Photo credit: Stacey Flint
Today I am beyond excited to share another one of my photo coaching students with you. Emily contacted me back in April after hearing about my local Momtographie class. She had some very specific goals in mind and after chatting on the phone we decided a one-on-one session would be the best way to help her meet them! I absolutely LOVE working one-on-one because I have come away with so many new friends this way. I knew Emily and I would hit it off great when she arrived to our session in the cutest pair of black crochet TOMs (I now own the same ones in natural – swoon!!). And I just have to gush for a minute – we found this AWESOME alleyway during our lesson together and I was super stoked when she captured the gorgeous image of me below during one of her first times tackling manual mode. Hooray! Ok, enough from me, you’re going to love hearing all about her and her love of photography today. Enjoy!
Name
Emily Babcock
What’s in your camera bag?
I’ve been shooting with a Canon 7D for almost a year. My first DSLR was a Nikon D40 and I loved it dearly – it was hard to jump ship brand-wise, but I am confident I made the right decision. (Not to mention, the D40 now lives with a close friend and provides memories for their family!) For now I am shooting exclusively with a 50mm 1.4 lens, but hope to add to the family soon. 😉
Tell us a bit about your daughter and her personality.
Oh, this is fun. Cardin is four going on thirty, and is one of the funniest kids you’ll ever meet. She is almost always smiling, and truly says the darndest things. She’s also inquisitive, cautious, empathetic, smart, affectionate, imaginative, and friendly. Everyone who knows her (and even those who don’t) say she is the most expressive child they’ve ever met. As you can probably imagine, this translates well for me behind the lens.
Tell us why you love being a mom!
So hard to put into words! Motherhood is purpose. No one can fill my shoes as a mother the same way I can. Motherhood is practice. Some days my patience grows short. Sometimes I don’t have the most gracious answers. Sometimes I forget to brush her teeth, but each new day I get to try again to do my best. Motherhood is a sacrifice. Some days it’s more energy and time than I have. Other days it’s filled with such incredible joy and magic, time stands still and I have the opportunity to see the world from the most amazing perspective. Motherhood is selflessness. It is kindness in its gentlest form. Motherhood is the most important teaching job I will ever have and the most important CEO position I can hold in the most important company I know. My family.
Tell us a how you caught the photography ‘bug’ and why you love it so much.
I got the D40 for my first mother’s day. With the very first click of the shutter, I was hooked. I loved the fact that it helped to capture moments that would have otherwise been lost with a point-and-shoot, and the image quality. For over three and a half years, my camera has been like an appendage. I am rarely seen without it!
What was your biggest frustration before your photo coaching session?
My biggest frustration before sitting down with Beryl was the confusion surrounding the technical side of my camera and what it was fully capable of. An expensive camera does not a good photo make.
In the photo above, this was our first (and only!) real snow of the season and it happened early evening. Since I was shooting almost exclusively in program mode I missed the opportunity for some amazing shots – and great expressions – because the photos were so underexposed. And my shutter speed wasn’t fast enough to capture the beautiful flakes!
What surprising or unexpected thing did you take away from our 3 hours together?
How easy it is to shoot in manual mode! I will never go back. ☺
Do you have a favorite photo you’ve taken? Why is it your favorite?
Gosh, I have a lot of favorites. And they’re all of my daughter. ☺ My favorite picture to date was taken just recently, and after my mentoring session with Beryl. I love the way her head is cocked to the side in a simple, playful manner. I love the clarity in her eyes and the splash of freckles across her nose.
What’s on your family ‘summer bucket list’?
Any unique adventures you’d like to share? We have a long list! I am most looking forward to our upcoming beach vacation, and indulging (and photographing!) in some quintessentially summer activities.
Are you looking to get the most out of your fancy camera? Download your free Momtographer’s Guide below, click HERE to learn about how you can attend the next Momtographie class in the Washington DC metro area, or click HERE to send me a message and let’s see if a one-on-one lesson (in-person or online) is the right fit for you.