Albany NY Fine Art Portrait Photographer » family, couples and individual portraits that reflect heartwarming genuine interactions

The weather has been so delightful this week/weekend. I can’t drink in this beauty of spring enough. Being outdoors makes me so happy:)

The other day I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet little angel. How precious is she? She picked me flowers ~ we wore flowers in our hair ~ she sat in my lap and giggled at her own pictures ~ she snuggled with her pink blankie and pointed out where bits of leaves had clung to the softness of it ~ while spendingthis time with her ~ taking her picture ~ the sun dancingthrough the leaves ~ giggling together, I felt like one of the luckiest people……there are so many more but I just had to get a sneak peek up for her family.

Instead of dragging this out I decided to make a list of the things I loved about the PPSNYS Convention

1 – Rod Evans sharing a tidbit I have already impressed someone with:) There was a study (I have to research to find it) that having large portraits of your children in the home has a positive affect on their self esteem. Makes sense right?

2- All the facebook tips Rod shared as well as his slideshows. That man totally ROCKS senior portraits. He is fabulous!

3- Seeing Kevin Kubota. During his first presentation he revealed his hilarious sense of humor and by the end my cheeks and belly ached from laughing so raucously. He has a sense of humor that just builds on itself….half the time you can’t tell if he actually knows how hilarious he is.

4- Having Kevin go through his photographs with us – discussing his thought process while shooting. I learned so much. Thanks Kevin!

5- Kevin showing us his workflow and organization methods. Wow! I think what he taught us, has saved me a part time work week already. The man is a lightroom genius.

6 – Most of the presenters I saw spoke about how they wrote their goals down-they made them specific and it is to them a big part of why they are successful.

7-After asking what Kevin thought was so pivotal about writing down your goals (I am pretty reisstant to doing this:) When John Bagdovitz (a stanger at the time) tapped me on the shoulder and said “it makes them more real”. This was the simple and to the point answer I needed and also gave me a chance to talk to John more – to learn that not only is he a fabulous photographer, but he is a mounted police officer. I am have been looking for a chance to photograph horses and now hopefully I will get a chance to photograph him and his horse this spring.

8- Meeting and dining with some lovely ladies who were so warm, friendly and fun. Ladies one of you doesn’t have a web site on your card and the other I never got to take your card.

9- Sitting in on the print competition judging. Fascinating and educational to hear what and how the judges judged the photographs on. It gave me courage to enter next year.

10- Kevin sharing his big break-that cam from entering a magazine photo contest. He gave all of us a push and I think a big enough one where I will start entering some. It didn’t dawn on me that it would be a great learning experience, I have been too wrapped up in the nerves of it:)

11- Going to the trade show and trying out the Canon 5d markII. This is something I envision every morning of holding and being able to try it out gave me solid perspective on what a full frame sensor can do- never mind the saturation, clarity and video capabilities.

12- Being able to see all the gorgeous stuff from Design Revolution in person. What cute stuff!!!!!

13 – Meeting David Jay and getting to hear him present. I find him to be such an inspiration – he made some fabulous book recommendations and conveyed the importance of a photographer realizing they are essentially the product and to not burn ourselves out, to learn to outsource and make things simplier so that we can focus most of our attention on the client. I learned alot form him and gained the insight I needed to branch out into wedding photography. Thanks DJ!

14. Talking with Jenn who works with Magic Moments photography in Rochester. She is a shining star and I have a feeling she will go really far in this business.

15. It felt great to be part of a conference of professional photographers. I met so many wonderful people and am thrilled I joined the PPSNY organization this year.

I wrote a bit ago about Amy Seeley and have her song playing here on my blog (thanks amy for your permission). This morning I came across this amazing vimo from Still Motion Photo on Amy…….amazing!!!!!!! If possible I am even more in love with her music after watching this….I am sure you will be too:)

my favorite storm // amy seeley from StillMotion on Vimeo.

I am officially putting out to the universe a call for a videographer to team up with me to create a video combined with photographs for my blog/website. If you know one or are interested please email me thea@theacoughlin.com

I have decided to include a little interview of sorts with the portraits I post from last years Squam Art Workshops.

Here is the first:

Me:  Hi Kathleen! Thank you for being my first interview:) I  remember seeing you in around the grounds and in the dining hall and being enamored with your beautiful face and hair.
Finally I got the nerve to ask you to let me take a few photographs of you. I hope I wasn’t too forward.LOL.

Kathleen:  Oh, wow. Thanks for the amazing compliments. I was also so intrigued by you! You were clearly MANIFESTING your dreams in such a big way – it was so inspiring!

Me:  Thanks Kathleen! Being the event photographer for Squam last year WAS a manifestation of my dreams. Elizabeth has a way of assisting everyone she meets in doing just this. That is one of the main reasons why going to Squam is such an amazing gift to give ourselves. Can you share with us how you came to Squam last year ?

Kathleen: Well, my story is actually a little heavy. Squam was in the beginning of September, 2008. My husband had been in a serious car accident on June 4, 2008. By mid-August, we had been home from the hospital for a few weeks, and it was clear that he would have an amazing, complete recovery (which he has – sitting next to me, working on his computer right now!). This was amazing news, and gave me the space to completely fall apart! My mom saw the state I was in and so sweetly offered to send me somewhere for a few days to rejuvenate. I mulled it over and could not come up with much that felt at all inspiring, and then I remembered reading about Squam on Andrea’s amazing blog (http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/) and I knew that was IT. I went to the website, registered and just enjoyed the anticipation!

Me: Wow- that is pretty intense. I am happy to hear your husband is doing well. It sounds like your mom is very in tune with you and what you need. I am uber happy you ended up at Squam and I had a chance to meet you.

Me: Is there anything you would like to share with someone that may be thinking about going to Squam but feels a little intimidated?

Kathleen: Just go! Everyone I spoke to had been worried about seventh-grade-lunchroom-esque scenarios, and we all learned that we are grown ups and that stuff just doesn’t happen any more! The woods, the lake, the people and the art were nourishing beyond my wildest dreams. I felt like myself for the first time in months. I am having a really hard time refraining from enumerating all the wonderful moments in effusive prose. Go make soulful art in the woods!

Me: I second that advice! Kathleen thank you for talking with me about all of this and allowing me to share your story and your photographs here on my blog.

Kathleen: Thanks for these images, your sweet, sparkling nature and for the chance to share, Thea! Cheers!