Bright Eyes: Tips for photographing and editing eyes

I have always been obsessed with eyes and the way they can be captured in a photograph. But when I first started doing photography I didn't quite understand what I was doing and tended to edit people's eyes in a way that made them look overdramatic and *cough* fake. I wasn't doing it on purpose of course! I just wanted to add some brightness to people's eyes the way I saw others do in magazines as well as other photographers that I admired at the time.

The photograph below was the way I used to think eyes should be edited. Really bright and dramatic. I would usually circle the eye with a magnetic lasso and then brighten the whole eye because that was the only way I knew how to do it!

Now I shoot and edit people's eyes quite a bit differently. The key part being, I try not to edit people's eyes AT ALL. The next photograph is of the same girl about 2 years later. The only thing I did here was sharpen her eyes with a sharpening tool just a tiny bit.

So here are some tips for getting clear, crisp eyes in your photos!

1. Position your subject in good light! The light changes throughout the day so be aware! If you're shooting in bright sun, try to find some shade! However, some sunlight can naturally lighten the eyes if you're shooting in golden hour (about an hour before the sun goes down) and those photos can also be really lovely.

2. Use natural reflectors. I'm a natural light photographer, so I hardly ever use my flash (except for indoor wedding receptions that are dimly lit.) So I'm always looking for those natural reflectors that will reflect light into the eyes and face! Walls, surfaces and even the ground can reflect light! Take a few test shots to see where the light is best to place your subject.

3. Lastly, don't overdo the editing. The goal of getting natural, bright eyes is to position your subject in a way that makes their eyes look bright naturally so that when you go to edit your photos, you don't have to edit the eyes and make them look over-the-top (like I used to do.) If the eyes need a little something, I'll usually just go over them with a sharpening brush at a low opacity and that usually brightens them up a little as well!

I hope that helped some of you out! If you have any photography questions just shoot me a message! 

-Sincerely, E. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from Emilie Ann on Vimeo.

Happy Valentine's day to this incredible boy! We are both SO happy that this is the last one we will have apart. He is amazing in every single way and I'm so grateful that I have him in my life! Time is flying so fast and he's going to be home before we know it. I just can't wait!

For Valentine's he sent me this pretty little ring! He's always surprising me and melting my heart. Luckiest girl in the world right here. Thanks so much Ty!

6

Six more months.

Let's hope they fly as fast as all the others.

Favorite Colors

In my Color photography class at UVU we had to do a series of photos displaying our favorite color. I've always said that my favorite color is yellow. I guess because it reminds me of the sun, summer, heat and it's just a bright happy color. I think I gravitate towards that color because that's always what I've been on that one color code test. But honestly, I love all colors! Especially when it comes to photography. My all time favorite colors would have to be yellow, turquoise, green, and black. And yes! Black IS a color! And I looove it. I especially love wearing it! It's always so sleek, classy and looks good on just about everyone! So here's my tribute to the color yellow ;) 

Creativity for Creativity's Sake: The Start of a Project

Photography is more than just a job for me, it's a way of life and expression. I am obsessed with a lot of things, but two things in particular are my outlet for creativity and all the inner workings of my mind. Photography and Videos. I've been wanting to start a project like this for a while now because I used to do things like this all the time! 

There were many inspirations for this project. Alex Stoddard, Cig Harvery, and my friend Marcie Pagliaro are all creative geniuses when it comes to inspiration and expressing themselves through photographs! 

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to call this project just yet. It's not one of those 365 projects, or anything like that. It's more of a series that I can let lose with and try crazy things. Express certain emotions through video and photos that I'm feeling or have already felt in my life. Depictions of memories, thoughts, quotes and dreams. Basically anything that my mind and heart can conjure up!

Sometimes you just need to do something for you, to remind yourself what you truly love and that you can create something worth remembering and hopefully inspirational along the way.

2014… Our Year

It was so cold outside. I had no idea what you were doing and why you were leading me out into the falling snow. Your hand was warm in mine and you were almost running out of excitement.

We stopped in the middle of the street.

I gave a small smile. One of those smiles that lingered with curiosity as I watched you pull something from your pocket.

An Ipod.

You touched my face before slipping the earphone into my ear.

My smile turned into one of pure confusion as I watched you trying to press the buttons with your freezing hands.

A song played.

"I'll be seeing you…" 

You pulled me into you and we started to dance.

I laughed. Probably a little bit louder than necessary. 

"In that small cafe…"

The snow was falling around us as you twirled me around.

Nothing mattered.

Not the cold, not the snow that was clinging to our faces, nothing.

Just me and you.

Dancing December away.

"I'll be lookin' at the moon, but I'll be seeing you…"

As the song ended you dipped me like dancers do and gave me the sweetest kiss.

"Happy new year sweetheart."

Our first new years together was magical. Something I'll never forget. But the next new year I celebrate will be my favorite because that one will be with you.

So here's to 2014. Or as we have dubbed it. "Our Year"

I'll be seeing you sweetheart…

Finally, this year.

Skype, the Highs and the Lows

Three skypes down and one more to go.

Man does it feel good to say that…

Seeing this boy's face and hearing his voice was the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for. It had been 8 months since the last Skype and some T&E one on one time was long overdue. 

Ty and I email each other every week and we also write letters and send each other videos on an SD card.

So skyping him shouldn't make me nervous right?  

wrong.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Skype. Of COURSE I want to see the love of my life and be able to talk to him, but you can only say so much in 5-10 minutes. 

And everything you want to say to each other you can't really say in front of everyone.

And I always forget everything I wanted to say to that amazing boy once his face pops on that screen. :) 

All that really comes out is,  "You're amazing, I love you." a bunch of times ha ha ha.

I always play the "could have, should have, would have" game once the Skype has ended.

But I just have to remind myself that once he's home we can talk for as long as we want!

But for right now just hearing his voice and hearing him tell me that he loves me was absolutely perfect!

I have no words to describe how amazing of a missionary he is. He truly does give it 100% and puts all his energy into loving the people he's serving and to the lord.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have him in my life.

Love you T, Only one more Skype to go!