Rejoice Photography

Gavin Docherty

2010-03-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

I took pictures of a movie star! Well, maybe not quite yet, but Gavin has just the kind of baby blues that look great in technicolor. Today was the perfect day to do head shots for this budding actor

And Gavin was a pleasure to work with. He has a wonderful smile and a great personality
I had to keep asking him NOT to smile, so the shot below, which I was trying to get, (all you parents know the one I mean, the moody teenager) well, it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.

The camera really liked Gavin, and somehow I think a lot of girls are going to too!

A fresh start -

2009-05-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

I am really behind on my photography work. A few weeks ago I did a shoot for my new friend Jennifer Stambaugh, and I am just now getting around to posting the pictures

Jen recently started doing make up for various occasions like weddings and plays and discovered she was really good at it. Like everything that one is truly good at, she also really likes it. So Jen asked me to come take some "before" and "after" shots of some of her friends that she was doing make up for, so she can show her perspective clients examples of her work.

It was a lot of fun to watch Jen work her magic

And the transformations were lovely.

I won't show you the before pictures because I really don't think the ladies would appreciate that. Not that they were not beautiful before their make up, but I did try to shoot their "before" shots in a no nonsense way, and frankly they came out looking like mug shots.

It was really fun having all ages of women there. I loved the fresh look Jen gave the youngest model.

All the Ladies looked amazing.

And in the end there was even time to shoot a quick family portrait, when this brave dad came to collect his daughter.

Thanks for inviting me Jen. Lets do it again sometime soon.

2009-04-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago, I had the joy of photographing Lindsay and Mark again. I had done family pictures last fall, when Lindsay had just found out she was carrying her second child. Now she is about ready to pop! But still beautiful.

Mark and Lindsay are such a cute couple, and boy does the camera love them. Yes, Mark too even though he doesn't think so.

Ruby was not in the mood to have her picture taken, but I managed to snap this one of all FOUR of them before she was off to more important activities.

I love shooting this sweet family and can't wait to get my hands on that new little one.

Winter

2009-03-04T03:50:00.000-08:00

What is it about winter that makes me want to hunker down and put my camera away. Oh, sure I take the occasional icicle picture or the shot of the snow on the pine tree but generally I am less inspired in winter. I have heard other photographers have the same feelings, though some seem to thrive shooting the bleak grays skies and brown barren trees. I am a photographer who loves warmth. Maybe it is the result of being raised in sunny California. Winter there is green and summer is brown, but with plenty of green trees and blue skies.
This winter I did pull my camera out long enough to shoot a couple of shots of the same pier and light house that I shot last autumn in Michigan.

The landscape had greatly changed however. Lake Michigan looked more like the Artic sea. I hope you like the pictures. I am not sure I do.

EXODUS GUITARS

2008-12-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

Last night on short notice I got to shoot some pictures of one of one of my friend Jeffs guitars. Jeff decided a few years ago to become a luthier, and Exodus guitars was born. He has already produced a few beautiful, completely handmade guitars. This one is about to become the christmas present of a very lucky young man! These instruments are really beautiful. I hope the next time I get to shoot one, I will have a little more time to really do it justice!

They sound amazing too. I was seriously afraid Jeff was going to have to fight my husband to get it back! Email me if you want more information on Exodus Guitars!

Mark and Lindsay

2008-11-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was blessed to be able to shoot family pictures of Mark and Lindsay and their 2 yr old Ruby! Lindsay is the daughter of one of my husbands BEST friends, and Mark is a student and part time employee of our church

It was a beautiful day, the fall colors were magnificent. The weather was perfect and this couple is adorable as you can tell from these
shots. It was fun watching their little family together

When we first talked Lindsay told me she wanted shots that really reflected the love they had for each other. It wasn't hard to capture that, because they were just so sweet together.

Lindsay is expecting their second child, (Hope that wasn't a secret)

Its hard to shoot a toddler because they are so busy, and at two they are so independent. Ruby is really good natured, even at two!

As we were leaving we came upon this canon and decided it would be the perfect location for
their Christmas Card shot! Somehow I suspect they were not 100 % serious about that.

Fall in Michigan

2008-10-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

Day One: Last weekend, a friend and I drove up to the Harbor Country in SW Michigan. The 5 1/2 hr drive up flew by as we caught up on each others lives.

We had dinner in the quaint little town of St. Joseph where we met a few of the locals.

Then we went back to our rooms at the Union Pier Summer house.

Day Two: The room was just a short walk to the beach.

The early morning clouds were amazing and they reflected in the water on the shore.

After breakfast we headed inland a little ways to explore. At Dinges Farm we saw some really unusual pumpkins.

Everywhere you looked the trees were beautiful.

Then it was back to the lake and a visit to the town of Saugatuck, (not pictured) and South Haven where we visited the harbor. It was getting late in the day and the water was so still and lovely.

As if the lake would not be outdone by the fall foliage, the day ended in a blaze of color as we watched the sun set from the beach and pier at South Haven.

Day Three:
We started the day by climbing a 240 ft high sand dune.

A stop for Michigan Apples

Then it was off to the Michigan Wine country.

Round Barn Winery has a unique "resturant" that was closed for the season, but we managed to get inside for a peak a the beautiful ceiling.

Michigan is a beautiful state, especially in the fall. We had a wonderful time

Reflections

2008-09-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

I went out this morning on a mission. Get a decent reflection shot. My patient husband agree to be my model, even though I know he feels awkward doing it. We went to a lovely cemetary in Cincinnati. Unfortunately the grounds had sustained a great deal of damage from Hurricane IKE that tore thru our area about two weeks ago. There was a lot of debris that had blown everwhere including in the water. Even so the results were not a complete disaster.

I like the way the tree in the background reflects on its mirror image on the water. This was a really beautiful spot.

I couldn't resist posting this shot, even though it isn't part of my assignment. I just think this guy is handsome

No reflections here, I just loved this old family crypt. The door itself was beautiful. The Cross became so pronounced when I framed up this shot

Dan found a tree he wanted to take home!

More Reflections

Other shots from the day

Ever get to wondering?

2008-09-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This blog post is not about photography, and it doesn't contain pictures! I just had to write about this because it made me smile.
My facebook status recently reflected my musings on a particular ad that I see often when I log into facebook. It is an ad for an "Experienced Captains" The ad includes a picture of a rugged looking seafaring individual, looking particularly satisfied, like someone who had found his life calling and lives life to the fullest.
A savvy facebook friend, who noticed my status change, was quick to point out an interesting article about facebook's targeted marketing. I honestly hadn't thought about how much Facebook KNOWS ABOUT ME, but they know a lot! Enough, in fact, that they know of my deepest secret longing to sail the world, stopping in every port to make friends and sample the local delicacies. They know that I can picture myself stepping onto the weathered dock of a quiet Greek fishing village. Peering up at the intensely white buildings hanging, as if by enchantment, onto the side of step cliffs. I slip my large canvas bag over my shoulder and start to navigate the narrow winding road that leads to the open air restaurant that hangs suspended over the crashing waves at the pinnacle of the cliff. I step inside the threshold of the building, my eyes straining to adjust to the shadows after the blinding brightness of the village road. As my feet are caressed by the cool smooth tile floor, I smell fresh bread, olive oil, garlic and cheese. A familiar voice from inside shouts a welcom ....
How does facebook know this about me? Check out this article. And Thanks Eric for pointing it out!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008165196_btfacebook08.html

I been everywhere, man!

2008-09-07T04:03:00.000-07:00

I have a new theme song. It’s an old song by Johnny Cash called "I've been everywhere"
A couple of weeks ago, after dropping my baby off to start college in Michigan, I made a decision. I need a goal... So I decided it would be fun to visit the highpoints of all the states. HEY, it’s a GOAL. We enlisted the help of some great friends and set off on our first high point adventure to visit the highest point in Ohio, a whopping 1550 ft above sea level. As the tires of the HHR crunched down the gravel driveway toward the open road, we popped the Johnny Cash song in the CD player. (See lyrics below) While we didn't quite make the summit, it was still exhilarating.

I was toting my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi with a high canvas covered load
If you’re goin' to Winnemucca, Mack with me you can ride
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!"

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Boston
Charleston
Dayton
Louisiana
Washington
Houston
Kingston
Texarkana
Monterey
Fairaday
Santa Fe
Tallapoosa
Glen Rock
Black Rock
Little Rock
Oskaloosa
Tennessee
Tennessee
Chicopee
Spirit Lake
Grand Lake
Devil's Lake
Crater Lake

For Pete's Sake
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Louisville
Nashville
Knoxville
Ombabika
Schefferville
Jacksonville
Waterville
Costa Rock
Pittsfield

You get the idea. As I have been scoping out the nations high points on the internet, I decided I REALLY need to get into shape for some of them, so this weekend we took a 6 mile hike thru Clifton Gorge. It was nothing like the old days when we hiked 12 miles at 10K feet and never thought a thing about it. This hike was very leisurely. At the half way point we stopped at the Old Clifton Mill for a lovely lunch and then we meandered back to the car thru the lush hardwood forests. Here are some shots of our day.

Teenagers

2008-08-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Parenthood is a strange thing. You spend 18 yrs doting on your offspring, loving them, and serving them, praying for them and asking them "where are you going?" every time they lay their hand on the knob of the front door. Then one day you drive them 5 1/2 hours from home, haul all their stuff into a 15x10 block walled room, kiss them goodbye and leave them standing on the side walk as you drive away. After the 5 1/2 hour drive home, you walk into to a silent house with carpet stained by orange soda and with tears in your eyes you wonder what on earth you are going to do with the rest of your life. I admit I am getting a late start on the photography business I have always dreamed of, but what the heck am I going to do to fill up all those hours i used to spend mothering? Here are some pictures of my particular college student and some of her friends on one of their last days together for a long time.. I hope you enjoy them.

photo albums

2008-08-16T05:45:00.001-07:00

Now that the world has become digital, I find that I don't print pictures very often anymore. I can't remember when I last purchased a photo album, and that makes me sad. I am excited because I put in an order a couple of days ago for prints of the kids I shot recently. I can't wait to hold them and look at them. I really need to print more of my pictures, part of the thing I love is actually looking at them close up, without the glow of the monitor. It's a lot like books. I can't imagine reading a whole book on-line. My daughter is doing that right now. How can you take a computer in the bathtub with you, or fall asleep with it on your chest in bed? I don't get it. It just doesn't seem right. This morning, I got up early... (nothing new there) and snuck down to the basement to look for pictures taken at the canyonire in 1977. I went thru the 36 photo albums I have stored and forgotten and I realized that for a short while in the mid 70s I didn't print a lot of pictures. I lived in the canyonaire for about a year, but in that time I only printed 2 pictures of that apartment complex. I am pretty sure I took more pictures, as I have always had a camera in my hand, but I think I was too poor to print them back then. It wouldn't surprise me at all if I had a few rolls of instamatic film in box somewhere still to be printed. As I looked thru the albums I was reminded of so many sweet times with my family as my children were growing up, and with my wonderful husband before the kids came along. There are memories of lifelong friends, and people that came into my life for a season and moved on. It gave me a lovely feeling seeing the pictures of all those people who meant something to me. That is why I love photography. That is why I am trying to capture images that communicate something more about people than just their appearance.
I am headed out today with great friends for some fun, and I am determined to capture them so that 30 yrs from now, I can look back and remember the day!

Moving forward

2008-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

This week I was able to get some business cards ordered, which is progress, but the list of things I need to purchase is truly overwhelming. Website, new HD monitor, color balancing hardware, new camera body.... the list goes on and on.. I did get a couple of orders this week for some pictures. At least that is money flowing in the right direction, but it equates to a drop of water in the ocean.
Sometimes I wonder if I can really make money at this. I know people pay for portraits and weddings all the time, but I am not sure I am good enough to compete. Especially when I see what some photographers are doing! Every time I go out to take pictures for a potential client I am hit with this fear that I won't get anything I can use.. not one good shot! That would be so humiliating. I was told recently by a very good photographer, that she has had shoots that she had to redo, so I guess it can happen to the best. In a way that takes some of the pressure off, because even a pro like my friend has had it happen, in a way it makes it worse, cause I can pretty much be guaranteed it will happen to me! Oh well, enough of my insecurities. I'll put that worry aside for a time when I am charging a lot of money. Right now, for what I am charging, people are lucky to get me. That brings up another thought. It's interesting to see the reaction when I tell people the price of my prints. Some people don't even blink and others are shocked that they are so expensive.... if you call $17.50 expensive for an 8x10. Sure it is more than they would pay at Walgreens if they took their little digital photos there to print. But the real bulk of my time is spent in Photoshop, removing blemishes, adjusting colors, lightening teeth etc. People just don't realize the time involved. The last wedding I did took me about 24 hrs of Photoshop work AFTER I got home, add that to the two trips to the church, and the 6 hrs of shooting during those two days.. I am up to 30 hrs of work. My time is what people are paying for. I can't really say that to them, but I sure do think it.

Tonys Kids

2008-08-03T16:05:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine asked me to take some shots of his kids as an anniversary present for his wife. The kids are great. Not shy AT ALL. I love that. Ofcourse, they are kids, so that means they are in a constant state of perpetual motion. After over 400 shots, I wasn't at all sure that I got one single picture where they were all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. I was right! Even so, I am happy with the results. They were really sweet kids and I think these picture capture how funny they were. I also hope Tonys wife loves her anniversary present. I am posting them all in Black and White, because that is what she likes, but the color shots are amazing too.

I once heard that Indians used to hang their children in backpacks in trees, and that is how they kept them still. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Here are a few more:

Ok, maybe just a tiny bit of color...

I can't resist

Lindsay Wedding

2008-08-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

I shot my second wedding this week. It was a second marriage for Bob and Carol, so they really didn't care about all the traditional shots. Their children and grandchildren were all present and it was a lot of fun taking pictures of the large family and the different generations. Here are just a few

TAA DAA!

2008-07-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The official logo for Rejoice Photography. How great is this? Next step... printing cards.

LOGOS, LOGOS, and more LOGOS

2008-07-30T13:16:00.001-07:00

Today was the last day that graphic designers could post a logo to my project on Crowdspring.com. Its been ten days, and I had not gotten many posts at all. There was one designer who was working hard to give me what I wanted , who was posting a lot of changes to his original design. Unfortunately it wasn't making me jump up and down. Then last night, all of a sudden the entries started to come in. And when it closed an hour ago, I had 41 to choose from. I love several of them, which means the hard part is deciding which one to go with. I think I have decided, but I want to run it by one more person. If he likes it, I will officially have a logo. I am so excited!!

I took went out to take some shots of an old factory the other day and it turns out my son and his girlfriend, wanted to be in the pictures too. They are cute, so I didn't mind... Heres one.

Capture Cincinnati

2008-07-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

A friend recommended that I enter one of my photos in a competition. The winners get prizes and also a chance to have your work included in the Capture Cincinnati coffee table book. Sounded like fun, so I entered a few shots, then I entered more and more...now I am hooked. My shot of Joy with the Cicada has been in the top picks for the last two days in the People catagory. You can vote by going to this site. http://www.capturecincinnati.com/photo/83685

Wow are there a ton of photographers in the Cincinnati area. I can't believe how many entries there are. Its really fun seeing the work of other photographers and a little scary letting them see mine. Going thru my shots has helped focus me again. Those lazy hazy days of summer have a way of sapping my resolve and letting the lethargy seep in. NO MORE! I posted my project for my logo today and on 7/30, I should have my logo so I can get business cards printed. In the mean time, I took an assignment from Capture Cincinnati to take shots of local events and went out to the balloon fest this weekend. It was a magical sultry evening.

Pictures, PIctures, Pictures

2008-07-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy couple of weeks. I bought my domain, and am working on getting a logo created so that I can get business cards printed up. I found a cool site where graphic designers compete for your business, its called crowdspring.com. I think I am going to use it to get some work done. Last week, my sons girlfriend Jess, agreed to let me shoot some pictures of her. Its easy to see from these pictures why she was Little Miss California a few years back. She is as sweet as she is pretty.

Then last weekend, I did some shots of a friend of mines little girl. Ofcourse the weather didn't quite cooperate, but we were able to work around it. What I couldn't do anything about was the Cicadas. And this child LOVED THEM! We had to take as many pictures of the Cicadas as we did of her. Ofcourse, she is a doll, so the pictures were all cute, but this one tells the best story of the day.