Crazybananas Photography - Personal Archives - Page 4 of 7

Five Tips to Look Great in Photos

November 18, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Fun /by Megan

I was super excited to be asked back on the Fox 4 News Morning Show here in Kansas City today, this time to talk all about how to pose for photos! With the holiday season quickly approaching, there are going to be lots of events, activities and parties where you’re probably going to get your photo taken. Whether it’s with a friend’s cell phone, a selfie you are taking yourself, or even if a professional is behind the camera, there are a few tricks you can use to make sure you’re always looking amazing. I brought along my incredible niece, Sloan, to model the tips for me on air, and she did such a fantastic job. Thanks to Nick, Kim and the entire Fox 4 team for making us feel so welcome!

Here are five tips to look great in photos!

1. Create Angles! – Drop a shoulder, bend a knee, tilt your head…creating angles creates visual interest and will make you stand out.

2. Don’t Suck in Your Stomach – This creates a barrel chest and makes your face look tense. Instead, stand up straight and throw your shoulders back. You’ll look slim and healthy!

3. Close Your Eyes and Take a Deep Breath Right Before the Shutter Clicks – It will calm your face, widen your eyes and create a healthy glow. This also ensures you won’t have your eyes shut in the photo due to a flash.

4. Push Out Your Forehead to Eliminate Double Chins – Don’t stick out your chin, it will look awkward and strained! Plus, everyone will be able to see up your nose! Instead, softly push out your forehead. Keep it subtle, and your double chin will be history.

5. Selfie Tips – If you’re shooting a selfie, hold the camera at an angle slightly higher than your eyeline. Also, if you’re having trouble tapping the button to take the image on your screen, try clicking the “volume up” button! This functions the same as the main button, and also allows you to hold the camera a bit more steady.

Little Red and the Wolf

October 19, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Crazybananas Photography - Personal /by Megan

The other day I was feeling a bit off…this October has been beyond amazing. October is usually a family photographer’s craziest month of the year, and it’s proven to be true for me. However, I’m so stinking grateful to be so busy. This whole year has been a grand experiment, and I feel so lucky that it seems to be working out. You might say that it’s hard work and not luck that has gotten me to this point, and I’d argue it’s a hardy combination of both! I feel like my success this year has been one part hard work, one part grit and determination, and one part being in the right place at the right time.

One of the (few) downfalls of this success has been the loss of time to create art for myself. Now that I’m photographing others for a living, I’m finding it more and more difficult to work in my own creative ideas and projects. Of course, I use my creativity for every shoot, blog post or workshop, but to do something that’s completely mine from start to finish is a real treat.

The other day while we were out shopping for Halloween, the kids and I found this amazing fox mask for $2 at Target, and immediately I felt that little tug in my heart telling me I needed to buy it. That night I dreamed of a forest covered in leaves, a red hood, and an ornery little wolf. When I awoke, I knew I had to somehow make this happen. Luckily, my kids thought it sounded fun, so earlier this week we found ourselves singing “Into the Woods” as we darted behind trees and skipped down leaf-covered paths. It was magic.

Though it’s fearful,
Though it’s deep, though it’s dark
And though you may lose the path,
Though you may encounter wolves,
You can’t just act,
You have to listen.
you can’t just act,
You have to think.
Though it’s dark,
There are always wolves,
There are always spells,
There are always beans,
Or a giant dwells there.
So into the woods you go again,
You have to every now and then.
Into the woods, no telling when,
Be ready for the journey. – Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods

The Sunday Mornings Project

October 13, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Finding My Path, Recovery /by Megan

Everyone knows I’m a huge fan of a good photo project. Sometimes when I’m feeling uninspired and find my creative self very far away, I turn to photo projects as a way to steer myself home. I’ve done a couple of collaborative ones in the past (like NYC + KC), but I felt like it was time I create something on my own. Something that is wholly made of that interesting stuff between my ears.

I’ve been pretty vocal about being in long term recovery, and what that means for me. But sometimes I think it’s difficult to explain how it affects my daily life. People understand I don’t drink alcohol anymore, but I think they just assume that only affects my nights. They think of the glasses of wine I won’t be sharing at happy hour or the social events I miss all together. Rarely do they ask about my mornings. Which is strange to me, because it is the days that are the most changed. Specifically, Sundays.

Sunday mornings used to be a tortuous period in my week. Those were the mornings I’d wake up with a pounding headache, my heart racing, my stomach turning…my mouth would be dry and my teeth would feel slimy. But worst of all, I’d have a sinking feeling, deep down in my gut. For many, MANY years I’d wake up every Sunday full of so much shame and remorse. I’d push through the pain and get on with my day and my life, but it was never easy and always painful. Sunday was the day I felt the worst, and it was also usually the day I’d say to myself, “I can’t do this again. I’m done.”

But then it would be Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday and I’d find myself right back in it. I felt like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the mountain, just to have it roll back down…over and over and over. It was a battle in a seemingly endless war with myself. I feared it would never end. I assumed Sunday mornings would just always be the worst. That was my reality. That was my penance.

Today, Sunday mornings are glorious. They are amazing in their simplicity and joy. They are easy, which may not seem like something to celebrate, but for someone who usually waged war on Sundays, easy is pretty wonderful. There was so much I missed out on before…not because things weren’t happening and not because I wasn’t there, but because no matter how “there” I was…I was never really, truly anywhere. I was always in my head, fighting the battle with myself, and never really in the present moment at all.

When I decided I wanted to start another photo project, Sunday morning jumped out at me. I knew I wanted to do a project about recovery for a long time, but I wasn’t sure how to make it work. My answer was Sunday mornings.

Every Sunday morning I am trying to capture something simple. Something understated. Something that most people would see and say, “Huh, looks like a nice little Sunday.” But for those of us in recovery, and those of us still fighting the war in our own minds, seeing these images can give immense hope.

There are good Sundays out there. Sundays full of love and light. They are simple, but they are glorious. So for one year, I am going to do my best to capture my Sunday mornings. I want to look back and remember how I felt, just in case the dark thoughts come back. I need the light to fight them off. And if you’re struggling, I hope you can see these images every week, and remember there is a reason to keep fighting. The struggle is worth it. You are worth it.

Follow the Sunday Mornings Project over on Instagram by following me @crazy_bananas or via the hashtag #cbsundaymornings

Happy October!

October 8, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal /by Megan

Happy October, friends! Yes, it was October a week ago, but better late than never, right? This is by far my favorite month, and this year is doubly fun because it’s also my busiest month. While I’ve often done a few photography sessions in the fall, this is the first year where I’m really booking a ton of shoots…and it’s so awesome! Yes, I’m overwhelmed. Yes, I’m very tired. Yes, I am working more than I probably should. But right now, it feels good! There is such a difference between a busy schedule when you’re doing something you love versus when you’re slogging through a job you can’t stand.

For now, I’m giving myself a pass on being perfect, and just trying to do my best. I’ve said no to some things so that I can say yes to others. I’m giving myself breaks when needed. I’m lighting candles that smell like pumpkins, and editing late in to the night. It’s glorious, you guys. It feels new and fun and I’m soaking in every minute. I’m sure the day will come when I’m not as enthused about this October schedule, but today, it feels pretty darn awesome.

(Photo via Melissa & Beth)

Honeymooners

August 7, 2015/1 Comment/in Crazybananas Photography - Personal, Happiness, Trent /by Megan

When Trent and I got married almost 10 years ago, we were young. Young, pregnant and honestly, pretty overwhelmed. While we would have loved to take a magical honeymoon like so many of our friends were doing, we felt like saving money was more important. And it was! We had a baby on the way, and for us, the honeymoon phase wasn’t a reality. We jumped right in to marriage and family, and while I don’t regret one moment, I admit it didn’t give us much time to adjust to our new roles. In the next ten years there were many ups and downs as we worked on learning how to be partners…there is a HUGE difference between long-term dating (we had been together almost four years and had lived together for almost three when we got married) and raising a family/growing a life together. While we surely had a lot of fun along the way, it wasn’t free of conflict and a LOT of growing pains.

For the past few years we’ve said jokingly if we made it to 10 years, we would finally take our honeymoon. And then earlier this year, we realized the time had FINALLY come! After working on some scheduling conflicts and finding a good time for our family to take our kids off our hands for a week, we booked our long-awaited honeymoon to the incredible island of St. Lucia.

I cannot put into words what this trip meant to Trent and I. For the past 10 years we have worked so, so hard on creating this life for our family. Whenever I hear people saying that marriage shouldn’t feel like “work” I have to hold my tongue, because that hasn’t been my experience. Our marriage has absolutely been fun…but it’s been work too. There have been moments (sometimes lasting longer than a short moment) where one or both of us has questioned what the heck we were doing. We never had the luxury of being married without the pressure of raising children, and that in itself is WORK. In those 10 years we’ve had two children, started two businesses, rented and owned homes, upgraded to a minivan, laughed, cried, yelled, hugged and smiled. But we’ve never had more than three days alone together.

For us, leaving the country and heading to paradise for seven long days was beyond a treat. We were able to reconnect and remember why we chose each other in the first place…because despite our differences (of which there are MANY), we fit together. I’m not a person who banks on “forever” in any aspect of my life. Forever is just too big of a concept for me to grasp. But our travels to St. Lucia reminded me why I wake up every day making the conscious choice to be married to this incredible guy. Not because we are perfect, but because we are worth it.

(All photos taken with my Fuji x30)

Archive for category: Crazybananas Photography – Personal