Skyy Blue Photography Blog

Project 52 :: Bridges

skyyblueblog — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:43 +0000

I was really excited about this week’s Project 52 theme, Bridges. However, I wasn’t really able to execute it the way I had hoped. With no time, no concept and no pets, this is what I came up with…

Maybe Cynthia Wood of Georgian Bay Studios had better luck. Check out her Bridges here and follow the blog link circle.

Snapshot :: February

skyyblueblog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:55:17 +0000

One month down, only eleven to go! The past month has been an endless storm…in my brain! I’ve had so many ideas for my business that the wheels in my head have been spinning non-stop. So, how are my goals and to-dos coming along? Well, in an effort to separate myself from the pack of other local pet photographers, I’ve decided to gear all of my work towards capturing the coast and the pets who live here. This idea came to me during my last photo shoot with Skyy and Rain at the beach. Being born and raised in San Diego, I live quite the stereotypical coastal lifestyle. So, I thought why not show that through my photography? I plan to focus hard on everything coastal and blog about it frequently; Everything from dogs on the beach to home decor, tropical drinks to fun things and places to do and see. I’m really looking forward to sharing all my coastal adventures with my fans and clients in hopes that they’ll get to know me on a more personal level. And that brings me to my “snapshot.” Can you imagine me with my three dogs at the beach attempting to get this image ? Believe it or not, once I tired out the dogs, they were content watching me set up the shot, and I achieved this image in the first take! For me, life’s a beach!

As for the rest of my goals, taking a look back on my January Snapshot…

Blog more - definitely doing that.
Continue to work with shelters…photographed some more adoptable pets at the Escondido Humane Society (see them here) and am scheduled to shoot a Valentine’s Day event there as well.
Have an event booth - set for Paws in the Park on March 25th. I’m taking my time with this to ensure it looks great.
New Website - in the works and looking good.
Finalize Product Pricing - pricing is set and starting to design my Product Guide.
Gain FB Followers - Got 6 new Facebook followers last month…better than none!
Half Marathon - Still in training…up to 9 miles!

Project 52 :: Jumps & Cuddles

skyyblueblog — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:59 +0000

Check out more jumping and cuddling by following the blog link circle with the rest of the Project 52 members, starting with Kaylee Greer of Dog Breath Photography.

Client Session :: Tahoe

skyyblueblog — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:11:42 +0000

This session had all the elements to be labeled an “ideal session.” It had everything…an obedient and friendly dog, a welcoming and kind client, two locations starting at the home and followed by the beach, playful kids, nice weather, and last but not least, Margaritas! With that said, I think these images speak for themselves, but let me give a quick introduction to one of the coolest and sweetest dogs I know, Tahoe. He just celebrated his 12th birthday (wow, that’s like 84 in dog years!) and even though he’s technically a senior citizen, he’s got the heart of a young pup. He’s still able to climb up and down the steps in his backyard that take him to one of his favorite spots where he can enjoy the coastal view. On the beach, he plays a mean game of football with his family. It’s hilarious how good he is at intercepting the ball! And when the day comes to an end, he gladly shows his gratitude by resting at his father’s side. Cheers to Tahoe living his life to the fullest!

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Rainy Day Schedule

skyyblueblog — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:27:05 +0000

It may not happen that often here in sunny Southern California, but we do every now and then get a rainy day. It’s about the most seasonal change we see, so I welcome it with open arms. It can be hard to get computer work done when it’s warm and sunny outside. So, I took the opportunity to not only get some post-editing done for my latest client, but I also took advantage of the opportunity to get some cool shots around the house. Water is one of my favorite things in the world…to swim, drink, photograph, or just look at. And with the sky acting as a giant soft box, this morning was prime shooting time. There were all kinds of cool stuff to photograph too…spiderwebs, lemons, all sorts of flowers. My husband favors the image of the Ti plant (large image below) because “it looks like a wave.” Personally, I like them all. I think water has a peaceful quality to it. In fact, I’m going to make one of these my new desktop image, so I’m at peace while working on the computer. I hope you enjoy them as well.

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Project 52 :: From the Hip

skyyblueblog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:54 +0000

For the third installment of Project 52, the chosen theme is “From The Hip,” which means we had to shoot while not looking through the viewfinder. I find this method of shooting to be quite fun and spontaneous. It’s always interesting to see what kind of images are produced. Most of the time, I’m pleasantly surprised with the outcome. When I first started photographing pets, I used this method quite a bit and have learned a few strategies in doing so. Of course, getting your exposure correct beforehand is a must. Then, you’ve got to decide what focal length you need to set your lens…I say the wider, the better because you’re likely to cut something out if zoomed in too much. Obviously, you won’t be able to manually focus, so shooting in Auto Focus mode is necessary. Your AF point should either be centered, or overall because you’re most likely going to point the lens right at the subject, putting it in the center of the frame. Creative cropping can be done in post. Lastly, shooting some sort of action is always the most fun, because you’re very likely to catch a great moment. With that said, I set out to photograph Skyy doing one of her favorite things…playing with the hose. Despite the not-so-great lighting I was forced to work with, you can see that some pretty entertaining images were produced.

To see what the other Project 52 members were able to capture by shooting “From the Hip,” start with Peggy Mundell of Dogbreedz and follow the blog link circle!

Monthly Model Call :: February

skyyblueblog — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:17:08 +0000

It’s that time again…Dog Fancy Magazine needs photographs, and I need models! If you’re interested and think you (or some one you know) has a dog who has what it takes to be a magazine model, view this post to make sure you both meet the guidelines and review what’s expected, then call, shoot me an email at ali@skyybluephoto.com or Facebook me. I look forward to seeing the candidates.

Here’s what we need:

Breed Portraits:

Rhodesian Ridgeback – this is for the cover!
Coton de Tulear
Curly-Coated Retriever
Chinook
Dandle Dinmont Terrier
English Springer Spaniel

- Breed Specific images will include portrait, sporting, action, and lifestyle with/without people.

Deadline for photo shoot is February 15th.

Adoptables :: Escondido Humane Society

skyyblueblog — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:30:39 +0000

Looking for a dog to adopt? Visit the Escondido Humane Society to schedule a play date with one of these friendly canines…

DOLCIE

This beauty is a social butterfly, with people and other dogs. She’s made a lot of friends during her stay at EHS, but I’m sure she’d love nothing more than to make YOU here next B.D.F. (Best Dog Friend). And how can you resist that smile…and those ears!

GABANA

Being a mixed Bull Dog, she definitely has an interesting look.

From the outside, she may seem tough, but she’s got a gentle disposition.

MIMI SWEE SWEE

A little camera shy, but otherwise a joy. She’s great at catching a ball and could probably learn a whole bag of tricks.

MURPHY

The typical big lug with a sensitive soul.

This guy will walk with you, play with you, try to sit in your lap, and give you a big slobbery kiss.

Project 52 :: Newness

skyyblueblog — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:00:15 +0000

Inspired by the New Year, this week’s Project 52 theme is “newness.” Not the easiest theme to work with, but it forced me to get creative, which is great. I went about it three ways…taking the dogs somewhere new, trying something new with my photography techniques (both in and out of camera), and trying out a new watermark for the blog. Me, Skyy & Rain ventured to a hidden beach that was completely secluded, except for one surfer in the water. It was a dream come true for both me and the girls. They were able to roam wherever they pleased. In disbelief, I kept saying to myself, “I can’t believe how perfect this is, it’s like a dream.” And that’s what got me thinking about what new techniques I’d attempt while shooting and editing. I set the goal to make it look as dreamy as it felt, but without looking unrealistic. There was the perfect amount of haze in the air to add to the effect, along with a nice glow from the setting sun. After a few attempts in post, I had reached that soft, dreamy look I was going for. Makes my heart smile ♥

To see what new things the other Project 52 members came up with, start with Terran Bayer of Westway Studio and follow the link circle.

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Project 52 :: My Pets

skyyblueblog — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:20 +0000

The first theme for the 2012 edition of Project 52 is “My Pets,” where the idea, of course, is to take a portrait of our own pets to basically introduce them. I think by now, my pets have been pretty well represented as Skyy Blue Photography Mascots, so there’s no real need for introduction. However, if you haven’t been formally introduced…Skyy (as in Skyy Blue Photography) is the oldest & wisest of the group. She’s the dark blue (brown-looking) Pit with the pointy ears. Utah is the stud of the bunch, standing proud while his soft, white coat & brown patch that everyone thinks is so adorable. And then there’s Rain, who’s actually the 3rd born of Skyy & Utah’s litter. She’s that oddball, tomboy in black and white. Now that you’ve been introduced, allow me to continue…

Although I have an abundance of images of the three of them, it is nice to get a group photo every once in a while. Oddly enough, so far I’ve taken one nice group photo every year since I’ve had all three of them. So, I thought it’d be fun to include their group photos from the last two years as well. As I was shooting this year’s photo, I was extra appreciative of how obedient my dogs really are. You see, I literally had like 10 minutes to get the shot because the sun was fading fast. So, when I threw the bench on the lawn and told them all to sit on it, there was no hesitation from any of them. Not only did they sit where I told them to, but they stayed and looked directly at the camera as I fired away before the sun went down. So, thanks to their knowledge and obedience, I was able to participate in this week’s theme. As grateful as I am, I’m actually not surprised at how well they behaved. After all, they are quite use to modeling for me by now, and looking back on their group photos from the past proves that well. Naturally, I rewarded them with a treat and a kiss, and love them even more then the day before

To see the rest of the Project 52 members’ themes, start with Sharon Stokes of Paw Prints Photography in Australia & follow the circle of links!