MDC Photography: Blog

Building Creative Relationships

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 00:44:29 GMT

I am excited for the changes that I am making as a creative! Over the next few months, I will be challenging myself to become more social and in turn build more meaningful connections with other creatives.

90 Days and Counting:

*Collaborate on a fun project

*Share insights over a cup of coffee/tea

*Attend local creative meetups

*Work on creating a personal online community

*Inspire and uplift fellow creatives

I am ready for the days, weeks and months ahead and I am looking forward to the people that I will meet along the way!!

Matashia

"Framing Success: A Lens into My Photography Goals for 2024"

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:58:46 GMT

Good Morning,

As we have made our way into a new year, this often brings one to think about the year prior and goals for the new. I am no different than the rest. While I have left the task of compiling New Year resolutions in the dust, the act of wanting to progress has not changed. I have concluded that my plan for 2024 is to elevate my product photography in a number of ways. I plan to make an effort to connect with other professional photographers in my area that share my style photography and overall vibe. I have also discovered that the internet can also be a great way to make connections while also learning new things to perfect my craft. I am on the search for some great photographers to subscribe to so please share any suggestions that you may have in the comment section!

How does one make better pictures?

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Firstly, making better photographs is a learned skill that can be improved with practice and knowledge.

Invest in good quality equipment. Look for a good quality camera with features such as adjustable shutter speed and exposure settings. Learn your equipment and have fun!

Natural light is great so use it whenever you can! Locate a spot and adjust your settings accordingly to make the most of it. In those situations where natural light isn't available..strobe lights, continuous lights and a flash can come in clutch!

Planning is also key! Think about what you want to capture and plan out the composition of the session.

Experiment with different angles, compositions and settings. You might be surprised by the results!

And last but certainly not least...Practice! The best way to improve your photos is to practice. Make lots of photos, review them and keep practicing until you get the photos that you want.

Props, props and more props!

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 22:27:42 GMT

As a product photographer, props play an essential role in the production and execution of my work. When shopping for new pieces, I consider the product that I am photographing, the placement of each prop and the story that I am going to tell. There are so many places available to purchase props..from art stores, to consignment shops to the yard sale down the street; the possibilities are truly endless!!

And then you have just the mere thought of executing a photo session that has been envisioned....pure excitement! When I'm feeling creative or have made a plan to complete a photo session task, I make a habit of not rushing. I have learned the importance of taking the time to gather everything that I am going to use while also ensuring that the setup matches my sketch before I set up my lighting. I also understand that sometimes things don't necessarily go as planned so I am always ready to improvise or move on to a completely different session.

Keep things light and your mind open but most importantly, Have Fun!!I

Creative Projects

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:10:12 GMT

Technology can be a wonderful thing that allows us to share and to grow. This morning, I had the opportunity to join in on a Spaces hosted by Elsie and I couldn't be more thankful for the invite! I was able to connect with other photographers and catch up with how everyone else is doing. One does not really know how much positive interaction between people can be missed until you don't have it as much! The topic of checking in did get me to thinking about how much we as individuals can put onto ourselves...different projects, jobs and other expectations. It is definitely important for us to form some kind of balance, while also not neglecting what we want to accomplish. I have started drawing out photo session ideas as they come to mind so that I can create later as a way to not forget but to also not feel like I'm overwhelming myself to create, I don't want to stop creating, but I also don't want creating to stop being fun! So, I say this for myself, Elsie and all of you.... I am thankful for you, your creativity and the opportunities that are given to share! Keep up the great work that you do, remember self-care and be Brilliant! :)

Open For Suggestions

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 03:02:25 GMT

Good Evening everyone! I hope that you have been having a wonderful weekend thus far! :)

With each passing day, we are growing as individuals and in so many aspects. We learn daily about accomplishments, failure and perseverance. At times, I think that we have all decided at some at point that it was best to change course. it reminds me of that classic saying..."When one door closes, another one opens." In the last few years, I have grown a lot in my personal life as well as developing my craft in photography. I understand that I will never know everything (no one will) and I am comfortable with that. I say all of that to ask you, my readers/viewers for an honest favor...your opinion.

1. How can I improve?

2. What is one thing that you see that I am doing well?

I appreciate your feedback! :)

Polly Irungu: The Power of One Voice

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:49:00 GMT

As individuals, it is important to recognize that you are valuable and worthy. When one takes a deep look into photography, many disparities cannot be overlooked. It has been a male-dominated space for far too long but I am happy to know that there are individuals in the world that have taken notice and are making waves to change the narrative! The creative world can be a difficult one to be in but I promise that there is room for everyone to learn, grow and prosper!! We must remember to not place so many limitations and stipulations to what we can and can't do because the possibilities are endless when you believe in the process. Hard work is never easy but you got this and so do I!! Polly Irungu has taken all of this to entirely new heights and I am thankful for her! She has brilliantly founded @BlkWomenPhoto, which is a global community and online directory of Black Women & Non-Binary photographers. A one-year anniversary was recently celebrated and I cannot congratulate her enough on the number of accomplishments that have been made in such a short time. Women are being empowered with each and every click, share, retweet and IG takeover!! I am looking forward to meeting and networking with other fellow creatives.

Thought of the Day: Keep dreaming, striving and creating!!

Finding Your Niche

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:25:12 GMT

Finding your niche....what does that mean exactly? For most, it means identifying what you are good at and running with it! In regards to photography, it can mean a number of different avenues from portrait, to landscape, to street photography and product photography. I know that I have given a few examples, and for some, it can be overwhelming. It was a bit overwhelming for me in the beginning so I wanted to be different. I wanted to try everything under the sun!! Yes, it may seem like overkill, but it helped me to identify what I truly enjoyed photographing...what made me smile from the setup to the final "click" of the camera :). If I had any advice to give, it would be this....DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY! Every aspect of photography is a learning experience so take time for yourself and create!