I’ve had a lot of questions about booking The Art of Real Life sessions, but I wasn’t quite ready to go live with them until recently, and I wanted to do so in a way that would celebrate the little things that can go unnoticed, but that make life worth living. I’m fortunate to spend quite a bit of time around amazing mothers, and they are high on my list of the “things” that enrich my everyday existence in big and small ways.

So, officially introducing The Art of Real Life sessions to A. E. Wiley Photography seems like an especially appropriate way to celebrate Mother’s Day, and to give a meaningful gift to the mothers and grandmothers out there who often find themselves behind the cameras rather than in the pictures of their families.

If you love what a friend calls “the preciousness of real life” and would like to have yours photographed professionally, you can drop your husband a hint in the form of a link to this post or pass along my email address ~ beth@aewileyphotography.com ~ or my phone number (919.624.1633). I’ll be happy to chat with him about the specifics and to reassure him that he can wear whatever he wants in these photographs.

The Details | Mother’s Day Art of Real Life Session Special
2 hours of photography in your Triangle-area home
A custom 8×8 album of your favorite ten images
$485 (regularly $625)

The number of sessions available is limited. All sessions will be scheduled based on mutual availability and must be photographed during 2012. You will receive a gift certificate to present on Mother’s Day and, we are guessing, quite a few points in the thoughtful husband (or son) column.

And because it isn’t a good blog post without some images, a few photographs of The Art of Our Real Life from the past few days:

H seemed to know that she was indeed queen of the morning, and she posed perfectly wherever we set her down. It is amazing to me how much babies change and how rapidly, and at the same time how apparent a person’s defining characteristics are even in the earliest photographs. I’m guessing that this sweet baby grows up into a graceful little girl who instinctively sits like a lady, uses proper table manners, and generally makes all of our grandmothers proud.

Little Miss Regal couldn’t have been more cooperative, and I have made a mental note to take her mama shopping with me when/if I ever get my act together to dress my daughter like a girl. Now if I can just talk her dad into putting a name decal on our nursery wall…

Thank you so much for the chance to photograph your happy life.

As always, please feel free to share these images digitally. Please leave them as is, with the watermark intact. They are optimized for the web and will not print acceptably.

W is a cooperative little guy ~ he slept through the M-Dogs’ attentions and barks, got photographed with a combination of heirloom and brand new outfits chosen especially for his first portrait session, and is almost certainly going to root for the Blue Devils. So, I may be a little in love.

Given that at a couple of months old he’s been throwing things out of his crib and rolling over (!) for several weeks, I think that he’s earned the nickname Baby Superman.

Here are a few of my favorites…

One of my favorite newborn portraits ever. (I’ll try to snap a shot of W’s canvas that arrived yesterday, too ~ can’t wait to see it on the wall.)

I love those sweet moments between a new mother and her child.

And an adorable outfit made just for Baby Superman.

One of the best surprises of this session was being greeted by Little Miss L’s big sister in a princess dress that she had chosen herself ~ a carnation pink confection worthy of any dance recital, Disney trip, or tea party in these parts ~ and that was perfect for photographs.

Together and separately, these partners in cute made a really fun morning of photography and soaking up the little girl atmosphere that my home (at least for a few more months) lacks. Not that the basketballs and Wolfpack t-shirts that dominate my decor aren’t cute in their own way, too. But there’s just something about little girls…

From the tiny bundle that “posed” so cooperatively

From the Big Sister outfit that I could not have planned better myself,

To the care that Big Sis showed when she *finally* got to hold her little sister

Thank you for inviting me into your home to photograph such a fun session.

So now that the fall crazy is over (I think I’m down to ONE more 2011 session to blog), I thought that it would be fun to do a little series on photography for mamas (and daddies), following up on the Clickin’ Mamas workshops that we did in 2011 (and amenable to being read in the comfort of your climate controlled home, rather than in the sweltering/freezing temps that mamas have endured at our workshops so far).

Please feel free to leave comments here or on my FB page with your questions, your opinions, to let me know how useful this first installment is (or isn’t), to suggest future topics, etc. All of what follows is my opinion ~ there’s no photography gospel, but hopefully we can have a little fun talking clickin’, cameras, etc.

Beth’s Mini Guide to Buying a New Family Camera:

One thing that people talk a lot about that really is *not* a factor to worry much about: How many megapixels does the camera have? As long as you’re over about 5-6MP, that spec is not especially useful. Sensor size has more to do with image quality than megapixel count alone does, and you can actually get lower image quality by cramming too many MP on a small sensor. As a frame of reference, my first DSLR had 8.2MP and made nice 24×30 prints given that the file was good to start with. I took a workshop years ago with a man who made billboards from his images out of a camera with fewer than 6MP. Also, more megapixels = larger files = more taxing on your computer and more space required to store. Fine if you need them, but more isn’t necessarily better.

The Two Main Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy:
1) What is the main purpose of buying a new camera? (The more specific you can be about what you want to be able to do with your new camera, the better)
and
2) How much time do you want to invest learning how to use your new camera?

Some possible answers to Question #1:
* To get a camera that takes a picture immediately when I press the shutter button
* To get a camera that takes better pictures in _________ (gymnasiums, low light, dance recitals, etc.)
* To get close-up shots when I’m in the stands at my kid’s ballgames
* To get a camera that will allow me more control over the settings
* To get a camera that will allow me to get decent pictures on auto

Some possible answers to Question #2:
* 5 minutes and I’ll be drying my hair at the same time ~ did I mention that it needs to take good pictures on auto?
* Realistically, I’m willing to spend an hour or two learning a little about how the camera works while the battery charges.
* I see this as a major hobby and want a camera that will grow with me as I learn for at least a year or two.

The answers to these questions will help you get the best value for your budget when you buy a new camera.

Camera Phones:

Where Camera Phones Shine: I love my camera phone, and it’s (shhhh) a Droid model.

Source: http://android-apps.com/articles/report-htc-droid-incredible-to-receive-android-2-2-starting-august-18/

I nearly always have my phone with me, and that’s its strongest point. It lets me photograph little things that I would miss otherwise. I also love that a few clicks let me send a photo of D to Facebook, grandparents, etc. ~ so the fact that it’s there and it’s easy are big points in its favor. If you have an iPhone, extra cool points for getting to make Instagrams.

Drawbacks/Considerations: On the one hand, I truly believe that the photographer is the most important element in producing an image, and that any camera is just a tool. I have a fairly old film camera that I am really happy with in terms of image quality, and I’ve honestly seen loads of bad photographs from really capable cameras. I also love the collections of iPhone images that show just how much you can do with a camera phone. But my experience is that the image quality from my Droid in most cases doesn’t compare to snaps out of almost any real camera, and the more challenging the conditions, the worse my camera phone does. It doesn’t help the camera’s performance that the situations where I want it ~ those when I don’t have a real camera handy ~ are usually tough in terms of the subject (moving children) and the situation (often low/bad light where I have little time and little control). But if the proof is in the pudding, I’d say that the images out of my camera phone are instant pudding at best ~ good for having captured moments that I’d have missed otherwise but bad in terms of image quality.

On a related note, most of us just don’t back camera phone images up (I’m a fanatical backer-upper, and I am not great about it with my phone, either). The portability that makes camera phones great also makes them even more vulnerable than other cameras to image loss (whether through memory failure, loss of the actual phone, or accidental drowning/smashing/washing/etc. Bottom Line: Great for quick shots of little things that you’d miss otherwise; not a substitute for a family camera in my opinion.

Point and Shoot Cameras:
(For my purposes, we’ll say that any small camera with a single lens that cannot be switched out is a p&s; prices range from $50-$600ish depending on features.)

Where P&S Cameras Shine: I think that these are the unsung heroes of photography today. If you want a portable camera that is meant to take good photographs on auto right out of the box, P&S cameras are a good option. Imo, DSLRs get the attention, but point and shoots come in a huge range of price points and offer all sorts of combinations of features that make them a great option for families. The best ones are in the price range of entry-level DSLRs and offer similar image quality and manual control. In that price bracket ($500-600 or so), you’ll get good low light performance, the ability to shoot in auto, semi-auto, and manual modes fairly easily, and very good image quality in a very small and portable package. In the $200-$400 range, you can find good image quality, a nice range of features, and cameras that are meant to be shot primarily in auto modes. Almost any of them will take better photographs than a camera phone while still being easy to throw in a purse, diaper bag, beach tote, etc. To me, that last concern is a big one ~ I’m mostly past the diaper bag phase (for a little while anyway), but I usually have a giant mom purse and a snack bag with me when I am out. I really have to think hard about whether to add an additional bag to carry my DSLR. And don’t even get me started about taking it on a plane.

Drawbacks/Considerations: The two main potential drawbacks, which vary with price and model, are shutter lag and sensor size. A long interval of shutter lag is a big problem if you’re photographing children and is probably the most common complaint that I hear from people looking to upgrade their cameras. The term refers to the time between your pressing the shutter button and the camera’s snapping the picture, and if your child is more than about 5 days old, you know that it is really annoying. You can find the shutter lag in the specs of cameras that you’re considering (quoted as a fraction of a second), but my advice is to try actual cameras with your actual children to see whether a camera you’re considering is fast enough. Some things that slow P&S cameras down ~ auto face/smile detection and red-eye reduction. Turn those off to see the best case scenario for a camera’s shutter lag (provided that you’re willing to leave the off in real life). Some P&S cameras have done a great job of controlling shutter lag, and others have a bad case of it. Very generally, less expensive cameras have a longer lag time. The smaller sensor size of P&S cameras is their other main possible drawback. The smaller sensors do affect image quality negatively (particularly in challenging circumstances like low light). The main question here is, again imo, is the image quality good enough for what you want to do? (That’s true for any camera.) In many cases I believe that the answer is yes, particularly with mid-range and higher-end models, given their other advantages.

Next installment: Entry-Level DSLRs

If you’re a local mom, be sure to check out the Stroller Strides of Raleigh Facebook page for more information about the workout schedule, Body Back (a new fitness program to help mamas get back into shape months or years after having little ones), and kid-friendly events going on all the time. This organization and its events are one of my best local “finds” since becoming a mom ~ I’ve met lots of people I count as good friends (and co-conspirators as we team up to thwart tantrums in the mall).

Thank you to all of the moms who entered the drawing at my table yesterday. I’m excited to announce that Crystal won the A. E. Wiley Photography portrait session drawing, which includes a session and a matted, signed 8×10 Signature Print. Crystal ~ I just sent you an email with the details and am looking forward to photographing your little ones!

Here is the play by play of D choosing Crystal as our winner!

The entries:

Making his selection:

We have a winner:

Showing off his choice:

Double-checking ~ Reminiscent of Florida in 2000:

Sibling shots are often one of my favorite parts of newborn sessions ~ I love the challenge of navigating the New Sibling Invasion and the psychological stuff that it can bring (Jonathan and I are both oldest kids, after all), and I find that some of the most tender moments that I get to photograph occur as a big brother or sister is contemplating the newborn that just arrived… to stay.

I have to say that my favorite newborn sib shot of all time is one from this session ~ read on to see the image and the reason why it gets a super superlative.

But first, meet The Divine Miss M

Her fun-loving family

And her delightful big brother

And the shot that made me tear up when I shot it ~ Big Bro S is pretty attached to this blanket, but M was fussy, and he thought that his new baby sister might need it. So, with his parents watching (but with no prompting whatsoever) and me scrambling to get my camera focused without intruding, S offered M his special blue blanket.

Amanda and José’s Rose Garden Wedding and reception at Caffé Luna in downtown Raleigh truly incorporated the best of everything to celebrate their marriage ~ a perfect fall day, rose bushes overflowing with blooms, food that was to-die-for, and especially family from near and far that came to support A+J, to offer toasts that were among the most touching (and in some cases hilarious) that I’ve heard, and to *dance.*

Here are some of my favorite images from their day. It was a privilege to photograph your wedding, and I’m enjoying working on your album.

Getting Ready at Amanda’s (antique filled) childhood home.

Color and smiles dominated the sun soaked reception at the Raleigh Rose Garden in Downtown Raleigh.

I love it when the bride and the venue are flexible enough to allow me a spot where I can catch the first moment that the bride sees her groom…

And the first moment that the groom sees his bride…

And grins like crazy.

And from their fantastic reception at Caffé Luna in Downtown Raleigh ~ great food, great toasts, and some serious dance moves.

A great shot of Amanda’s dance with her father ~ by my awesome second shooter, Libby Hubscher of Gallant Fox Gallery:

One of the coolest things about our planning for this session was that LMC’s parents brought up getting some shots of Mom and Dad in addition to our main focus of capturing some toddling adorable. I try to talk all parents into doing a few of these ~ how easy is it to be caught up in parenthood and to forget that you are married rather than partners in Raising Baby, Inc.? ~ so it was great to know that couple shots were also a priority. The last shot is one that I especially love because it is just fun to photograph a man who adores his wife. For myself, it is a little too easy to get lost in the day-to-day of running a household and a business, and I treasure the reminders that I actually am in love with this other person who lives at my house. The taller one too, not just the little one. Probably T and M have more perspective and don’t need these reminders quite the way that I do, but anyway I like to catch a guy looking like he is the luckiest man around because he found *this* woman and convinced her to marry him. Fortunately M looks like that a fair amount, so I got several opportunities.

As an aside, T has great portrait fashion ~ these are definitely on my 2011 list of best family photograph outfits. Everyone looks comfortable, stylish, like “them,” AND they mesh well with the environment.

So, without further writing from me, here are a few of my favorites from a recent session at Yates Mill (where all of the mill restoration and most of the tornado repairs seem to be complete).

I have to give a nod to K about choosing fantastic outfits that photograph extremely well ~ a great mix of colors in well fitting clothes that really flatter. And awesome red shoes. Possibly I need to have her come and make over my wardrobe. And here’s what I love about K’s mom, or two of the things at least: 1) she has raised two daughters who are great students, incredibly polite and pleasant to be around, and who act like being all of that is No Big Deal; and 2) she has found a graceful place where she is the mom but she doesn’t have to make all of the decisions. I saw a lot of kids and a lot of parents in my “former life,” and what you guys have is a Very Big Deal. Hat’s off, plain and simple.

So, I know that K and especially her dad are excited to see some of her senior portraits. Thank you for being patient ~ I hope that you enjoy a few of my favorites (and K’s) from her session, and thanks so much for the opportunity to make these photographs.

{As always, please feel free to use these images for email, Facebook, etc. Please leave them as they are, with the watermark intact. They are sized for efficient loading via the Internet and will not make acceptable prints.}