Category: faces

A Photo a Week Challenge: Eyes

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Eyes are one of the first things we notice about other people, and they convey so much that we don’t say out loud. This little cutie and her family sure have made their way into my life and heart. I was thrilled to be able to take their family Christmas photos.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF SOME OF THE EYES IN YOUR LIFE.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: The Things that Matter Most

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PSA: Before I begin writing this post, I would like to apologize for the lateness of this post. Christmas is a such a busy time that I’ve found myself getting behind with a lot of things. I am planning on continuing with the challenge, but for the next few weeks, posts might be later than usual. Thank you for your patience.

As Christmas approaches and the New Year rolls around, I like to take time to reflect on the things that matter most to me. Family, friends, beliefs, home. These are the things that I cherish the most. The image above is from our recent trip to Europe. On the grounds of Melk Abby is this lovely, lush grove of trees. As much as I love the trees, I truly love the man looking at me with so much love in his eyes. Our life together is what holds me in place every day. The slideshow below contains a lot of photos (over 60) of the other people in my life that mean the most to me: family. Feel free to watch as long you like.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO OF THINGS THAT MEAN THE MOST TO YOU.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: By Firelight

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Growing up, Christmas always included Christmas trees next to wood-burning fires, multi-colored tree lights and the smell of baking cookies. Our current house does not have a fireplace, so I have to find my firelight shots at other times of the year. This one is from our church young women’s camp this summer.

Firelight can be fun to photograph, but you have to account for so much with lighting: too much warmth from the fire, creating good exposure for any subjects in the photo. Post-processing software is great for getting just the right warmth (or coolness) in your image. I used Photoshop to get this one to look how I wanted.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) THAT USES FIRE AS THE MAIN SOURCE OF LIGHT.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Threes

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The eye loves asymmetry. Unequal sides and odd numbers have been artistic standards for centuries. For this little family, three is the perfect number.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) FEATURING THREE SUBJECTS OR ITEMS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Black & White

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Looking back through past challenges, I found that I have never done a dedicated black and white challenge. It really surprised me. I love editing in black and white. When I was still shooting with film, I loved using black and white dedicated film, especially for slides. There’s something amazing about black and white images. They are instantly nostalgic and artistic.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE).

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Security

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In a very insecure world, the love of family brings me the greatest feelings of security. It makes me so happy that these beautiful and amazing people are part of my family.

For more from this challenge, visit the Daily Press’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Security.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Atop

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Visiting Schilthorn in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. When we reached the top of the mountain, there were too many clouds to see the valley, but we got a good view on the tram ride up and down.

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For more from this challenge, visit the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Atop.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Props

Lost in a good book
Baby D

When doing a shoot for a child or high school senior, I tell my clients to bring things they are interested in. For small children, I suggest parents bring favorite toys. Having something familiar can help them relax and brings out really fun things in their personalities. Too many props can get in the way, but a few well-selected ones really help to make the portrait shoot more memorable and more fun for your clients.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS FEATURING PEOPLE WITH PROPS.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.

A Photo A Week: Thankfulness

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Today, the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, and so I’ve been thinking of what I’m thankful for. I post a lot of pictures of my husband, who I am very thankful for every day. I post a lot of pictures of the beautiful state of Utah, where I live. I post a lot of pictures of the amazing places we’ve been able to see as we travel this amazing world we live in. But today, I have to thank the amazing woman who raised me. Thanks, Mom. You are my hero. You have shown grace and strength in very difficult times. You have demonstrated true, unconditional love to your family and others, even strangers. You have been the best example of what it means to mother. I know you’re not perfect, but you are the perfect mother for me. I love you, Mom.

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS OF WHAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR.

Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Each week, I’ll come up with a theme and post a photo that I think fits. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog (a new post!) anytime before the following Thursday, when the next photo theme will be announced.
  2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “A Photo a Week Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use the “postaday″ tag.
  3. Come back here and post a link to your image in the comments for this challenge.
  4. Follow nancy merrill photography so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements.