The first thing I noticed right off the bat is the leather is a LOT softer than the original Kelly Moore Bag. I liked this factor a loft – since softness is important to me in a bag! I immediately shoved all my camera gear inside, but quickly realized that it would not fit my 1DS series [Camera Body] straight out of the box. I just pulled out one of the dividers and switched it around so I had a bit of extra room – and voila! problem solved.

The best way to describe the features of this bag are to compare and contrast to my review of the [Epiphanie LOLA bag]. I was a bit disappointed that I could only fit TWO lenses and my body in the Kelly Moore Bag, whereas I can fit THREE lenses and a body in the Epiphanie bag. Regardless, I do like that I can get things in and out of the Kelly Moore Bag easier than the Epiphanie. If I really wanted to, I could stack two lenses on the left, but if I had a longer lens, like the [Canon 70-200mm] for example, I would only be able to fit TWO lenses comfortably.

The bag has some great features that I really enjoy. Lots of pockets, a perfect cell phone pocket on either end of the bag, and TWO straps that you can swap out easily with a clip. One is long so you can wear across your body – it easily adjusts – and the other is shorter so you can wear it over your shoulder like a purse.

It holds a selection of my favorite [Gear] comfortably. (One [Camera Body], [35mm], and [50mm] OR [45mm TSE] + a couple batteries). Plus the outside pockets were perfect for my [CF Card Case] and [iPhone]. It zips up easily with all the gear, plus enough extra room for snacks and small doodads.

I drug this bad-boy around our [Swink] event on Wednesday, and it performed beautifully!! I LOVE the fact that this bag is thin, and hugs to your body so nicely. It worked perfect for my shoot this day because I only wanted to work with two lenses, and it was easy to carry around when I wanted to streamline my gear. I would definitely recommend this bag if you are a two lens shooter, or just need a smaller bag to tote around – while the majority of your gear is stored in a bigger bag.

This bag would be perfect for concert shooters, going out to a party with friends, portrait shooters who only work with a couple small lenses, or at a wedding when you are carrying just a couple things for group shots and such. I really love the shape and feel of this bag, and it’s super fun to shoot with. Plus it’s shape is thinner (even though it’s about the same length and height as the Epiphanie Lola) and so could easily double as a regular purse, or when you are going to the beach, zoo, etc. and want to bring your camera gear – but not an extra camera bag.

Check out the rest of the [Kelly Moore Bags] and let me know if you have any more questions about my review – in the comment section below!

For fun, all images in this post edited with my favorite concoction of [Totally Rad Actions]!

Up until about the end of last year, my 35mm f1.4L was my favorite go-to lens, but now I’ve found myself using my 50mm about 90% of all my Senior Portrait shoots. I think my style goes in waves, and right now I’m digging the magazine editorial quality/look and I’ve found the 50 to give me the best for what I need.

The [Canon 50mm f1.0L] is a VERY rare, and limited edition lens that was discontinued in 2000. Canon eventually released the [Canon 50mm 1.2L] which is a very popular lens among wedding and portrait photographers. Canon talks about their reasons for discontinuing production of the f1 due to sharpness issues, but I have always been in love with my lens. It is a tricky thing to master at f1.0 – but I rarely shoot at that aperture unless I’m doing a close-up beauty shot where I can focus and re-compose and make multiple exposures so I know one will be tack sharp. I mainly stick between f1.8 and f2.2 with this lens to ensure the best quality.

I would definitely recommend the [Canon 50mm 1.2L] over the Canon 50mm 1.8, but if you are just starting out and want a GREAT go-to lens, get the [Canon 50mm 1.4]. It is a great lens for starting out, but (for me personally) after about a couple of years the autofocus wore out. It’s perfect for getting started, but if you have the budget and want to invest in a lifetime piece of glass, go for the 1.2L.

Maybe one day I’ll invest in the 1.2L so I can retire the 1.0L, but if you are a collector of lenses, and want your hands on this amazing one of a kind lens, there’s one for sale at [B&H]. This lens is so rare now I NEVER see it on ebay, and this is the only one I’ve run across in quite some time. However, you can always RENT it on [Borrow Lenses] for a fun treat!

For more GEAR FAQ, please check out my [What Gear Do You Use?] post, or our [Gear Page] for ALL your gear questions!

This image below was shot with my 50mm f1.0L at f1.0 – I shoot with the [Canon 1Ds Series] which has 48 focus points, versus the 5 or so you get with a [Canon 5D]. Of course I was able to focus right on her eye, and re-compose just slightly, and took a number of frames to be sure to get one perfectly in focus.

If you have any additional questions about this post, please leave a comment below, and I’ll be sure to try and reply right in the comment section!
Thank you and have a fabulous weekend!

Makeup for Kendall by, [Jessica Belknap]

Every Photographer out there will have something they are truly good at, and is their passion or calling – and Senior Portrait Photography may, or may not be that. I urge you to explore ALL types of photography to see what you enjoy doing, and what makes your heart skip a beat every time you take your camera out. It is very disheartening to get emails and messages from other people who want to “learn how to do what I do” just to make a buck. My clients mean the WORLD to me, and I am so lucky to have found such a wonderful niche in the world of Photography that speaks to ME and especially my clients. I strongly believe that I am successful at what I do because it is my TRUE passion. I don’t do it for the money. I fell into it, and it has become my calling. Making teens feel TRULY great about themselves as a person is what makes me wake up in the morning. I believe that EVERY girl is beautiful on the inside and out, and it is so amazing that I can help them see that.

I cannot stress enough that if you are looking for fame and fortune – you won’t get it. Do it because you LOVE it. Do it because you LOVE your clients. Do it because you are changing the world in some way or another. Do it for the LOVE of Photography. The rest will come with time.

Please keep scrolling to read our Class of 2010 “Wrap Up” as we honor ALL our graduating Senior Portrait Clients!

Makeup for Ruthie by, [Jenny Bowker]

I was going to do a video drawing, but I completely lost my voice over the weekend from a bad cold – so I did the modern twist of “pulling a name from a hat” (again) and had the internet generate a random number winner. We counted from top to bottom, and we are excited to give the actions to [Abby]!! Abby, stay tuned as we will be contacting with your gift code SOON!

Special Thanks again to [The Photo Professional] for all their support, and for providing us with such a awesome gift to giveaway! We really appreciate it!

Follow the [The Photo Professional] on [Twitter] and [Facebook]

Above examples from my favorite set of [Bokeh Textures], available on the [The Photo Professional] website.
(Please note these two images are not my work, just examples from The Photo Professional Website and used with permission. Thank you!)

Professionals, and hobbyists of ANY age/level will love the products from this store. You can purchase textures, actions, overlays, templates, legal forms, etc. You REALLY don’t want to miss the chance to win this shopping spree!! The style of Michelle’s photography products are “A touch of earth, a touch of retro, and a touch of modern in our designs.. to bring you the full spectrum of possibility!”

To ENTER the Michelle/Michelle giveaway, you MUST do the following TWO things,

+ Leave a COMMENT on this blog post and be sure to include the CITY you live in! We want to see where all our lovely readers are from!
+ “Like” this post – (button is at the top & bottom of this blog entry)
(Please be sure to include a valid email so we can contact you when you WIN!)

That’s it! PLEASE be sure to spread the word about this contest via TWITTER, FACEBOOK, your BLOG etc.!
Entries will CLOSE on Friday June 4th. We’ll announce our winner on Monday June 7th!

Follow the [The Photo Professional] on [Twitter] and [Facebook]

Above examples from my favorite set of [Bokeh Textures], available on the [The Photo Professional] website.
(Please note these two images are not my work, just examples from The Photo Professional Website and used with permission. Thank you!)

I wanted to see what YOU guys wanted to know about location scouting so I asked on our official [Facebook Page] what you wanted to know. Here are my thoughts on location scouting, plus a few in-depth answers to your additional questions. PLEASE feel free to jump in the comment section and let me know what you think – or if you have anything additional to add/ask. THANKS!

(My iPhone snaps were edited in Photoshop with my favorite [TRA] action recipe!)

For me personally I am ALWAYS location scouting, whether I’m driving to lunch, out and about, or intentionally looking for a new location. Many of the spots I frequent regularly are places I found when taking a side street somewhere, or going the back-way to avoid traffic. It’s amazing how many places you can find by just stepping off the beaten path.

When I find a place I like I take some iPhone snaps, and write down the spot in my [Notebook] (Moleskin is a great brand, and you can pick one up pretty much anywhere, or on Amazon for a little cheaper). I’ll take note of the time of day, and when would be the ideal time for that spot (morning or afternoon). I try to see the location at the actual time I’m shooting there, but once you get the hang of what direction you’re facing you can guess pretty well where the sun will be and if it’s going to work for you at the times you like to shoot. Personally I DON’T like shooting super early, or close to sun-set, so I prefer middle of the day, when I can work in open shade, and the sun is stronger (and less orange – gross!).

Once you find a location you like, do you reuse it for multiple sessions? If so, how do you effectively create unique images where the background isn’t noticeably the same? Yes – absolutely! I look for new places much less frequently than I did when starting out. I now have a list of 30 or so places that I enjoy shooting at, and I know are reliable for what I need to do. Each time I visit a place I really try to look at it from a new angle, but most importantly it’s about the client and HER personality, so I find it pretty natural to make every location “new” each time I visit it. Since I have so many different places I’m able to switch between them often enough that I’ll “miss” working in certain places once I’ve had enough time away from it.

Do you pick all of the locations for your clients yourself or do you let them choose? When working with my Senior Portrait clients, I always ask them ahead of time which type of location they want. Based on their preference of urban/city versus nature/park I will choose a location from my list. I do go to special locations for clients, but only when they request it. For the most part I am very fortunate my clients trust me 100% and I am able to pick for them where we go. My clients would prefer not to stress out about what kind of location, so I am happy to select it for them.

So often it seems that your locations compliment the colors of your client’s outfits. Do you know in advance (i.e. before setting the location) what they will be wearing? And if so, how? Do they send you pictures of their outfit selections? I never get the chance to see my clients clothes until the day of the shoot. Right after they get their makeup application done at my loft we look through the clothes they brought and I help them choose the best things. I rarely think too much about it – I think it’s more of an instinctual thing about pairing the clothes with locations based on my experience in Fashion.

TIP – if a girl has requested a nature setting, and all her shoes are heels – I’ll take her to a more neighborhood/urban setting that has a natural vibe to it so she can wear her heels on flat ground, but perhaps be standing in front of an ivy wall (for example). I might adjust a location once seeing the clothes, but my clients learn from reading my blog what they should wear. This really goes into my point about only showing the type of work you want to book. My clients read my blog, and are able to see examples of what other girls are wearing, and base their choices off of that (while still staying true to who THEY are). I am very fortunate to attract a target market that is similar – because it’s what I WANT to be shooting. Girls with great style!

What is your list of requirements for the location. Is there spontaneity? Do you shoot in open shade mostly? My main requirements for a location are,

*Being able to walk to a variety of places within a 3-5 block radius of space.
*At least 4 different types of spots within that area (for example, a brick wall, an ivy wall, a yellow wall, a blue wall, etc.)
*Open shade at the time of day I will be shooting in all those areas (or great places that will be back-lit by the sun)
*Unique and different backgrounds that will compliment my shooting style

When working with my clients there is a loose plan – but of course spontaneity! If a background I picked isn’t working, I’ll move on to another spot, as soon as possible. So if the light isn’t so great, we’ll walk to another wall, or tree nearby instead. I don’t want to waste time and film shooting something I know isn’t going to work. You’ll want to experiment and play with your locations to see what works and doesn’t work for your shooting style.

For more information about location scouting I do talk about it a bit in my [TRA Interview] as well as my [Video Q&A] with [Jenny Bowker].

AND I finally got my own [Flip Camera] so I’ll be able to do more behind-the-scenes and videos now! Any suggestions on what kind of video content would be good for a photographer? I want to start doing some awesome videos for my [YouTube Channel]. Enjoy!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!
XOXO

Makeup by Kate by, [Jenny Bowker]

If you attended this morning, and had any additional questions, or missed a website or link in your notes, feel free to hop over to our [Facebook Page] to chat with me – that way I can share the answers for everyone! Also, be sure to check out our [Gear Page] for common questions about website, gear, blogs, etc. and our [Photographers Category] here on the blog for more Q&As, FAQs, etc.

Thank you SO much!! I really enjoyed spending time with you all this morning!
*Edit to add* (Please comment if you attended this morning, I didn’t catch everyone’s name and I would love to put some work to all your beautiful faces!)

PS, SENIORS it is time for class of 2011 to start booking your [Senior Portrait Session] for this summer! Our dates are filling up FAST (and we are already booking through August and September).

Makeup for Reed by, [Jenny Bowker]

salt&prep Our NEW side project! A teen fashion blog for fashion inspiration for senior portraits, prom and the everyday! [Check it out!]

Retouching by Maria Esztergalyos Maria is a FABULOUS and AMAZING re-touch artist that I started working with at the end of last year. She has really brought my fashion work to a whole new level but giving it that final, magazine quality polish – without over-doing it. I am so thrilled to be working with her, and am very thankful for her support of my blog, as well as salt&prep. You can see a before/after shot of our recent [Beauty Shoot] on her [Website] by clicking the “Beauty” portfolio.

Formula One Actions for Photoshop We are thrilled to have Formula One as a sponsor this month! They have really great, and clean photoshop actions that you can use to give your photos a little extra pop. [Check them out!]

Saia Weddings Romin is a wedding photographer from Seattle – and good thing because Michelle Moore no longer does Wedding Photography! Be sure to check him out if you are on the search for a great wedding photographer!! [Saia Weddings]

Get Schooled! Courtney is a fabulous portrait photographer who came up with a great learning resource for how to create fun and out of the box school portraits!! Courtney is such a sweetheart, and super fabulous!! Check out the [Get Schooled! Blog] and go shopping [Here]

Paint the Moon Actions & Textures Annie has some great Photoshop actions, presets and textures you can purchase and use for all your post-processing needs. She is another fab resource for some unique and gorgeous actions! There’s lots to choose from, so explore her [Site] and find the right look for your photos!
**Use code givememoore at check-out to save 15% off your order!

X-Equals Lightroom Presets I’ve been working with Brandon for a while now, and was first featured on his blog last year. I’ve also contributed a few guest posts about lighting and composition. Brandon offers a great set of [Lightroom] presets you can check-out for all those LR readers!!
**Use code IROCK at check-out to save 25% off your order!

Sindisiwe Photography Mandi is another wedding photographer from Seattle – and good thing because Michelle Moore no longer does Wedding Photography! Be sure to check her out if you are on the search for a great wedding photographer!! [Sindisiwe Photography]

Archway Equestrian Sports Archway is THE premier Horseback riding facility in Washington. I grew up riding horses (my first career before Photography!) and I can honestly say that Archway has the best riding programs around, and the best team of people to take care of you in ANY stage of your riding career! From first-time rider, to advanced competition programs! If you have any younger siblings or children, they have an amazing [Summer Camp Program]

Brooklyn Grace Renae is a Seattle Jewelry designer. Her pieces are a mix of urban and vintage – and totally cute! I LOVE supporting local jewelry designers, so head over to her [Online Shop] and check out her stuff. She makes necklaces, earrings, and even custom pieces!

Thanks again to our fabulous May Sponsors! You guys help keep the Michelle Moore blog running in tip-top shape!
Want to be a sponsor in the future? Please check out our [Ad Rates & Information here]. Thank you!

[Article for Photobiz about "Going Green"] ** [Interview with iaam Magazine] ** [Article for X-Equals blog about "Composition"]

And don’t forget to check out the always lovely [Products at Designaglow!]. They have used our images on a number of great product samples!

For sake of saving a tree – I did the modern twist of “pulling a name from a hat” and had the internet generate a random number winner. We counted from top to bottom, and we are excited to give the actions to [Meera]!! Meera, stay tuned as we will be contacting with you about how to download your actions very soon!!

This was TOO much fun – and we would love to do it again! If any of our May sponsors are interested in donating a product for a giveaway – let me know – and we can dream up the next fun contest for everyone! Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!!

Special Thanks again to [Formula One Actions] for all their support, and for providing us with such a cool product to giveaway! We really appreciate it!