Love is too weak a word for what I feel...

In the 70's I was not even a though in my mother's head. Tomorrow I am taking photographs of a friend of mine and his girlfriend at Observatory Park in Denver. It was his idea to have a 70's theme for some of the photos. I am SO excited! I've seen a retro 50's theme, which don't get me wrong although super cute (I LOVE LOVE LOVE PINUPS!) but defiantly over done. Themes can be fun and unique or tacky. I think it's when it's taken too far when themes become more costume and tacky rather than innovative. BUT then again... with the 70's isn't it that touch of tacky that makes it so great.

Here are some lovely surf the net inspirations of the 70's...



If there is one thing about 70's portraiture it's defiantly the fabulous backdrops and the so classic "hand on the shoulder" pose.



I think people in the 70's where afraid to look into the camera. The trend was defiantly look to the side and smile at Jesus.



Don't these girls just look like they are having the time of their lives! The key to 70's portraiture.... over posing! Stay classy! Do note.. none of the girls are looking at each other or in the same direction.



Couples that have matching feathered hair and outfits, stay together. Look deep into my feathered hair. Real deep.


Stay tuned for my retro 70's style photo session...

Pounding the convention floor pavement!

I had never been to a photography convention before, or any convention for that matter. Thanks to wonderful Twitter I found out about PDN's Photo Plus Expo in New York just last week. At first I thought I'll just mark my calendar for next year since I had less than a week to plan a trip out there. But I had friday off and since I work for an airline I could actually get there. So I backed my backpack and jet set to New York!

AH, New York. It had been so long since I'd been there. I love the public transportation, the way everyone walks with such purpose, how nice everyone looks ready for a board meeting, the magic of the city. As I headed towards Manhattan I planned what speakers I wanted to see, my brain buzzing ready to expand with new wonderful knowledge.

Around 8:00am I checked in and received my student pass.. it all was surreal until that moment, I am actually in New York and taking another step into improving myself as a photographer. Then I headed to the "The Photographer Makeover" seminar, only to have the "high" I was quickly deflated when I learned my student pass was limited to only the expo part and the seminars would cost me $45 EACH! (And that was at the 50% off student rate) I went from 200 to 0 in minutes. I was defiantly bummed!

I decided to look around the expo for a little while and go home early. When I walked first walked in I couldn't believe all the people and all the booths! It was photographer heaven! My first stop was the Nikon booth.. Oh the Lens Envy!!! I've always seen field lens and drooled over them.. finally I got to play with one! My mood was improving... then my excitement built to that all the way over the moon attitude when I heard Me Ra Koh. Oh how I feel in love with her right away. There were speakers inside the expo and she spoke about wedding photography in this way that made me tingle. Her passion and love for photography was something I could relate to and she gave wonderful tips. I clung to her every word!

I still am learning so so much about the photography business and like a sponge I soaked up the wave of information from the photo plus expo. I got to see all the different album designs, see new equipment, backgrounds and ways to sell my photos. I've felt so alone many times, besides the information I've gotten from [b] school photographers in colorado defiantly shunned me. It was such a breath of fresh air to be around so many photographers and just to spend a day being surrounded by everything photography! It was defiantly an experience of a life time and I can't wait for next year! I'll be saving my money for the seminars and hopefully can go for more than just one day.

The Photo Booth Project

There is always magic when you think of photo booths. Some of my first photo booths were at Skate City, a local skate rink that had a cult following among 5^th graders and middle schooler’s. You would jump inside, prep your hair and discuss the game plan with your photo booth partner… first photo just smile, second tongue out, third bunny ears, etc. Photo booths are always so whimsical and fun and then of course romantic. When you have a crush or start to fall in love with that special someone nothing makes it more official than the photo booth kiss.

The photo booth is becoming the newest photo trend that is slowly catching on to weddings and events everywhere that I have fallen in love with! The Knot has featured articles about how bring a photo booth to your wedding reception is not only a great way to capture hilarious and creative photographs of family and friends but is also something memorable as entertainment during the reception. Photographers like Image is found are already featuring these fun or “crazy booths” as add on to their already creative wedding photography (oh how these guys inspire me and I can only some day hope to be as initiative as they are about photography).

It is now my goal to add this photo booth phenomenon to Elle Bea Photography. With either a simple white backdrop or even a customized backdrop to match the colors of a wedding/event then I camera that is triggered in intervals. Eventually I would even like to offer props or even a message board like this other photo booth I found online from wedding bee blog. I just love how cute and personable a photo booth is rather than just a guest book with names. And of course a photo booth could be used at so many different events, not just weddings. Any type of party! To start the project off I’m going to offer the photo booth for free for the first 10 weddings or events that are booked. For more details please email me and check out this cute photo booth pictures that I can not take credit for…. But please stay tuned on the photo booth project. Can't wait to try it out for the next event or wedding that we do.

Photos found on Wedding Bee Blog, also read this article on photo booths.

The photography company formally known as Starry Night Photography. Change is exciting and I'm getting ready for BIG changes. As much as I did like Starry Night Photography as a name I felt like maybe I was hiding behind a painting instead of focusing on what really important... myself as a photographer. Elle Bea Photography is me, it is my initials taken a little more literally : L= elle + B= bea. I'm working on a new website and most of all the whole branding package!

This summer I started to build my self as a photographer and build a company. I will never forget the brides that I had the pleasure to work with this summer and take photographs that hopefully they will all cherish forever. I had never taken photos at a wedding before this summer. I learned so so much. These next few blogs will be a flashback to this summer since I didn't have a blog until now. I'm excited for the changes I have made and even more excited to start doing the job of my dreams and be a photographer!