Karen Skelly Photography

Fashion Show for the Rifle Chamber of Commerce

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:20:03 PDT

The Rifle Chamber put on a fashion show for the Women in Business luncheon. It was hosted by Trendz Retail Clothing and Miller's Dry Goods & Clothing. The models were some of their customers (and sometimes family). Here are some of the image I shot for them.

Royal Wedding Pizza (huh)

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:20:54 PDT

Ok, shouldn't everyone have their very own pizza for special celebrations. Here's a very funny article:

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2011-04-15/yup-its-the-official-royal-wedding-pizza/

Mother's Day Special

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:49:45 PDT

Mother's Day is 5.8.11 and it's coming quick. Save half on your Portrait Session - this great special will expire on 5.4.11. Here's the ad information. You can also see this on my facebook page at Karen Skelly Photography

Check this out (from Glenwood Springs CO Photographer)

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:36:48 PDT

Great information for brides-to-be from a bride who's been there!
http://everylastdetailblog.com/2011/03/17/thursday-tips-myths-about-wedding-costs/

Travel Photography Tips from your friendly Glenwood Springs CO Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:16:40 PDT

It's getting around that time when people start going on vacation. Here's a few suggestions for getting the best images that you can bring home. Make sure you print these images because they won't last on the internet forever.

1. Read your camera's manual. I know its boring and tedious, but you will be glad you did if you don't totally understand how to use the camera. I've read my manual twice all the way thru (and it's a big manual), and I refer to it now and then when I need a refresher.

2. If you are using a point and shoot camera, you probably won't be able to make any adjustments on the settings. But, you can use Landscape mode to keep the entire area in focus, or you can use Portrait Mode to make the main subject in focus, but the background will be blurry.

3. On a DSLR or other camera where you can adjust the settings, make sure you know how to use them. The aperture (f-stop) controls the amount of your image that is in focus. A f-stop of 2.8 will have very little in focus, just the main subject you have focused on. A f-stop of 16 will have everything in focus. The shutter speed controls subjects that are in motion. If you are photographing a kid moving around, you need a shutter speed of at least 1/125. The ISO controls the amount of light allowed into the image. An ISO of 200 won't allow as much light as ISO 400 or 800. In daylight, ISO 200 is usually sufficient. The aperture and shutter speed also have impact on the amount of light entering your camera's sensor. For instance f/2.8 will allow a lot of light onto the sensor, whereas f/16 allows very little. A shutter speed of 1/25 allows alot of light, whereas 1/250 allows much less. Practice, Practice, Practice! Make different adjustments on these 3 settings to see what happens.

4. The composition of a photograph is very important. Putting the subject dead center is usually pretty boring. The rule of thirds is a guideline - you picture a tic-tac-toe over your image viewer and place your subject at one of the intersections. It's also usually better to pick one part of the landscape and photograph that instead of trying to get everything into the picture. Five mountain peaks will look very small and far away, as opposed to picking one of the peaks and including something in the foreground, like flowers, will look much better.

When photographing people in your landscapes, make sure they don't have trees growing out of their heads and place the person off center to include some of the background so you can show where you are at. Focus your camera on the person, hold the shutter button half way down and then move your camera to include everything you want, then push the shutter all the way. This will keep the person completely in focus.

If you're going somewhere exotic, make sure to include some of the local people, items they may be selling at a bazaar, and architecture.

Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions before you head out. My email is karen@karenskellyphoto.com and phone is 970.625.3468

Professional Photography of the Rios Family

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:19:34 PDT

Awww! Alex is sooo cute. He is just 3 wks old here. I photographed mom, Lydia, when she was pregnant with him just a month or so ago. I also have photographed Alex's older brother, Dante, when he was born and as he's been growing up. Even photographed Lydia when she was pregnant with Dante. They are like my own family now. It's so fun to photograph a family as they are growing up. I love it!

Burger and Cheesy Weddings?

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:46:49 PST

I've been reading that McDonalds in Tokyo is having wedding ceremonies at their stores. Cosco in America is selling wedding dresses. So now, a bride can hop on over to Cosco, buy her dress and then head over to McD's for her wedding ceremony. Do they get to play on all the kiddie playground equipment? I'm calling this "Cheesy Weddings".
What's your opinion of this?

Painting with Light

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:12:36 PST

The word "Photography" means "Painting with Light". So here are some ways photographers paint with light when doing portraits to accentuate the parts of the body and face that you want people to focus on, and divert attention from parts of the body and face that we would like to mask:

* Short Lighting - this is used on a person who is on the heavy side with a round face. The lighting is used
     to make the face and body look thinner. This is a big "Yeah" for a lot of people.

* Broad Lighting - this is the opposite of short lighting. It would be used on a thin person with a long
    narrow face to make the features look softer.

*  Butterfly or Paramount Lighting - this is used on females and is a more glam style of photography. It was
    what was used on the actresses in the 40's and 50's.

* Rembrant Lighting - this is usually used on males to make their faces appear stronger. If you look at
   paintings by Rembrant, one side of the face is usually pretty dark with a small triangle of light on the dark
    side.

When a photographer sets up a consultation with you for a portrait session, they should be evaluating your features to determine how they will set up their lights. That's one of the things that distinguishes a professional from a non-professional photographer. Feel free to email me with any questions: karen@karenskellyphoto.com

Wedding Images from Glenwood Springs CO Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:21:05 PST

I photographed this wedding about a year and half ago. It was a great wedding and I thought it would be fun to find a couple of images to play around with and see if I could change the way they looked - maybe make them more antiquey (is that a word) looking. In the second photograph, they are getting pelted with birdseed. So, here they are. Any comments are appreciated.

SEO for websites from Glenwood Springs CO Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:55:36 PST

Here's some good information for any of you trying to get your seo working for google searches.
http://www.hubspot.com/download-imk

Try it out and let me know what you think. Thanks, Karen

Wedding Blogs from Glenwood Springs CO Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:03:47 PST

If any of you are getting married or if you're a photographer, there are some great wedding blogs out there in cyberspace that are so inspirational and have great ideas. These are just a few. Check them out:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/
http://www.bridaltweet.com/
http://www.bridalbuzz.com/
http://www.getmarried.com/

Enjoy, and let me know how you use these in your wedding or your business.

How to Use the New Facebook Photo Viewer as a Marketing Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:47:45 PST

This could be useful for any of you that have a business facebook page. I intend to try this out as soon as I come up with a great idea. Here's the link: http://www.marismith.com/how-to-use-facebook-photo-viewer-as-marketing-tool/

Portrait of Dante at Studio in Rifle CO

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:27:16 PST

This is a portrait of Dante - he's 3 1/2 yrs old. He just got a brand new brother. I'm hoping to take some images of the new baby and will post them later.

Posing from Glenwood Springs CO Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:19:37 PST

Great posing and lighting can make you look 10 lbs thinner!

Tips for chosing the right Vendor for your Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:38:16 PST

I know how stressful and confusing it is for couples to plan a wedding. They don't always know the right questions to ask and just want to know the price without getting good additional information - so I hope this report helps out.

* Meet with the photographer or vendor to get a feel for their personality and to see first hand the style of work they do. You should also be able to view some album samples which look much better in person. If this is not possible, have a phone conversation with them. Do your homework by checking testimonials on their websites - you can even ask for those past client's phone numbers and/or email addresses. Most will be happy to let you know how the vendor worked with them.

* Ask if they use a contract. If they don't, move on - the contract protects you and them - a verbal agreement won't hold up in court if something goes wrong. Also ask if they have liability insurance - you want a YES on this one. This will protect you if there is an accident on your wedding day. It also shows the vendor is a responsible professional.

* Please don't chose your photographer based only on price. Photography is not a commodity like buying a car or a pair of jeans. (Although, I would pay a higher price for a quality pair of jeans because I know they will last longer and fit better). So, in a sense you should check the quality and the fit of your photographer. If you have a family member or friend do your wedding photography, ask around to other brides who have done this and see what they say. I've heard from brides who totally regret this decision because there is no Do-Over for your wedding. I helped a bride recover a "few" of her wedding photos from a friend, who, although well meaning, did a terrible job. She came out with around 10 so-so images that could only be printed at a 4x6 size.

* Does the photographer or vendor offer a guarantee? My business offers a 100% guarantee that you will LOVE your images. If you don't, I will refund the entire amount you have paid. If a vendor is confident with their work, this shouldn't be an issue.

* The old saying that "You get what you pay for" is so very true. It isn't possible for anyone to offer the highest quality, the best service, and the cheapest price at the same time. They wouldn't be able to stay in business. If you want the best quality and the best service from your vendor, make sure price is not your number one consideration. Find a way to pay a little more - especially for photography because the images and albums are all you will have left of your wedding, and those memories are priceless!

* Since my specialty is the photography, here are a few other things to consider.

-Taking pictures is not just a matter of pushing the shutter button - you might get lucky sometimes, but having consistently good images takes much more. Professional Photographers are trained in proper posing, exposure, and lighting to get the best images all of the time.

-Your photographer should have at least two cameras and two off-camera pieces of lighting equipment and know how to use them in manual mode (which is only available on more professional DSLRs). The word "Photography" means "Painting with Light". That is the most important aspect of photography.

-If possible, chose your photographer before anything else, including the location of your wedding. They can sometimes be really helpful in suggesting a great place where your images will turn out beautifully. Having to photograph a wedding where there is no shaded areas or anything to use as a background only makes your images that much harder to make beautiful. As they say "Location, Location, Location".

-Please try to set aside enough time for the photographer to capture all the images you have dreamed about. Make sure they are involved in all the details of your wedding and let them know what you and your fiance like to do. Some cool ideas can evolve from your hobbies, etc.

-Most photographers, including myself, are more than willing to travel anywhere you need them, whether that's an hour from their studio or to another state or country, to make sure you have the best for your wedding.

Please feel free to give me a call if you have any other questions or concerns about your wedding photographer or other vendor. I would be happy to help you out. My phone number is 970.625.3468 and my email is karen@karenskellyphoto.com.

Video with your Photographs

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:06:27 PST

If you have looked at my website and checked out the "Investment" page (Under Galleries), you'll see that I offer video clips of your wedding day in some of my Collections. This is something fairly new that many photographs don't offer. If it is a part of your wedding that I think should have a video clip and still images, my assistant will take the still images for your Album. The video clips are then included into the DVD Slideshow along with still images set to music. How cool is that!

Lydia's Maternity Images

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:06:48 PST

Lydia is such a beautiful woman. This is her second pregnancy - her first was 3 yrs ago when she had Dante, the little boy in the photograph. I photographed her 1st pregnancy and then all the images of Dante as he's been growing up. Can't wait to photograph the new baby - although I'm pretty sure she's more anxious than me!

What it costs to run a photography business

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:27:57 PST

Ok, for anyone interested in why professional photography may seem to cost a lot, check out this blog. It pretty much sums everything up.

http://chrisheatherlilly.com/?p=5318

Jennie's Quinceanera

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:18:18 PST

This video is of Jennie with her Court performing the Waltz at Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs CO. There are parts where I wished I could have backed up a little, but there was a gaggle of kids parked right behind me and tables and on both sides. Oh well!

Peterson Family in Rifle CO

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:59:56 PST

It was a cold, snowy day when we were out taking these images. You can see the Petersen Family were real troopers, braving the cold. They were happy to go inside for some warmer portraits.

Certified Professional Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:54:42 PST

WooHoo, I have attained one of my goals in my photography business - I passed the certification process to become a Certified Professional Photographer through the Professional Photographic
Certification Commission. It was a tough process - had to pass a 100 question test and then submit 20 images from 20 different photo shoots that were judged on technical aspects like lighting, exposure and posing. All 5 judges had to agree on all 20 images for them to pass. I will continue learning and studying because I love this business and I hope it shows in my images. Thank you to all my clients and friends who have allowed me to be their photographer.

Ray and Courtney at Two Rivers Convention Center, Grand Jct CO

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:50:41 PST

Ray and Courtney were married 11.20.10 at Two Rivers Convention Center in Grand Junction CO - it was just a gorgeous location and wedding. Ray is in the airforce stationed in FL and Courtney was working at Grand River Medical Center in Rifle, but is now moving to FL to be with her new hubby.

The Seibert Family

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:49:41 PST

This is AJ, Heather, Peydon and Paycee. Paydon is now 3 yrs old, but I photographed him when he was just around 4 months old, same age as Paycee is now.

Sarah and her Boa

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:17:08 PDT

We decided to have a little fun with Sarah. She was cracking up as I was saying "Work it Girl"!

Getting Published!

noreply@blogger.com (Glenwood Springs CO Photographer) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:05:56 PDT

I was just contacted by High Country Wedding Magazine because they were searching the area for wedding photographers and found my website. They want to publish some of my images - how cool is that. I am super excited. Of course, now I'll probably have to place an ad in the mag also, but hopefully it will pay off. Yahoo!