New web site

I am so excited about my new web site! It allows my clients to be able to view their photos on-line AND order...at their convenience! I love it! I've been busy taking some fun fall pictures. As we head into Thanksgiving, I just want to wish each of you a blessed holiday filled with family and love. We had a fun time this past weekend with Casey's family (pictured here). We look forward to a longer visit at Christmas!

The Basics, originally posted Oct. 23, 2008

I recently promised help for YOU to take great pictures. I want to walk you through some key terms that you need to know to be able to get the most out of your camera, whatever kind it may be.

• Exposure= the balance of camera elements giving you the perfect amount of light in your photo. You picture is merely a recording of light. So any issues you have with your photos, most likely has to do with the amount of light and how you are capturing it.


• Aperture=the AMOUNT of LIGHT that your camera lets in. If you could look down into the lens in super slow motion as your camera fires, you would see a curtain open over a hole that allows light to reach your sensor (digital) or film. The larger the hole, the more light. This allows you control your depth-of-field (the amount of your image that is in focus).


• Shutter speed=the AMOUNT of TIME that curtain is open. This allows you to blur your little soccer players legs as he's running down the field, thus showing motion (slow shutter speed) or stop the action and have those legs frozen in time (fast shutter speed).

Now, I'm not going to weigh you down with detailed explanations of these. I could write pages on each. But you need a basic understanding. Don't be frustrated if it sounds confusing. I've been doing this most of my life and it still takes a little bit of thought when I'm trying to balance all of the elements involved. Go back and read it one more time. Return to these simple explanations as you see the next few posts.

Next week, I'm going to talk about ISO setting. Knowing how to change this setting will help you tremendously! Take a few minutes over the weekend and see if you can find out how to change this setting on your camera. You'll soon find out what those numbers mean!

You said "Help me with my photogrpahy!", Oct. 8, 2008

I have had a lot of people asking me about how to take better pictures or get more out of their camera. I'm listening! I'm going to start a series of posts talking about how to get more out of your camera. They should help those of you with point and shoots as well as those with SLRs. Stay tuned. I'm also about to start taking appointments for Fall Photos and Cookies for Santa. I'm looking at the following dates:

• Fall Family Photos: October 27-30. Only a few evening appointments avaialble and Nov. 1st and 2nd. Children's Portrait plan members can call now for appointments. I'll start taking appointments from everyone on Oct. 13.


• Cookies for Santa: November 7-8

Baby R, Originally posted Sept. 15, 2008

I had the opportunity to take few more shots of baby "R", who've you've seen a couple of times already! She's three months old now. This is probably my favorite shot from our session.

Isn't she beautiful! I also love the next shots. These were actually her mom's idea. We were wanting to capture those beautiful eyelashes!

Finally (though there are SO many beautiful shots) there is one of Baby "R"'s sisters. This was a last minute shot and took up the last space on my CF card. I had no idea how much I would like it!

Loss...July 24, 2008

It's been a tough few weeks in our family. We lost my dad to cancer almost three weeks ago on July 6, 2008. My dad was a man who was loved life and loved to have fun. He fought to the very end and it seems completely surreal to me that he is actually gone. I find it hard to imagine never hugging him again even as I write this. I took this picture last November when he insisted our family go together to Crested Butte. You could tell he thought it would be his last. We thought it was absurd. I wonder how he knew...

This is one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. This is Ryan and my dad. My dad LOVES the guitar. He has several. Three of them are signed by many singers and songwriters. In fact, about a month before dad died he asked me if there was anything of his I wanted. I said a guitar. That's who my dad is. He loved country music. He loved boats. He loved Corvettes. He loved the color red. He loved his family most of all. I miss you, Dad!

Lori Motl Photography has been neglected through all of this. I'm finally trying get going again. I had the opportunity to take my favorite kind of pictures this week...naked baby pictures. This is baby "M". Very cute little guy. Loved to kick! We were lucky to get him to sit still for a few shots!

Here is a photo I'd like feed back on. Just look and tell me what you think.

Baby Rachel, originally posted June 11, 2008

I had the distinct pleasure of taking pictures today of baby "R", one week old today. I took pictures of her mom and siblings a few weeks ago. An amazing family. I'm honored to have the chance to know them and take their portraits. Here are a few of the shots we took this afternoon. By the way, if you've had trouble getting on my web site (www.lorimotlphotography.com) It's undergoing some maintenance. It will be back soon!

LMP Blog

I'm finally getting my LMP blog set up. For those of you used to this as our family blog, LMP is blended so closely with our family I'm using it for both. Here are a few shots from my most recent photo sessions. The first a sweet little guy we'll call "T". He sure loves his little kitty pictured here! Here is another session. This beautiful mom to be has amazing children who did such a great job during the shoot. I can't wait to take pictures of the precious baby "R" when she arrives!

Passwords, originally posted March 10, 2008

Well, I couldn't sign into my blog for a while, because I couldn't remember my password! Oh well. I remembered it finally!

Since I last wrote, but baby girl has turned 6!! How did that happen so fast? She had her first big girl birthday party. Princess, of course. Katelyn, our babysitter, decorated her cake. She's going to play softball this year. We found out tonight her team is the Polka Dots! Perfect for Sydney seeing as she LOVES polka dots! One of her friends, Annabelle is on the team, too.

Ryan is playing baseball this year on the Braves. He's on with his buddies from church. He's very excited. He's getting ready for his birthday party next month. I believe it will be Indiana Jones themed. He's catching the fever from his daddy who is anxiously awaiting the new movie. Her are Josh and Ryan during our recent snow... it was very short lived, but fun just the same. No I did not force them outside without their coats. That was their idea! Josh's favorite face these days is his mad face. He thinks it's funny. He's doing great. Loving school...really loving trains. All he wants for his birthday is Thomas stuff and to ride on Thomas. Unbeknownst to him...he will!

I kicked off my brain child, Lori Motl Photography, by taking Easter pictures with a live bunny. I shot about 13 families (or their kids) in one weekend. The pictures turned out really good. I'm very pleased and am hoping to get some additional equipment. I created my logo and my website is getting started. I'm working on different promotional stuff right now to get my name out there. Well, I'm off to bed. It's late. I hope somebody actually looks at these. If you do, let me know. If I'm wasting my time, I'll stop! Happy Spring Break to those in Texas. Ours is next week.

New Adventures! Originally posted Feb 3, 2008

Well, a few days with out a computer gets a girl thinking...and drives her nuts! So, I have decided to jump off yet another bridge into an adventure. I'm really excited about it. I am starting Lori Motl Photography!

I have taken my first pictures under this new name and am SO excited about it. The pictures I'm posting are some my favorites of some friends of ours sweet new baby boy! Isn't he adorable?!

I've bought my domain. I'm working up a business plan and I'm planning to take Easter pictures as my kick-off event! I'm really excited about this new venture. I've thought about it for years, but I'm finally ready to take the plunge!

So if anyone wants pictures, give me a call!

Arrrrrrggggggggg, Originally posted Jan 24 2008

Okay, I normally love computers. And I still like my laptop. Right now, it's the power adapter I hate. It's gone out. Of course my battery went out a long time ago, so now, I can't turn it on at all. So, I can't spend much time blogging. I have a new adapter on the way. I'll post again when I get it. For now, let me just say thank you Carolyn (a Noble Photo) for the beautiful pictures of my kids. I'm going to post one now.

Aren't they cute? I'll post more later. The of course are from Derek and Jill Franklin's wedding.