Capturing unique memories is one of the reasons I became a photographer and started a side-hustle portrait photography business in the first place. Time is so fleeting, and I’m incredibly thankful for the tools we have to capture it–and now that we have iPhones and pocket-sized cameras, it’s easier than ever to hold a moment in time.

This is why I think photo gifts are so wonderful. They are unique and very special between the giver and the receiver and hold a sentiment that not many other gifts can!

With that, I picked my favorite products from Artifact Uprising for gifting this holiday season (or any other time, really)! I have personally given one of these gifts before–I got my parents a hardcover photo book a few years ago with photos from our trip to Alaska. They were completely amazed by the quality of the book, and couldn’t believe that I made it or that it was their photos in the book–it looks that professional.

All of Artifact Uprising’s products follow the same theme–beauty and professionalism–so I highly recommend everything they make. Enjoy these photo gift ideas!

Also! Use code AUXA10 until Monday, 12/11 at midnight to get 10% off your order.

One note: be sure to check out their shipping dates to make it in time for Christmas.

P.S. If you liked this post, you might like this one and this one. Also don’t forget to check out the Holiday 2017 Hub!

The post Photo Gifts for the Nostalgia Junkie appeared first on love always, audrey.

I take a lot of photos.

A lot. I majored in photography and always have some kind of camera with me whether it’s my iPhone, my Canon 5D, or my beloved Sony a6000. (If you want some camera advice, click here)

When I was growing up, I would constantly look through my mom’s old photo albums and memory books–I loved seeing what she did when she was my age. She had playbills from Broadway shows, old Christmas cards, plane tickets, and a whole mix of things you might never expect.

Since I’m basically my mom in 26-year-old form, it’s no surprise that I turned out the same way. I save EVERYTHING. Plane tickets, ticket stubs, museum brochures… if it’s paper, it’s going in a book.

In that same vein, I also insist on printing my photos. Why? Very simple: because I can’t pass my Facebook page down to my kids and grandkids.

Hi Chewy!

Okay, Chewy, get off my prints.

I love finding my old memory books and flipping through them–as mentioned countless times before here, I’m a complete sucker for nostalgia. Isn’t it crazy (and awesome) how a photo can so clearly bring you back to a memory? I love that. This is why I’m on such a kick to bring back print.

Because I value high-quality, archival prints, I order mine from Artifact Uprising. As mentioned before, I’m a huge fan of theirs. Their attention to quality and detail is very impressive and I adore everything about them.

Memories are just way too important to keep on social media or hidden in my hard drive. Tangible, IRL prints are really where it’s at. Aaaaaand if I’ve convinced you, Artifact Uprising is offering 10 FREE prints with code AUDREY10 (just pay shipping) now through October 9th, 2017. Enjoy!

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What are you doing to bring back print? Comment below!

Photos by Taryn

The post Why I Insist on Printing My Photos + Free Prints appeared first on love always, audrey.

Earlier this year, I made the somewhat large purchase of the Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. After going back and forth (with myself) about it for so long, I finally bit the bullet and bought it on Amazon. I wanted to wait at least a few months of using it before giving an opinion, and that time has finally come! Spoiler alert: I love it.

Why a mirrorless camera? Well, a few reasons:

• The size and weight:
  • My Canon 5D MKII is amazing, but it weighs, like, a million pounds. When I go on vacation, I don’t even bring it out of my suitcase when I’m touring because it hurts my back to carry it around all day! Talk about a waste of precious luggage space. My Sony a6000 weighs just over a pound WITH a lens on. Plus, it’s small and can fit in my purse easily!

• The moveable LCD screen:
  • The back screen on the Sony a6000 is moveable, which makes it easier to get really high up or down low shots. I can put my camera on the ground and take photos without having to get on my stomach to see and compose my shot! It’s also great for when I don’t have a ladder handy — I can just stick my arm straight up in the air to get a birds-eye shot!

• The image quality:
  • I get such good quality photos from my Sony a6000! I took it to San Francisco, and the photos turned out beautifully and very large — I was able to blow all my photos up and print them without losing image quality!

• The shooting speed:
  • The lack of a mirror makes it easier to take image after image after image with a mirrorless camera. These cameras are also quicker and almost completely silent, a luxury which the DSLR does not have.

There are, of course, a few (very small) drawbacks to this camera.

• Battery life:
  • The Sony a6000 needs to be plugged into an outlet just like your phone. You can definitely get spare batteries and a wall charger, but if you’re looking to travel light, you have to remember to plug it in each night before you’re planning to use it. I’ve been able to set reminders for myself before trips, but it’s easy to forget so you have to stay on top of yourself!
• Lens choices:
  • Mirrorless cameras have really expensive lens options, especially if you already have a DSLR and don’t want to buy even MORE lenses. However, I found a workaround! If you buy this adaptor for either your Canon or Nikon lenses, you can use your existing DSLR lenses on your mirrorless. Boom!

Neither of these, to me, are reasons to reconsider a mirrorless camera. They both have easy solutions, and the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.

Overall, I highly recommend the Sony a6000 camera. It has wonderful functionality, and for travel, outweighs a DSLR (at least in my opinion).

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What do you think? Have you tried this camera, or are you interested in trying it out? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Sound off in the comments below!

The post The Sony a6000 Camera: My Honest Review appeared first on love always, audrey.

Well, I didn’t develop it myself. I sent it to Indie Film Lab (whom I adore), and they sent me back these scans. And I’m really happy with them!

I made a promise at the beginning of 2016 that I would start shooting more for myself–that included film! I love shooting with film for a few reasons:

The post Hey! I developed a roll of film! appeared first on love always, audrey.

Stuck on which camera/lenses/computer programs to invest in first? Keep on reading for the best beginner camera! Note: I am going to recommend Canon products, but I only lean that way because Canons are what I first learned with. I truly believe that both Nikon and Canon are wonderful camera companies, so if you want to shoot Nikon, by all means do so!

Cameras
I highly recommend the Canon Rebel series for beginners. They’re the perfect dive into DSLR cameras, and once you learn the basics you can upgrade to a better body (more on this later). I started on a Canon Rebel XS my freshman year of college, and eventually gave it to my parents when I had upgraded. Since this camera is discontinued, here’s a similar option.

Buying a kit is great because it comes with an 18-55mm lens, which is pretty versatile! But definitely don’t stop there.

Lenses
The first thing you should know about lenses is that not all lenses are created equal. Some are plastic, some are glass. Some have zoom capabilities, some don’t (these are called prime lenses, and are what I shoot with 99% of the time). And lenses range from $150 to upwards of $10,000. Aaack, scary! Now here are the ones you should buy first and foremost:

You know how some photos just look dreamy? Where the background is blurry and soft, but the front is in focus? That’s where a “fast” lens comes in. And this isn’t referring to the shutter speed – it’s referring to how wide the aperture can possibly open. For the most part, the smaller the f-stop number, the more expensive the lens… but the prettier and “dreamier” the photo! SO, for you beginners, I highly recommend the 50mm f/1.8. It’ll run you about $150 and is a plastic lens, but it’ll get you started on prime lenses.

If you buy yourself a good 50mm lens, coupled with your kit 18-55mm lens, you’ll be good to go for a while.

Computer Programs
I work primarily in Adobe Lightroom, and use Photoshop for the heavy editing. You can buy an Adobe Creative Cloud membership for just $9.99/month! This is instead of buying the whole creative suite from them, which gets really pricey. The Creative Cloud membership makes it so your programs update every time Adobe has an update, so you never have to buy new programs!

Online Education
I make it a point to constantly keep myself learning. Not just about photography – I take classes online that range from graphic design to SEO to cooking. I do this through Skillshare!

You can get yourself an unlimited membership for $9.99/month, and it’s worth every penny. There is so much education online to be found! I also recommend trying out Lynda – this one is a little more expensive but also very good! You can also do some YouTube searches… I’m telling you, there is nothing you can’t learn!

What I Shoot With
Since I’ve been shooting for quite a few years now, I’ve upgraded my equipment a few times. I now shoot with a Canon 5dMkII, and have a Sony A6000 as my backup (read my review of the Sony a6000 here!). The Canon 5D is an older model, but it cost me a pretty penny each so I’m sticking with it for now. The Sony A6000 is newer, lighter, and is the only camera I bring on vacations.

My favorite lens is my 50mm f/1.4. For the most part, it doesn’t leave my camera! I also occasionally shoot with a 24mm f/1.4 – I pretty much only use it if I’m shooting landscape, or groups at a wedding (see below). I almost never use the lens my MkII came with, which is a 28-135.

I should also mention that I absolutely adore shooting with film. Currently I use a Canon Rebel 2000 for my film needs (which I bought on Craigslist for $30!!!). I don’t take it out much, and only get film developed about once a year. What I love most about it is that I have to trust myself – I can’t just check the back of the screen to see if I got the shot right. And since I don’t get film developed very often, it tends to bring back awesome memories when I do eventually get prints. Look how grainy and cool this film photo looks!

Have any questions? Comment below! 

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