Photography by Elizabeth

Shooting Your Own Maternity Photo...

Taking my own maternity photo was challenging...

First of all my backdrop wasn't wide enough.

Second, these test shots remind me of how much I resemble Old Mother Hubbard in my down bathrobe. 

Third, I don't have a remote shutter release, so shooting began with me hitting the timed shutter release, scurrying to my set, crawling into a scarf clipped to the back of a chair, and pulling it perfectly taut in order to show off the pregnant parts and politely cover the wobbly ones...Lots to do in ten seconds! Nevermind I couldn't see myself in the frame - should have lifted my chin a bit, brushed the hair from my shoulder, and maybe found something else to do with my hands. (?!) I could have used an assistant, or two. All those photos that you see of pregnant celebrities? Yeah, fleets of stylists and assistants, fleets! And giant, glam, hair-blowing fans. Oh, the fans...

So here's what I came up with...out of 67 photos, I got four. I edited those down and got this one. Yes, one. Perhaps I will try again in a month or so...Baby's daddy can help me with the shutter; I'll pay Sarah to do my hair; and a friend can assist with wardrobe. Maybe I'll even set up some fans...

© 2010 Elizabeth Lynch Photography

Saturday Night

I'll just have some orange juice. Thanks.

© 2010 Elizabeth Lynch Photography

Hot Spring in Yellowstone

The point of this post has nothing to do with Yellowstone. The point here is that if you give your 92-year-old grandmother a point-and-shoot camera (because she wants to take photos of her garden), make sure that the buttons are big enough for her to see. She will get less frustrated with you.

Above photo taken with afore-mentioned point-and-shoot - a Canon Powershot SD1100. Not a bad camera, actually. Has video too.

© 2010 Elizabeth Lynch Photography

Name Tattoos...

Baby Roman...

© 2009 Elizabeth Lynch Photography

Rainy

Just playing around with a new invitation design...I probably won't use the sentence from the poem, but I thought it was apropos for today.

© elizabeth lynch

Pro Bono

A few months ago, I came across the Heart Gallery of Illinois, an organization that has photographers take on-location portraits of children in the Illinois child welfare system. The portraits are displayed at "gallery nights" to give prospective adoptive parents better insight into the kids' personalities and lives. (Pretty smart, huh?) I just did my first portrait, and I gotta say that I'm enjoying getting out of my comfort zone, meeting the kids, and being part of a worthwhile organization.  

For other photography-related volunteer opportunities, please see this back issue of PDN.  

© elizabeth lynch photography

Photographer Spotlight: Chase Jarvis

Just read about this book, The Best Camera is the One That's With You, by photographer Chase Jarvis. There's also an iPhone App. I haven't seen it except online, so I have no review of it, but the concept seems pretty darn cool. 

I want to be cool too, so here are a few of my own iPhone pics...From top to bottom: Richardson Beach, Hilo; Sanibel Island, FL; Art Institute of Chicago; Monarch landing on echinacea flower at Jayson Home and Garden, Chicago.

 

 
© elizabeth lynch photography

Oscar-Worthy

From one of my favorite actors..."I don't have a sense of entitlement or that I deserve this. You'd be surprised at the lack of competition between nominees - I think a lot of it's imposed from the outside. Can I have my champagne now?" 

                          - Cate Blanchett

© elizabeth lynch photography

Are You There Spring? It's Me, Elizabeth

I think the best way to get over old man winter is to surround yourself with color and life, which for me means flowers. Even just walking through a floral shop or the botanic gardens give me a good dose of chlorophyll. A few of my favorite boutiques...

Asrai Garden

Suzanne Cummings Flowers

Christine Noelle Design

www.elizabethlynchphotography.com

An e-mail just doesn't cut it when you need to say "I'm Sorry"

I have a huge collection of cards. My favorites come from D'Arconte, a guy out of Brooklyn who doesn't appear to have a website. I build my collection for myself, but they're great for spontaneous sending, like when your dog eats someone's Bose head phones and you need to say "I'm Sorry," but how do you say "I'm Sorry" when it was really your dog who messed up?! With a cute card - and a check neatly folded in the envelope, of course. I've started making my own cards (pretty ones, not just for apologizing...) with my flower photos and the little graphic design I know. I just found a a guy who will do letterpress for me, so that's next. It's so fun and a dozen of them in a gorgeous box make great gifts. I'm not looking forward to teaching myself Illustrator though...

www.elizabethlynchphotography.com