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Monday I had one of those mornings were I couldn’t sleep after 6:00am!  I thought, “What could I do this early in the morning?”  It came to me, photograph a sunrise on the beach, which I hadn’t done in some time. So I set off to the Isle of Palms and I certainly wasn’t alone.  It was the first crisp morning we have had and everyone was out either walking, running, playing with their dogs, or just admiring the sunrise. I love the morning light; how everything glows with a golden yellow color.  I hope you enjoy these images!

 

The start to a beautiful fall day!

 

 

 

Well, it’s 3 days before Christmas and time is running out to get all the last minute tasks done before the BIG DAY!   I’m almost done, only a few stocking stuffers left to buy – how about you?  Ah, if you are like most people there is a list lurking somewhere around your house with all the “last minute, must do’s” to do.  I have a few items that you might want to add to your list!  (Don’t worry; it’s not that bad)

Since family and friends will be close by this weekend, I am sure that you will want to snap a few pictures.  This holiday remember the candid shots as well as the posed.  Jimmy closely inspecting his new toy truck, Sally hugging close that new baby doll, Mom trying on her new sweater and modeling it for all to admire…you get the idea.  So in order to get the best pics possible make sure you have and/or do the following.

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Holiday Photography Tips

1. Make sure that your camera battery is fully charged so that you don’t miss any of those great moments. If you have additional batteries, charge them as well.
2. Check your “sticks” to see if they are full.  If so, download the pictures onto your computer, CD, flash drive, or external hard drive.  When you are sure they are saved, delete the pictures from the stick to ensure that you have plenty of room for all the new Christmas memories you will be capturing. If they are all empty, you are ahead of the game.
3. Make sure that your camera lens is clean – free of dirt, dust, or smudges.  You can buy cleaning solution and/or papers at Ritz, Best Buy, or any type of photography or electronics store.  Only use cleaning solutions specifically designed for your camera. You DO NOT want to damage the lens.
4. Lastly, if you have more then one camera, have several people shooting at once.  Since I am the photographer in the family, I am rarely in any pictures, so with multiple cameras YOU might show up in them as well.

See, the list wasn’t very long, was it?  Follow my advice and you will have some great holiday pictures.

One last thought for the day — take a moment and look around your home at all those beautiful holiday decorations.  Most Christmas decorations are shiny, bright, glitzy, colorful, and just plain pretty.  Take a few pictures of them as well.  I walk around my home and examine all the decorations from multiple angles. You would be amazed how that gold metal tree with the multi colored balls looks when the light from the tree behind it lights it up.  That reindeer on the coffee table looks differently when you take the picture with a diffused background.  They seem to come alive and glow with joy and merriment. It’s all in how you look at things!  To show you what I mean, I am attaching a few of my pictures as an example to help inspire you.  I would love for you to send me some of yours.

Well that’s it for now.  Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.  Stay safe when you travel and warm when you go out.  Hug those you love tightly and share with them the joy of the season. AND most importantly, take those pictures!  Capture those memories for a lifetime.

Hugs,

Can you believe that last week was Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner?  Where did the year go?

Well, if you’re like me, there are a lot of “things” that need to get done before the 24^th.  Many of those are fun activities that involve family and friends.  Shopping for presents, getting the Christmas tree and decorating it, making cookies, and relaxing (yes I did say relaxing) with a glass of eggnog, listening to Christmas carols.  The list of activities for your family may be more extensive then mine, yet the time spent with the ones we love is always wonderful no matter how full of have-to-dos it is.

Keeping my camera near during this busy time is a sure way to chronicle all the family fun we are having.  I always take the Christmas photos as we open presents and gather round the table for our big dinner, YET I have learned that the real memories are those that happen long before the 25^th.

A short story:

My mom taught me how to cook when I was about 7 years old and many of my happiest memories are of being in the kitchen with her cooking dinner, and my favorite, making cookies.  During the holidays we worked together to make all the Christmas cookies that I would disperse to family and friends.  We typically started this process the day after Thanksgiving since I make over 800 cookies.  While I have many memories of our happy times baking, listening to Xmas carols on the CD, and dancing around the kitchen, I have few pictures.  Mom passed away a year ago, and boy what I wouldn’t give to have a few pictures of those happy times to go with my memories.

So why do I tell you my story?  To remind you that the happiest family times, the ones that we will remember for years to come, are the ones where we do “everyday” activities that touch our hearts.  One of mine is baking with Mom.  What is yours?

So keep that camera in hand no matter where you go, no matter how small in significance the activity seems to be, because those are the memories that you will look back upon as the fun ones.  Making cookies, wrapping presents, walking in Marion Square looking at the BIG Christmas tree, watching school plays and decorating the tree.  Capture that “moment in time” for everyone, not just yourself to relive.  Keep the warm, fun, happy, and loving feelings alive with your photos.  All you friends and family will thank you.

Hugs,

Mary

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Here are few of the photos I have of my Mom.  They are not the best images, but at least I have them to remind me of those cherished moments.  I would love to see some of yours.  Feel free to email them to me at mary@marywessner.com

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