Hi There


Welcome to our new blog. Here is where you can find out who we are and what we're up to. You will find posts covering the various things that we do in and out of the studio. As time goes on, we may add posts about specials we are offering, photography tips, photographs and anything else that may occupy our minds. Check back periodically to see what's new. While you are here please feel free to let us know what you think. If there is something that you would like to know about then write it down and we will get you an answer.

Thats it. Please go forth and enjoy.

Keith

New Years luck…

Hi All,

Growing up, my mother (who is originally from North Carolina) always made a special meal on New Year’s day. It was a tradition that was supposed to bring luck . What she always made was ham hocks and black eyed peas. It was not the only dish, but it was the most important. Over the years, I have not always been able to make it to mom’s on New Years day and I have no idea how much luckier I could have been (I consider myself pretty lucky in general for all I have). That said, with the current state of affairs, I figured my family and I could use all the luck we can get. With this in mind and my mother having moved to Arizona to be closer to us, we all feasted on a huge southern meal complete with the aforementioned hamhocks and black eyed peas. Hopefully you all had some too. I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperous 2009. If you find by the end of it that you could have been luckier then keep this post in mind. Maybe I could invite you to moms next year. 

Do you have any traditions that you want to share for the new year? Post them here for all to read.

Sincerely,

Keith

 

Black Eyed peas

Black Eyed peas

2009!!

Happy New Year!

a few new pic’s (it’s a photoblog after all)…

Hi All,

Here are a few photographs of some kids that I have photographed recently. Enjoy  the images. 

Sincerely,

Keith

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tell the story of 2009…

A suggestion for your New Year’s (photo) resolution is:  to tell the story in photographs of your children/family for 2009.  I accomplished  this with my first born - a year of her life - I took a picture every day for 365 days - what great memories it evokes!!

As a photographer, the goal of every photograph is to tell a story.  If you document the day to day life of your family or one year – you are bound to capture many of life’s happiest moments.

Besides shooting the obvious like holidays, birthdays & special occasions – start to observe your children/family more closely…be spontaneous, be creative, be persistent!  Document what your children/family love (painting butterflies everyday after school, climbing trees), what they have fun with (playing dress up in princess costumes, jumping in puddles), their achievements (like learning to ride a bike, tie their shoes).

Take a lot of photos – think about the pictures that make you happiest when they come back from the lab – the most natural looking ones.  The more you shoot your children, the less attention they will pay to the camera and the better your chances of catching the shot you are looking for.  These are the photographs that become the most memorable.

Most importantly, when you look back on this album – you will be taken right back to that point in time.  What seems mundane now – will be a cherished memory years down the road.   Will you remember that your daughter liked to eat food from the dog bowl (when she was one) or wear a tutu over her skirt everyday (when she was four)?  Without these images, these are memories that may slip away!  Consider putting the album together in a blurb book or shutterfly. Tell the story of a year within the story of your lifetime!

We will post photography tips weekly - perhaps you can implement some of these ideas to keep things fresh all year!

new stuff for 2009…

we are going to start out 2009 with all sorts of new ideas:  including a newsletter, lots of video, a blog format (yes, finally!)

we will get into all the details in the next few days, but I wanted to mention that at the end of each month, we will randomly select one comment to receive a $75 gift certificate good for anything that Keith Pitts Photography offers - towards a session fee, to purchase a print - your choice - it’s Keith cash!

Happy Holidays!

During this festive and fun time of the year, we wish you holiday cheer and all the best in 2009!

wedding site update…

Hi All,

Just a quick post to ask you to take a look at our wedding site. It was updated with a couple of weddings today. There are more to come soon so check back shortly or subscribe to our RSS feed here on the blog to be informed when the next updates are made. Thanks for stopping by.

Sincerely,

Keith

tips on photographing christmas morning…

Friends and family always ask me how I shoot my kids around the holidays – especially on Christmas morning.  Here are a few tips:

  • Get as much light in the room as you can – turn up ambient lighting, open shades – we want to be able to use natural light – try to keep flash OFF!
  • Look at the scene – are there windows behind your tree?  If you shoot directly at the windows – your pictures will come out dark.  Move to the side, look for a better spot, find a good angle, change up angles
  • Be ready to push the shutter at a moments notice – we are looking to capture natural expressions on your children’s faces
  • Get down on the ground with them while they are opening presents
  • Shoot quickly and shoot often!  You don’t want to miss anything – you can edit later!
  • Don’t forget the detail shots – a beautiful ornament, a bow on a present - we can tell a beautiful story by including these pictures
  • Document the day – start the night before – take pictures of Santa’s cookies, the tree before the kids wake up (refer to my tips of photographing holiday lights), your children sleeping, stockings hanging on the mantle…
  • If your pictures are too blurry – then add a flash (only as a last resort!)

Here is a suggestion for an interesting shot of your kids opening up their gifts under the tree:  use a tripod, turn up ambient lighting, if flash is built into camera: turn flash off, use longer exposure setting (for those that have no idea what I’m referring to – like my wife!) set the dial on the big P: Program Mode, focus on the tree (your kids should be ripping open their gifts).  The result should be a great shot of your tree and children with motion blur!

Footnote:  these are general rules – all rules can be broken or depending on your experience level – interpreted in your own way or completely ignored!  This is one way – but not the only way!  Play around with what works for you and your camera!

Fishing…

Hi All, 

Here are a couple of shots from a recent session. The kids love to fish and we used it to great effect. Portraits don’t have to be formally posed with people doing nothing. It can be and is fun to photograph kids doing what they love.  What do you think? There is no one way to do it after all.

 

Boy fishing

Boy fishing

 

girl fishing

girl fishing

 

dad and daughter

dad and daughter

1st dance recital…

This post is less about my photography and a lot more about my daughter’s 1st dance recital. She is in preschool and I can’t even explain how cute she was with her little fellow dancers. Here are a few shots from the recital. I smiled like a fool the entire time. Please enjoy. Comments as always are encouraged.

Sincerely,

Keith

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