Vivian Killin Photography

Colorado Couples & Family Photography

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Coyote Point Engagement Session – Rachel and Harnick

Couples, Engagement, Outdoor December 16, 2018

These two are so cute together!! It was super ridiculously windy, and it was also cloudy and overcast so I ended up not really being able to use the pictures in the trees because everything was crazy and I was walking too quickly and didn’t have a fast enough shutter speed.

Shooting: I did all my normal poses and we did it all in like 15 minutes because of how cold and windy it was! They did so great even though it was crazy outside. Also I missed focus on some pictures but still delivered them because they were so cute… and it’s artsy! I LOVE backlighting (it helps me get that film look) but I opted for the location instead of the lighting during this session.

Editing: I struggled a lot with the editing because I put location first before lighting. I wanted the water to be behind them, but the sun was on their faces so it gave things an orange tint which I think I ended up overcompensating for. I really need to keep practicing with white balance! I did practice split toning and using the tone curve so I’m proud of myself for using more than just the basic panel and the HSL sliders! I also used more local adjustments to adjust exposure in certain areas — I think moving forward, instead of underexposing (because my camera’s dynamic range is notoriously not great) so that I can retain highlights, I will just nail exposure in camera and see what happens. If I blow out the highlights, maybe I can use local adjustments to bring them back instead of messing with the ENTIRE image. Also, one of the poses that I really love and always do (where the taller person kind of buries their head into the shorter person’s) tends to darken the taller person’s face (because less light is reflecting) so I have been increasing exposure on the taller person’s face a little bit, and it helps a TON!

Summary: I am going to start using local adjustments, split toning, and the tone curve more often to be more precise with my editing/style. Doing global adjustments sometimes has unintended effects. It’s faster but also isn’t going to get me the style I’m truly going for.

One thing that I’m noticing when I see all my pictures together in my Instagram grid is that I still feel like my pictures need an extra bit of “glow” and “pop” (or vibrance) that comes from great light. I’m learning to put light first and then location next. I do know now that I can add extra pop by utilizing the tone curve, but I need to get things right in camera and find good light.

So much fun and really good practice. I think I will have to keep coming back to these photos as I learn more about editing and keep re-editing them to put what I’ve learned into practice. I loved hanging out with these two and their siblings!

Here are two that I underexposed so much that I couldn’t really save but I liked them (and didn’t deliver one of them):

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Part 2 of 2: Maddi and I went to the lake and this Part 2 of 2: Maddi and I went to the lake and this is my photo dump before I delete Instagram again 😉

2021 is the year of trying to be more creative and evoking more mood. 🆒

*note that I’ll still take all the normal pictures too for your couples/family/wedding shots, but sometimes I’ll throw in experimental ones 🙌
Part 1 of 2: Maddi and I went to the lake. So so Part 1 of 2: Maddi and I went to the lake.

So so sooooo so thankful for Maddi for many reasons, but today I’m grateful for friends that stand in the cold wind with me. 

The second to last photo is tswift lover-esque and the last photo is like hunger games Star Wars-esque 🤪 WE CAN DO IT ALL!
Happy new year!! Congrats Kendall and Spencer on y Happy new year!! Congrats Kendall and Spencer on your engagement!! 🎉 for the first photo session of the year we went for some red rock and mountain views! I can’t wait for your coffeehouse wedding later this year 🥰

I deleted Instagram and am trying to stay off social media (I check my messages on desktop though because I love the grumpy Bernie memes my friends send me), so here’s a whole bunch of my favorites since I’m going to delete the app again 😂

There are even more in my stories and on my blog (link in bio 👆)!!! I couldn’t help myself. With two locations there were too many to choose from!
Goodbye 2020! May 2021 be full of health and grati Goodbye 2020! May 2021 be full of health and gratitude for the things you still have. 

My 2020 year in review blog is up (link in bio)! I’ve posted the majority of my 2020 blogs in the last 2 weeks 🙃 so the content may not seem too new, but I love recaps and reviewing what I did/learned. Also if you missed all those blogs you can just read this one 🤣

Spoiler: I did a LOT of photo education on nights and weekends this year. 

I have some 2021 photo goals (some vague ones) in my blog that I hope to achieve/pick away at next year 🤓. I try to keep most of my goals creative rather than financial because I’m trying to keep this fun for myself!

📣 And sign up for my email list!!
More of being inside because that’s what 2020 wa More of being inside because that’s what 2020 was 🏠. Trapped inside but make it fun

Look out for my 2020 in review post tomorrow and dont forget to sign up for my email list at the bottom of my website 🤓. 

Happy almost end of 2020!
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