Babies make me so happy.. I’m not yet a mom but I bet the expecting of your first child is one of the most exciting times in life! I’m so excited about that season of life for us when that rolls around and we finally just “settle”! Until then I get to catch a short glimpse when I get to shoot expectant families like Abby + Sam.. there is so much joy in dreaming and guessing and planning and I’m so glad these two let me capture just an ounce of that joy. Congrats you guys!!

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I’ve been soooooo looking forward to this wedding! Since I met these two last year and got to know them and their super sweet story that is near and dear to my heart [met at a YoungLife camp! ee!].. I just. couldn’t. wait. to see them wed! It was well worth the wait and better than I could have ever hoped for. These two are peas and carrots and I’m so happy to know them.

Location // Brownworth Mansion in Clinton, TN … BEAUTIFUL!!

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Over the last few weeks I’ve asked for photographer questions about anything and everything… and BOY did they pour in! The first few were in response to my last Q+A post regarding editing + LR presets in particular. So.. here is what you’ve been asking for!

My first year of photography I only edited with LR + bought a cute little batch of Presets from Presetopia to help give a little edge to my pictures. I loved them at the time but honestly haven’t touched them in years since I’ve found the lovely goodness of Photoshop Actions [namely JeshDeRox Colorshift + Totally Rad]… however just this year I have slipped back into the world of Presets with my latest editing purchase from VSCO.

I have been completely enamored with the idea and look of film as of late. There is something so rich about it. My favorite blogs to stalk these days are those of photographers who have a real knack for editing with a film look [or just straight up shooting with film]. Here are a few that I’m just captivated by:

Sean Flanigan // Seattle

Dan O Day // Australia

There are few more I’ve been frequenting.. but these are my favorites at the moment. I’ve had several photographers ask for more info about this look and VSCO Presets. What these LR Presets claim to do is work hand in hand with your Canon or Nikon RAW settings/components to exactly replicate the look of folk’s favorite films Fuji + Kodak Porta. This set also gives you a tool kit to tweek your images even more like one might do in the darkroom. I’m so hooked on these! I’ve yet to really develop the desire to shoot in film professionally and most likely will not because I love the instant gratification of digital… but I’m SOOO thrilled that I can have the best of both worlds.

I’ve attached an image below so you can see for yourself.. Here are the settings for each image using LR VSCO Film Presets.. ENJOY!

1. RAW image straight from camera

2. Fuji 160C

3. Fuji 160C + magenta shadows toner + darker skies + more grain + faded++

4. Illford HPS

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Let the office construction begin. I don’t know what to call the little house/apartment/garage behind our house that we are transforming into an office space/studio so I’m just going to call it the cabin from this point on. It’s a little cabin-esk I guess [photos to come].. it’s brown, it’s made of wood and smells like cedar. It works.

So right now, at this moment [well, about an hour ago] we started the demolition of some things and so the adventure has begun. To kick of this little slice of excitement we bought the first piece of decor this weekend in Nashville. There was a cute little interior store going out of business + were selling these sAweeeet twig chandeliers that just screamed Lori.

In typical HENSLEY fashion this adventure, as is all of them, was not as simple as drive, pick up item and drive back. Nothing ever works out that simply.. even when we plan for it to. Especially when we plan for it to. Luckily, we’re pretty easy-going [a trait I have taught D. Hensley over the years] and try to make a good story out of everything. So when we try to fit the HUGE chandelier into our Jeep Commander [who would have guessed it wouldn't be big enough?? Anyone with a brain] it started to brake and snap in all the wrong places. The lady that owned the store was trying to coach the whole event + got on my bad side really quickly [who knows how that happened.. but it did, hardcore].. so, of course, I throw my hands in the air and wonder [out load] where the nearest UHaul was. Yes, we were getting this monster home.. Jeep or no Jeep. Fast forward a few hours, add a pseudo shady deal with the UHaul guy, the best spaghetti + meatball I’ve ever had in my life [Amerigo's near Vandy], a quick-disappointing trip to Antique Archeology which ended up being a T-Shirt shop/Tourist Attraction instead of a great antique shop, a pair of boots from Macy’s [on sale, YAY!] and 6 hours + we are the proud owners of a white bundle of twigs that will soon hang from the ceiling of my new office! Yay!

a few frames I shot with my Nikon 1 point + shoot

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Meet Ericah + Mark! Ericah + I met a few years ago when she was my boss when I worked at a mortgage company in downtown Knox. I only lasted about 6 months in the position [I'm not cut out for the corporate world] BUT THANKFULLY our friendship lasted so much longer. When Ericah emailed me last year about shooting her wedding I felt honored. I think a lot of this girl + now of her new hubby as well. What a sweet sweet couple. I’m so happy for Ericah + her new life with Mark and his ADORABLE kids. I’m so glad I got to document their day at White Stone Inn in Loudon, TN. Great day, Great family. Thanks Ericah and I wish you every happiness there is the wish!!

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so here’s the deal… this year I’m wanting to give lots and lots of info about LHP behind the scenes.. I get questions ALL THE TIME about how I got started, how I chose the equipment I chose, lighting, vendors and editing. Instead of offering those folks mentor sessions [which I will still do a limited number this year].. I hope to share any answers to any questions.. here

I thought it would be fun to go ahead and start this learning fun with an editing post. So here we go!

I first import all RAW files into Adobe Lightroom to cull the images [choose the images I want to keep], correct the color  [White Balance, Exposure + blacks], take out any distracting elements of the image or and erase blemishes with the Dust Removal tool and then export the edited images to a new folder on my external hard drive [no images are ever on my main computer].

Up until a few weeks ago.. this is all I did in LR before working in Ps… until I found the amazing amazing amazing film tools from VSCO [Visual Supply Company].. I apply my favorite film preset to each image [in the case of the image below it's KODAK PORTA 130]

Once in Ps I work with several sets of Actions I’ve bought + have been given. My favorites are Jesh De Rox COLOR SHIFT actions + TRA [Totally Rad Actions] … when you work with these sets and combine their goodness to your taste they are called recipes and these are the things I will be sharing this year. Send your questions to lori@lorihensley.com or posting them on my Facebook Page // facebook.com/knoxvillephotos

RECIPE FOR THIS IMAGE:

JESH DE ROX // BEFORE DUSK.. 50%

TRA// Warm It Up Kris… 100%

TRA // A Better Web Sharpen .. 100%

VWALLLA!

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Hello Ladies!! It’s time to start planning that one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gift for that man of yours… or if you’re getting married this year what better way to surprise him with a gift that will KNOCK HIS SOCKS OFF!! Email me for details!! lori@lorihensley.com

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Happy New Year!! I’m beyond excited to see the start of a new year. I always am. I love fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings…. especially this year because for the first time ever I’ve sat down and written up a goals list. According to the list.. this year is going to be big, huge, monstrous [and scarey!] ! David is a super duper goal oriented person and once he sets a goal.. he pushes through whatever is before him + not only checks the goal off the list.. but conquers it, blows it out of the water. This right brain, laid-back-to-the-max, whatever-happens-happens girl sees this as the biggest challenge life has to present. Even sitting down and writing one out is huge for me. Yikes!

This past year, I took a little bit of a break with my biz. For the first two years I worked + worked + worked + pushed myself further as a photographer and business woman to grow grow grow this business. Then over the last 12 months I feel like I just sat back, did what I loved [shot weddings] and reaped the benefits of all the hard work I did for the past 2 years.. and it was nice.. but I turned away more work than I actually took + my business just stayed the same as where I had left it. Now, I’m ready to take it further. I’m really excited about working hard and pushing myself further than I’ve ever pushed. I’ve already booked more weddings for this year than I shot all of last year. And that scares the CRAP out of me.. but I’m also very very excited to see where that takes me and my work.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2012:

1. We are turning our garage/small house on our property into a studio! Yay! We are completely transforming the building into a creative space to meet clients + shoot VERY LIMITED studio sessions [different than what you're used to.. so if you like families/children standing in a clump smiling at the camera, in matching outfits.. this is not for you]

2. I’m bringing on an intern from the UT photography program. THIS IS A GODSEND!! Yay!

3. I will be taking on Family/Senior Portraits/Boudoir sessions more frequently.. but only in seasons.. there will be several Family weekends or weeks dedicated to a certain type of session.. this will be the only times in the year I take sessions other than wedding so keep your eyes open for date announcements on this blog + the FB page [fb.com/knoxvillephotos]

4. I’m going to be blogging much much more than just my work… posts about photography, starting a photography business + photography/editing tips.. and things as I learn them [a creative is always learning + growing and I want to start sharing more of that process] .. if you have any questions regarding these things email me and I’ll work them into blog posts.

5. This year will be starting year 1 of a 5 year plan I have to reach my next dream. It’s a biggy and requires me to learn everything about this venture because I currently know NOTHING. I will be able to use what I do now in this new venture.. but it will takes lots of time, research and moola… for now.. this is a big fat secret and I will give more info as the year progresses. I am SO VERY excited about it!! I realize how frustrating this is [like vague Facebook updates about big life changes that folks must ask questions to inquire what is ACTUALLY going on <-- David and I laugh about this every time it happens].. I am totally that girl right now

Bring it on 2012!! If I can encourage you to do 1 THING this week.. it’s to sit and write out a list of goals for this year. It’s not too late. If you want to get really good at planning.. write out 4 steps to achieve each goal. I have a list of about 5-6 biz goals and 3-4 personal goals.. like being open to new friendships and making time for old ones + documenting my own life more with my camera. We have lots of adventures planned this year to make sure it’s a memorable one and I don’t want to forget a minute of it.

Here’s just one more look back at 2011 with some of my favorite images of the year… onto the next!

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