When I don’t have money for or access to something I need or want, I am really good at pulling it (or something like it) out of thin air. I’m not sure this is always a good thing (as I noted at The High Calling yesterday), but sometimes, being resourceful comes in really handy.
In high school, I learned to play the piano so I could accompany my own singing. I also taught myself to play the flute so I could get into a college band during my senior year. A few years ago, used trial and error to figure out how to take my own headshots using a mirror and a handheld camera. Yesterday, I hired myself to take my own headshots, for real. I did my hair and makeup (inspired by my dork moment the other day – seriously dorkiness never really goes to waste), dressed for my shoot idea, and went to work.
I was a little uncertain as to how things were going to come out until the sun came in onto the floor just below and behind me. I pulled out a piece of white posterboard to catch the light and send it back up, double-and-triple-checked my settings, and shot and shot and shot. Then I put them into processing. The exposure was practically perfect to begin (Yay! My practice is paying off!) and I singled out the colors I wanted to saturate while trying a new approach with the blacks in the images.
The resulting images are some of the loveliest I’ve ever produced – and I’m speaking as a perfectionist photographer, not as a girl who is stuck on her own prettiness. I’ve included some of the mirror framing here just for you, because I thought it added a neat element to the photos.
P.S. That smile that actually made it to my eyes? Yeah, that’s all about the light. I was happy.
Wow! The light, the color, YOU…gorgeous!
Shelli Bourque recently posted..an unlikely means: on text mentoring
Thank you, Shelli! I wrote this post this afternoon through a haze of pain – totally knocked my arm out doing this shoot, so I didn’t realize just HOW conceited I came off sounding here! I am glad for your grace, and glad to “hear” your voice here!
Lovely, Kelly. Pictures of confidence, not self-consciousness.
Maureen recently posted..Saturday Sharing (My Finds Are Yours)
Once that light came in, I knew they were going to be good – It’s weird seeing myself here, though!
Your photographer did a great job! :)
Cheryl Smith recently posted..Extravagant Grace
LOL!!!
Really wonderful pictures, a beautiful YOU.
Thank you, Sharon – you’re always so kind!
Wow.
Ann Kroeker recently posted..Shine
Yes, wow. That is exactly how I feel. I know it’s my work, but it’s my work as I actually see my work. It’s such a strange feeling!
You didn’t come off conceited, you came off sounding pleased with a job well done. Of course, you look incredibly elegant and happy in so many of those pictures. Great, great job.
SaraJ recently posted..2011 in Review – DJ
Sara, thanks for this. I’m encouraged, and not quite so self-conscious now. :-) I hope you had a great weekend!
I love a girl who isn’t afraid of her beauty. Self-portraits help you face the fear {helped me anyway…tried it for the first time last year}. Thanks for sharing!
LLH Designs recently posted..Talk About A Gorgeous Kitchen!
[...] may not be so busy on my blog lately, but I’ve been quite busy on the back end. My recent headshots were just one project in a series of projects to further strengthen and define my visual and [...]