Natalie Fobes Photography Blog

So you’ve graduated, now it is time to start saving

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:54:19 +0000

I remember when I graduated from school. I was tapped out financially. Each week’s paycheck meant that I could slowly add to my household goods. A sleeping bag on the floor was my bed, stacked newspapers were my chairs, extra plastic forks from KFC were my cutlery and when it came time to buy gas, I scrounged on the floor of my 1972 super beetle for small change.

Times were tight, no question about it. But I realized even then that I had to start saving a small portion of my paycheck for emergencies. It started out as just $10 or $20 a week. My first big purchase was an antique Hoosier Kitchen Cabinet. My next was a mattress. Eventually I had furniture, plates and silverware.

I raised the amount earmarked for my savings.

When my VW’s engine needed to be rebuilt I paid for it with my savings. Two years after graduation when I grew tired of unreasonable landlords I bought a house.

I didn’t have a credit card until I was 27.

It isn’t only smart that you save for the unexpected, it is absolutely imperative that you save.

Saw this interesting article in the Seattle Times this weekend that I thought you’d enjoy.

Congratulations to the class of 2010! I can’t wait to see what you do next!

Great article about business

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:37:27 +0000

Ran across this article today and thought you all might like it. John Mireles is a photographer and business coach who knows his stuff.

Album samples

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:17:46 +0000

Check out the sample albums from last year’s class. Remember to read the assignment carefully to make sure you are providing everything I’ve asked.

And have fun with the design and creative techniques!

Lynda.com by Natalie Fobes

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 22:00:26 +0000

Had a fantastic five days with a video team from Lynda.com. They followed me around for a series called “Creative Inspirations.” They filmed while I taught my class at Seattle Central Community College, while I shot portraits of my friend and CEO of Science Faction Roger Ressmeyer and while I photographed the amazing old-growth forest of the Olympic National Park.

The documentary will be out in June or early July and available for viewing at www.lynda.com

Thanks David, Scott, Ben and Jacob for making it such a fun experience!

And yes, there is a Lynda of www.lynda.com. A charming, thoughtful and insightful woman who put together a fantastic online learning community.

Protected: Wedding Business Models by Natalie Fobes

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:51:47 +0000

Wonderful World of Weddings by Natalie Fobes

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:39:05 +0000

Most of this quarter to date has been spent working on portraits and lighting. You’ve learned to use flash on camera as fill and a bounce main as well as reflectors. You’ve learned a few rules of posing. You know the importance of mixing up your lenses and using a shallow depth of field to bring attention to your subject.

All of these tools are used when you shoot a wedding. You will be working for fine light whether it is available, enhanced or totally created by your flashes.

You will be posing people for group shots and romantic couple shots.

You will be the director if there isn’t a wedding coordinator. Especially during the day other vendors will count on you to manage the flow ot the wedding day. Most of the time the DJ controls the timeline of the reception.

I’ve broken the wedding day story into chapters with hints about lighting. It may be a handy reference for you.

The main set of photographs that I think are the most important are the couple shots. This is their day. They are spending a lot of money for me to capture not only the story of their wedding but also those memorable portraits of the two of them. My goal is to create fine art photographs of them. I’m not content with just giving them the standard shot. Yes, I take those standard shots but only to loosen them up a little.
The rest of the day I’m looking at photographing them in natural, artistic ways.

Check out my wedding galleries at http://www.aweddingbynatalie.com

May Savings for the Bhutan Trip

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:03:31 +0000

Save $200 on the Bhutan trip by booking in May. Check it out at www.tinyurl.com/bhutan2010. Then email me to find out more. This’ll be fun!

Model fees

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:00:13 +0000

As you know, the school is paying for two sets of models and you will be paying for the third. Each one of you needs to give Raquel $11.25. Everyone needs to do this by the 24th.

Those who have not paid will not shoot the models on May 27th. If you have extreme circumstances please let me know.

Protected: Portraiture by Seattle Photographer Natalie Fobes

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:57:31 +0000

Trek Bhutan with Natalie

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:23:40 +0000

I’m leading a tour to Bhutan this Fall and am so excited. We will be there for almost two weeks. The trip is timed so that we will be able to photograph the harvest and the celebrations.

For more info check out Bhutan 2010.