Bella Faccia Photography

PPSOP Newsletter Featuring Yours Truly!

2012-02-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Late this week I received an email from Chris Hurtt, over at PPSOP (Perfect Picture School of Photography), saying that they wanted to include me as their featured photographer/student in their weekly mail out! Super exciting, humbling, nerve wracking...

Anyone can sign up for PPSOP's weekly newsletter at their home page, www.ppsop.com, which includes photography tips and tricks from the varied and talented photogs teaching at PPSOP (if you like photography at all I would highly recommend this newsletter!). Because I have a number of people in my life who are interested in me and my career but who aren't that into photography; I thought I would post what was included in the PPSOP email here...

Open Quote:

"As we do every Friday...it is time for a look at some student work and share some of their words about PPSOP. This week we look at the work of Lori Maloney. Lori started out as a workshop student and then stepped into PPSOP classes from there. To be honest, her energy level was hard to keep up with...but the great thing about it was that it was contagious in the classroom! We have been thrilled to watch Lori grow her business (www.bellafaccia.ca ) and humbled that she counts PPSOP as part of her growth. Lori's business is based in Calgary, Canada."

I have had a life long passion forphotography, but it was in 2007 that I began to truly dedicate myself to understanding photography. This was around the time that Ipurchased “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. This book taught me more than any other sole resource tothat point (and I believe this still to be true if you don’t count being on aworkshop with him!) and I was, as most people are, rather in awe of Mr.Peterson and his manner of making the technical seem easy!

In October of 2009 I decided to ‘hang a shingle’ and Bella Faccia Photography was born! I love working with people and so I knew that providing portrait photography would be a perfect fit! In the spring of 2010 I discovered that Bryan would be teaching a workshop in Edmonton, which is only a few hours drive away for me. Due to an unforeseen set of circumstances Bryan was unable to teach the first two days of the workshop and so asked Chris Hurtt to attend in his place and then also extended the workshop by a day. So, four days with two AMAZING and GIFTED instructors of photography…it was the best and most valuable workshop I’ve ever attended!

Two of the things that I most appreciate, both in the workshops and in the PPSOP classes, are the camaraderie and learning you share with the other students. It feels like a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, only it needn’t be…I love attending Bryan’s workshops and the variety and depth of the PPSOP classes all contribute to strengthening the foundation I’ve put so much effort into building over the past 5 years.

Through Bella Faccia I have shot:engagements, weddings, maternity, newborns, babies, toddlers, families, aproduct shoot for a friend/entrepreneur, boudoir, fine art nude, and last monthI was the chosen photographer for a charity calendar featuring fitness modelsand Harley Davidson motorcycles! Ihave also sold my fine art pieces, landscape and abstract, for people to hangin their homes and offices (a huge compliment and thrill!).

Flash forward to today when I am in the midstof building a studio in our home so that I may more easily pursue my love ofportraiture AND studio lighting! Ifeel so lucky to be where I am, and even more fortunate that my two youngchildren are witnessing their mom not only pursue her dreams but also that theyare privy to the effort and commitment it takes to build a business andprovide, what I hope is, exemplary customer service.

I am continually challenged: to better myknowledge of my gear and the art of photography; of how to offer and package myservices; and to better understand ‘where I fit’ in the world of professionalphotography. I am also continuallyamazed at the inspiration and support from the PPSOP family; I read the PPSOPweekly tips as soon as they arrive in my in box and they provide animmeasurable amount of creative ideas coupled with technical skill.

I so appreciate and am humbled by the decision tofeature my work here…I owe Bryan, Chris, and all the PPSOP instructors forbeing such gracious and talented teachers and artists!"

: End Quote

I tell ya' the last few years have been one helluva ride and it just keeps getting better!

Life is great!

Lori

Having Fun Requires Trust

2012-02-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

This post, to be the last installment in this series of“Going Beyond Code”, centres on something I’ve written about in earlier blogentries...trust.

It is my firm belief that trust forms not only one aspect ofa professional being able to go ‘beyond meeting code’, it, in fact, may be themost important aspect. As aphotographer I have worked with brand new babies who are only days old, I havephotographed conservative and modest women with nothing between their naturalbeauty and my lens, and I have been given the opportunity to document “Ido’s”…none of these projects would have been possible without my clients’ trustin me: trust that I could‘deliver’ as a photographer, as a professional, and as a human being. I take great pride in my client’s trustin me, and I also place a heavy weight on said trust – I promise to always domy best in my preparation for the shoot, in my gear choices, in my attitudetoward my subjects, in my commitment to getting great images, in my delivery ofthe proof gallery and the retouching of subsequent prints, and in everything inbetween.

If you are looking for a professional photographer Iencourage you to find someone who has a photographic eye that appeals to you; Ihope you will meet with them to determine if you share a rapport (photo shootsare a lot of fun, you should be able to laugh and feel at ease while ‘under thelights’!); and find a professional whom you believe will deliver to you theexperience you are looking for (hiring a great shooter who notoriously takesforever to return phone calls or provide your order may or may not fit the billfor you – hey, we all have our own pet peeves and expectations!)

I truly believe that every aspect I’ve written about overthese past few weeks is important in the services I am offering; however, Ithink that trust is likely the pinnacle of what is required in exceedingexpectations – in life and business.

So, make an investment in yourself and your family…documentthis special time in your life, and it is special as you will never be ‘here’again; go outside your comfort zone and be rewarded with a truly liberatinggift to yourself; and, above all else, HAVE FUN!

Life is great!

Lori

The Cost of Professional Pixels

2012-02-12T12:21:00.001-07:00

When I wrote “Beyond ‘Meeting Code’” afew weeks back I mentioned hearing people lament the prices charged byprofessional photographers. Ithink that, likely, the vast majority of people who think the rates are toohigh have simply: never been provided with the reasoning behind the pricing or,more likely, have never given it any thorough thought.

Over the course of just this past year Ihave, among other things: attended a few multiple-day workshops; completed anon-line photography course; spent many hours looking at on-line Photoshoptutorials; bought books on Photoshop, Lightroom, and lighting techniques; addedstudio equipment; paid annual membership dues; begun work on my new homestudio; and more. In short, I haveput a considerable amount of money and time toward bettering my skills andset-up so that I may continually improve the product I am providing my clients.

In any business the push to exceedclients’ expectations has to come from the person/people running thebusiness. However, in order forbusiness owners to continually improve their skill set, equipment, software andproducts available, so that they can exceed those expectations, they requiremore than good intentions, they require revenue AND profit.

I was once chatting about my businesswith an acquaintance, who is actually a lovely person; she congratulated me for having suchan easy job, that it was “easy money”…she expressed her feelings of apparentawe that I was making the full session price for just one hour of work. She meant no harm, but she was terriblymistaken as, at that time, with business start up costs (which I am stilltrying to recover), I was actually paying to work!

It seems some people think, ‘well, shehas a camera, she loves photography, and it’s only an hour or two of her time;what’s the big deal?’ However,those people neglect to think of, or value, photography as a business with inherentbusiness costs (license, software, hardware, education, marketing, etc.),equipment costs, and the professional’s time spent working on the job.

I have worked out my time on a couple oftypical jobs to give you an idea of the time spent on any given project and youmay be surprised to learn that, as an estimate, the client only sees about 15%of the working time that I will put into their final product (outside of the timespent shooting the session, I must: ready my gear, sometimes buy/rent props or equipment,prepare the studio, review and cull images, prepare the on-line gallery, and workon the final edits). Therefore, ifI spend 3 hours on a newborn shoot, the entire project will likely take in therange of 20 hours. Also note thatI haven’t included the time spent on everything else that goes into having abusiness; for instance, I recently implemented a new back up/storage systemand, due to a glitch between the software and hardware, I invested nearly 40hours trying to ensure my backups and storage were safe. Now these times may be different forother photographers; for instance a more seasoned retoucher may spend much lesstime on edits, but I can only speak from my own experience.

Now, I will say that I don’t necessarilythink that only a professional photog’s pictures are ‘worthy’ heirlooms; I amfirst and foremost a lover of images, regardless of who took them or how theywere recorded (I recently became addicted to iPhoneography!). What I am trying to communicate is that,if you choose to hire a professional photographer - who has invested in providing you with an experience and images of a professional quality, and you wish to have a more personal experience than you would in a huge studio - I’d like for you to considerthat the pricing, for the session and prints, must cover the expenses andthen, hopefully, there is also a profit. You can love what you do, but you also have to eat!

I began this little series of posts basedon the idea of going beyond meeting the requirement, and I passionately believein doing that in business and in life. I also believe in simple economics and so if you aren’t making a profitafter the start-up years, then you aren’t in business, rather you just have areally expensive hobby.

I hope that this post has effectivelycommunicated two things: that I love what I do (otherwise I wouldn’t be doingit!), and that it costs money to do what I do. I will continue to strive to exceed both my clients and myown expectations.

Life is great!

Lori

Retouching...yes, please!

2012-02-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

This is the second post in this series; see "Beyond 'Meeting Code'' to read the 'introduction'....not obligatory, obviously :), but does set the stage for this, as intros do!

Sometimes it seems as though people consider ‘retouching’ abad word, that it is somehow dishonest. Other times, it seems as though people believe it is an expected,required, included, and easy aspect to portraiture. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle (except forthe ‘easy’ part!), and will depend heavily on you, the client, and on thephotographer you choose (that is IF you choose a professional photographer)!

So, is it ‘bad’? I sure don’t think so and, in fact, I believe it is one of the aspects(read: values) that separates a professional portrait from one that isn’t. I love that we, as professionals, canmake YOU look more like YOU. Iknow that when I remember my kids as wee ones, I don’t remember the drool on theirchins or the porridge on their t’s; I remember my son’s big brown eyes and howmy daughter’s smile reminds me of my pop’s. So, when I am given the privilege of photographing someone –young, old, clothed or not, I want their final image to look just like them, ontheir very best day, as their loved ones see them. I saw Scott Kelby (a Photoshop god) speak last spring and hesaid something akin to, “when you look at your betrothed on your wedding dayyou don’t see the pimple on their nose, so why should the photos remind you,and future generations, it was there?”…and I totally agree!

Sometimes people speak of retouching as though it is alwaysrobust in nature, but the truth is that only slight adjustments are typicallynecessary and it’s usually simple enhancements. Sometimes, when I’m shooting on a dark backdrop, I willdarken it further in Photoshop to render an even more compelling image of thesubject. Sometimes the lighthappens to hit my subject’s face in such a way as to cause some sheen…the photois beautiful, they look terrific, but that darned shine in distracting – so, I just get rid of it. In that momentI am not altering who they are or how they look, I’m providing an image thathopefully speaks to the ‘there and then’ for them, without distractions. Other times I might have a little guywho is happy, newly sitting on his own, and loving the attention he’s getting inthe studio…we capture amazing shots but he’s teething and the drool just won’tstop. His parents don’t wantsnapshots – they can do that at home and they will be adorable and loved images– they come to me, or another, because they want images to hang on theirwalls. In these instances theremight be a little extra editing to make sure his personality is what attractsthe viewer, not the shiny chin or wet shirt! Then there are other times that I am photographing amaternity portrait or a fine art nude and for these I believe in spending extratime on the image as I know how it feels to be at your most vulnerable in frontof the camera. I know that when I posed for my session I absolutely wanted alittle retouching! My goal, as thephotographer, is always to do the least amount possible while retouching thosebothersome areas that we all have, and that are different for all of us. I want for my clients to see theirfinal image and only see how beautiful, handsome, young, vibrant, incrediblethey are!

Below you’ll see an image x2 of me taken by Bryan F.Peterson last year…thank you, Bryan, for allowing me to post this imageunedited (probably harder for me, but still!). I had worked really hard, through diet and exercise, priorto the shoot and I actually look at the unedited image and feel pretty darnedgood :)! That said, this particular image wasnot a favourite of mine because of my expression…I chose it for this blog forthree reasons: it shows my whole body (vs. the head shot in a later example);it is not too revealing; and because I don’t love that it looks as though I’mfrowning. So, what did I do…well,this isn’t a tutorial in Photoshop but, in short, I darkened the background,removed some pimples and some moles/freckles (many a constellation can be found onme! While I waste not one second worrying about removing every last pimple, I chose to leave +/- half the beauty marks as they are a part of who I am and it would be funny to see me without any!), I lightened under my eyes, brightened my eyes andsmile, did a little nip ‘n tuck on my love handles and thighs (shhhh!), minimized my belly button a little (moms, you understand!), lessened the veins in my hands and feet, got rid of my appendectomy scar, lessened the wrinkles/creases aroundmy mouth, made it seem like less of a frown and more of a smile, and, finally,converted the image to B&W and toned it. (Some of the listed touch ups will not be as obvious here, but on my screen and on a final print, they are.) I think that the changes are very subtle and that, if Ishowed him, my husband would think it was untouched…and THAT is what we want! This retouch took me a little over 1.5 hours.

Image by Bryan F. Peterson, shown here with permission; editing by me!

For comparison, below is, from L to R: unedited, edited in colour, edited in B&W with toning (I'm a big fan of both colour and B&W (and variations of B&W) and so I thought I'd show both here).

Image by Bryan F. Peterson, shown here with permission; edits by me!
PS Man, I wish my shoes were more obvious...they're AWESOME!

In the below example, we decided (well, I decided and thefamily just went along with it!), to do a Christmas card with a whole bunch ofindividual photos of the four of us, and our two furry kids. The headshots were quite tight, thereforeyou can see every little imperfection – this is not what I want hanging on myfriends’ fridges! And so, onthese, I spent a little extra time – sothat I felt that I looked as good as I thought I had looked that day :)! I brightened and widened my eyes (Ihave a big smile and my eyes have to shrink to make room for it!), I softenedmy complexion, I brightened the whites a little, and a few other little thingsthat I feel bring the image to print-worthy. This retouch took me just over an hour.

In both examples I hope I have demonstrated that with alittle skill, the right tools, and the care and time to learn and practice, animage can go from being just fine to something beautiful. My hope has always been, and continuesto be, to learn and grow as a photographer (bettering my equipment, knowledge,skills, and ideas) so that I can exceed my client’s hopes. My sincere hope is that, if you hire me or another,you feel you were rewarded with a portrait experience that went ‘beyond meeting code’!

Bryan F. Peterson is an acclaimed photographer, best selling author, and founder of The Perfect Picture School of Photography (www.ppsop.com), and I thank him for providing me a really wonderful experience during the shoot, for images that I love, and for being a mentor to me and countless others.

Stay tuned as there is at least one more post on this topic!

Life is great!

Lori

PS As stated in my last post…I chose to use images of myselfso that no client of mine would be left feeling uncomfortable. I always take a solid ‘gulp’ as I hit‘post’, but I’d much rather me feel that discomfort than someone who has puttheir trust in me!

Beyond 'Meeting Code'

2012-02-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

I recently startedthe process of renovating our basement into a home studio (very exciting!) and,like many reno projects, it has had its challenges. One of the things that thoroughly irritated me (and stillirritates but I’m choosing to deep breathe my way through it :) ) is when peoplewith skill and knowledge CHOOSE to not do their best, to cut corners.

The example that hasme thinking about this in broader terms happened during the framing stage ofthe one wall for the studio. It iswidely accepted/expected, in Canada, to frame walls on 16” centres; however, thecity’s inspection codes have apparently been changed to now accept 24” oncentre (which I didn’t know). While reviewing the progress one evening, the studs seemed too far apartand so I got out my tape and, sure enough, they were 24” from the centre of one2x4 to the other!? I won’t getinto the melee that ensued; sufficed to say that I find it sad that people ‘inthe know’ choose to only do what’s absolutely required as opposed to what wouldeasily be considered ‘best practice’, and it got me thinking…

My studio (pre-reno!) with a very special piece of furniture

I have often heardof, and been party to, conversations wherein people are lamenting the pricescharged for professional photography. They find it upsetting that a print costs more than they paid at theirlocal lab for their own photo. However, I wonder if they have considered the time, effort, education,and money that goes into a professional photographer’s final print?

This post, and thecoming posts on this topic, aren’t going to be a full-on defense of what andwhy we charge what we do…rather I’d like to simply say that there is a love, apassion, a drive that compels all honest photographers (and there are many) todo our very best. Sometimes ourwork will speak to you, and sometimes it might not, regardless, from me to you, I cansay that, if you choose me as your photographer, I will always do my very best for you: in consultation, during theshoot, and in post-production (‘retouching’), because I don’t want to only‘meet code’, I want you to be thrilled and emotional and feeling like you’vewisely invested in capturing a moment in time.

In the next few days,weeks, I will post a few thoughts on this subject…the first will be“Retouching…yes, please!” in which I will show a photo taken of me (I didn't want to put a client 'on the spot' and so I figured I’d use a shot of myself!), by famedphotog and my mentor, Bryan F. Peterson. I'll include both the unedited and edited shots. My hope is that these posts might provide a little insight into whatgoes into the making of an image that meets a professional standard.

I hope you’ll join mein the coming weeks as we talk a little about the value you will find in professional work, some of which is immediately apparent, like the print quality, and other value that may not be as obvious, for instance the software used to library and edit your images.

Meet ya’ back here soon,and life IS great!

Lori

A Shoot vs. Baking

2012-01-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

In early December my husband received a call from hisbrother. M., as we’ll refer tohim, was calling to say he’d been diagnosed with the aggressive Mantle CellLymphoma, apparently a rare form of the non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.

M. is extroverted, fun, gregarious, positive, smart, engaging, strong,an incredibly hard worker (‘cause he loves what he does!), and, mostimportantly, a son, brother, husband and dad (amazing dad, in fact). To receive news that someone so vitaland young has been given this grim news is incredibly difficult to accept, butCancer doesn’t wait for our heads and hearts to catch up…M. and his family hadtwo weeks from the day of diagnosis to the day that he was admitted to thehospital for the start of a very aggressive treatment plan that will requirehim to be hospitalized for the majority of the next four months (*this is whereI applaud the Canadian medical system…people complain about it but it’s damnedgood and I feel so blessed to live in a place that has the resources to actquickly when someone’s life is in danger, and not at the expense of your lifesavings, home, etc.).

In 1997 my mom was diagnosed with 4^th stageBreast Cancer and I often find myself recalling the many thoughtful gesturesthat friends and family bestowed on her, and on us, during that difficulttime. I remember being blessedwith more frozen meals than we had room for! I’ve always been, and will always be, so grateful forpeople’s kindness and generosity during that time. The conundrum, for me, now, was that I am not known as verydomestic (some would laugh that I even said ‘very’!) and so: was I really goingto inflict my cooking on my loved ones! Mostly I joke, but it truly didn’t feel like the natural fit when theirfamily and friend network is full of amazing cooks! I really wanted, and stillwant, to help; but how?

K&C, c.2004

A short time before M.’s diagnosis he had commented, at afamily dinner, that they wanted me to do their family portraits. He recalledthat their last family photos were done, by me, about eight years ago (longbefore Bella Faccia!). Then came hisdiagnosis and I wondered if we could go ahead with the shoot, but there simplywasn’t time. During that week Ireally struggled with how to help, and you do feel, in these times, a burning desire to 'act'.

My sister-in-law is nothing short of INCREDIBLE…she’s kind,smart, generous, and the poster child for dedicated. She was (and still is) spending all available time with M.at the hospital and, in between, organizing kids’ schedules, attendance at hockeytournaments, book reports, and, during December, Christmas prep, all whilstcarrying a burden that simply won’t allow for rest. She is ever cognizant that she must try to manage herown myriad of emotions, as well as the emotions of her children. Their children, K. & C., as we’ll call them, aretwo of the nicest and most well rounded kids that I’ve ever met (seriously,even if they were no relation, these are phenomenal young people); but they are‘kids’. We all know how devastating this is for adults; I cannotimagine how scary and overwhelming it must be for them. The fact that M. has tobe hospitalized for the treatment was bound to be really hard on them especially, as theyare used to him playing a pivotal role in their daily lives; but it is onlymade harder knowing that if you have any infections at all you must not visitthe ward (it is imperative that people visiting the chemo ward not jeopardize theimmune-suppressed patients). During the first few weeks one of the kids had a cold and so they werenot able to visit their dad and itwas at this point that I had an idea…

I suggested to my sister-in-law that perhaps we could do ashoot of my niece and nephew as a Christmas gift for their dad (we were thenonly about 10 days from Christmas) and I was THRILLED when she said yes. The three of them came over and both K.& C. brought wardrobe and props that most spoke of and to them; it wasawesome! We had a lot of laughs,we wore out their mom’s arms as the official bubble machine assistant, we had abig family dinner, the four cousins all played and had fun…it was a momentarydistraction, I think, for all of us. And it was my most personally important shoot to date.

Portrait sessions are intended to capture the person’s souland personality, which is not necessarily easy and which I, personally, considerto be the highest challenge and reward of this work. Yousuf Karsh, acclaimed Canadian portraitist, said, “There isa brief moment when all there is in a man’s mind and soul and spirit isreflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record.” The portraits we were capturing that afternoon would be presentin M.’s hospital room and it was imperative to me that he be given images inwhich he ‘saw’ his kids.

K&C, Dec 2011

It is very difficult for, I would say, a majority of us toknow how to help when loved ones are in need. There is a selfish aspect to it, in that you simply want tofeel like you’ve eased their considerable burden in some way. We all grieve upsetting news andrespond to stress differently and so there is the additional pressure of notwanting to overstep boundaries. All I can say, having been a bystander to four Cancer diagnoses in closefamily members in the past 15 years, is that we all have ways that we can helpothers…sometimes it’s baking and sometimes, maybe, it’s photography. We must search ourselves for what we,as individuals, can do that will lessen our loved ones’ burdens, gift them witha smile, or provide respite from life’s many obligations that don’t stop justbecause someone is ill. I wasselfishly, and incredibly, grateful that I was able to do this one small thingthat hopefully serves as a daily visual to M. why he is fighting with all thegrace and courage he can muster (and he’s mustering a lot!). This doesn’t mean that I don’t stillwonder where, when, and how we can help more; but it felt good to do somethingthat, I believe, was as meaningful for them as it certainly was for me.

I am not religious, but I absolutely believe in the power ofour collective energy. I hopethat, if you’ve taken the time to read this post, you will take a few extraminutes to wish M. well.

I will proudly be displaying their family portraits this summer...stay tuned!

Life is great!

Lori

Daily Doses of Joy

2011-12-30T11:56:00.001-07:00

Only one more day left 'til this year reaches an end and I, like many, findmyself contemplating the coming year. I vacillate between feelings of utter excitement and sheer panic: There’s so much to do, where do Istart? There are so manypossibilities, isn’t life AMAZING! How might I better myself, and the lives of those around me? Will I be able to effectively managebeing a wife, mother, and businesswoman? Although the myriad of thoughts causes me simultaneous joy and fear, Ido believe that the process of deciding on long-term goals a necessary andfulfilling one. I also believethat it presents us ideas about smaller changes that might act as the stepping-stonesto the bigger stuff.

One of my goals for this coming year is to spend a littlemore time each day ‘living in joy’. I think I already sincerely enjoy moments in my day, but I think I couldspend more time ‘there’. Betweenone child in kindergarten, one in Grade 1, their extra-curricular activities,playdates, groceries, housecleaning, friends, family, marriage, working out, BellaFaccia, and my own yearning to learn more about my art and myself…geesh, thedays fill up and, it seemed, there wasn’t much time to quietly be present inthe moment...or maybe there was and is (this is a revelation I seem to haveoften but haven’t been able to fully integrate into my everyday!)

Over this past year I’ve been aware of (and inspired by) anumber of people doing 365 projects…the projects I know about involvephotography, whereby the person commits to taking and posting an imageeveryday. Ian McKenzie, whom I meton a photography workshop, was the first person that I actively followed (he’sone helluva photog who posted pics from urban and rural settings, landscapes,architectural shots and portraits on his quest for a daily shot). I follow another photographer’s blog,Richard Radstone (an instructor over at PPSOP), who took the idea up a notch (orthree!) and has set out to photograph AND interview one STRANGER everyday –WOW! Darwin Wiggett and SamanthaChrysanthou embarked on a year long project entitled “Fabulous Film Fridays”that I’ve really enjoyed (if you don’t already own a Holga you’ll want to afterviewing their work!) Anotherphotographer, acclaimed artist Dewitt Jones, posts an image everyday with histag line “Celebrate what’s right with the world!” I don’t believe Dewitt has any set resolution; rather hesimply enjoys sharing beauty, and a majority of the images he posts on Facebookwere captured with his iPhone 4S.

I was recently gifted an iPhone 4S and I have been LOVINGhaving a camera along all the time (I don’t typically walk around with my fullframe 5D Mark II but I almost always have my phone with me!) In addition, there are a bunch of funapps made specifically for taking, editing, and sharing the imagery capturedwith the phone’s camera. I foundmyself playing around and posting photos as I went (mostly in an effort tounderstand how this new technology works!). A friend sent me a note a week or two back saying that shewouldn’t object to me posting an image everyday and it occurred to me that a365 project might be kind of fun! But then I started to worry, “what if I can’t fit in a picture everyday?” And then I thought, “who cares!”

Over these past few weeks I’ve used my iPhone to createportraits of my kids and dogs, I’ve captured spectacular Alberta skies, I’vesnapped a few while making dinner (thank goodness for a patient husband andgood-natured friends!), and even took one while at a red light one day! Each time I created an image I feltinspired, renewed, and even, yes, joyful…joyful because I love making pictures! When I’m working I feel a lot of joy;however it is, necessarily, tinged with the pressure of producing a portraitthat, hopefully, captures my client’s true self – and, during my work, there isoften an expensive full frame camera, studio lights, modifiers, wirelesstriggers, and people waiting for spectacular results. When I’m taking pictures on my own time, and with any ol’camera I choose, with no rules about what, who, or where, it is a totallyfreeing experience – I would say that, for me, it’s quasi meditative.

So here I go…I am officially beginning my 365’ish project (the‘ish = me releasing myself of unnecessary pressure!)! The images will be posted to my personal Facebook page,although I will likely share some on Bella Faccia’s page from time totime.

I am excited about this small step I am taking toward alarger vision of increasing the joy in my life. I hope that you too might find a little project that bringsyou daily joy – a new recipe a day if you love to cook, perhaps a ‘12 project’where you read the top 12 books you’ve always wanted to read but never gotaround to, or anything that will have you joyfully looking forward to your daily ‘meditative moment’ in this chaotic lifestyle we lead.

I wish you a new year filled with JOY and the awareness thatwe sometimes (perhaps often) need to schedule it in!

Happy New Year!

Life is great!

Lori

* All photos included in this post were taken by me with the iPhone 4S using Instagram, Camera+, Snapseed, and sometimes both Camera+ and Snapseed!

~You may view Ian McKenzie’s work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tubaism/

~Richard Radtsone’s blog is over at http://richardradstoneblog.com/

~Darwin Wiggett and Samantha Chrysanthou just wrapped uptheir Fabulous Film Fridays and are now embarking on their new project…you can seetheir work, purchase their e-books, find out about their photography workshops,AND be inspired to live a life that’s a little lighter on our planet, over at http://oopoomoo.com/

~Dewitt Jones website is http://www.dewittjones.com/

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

2011 has proven to be a year of change and transition forme. There have been great times,good times, not so good times, and downright challenging times. I wouldn’t change any of it.

As the year’s end draws near we tend to reflect, ponder thechoices we’ve made and the ones we’re considering. It can be difficult to know what value our mistakes andsuccesses will have in the long term, but one thing is certain: if you tried,if you were sincere, if you were present, and even if you messed up…there wasvalue.

Last June I wrote a blog post that touched on ‘balance’…thatelusive ‘thing’ that most of us, in this hectic and fast paced life, arecraving. During this year I haddays in which I felt, whole heartedly, that I’d achieved that golden state ofblissful balance. During this yearI had days in which I felt, whole heartedly, that I was miles from any sort of ‘blissful state’ and not quite sure howI’d gotten there or how to get back.

What I know is that ‘balance’ is a moving target. It is up to us to pursue, with vigor,our dreams while taking the pulse, often, of how our pursuit is impacting theother, and equally important, facets of our lives – our family, our home life,and our friendships. Let us notthrow in the towel just because the dishes aren’t getting done or the laundryis piling up; it is on those days, when we feel most at odds with our choices,that we must persevere and brainstorm ways of making it all work. However, sometimes we are required to‘take stock’ and recognize that we simply can’t do it all (this realizationseems perfectly easy to say some days but is downright irritating on others!). I've both persevered and have had to change my course slightly this year, and it's all felt wonderful and difficult (such is life!).

I am so grateful to the year 2011 for it has provided mewith increased awareness of whereI want to go, how I might get there, and who I’m going to be along theway. I am so grateful for ahusband who supports me unconditionally and who offers me the latitude to screwup knowing I’ll still be loved. I’m grateful for two amazing children who make me laugh daily and whoare growing up to be ‘great citizens of the world’ (which I consider my mandateas their mom). I'm grateful for our two 'first born', Dylan and Dixie, who epitomize unconditional love! I’m grateful for myand my husband’s families who offer us love, support, and babysitting! I'm grateful to have a passion of my own to pursue. I’m grateful for my friends, old andnew, who encourage and inspire me. I’m grateful for my health and that I live in a peaceful country. I’m simply grateful (although I’lladmit to needing to remind myself of this on occasion!).

As I meander this journey of motherhood, marriage, citizen,small business owner, and friend, I am cognizant of the opportunities affordedme and I am thankful. To each ofyou who have offered me encouragement, advice, kindness, support, and business this year– my very sincere thanks!

May 2012 bring all of us closer to our dreams (with somebalance along the way!)

Wishing you much love, peace, health, and goodwill.

Life is great!

Lori

The Birthday Gift

2011-12-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

I was recently hired to do maternity photos for a lovelylady, whom we’ll call S. She hopedto surprise her husband with beautiful photographs for his birthday…an amazingand personal gift from a very special time in a couple’s life together!

S. was referred to Bella Faccia through her friend/my client& friend and was hopeful that the shoot would be fun, comfortable, and thatit would result in images that she was proud to gift her husband with. I was thrilled that, by her ownaccount, we accomplished all she’d hoped for! Her words, upon seeing the private, on-line gallery, were:

“Thank you so, somuch for a great shoot on Saturday! You are amazing at what you do and Iappreciate so much how comfortable you made me. I have no doubt that this willbe the best gift ever for C. (aside from the actual baby, haha)!” (S. – I agree, that baby is going to bethe best gift EVER but I’m happy that we managed to create a runner-up for the records!)

S. and Bella Faccia worked together (quickly, as thebirthday was fast approaching) to create a number of beautiful prints,including a 3 image collage that she had framed in time for the birthdaycelebration. When I enquired howthe gift opening went, she said, “HeLOVED the photos!! I actually surprised him! Thank you so, so much again!” I was thrilled that the images were such a success that they placed an order for more!

These shoots are somuch fun…there is an abundance of collaboration, music, laughter, trust,and a shared dedication to getting the very best shots possible. It’s always an honour to be trustedwith someone’s portrait session; it’s especially meaningful when hired to do asession that will require the person to step well outside of their general, dayto day, comfort level in order to create something really special. S., you are AMAZING and I so appreciateyour trust in me and in Bella Faccia, thank you!

Life is great!

Lori

Raising the Bar

2011-11-26T11:19:00.001-07:00

Last night my husband, children, and I attended a booklaunch. The photographer wasGeorge Webber and his newest book is called “In This Place: Calgary 2004-2011”.

I first met George in 1992 when I attended my first formalphotography course. The course wasbeing taught at our local technical college, SAIT, and George, I now know, wasinstrumental in developing their photography program. I was young at the time and in that in-between period ofhigh school, travels abroad, and decisions about my immediate and long-termplans. I recall George beingpassionate about photography – his, ours, and others’ - and it left anindelible mark on me.

Fast forward to 2007 when my husband surprised me with aCanon 40D – my first foray into the digital photography world. When I had first taken that class withGeorge those many years earlier, I’d done it with a decent SLR but one that wasalmost entirely automatic; I knew that I wanted to learn not only aboutshooting digitally but I also wanted to have a better understanding of manualsettings. In 2008 I enrolled in the verysame class (which now includes the digital aspect) that I’d attended back in theearly ‘90’s and walked in that first night to see GEORGE WEBBER standing there!I went on to complete the Certificate of Photography at SAIT and was lucky tohave George as my instructor in ‘B&W Darkroom’ as well.

During my darkroom class I told George about a party myfamily was hosting at our farm. George seems to be drawn to history and preservation; it seemed that ourrefurbishment of an old train station, and the pursuant celebration to mark itscentennial, captured his interest. I asked if he might like to participate in the Authors’ Corner at theparty and I was thrilled when he said yes!

I occasionally run into George – at the print lab we bothuse or at seminars – and I always feel like I am in the presence of a great…aman who continually strives to further his art, to encourage and mentor others,and to do it all with a smile on his face and a kind word for anyone with whomhe interacts.

Please visit www.georgewebber.ca to learn more about the man and his work.

Congratulations, George, on your newest book and on being aphotographer and human being who ‘raises the bar’!

Life is good!

Lori

Introducing a Princess

2011-11-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

It is with great delight and anticipation that I am planningthe addition of a permanent studio space in our home! Of course the primary reason is so that I can eliminate theneed to set up and tear down the ‘studio’ for each shoot (‘cause I’d rather bedoing something productive or fun with that time!); the other reason, which isactually really exciting for me, is that I will then have a space to practicelighting set ups and techniques any ol’ time I feel like it!

So, there I’ll be in the new and wonderful space…but thenwhat? You can’t really learn tolight a subject without a subject! I do a lot of learning, just like everyone does, on the job; but Iwanted more time to play, to fiddle, to experiment, and to be curious. My first thought was to use models, butthey’re expensive and when you're working around your kids’ schedules (whichis true for any at-home parent) you want to be flexible…it was pretty clear,pretty quickly, that models weren’t the way to go. My second thought was an assistant, which is what brings usto the focus of this piece…

I’m thrilled to introduce you to my new assistant! She has agreed to sit for me whenever Iwant (in between serving Froot Loops and resolving disputes!), she won’tcharge, and she’s flexible/positionable (you can imagine how brutal my webhistory was last month when 'googling' "flexible dolls"! I think Ihad a permanent blush during those few weeks of searching for the perfect ‘assistant’and had to keep my fingers crossed that the police didn’t need to use mycomputer for anything!)! Allkidding aside, I am thrilled with the thought of learning whenever I want whilenot inconveniencing anyone or going broke!

Now, what kind of boss would I be if I didn’t give my newassistant a name?! For me it feltlike naming a baby and I didn’t want to get it wrong. I desperately wanted a name that would inspire me and so Imade a list of things she would serve to represent: grace, beauty, sexiness, intelligence,playfulness, elegance, and confidence all were fairly immediately jotted down(this is how I want my women clients to feel while they’re in front of my lens)and it led me to: Principessa. Just like when I named the company; this name simply makesme smile (plus I like the subconscious thought that this very rich,extraordinarily beautiful, and powerful woman has asked ME to light HER!).

Now, this isn’t the ‘secret project’ that I wrote of a fewweeks ago, that will remain under wraps for now, but Principessa will certainlyplay a role in it!

Life is good!

Lori

Feeling WIGgy and Loving It!

2011-10-18T14:44:00.000-06:00

Ihave been quietly contemplating a project for the past two weeks, ever since anidea popped into my head. I havespent many of my waking hours pondering the project: Will this work? How would I xyz? Does it have merit? Why should ‘I’ do this and not someone else? Is this as CRAZY as it seems? Etc., etc., etc.! I am a passionate person and I do oftenfind myself going full steam ahead when I get an idea, but this one has mefeeling such a myriad of things that it’s hard to narrow down if A) I’m superexcited and really believe I’m the perfect person to do this or B) if it reallyis a ridiculous notion that should never be spoken of again?!

Asoften happens when you need a little direction, enlightenment, or encouragementit will present itself and today was no different! This morning I was blessedwith two truly remarkable and inspiring notions that seemingly closed the chasmbetween the cheering and the mocking in my head.

Today’sfirst inspiration was presented as a post on Facebook; my good friend and all-aroundAMAZING woman, Candace W., shared the following quote by Albert Einstein:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its abilityto climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Wow! I can’t imagine that this quote wouldn’t resonate with everyindividual on earth…we are all unique and worthy and capable of pursuing a paththat was quite possibly specifically designed for us! It is so easy to believe the criticisms, including those thatare indirect, veiled or invented by us and our fears, and forget that we havecharacteristics, abilities, experiences, inherent traits, and talents that combine to make us the perfect,and perhaps only, person able to conceive of a particular idea (especiallythose that seem outrageous) and then make it happen!

A little later in the morning, Oprahemailed me (we’re tight! :) ) within which was included a link to an article by Martha Beck. The title of the article is “Dream Big: Why You Need Wildly Improbable Goals”. Beck speaks of thesedreams as WIGs and says that they are flashes that pop into our headsunexpectedly. She says that whenwe have one of these flashes we must listen - when our inner selves speak to us,it is all too easy to dismiss the idea as too crazy, too impossible, toounlikely, but if we let it resonate we just might discover our life’spath! The other critical component is that we nurture our spirits so that we are healthy enough to pursuewhat might appear crazy to others (and potentially, especially in the earlygoing, to us too!). Beck writes,“Just as a run-down body may be unable to conceive a healthy new life, arun-down soul can't support the healthy development of the life you were meantto have.”

And so...I had the flash, I’ve battled the urge to dismiss the idea outright,I’ve already taken steps toward achieving my WIG, and I am feeling ALIVE and EXCITED and, shhhh, a little nervous!

Due to the nature of the idea I don’t feel that describing it here andnow is wise nor necessary; I do however hope that one day, in the next year ortwo, I will write another blog post on this subject telling you all about my impossible goal and it's completion! For now, let us go forward with each ofus paying particular attention to those random thoughts that come out ofnowhere, and which may very likely change our lives, whilst reminding ourselveshow incredibly unique, talented, and wonderful we each are! Pursue your dreams and don't let anyone, especially yourself, get in the way!

Life is good!

Lori

You may read Martha Beck’s full article here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/Wildly-Improbable-Goals/1

An apple: simple, right?

2011-10-02T14:29:00.000-06:00

On Friday I shot a product line for a friend and entrepreneur...it was my first foray into shooting commercial products and, just like anything, it was fun AND had its challenges!

My friend's company, Virescence - Becoming Green (www.becominggreen.ca), sells handmade, organic products for babies. Her mission is to provide earth-friendly products that: leave the least harmful environmental footprint, support the Canadian economy (she chooses Canadian products in her business wherever possible), and are safe for our babies. I've had the pleasure of using a few of her offerings on newborn shoots and I LOVE THEM!

One of the images she wanted was of a green, ceramic apple. The apple has served as one of the inspirations for her company branding, colours, and logo; it is also a perfect pairing for what her company is aiming to provide - natural products that are clean and safe for our little ones!

So, shooting a lone apple on a white backdrop should be relatively simple, right? I WISH! I actually knew that it would be a little challenging and it didn't let me down! The biggest issue was with reflection...this is the first shot in the series; taken so that I might visualize what the camera would record:

I've added notes identifying where some of the reflections were coming from. Clearly I was going to have to find a way of diminishing everything that was being reflected off the apple. I was shooting on top of a piece of white Plexiglas with a white seamless paper backdrop. The key light was a large softbox on camera right and there was another strobe lighting the backdrop with an umbrella as the diffuser. It occurred to me that if I 'stole' the white Plexiglas from the tabletop I could use it as a second diffuser to the softbox light and it would double-duty as a clean reflection point for the apple. Of course this was only going to diminish the one reflection, but what about everything else that was visible from the room? Together with my friend/client/assistant!, we used 2x4 pieces of foam core to surround the remaining three sides of the apple; leaving only the top and a 'witch's hat' portion on the front open to the room. Below you can see the improvement and also the need for further work:

The above image is the one I chose to work on in post-production (Photoshop CS4). I brightened the image using the selective colour tool, I augmented the green using selective colour, I used the patch tool and the healing brushes to eliminate/lessen the final reflections/hot spots and did some other minor touch ups. The final image is below (although I did crop it to square when I posted it to Facebook):

I am really happy with the final image and it was a good lessen in being prepared for these types of shoots...I could have purchased a light tent ahead of time, I might have used a polarizing filter to diminish the reflections (had I thought of it in the moment!), and I should probably add some clamps and white gaffer's tape to my bag!

The end result is that I feel like my client has images she can now use to market her products on her website and I have one more experience under my belt! You may visit Bella Faccia's Facebook page to see a few more images from this shoot at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.225462277508110.59012.104046832982989&type=1.

I was lucky that my 'first time' was with a friend and really warm-hearted person - this trait never goes unnoticed by me and makes life and business so much better! Her easy-going demeanour allowed me the freedom and comfort to spend the extra time on the 'apple shot'! So, go forward without fear and do your best...good advice in all aspects of photography and life!

Life is good!

Lori

www.bellafaccia.ca

In Conclusion - Why Every Woman Should Have this Experience!

2011-06-14T15:48:00.000-06:00

(If you are just happening onto this blog or series of posts…this is the last post in a series of four, in case you wish to read them in chronological order!)

In Conclusion…

When I first began contemplating this series of blog posts there was one idea that continually rose to the surface, and it was, “Every woman should do this once in her life!”

I’m not sure about all you women readers, but my life is hectic! A husband, two kids, two dogs, extended family in town, friends, a small business, a house, a yard, and some hobbies! It can feel overwhelming. I would like to say now, in black and white, that I am thrilled with my life! I am so thankful for the people who love me, and whom I love, and for all the opportunities I am continually blessed with. That said; the truth is that it can feel overwhelming. On a day-to-day basis it is difficult to feel like there is a lot of ‘flex’, but there should be…isn’t life so much better when we DECIDE to make time for play and fun?! I happen to be a ‘project driven’ person and so, for me, marking a date on the calendar is almost always critical to my success. If I hadn’t marked “Photo Shoot with Bryan Peterson” down on my calendar I likely wouldn’t have made all the positive life changes that I did.

We’re all different and so the “fun” in prepping for a shoot will vary for each of us. I can honestly say that I’m a girl that likes gettin’ dolled up once in a while, I like expensive and HIGH heels (although I still can’t fathom paying for a pair of Louboutins!), and I am too often found at Sephora; but I am also a working mom who needs to get the floors washed, run the kids to school & activities, play with the dogs, remember and celebrate friends’ birthdays, and try to keep up on the never ending piles of dishes and laundry. So, having a celebrity-worthy manicure, sticking to only prepared-from-scratch meals, appearing as though my day unfolded with ease and grace, all while looking like I just woke from a long and peaceful nap…well, that just doesn’t happen on any sort of regular basis! But WAIT, some of that did happen (maybe not the well-rested part) and it was all due to my decision to have a boudoir/form/fine art nude shoot done!

It’s important for me to say here, and for you to know, that I still had to get the dishes and laundry done and the kids still needed my attention (there were no maids nor nannies hired in the making of this shoot!); however, I had a new found commitment to myself. Over the years I was finding myself spending less and less time on things that made me feel good – less time working out, I stopped going to get my hair done as there seemed like better places to spend our money, I only had manicures when it was part of a girls’ day, etc. – and I really missed feeling ‘pretty’, or perhaps it is more accurate to say that I missed the fun that goes into ‘getting pretty’! I can’t tell you how invigorating it was to think, “Yeah, I’m going to take this hour or hour and a half to work out because it benefits ME, even if I don’t get all the laundry done today.” I think I’ve always known, but the point was driven home for me, that my family was better off for me being better off! The floors maybe weren’t cleaned as often, but nobody was any worse for wear, (in fact I believe that the example I’ve been setting this past year to follow your dreams, to exercise and eat well and to make yourself a priority in your own life were powerful lessons for my children) and the ‘mom’ in the equation felt happier, lighter, rejuvenated, younger, more confident, and, ahem, sexier!

Imagine having a reason to let your husband do the weeding because you want to have nice hands for your shoot. Imagine letting the dishes be dirty because you want to get your workout in and you aren’t going to sacrifice your health or sanity just because you feel you should have a clean counter. Imagine putting yourself at the top of your list. I did this, to varying degrees of effort and success, and I’m here to tell you that it was and is AWESOME!

If all the benefits I listed above weren’t enough, there was more wonderment in store. In early June, I prepared for my shoot with only myself to worry about. I showed up ready to have my makeup professionally applied by a super hip and fun woman. I blushingly showed the photographer what I’d brought along in hopes that he could make me look beautiful. I WAS NOT worried about anything except being present in that moment, feeling free and uninhibited, and loving what it feels like to have no regrets! I was happily playing “supermodel” for the day and it was FUN! And, now, I have loads of images that document this time in my life. Images that make me smile or blush; images that make me feel empowered.

Photo by Bryan F. Peterson

I’m in a rather unique position as part of my ultimate goal was to document the process and results of my shoot to share with you. I also really wanted to have the full experience of what a woman might consider or feel before, during, and after a boudoir shoot so that I could speak to future clients with heightened awareness. However, this part of my process would almost certainly not be a part of yours. Rather, upon you making the decision to do a shoot, the benefit of: re-addressing your priorities and where you find yourself on that list will be had; the fun of finding the style you hope to have for your shoot will be had; the resulting beautiful images will be forever yours to have and to share with whomever you wish; but also, and perhaps especially, there will be your memento of who you are on that day - without any labels, trends, or social titles attached…there YOU will be, looking beautiful, strong, independent, and ready for whatever the world throws at you! The old adage that ‘you don’t know how strong you are until you need to know’ comes to mind…while you may be thinking that the vulnerability you’ll feel in front of the camera on the day is beyond what you are capable of, I am here to tell you that the positive mojo that you get from the experience far outweighs any discomfort!

So, to wrap up this personal and professional series of comments, let me say this…whether you choose me to photograph your session or another, don’t deny yourself this incredible experience. Trust me, I didn’t know that this was on my Bucket List, but, in retrospect, I can’t help but think, “Yep, I’m going to cross that off my list and, WOW, was it fun!”

Life is good!

Lori

Chapter 2 – A Professional Journey

2011-06-09T05:31:00.000-06:00

I’ve loved photography since I was a little girl…I was the always the one at the party wanting to capture the moment, the laughs, the fun, the feeling. For almost my entire life I strived to take great photos of the people I loved and the places I was seeing, but I never committed to learning the “science” of what makes a great photograph and therefore had some success but also struck out on many occasion.

Before I had my first child I thought I should start paying more attention to what goes into taking a beautiful newborn portrait so that I could take photos of our baby. My dad gave me a muslin backdrop and some portrait reference books for Christmas and that was the beginning of my growing curiosity and dedication to learning the craft.

After a few years of self-study, my husband gave me my first DSLR, a Canon 40D. Shortly after that I enrolled in the SAIT Photography Certificate program, and started shooting on full manual, which, trust me, felt like a HUGE milestone (in school I was always the social butterfly and you’d rarely find me studying…regrets on that!). After a few years, and the addition of another child, I was a stay at home mom and loving it; but I also realized that I wanted to ensure I had my own identity, beyond being ‘the mom’. I decided that all the encouragement around me (major props to my dad here!) to live in the present, to follow your passion, and to be fully engaged in your own life were all shout-outs to each of us – including me! I started to seriously ponder ‘hanging up a shingle’ and, lying in bed one night, the name Bella Faccia popped into my head…even now the name makes me smile when I say it! I went downstairs quietly, searched the registry to see if the name was taken and promptly bought my URL! And so it was, as scary as it felt (and still feels at times), I pulled the trigger.

Bella Faccia was registered as an incorporated company in October, 2009, and I attended Bryan Peterson’s Edmonton workshop the following June. The workshop attendees were equally warm, funny, talented, and kind…the experience was a perfect storm of wonderful! Bryan was unable to teach the first few days and so Chris Hurtt came on his behalf, and we learned so much from each of these incredible teachers & photographers. I came home feeling like there was a whole world out there of which I was just scratching the surface. I felt a fire to build my business, to learn the trade and the art, to contribute to society by being a whole person –mom, wife, friend, entrepreneur, and more. Of course this dream takes balance but that’s fodder for another blog!

Photo by Lori Maloney of Bella Faccia Photography

Last October I was referred to a fitness model by a co-worker and friend of my husband’s. She had worked hard to prepare for a fitness competition and wanted to have a keepsake of how rockin’ she looked (my words, not necessarily hers!). Her hard work, diet, water consumption, etc. were all critically planned for that ONE day and so I knew I needed to nail the shots for her. The resulting photos were, we thought, beautiful and it planted a seed in me.

Photo by Lori Maloney of Bella Faccia Photography

A few months later a close friend of mine approached me to take nude maternity photos for her, she hoped to give a book of images to her partner as a Valentine’s Day gift. We laughed and had a great time while capturing this very meaningful time in her life. It was an incredible experience for me and reinforced to me how much I like working with women.

During both of the above described shoots I told my clients how beautiful they looked (and they truly did), I promised that the shots would be classy and tasteful, and I tried to reassure them to feel comfortable with the promise that their security would show in the photos. They both trusted me, their portraits are beautiful, and I was honoured to take them. However, I now know that I subconsciously felt a little badly throughout because, even though I felt empathetic to what they must be feeling, I also knew that I didn’t actually know what it felt like to be on the other end of the lens, at your most vulnerable.

Photo by Bryan F. Peterson

My shoot with Bryan (author of books such as "Understanding Exposure" and the founder of PPSOP - The Perfect Picture School of Photography) was booked last fall and so I’ve had the better part of the year to contemplate and experience what it feels like to hire the photographer, to decide what steps to personally take so that I could feel good in front of the camera (including everything from miracle wrinkle creams to positive self-talk!), to consider the many different styles of nude and boudoir photography, and to feel the jitters at the thought of disrobing in front of a MAN holding a CAMERA! Throughout, I was motivated by the thought of being able to sincerely say to my women clients, “I know how it feels, and I know it’s difficult, but these photographs are going to be beautiful.” Clearly, in life, business, and relationships, we can’t always know how everything feels for another and empathy is a wonderful trait; but, whenever possible, isn’t it so much nicer to say, “I’ve walked the walk, and I do understand.”

My knowledge level is increasing daily, my gear kit is growing, my experience as a mom and business owner is challenging me, my confidence in what I am able to provide my clients is strengthening, and I am a better person for all of it. It’s amazing when we clearly see the positive impact of our decisions in our personal and professional lives…this has been an incredible journey and I am feeling so very grateful!

There will be one more in this series…I’d like to comment on why I think every woman should have this experience! Stay tuned…

Life is good!

Lori

P.S. If you are interested in learning about photography I would recommend Bryan Peterson's international workshops, his books, and PPSOP with total confidence. Chris Hurtt provides workshops, is an educator at PPSOP and, he too, I trust and admire as a teacher and photog!

Chapter 1 – A Personal Journey

2011-06-07T11:33:00.000-06:00

When I first thought of doing a shoot like this it all seemed fun and easy! However, as the days wore on and I was committing to a dedicated workout schedule, together with the fact that I would disrobe in front of a photographer holding a camera, it began seeming less and less “easy”!

Part of my idea and hope was to surprise my husband with the finished product. I thought I could work out more than I ever have in my life, get my hair done at a salon (I’d been cutting and colouring my own hair for a number of years), and get the spray tan that Bryan suggested was necessary to ensure the absence of any tan lines (note that the spray tan ended up being something I’ll recommend to all my clients as it is amazing what a little colour can do to your self perceived sexy-factor!)….all without my partner asking what in the world was going on! Yep, I was determined but also living a slightly delusional existence! The truth is that, while I love the idea of surprises, I don't like lying and so, 2 months before the scheduled shoot, my husband received an early anniversary card telling him what his gift would be. Truth be told, even though I felt sad that my intricate surprise plan was falling apart, it was the best thing that could have happened! My husband showed complete support and enthusiasm for the project, he encouraged my workout schedule, let me serve only lean meats, and, most importantly, continually reinforced that he thought I was beautiful and he couldn’t wait to see the results of my adventure! It was one of the revelations that this experience allowed…that what we might see in the mirror is not necessarily what our loved ones see.

I am a mom of two wonderful kids who are aged 4 and 5…no surprise that my body isn’t exactly what it was when I was 20! That said, the motivation this shoot provided was immense and I don’t think I’ve ever been in better shape – yes, my stomach was flatter 20 years ago, but I couldn’t have done the workouts I do now back then! Plus, it’s worth acknowledging that to outright dislike how my body has changed, to a degree, would dismiss why it changed – and I would never trade the joy of being a mom for tighter abs!

Photo by Bryan F. Peterson

For each of us this process is bound to be somewhat different. We all have different styles and tastes, we all have a different sense of what is “beautiful”. What, I believe, we share is a desire to see the final photographs and think – I love these! For me, part of this process was a pretty regimented diet (which included the odd ice cream and chocolate, and a daily glass or two of red wine or vanilla vodka!), a determined workout schedule, a couple hair appointments, a spray tan, getting “sugared”, a mani-pedi, and a phenomenal makeup artist! What wasn’t accounted for in the calendar was how great I felt working out regularly, how fun it was to buy jeans the size I used to buy when I was 20, finding a negligee at Victoria’s Secret that I would have NEVER bought before, and the energy I had from eating well. It turned out that the journey toward the shoot was actually a profound lesson in living well. I will be forever grateful to Bryan because, in that moment in Edmonton one year prior, when he spoke casually of his upcoming shoot, my life changed for the better.

It is here that I would like to say that I owe a debt of gratitude to some exceptional people: to my girlfriends who provided much love, friendship, support, and laughter (there were references to spurs that still, even when all alone, make me laugh out loud!); to Jesse, at Angles Dalhousie, a hairdresser who actually LISTENS to what you want and then delivers!; to Laurie, at GottaGetSugar’d, who is a fun, sincere and talented ‘sugarer’!; to Hazel, at Spa Ritual, who reminds me of everything important in life when I am with her; and to Jaclyn, who is as skilled as a makeup artist as she is an endearing soul. And then there is Bryan. Bryan, who always answered my emails promptly and thoughtfully (a girl has questions when planning something like this!), who downloaded my favourite Blue Rodeo album so that I could feel a little more ‘at home’ in his studio, who made me feel beautiful, who had me laughing throughout our shoot with his wit, charm and one-of-a-kind personality, who answered my photography and lighting questions during our shoot so that I could learn at the same time, and who is now someone I consider a friend (being in the buff for hours on end with someone takes your relationship to a whole new level!). I would be remiss to not say that these people, together with my family, have made this experience even more fun and exciting than I could have imagined possible. Thank you to this special group, you each make me smile.

So, there I was feeling like I had done everything I could to show up for the shoot…I’d lived well, never feeling too denied of guilty pleasures. I’d worked out, with the occasional miss, 6 days a week for 8 months. Yep, whatever the shoot would hold I was satisfied with what I’d done to prepare myself for it. That Tuesday morning, as my taxi made it’s way from the Chicago Loop toward the studio, I found myself contemplating what the experience would offer me in professional wisdom and understanding.

Please come back next time for Chapter 2 – The Professional Journey.

Life is good!

Lori

The background to the story...

2011-06-06T14:53:00.000-06:00

I first met Bryan Peterson in June 2010 when I attended his workshop in Edmonton, Alberta. It was during that workshop, when he was telling me about an upcoming form shoot he had, that I decided I would like to do a boudoir/fine art nude/form shoot – and it would be ultra cool if Bryan (whom I like very much and who is an extraordinary photographer) would be the one to do it. Fast forward to June 2011 and there I was in Bryan Peterson’s Chicago studio with my makeup on and not much else!

People have varying opinions on this type of shoot, but I felt really comfortable about my personal and professional reasons for wanting to do it: I thought it would be a wonderful keepsake for me (I’m not getting any younger!); a beautiful and intimate anniversary gift for my husband; and the only way to truly know what it feels like to be on the other end of the lens.

Over the past year I have done shoots for women who wanted to capture a meaningful time in their lives. The reasons women have for doing a shoot like this may vary greatly – whether it’s during pregnancy, after a significant weight loss, having a milestone birthday (which, let’s face it, aren't always by the decade!), after surviving an illness or accident, or just ‘cause they want to feel the freedom that is inherent in this experience – but, I can assure you, there is one constant theme: the woman’s desire to evidence her innate beauty.

Photo by Bryan F. Peterson

This type of shoot, in my opinion, will only render truly beautiful results if the subject trusts the photographer. I’ve spoken before of my belief in sharing a rapport with clients to ensure their images are portraits and not merely pictures, you can see it in the body language and without question in the eyes. Some of the work I’ve been most proud of has come from shoots with women, and I’ve always been truly honoured and appreciative that they would allow me to post photos from our time together in my marketing – this is the ultimate display of trust and generosity (having the shoot is already a big deal for most of us, having the images out there for the world to see reaches a whole new level of courage!). So, out of my sincere appreciation to clients past and future, I will be including photos from my shoot…it only seems fair!

And so, now that I’ve provided you the background to the story, I’d like you to join me for the upcoming few blogs where I will speak candidly about this experience, both as a woman and as a photographer.

Stay tuned for Chapter 1 – The Personal Journey!

Life is good!

Lori

A Shoot Close to my Heart

2011-02-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the distinct honour of capturing one of the most beautiful times in a woman's life, for a beautiful friend.

She divined the plan of a 'secret' shoot that would render images of her pregnancy for her and her partner to enjoy in the many years to come. These images would be a Valentine's Day gift for him, and would also serve as the visual reminder of this very special time in their lives as they prepare for the birth of their first child.

Now, baring all in front of the camera is no small feat! It takes personal trust between the client and photographer, it takes respect of the photographer's ability, it takes rapport (which I wrote about in my last post) - you just gotta be able to have a laugh together! - , and, certainly not least of all, it takes the foresight of the parents-to-be to say 'we want this piece of our history together recorded for us to treasure always.' In this instance I was lucky to have a client who has been a consistently loving and 'be-there-when-it-counts' friend for many years - trust and rapport weren't going to be an issue! I was also lucky that this stunning mom-to-be wanted to have their history, with this new baby, photographed.

The end result of our shoot included 3 8x12's for the baby's room and a special book for her partner showcasing 20 images on metallic paper...BEAUTIFUL! I am happy to report that the gifts were given and the parents-to-be now have an additional visual (beyond her growing baby-bump and the accumulating baby gear in the house!) to add to their enjoyment in anticipation!

Below are a few favourites:

I can't wait to meet this little guy or gal! Wishing my lovely friends the very best in the coming months and years...parenthood is about the best and most exhilarating ride a person can take and I wish them only enough struggle to fully savour the great times!

Life is good!

Lori

PS There were actually MANY favourites and so I will likely be posting another entry on the lighting for this shoot in the future, featuring more images.

Shutter Speed, Flash Ratios and RAPPORT!

2011-02-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

I have always felt that photography allowed me a certain freedom at social gatherings...it kind of forces you to get around the room, it's an easy conversation starter, and, of course, I love recording the occasion (yes, my family has practiced patience with me!). However, it is only since opening shop that I have come to truly understand how critical rapport (defined as "harmonious or sympathetic relation") is in capturing a great shot.

Over the course of the last year + I have been diligently studying the technical side of photography. Learning to understand the power of lens choice, aperture settings, lighting positioning, etc. At times it is easy to lose yourself in the technical and forget the here and now, but I venture to say that there aren't very many beautiful portraits of people that came from a session where there was no sincere interaction between photog and subject.

Last weekend I was honoured to photograph a close friend who wanted maternity shots a la Demi Moore (you remember that incredible Annie Leibovitz cover for Vanity Fair, right?) We have been friends since college, (which we both delusionally consider to have been only a few years ago!), and we manage to get together for laughs and drinks a few times each year. My friend is a classy lady who seems to always have a clean car and perfect hair and so, whilst she was excited, she did say that baring all in front of a camera was a little intimidating - and who wouldn't feel that way. This was yet another occasion where rapport between us made all the difference in the world. Yes the lighting, the backdrops, and the camera settings all made an impact on the final images, but the final image wouldn't have been possible without her trust in me both as a person and as a photographer.

I guess my point in today's entry is that if you're looking for a photographer, make sure it's someone you like, someone you could have a laugh with. Yes - style, equipment, and education should all be part of your Q&A with your potential photographer, but no less important is if you like them. Life is short - pick a photographer that you can share rapport with...it'll show!

Image: an environmental portrait of my dad...I think we have pretty good rapport!

Stay tuned for shots from the maternity shoot...as it the images will be a gift I won't be posting any until after the recipient has seen them!

Life is good!

Lori

An Expectant Mom, a Blue-Sky Alberta Day & a Little Windchill for Fun!

2011-01-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

We ventured west this weeekend to capture images of beautiful Kyla, mere weeks from the expected arrival of her little one. Along for the ride were Kyla, Lindsay, and me...

I felt fortunate to complete my Photography Certificate last fall, and one of the nicest outcomes from the experience was the opportunity to meet exceptional people and photographers. I met Kyla and Lindsay, independently of each other, in photography classes and only afterward discovered that they are friends and neighbours!

I was honoured when Kyla asked if I would be willing, along with Lindsay, to spend an afternoon doing an outdoor-winter-maternity shoot (I love saying it that way as it sounds like a crazy endeavour!) We lucked out as the day presented us mild temperatures (outside of the teeth-clattering wind!) and Alberta's famous blue sky! Kyla, being an exuberant, vivacious and willing subject made her way through feet-deep snow, stood in the middle of the road (while Lindsay helped us with the good'ol Canadian "CAR" shout outs!), and she did it all with a brand new boot whose zipper had failed her...we had lots of laughs and captured, I think, some beautiful shots!

Lindsay, it was a privilege shooting alongside you...you're a class act. Kyla, your photography skills and warm personality make our time together fun and I always feel like I've learned something. Saturday's shoot was, without question, a real pleasure!

Life is good!

Lori

Friendship and Inspiration are EVERYWHERE!

2010-12-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have your head down, intent on getting your list done and without a lot of time for distractions? In this busy life it is all too easy to rush through our days without our heads up nor an openness to what is within reach...that special and unnameable 'thing' that provides richness, wonder and excitement in our lives.

The biggest example of this elusive and wonderful 'thing' is 'people'! There are an abundance of people out there who share our personality traits, our passions, our pursuits, our burdens, etc. but, if we have our heads down with only our sight on check-marking that last list item, we risk never meeting them, we risk a life that is 'less than'.

On a late summer evening, nearly two years ago, I hosted a pre-school board meeting. It was as much a meet n' greet as it was a meeting! That night I chanced to spend a few minutes chatting with the 'Treasurer', who was lovely and I remember instantly thinking "cool, I'm glad she's on the board!" Fast forward a week or two to when we were again at a meeting and were trying to organize the 'staggered entry' for our eldest kids who were to be starting pre-school...she approached me to see if we could share babysitting for our youngest kids so that we each, as moms, could attend the first day with our older kids. And so began our friendship and the friendship of our four children.

Very early in our conversations we discovered a shared love of photography and, even more amazingly, an interest in operating businesses in the realm of visual art! This meeting has led to such an abundance of friendship, inspiration, and goodwill that I tear up just thinking about it. Our kids interact like cousins and have learned so much from one another. Jill and I have attended photography workshops and classes together and are constantly running ideas past one another and tips on how to do this or that. It has all been so easy, so good, so rewarding.

I am busy...trying to keep a house clean (within reason for it has little ones running through it daily!), trying to keep my family on time, trying to create a successful small business, and trying to stay connected to the family and friends that I sincerely admire, love, and appreciate. I know it is hard to remain open to what 'might' be out there, around the corner, but I feel that the friendship described above and the countless others that I hold dear (new and old) are testament to doing our very best at paying attention to what is out there waiting and available to us.

May this holiday season give you time to ponder what might be waiting for you around the next corner...I wish each person reading this a life filled with new people and experiences to enjoy, together with the pleasure derived from having people in your life who have always been there and shall always be there.

Friendship, kindness, consideration, generosity...may we each give freely and receive even more abundantly.

Life is good,

Lori

Passion is Magnetic...

2010-11-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

We arrived home late last night from an amazing 2 weeks in the DR...it was full of the kind of adventure that can only come from travelling with little ones - simple pleasures and the hillarity found in crazy conversations with a 4 and 5 year old!

Family times aside, I was struck this trip by a few separate incidents that left me even more convinced that passion is magnetic in that the Universe undoubtedly recognizes passion and rewards it. A few of these experiences were in the photographic realm, but one story, that left me teary eyed, was not...

We were a day or two into our vacation and I was committed to making sure that our WHITE skin was lathered in sunscreen...the problem was that the sunscreen was mucking up my wedding ring and it was driving me crazy. So, whilst sitting by the pool, I removed my wedding ring (stupid, I know!) and set it on the towel beside me. Later, I wanted to reapply the kid's sunscreen and so I had my husband put my ring in his pocket. Later still we decided to go check out the beach and do some body surfing, which saw me slather on even more sunscreen onto the kids. We were about ready to pack up and head back to the pool when I realized I didn't have my ring, and neither did my partner. My heart stopped. I have never misplaced my ring and this was WAY worse than that! I ran back to where we'd been at the pool (we couldn't remember if it had been in his pocket, or if I had gotten it back and set it down myself) and started searching the area we'd been...some new friends we'd made and some total strangers were quick to help me look, and the rest of my family soon arrived and they got on goggles to start searching the pool. I decided that we hadn't spent enough time scouring the beach...if that might have been where I'd taken it off? I headed back with one of the kid's sand sifters and got down on my hands and knees and started carefully sifting the sand around the lounge chair I'd been at. It was incredibly difficult to not move too quickly as I was feeling a little frantic, but I knew that sand would be unforgiving with dramatic (flailing) searching and so I was careful. I spent about 15 minutes and was feeling as though I just wasn't going to find it. I sat back on my heels and wondered 'am I actually going to stop looking, what if it IS here?'...it was then that the sun came from behind a cloud just as I turned my head a little and saw a slight glimmer in the sand...and there it was! AMAZING! I still can't believe that we could be so unsure of where it had been lost - between a huge pool, a pool area, lots of people coming and going, and a beach full of sand and folks - and still find it. This wasn't about the price of the ring, this was about finding the ring that my husband had made for me and that has accompanied us throughout our marriage as a symbol of our commitment and love. I truly believe that given a different demeanour, a different relationship, a different desire, the ring would have been lost. Isn't the Universe amazing?!

The second story was photographic, sort of! We had employed the resort photog to do a family portrait session for us and he did the most beautiful job! We LOVE the photos he did for us and I was especially excited as the only family photos we ever have are ones that I take via timer! It was so nice to not worry about the technical stuff whilst still being 'Mom', I could just concentrate on being the client :)! What made the experience infinitely better was that I really liked our photographer...Tom, is a young photog from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and he is equally talented as he is kind. Tom spent lots of time with us both during our family shoot and when he came around the pool and beach each day for photos with an assortment of animals. His photos were all terrific but we'd invested in art and the CD of our family session and so we didn't have enough cash (we had mistakenly assumed we could use credit cards more!) to buy any of the kids shots with the animals. On the second last day, Tom took some photos of the kids with a snake and they were phenomenal. When I saw them I really wanted to buy them, but we didn't have cash and they wouldn't let me use a card for less than US$100 (and the hotel imposes a high tax on credit card purchases anyway). So, I had to try to put the photos out of my head. Tom was unaware of us visiting the shop and seeing the photos, or my disappointment at not being able to bring them home. The next morning, at breakfast, I lamented to my husband and sister that I was sad about not being able to bring home the photos. A few hours later, with only a few hours until our departure for home, we were chillin' at the pool, soaking up as many rays as possible before heading for the snow, when Tom arrived for his daily walk of photos with animals...he had a cd with him of the images he'd taken the day before as a gift for us! Amazing! (I know, I've said AMAZING alot...but it fits!) My husband and sister are both considerably more 'black and white' than I am, but I think it is safe to say that we were all three pretty astounded by the gift!

My point in these, seemingly simple, daily experiences is that the Universe seems to rise up and greet you when you are full of desire, love, and passion. I am still on a journey of fulling giving in to this mentality, but the more I practice living this way the more I am experiencing the terrific benefits!

Hope you are having a passion filled day and life, and that it is drawing in amazing experiences for you!

Life is good!

Lori

PS Photos to follow when I get organized! ;)

Lighting For a 'Form' Shoot

2010-11-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of doing a shoot for a fitness model. When I posted some shots from the session I had enquiries from friends and fellow photogs for what the lighting setup was...see below if this is of interest to you.

She had spent months in preparation for a competition that was held in Calgary on October 23 and she thought her hard work merited being captured in photographs - and I couldn't have agreed more! On the day of the competition her muscles were at their prime (that process is an entirely different discussion, but I will say - MAN, it takes dedication!) and so we wanted to make sure we fit the shoot in between the early judging and the main show that evening.

My client was keen to achieve a few different types of shots: gym shots for her portfolio, shots of her in her competition bikini (for her portfolio and for her), and some classy, form shots. Let me stop here to describe what I mean by 'form', as I am not sure if anyone else uses this as a description! When I say 'form' I envision that we are going to display parts of the body...these aren't boudoir shots, in my opinion, but rather an opportunity to capture images of the person's physique in an artistic way (well, that's the hope!) I have nothing against boudoir (think it's pretty coo actually!) but I think there is a differentiation.

In the gym, I wanted to make sure that any other gym members weren't going to 'appear' in the shots - better for everyone - and so we introduced a flash, which my assistant held, and which was being triggered remotely by a set of Pocket Wizards. This allowed us to capture the client, highlighting her toned muscles and virtually eliminating background distractions.

For her model and form shots I chose a low key approach by using a black seamless paper backdrop and side lighting (side lighting helps accentuate texture by creating shadows). I thought this lighting and black paper would provide a level of sexiness to our shoot and I also thought that her physique would show up really well against the dark background. The lighting (all set up on camera right) included a strip light (16"x48" soft box that modifies a strobe) set beside the backdrop and pointed toward the subject's back to create side lighting. Another strobe with a larger, rectangular soft box was used at about 45° to the subject (as we moved through the shoot the positions varied and, therefore, so did the lighting angles...we used light angles between 30° and 60° to subject and we also varied the height of the light). Because the subject's hair was very dark I knew that we would want to use a light to help separate her hair from the black backdrop, for this we used a flash which was held above her (above and toward the back of her head so as not to fall on her face at all) by my assistant on the shoot. Lastly, I did use a large soft gold reflector on the opposite side of the subject to help fill light a little...this technique did not work as well as I'd hoped, but it did help. In the future I would use a third strobe on low power to do the fill lighting. The lights were all triggered using a Pocket Wizard on my camera with another on the 580 EXII flash, and the two strobes fired as slaves.

There are many ways to light and I am definitely still on the journey of learning lighting techniques...but if what I tried is of help or interest to you, I'm glad to share! Please have a look at a few more shots, below, from this session.

Life is good!

Lori

General Goodwill...

2010-11-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

As this blog-thing is new to me, I have spent a lot of time over the past week or so contemplating just what to share, and the possibilities are, obviously, limitless. So, I've decided on some parameters which, when written down, seem to be best encapsulated by 'general goodwill'. I want to share what I am learning, to show what I'm working on, and to elevate the conversation (hopefully) to a tone of positive attitude and caring. So, we may go on tangents (Lord knows I am good at that!), but you may rely on this being a place you can spend a minute during your busy day without hearing me whine, complain or lay blame.

So, with that thought out there...may I say what a privilege it was to have a maternity session with some new friends. Oswaldo, the dad-to-be, and I were on an intensive photography workshop together last spring and his wife, Janeth, was able to join us on a couple of occasions for socializing. They are WONDERFUL people, full of laughter and joy (the kind that seems to be in South Americans' genes!). When they arrived at my home-studio for our session, they came with gifts for the kids and desserts for all of us! They are smart, generous, caring, and enthusiastic people and they are going to be the kind of parents every kid deserves! Please visit www.bellafaccia.ca to see more of the shots from our session.

I am so grateful to live in a place and in a family where I have the opportunity to pursue this love of photography....I am so grateful that this passion has allowed me to meet new people with whom I hope to share lifetime friendships...I am so grateful.

Happy Sunday, folks!

Lori

WooHoo! A New Blog Spot!

2010-10-28T10:53:00.000-06:00

The past year has been quite a ride...new company, new website, new thoughts and ideas! I have been contemplating creating a blog for a while and, after speaking with a photog friend, I was convinced I should jump on this here blog-wagon sooner rather than later!

In this blog I hope to share what I am up to, of course, but I am also hopeful that this will be a place that we can learn from each other...photographers chatting gear and set-ups, clients chatting with photogs about a myriad of topics (from planning your outfit to why colour management is critical).

I was late to facebook, but I now see, and know, the absolute benefit of being able to share with many in a quick and concise way. I also believe that the act of sharing (info, advice, thoughts, etc.) is a liberating and creativity inspiring act!

So, hope you'll follow along as I travel down this new path.

Lori