learning photograpy

Last weekend I started an online beginners photography class and I love it! My only goal was to learn how to use my camera in manual mode and I feel like I've got the basics of it! There is still so much to learn but it's a start.

Yesterday we headed out and took some pictures. This probably isn't the best picture that I took but it's my favorite. It's a little overexposed but I love the super blurry background. It was SUPER sunny outside. And that was probably the only productive thing I did the whole day. :)

Oh and I should probably add that the class i am taking is SnapShop by Ashley Ann Photography. You might be familiar with her blog, Under the Sycamore. The class is a little pricy at $200 but it's been worth it for me. :)

Before & After Photo

Here is a before and after of the below picture. It's pretty dramatic!

Petal Princess

I love Photoshop again! My old computer was so stone age that it would have literally taken me weeks to be able to do something like this. So instead of cleaning the house yesterday I played around with Bella's newborn pictures and made these.

New photography blog

I have a new blog for photography. It's more of a hobby right now but I'm really enjoying it and thought it would be nice to have a place to share. You can visit it at http://sunsetstanleyphotography.blogspot.com

{Fall 2009 Family Photos}

Yesterday my friend Sierra took our family pictures. These are our first official family pictures since Bella was born. I am completely in LOVE with them! Afterwards I snapped some of just Bella. The weather was perfect and the leaves were amazing. Thanks Sierra!

{fire hydrant}

I took this picture today and I really love it! Just had to share. I love fall!

My Prima Ballerina

The Canon Rebel

I have wanted a Canon Rebel for awhile now and I finally decided to just get one. I am so happy I did! It is everything I was hoping for, plus some! I figure that I can learn somethings about photography and just take all of Isabella's pictures at home and save money by not taking her to the studio. I did take a photography class in high school.. but I honestly can't remember much of anything from that class. The good thing is that I have Photoshop and I do know how to edit pictures. Here are a few I took around the house today..like I didn't have anything better to do than take 2oo pictures on my new camera.

See, I can take sweet pictures of wall art.

The light switch bird

Pictures of Bella

Bella recently had her first pictures taken by our good friend Tiffany Izatt. Tiffany is married to Dustin and he is the one who did our wedding and family pictures. I love both of them and their entire family. Tiff posted these pictures on their blog and I stole them so that I could show them off. I can't wait to see the rest!

Thanks Tiff for doing such a great job!

P.S. If you are in the need of a good photographer, be sure to check out Dustin's website.

My Best Friends Wedding!

On Saturday November 3rd, my best friend Stephanie got married to her sweetheart Al. It was a beautiful winter themed wedding. My pal and photographer Dustin (www.digitalizatt.com) was the photographer. Here are some pictures from the wedding.