Two flashlights about 15-20 feet away from the subjects, one with an incandescent bulb and one with LED bulbs. I wanted the LED flashlight for the power and the incandescent one for the warmth of color. I did run a warming filter in Photoshop on this to try to match them to the background lighting a bit more. It's a technique called light painting. NO flashes- just flashlights.

Thanks for taking hours and hours of your time to post all these images, Kris. Your work is amazing and keeps on getting better and better. I joined a couple of months ago and have spent tons of time reading. Natural light, reflectors and an on-camera flash was my deal. After reading many tutorials on lighting, I bit the bullet and bought some studio lighting with remote transmitters & receivers. I also bought adaptors so I could use my old two flash units with those same transmitters and receivers when I'm outside my home studio. What a difference already. I'm hooked!

Hope to meet you in person some day. Did I see your presentation in the amazing FREE download from the 2008 workshop in Nashville? Now THAT is worth the price of admission alone!

cheers,
Cherie

Some more recent work on portraits. Just last night I showed a photographer friend (non-NOBS) some "portraits" that I did about eight years ago or so. {{{shudder}}} SHEESH they were bad!!!

Here are some from yesterday's session.

A few from recent weddings. Now go back and read from the beginning of this thread to see the quality that I was putting out a few years ago just prior to joining NOBS. Can you learn from an internet forum? YES!!!

Another recent wedding on 5/23/09. Read from the beginning of this post/thread to see the quality that I was putting out several years ago just prior to joining NOBS. YES, you can learn photography from an internet forum. The wealth of resources here and the knowledge of the members themselves is worth much more than the price of admission.

More recent work. Go back and read this post from the beginning to see how much NOBS has helped me learn. If you are wondering if any ONE internet forum can help you learn, then the answer is an emphatic YES!!! Everyone here is very friendly and helpful but there certainly is NO B.S. going on. You won't get pats on the back for blown out highlights and funky lighting here. But you WILL get thoughtful, helpful, and 99.9% polite critiques. Often, the critiques are quite detailed and members will even discuss your images or certain techniques with you via phone. Many members have get togethers in their regional areas. You may have been a member of other forums, some paid and some free. Is this one worth it? YES. With all of the tutorial videos, actions, and other materials like marketing info, etc. it is worth the price of admission and more. But it's the members themselves and their willingness to help each other in such depth that is the true hidden gem of NOBS. To access THAT, you have to be active on here and you have to reach out to the membership and use those resources. This is a very open and welcoming group that encourages newbies right along side the veterans. Plus there is still a money back guarantee if I'm remembering right, so what are you waiting for? Go sign up!

More recent stuff. NOBS has taken me from a struggling, about to throw in the towel and give up, underpriced and overworked photographer to a profitable, in control, sought after entrepreneurial small business owner. NOBS is worth the money many times over.

I was the second shooter for another NOBS member this past weekend.

I used some techniques that I learned here on NOBS.

This past weekend's wedding. Go back and look at my work when I was just starting out that is near the beginning of this thread! ACK! NOBS has taught me so much. Worth every penny many times over.

Kris,

OMG! You sooo inspire me! I'm slowly learning and trying new things since I joined 3 months ago. I'm still trying to perfect the OCF and ambient light thing. Slllowly getting it and understanding it. I'm very blessed to be here and learn from such great photographers.

Lynn

.

Latest wedding from 12/19/09...

I recently went back and looked at some pre-NOBS work and the first wedding that I ever did for hire. MY GOODNESS- I should really scan those proofs and show you guys.

The more you post, ask questions, and ask for honest feedback on your images- the faster you will grow. Yes, there are a wealth of resources here just with the included guides, actions, videos, etc. but there is a huge resource just in the members themselves and their willingness to help you improve.

I have learned so much here... If you are thinking about joining, go back and read this thread from the beginning so you can take a look at the difference NOBS can make in your work. I've learned probably at least 95% of what I know from NOBS. Yes, you really can learn from an internet forum. The more you interact with the members here, the more you will learn and improve- in all aspects of your photography and business.

Some recent album designs... I learned how to do this from NOBS members. I learned all the lighting techniques from NOBS members and the NOBS videos on this site too.

This isn't the entire album, but they're my favorite layouts.

I hope you are still watching this forum KRISG, cause i want to tell you that you almost make me cry of joy reading this testimonial. I just have to stand up and applause you. You do have guts...... and NOBS
Hurray for KRISG and NOBS!!!!!!
Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations
Yours sincerely....
Val.

Thank you for the compliments but all of this is due to NOBS. I would have given up if I had not found this wonderful community of caring photographers.

Here are a few images from this past weekend's photo get together... For anyone reading this, you really should go back and view the thread from the beginning to see the progression of what you can learn from NOBS. Yes, you can learn from an online forum. BUT- NOBS is the BEST!!!

Kris MY gosh you are doing great stuff girl!! Wow...

Awwwwwww, thank you Randy. I'm still working at it. I still feel like it takes me forever to "marinate" an idea or a concept until I can "get it."

I suggest that everyone take a little time and look back on your progress every time you feel discouraged. Sometimes we are so busy pushing to learn and grow that we forget where we started.

This past weekend when I hosted that senior get together, I showed everyone my very first fancy portrait efforts... This involved the use of a white bed sheet, floor lamp, and a few other props to take some photos of our daughter, Katie, at age 8 months (just two months after I bought my first SLR!) with Fuji Neopan ISO 1600 *FILM* (gasp)!!! Then I went on to use Marshall's handcolor markers on the b/w prints. YOWZA. That was a world ago as far as my photography learning is concerned.

Sometimes I cringe when I see that stuff, but it helps remind me of why it's the journey that matters and not the destination (like there ever is a destination anyway).

NOBS has been such a wonderful resource for me. I suggest that anyone reading this PLEASE go back to the beginning of this post on page one and read it through to the end. Take a look at where I started and what I've learned along the way. It's all due to the NOBS community teaching me, helping me when I was discouraged, and cheering me on through small victories along the way.

More recent work... PLEASE go back and read this thread from the beginning to see the ABSOLUTE CRAP that I was putting out a few years ago BEFORE joining NOBS.

If you are wondering if you can learn from an internet forum, then the answer is a resounding YES YES YES!!!

I learned about 95% of what I have accomplished over the past 4-5 years from NOBS exclusively.

Kris that is great progress. I agree we all have to start from somewhere...and where you're at is fab!

Thanks, Mayee. It's all due to NOBS. Here is a slideshow of those Biltmore images.