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Blog Events Graduating Seniors Portrait Sessions self-help Tips & Tricks

8 Steps to Better Prom Pix

It’s that season, and though you might not have a high schooler destined for prom this year, these tips just might help with your next family gathering.

1. CHOOSE A CLEAN BACKGROUND

If possible, choose an outdoor setting with some greenery—trees, bushes, anything with green or flowers. Place the subjects several feet in front of the background.
If indoors, take a couple minutes to select a posing spot and clear any clutter out of the background.
Try to avoid direct sunlight. If you have no choice, place the sun behind your subject and off to one side and force the flash to fire.

2. FALL BACK AND ZOOM

To compose your image, you can either zoom out and get close or zoom in and step back. Try the latter.Jenkins_270 PT By stepping back, you shorten the facial features and create a more flattering image of the subjects’ faces.

3. STABILIZE THE CAMERA

If you have a tripod or monopod, use it. If not, set the camera on a stable object. The Faver_123smworst possible way to shoot is to hold your camera out in front of you with two hands.The camera will move and the image will be blurry.Faver_093sm

4. KNOW WHEN TO USE FLASH.

In general, don’t use on-camera flash indoors; it will create a very cheap look and very hard shadows. Find a room with the best light. If you have an DSLR camera with a separate flash, you can consider bouncing if off of the wall or ceiling. It’s better to use available light and shoot with a stable camera. Outdoors, a bit of fill flash may be good to minimize eye circles.

5. MIND THE WHITE BALANCE.

Most cameras have a white balance selection. Instead of auto, choose the white balance that is appropriate for the predominant light source. Outside in shade, choose Shade. It will have a great impact on your image colors.

6. COMPOSE THE GROUPS.

Take a few shots of each couple. Have one person place their arms around their date’s waist and you can show their flowers, as well. Then get all of the girls together and then all of the guys, and finally, one shot with all of the couples. Pose them with hands at sides, or partially in pockets, or holding flowers or each other. A few candids will mix it up, maybe using a sporty car or the family dog. You can shoot the guys roughhousing or the girls “getting ready” to go to prom. If multiple people are taking pictures, take turns. You want to avoid eyes going in all different directions.

7. MULTIPLE SHOTS FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE.

The more people in an image, the greater the likelihood that someone will be blinking in any shot. For larger groups, take at least 5 images. One trick is to have everyone close their eyes, and on a count of three, open them and smile.

8. DO SOME QUICK EDITS.

Spend a couple of minutes to rotate the images so they all show up correctly, and consider a few basic edits: contrast, color saturation, exposure levels, cropping. These fundamental editing steps will take a good shot and make it great.

P.S. If any of this sounds like greek to you, consider calling a professional this prom season who takes all the guesswork out of creating beautiful images of an occasion worth remembering.

FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID IN YOUR SENIOR PHOTOS

Categories
Blog Events Family News Portrait Sessions

About being engaged

Moon_236a
Kyle and Haley engaged and loving it!

“Engage in the little moments, you never know which of those will actually be the big moments,”

There is no possible way to convey to you the magic that was August 15, 2015. Engage your attention with me for a moment. I thought, lying there looking up at the stars, I was simply opening my graduation present from my Kyle. Little did I know that at the bottom of that much desired, fox cookie jar, there would be an art deco engagement ring picked out specifically for….me!?  I was only expecting cookies! Sneaky boy.

There are very few days that are more important to me than August 15. I woke up, I walked the stage, and I celebrated with family and friends. My folks spoiled me like they do, my brother and sister-in-law came to cheer me on, and my best friends even surprised me by driving all the way from Ft. Worth to celebrate! It was unlike any other day, and that was only the beginning. Moving to Nacogdoches from Houston almost four years ago, I never imagined I’d be marrying a BIN(born-in-Nac, if you will) or building a house on 11 acres of fresh air! I suppose it is still too soon to say, but come April 9, I will be a Compton. I will be a wife!?

This engagement has taught me

This engagement has taught me to “engage.” August 15 Kyle proposed and we found ourselves…engaged in a planning process like no other. Engaged to one another, planning to commit the rest of our forever to being together. It has been an absolute blast. We have engaged in planning our big day, we have engaged in Bible study together, we have engaged in planning not simply a wedding, but a life that will build each of us up and result in two better people. Engagement is much more than a ring and a wedding. Though that may seem obvious, it is easy to make the wedding the big event, and not the life you live after that day.They say the stresses come and go. And sure they have come, but when you have someone so supportive, so silly, and so solid to stand by you, it is a real adventure. To find someone who finds the best in you and cherishes every ounce of your flawed self is something irreplaceable. I never expected to find someone who I adore so much, yet slum around with like a best friend. He is like the 3-in-1 shampoo-conditioner-soap… but obviously better. He makes up the best songs, tells the craziest stories, prays with me and for me, and encourages me on the daily. I am richly blessed.

This season of engagement has taught us a lot about each other, ourselves, and has helped us realize how incredibly blessed we are by a wonderful family, church family and so many supportive friends. The people I have met here have become so special to me and I cannot picture a better group of encouragers to be surrounded by. Engaging in this Nac life has been a small slice of heaven!

…not to mention our incredible photographers! Greg and Cindy hired me almost two years ago. Engaging in their business, their work at SFA, and raising three awesome kids seems to come naturally to them. I know it doesn’t. They work hard and they are two prime examples I have been blessed to know. Our parents have put up with Kyle and myself for, well, our entire lives.. now that is perseverance! If only I can invest myself and engage my best in all I do… I’ll know where and who these great qualities come from!

Moon_200b
Kyle and Haley engaged with having fun!
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Advertising Blog Events Portrait Sessions

Shop Small Saturday

Shop Small 2015 at G Patterson Studio and other downtown Nacogdoches businesses.
Shop Small 2015 at G Patterson Studio and other downtown Nacogdoches businesses.

Yes, it has the word in the title, but this event is anything but small. It’s a real opportunity for each of us to help the economy grow in Nacogdoches. Have you ever wanted more businesses or restaurants in Nacogdoches? We must frequent those already here; for a company to locate here, they want to see that other like businesses and restaurants are doing well. Still not convinced? Here’s a few more reasons to shop Nacogdoches this holiday season.

SIX REASONS TO SHOP SMALL NACOGDOCHES

  1. It’s convenient! Why spend half your day driving when, instead, you could spend all that time shopping?
    Save on gas! Although gas prices are down, what you can save in gas money could be spent eating out at a nice restaurant.
    2. Lots of shops. The person who says they can’t find anything in Nacogdoches hasn’t seen everything, I would think. Before you go on your next shopping venture, plan to go at least one place you’ve never been. Try www.business.nacogdoches.org to do a search of the items for which you’re looking.
    3. Less crowds. When you stay in Nacogdoches to shop small, you probably won’t battle long lines at the check out, and you certainly won’t have miles to walk to find where you parked your car.
    4. Ease of driving. Traffic around shopping malls in the big cities is horrible during the holidays. Why subject yourself to that when you can take a leisurely stroll through downtown Nacogdoches while shopping.
    5. See your friends! When you shop small in Nacogdoches, chances are you’ll bump elbows with people you know which makes for a really nice shopping trip.
    6. Discounts, discounts, discounts! Shopping downtown this Saturday pays! Visit stores that participate in Small Business Saturday for incentives when you purchase. We will be offering Double Dollars. Spend $75 on gift cards and we will double it! (See studio for details or visit http://www.gregpatterson.com/shopsmall2015.html)

You can, also, participate in Wassail Fest from 11-4pm that same day! Taste wassail at participating downtown businesses and pick your favorite, us of course!

Categories
Blog Children

School pictures

Twenty-one years ago when we got started in the “biz,” no one could’ve told us we would one day be school photographers. But such is life, and we haven’t regretted it one bit! It’s rewarding getting out in the community to provide a valuable service, for us photography. We’ve gotten to know families we might have not have had the chance to know otherwise. And, having someone tell us the school pictures and photography we take are so much better than your “typical” school pictures is certainly fun to hear!

We get used to cowlicks and the missing teeth. Also adorable are the girls that wear a kazillion necklaces or when ten out of the twelve girls in the class have on a kitten t-shirt.  Never is it more fun, though, than when something takes us by surprise. It’s always smart to keep your humor about yourself, especially when you have one like this student at Tanglewood Learning Center last week. To the older ones who make such a face, I like to tell them that’s the pose for the yearbook. That’s when they make the funny face!

 

Interested in us photographing your school pictures?

If you have kids at one of our local area school, consider asking the school if they would consider using our services. We would be glad to provide them with a competitive quote. And if you work at one of our area schools and wonder if we can provide all of the services other “larger” companies provide, rest assured that not only can we provide these services but surpass their quality and service.

School portraits and pictures often show some great funny faces. As a Nacogdoches photographer we love to see kids having fun and also love to photograph these great expressions. School portraits and pictures often show some great funny faces. As a Nacogdoches photographer we love to see kids having fun and also love to photograph these great expressions.

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Blog Rambling Running/Recreation Self-exploration self-help

For those of you who still think losing weight will make you happy

When Meghan Trainor came on the scene with her hit, “It’s All About the Bass,” denouncing those that would judge another because of their weight, we were all in enthusiastic agreement. To be honest, though, we size people up every day based on all kinds of things from how much money we make to where someone attends college. Retailers devote a lot of their budget to find out where you shop and what drives your shopping choices. We answer questions everyday about people using our inferential powers, so what can you do when someone labels you “fat” or “overweight”? There may not be anything you can do about how others treat you according to the way you look, but what if you could respond in a positive way?

Answer the following questions to find out if you’re affected by how others see you:

1. Have you ever tried on an outfit that you loved on the rack until you put it on and decided it’d look better on someone else?
2. Have you ever declined that first helping of dessert because everyone else at the table was thinner than you?
3. Have you ever thought about putting something important or fun off until you lose some weight?

If you answered “yes” to any or all of the questions, it might be time for a change, but not the kind you’re thinking about.

We’ve all heard stories of someone who lost the weight they’d been hoping to lose for a long time, only to find they were just as unhappy as they were before they lost the weight? How realistic is it to think that making a change on the outside could change how we feel on the inside that much? If you want to be truly happy, try making these changes instead.

Don’t look to others to make you happy; they’ll always let you down. Have you held onto resentment, anger, hurt and bitterness because of what another person said or did to you? Do forgive and forget, and you’ll begin to help you heal by replacing those feelings with something positive like treating others with kindness. By praising another person or just listening to them, you gain power, and you may gain another friend.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Most of what we worry about are either things that won’t matter in a day or next week, or they’re things we can’t change. Do give thanks. Keep a gratitude journal where you write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so helps you maintain stress, gives you happier moods and greater optimism.

You may say, “You wouldn’t believe the problems I face.” But, you’ll always have failures in life, that’s a given. You can change the way you see them. Don’t make excuses by blaming others for your problems; doing so means you’ll unlikely be able to overcome them. Happy people take responsibility for their mistakes. Why not see your problem as a challenge to make a positive change in your life?

It’s true, there are some things out of your control. But, focus on the things you can. Waking up at the same time every morning enhances productivity and focus, especially if you’re taking the time to pray and meditate. Eating well by avoiding junk foods or processed foods can prime your body and brain to be in a focused, happy state. When I’m grocery shopping, I keep in mind that the healthier foods are found along the walls of the store. Shop for fruits and vegetables, dairy and cheese, and meats and seafood around the perimeter of the store. Exercising every day will enhance your frame of mind and reduce stress. By doing something you know makes you healthier, your can’t help by becoming happier!

G Patterson Studio portrait garden. Nacogdoches Texas.
G Patterson Studio portrait garden. Nacogdoches Texas.
Categories
Blog Graduating Seniors

More Seniors 2014

With homecoming season upon us, we wanted to mention that we take awesome senior portraits! For just thirty minutes of your time, you’re sure to take away something truly magnificent! We’ll incorporate uniforms, instruments, a car or even your favorite pet to help make your portraits incredibly….well, you!NHS Senior Gregory_076 PT Jackson_044 PT Meyers_041 PT

Categories
Blog Graduating Seniors Portrait Sessions Rambling

A First Look

We like to post some of the images we take of a particular subject as often as we can. They ask for it and, well, it’s good publicity for us! Here’s some of my top picks from just a few of the senior “casual” sessions. We call them casual, because they’re not wearing their graduation gown, or their tux or drape if they’re going in the NHS yearbook. But, don’t they look casual? After all, for a senior session, what we hope will come across in their images is their true sel. 700_5986 Baker_011 PT Norbert_052 Payne_063 PT Young_049 PT

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Blog Pets

I’ve got three great daughters, but only one Golden Child

Golden Retriever and winner of the "Awesomest Dog in the Universe" Award frolics in bluebonnets.
Golden Retriever and winner of the “Awesomest Dog in the Universe” Award frolics in bluebonnets.

I am, in all reality, the luckiest father on the planet.  I have three beautiful, healthy, caring daughters.  Each day I come home from work, they struggle with each other as they race to the door to give me the “first hug.”  I’m blessed, no doubt.

But having a wife and three daughters at home makes for a very “emotionally rich” environment.  I often just need some good old fashion male bonding with my golden retriever, Bentley.  He’s fun, active, entertaining, and constantly loyal.  We can go for walks, wrestle on the floor, or throw the tennis ball.  He brightens my day just as my girls do.  He’s a great companion and true friend.  And just like a true friend, we can also be perfectly content to simply be near each other and not say a word.

“Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal.  Difficult standards for people to live up to.”
-Alfred A. Montapert

Bentley and Daryl, best buds for life.
Bentley and Daryl, best buds for life.

“Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”
-George Eliot

I love having wonderful photos of me and Bentley.  They are a constant reminder of great memories and great companionship.

G. Patterson Studio does a lot of good by supporting animal centered organizations like the Humane Society, Animal Shelter, or O’Malley PET.  If you have any desire to have AMAZING photographs of you and your pets while, at the same time, donating to a worthy cause, schedule your session today.

Categories
Blog Children

This pic says it all!

Adults step in and Big Sister is driven crazy by her fast moving little brother.
Adults step in and Big Sister is driven crazy by her fast moving little brother.

We had the great pleasure of seeing these two beautiful children come to the studio last week.  Big Sister was very patient and perfectly well behaved.  Little Brother, on the other hand, had something else in mind.  Don’t get me wrong… He wasn’t misbehaved at all.  He just was NOT interested in having photos taken.

This happens plenty at our Nacogdoches studio.  When we ask parents or grandparents what they are trying to achieve most out of their session, they sometimes say, “Something where the kids are looking at the camera and it’s not completely blurry.”  🙂  Good news, we can help with that.

Three image collage from G. Patterson Studio capturing the beauty of brother and sister.
Three image collage from G. Patterson Studio capturing the beauty of brother and sister.

The truth is that the life of a child IS a blur, and you have to act fast or you will miss it.  Children are full of energy and curiosity.  They are silly, care-free, excited, and wacky.  They roam, fidget, fuss, and are just plain not interested in what adults are interested in.  Guess what…  That’s exactly what makes them so great!  And as their parents, we just want to hold onto that youthful spirit before it passes us by.

Children sessions at G. Patterson Studio are usually a little chaotic, but they’re also genuine and fun.  We capture a child truly as he or she is, and it is SO WORTH IT!

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Blog Rambling

A Little Kindness

Giftbasket of goodies given by kind client of G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches
Giftbasket of goodies given by kind client of G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches

Let me start by saying our studio has the greatest clients!  And this quick story is just one out of the MANY that helps tell why I feel that way:

I simply did what the client asked me to do.  I put forth my best effort to create the perfect product, all the while offering her the same respect, patience, and kindness that I try to show all of our studio clients.  That’s my job.  That’s what I get paid to do.  But when this particular project was complete, this particular client did not just pay her bill.  She thoughtfully brought me a sizable gift basket full of my favorite goodies, gave me a hug and a sincere Thank You.

I was stunned… moved… happy… proud…thankful.  I took the basket home to tell my wife about the sweet lady who brightened my day with a little kindness.  It might have just been a small gesture on her part, but it meant the world to me.

With our culture of instant gratification and the prevailing tide of the entitlement mentality, KINDNESS is becoming a rare commodity.  Much too frequently is kindness undermined or unrecognized.  But I would be happy to shout at the top of my lungs how appreciative I am of this sweet lady’s kind act.

Thank you Brenda!

And thank you to all the others out there who have brightened our days with your little acts of kindness.  May we all strive to show little acts of kindness to others each day.

How has someone brightened your day?  I’d love to hear your stories.