Kelly Tarala Photography

Serving Red Deer, AB and surrounding area. Specializing in portraits, creative, pin up and rockabilly www.kellytaralaphoto.com

[kellytaralaphoto]

No matter how much crap you gotta plow through to stay alive as a photographer, no matter how many bad assignments, bad days, bad clients, snotty subjects, obnoxious handlers, wigged-out art directors, technical disasters, failures of the mind, body, and will, all the shouldas, couldas, and wouldas that befuddle our brains and creep into our dreams, always remember to make room to shoot what you love. It’s the only way to keep your heart beating as a photographer.

Joe McNally, The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World’s Top Shooters

[kellytaralaphoto]

When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!

Ted Grant

[kellytaralaphoto]

Well it has been an interesting year. Attended numerous workshops, ventured into the world of pin up (loved it!!) and learning more everyday. I am looking forward to the challenges I have given myself for next year. Biggest challenge will be obtaining an accreditation with the PPOC.

[kellytaralaphoto]

So Many Thoughts

Well, over the last couple of weeks my mind has been racing with ideas, thoughts, projects to attempt. Literally brain overload. I have one project that has been on the back burner for probably 3 years now. In my mind I know how I would like it to play out. On paper......well.....lets just say I haven’t put it on paper yet. I know, stop procrastinating and start planning it out. I think the problem is fear. I need to step out of my comfort zone and really start challenging myself. I am challenging myself as it is right now....but to take it to the next step.

Fear of failure has always been one of my problems which I have been getting better at it. Taking the leap into Pin up photography was a huge step for me. Outside of what I used to do. LOVE IT!! The planning, the preparation, meeting with vendors (shout out to Bella Lu’s Inc here in Red Deer). I am lucky enough to partner up with these awesome ladies who supplies the retro clothing for the models for our shoots. If you are ever in Red Deer check them out. Small local business with extremely awesome staff.

Even as I type this my brain is racing. New ideas on how to run my speedlites. Huge thank you for Joe McNally and his infectious love of the business. His workshop has really opened my eyes to Off Camera Flash. Getting better and improving. Working on ways to make them unique to me. Different styles. I have also been having a blast playing with the Rogue Flashbender 2 Portable Lighting Kit. I am loving Rogue products right now!! Very easy to use, portable and light (no pun intended).

I know I am all over the map tonight....LOL...but that has been my brain as of late. Thank god for my calendar and my lovely wife who is keeping me on the straight away. But I think I will call it a night for today. Going to practice a little more with a different lighting style tomorrow and should have something posted in the next 2 days for you.

Cheers!!

[kellytaralaphoto]

The Mayerthorpe Fair was on the weekend of aug 8 while we were up there visiting. We attended the Ag Fair to bouncy castles and the mechanical bull. My oldest son wanted to give it a try and can say he did quite good. The gentleman operating the bull was also really good giving him pointers along the way.

[kellytaralaphoto]

During my vacation my mother in law wanted to get photos of the grandkids in the Canola field just behind the acreage. Plans worked out just right. My brother in law and his wife came out on the 1st of Aug with my nephew and niece. A good visit was had by all. Too good of time that we ended up having to rush the session because they needed to get back to Edmonton. For a rush job it didn't turn out too bad. My little niece is such a sweetheart. She will flirt with you from a distance but when you get close to pick her up she turns instant shy. Mind you this past weekend was huge steps. She actually let me pick her up, mind you for a very brief 10 seconds and then wanted her mom back, but still a big step. All in all it was a pretty good vacation. Kept busy chasing my two boys around and got LOTS of sun.

[kellytaralaphoto]

I know, I know....it has been quite a while since I have posted something on here. I know I have to get better at this blogging thing. Anyways, been on vacation for the last week and a half and decided to come into town and stay at my in laws and get caught up on a few things. For the most part the weather has been awesome. Hot and sunny. Last couple of days have been crappy, cool and rainy but it is looking like the last few days of vacation is going to be sunny and hot again!!

So during the last week and a half my oldest son (he is 8) told me he wanted to learn how to take photographs with my camera. I was beaming inside. Little man wants to learn what I do. So....I told him he could use my Canon 30D (my backup camera) to practice. He wanted to use my youngest son (3) as a model. My youngest always likes to have a little fun in front of the camera so they did some playing around with shots in one of their playhouses where we camp. This was a behind the scenes shot.

Over the last few months I have been getting more and more intrigued with using my speed lights a lot more than I have. Step one, read the crap out of everything, users manual, books, etc. Step two, attend Joe McNally’s workshop in Calgary middle of July. What a learning experience. Joe has such a big heart and passion for what he does and it just radiated through the conference room. I learnt so much in the 7 hours he talked then I have learned in the last month or so reading. Such an inspiring man. I was thrilled that he was doing meet and greets at break times so I was able to catch a photo with him. So....what do you do after all this reading and workshop? You practice what was taught. So 6 in the evening I wanted to try and make it look like my youngest son was serving food from his house simulating a sunset. I think I pretty well nailed it. Few compositional issues I know but first attempt I was quite happy with. 

Anyways, there will be a few more shots coming up on the blog on Monday as tomorrow I head back to the campsite for the remainder of the weekend. 

[kellytaralaphoto]

"The Pause that Refreshes" #coke #cocacola #coca_cola #photoshoot #photography #photographer #reddeer #sylvanlake #canon #pinup #pinupgirl #pinupstyle #rockabilly (at Sylvan)

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"Dangerous Vixen" #reddeer #photoshoot #photographer #photography #sylvanlake #canon #pinup #pinupgirl #rockabilly #harley #worldwar2 #summer (at Sylvan)

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#canadianairforce #canadianforces #cf18 #mayerthorpe #photography #photographer #canon #fallen4 (at Fallen Four Memorial Park)

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Nice 0630 wake up call this morning. Flying pretty low over #mayerthorpe for the Fallen 4 Marathon. Of course I leave my big 150-500 mm lens at home in Red Deer 😒 #airforce #canadianairforce #canadianforces #photography #photographer #spring #canon #cf18 (at Fallen Four Memorial Park)

[kellytaralaphoto]

#male #groom #wedding #tux #tuxedo #reddeer #alberta #canon #fall

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Playing around with some editing from an October shoot. Both myself and my model love this edit. #photography #littlered #model #tattoo #photographer #alberta #alternativemodel #canadiancreatives #female #canon #halloween #evening #flash

[davebrosha-blog]

There’s lot of you who have no interest in doing photography for a living, but for those who have entertained the idea, the biggest thing that will hold you back is…fear. Fear, and an unwillingness to put in the work.

When I was in the first weeks of “taking the plunge” I had a couple of the...

[kellytaralaphoto]

Re-Branding

Please excuse the chaos on the website right now and soon to be facebook page. I am going through the process of re-branding myself and it is for the better. Something that I have a lot of passion for and am quite excited to start off on this new venture. Please keep your eyes peeled as the changes come through slowly. Thank you for your patience

[kellytaralaphoto]

Through the Beams #photography #photographer #aurora #auroras #alberta #canadiancreatives #imagesofcanada #travelalberta #explorealberta #night #bridge #road #abandoned (at Bentley, Alberta)

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Northern Lights near Bentley, AB. Had fun playing with light painting as well #photography #photographer #aurora #auroras #northernlights #canadiancreatives #bridge #road #alberta #explorealberta #travelalberta (at Bentley, Alberta)