Jonigirvanphotography's Blog

Beautiful Bokeh!

jonigirvanphotography — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:12:40 +0000

Sorry for being so quiet lately, it’s been a super busy summer, and I’m sure to have lots of sessions and weddings to post when things calm down! In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to do a little informational post about bokeh and depth of field! For those of you who don’t know what bokeh is, it’s the blurred points of light that you sometimes see in the background of photos. According to Wikipedia, “Bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.” My main purpose of this post is to show you a fun idea that you can try at home with just a string of Christmas lights, a subject and a camera. It also happens to be a great way to demonstrate how to capture beautiful bokeh! Let’s get started! I had an engagement shoot on Sunday, and I had this idea in my head that I wanted to try. Since I’ve been studying how the light has been falling in our backyard throughout the day, I knew where I could set up my lights so we’d be in the shade at 4:30. First, I tried stringing the lights in the bushes, but later decided that I wanted to try to tape them to my background stand. I used gaffer tape and it worked well and it didn’t leave any sticky residue on my stand when I took it off. I also decided to hang an old window for this particular shot. The lights were strung in front of the bushes just so they would pop a little off the dark background. Here is what it looked like when I was finished: Note: I used the Canon 50mm 1.2 lens and I set my aperture to 1.2 for all of the images in this post. For those of you who don’t know what aperture is, it is basically the size of the hole that the light goes through when it passes through the lens. Next, I wanted to test to make sure everything looked ok. I didn’t change any settings on my camera. I aimed my camera down at my feet, set my focus, and recomposed my shot back at the lights. I was careful not to re-focus once I was viewing the lights, and I snapped a photo. Here’s what it looked like: As you can see, everything is blurred, because when I set my focus, it was aimed at my feet, which is a lot closer distance than it was to the lights. I find that I get better bokeh when I have a shorter distance between my camera and the subject in the foreground, and a greater distance between the subject in the foreground and the lights in the background. I know, it’s a lot to remember. But I’m hoping once you play around with it, it will make better sense! Ok, so my clients arrived, and I took two shots. Actually, I took a lot more than that, but I am only going to show you two for now. The subjects stayed in the same spot for both shots. Since I was using a fixed lens, I moved closer for the second shot. I kept my aperture set at 1.2 (wide open), and focused on the subjects eyes, making the background blurred. Do you notice a difference? It’s similar to what I did between the first and second image when I focused on my feet. The bokeh (and general background blur) is much more apparent in the last picture, and since the couple didn’t move and I didn’t change any settings on my camera, the only reason for it would be because I moved closer. I could have – and should have – moved the subjects further from the lights in the background, to create even more blur, so you wouldn’t even see the strings of lights. I hope that helps explain how to get some beautiful blurred lights in the background of your photos! This is a great idea for holiday photos, too! I’d love any feedback that you might have, and please feel free to share this with your friends! And share some of your beautiful bokeh on my facebook page! Enjoy!
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Neil + Violet = Engaged

jonigirvanphotography — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:50:47 +0000

I’ve been really excited to blog about this engagement session. Violet and Neil are the type of couple that a photographer wishes for. They were so loving and naturally affectionate with one another, even when I didn’t have my camera in their face. Actually, it was almost difficult to get them to just look at the camera and smile for more than a shot or two at a time! I told them this, and Violet responded, “Well, you told us to treat it like a date, so we are!” (Wow, I need to use that one more often!) hee hee. At one point, I turned my back for one second, and turned around to catch them in the middle of a very serious game of thumb war

They have such a beautiful story, too! They met on eharmony, and ”clicked”. They met at a local Starbucks on January 2^nd,2010. From that moment, they hit it off, and Neil proposed to Violet in June. They went to the beach and while we they were walking around in the sand, he asked her to “turn around and don’t peek!”. When he asked Violet to turn around, it said “Will you marry me” in the sand.

Violet and Neil are a unique couple, so I wanted this engagement session to be unique to their relationship. Some of the locations were selected based on where they met and where Neil proposed. Neil plays guitar a lot and sings, so he brought his guitar, and I was lucky to hear him play one of the songs he wrote. It was beautiful! They pamper each other with lots of love notes and flowers, so we hung some of the notes in the background of some of the shots, and Violet likes to go muddin’ in her truck, which we had to include as well! She told me that her truck is her 3^rd baby (Neil, her cat, then the truck). Oh! And the quilt in some of the pictures, was her baby blanket

I enjoyed this session so much, and I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding in August!

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Summer Mini Sessions

jonigirvanphotography — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:06:39 +0000

It’s the first day of summer, and I’m excited to offer summer mini sessions! Spaces are limited, so email me at joni@jonigirvanphotography.com to secure your session. If you cannot make it to any of the dates listed below, I am still booking limited regular $200 summer sessions through the end of August, even on some weekday evenings, and I’d be happy to include a disk of the images with your session.

I’ll be doing some more mini sessions in the fall, just in time for holiday cards! If you aren’t already following my blog, please subscribe to receive updates of mini sessions, discounts and other fun news And please feel free to pass this along to friends who might be interested. I’m looking forward to photographing your family this summer!

Update about Jamie

jonigirvanphotography — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:03:40 +0000

First, I’d like to thank everyone who has been praying for Jamie as well as those who have made donations so far. It is so amazing to receive responses from people who don’t even know Jamie. Thank you so much. I’ve been keeping up with Jamie’s Caring Bridge website, and here is the latest: Tomorrow will be four weeks since the accident. This weekend, Jamie spoke for the first time since the accident. She said “mom”. It was said softly, but she said it. She is also able to say “yeah” and “Molly” (her dog). Molly got to visit her over the weekend. Jamie was pretty excited to see her. She still has her feeding tube, but hopefully that will be out soon because she is moving her tongue and swallowing, which is the key to eating food again. Right now, she’s able to eat mashed potatoes, Jamba Juice, ice cream, as well as a little bit of cupcake (for those of you that know Jamie well, know that she’s obsessed with cupcakes!) Jamie’s doctor said that the kind of brain injury that Jamie has is the “best kind” of brain injury. Please continue to Pray for Jamie. If you would like to help Jamie and her family, you can help in a variety of ways:

1. There is power in prayer. Please keep Jamie and her family in your prayers.

2. If you would like to leave her a note or an encouraging message, I would be happy to pass it along for Ty to read to her. Days can be long at the hospital, so I am sure she would love to receive letters, even if they’re from complete strangers.

3. If you would like to help her family with the medical costs, I have two ways you could help. I have set up a PayPal donation link below, and you can donate any amount, large or small. Please include your name and email address, so I can pass it along. All proceeds will go directly to Jamie’s family.

4. For the next month, I would like to offer 100% of the proceeds for all prints purchased from my photography album. My hope is that you might find something that you would like to hang on your wall, and contribute to a very worthy cause at the same time. If you would like a print size that is not listed, please let me know.

http://purplehippophoto.smugmug.com/Photography/Purchase-Photo-Art/4668606_ZsdLf#1250416904_rmYgs

Thank you for your support. On behalf of Jamie and her family, we appreciate you keeping her in your prayers.

{This beautiful photo of Jamie and my nephew Ty, was taken by my talented photographer sister, Jessiey Ranck}

Please Keep Jamie in your Prayers

jonigirvanphotography — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 06:09:27 +0000

As some of you may know, my nephew’s girlfriend, Jamie, was in a serious car accident just over two weeks ago, leaving her in critical condition. She was on the way to meet some friends for lunch. As she was leaving her neighborhood, she was struck by a car, which caused her car to spin and roll completely over, landing back on her tires. FVPD Officer Rick Nilos responded to the accident within 15-20 seconds. He could see Jamie slumped over in her car and could tell she wasn’t breathing. After failing to break Jamie’s window, the officer crawled through the back window of her Ford Focus coupe and pulled the lever of Jamie’s seat so she could lay flat. After adjusting her jaw, Jamie began to breathe. She was rushed to UCI trauma center. She suffered three fractures to her pelvis and a bleed in her brain, and was put in a medically induced coma.

My nephew, Ty, was training for the Army when this happened, so he was unable to be with her in the hospital until this last Monday. He is home now, and Jamie is aware that he is with her. She seems to be doing better and better with each passing day; she has opened her eyes a number of times, and is able to do limited sign language. An MRI showed some damage to the back of her brain, but we won’t be sure what the effects of the damage are until she fully wakes up. She has been moved to a rehabilitation center where she will receive physical, occupational and speech therapy. She has a long recovery process ahead of her, so I would like to ask you to keep Jamie, her family and my nephew, Ty, in your prayers.

This is such a tragic thing that has happened to a beautiful, loving 18 year old girl. It breaks my heart to think of her in the hospital. In the words of my nephew, “She is a country music addict and can’t get enough of it. She loves the Angels baseball team and one day wants to be a nurse. She is just a fun loving person who would do anything to help someone in need.” She has been on my mind nonstop, as I could never imagine going through what she has gone through these past few weeks.

She has such a wonderful support system. Her best friend wrote the nicest letter to the officer that saved her, and some of her friends will be doing raffles and other fundraisers to help with the hospital/ rehabilitation costs. If you would like to help, here are a few things that you could do:

1. There is power in prayer. Please keep Jamie and her family in your prayers.

http://purplehippophoto.smugmug.com/Photography/Purchase-Photo-Art/4668606_ZsdLf#1250416904_rmYgs

Thank you for your support. On behalf of Jamie and her family, we appreciate you keeping her in your prayers.

Cowboy Vintage

jonigirvanphotography — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:06:27 +0000

I am sure I say it every time I post about this family. But it’s true. They’re my favorite. Not only were they my first “real” client, but they have been loyal to me ever since. I have the honor of photographing them a couple of times per year, when I visit my family in California. It has been so much fun seeing the kids grow up. The little ones (they’re twins) are at the age where they can follow directions, but still add a little of their own personality into every shot. Gabi, their older sister, is by far, the most mature and helpful fifth grader that I’ve met. Alan does a great job of making everyone laugh just at the right time, which gives natural emotion to the photos. And Randi… She is just the best at putting everything together. She does such a wonderful job with everyone’s outfits and props. It goes to show that with a little planning, you can really turn a regular family portrait session into a fabulous one. The other thing about this particular session, is that a lot of the clothes that Randi selected hold sentimental value to her. Randi’s boots were her moms from about 35 years ago. The girl’s outfits were made by her mom about 30 years ago, and the quilt was made by her great grandma over 50 years ago! You will see the quilt in all of their photo sessions – I just love that. Randi also ordered the most beautiful hair pieces for all of the girls from Love Crush Bowtique.

Okay, are you ready to check ‘em out? Enjoy the pictures of this beautiful family!

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Martin + Jenn

jonigirvanphotography — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:05:26 +0000

Jenn is a good friend of my best friend, Tracy. They’re teachers Jenn and Martin are expecting their little guy in two months, so it worked out perfectly for us to schedule a shoot during my trip to California last weekend. I had a great time photographing these two. Martin kept us laughing throughout the session, and Jenn was just SO cute!

Congratulations, Jenn and Martin! You two will be fantastic parents I am looking forward to meeting the little guy on my next trip!

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Jackson is one!

jonigirvanphotography — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:57:03 +0000

Remember this little guy from here and here? He’s turning one! I met them at Golden Gardens on a beautiful Seattle day. It had just started to cool down, and the wind really kicked in for some of the shots! I loved seeing Jackson’s face light up when they brought their two dogs in for some photos. It is so fun to see these little guys develop their own personality as they get older! I am honored to be able to capture the milestones in little Jackson’s life

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Glenn + Brittney

jonigirvanphotography — Fri, 20 May 2011 04:52:29 +0000

Brittney and Glenn met through a mutual friend. With the Seahawks game playing in the background, they chatted, but little did they know, this was the first of many dates to come. And they really didn’t know that they would be getting married 2.5 years later!

We decided to schedule their engagement shoot in May, so we’d have a shot at good weather. Seattle didn’t disappoint. There was a 70% chance of rain in the forecast, but that didn’t stop us! I met Glenn and Brittney, along with their adorable dogs, Daisy & Duncan, at EMP in Seattle. We took some pictures with the dogs (Duncan was crazy!!), and then continued on our photo adventure at Pike Place Market & Post Alley. It started drizzling at the very end of the session, so we took cover at the Hard Rock Cafe, where I got a chance to know – and love – this couple even more. You can tell how much they love each other, just by the way they talk to and look at one another.

They are getting married on June 2nd, at a beautiful venue, Wild Rose, in Arlington. I cannot wait, this will be one beautiful wedding. And Brittney, you will be one stunning bride

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Giveaway Winners!!!

jonigirvanphotography — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:43:38 +0000

Thank you again, to all of the wonderful vendors who participated in this awesome giveaway! Six lucky winners won some amazing prizes!!! If you are a winner, please contact me at joni@jonigirvanphotography.com within 24 hours. Be sure to subscribe to my blog for future giveaways and updates! Thank you again for playing, we hope you had fun checking out these talented vendors Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Are you ready to see who won??

The lucky winner of the PINK package wins:

PINK PACKAGE WINNER: DANIELLE MELUCCI

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The lucky local winner of the PINK BONUS giveaway wins:

PINK BONUS GIVEAWAY WINNER: AMI KING

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The lucky winner of the PURPLE package wins:

PURPLE PACKAGE WINNER: DELIAH BAINES

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The lucky local winner of the PURPLE BONUS giveaway wins:

PURPLE BONUS GIVEAWAY WINNER: KACEE

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The lucky winner of the GREEN package wins:

GREEN PACKAGE WINNER: JESSICA HENNINGS

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The lucky local winner of the GREEN BONUS giveaway wins:

Jonigirvanphotography's Blog

Beautiful Bokeh!

Neil + Violet = Engaged

Summer Mini Sessions

Update about Jamie

Please Keep Jamie in your Prayers

Cowboy Vintage

Martin + Jenn

Jackson is one!

Glenn + Brittney

Giveaway Winners!!!

Are you ready to see who won??

PINK PACKAGE WINNER: DANIELLE MELUCCI

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PINK BONUS GIVEAWAY WINNER: AMI KING

PURPLE PACKAGE WINNER: DELIAH BAINES

PURPLE BONUS GIVEAWAY WINNER: KACEE

GREEN PACKAGE WINNER: JESSICA HENNINGS

GREEN BONUS GIVEAWAY WINNER: CHERYL