Welcome

Thanks for stopping by my blog where you will find a sneak peek from recent photo sessions featuring a few of my personal favorites. I invite you to revisit my blog often as I continue to add updates.
If you are interested in booking a session please contact me at:
colleen@colleendavisphotography.com


**Please note that all images are the property of Colleen Davis Photography. Copyright infringement is a Federal Law. Please do not copy or print without written permission. Thank you for following the law and respecting my work.




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"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." Dorthea Lange



Press Printed and Photo Cards Available!

Press Printed and Photo Cards Available!
Click image above for additional info on Christmas Cards!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Exciting new products this year!!

I'm excited to be offering these creative new custom collages.  What a beautiful way to display your favorite images from a session!  Now available in several sizes including 10x20, 11x14 or 8x10.  These collages will come mounted and protected to let you display your piece of art with or without glass.  Upgrade mounting available, just ask to see a sample!



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Talkin' Shop


I love photography!  I love to talk ‘shop’ with anyone that might be the slightest bit interested in photography.  Several people have asked me what kind of camera I own.  I use a Canon 5d Marks II.  My camera and the lenses I own are great tools for capturing creative images.   I chose my camera because of it’s incredible high iso ability to capture images in low light conditions.  I can crank that puppy up to 3200 iso and still get a pretty clear shot without too much grain.  The fact that it’s a full frame camera (vs. a cropped frame) I’m able to take advantage of my lens’s full capability without sacrificing a crop factor.  I own three lenses;  50mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8 L, and my 70-200mm 2.8 L.  Each one allows me to create something a little different when it comes to creativity.  My 50mm, with it’s 1.4 f-stop brings in an amazing amount of light when wide open and is perfect for those lower light situations.  My 70-200mm has such incredible zoom and compression creating that creamy bokeh look that I love.  And my 24-70mm is a perfect lens for portrait photography.   Put that lens on a full-frame camera like the 5d, its wide angel ability is pretty impressive at 24mm.  Do I have a wish list for additional lenses?  Sure, I do.  There are so many amazing lenses on the market and knowing the strengths of each lens will help in deciding which lens is right for each particular situation.
Sometimes People mistake the camera and lenses themselves for creating the final image.  You may actually be surprised if you see an image straight out of camera (SOOC).  I’ve included a few before and after below.  Because I shoot in a RAW format I am not allowing my camera to process the image.  Unlike jpeg format where the camera compresses and processes the image leaving little room for changes in post processing.  Instead, I download the RAW files on my computer which acts like my digital ‘dark room’.  I pull the images into a program called Lightroom.  That is where I sort and organize my images and make initial edits to exposure, contrast, brightness, saturation and vibrance.   I then take my images into CS5 (Photoshop).  I use the image taken in my camera as almost a rough draft to my final masterpiece, if you want to call it that.  I can enhance the image with vibrant colors, sharp features, touch-ups as well as crop and add a vignette to a photo to be pleasing to the eye.  I personally like to add textures to enhance an image and give it either a vintage or edgy feel depending on what I see in my vision.  Photographers each have a slightly different process depending on their own interpretation of a photograph.   That is what makes us each unique.  I think when choosing a photographer for your family or event it’s important to look at the photographer’s individual style and make sure it matches up to your taste.    

I  applied for my business license in late 2009 and made things official for Colleen Davis Photography.  I have a passion for what I do.  And as much as there is to learn out there, I enjoy every minute.  The people I meet, challenges I give myself in creating images, and editing photographs to capture what I see - it’s all wonderful!





If you’ve read this far, I assume you’re interested in photography as well.  If you ever want to talk ‘shop’ I’m always eager.  Thanks for reading this post.  

Colleen

Monday, January 9, 2012

Someone is turning th...th...thr...

Three years old!!  That's a difficult one to say!  Probably more so because he's our baby and he's growing up so fast!  With a January birthday, I never imagined that he would ever get an outdoor session for his birthday unless he was bundled from head to toe to beat the cold.  But this year, with temps in the 40's here in MN (unheard of for January), we headed outdoors and took some images that really captured his personality.  He loves being outside!  All summer he spent hours on the play set...climbing, swinging, sliding.  Even as it got cold, this little guy would bundle up just to get on that tire swing!  What a perfect week of warmer temperatures to celebrate his birthday and be able to enjoy the outdoors!  Happy Birthday!  We love you and are so happy you're part of our family! xoxoxo



    and a little sun flare on this warm January day!


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year and Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year!  It's already January 3rd.  After a full two weeks of enjoying family, friends, and all of the festivities that come along with the end of the year, I'm back in my office.  I'm back and being grateful for all that 2011 brought.  With close to 40 sessions including a dozen HS Seniors and three weddings, I met some wonderful new people in 2011.  I feel so blessed.  I look forward to all that 2012 will bring.  Happy New Year!