth!!! ha!
3. CONTINUE TO BE INTENTIONAL:
Michael and I started praying together before wedding days several years ago and we haven’t missed a wedding since starting this tradition. It doesn’t matter if we’re cutting it close on time or if I’m anxious and ready to get started….. we ALWAYS start our weddings day off by praying for the day, our couple, the vendors and the families involved. We pray specifically for patience and wisdom and clarity as we make decisions and execute the day! This is such an important part of our shooting tradition and I want to commit to another full wedding season of intentionality!
So! What are your goals?! Do you need to step up your posing game? Do you need to work on your turn around time? Are you nervous around bridal parties? Set some goals for THIS season and you’ll love feeling like you’re getting better and better with each wedding season that you shoot!!!
Ps. If you want some INSTANT HELP with some of the technical aspects of the wedding day, check out our collection of Mini-Guides in our store!! We created these for photographers just like you!
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
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