TRACY MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY
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What should I wear for senior pictures?

3/25/2019

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This is a question that I get asked a lot, so I thought it might be helpful to share some of my tips with all of you here.
SENIOR PICTURE, GREENSBURG PA, HEMPFIELD, FAMILY PHOTOS, FAMILY PORTRAITS
ANDREA
1. First and foremost, you want your senior photo session to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Comfort is key! Be sure to choose outfits that aren’t too restricting and that fit properly.  If you are uncomfortable during your shoot, it will show in your pictures.
2. Be yourself!  Wear something that reflects your individual style and personality.  I know this is a special occasion and you might be inclined to buy something extra special to commemorate it, but you don’t want to stray too far from what you would normally wear.
3. Consider the setting - try to choose colors that will complement the background as much as possible.  Natural, solid colors generally photograph best, but prints and patterns can work as long they aren’t too bold or “busy”.  Avoid pinstripes though because they can cause an undesirable Moire effect.
4. Avoid graphic tees - clothing with slogans or pictures can be distracting.  The focus should be on your face, not on who your favorite band is at the moment (you'll thank me for this later).
5. Glasses - if possible, consider popping out the lenses prior to your shoot to avoid unwanted glare.
6. A few things to check before your shoot begins:
  • Hair ties on your wrist
  • Items in pockets (cell phone, keys)
  • Pet hair on clothing
  • Sweating through clothing (bring a back-up shirt!)
  • Undergarments “peeking out” where they shouldn’t
SENIOR PICTURE, GREENSBURG PA
MARCUS
Remember, these are only suggestions based on my experience photographing seniors.  Ultimately they are your photos, and I want you to love them so the choice is yours! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.  I will be happy to talk with you and help you decide what's best for you.
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Hi My Name is Tracy and I'm a Photographer

3/20/2019

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PictureKodak Instamatic

The first time I can remember being interested in photography, I was very young, probably around 8 or 9.  I vividly remember my parents' Kodak Instamatic camera and being fascinated by the flash cubes.  I wasn't allowed to play with it if there was film in it - film cost money and you couldn't waste a shot - but when it was empty I would walk around the house and take photos that never existed. It didn't matter though, there was just something about pressing that shutter.

PictureKodak Slimline

​When I got a little older, I got a camera of my own for Christmas - a Kodak Slimline - and it was quite the upgrade. This one even had a built in flash!  I remember taking it with me on a family vacation to Niagara Falls that summer because I recall using tree branches to frame my subject, a tip I had read in the owner's manual that came with my camera. If I can ever find that photo, it's definitely getting framed and hung on my wall because even though I didn't realize it at the time, it was very significant.  It was one of the first photos I took with purpose.

When I got a little older I got an Ansel Adams calendar as a gift. It had a different landscape photo for each month, and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.  That's when I fell in love with black & white photography and I am still obsessed with it to this day. As I got older my interest grew, and I even took a few classes as a teenager. People told me I had an eye for photography. But growing up in a blue collar household, I was encouraged to pursue something more "practical".  I graduated high school, got an office job, met my husband and raised a family. I always worked part-time to help out with finances, but I never had a career.  I sold my 35mm Minolta Maxxum camera that he'd bought me when we were dating.  It was hard for me to part with, even though I hadn't used it in years. But we needed the money, I don't remember what for.  Probably diapers.
Fast forward a lifetime or two: the kids grew up. I changed jobs a few times. And though I was grateful to have a job, I just could not imagine staying where I was for the next phase of my life. I wanted to find something I actually enjoyed doing, but what?  How could I possibly start something new at my age? I didn't want to trade one unfulfilling job for another, and I was too dependent on the extra income to just quit. Then a friend who'd gone through something similar convinced me to take a leap of faith, because ultimately being happy is far more important than having more material things in my life. I quit my job and tried going back to school, but my heart just wasn't in it.  I felt a bit lost.  My kids didn't need me as much anymore and now I had no job and no clue what to do with the rest of my life.
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Then one day during a trip to my parents' cabin in the mountains, my sister suggested that I borrow her fancy new DSLR and go for a drive.  At first I was reluctant, I hadn't picked up a real camera in many years.  Cameras had gone digital and I had no clue how to use it. But I was bored and it was a beautiful morning, so I went on a drive, alone.  I saw some beautiful rock formations along the river just down the road, so I pulled over and took out my sister's camera.  I barely knew how to turn it on and I could only use Auto mode, and suddenly I felt like an 8 year old girl again. I didn't know what I was doing, but I was fascinated. There was just something about pressing that shutter. I started to look around for things to photograph, and I came across some tiny rock sculptures that someone had made and left behind for others to enjoy. One particular sculpture was in the shape of a rectangle with a hole in the middle, and another smaller sculpture was just behind it,  If I got down to ground level, I could make a picture of the smaller sculpture framed by the larger one.  I made that photo with purpose, just like I had a lifetime ago in Niagara Falls.  

I went home and ordered a DSLR the very next week. And the rest, as they say, is history.
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Shoot & share photo contest results

3/18/2019

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Last month I participated in the Shoot & Share online photo contest, which had over 1.1 million entries this year from thousands of photographers all over the world. Each photographer was permitted to enter up to 50 photos, but since I decided to enter just one day before the deadline, I entered only 27 images. Out of those 27, three placed in the top 30%, two in the top 20%, and one in the top 10% in their categories! In fact, my top photograph finished at #2543 out of 48,578 which actually places it in the top 5% (but the contest only awards badges in increments of 10). This was my first year participating and the competition was unreal, so I am absolutely thrilled with those results.
Although this contest is "just for fun" and doesn't award any tangible prizes, I feel as though I won far more than just bragging rights. Having my photos perform as well as they did gives me an overwhelming sense of pride in my work, and validation in knowing that there are others out there in cyberspace who like my work but don't even know me. And seeing so many incredible photos from such talented photographers also gives me motivation to continue to study as much as I can in order to grow my own skills, and never stop learning.  Now on to next year's contest!
You can view all of 27 of my entries along with my results on my Shoot & Share profile page. You can go here to view all of the winning images and see the competition I was up against!
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This image placed in the top 5% in "Enagement/Couples" category.
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Category: Creative Projects
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Category: Pets/Animals
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Category: Lifestyle/Documentary
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Category: Engagement/Couples
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Category: Pets/Animals

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(724) 396-2530
tlmphotos@comcast.net
Family & Newborn Photographer serving Pittsburgh and surrounding communities including:
Penn Hills, Fox Chapel, Wexford, Cranberry, Murrysville, Monroeville, Oakmont, Sewickley, Squirrel Hill, North Huntingdon, Irwin, Penn Trafford, Greensburg, and beyond.
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​Tracy Miller Photography LLC
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