Living a Grateful Life, Michelle East, Memphis Artist

Living a Grateful Life at Christmas and Always

What are you grateful for?  We are so blessed in this life. Just being alive is a monumental gift each day. My hope is that during this time of Christmas, Hanukkah, & New Years, that you take time to reflect on what you have to be grateful for, rather than what you do not have materially compared to other people.

Ever realize how we always look to the ones that have more than us and compare our situation to theirs? Does that make you feel discontent? It does in my heart. What would it be like if we compared our selves to those who live in the homeless shelters, who don't have a coat, hat or gloves, who take the bus, who live in poverty?
Now who is fortunate?  Me, You.  Our kids. Our friends. Our family.

Try making a list like this.....

I am grateful for the following:

~Thank you to God for challenging me, loving me, guiding me, never forsaking me and giving me the gift of life!

~Thank you to my three beautiful children who have brought endless joy and happiness into my life.

~Thank you to my parents who have never wavered in their unconditional love for me. 

~Thank you to my friends for your support and love.

~Thank you to my fellow artists & photographers for surrounding my life with inspiration and camaraderie.

~Thank you to my business colleagues who believe in and support my artistic endeavors.

~Thank you to my new shorkie puppy and beautiful persian cat who never allow me to be lonely.

~Thank you to all of you who enjoy this blog, my art and musings.

~ Thank you that I went through a biopsy in November and the results were no cancer!

The experience was one that I am grateful for because it opened my eyes to what so many women in the world go through when battling cancer.

Some Quotes on Gratitude~

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?”
~William A. Ward

Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.
~G.B. Stern

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.
~John E. Southard

Gratitude is the best attitude.
~Author Unknown

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
~Cynthia Ozick

When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?
~George Canning

Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.
~Alfred Painter:

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.
~Chinese Proverb

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William Arthur Ward

When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.
~Tony Robbins

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
~Albert Schweitzer:

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. ~Cicero

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
~H.U. Westermayer

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~John F Kennedy

Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.
~LeRoy Paige

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.
~Meister Eckhart

There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.
~Seneca

Till next time,

Memphis has Beautiful Kids!, Michelle East Photography

Wrapping up the last of the 2011 portrait year with this beautiful baby girl. She is only 4 weeks old and rocked the photo session!  I don't think she cried once.  She was alert and attentive to what we were doing and gave me fantastic eye contact.  Wonderful note to end the year on!

Thank you to all of my past and present clients. I dearly appreciate each of you for sharing your family with me. I am thankful to have been able to use my gifts to capture these once in a lifetime moments with your little ones.

Merry Christmas!

Michelle East, Memphis Artist & Portrait Photographer, Memphis, TN

 ADORABLE!

This is a beautiful time of year! I love photographing all of the sweet children that grow up way too much since I last saw them.  It is one of my most favorite things about my job, documenting these little lives.

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday season! Don't forget to hug your little ones and take lots of pictures!!!

Sweet!

FUN!

Till next time,

Michelle East, Memphis Artist & Portrait Photographer, Memphis, TN

Fun With Fall Portraits!JOY!

Handsome.

Sweet Love!

Beautiful!

Cutie Pie!

Spread some JOY!

Michelle East Studio Fine Art at Fountain Art Gallery in Memphis, TN

The exhibit "TOTEMS" will run till Nov. 11th.

 Stop by Fountain Art Gallery - Mon. - Sat. 10-4 and see 19 artists interpretation of this ancient art form!

Here I am in front of my Totem!

Till next time,

Michelle East, Memphis Artist & Portrait Photographer, Memphis, TN

We have the most beautiful children in Memphis, TN!  Just look at these cuties. I love these sweet little faces, don't you!

I have just a couple of slots left for fall portraits.  Please call me asap if you would like to have a portrait done in 2011. During the month of December, I will only be taking newborn sessions. 

 I am taking the month off to spend time with my sweeties!

 Till next time,

Michelle East, Award Winning Photographer, Germantown, TN

Have a haunted yet safe 

Halloween

my friends!

 

Till next time,

Michelle East, Fountain Art Gallery, Totem Show, Memphis, TN

Come out to Fountain Art Gallery -3092 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN

on Friday night, Nov. 4th at 7:00 for an art show like no other.

TOTEMS

19 artists interpret this ancient art form.

Hope to see you there!

Michelle East, Award Winning Artist, Memphis, TN

I just ran across this visual image of left versus right brain and loved it!

Memphis has the Most Beautiful Kids and I get to Photograph Them! Michelle East, Award Winning Artist & Photographer

I had so much fun with this beautiful mom and daughter! Thank you for choosing me as your photographer. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful clients.

Fall bookings are filling up so call me if you would like to get on my calendar for October. Dates are going fast. Would love to work with you and your sweet family in this gorgeous weather!

Till next time,

Photography Tips Mom to Mom, Michelle East, Award Winning Photographer and Artist, Memphis TN

More Mom to Mom Tips!
Let's talk about composition.  This is an easy way to make your pictures look good with out much effort on your part.  As a mom I know it is easiest to just zoom in on the face and aim. Centering the child right in the middle of the frame.  While that is fine, let's step it up a notch.  Why don't we turn the camera vertical rather than the standard horizontal set up. Hmmm that changes things.
















Isn't he cute!
I took this image during a photo safari in San Francisco.

You could also tilt the camera off its axis and use creative angles to get the shot! Now that is fun!!Here is another love also from San Francisco.

Another something to try is called the Rule of Thirds.  The rule of thirds is an important tool in creating great pictures. It is basically if you were to draw imaginary lines dividing the image into thirds, horizontally and vertically. (Kinda looks like a tic tac toe board. :)  Well the subject should fall on the intersections of the lines or along the lines. See the picture above. I have drawn the tic tac toe board on the image and then circled where the focal point is along the top 2/3 rd's of the image. It makes the image much stronger than if his face was dead center.  

Our last tip today on composition is called framing. This is when you use doorways, architecture etc... in your image.   

I challenge you to use your imagination!  Get creative and take chances. That is the only way to learn.  

Till next time,

Michelle East, Award Winning Artist, Begins Ballet Class after 25 year absence?

Hi All-

Yes, you read the title correctly, I started ballet class today after 25 years off!  Ballet Memphis located off of Germantown Parkway and Trinity Road in Cordova, TN has a fabulous ballet program for professional dancers and the rest of us, young or old!   http://www.BalletMemphis.org

Most of you do not know that I danced through out high school, taking ballet, jazz and even a couple of tap classes.  I even had a ballet bar and a mirrored wall in my bedroom! You could say I was serious.  But then I graduated high school, started working and going to college & dance just faded into the distance.

So why now, 25 years later do I feel the desire to start dancing again?

Good question!

The answer is because I think it will make me a better artist.

A new project that I am currently working on involves the expression of dance & music on canvas.  I've been using auditory and visual means to immerse myself into the world of dance in order to translate my feelings of ballet using paint.  In order to feel what the dancers are feeling and to represent authentically and organically via paint & canvas, taking a ballet class was the only option for me.

More to come on this exciting project as it develops! I can't wait to share with you.

But for today, what a wonderful morning it was donning my new black leotard, pink tights and ballet slippers, after 25 years!

Cover of the new Ballet Memphis Program.  Love it!

Till next time,

Photography Tips Mom to Mom, Michelle East, Award Winning Photographer and Artist, Memphis TN

Thank you for your wonderful feedback on the first of my new series, Photography Tips Mom to Mom!
I am so pleased that so many of you were able to find the first tip on natural light photography helpful. If you missed it, please scroll down to the previous post and you will be all caught up!

Today I want to share some tips on where to position your camera when taking pictures of you children.

The very best place to be when you photograph kids is eye level with them. This sounds easy enough but how many times do you stand at your full 5 ft to 6 ft height and aim your camera down at them?
For a change try getting down on your knees or kneeling. It all depends on the height of the child. For those of you who have seen me in action photographing a child, you know I wear old clothes and sometimes end up on my belly, leaning on my elbows holding the camera!  Whatever works!!

Why do I need to be on eye level with my child?

A

B

We need to be on eye level with our children when photographing because we want to have the best view possible of those gorgeous eyes!  The eyes are the focal point.   Too high and you get the forehead or top of the head, too low and you end up looking up into their noses..... not a pleasant sight even on their best day!

While we are on the subject of eyes, I want to tell you about a little thing called catchlights. Little but powerful in a portrait!

What is a catchlight?

A catchlight is a tiny reflection in the child's eye of a light source. Catchlights add vitality and sparkle to a portrait and keep the eyes from looking dark and flat. (See above example.)


How do I get one?

If you are photographing inside use a window as your light source and position your child so that you can see the catchlight in his/her eyes. (See top example A.)  When outside, use the sun to create the catch light. (See top example B.)  Just be careful and do not have your child look into the sun. The sun catchlight should be coming from sun at the side, not directly above.  You have to look and work for it! This will set your photography apart. I promise!

Have a great week of photographing your sweet, sweet babies!
Please leave me your feedback, I would love to see what you are working on.  Email me a small sample
at michelleeastfineart@live.com. Check out more of my work at http://www.MichelleEastStudio.com & you can also go to my Gallery section here on the blog - see top of the side bar.

Till next time,

Photography Tips Mom to Mom, Michelle East, Award Winning Photographer and Artist, Memphis TN

Hi to all the Moms out there who love to take pictures of their babies - no matter what their age!

I get a lot of questions these days about digital cameras, taking pictures, computer
software, etc..... you get my drift!  It seems like we all have to be photographers
even if we just want to be moms! So I thought it would be fun to post once a week
or so, a tip to help you as moms take better pictures of your children.

So check back often and get your camera ready because you will become a better photographer
if you follow my tips.  :)

To kick off the Photography Tips Mom to Mom blog I want to start with a natural light tip. I am assuming 99% of you do your photography with natural light or with a pop up flash on your camera, which I want you to stop using immediately!

A flash makes the skin look over exposed and blotchy.  The best and most natural look for your pictures will always be natural light.  Please, please, please turn the camera's automatic flash off if you can. You may even go so far as to borrow your husbands duct tape and tape that sucker down!!!!

Head outside into an area out of the direct sun, i.e. shady spot.  Remember not to get into too dark of an area. We in professional photography call it open shade. It is where once you have the child set up, there is open sky on both sides of the child when you look thru the camera. Another option is to use tree shade or a porch.  Try to get the light on your child from the sides rather that straight above which causes shadows on their sweet little eyes.

If you are inside, go to a window to get the natural light falling on your children. Surround them in a warm glow keeping the shadows off their faces. Watch what the light does. You are training your eye to see as a professional photographer sees! Once you get the lighting right, act fast because sunlight changes quickly and so do kids!

A great set up inside it to have the window on the right or left of the child and them facing you forward.

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|  Window         X  Child
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                        X  You








Here is your photography cheat sheet!
Enjoy!
If you like this idea of tips from me on photography, please let me know. I would love to hear from you. Also, I will take questions and try to answer them on the blog if I feel they would be good for everyone to hear.

Happy Photographing!

Michelle East, Memphis Artist, Germantown Artist

Hope everyone is enjoying a lovely weekend!
Just wanted to share some fun. :)
Till next time,