Perfect Is Boring (Why I Don't Like Photoshop)

Hey Everyone!

We're still short on the giveaway likes. If my Facebook page gets to 100 "likes", I hereby vow to do a giveaway of EPIC proportions. Please click this link to and go like my page!

A confession:

I don't like perfect photos. I think they're boring.

Another confession:

I don't like Photoshop. Well..... I don't like Photoshop when it's overused. See Below:



Now, Madonna's cool. But she's also 55. Why are we trying to make her look 20? Or, for that matter, dressing her up like some sort of under dressed boxer?

Also, why is the photographer relying so much on Photoshop to fix the lighting? Don't get me wrong, I use Photoshop to tweak lighting and color as much as the next person. And I LOVE me a good action.

But I'm fascinated with shooting photos that don't need any Photoshop. This photo that I showed on my last post is one of those rare beauties (helped along by my amazingly gorgeous sister!):

 

 And yet, when I showed this to her she didn't believe that I hadn't Photoshopped her at all.

That's why I don't like Photoshop. The unreal body expectations that plague both men and women today are only enforced by people who use Photoshop to make 55 year-old's look 20.  

Real beauty doesn't come digitally. It comes imperfectly. 

Sometimes during bad weather,

 

 Or during water fights,

When you vacuum your sister into a garbage bag!

Or when your family gathers on a busy Saturday just for you.

 Sometimes beauty sneaks up on you. (With a little help from your niece, or some friends)

 

It can make you laugh,

(Just a typical day in the Pettit household.)

 

Or break your heart.

Photo credits for above via www.hopesmilingbrightly.com

Beauty isn't perfect. Real beauty is messy, chaotic, annoying, loving, and most of all it is unique. Just like everyone of us.

The purpose of this post, this blog, heck, my entire business isn't to shoot perfect photographs. I think that is a futile waste of time, and I'm not going to promise perfect photos. 

However, I will shoot photos that are beautifully unique, and 100% tell the world who YOU are. And we'll have a whole bunch of fun doing it!

And I may even use just a bit of Photoshop. (Maybe)

 To book a shoot and get some of your own perfectly imperfect photos, please email me at lindsineilson@gmail.com.

The Unicorn of the Theatre World. AKA The Good Headshot.

Hello Everyone!

We're almost halfway to the most epic giveaway you guys have ever seen! Please click this link to "like" my Facebook page!

Many of you have heard of this mystical thing called a "head shot", for those of you unlucky enough to never have heard of this, I'll show you what it is:

That's right people, it's a photograph of someone's head!

Although, now that I think about it, if you're a ninja, spy, super secret sharp shooter or some other strange (AWESOME) job it could also mean shooting someone in the head.... But for this conversation, we'll use the first definition.

SIDE NOTE: Look at how pretty my friend is! You may recognize her from this post, or from any number of cool places (like this, this, or this!)

Anyway, those of us who are acquainted with the world that needs head shots on a regular basis knows three things:

1. They can be VERY expensive to get done. Paying for a photographer, buying copyrights, purchasing the prints... It adds up very quickly.

2. You don't always like the way they turn out. And because they are so expensive you can't always afford to retake them.

3. Having a good head shot can make or break an audition. Seriously, I've been in on 30 or so auditions and 9 times out of 10 if you show up with a head shot that looks professional the director will remember you and your audition better, and the chances of you being cast will go WAY up. You have a way better chance of getting a gig with a picture than you do if the director scribbles "blonde hair, blue shirt" on your audition form in between auditions.

Now, you may be asking yourself "WHY IS LINDSI WRITING SUCH A BORING POST??!!"

Well my charming and beautiful friends. Hang in there, because here it comes!

For every poor college student out there yearning to be free of the tight bonds of financial strain, and who also needs a headshot (and I KNOW there are a lot of you, because 95% of the peeps I know are theatre people). Or even if you just decide you want a nice picture of yourself, (which can come in handy!) I offer the following deal:

- $50 headshots that INCLUDES:
     - A photo session with 3 changes of clothes in the location of your choice (either in Provo once I'm up there, or down in St. George when I'm down there).
    - Full editing on up to 5 shots of your choice.
    - CD of 5 edited shots, with no limit on where you print your pictures, or how many pictures you can print off of the CD!
    - A GUARANTEE that you will like your shots, or I will RETAKE THEM at no extra cost.

I've been a poor college student without the means to get the tools I needed to make the most of my education. Heck, I'm not even a college student and I STILL feel that way.

That's why the offer is open to anyone.

To book a shoot, please email me at lindsineilson@gmail.com. Or, if you have my phone number, give me a call or shoot me a text. JUST CONTACT ME ALREADY.

Now, below are some more photos of beautiful people. Oh, and they also happen to be some good examples of the head shots I've taken lately. What a coincidence!

Also, here are some MORE cute pictures of Squishy! (I just can't help myself.....)

Why yes, those are gloves on her feet. In addition to her infinite cuteness, she's also a budding fashion designer/inventor.)

100 "likes"

I hereby solemnly swear (that I am up to no good..... Oh come on, you know that Harry Potter reference was running through your head too!)

Anyway, let's try this again:

I hereby solemnly swear that when I reach 100 "likes" on my Facebook page that I will do my very first blog giveaway.

And it will be EPIC.

Now I don't want to get your hopes up too high, but I think the following photo does this giveaway justice:


That's right people. This giveaway is "lightning strike in the middle of a volcanic explosion" epic!

Please visit www.facebook.com/lindsimphotography to "like" my page.

If for no other reason than to help a girl out.

Though if I were you I'd do it because of the epic free stuff. Just sayin'.

My Favorite Subject (An Ode To Squishy)

Hello Everyone!

You've met her before, but I'm going to introduce you all to her again:

Meet Squishy!

She's my niece/cutest tiny human in the world.


Because of her cuteness/close proximity to me and my camera she is often the subject of impromptu photo shoots.

Sometimes she's cool with this:

Other times, not so much:

And then there are these photos that prove two things:

1. That her cheeseball-ness (word is trademarked Lindsi Neilson, patent pending...) goes above and beyond that of my own. A hard thing to achieve, mind you:

2. For some reason, she REALLY likes to put heavy, unwieldy things on her head. Then run around and bump her head into things.

But no matter how many brain cells she knocks out of herself, she will always be MY squishy. (and cue the "awwwww.....'s")