allisonjeanphoto

“Does anyone have a chiffon, flowy dress and want to model for meee??”

That’s what I posted as my facebook status about two weeks ago. I got a response from Rachael, an old friend from elementary school. She’s modeled before for my friend Aubrey, and I knew instantly she’d be PERFECT. The dress she had wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. My inspiration came from a shoot I saw on one of the blogs I follow. My goal was to create a sort of fairy-tale-like feel to the shoot. I wanted to switch it up a bit and be less sexy, less glamorous than some of my previous shoots and instead have an old, vintage feel.

We agreed to meet up at 730 while the light was still soft outside, and of course, I awoke at 750 to my mom saying, “What happened to your photoshoot this morning?” I bolted awake, frantically called Rachael (who was also running late, thank goodness), and raced toward Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian. That is the story of my life. But thank you Jesus, there was a perfect amount of cloud cover which kept the light soft for us for the rest of the morning. It really was an absolutely beautiful day, and let me tell you…Rachael can ROCK that camera. I kept telling her, “I feel like I should be directing you somehow, but I can’t think of anything better than what you’re already doing…” haha. For real. I can’t wait to work with her again!

Here are some of the favorites.

I LOVE THAT LAST ONE! That’s my favorite of the day for suuure.

Thank you SOO much Rachael for doing this for me. You are sooo good, and I can’t wait to see where modeling takes you.

On a side note, I realize I suck at blogging. I want to get better at it, but then I’ll spend even more time on the computer. And I just can’t justify that right now with everything else going on. So I make no guarantees, but I’m going to TRY to start blogging more regularly. I may even steal my sister’s Friday Five or something like that. We’ll see!

WEEK EIGHT: fashion!

Dude. I know nothing about fashion. One of the things I really wanted to do with this project is explore more artistic/fashiony kinds of photography. So between inspiration from Vogue and Elle and the expertise (and closet) of Sarah Collom, we worked it out. We originally planned to do these out at the lake and had all the ideas and outfits planned around that. Then the weather decided to go all nuts this week and by 5 when we pulled up to the cliffs, it was POURING rain. Boo! Sarah-to-the-rescue-Collom came up with the ideas of completely new outfits and the tunnel, so we could still rock it out! Woohoo.

Even with the complete change of plans, I love the way these turned out. Thanks everyone…plus Alli and Amanda for helping out!!!

I promised my friend Karla that as soon as I got my new camera she could come with me and use my old camera and I would teach her everything I know. Which isn’t a lot. But anyway. When my original plan to go out at 11p.m to do some night shooting with Hatch fell through, I needed a backup. Karla and I both had mornings off this Thursday before leaving for Easter, so we decided to go explore. We found so many unique and awesome places I’m STOKED to go back to. I need to do this so much more often. Thanks Karla for joining me this week!

In honor of St. Patrick’s day today, I decided to do a themed post this week instead of a new technique. This week has just been an incredibly BLESSED week for me. Good conversations, taking pictures for Spring Sing, volunteering at the Salvation Army, celebrating Matt’s birthday today, beautiful afternoons of soccer practice, and FINALLY getting close to mastering the art of freakin’ watercolor…it all adds up to just one wonderful week. And it’s only Wednesday!

Here’s the collage I made for today. It’s so nothing creative or legit…but green is my favorite color so it makes me a very happy girl

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day everybody and Happy Birthday Matt!

I’m not gonna lie… this week’s challenge turned into a serious blow off idea for me. First I thought, “Oh hey, I’ll be in Dallas this weekend. Why not try out some architecture photography?” So I got all set, looked up some tips and cool examples, an left for my photoshoot yesterday in Dallas two hours early. Then I stopped at Target. Then I got stuck in traffic. Then I was walking alone in Deep Ellum next to groups of shady guys with 40 mph wind gusts knocking me off the sidewalk thinking to myself, “I’m an idiot.” So. I went back to a coffee shop and waited for the clients. Architecture could wait.

I left all day today open to be around the house to hang out with my familia before I head back to my real life tomorrow. I googled more photo challenges (which turned out to be very productive…there are tons of groups online giving tips and ideas of things to shoot every day). After seeing something about a Saint Patty’s Day theme, I thought, “Hey! I love green! I’ll just shoot all things green, make a collage, and WABAM! Challenge solved.” Except Old Saint Patty’s Day is NEXT week, so the green theme would make much more sense then. Back to square one.

I headed outside, set up my camera on our patio table, and looked up in my manual how to set up the self timer (this 7D has so many differences from my Rebel-don’t judge!). Who’s a more convenient model than myself? After many failed attempts and lots of stupid faces, my brother came outside wearing a green shirts and drinking Dr. Pepper from a green cup, so I got ahead on next week’s challenge. He stuck on my aviators and BAM. The reflections challenge was born. Ta da!

Here are the reflections around the Casa de la Familia de Harpo. I swear these challenges are gonna get more exciting…

Happy Saturday!

Every time I make the drive from Brownwood to Dallas I think, “Oh wow that would be a great picture!” I probably say that to myself at least 10 times each way. Do I stop? Of course not! I take enough bathroom breaks as it is. My challenge this week was to STOP, take a breather, and shoot. Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave until all the girls on my floor left since I’m the RA and all…so I didn’t leave until about 515. This wouldn’t have been a problem except it’s been cloudy all day. I was losing light and fast. I decided to pick a spot that sticks out in my mind every time I make the trip – the bright red door. The bright red door at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Dublin.

The miles between Comanche and Dublin seemed to take FOREVER. I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to work with anything by the time I got there. I pulled into the dirt parking lot with just enough time. I snapped a few pictures and I was on my way. Here they are!

And just to counter my RUDE sister and her judgments… This IS my second week of the project. It just seems longer because I did the last week on a Monday and this one on the following Friday.

Ok so this is what I learned.
1. I really want to do this again. haha. I noticed so many more spots that were ballin’. Especially in Dublin. It’s given me a new idea for a 50s themed shoot that you can look for in the near future!
2. Those moments just before the sun set are usually BRILLIANT. When it’s cloudy, they are NOT.
3. A splash of color makes everything prettier.

Happy Happy!

Well. Plans changed! Or got postponed.

My life has been NUTS since my decision to do this project. I’ve had zero time whatsoever and just kept pushing it off and pushing it off. I figured I’d just wait till I get my new 7d (PLEASE HURRY AND GET HERE $750 CHECK!). But class was canceled tonight and my friend Emily is always begging me to take pictures of her…HENCE this post! I’m so excited to get started on this project even when I thought I’d have absolutely no time till spring break. Praise God for blessing me with FREE TIME today. I’d totally forgotten what it was like.

So as Emily sat on my bed and I sat on my butt, I got a brilliant idea. “Let’s go take pictures in the pitch black nightness at this creepy old gutted building I found the other day!”

Well. Turns out I couldn’t figure out ANYTHING to do with an on-camera flash and 50mm in the pitch black nightness. Instead of accepting defeat, we headed the car for the nearest lights we saw and used a combo of Em’s headlights and an overhead streetlight to take the following pictures which I’M SO PROUD OF! And it totally counts for this project because I’ve been meaning to experiment a lot with doing photography at night. It was even on my list! Ballin. So here are the pictures and welcome to post number one of my 52 week project. Hopefully this will remain consistent!

I looove this one. It’s so cute.

Alright class. Let’s review what we learned this week.
1. When something doesn’t work, improvise! I was so discouraged after I couldn’t get anything to work at the old building. Luckily, we got creative and I’m soo pleased with how everything turned out.
2. Night photography is harder than it looks. I learned a lot about how much light it takes to actually make things look cool. Using a simple on-camera flash just isn’t enough. Sad
3. When shooting the night before a predicted six-inch-snow-day, it will be COLD. Oh my gosh my hands were freaking frackin’ cold! I always underestimate the weather. Never again.

That’s all I got. I’m sure I learned more. I’m just so tired.
Happy happy happy Monday!

So it’s almost been a week since I decided to start my project and the first really big project I want to do calls for really good weather. Well. All we’ve been having is super crappy weather. SO. I decided to post these pictures I took of Matt the other night when the lighting was PERFECT outside and I dragged him out there with me

That night we created some new banners and fun stuff for his website so make sure you go check it out and see what he’s been up. to.

Stay tuned for my official start to the 52-week project!

Throughout my whole life I’ve set so many goals for myself. As these goals were set, so was the pressure to fulfill them. Everything from getting a tattoo to getting my doctorate to traveling the world as a single woman. I’ve put this enormous amount of pressure on myself to not regret ANYTHING later in life. My biggest fear right now is reaching a point when I’m thirty or forty or on my death bed and saying to myself, “If only I would have taken that chance or jumped off that ledge.” I’m terrified. I’m terrified of making decisions because I’m terrified I’ll wish I’d done things differently. I’m terrified that I’ll see someone else’s life and be envious of it. But as I think and process all of these things, I’m coming to the realization that the fear of regrets is almost more paralyzing than the potential reality that I could have done things differently.

I’m limiting myself and hurting myself so deeply because of this fear. And I’m ready to get rid of it.

THEREFORE!
(drumrolls and stuff)
I’m doing it.
I’m starting this project I’ve been dreaming of for way too long.
I’m going to do a 52-week project very similar to the 365 project a lot of photographers do. Usually, a person would challenge themselves to take a picture a day (self portraits most of the time) in order to challenge themselves to learn new techniques or editing styles or whatever. I, however, do not have the attention span or the time to really put enough effort into a project of that proportion. So I’m shrinking it a little bit. Every week for a year I’ll try a new genre, new lighting, new editing…new SOMETHING to finally challenge myself to get outside of this stupid box I’ve put myself in.

I had a whole bunch of rules and guidelines for myself, but heck. Screw it! I’m sick of regulating myself and not allowing myself the freedom to just experiment and learn and (heaven forbid) FAIL! I love this. Be looking out for my first project. I have a ballin’ idea.

Here I go. Ready or not.