This top picture is of my husband that I took last year with my Canon Rebel xsi and a Canon f/2.8 70-200 mm lens. The bottom pic I took this spring with my Canon Mark D ii and the Canon f/2.8 70-200mm lens. The quality of cameras also makes a huge difference, but knowing how to set up any camera is what the main point is.  Other than cropping both of these are straight out of the camera (SOOC).

Can you tell a difference?  The bottom picture is crisp and the the colors pop.

In the past when the sun would go down and the track lights would come on I’d put my camera in my bag and forget about any more racing pictures.  I now know how to meter and correctly adjust my ISO.  These were taken at 6400 ISO and NO FLASH!  I know they are not “perfect”  and I still have a  long ways to go, but I am VERY happy with the results. I love how sharp they are even though they are implying motion (which means the cars are in focus but the background still shows they are moving fast). Other than crops these are also SOOC.

So the winners of the contests are……..

Emily McQuitty’s name was drawn from all 1100 names and she wins an 11×14 print. Just so happens she’s a client so she’ll be able to pick a picture from her session.

And Jessica Roesch is the winner of a mouse pad.  This is the picture that will be on the mouse pad. I took this Wednesday night after all the storms that moved through.

I can’t thank you all enough for your support. Hard to believe tomorrow will be 2 years I made my business official.  Much love to you all!!

First let me tell you how Jennifer teaches. A lot of questions were asked and she never rolled her eyes or thought what a dumb questions. Why do you think that is? Because she was in our exact same shoes at one time. When she’d ask other photogs questions she’d get the eye roll or the brush off.  She wants you to succeed whether it’s taking pictures of your children or starting a business. She wants you to know how to use your camera!   She also takes time and has one on ones with each of us.

We spent about an hour going through the settings in our camera  taking them off the factory defaults.   Jennifer, moved on to  explain how white, black and an 18% grey card meters on our camera. Then she explained how to meter off the back of your hand.  Instantly the light bulb went off in my head.

We moved outside and started shooting.  There was a lot of this going on out in the yard. I’m sure people driving by on the highway thought we were a bunch of crazies.  

This was a very serious class. No laughing was allowed…..Okay so maybe I’m fibbing.

The best thing about this is everyone helped everyone. I don’t think anyone left the workshop  thinking “I didn’t learn anything.”

We had outside models. My beautiful sister!

Krystal came with one of the workshop girls and ended up modeling for us.  Bet she didn’t know she’d be put to work when  they left Texas.

We moved inside and took pictures of my adorable cousin Aaron.

Aaron’s very proud ma’ma is in the purple.

This picture just makes me laugh!!  Aaron is looking at Corky like  what the heck are you doing, this is my moment!

This is one of my favorites.  The group was taking pictures of Krystal and I looked over my shoulder and saw this perfect shot.  

Lacey Brott was nice enough to let me use this picture that was taken on her phone of all us girls.  You know a lot of times when you bring a bunch of people together you aren’t real sure how everyone will get along, but this group was awesome!! Fun FUN group!

For everyone who came THANK YOU!  I enjoyed hosting for all of you  to meet the wonderful Jennifer. Thank you, Jennifer, for coming out here to the flatness of Kansas. I loved seeing our state through your eyes.  I am so thankful for our friendship even though how we “met” was crazy, but what an awesome friendship it’s been these last six years. To many many many more my friend.

By naming what the objects are in the 10 pictures listed below you will also be entered to win an 8×10 landscape image of your choice.

Rule#1. “LIKE” Carrie Towns Photography on Facebook

Rule #2.  Name all 10 objects correctly to win.  If more than one person gets all 10 right then I’ll draw a winner.

Rule #3. To enter this contest leave your 10 answers in the comments section.

Some are really easy and then a few are hard. Good Luck and thank you all for playing!

Winners will be named next Wednesday.

1.

2. 

3.

4. 

5.

6.

7.

8. 

9.

10.

History was made right here on November 22, 1963 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  Oswald perched in the far right window second from the top.  If you travel to Dallas be sure to tour the museum they have there. Very interesting.

We also visited the Fort Worth Zoo.  I can honestly say this visit to the zoo may have been the most excitement I’ve ever had at a zoo.

Here Kitty Kitty. How many times a day do you think this guy hears that?

This was taken at the Gaylord Texan in the Atrium.  Very neat place to stay.

First I want to thank you all for “liking” my page. You have no idea how happy my heart is to see 800+ here. To all my clients who have let me capture their families on camera and to all who have heard “here’s let’s try this” I thank you so much!!

Miss Nicole Moser you are my winner!! I can’t wait!!

How cute is the birthday girl?

Fun group of girls!

You can’t have a photo shoot party without some fun pictures!!!

Sam I hop your birthday is as special as you are!!

We’ve had a little snow.

All Courtesy of May Designs.

 During the summer I try really hard to have the meals planned out each week.  I hate realizing at 4:30 I don’t know what I’m making for supper.  Add in a full time job in town, being a photog &  a farmer’s wife I just don’t seem to have much time to worry about food.  That’s why I love the idea of this planner.  Normally I write my meal plan on a white board that stays on the fridge.  The only problem is I then write down all the ingredients I have to buy at the store on a post it, but it seems the post-it never makes it to the store with me. Luckily this planner has a grocery list area right beside the meals you plan for that week.  What I like about this book is it’s small enough to fit in my purse and I can keep it with me all the time.  Another good quality about this book is all the pages. If I’m super busy I can just go back a few months and pick out a week I’ve done and use that meal plan again. Super easy and makes me really happy AND I have the grocery list already made.

To thank you all for supporting me one lucky person will win a monogrammed meal planning book.

To enter:

1. MUST be a fan of my Facebook page so hit that “LIKE” button at the top of the page.

2. Comment on this blog post what your favorite food is.

Pretty easy to enter and what a great way to save time!

ps if you don’t see your comment right away don’t worry. I have to approve comments.

The Sullivan family.

The Studer family.

Miss Ali.

I know you are all impatiently wanting to know who won this contest!!  With 702 names in the hat I pulled……..the winner is…………………………………….Joni Shaw!