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Erin C’s Maternity Session | Yokota, AFB Photographer

I am so excited to share with y’all these images from my first portrait session since moving to Yokota AFB. I took a little break from shooting to get settled in and adjusted, but I must say I was so  ready to get behind the camera again. AND Erin and her sweet baby girl were the perfect duo for my first session in Japan.  Seriously, they are both just gorgeous! Erin is expecting baby number two in about five weeks and wanted a few maternity portraits to capture this season of her life.

Erin, you are stunning! And that girl of yours just melts my heart. Thanks so much for allowing me to photograph such a wonderful time in your life.

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2012 Holiday Mini Sessions

I am excited to begin taking clients here at Yokota AFB and I figured what better way to kick off my business here then by offering mini sessions at a great rate! Normally I do not include images on a cd with any package under $400, so this is a steal. Just a little way to say “thank you” to all of you who have welcomed me so warmly to Japan.

Mini Sessions will be held on two different days. So please email me quickly to reserve your spot. Once I hear from you on which day you prefer I will shoot you an email with the available times and all information you need.

Still have questions? Feel free to email me at reneebooephotography@gmail.com

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Photography Tips: How to Use Natural Reflectors

It is all about light! Whether I am scouting locations for a portrait shoot or looking for a spot in my home to take a snap shot of my kids, I am always first considering the natural light that is available. I love using natural light to my advantage and one way to do that is by using natural reflectors. What is a natural reflector? Any object around you that reflects the light can be considered a natural reflector, such as a wall or the floor. You can invest any where from $20-$150 on a portable collapsible reflector such as the ones below from B&H.

(photo source)

But let’s face it, there are many cases when a moment is happening and we just do not have time to take out our collapsible reflectors, position them correctly, and take the picture before the moment passes.  Sometimes we just have to use what is around us. But how?

By looking around to find the natural reflectors and placing your clients in that beautiful soft light. Or by finding the light being reflected and purposely encouraging your children to play in that area while you snap photos.

Let me show you some examples.

These first examples were taken in my kitchen. Please excuse the mess. We were in the middle of unpacking, but I had to stop to play with my kids.

Below is a perfect example of using natural reflectors to illuminate your subject. The light you see on my son’s face has not be altered in post processing. This image is straight out of camera. The light is coming in from the window, hitting the floor in front of him, and reflecting back into his face.

Some things to note:

When you find reflected light, put your subject slightly behind it. In the image below, sorry about the view, my son is playing directly in the light coming through the window. This light is harsh and not the best for portraits.

You will have to move your subject around to find the light.

In the image below my son is not in the pathway of the reflected light. He is in the shadow and thus is face is dark.

But with a little coaching I got him to move forward just a little and BAM. We found the sweet spot of the reflected light!

Again this image is straight out of camera. No editing needed. I love that about using natural reflectors. There is so much drama in this image thanks to the available light and my white floor reflecting it back into my son’s face.

In the second example of using natural reflectors we went outside to use a wall below our apartment.

There is a tunnel below our apartment that is a great place for taking photos. Lovely natural light floods in from both sides. When we took this photos it was a rainy, overcast day. So I was worried that we would not have much reflected light. But that was not the case at all. The light still reflected off the walls and thanks to the clouds it was soft and diffused.

So here is what you need to do to use natural reflectors outside.

1. Find the light source, the sun.

2. Determine which wall is the reflector.

3. Figure out where the reflected light is landing. This can be done by trial and error. Put your subject where you think the light is being reflected to and them move them around until the light hits them just right.

4. Decide where you, the photographer, will stand to take the photo.

It really is simple once you start training your eye to look for natural reflectors. So give it a try and you will be amazed at how great your images can look straight out of the camera.

It will take practice. So let’s get to it. Look at the image below and see if you can find the light source (direction the light is coming from), the natural reflector, the location for the subject, and the location for the photographer. (Hint: this is the opposite side of the tunnel.)

Were you able to locate them all? See, you can totally rock natural reflectors. Once you have identified them you can now encourage your kids to play in the area with the best reflected light and snap away. This is exactly what I did as I snapped the images below.

I hope this post helps you better understand what natural reflectors are and how to use them to enhance your photography. One of my biggest goals when taking photos is to get the best possible image I can straight out of the camera.  Using natural reflectors is one of the ways I can achieve that goal. And now, hopefully you can too! Happy shooting and as always feel free to ask questions in the comment section.

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Nick English (http://www NULL.nickenglishphotography NULL.com) - Great article! Thank you for sharing, love working with natural light 🙂

5 Things Every Mom Should Do Before Their Family Portrait Session

It is that time of the year again. Time to get family portraits taken. All too often this can be a stressful and daunting task for a mom. As mamas we long to have beautiful images of our families that truly capture who we are as a unit. We want our outfits to look great, our kids to be in good moods, and our husbands to be supportive and enthusiastic. Seriously, a lot of work goes into these pictures and at times it can be overwhelming. Well, my job as a photographer is to take that stress from you and throw it out the window! I want my clients to feel relaxed and comfortable the minute they arrive at their session. I do all that I can do make that happen. And I hope that all good family and portrait photographers would do the same.

 But what can us moms do to ensure that our family session will go smoothly?  Several things actually. I have created a list of 5 Things Every Mom Should Do Before Their Family Portrait Session that answers just that. If you do all five of these things then you are more likely to enjoy the experience of having your family portraits taken AND get amazing images that you will love.

Five Things Every Mom Should Do Before Their Family Portrait Session

1. Find the Right Photographer for You

It is super important that you find a photographer that is right for you and the vision you have for your family portraits. It doesn’t matter if your best friend highly recommends Holly Bolly Photography (a fictitious photographer). If Holly’s website is full of traditionally posed photos and you desire a more candid, whimsical feel, then Holly is not the photographer for you.  Same holds true for what type of photography they specialize in. If you have young children then you probably don’t want to hire a photographer who specializes in high fashion wedding photography. You want a photographer who specializes in child and family photography and is comfortable with kids. You don’t go to your family doctor when you have a broken leg. You see an Orthopedic who specializes in exactly the type of care you need. Why not do the same thing when choosing a photographer? Hiring the right photographer makes the entire process go more smoothly from the start. If you take the time to do this you are less likely to have unmet expectations and images that you do not care for.

2. Talk with Your Photographer Before the Session

Whether its by email, Skype, a questionnaire, or a phone call, it is super important to talk to your photographer before the session. Some things you want to address may include your expectations or vision for your session, special props you would like to include, little tips and tricks that may make your kids feel more comfortable, or any questions you might have. The more your photographer knows in advance about what you are wanting the better. Now, there does come a point when you have to let go and trust in your photographer’s skills and abilities. But it does not hurt to communicate your ideas and expectations first. How will your photographer ever know that you hate kissing pictures unless you tell them?

3. Select a Time for Your Shoot that is Best for Your Kids

Now, as a photographer I have two times of the day that I prefer to shoot: early mornings and sunset. But as much as I am obsessed with great light I’d prefer a happy family over fabulous light any day of the week. It does clients no good to have lovely lit photos of children crying hysterically because we did their session during nap time. If your kids are ok with getting up early, then by all means do your session as early as possible. But if the start time of your shoot is going to be the demise of your session it is best to ask your photographer for another time slot. Here are a things to consider when selecting the time of your session: will the time interfere with nap or bedtime, is the session during a time when the kids will be hungry, will it be super hot during the scheduled time? Talk to your photographer and remember to consider these things when booking the time your session will start. Also, make sure to ask how long the session will take. You want happy children during your  entire photo shoot and your photographer should too.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Breaks During the Session

There is nothing more stressful then when your kids are crying or fussing and you want them to be all smiles. Trying to force your children to smile or have fun does not always work. Sometimes the kiddos just need a break. And that’s fine. Feel free to ask your photographer if you can have five minutes of downtime. Let the kids play, have a snack, and just be kids without the pressure of the camera in their face. You have permission to do this. And you will be so glad you did.

5. Relax

 Kids can feel stress. All moms know this. But we quickly forget because we are so focused on getting the perfect family portrait. Remember, if you want that perfect image it is so important that on the day of the shoot that both parents are calm and comfortable. Easier said than done, right? It is not easy getting four kids up at 6:30 am, fed, and dressed all while making sure both you and your husband look good as well. But once you arrive at your session try super hard to let it all go and just enjoy your shoot. It is now your photographers job to carry that stress for you and produce awesome images that you will adore. It is your job to just enjoy your family and the experience of creating timeless memories.

I hope you find this tips helpful and that your next family portrait session is a blast. I’d love to know which tip you think is the most helpful. Please comment below to let know which tip you like best or if you have more tips that you think moms should know before their family portrait session.

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What I’ve Learn After Living in Japan for Eight Weeks

Has it really be two months since we moved to Japan and relocated to Yokota Air Force Base? It doesn’t seem like that long to me, but I guess that’s because we are still trying to unpack and adjust to living on this side of the planet.  Many times a day, especially when I am out and about, I find myself still saying, “I can’t believe I leave in Japan.”  And it’s true. Reality still has not sunk in yet. However, as foreign as it still feels I know that I was meant to live abroad. I love new cultures and new places. And Japan is no exception. I am still super excited to be here, just miss my family and friends. If I could move them all over here too than everything would be perfect!  I know that’s not realistic. So my plan is to make you feel like you are here too with blog posts of our adventures here. And what better way to start then with a little post about what I have learned so far.

(Image taken at Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa (http://www NULL.showakinenpark NULL.go NULL.jp/english/index NULL.htm))

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AFTER LIVING IN JAPAN FOR EIGHT WEEKS

1. As you can see from the photo above, the Japanese love photography! Seems like I will fit right in. Everyone lugs around some pretty expensive gear around their necks. AND they will take photos of anything. Including my blonde haired babes.

2.  かわいい (Kawaii) means “cute” in Japanese. How do I know this? Because I hear it EVERY time we go off base. Let’s just say my kids are pretty popular around here. And I do not mind it, because as a result people are nice to me!

3. Not many people on base get out much. I was expecting to see Americans all the time when off base. That is not the case. Normally, when I am shopping in town I stick out like a sore thumb and never see anyone around me who is doing the same. Strange feeling for sure.

4. It takes me 25 minutes to drive 9 kilometers. THATS 5.5 miles. Even though we are an hour outside of Tokyo we are still considered a suburb of Tokyo. Traffic is terrible and you just have to be patient.

5. I look like I speak Japanese. Well, at least the Japanese think so. When I checkout at the store the nice ladies at the cash register just talk to me like I know exactly what the are saying. I just smile, say “yes” in Japanese, and hope I am not agreeing to give them my kidney.

 

I am excited to see what the next few months will bring. Planning to travel and do all we can over the next three years here. Can’t wait to share those experiences with you. AND if you have any advice or suggestions for us please comment below and let us know!

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Sarah (http://www NULL.sarahsharesthings NULL.squarespace NULL.com) - I’m pretty sure I’ve given away three kidneys since being here. Yes, three. That’s how much I just nod my head and say, “hai.”

Meg Martin (http://coloringspirit NULL.blogspot NULL.com) - I’m so happy to hear of someone else who here who is getting off base as much as possible. I do all my produce shopping off base and generally feel like I “live” off base. I LOVE Japan so much! My first year has gone by way too fast!

Renee - Meg that is awesome! So glad to hear you are comfortable about and about. I’d love to know what stores you love to shop at. Especially for produce.

Nothing Short of a Miracle

I witnessed a morden day miracle.

First hand. Meaning it happened to me. AND a few others around me as well. I am still caught in amazement over it all. So here is the story. I know this post is long but I promise it will give you goose bumps if you read the entire thing!

My faith was being tested. And I have to be honest, I was failing the test.  Majorly failing. We got PCS orders to Japan. Nothing about this gigantic move worried me except for the issue of our home. We needed it to sell. The thought of living across the world and having to pay a mortgage payment on a house in Abilene, Texas just made me sick. Literally.  And this is not like me. I am not a worrier, but for some reason my thoughts were consumed with the house and whether it would sell or not. My nerves were shot and it was all I could think about.  Everyday, all day I would check sites like Realtor.com and Zillow to see if any of the homes around us or in our price range were selling. And if they were I would actually feel envious. There were five homes in our neighborhood on the market too. I watched them like a hawk since they were our competition.  It was almost an obsession.Why was our home not selling? We needed an offer. Just one offer. Yet nothing.

In the midst of all this anxiety I felt like the Lord was instructing Andy and I to come together and pray on this issue. I know we were both praying separately, but I had a strong sense that God wanted us to unite and seek His willing together. I felt this nudging for months before I mentioned it to Andy. I can’t really tell you why I waited.  Mostly fear I think. Even though we pray together often for some reason it was just hard for me to say to my husband what I felt the Lord was asking us to do.  So I kept silent. Carrying this burden alone. But still praying.

However, God kept nudging me. One June day in prayer I heard the Lord say August 5th. I thought perhaps that was the day our house would sell. In July, God kept bringing 2 Chronicles 7:14 to my mind. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This verse constantly kept popping up in my mind for weeks.

Still in the midst of all of this I was frustrated and even mad that there was no movement on our home even after we dropped the price $8000.

On our last Sunday in Abilene Andy and I went to the alter at church and had a lady on the prayer team pray over us. We requested prayer for our move to Japan. During that prayer time I silently confessed my lack of faith and my disobedience to God. I don’t know why I was too affraid to do such a simple thing as pray with the person I trust the most. Looking back now it seems so silly that I waited so long to follow God’s leading. Believe me, lesson learned.

After the prayer was over the women praying over us suggested we take time out as a couple to pray over our home and God’s will for it. Confirmation.  On the car ride home I told Andy all that I was struggling with and what I felt like the Lord was asking us to do. He was super gracious and encouraging. We put the kids down for nap and sitting on the floor in our living room said a simple prayer together. We prayed that God will show us HIS will for our home and then give us the courage to follow it. Then we waited to hear from the Lord. Something I learned from my time in Abilene, ask God and then take time to listen. He is faithful to speak to His children. The BIble says that his sheep know his voice. And I can testify more to that in another blog post if you’d like to hear. Pretty amazing stuff too.

Back to the point. After sitting in silence for a few minutes we both shared what we felt like God as saying to us. And the answer was the same. RENT the house. We were opposed to renting for lots of reasons, which is why we had the home on the market to sell. But we both knew what we heard during this time of prayer and decided to be obedient to it.

This was on Sunday, August 5th.!!!!

On Tuesday we met with a broker and put the home up for rent. It was still up for sale too.  We moved out and left Abilene on Saturday.

On Sunday we receive an application for rent and three hours later we also receive a FULL PRICE OFFER TO BUY. Seriously that still amazes me.

We prayed together again. We were on the road traveling to Indiana. But I learned my lesson. So I pulled the car over in the middle of nowhere and we sought God’s guidance again. The easy thing to do was accept the buying offer. The home would be sold and this crazy chapter would be closed. But we knew what we heard on that Sunday afternoon.  So we turned down the buying offer. We prefer God’s plan to our own. Even id the world may think it’s crazy.

On Friday our renter moved in.

Crazy awesome, right?!?

It gets even better!!!!!! Really!!!

Remember those five other homes in our neighborhood for sale? Well a week after our house rented I got back on Zillow just to see if there had been any movement on them. A few of those homes had been on the market for over 200 days. To my amazement NOT ONE of the homes showed up on this app  for sale. WHAT??? COULD IT BE? There must be a problem with the website. So I asked a friend of mine to drive around the neighborhood and confirm what I was thinking. And it was as I suspected, all five of those homes were no longer on the market. They were either rented, sale pending or under contract!  All in the matter of a week God not only healed my land like He promised in 2 Chronicles 4:17 but He also healed the land around me!!! This may not seem like a miracle to you. But I bet if you asked those home owners on my block they might agree with me.

I once heard Graham Cooke speak on blessings like this. He said that Children of God walk in blessing. And sometimes that blessing pours out on others around them. I’m so humbled and grateful that God chose to work this way. It never ceases to amaze me how God wants to show himself to us. And the fact that He also wants to use us just blows my mind
If you don’t know, we serve a very cool God. And if you want to know more just ask. I’d love to share with you all that I can about my Savior. He is so faithful.

My faith was tested. And now it has been increased. How about yours?

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Rachel - Sooo amazing Renee! God is so good!!

Gina - Great stuff.
Heard about you from Princess ( http://Facebook.com/photographybyprincess (http://Facebook NULL.com/photographybyprincess))
I’ld love to set up something soon. Thanks so much.