It’s been nearly two weeks since I’ve been back from Blissdom and I can hardly believe it! I’m still processing everything I learned, who I met and more!
I was excited to learnt that this year Blissdom was going to have photography sessions. I recently got a Nikon D5000 and while in Auto Mode I can take some pretty good pictures, I wanted to learn MORE. I was even more excited when I learned that Me Ra Koh was one of the photographers that was going to be speaking.
Photo Credit: Blissdom 2012
Me Ra Koh is inspirational, gorgeous, enthusiastic and a talented speaker and photographer. I only got to spend a total of 3 hours listening to her share and I’m wishing that I could attend one of her weekend workshops!
While at Blissdom, I attended two sessions called Shoot Like a Woman Part I and Part II by Me Ra. I wish I could share with you everything she told us, but here are some of my notes that I took!
Camera Settings
– Turn off your flash! Buy an extended internal flash.
– Use the center focus and then reframe.
– Be willing to change camera settings quickly, especially when you’re shooting children!
“Be willing to miss shots to get great shots” – Me Ra Koh
– If you’re taking pictures of people, go to a parking lot not a park! Grass will suck up light!
– Turn off all the lights in your house and let the natural light come in.
– If you have a point and shoot, you can still get those cool photos where there is a blurry background. Switch to Portrait Mode!
– Don’t edit after, try and fill the frame as you are taking the picture.
– When getting pictures taken of you, wear something you feel beautiful in.
At the end of the second session, Me Ra had us do something that I thought would be silly, but actually turned out to be very emotional. I can’t tell you how many times I cried during her two sessions!
Try doing this:
Stand up with your camera in your hands and close your eyes.
Lift the camera above your head, up and down.
Bring the camera to your heart.
Feel that the camera is an extension of you and not just an awkward piece of technology.
Pictures mean so much to me and I love capturing my daily life, my family and all of those special moments. I’m so grateful that I was able to attend and hear from Me Ra and her husband!
Thanks so much to Rug Doctor, who was my sponsor to Blissdom 2012!
I just love her! She is such an inspiration and taught me how to see through the lens in a different way. Her photos are stunning!
Exciting! Thanks for sharing some of the highlights!
Photography is something I keep saying I want to learn more about … but have yet to take the time and actually do so. 🙂 So I enjoy at least getting to pick up a few quick tips like this now & then!
Thanks for sharing some of the tips you learned. What a fun experience. I took a photography class a little while ago, but I think I ended up more confused than taught:( I love to learn more about photography and editing.
These are some great tips!! I hope to get a new, “flashier” (AKA cooler and separate flash :->) pretty soon. Thank you much for sharing your takeaways from Me Ra’s sessions.
Great tips! I really need to start learning how to use my camera!
Sounds like you got some great tips. I would love to have gone. I could use some photography pointers.
These are such fantastic tips! Now, I’m starting to wish I had attended her sessions – it sounds like they were helpful and inspiring! Thanks for sharing
I LOVED her sessions. I had to thank her but could barely hold back the tears. I too love what she had us do with our camera. To really feel as though it is a part of us.
that’s what i say- shoot away! LOL
I’m saving up for a DSLR but I would definitely need to take some classes to figure out how to use it properly! Great post (:
Awesome tips – especially the one about the parking lot vs. grass! I recently bought a new camera but I chickened out and got an upgraded P&S instead of a DSLR because I figured I would NEVER figure out how to use it. This gives me hope that one day I can upgrade again and know what I’m doing.
Thanks for sharing these tips! I would love to take one of Me Ra’s workshops too! I just got a new Nikon D5100 right before Christmas last year. It was my Christmas gift to myself!
How exciting! It’s such a good camera but intimidating! I definitely would love to spend a few days with her!