Feature Friday with Little Farm Photography!

The talented Danielle Awwad of Little Farm Photography is the winner of last week's 'extraordinary light' challenge.  Read on to find out how she describes her style, and how she began her journey in photography!

1. Please tell us about yourself…

I am a wife to an amazing man and mother to three beautiful children ages three, 21 months and two months. My family is everything to me. Seriously they are my world! We live on a 91-acre hay farm that sits right outside of our small town in Michigan. We love country living and all it has to offer. My camera goes everywhere with me.  I love capturing our farm life and after months of doing so Little Farm Photography, LLC was born. I do not take clients but love being able to share my art with the photography community.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?

Love, Life and Emotion

I feel that in every image you look at of mine you will feel either love, life, or an emotion. I strive to capture my family with a mix of portraits and lifestyle work.

3. What sparked your passion for photography?

My photography journey began after the birth of my first daughter. When she was about three months old I knew I wanted to learn how to take better images of her. I started shooting in manual from the beginning and learned a little along the way. When my daughter was about 12 months I put my camera down for about 6 months once we learned of my son's complex heart issues. It was a time I lacked inspiration and had no desire to use my camera or be involved in any of my other hobbies for that matter.  During those months I took snap shots and that's about it. The moment my son was born something came over me. I had a big desire to learn everything I could about photography so I could preserve the memory of our family. I love capturing our life one photograph at a time.

4. What's in your camera bag right now?

Canon 5D Markiii, 35mm, 70-200mm, 85mm, 100mm Macro

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

My dream shoot would be to one day capture images of all my children together. We hope to have more children. 

 My dream project is currently in the works and hope to be able to share more about it soon. 

6. What are some of the misconceptions you had about photography and photographers at the beginning of your photography journey? Have they changed, and how?

I always believed that in order to be called a photographer you needed to be in business. I didn’t think people would ever take your work seriously without that label.  I wanted to feel like I was an actual photographer and not a mom with just a camera. My feelings have completely changed. I don’t think you need to be in business to be considered a photographer or an amazing one at that. I have so many photographers who I admire that do not take clients. I took clients for about three weeks last summer and just realized it is not for me and that is okay. It does not make me any less of an artist. 

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

I would tell a newbie to shoot in manual everyday, several times a day. This will help you learn so much about yourself as a photographer as well as developing your skill. 

Learn your camera inside and out. Understand that a better camera does not make you a better photographer! Some of my favorite images came from my starter camera. It is important to rock what you have and when you are starting to feel your limits then think about upgrading. 

I would also suggest starting a 365 day project. I am currently completing my second 365 and honestly don’t think I will ever stop. I have grown leaps and bounds over the last two years! 

Develop yourself as an artist and don’t compare your work with others. We are all on a different journey and different things speak to us. For example I love looking at very moody black and white images. I think that they are beautiful but it is not my style. It does not fit with my vision of what I want to capture. I appreciate those style of images but it doesn’t mean I need to capture images like that. 

Find more of Danielle's beautiful work here:

Facebook 

Meet This week's Judge: Maria Masse

This week, we have Maria of Fearless and Framed Photography, judging those images that show a bond. We asked her to share a few of her own images, and some insight into her work.

1. Tell us about yourself…

I binge shows on Netflix, listen to the stories within country songs, create photos filled with real character, personality, bonds, and emotions that feel like taking a bite into an old penny-candy memory… because the more real-life moments I pour into my photography, the more self-fulfillment and perfectly matched clients I get in return. 10 Truth-bombs about me:

I love a good chick-flick like It’s Complicated, the Help, Dirty Dancing, or How to Marry a Millionaire

Dave and I have been together since 2007 and met at a concert due to my liquid confidence in asking him if he had a band-aid or knew where the first-aid area was… true story.

My daughter was born on Halloween – which was my wish my entire pregnancy.

My son already is the most caring person I know.

I drive a truck.

Classic BBQ or pizza are my favorite

Cheesy bread from Jet’s seduces me… and is the likely reason I want to lose 30 pounds.

The sound of a ticking clock drives me insane.

I can sing all 50 states in alphabetical order… the singing part is debatable. I WISH more than anything I could sing in tune – though it doesn’t stop me from belting it out in the car.

My friends say that I am an incredible listener and have an annoying tenancy to see the silver-lining in any situation.

2. What ignited your passion for photography, and what fuels it now?

Loss! I had the best childhood and the best life before kids. Not that my life is bad with kids, but there are many things from my newlywed life and childhood that I miss dearly – like our breakfast dates, laying in bed til noon if we wanted… you know?

With each changing season, there are things I’d love to re-experience and people I’d love to spend another day with. And for those reasons, it’s my heart and soul to photograph the now so I can have nights on my country porch later getting lost in conversation + visual memories of the past. And I think much bigger than primarily photographing children – it’s about all relationships and phases in life. What better way to fuel your heart with joy?

  

3. What’s in your camera bag right now, what do use the most? the least?

Nikon D4, Canon 5D Mark III. Yes, it wasn’t the smartest choice to have to invest in to brands, but I love each for different reasons. My favorite lens lately has been my 24-70… coming from being a prime-only girl. I love this lens, because I don’t have to run so fast with the kids. When I shoot weddings or adult sessions, my 50mm is my BFF. Though the product is useful, I’m finding my least used bag item is an Expodisc.

4. What’s your dream project or shoot?

A worldwide documentary photography journey…one where I can bring the family along and let them share in my experiences. I’m also kind of weird and love the idea of shooting newborns in the night – the draining experience of those wake-ups and seeing how different parents keep themselves awake, how they bond, and seeing them in those weakest points, because I know seeing the photos later will feel empowering that they conquered that phase. But that’s just me. My son woke every 90 minutes like clockwork the first 2 ½ months of life and it was the hardest thing ever for me.

  

5. What is the biggest challenge you face as a photographer?

Pulling myself out of the zone once I’m in it…. whether shooting, growing the business side, it’s hard to turn it all off and remember “oh hey, I’m a wife… and a mom… and a friend… and probably could use a little more me-time.”

6. If you had $500 to spend on photography...

Ok, I’m going to assume this means for someone that is starting their photography business and has their camera + a favorite lens + computer + editing software already, because those are the first 4 necessary things in my opinion.

How should you spend it? Calibration device $250. $100 portfolio review from a photographer that shares a similar shooting style. $100 on a business mastermind group. $100 to get your blog up and running.

How do you wish you could spend it? Pretty packaging items, custom web design

How would you really spend it? I’m actually about to get on a call at 2 p.m. to hire a V.A., so they can take some of my workload, which should in return bring me happier clients and more clients.

  

7. Is there any one thing you wish someone had told you at the very beginning of your photography journey?

Potential client’s aren’t going to come banging on your door demand to book a session. It’s important to understand marketing and actively market to keep driving new clients. Cultivating your relationships with current and past clients + taking action to attract new clients have equal importance. 

{extraordinary light}

I hope you had fun shooting and showing your extraordinary light images! 

I love how unexpected and beautiful light can be! I love capturing it and remember these special moments. 

Sarah M

I adore this colorful image! Even though I don't see his face I can feel the excitement! 

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Nikki Smith Photography

Wow, I love this beautiful bokeh image. Nature and light in it's best! 

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Vicki Winston Photography

Light and water can create some magical things together! I love this image because of the light that falls on her face. 

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Stephanie Mason Photography

This is an incredible image! I love the composition and how to light leads to the boy. 

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Sonja Stich fotografías

I love how the water and the clouds almost look the same. 

I love all the texture and fun in this beautiful summer image! 

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Justyna E Butler Photography

I adore the pastel tones and soft light in this image, so beautiful! 

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Lovely Owl Photography

What a gorgeous image! I love her little toes and her hair falling down so pretty! 

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Greenscapes Photographyer

What an amazing sun flare! Just wow! 

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Brandi Thompson: Photographer

I love the light and shadows in this image! I am so drawn to the cat's face, beautiful! 

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Joni Burtt Photography

What a better example of extraordinary light captured then a rainbow! Love this! 

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And the winner is......... 

Little Farm Photography, LLC

I chose this image because it has the extraordinary light but also a powerful message. 

Let's find that light in us and keep moving forward in whatever situation. 

Jana Butman Photography and Jana B Photography 

https://www.facebook.com/janabutmanphotography

https://www.facebook.com/janabphography

www.butmanphoto.com

www.janabutmanphotography.com

The Maven Flyer Vol. 35

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

Vol. 35

For the week of August 24, 2015

Here we will offer suggestions for places for you to submit your images

for sharing and competition.

If you have or know of a sharing community or theme, please let us know

by emailing the name, link, and specifics to 

snapmaven.info @gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

At this time you will need to visit each page to learn the specifics of the pages 

rules and deadlines for sharing images.

Happy Sharing Everyone!

Snap Maven ~ Bond
Clicking Moms ~ Happiness 

Distorted Beauty~ Water

In Beauty & Chaos~ ?, Weekly Favorites

The Dark Room~  Flying

The Gratitude Collaborative ~ Your favorite summer image

                                             Fantastically Flawed~ Fierce (all summer)

Giggles&Goldfish~Everyday Favorites

Picture Me Project~Include yourself in the image somehow!

We Were There Too~ Get in the photo with your kids!

Lemonade and Lenses~Weekly Favorite

Mozi Magazine~Weekly Favorite

Seniorologie~ Weekly Favorite(senior)

Measure In Love~ Hearts

Photographer's Connection~Weekly Favorite

Photo Artistry~ Siblings (all August), Weekly favorite

EX.OH Blog ~ Weekly favorite

Light Inspired~ Patterns, weekly favorite

M4HP~ Intense

30 Minutes in the Life~ Mother Earth (Earth) (August)

Reflections~ Confident

Sweet Little Muse~ (on a break- no theme)

Little Bellows~  Your favorite, Weekly favorite

Photo Corner~ weekly favorite

By The Light~   Blown
Life's Experience p52~ Starts with B
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
My Beautifully Chaotic Lifestyle~ Beautifully Chaotic
Let the Kids Dress Themselves~ Laughter (all August)
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
The Organic PhotograpHERS~ Light (women only)
Honestly, Photography  ~ Morning light

Minimalist Mondays ~Weekly fave

Euphoric Capture~ Beneath
CLICK STYLE~ And then I smiled
The Snappy Mama~ New beginnings
Photographer Obsessed~ Camping
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Creativity Project- ?
Poétique~ I need to touch your life and leave a joy ..,.... 
an inspiration ...So you will love me soon in reality ...
... not imagination ...
Boys Will Be Boys~Weekly Favorite
The Snap Society ~ Weekly favorite
Life Unscripted- Unscripted
Project:life your way: weekly favorites
The Artistic Tog: Passion
Pearls and Roses: Double exposure
The Thrifty Tog Blog~Weekly favorite
The Photo Nook ~ Strength (all August)
Sham of the Perfect~ Family documentary favorite
Life In Loud~ Weekly favorites shot from the heart
Fearless and Framed~ Honestly documented
Inspire me, Inspired be.- Autumn is around the corner
The Red Cape Project~ Don a Red Cape, superhero pose and tell us your superpower

<<<>>>

That concludes the links for this week!

If there is a link you'd like to see here, please let us know at

snapmaven.info@gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for addition to The Maven Flyer

Same goes for errors, though we hope to get those fixed right away.
Future issues of The Maven Flyer will be posted on Monday evenings.

You can't get featured if you don't submit!!

Go for it!

If you would like to receive
The Maven Flyer
in your inbox each week
please sign up
HERE.

Feature Friday with Twenty-Nine Photography!

The talented Laura Beth Davidson is the face behind Twenty-Nine Photography, and the winner of last week's 'unplugged' challenge.  Read on to see more of her beautiful work, and get a peek into her camera bag too!

 

1. Please tell us about yourself...

Hi! I'm Laura Beth Davidson. I'm a stay-at-home mom who lives in the northeast corner of Tennessee with my husband, our two girls, and a black lab. I took up photography as a hobby about three years ago, and it has changed my life. It gives me something to do for myself with the added benefit of giving me a way to document the seemingly endless hours of entertaining, feeding, bathing, soothing, and generally keeping everyone alive that I know will be over all too soon. 

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?

Quiet, Nostalgic, Simple

I take pleasure in mundane things like a good glass of sweet tea, the smell of cut grass, or a nice new pen, and I'm also quite materialistic in that I like to hold on to things--mementos of trips and special times, so I think it follows that I enjoy shooting everyday objects and my girls doing everyday things in a way that elevates them to art.  I've always considered myself a bit of an old soul, and I believe my photography reflects that aspect of my personality. I want my work to look timeless. I just stepped into the world of film photography, and I think it's going to be a beautiful relationship.

3. What sparked your passion for photography?

I've always had a creative itch, and like so many new moms I wanted a beautiful record of my daughter's life, but I was so intimidated by my fancy camera that I was just using on Auto. I came across Clickin' Moms in the fall of 2012 and immediately fell in love with everything about photography and the amazing online communities that center around it. But I'm not sure I really called my hobby a "passion" until I was in the middle of my first 365, which I shot the year leading up to my 30th birthday and documented on a simple blog, www.29andcounting.com (thus the origin of 29 Photography). Shooting every day was not easy, but I grew so much as a photographer, and I realized that my life would not be complete without photography.

4. What's in your camera bag right now?

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark iii DSLR, Canon 7N Elan 35mm SLR, iPhone 5s
Lenses: Canon 50mm/1.4, Canon 100mm/2.8L, Canon 24-105mm/4.0L, Sigma 35mm/1.4Art, Lensbaby Composer, Sigma 28-70mm/2.8

Film: Portra 400

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

I am actually so fortunate to be right in the middle of my dream project! My sweet friend Jayne Cho and I are collaborating on a project we've named 37° North because we both live on that line of longitude, even though she's on the other side of the globe in South Korea. We each take photos of the world around us and then blend them into composite images in an effort to show that life in Korea and Tennessee is really not that different. You can follow us on Instagram @37degreesnorth or check out our blog at www.37degreesnorthproject.tumblr.com

I love this project not only because it has strengthened my friendship with Jayne (even though we've never met in person!) and because it gives me an excuse to take photos of beautiful random buildings and doors and other street scenes that I might otherwise have no reason to photograph.

6. What are some of the misconceptions you had about photography and photographers at the beginning of your photography journey? Have they changed, and how?

For a long time, I thought the only "real" photographers were the ones who made money from clients. Since I don't have any intention of going into business any time soon, I still don't feel completely comfortable calling myself a photographer, but I'm getting there. And I'm also working on honing my own voice and speaking it clearly through my work instead of getting distracted by pursuing the "right" way to shoot or edit.

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

Be patient with yourself, but never stop learning. Upgrade your gear only when you've truly pushed it to its limitations. Challenge yourself to shooting as often as your can without getting burned out. Find a group of photographers who are encouraging and supportive. Learn about light and become obsessed with it.

Find more of Twenty-Nine Photography here:

Facebook | Website 

{unplugged}

This week’s theme was “unplugged”. I chose this theme because here in the US, summer vacation is coming to an end and I have been reflecting on the past 3 months I’ve spent with my family. We’ve had a wonderful summer filled with new adventures and unique experiences, but we’ve also spent a fair amount of time relaxing - both plugged AND unplugged. 

Our best memories, though, are of the ones created together as a family, 

where the source of laughter and joy was each other.

The finalists, in no particular order, are:

This image was reminiscent of my own childhood. 

I love the bare feet and still water in the creek bed.

Jenn K photography

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I am so fascinated by underwater photography, and I love all the geographic elements in the image as well (lines, dots, shapes, reflection).

Joy Alexander Photography

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I love how the two people look so small in the vast expanse of the shoreline, yet their connection their connection to each other makes them seem not small at all.

Melina Nastazia Photography

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I believe in music and its ability to soothe, heal, and transform. I love that music is timeless, and can be enjoyed by young and old alike - it is often a bridge across generations.

DayBug Photo by Kristey Fritz

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In this image I feel like I’m a voyeur, stealing a moment away from this pack. I adore how the girl has her hand around the younger one’s waist, and they look like they are thinking about all they did that day (or maybe what they’ll do tomorrow).

WALKUPtoME Photography

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I love how everyone is engaged and playing together. Even the fanciest xBox can’t compare to a water fight on a hot day!

Sara Carter

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This image is beautiful in it’s simplicity. The light and the emotion play together so well.

2B Seen Photography

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Sometimes being unplugged means being still in the quiet moments.

Act Naturally Photography

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This image does a wonderful job communicating the smallness of the child in the huge world around her. The beautiful but uncomplicated scenery give a feeling of freedom and simplicity.

Little Trees Photography

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This image gave me a huge SMILE. Who hasn’t roasted a marshmallow, only to catch it on fire and quickly blow out the flames? These two are having a great time together and it shows.

DaniPress Photography

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And the winner is.........

Twenty-Nine Photography

I absolutely love silhouettes and this one is done so well, from the form of the subjects to the to the filtered curtain light on the floor. I love the simplicity of the subject as well as the beautiful moment captured.

There were truly SO MANY wonderful photographs this week by countless talented artists. Thank you for sharing your beautiful “unplugged” images with me!

Gretchen Willis

www.gretchenwillis.com

www.facebook.com/Gretchen.Willis.Photography

instagram - GretchenWillis

Twitter - @GretchenWillis1