Adventures

A few weeks ago I went out of town for a camping/hunting trip in Arkansas. This was some much needed adventure time for my soul. I have always been an adventure driven person so just getting to wander around in the woods, listen to music and take photographs was complete bliss for me. I loved it! It was really nice to just get away for a while, to not worry about homework, or checking facebook, or editing pictures, just being one with mother nature was so refreshing. 

Here are photographs that I took while I was there. I thought I would share them! I really love them! 

I guess you could say that we did camping the "wimpy" way because we actually stayed in a house but without plumbing or heat, it sure felt like hard core camping. This house hasn't been lived in since the early 1970's so its literally like walking back in time..... kinda.... It was somewhat abandoned so nothing has been kept up but everything is still vintage, therefore, I deem it as cool! 

               And just some shots I took in the woods...

While I was on one of many explorations I found these remains of a house. In fact, I found the remains of another house and 3 barns that were all hundreds of years old! 

Hey, what would time spent in the woods be without some self portraits?!?! Right? 

Fun Fact: In this first photo I totally photoshopped my hair. I just had to make it more voluptuous. Theres nothing wrong with that, right? (For all you photographers out there, I used the Warp tool, NOT the Liquify tool. Its way faster and half the work! You can thank me later!) 

I love to laugh

This is my absolute favorite one! 

I was kind of feeling uncreative......so I just kinda stood there......and made faces at my camera.. 

I can't wait to go back and explore even more!

Take a minute to breathe and relax and be grateful for all the beauty that surrounds you.

Have a nice week friends! :) 

~The Guy Behind The Camera, Chase. :) 

P.S. This is how 98% of my self portraits always turn out.....Bad composition and I am totally unprepared. Hehe 

Kristen And Kacie

Meet Kristen and Kacie. 

This morning I had the privilege of photographing these two sisters. I had such a great time! We hung out, laughed, walked around, and took pictures. Here are some peeks at what I captured of them.

This is Kristen. We have been friends for the longest time. She has poured so much into my life and I love her like a sister. 

This is Kacie. Kacie is super funny and has a wonderful smile! I'm in love with this honest shot of her!

This is my favorite from the bunch! So Beautiful!

Thank you so much guys! I had a ball! Can't wait till next time! 

~The Guy Behind The Camera, Chase

Fun with Hey, Sweet Pea

The weekend, there is nothing like it. A time to rest, rejuvenate, refuel. A time to wined down or wined up. A time to settle in or skip out. A time for family and friends, comfort and joy. No matter how many have come and gone, as each new one approaches I look forward to it like a gift I cannot wait to open. And somehow I am surprised and delighted each and every week. As so it goes on and on. This weekend, I was lucky enough to share my weekend with two people that are dear to my heart. This much needed adventure time was like food for my soul; a time to slow down, to catch up, to unwined, to take in, to savor, to be present, to give and to receive. This weekend, was simply amazing. It was just one of those weekends. It reminded me how lucky I am to do what I do. We laughed....a lot! Jammed to really awesome music, danced, pigged out on junk food, did some re-branding, made a promo video, and not to mention, took (and edited) what fees like millions of pictures!My usual philosophy when shooting in a new place is "ask forgiveness, not permission," so I had full intentions of jumping fences to get that shot, if I had to. But lucky for us, that wasn't necessary. I am totally in love with the photographs we got. There are like none I have ever taken before and Elise looks DROP DEAD STUNNING (is that weird to say about a family member?) Anyway......  Elise and I edited these together and "awwd" over these all night long. I'm really proud to show you my art. There really isn't much more to say, I think I should let them speak for themselves. Enjoy! 

We started out in this small little ally in the Arts Bishop District in Dallas.

The rest of these were taken in a huge, empty field behind Scott and Elise's place. I totally dig all the amazing lens flare.

I absolutely love this shot of them together!

Thank you guys so much for such an incredible weekend! I can't wait for all the photo-shoots to come! Love you guys! 

~The guy behind the camera, Chase

If You're Waiting For A Sign

What do you want? Really, What do you want? Are you living your dreams? Doing the things you have always wanted to? What are you waiting for? What’s standing in your way?

I believe that you know exactly what your dreams are and you know exactly what you want! So why aren’t you living them, experiencing them, enjoying them, seeing them in front of you. Why aren’t you feeling them, touching their tangibility? Why aren't you taking action? Seriously though, why? You can sing the "Live Your Dreams" song as much as you want, but at the end of the day, nothing happens when you sit at home on your bum wasting your life! Is it because you don't believe you can have it and/or achieve it? Or because you don't believe you deserve it? Let's get real here, I think we both know those statements are false! You can do anything with just your mind! But no matter how you eat your donut filled with lies, the only person standing in your way……………… is you! You either love what you do, or you don't!  You’re either accomplishing your dreams or you are not! It's truly that simple!  Dreams don't come true on their own! In order to see dreams come true, you have to turn your dreams into goals and your goals in to plans. That takes hard work and effort though. If you’re not willing to give some blood, sweat, and tears then you’re right, you don't deserve them.

You are totally in charge of you! You are the only one who can decide to live your dreams, to see them come true, to accomplish your goals. Its all up to you. Nothing and no-one can stop you! With a determined spirit you can do anything! Talent will get you far, but not as far as ambition! 

What’s standing in your way? What are you waiting for? There is no better time than now!  Now seriously! Go! Make you dreams happen! If your waiting for a sign this is it!!  

5 Tips To Taking Better Photo's

You asked for it so here it is! Here are 5 tips from yours truly to taking better photos. Off we go!  

 1). Alter Your Perspective

           Most portraits are taken directly toward your subject with the camera at the eye level of your model. While this is understandable and is makes sense, completely changing the angle at which you shoot can give a real wow factor.

You can shoot your subject from above or below or however you choose. Get creative with it. Whatever you do you will be seeing your subject from an angle that is uncommon in real life which will  create interest in your photo. 

2). Move it from the Middle:

A lot of people have the tendency to place their subject right in the middle of their photograph. This is a big no-no in my book! Instead, try throwing (not literally) your subject to the left side or the other!

See how I didn't  place my subject in the middle of my picture? Their feet are son the left side, not  right in the the middle.

3).Funky Lighting.

This is one of my favorite techniques. I love using funky or moody lighting. Try experimenting with types of lighting set ups. Shoot in low light! Play around with shadows. Have fun with it! 

4).Shoot candidly:

It seems to me, that all of my favorite photos are ones that are totally candid. Sometimes when you pose people they just looked so.....well, posed! Photograph your subject at work, with family or doing something that they love. This tends to put your subject at ease. You will always get nature looking shots that really capture your subject.

5).Obscure part of your subject.

This is the idea of zooming in on one part of the body to obscure parts of your subject’s face or body. This can be done with anything. Clothing, objects, their hands or just by framing part of them out of the image.

See how I covered almost all of my model's face? In doing this you leave interest to the  imagination of the image's viewer but also focus their attention on parts of your subject that you want to be focused on.

And there you have it! :) If you would like the read a part 2 then let me know and I will gladly write another! I love sharing what I know and want to see others grow as well! 

The guy behind the camera

~Chase.