We had the opportunity to go visit this fabulous AirBNB last month in Hatch, UT.  I have since started managing their Instagram page.  Copywriting, content, social media management and photography and RAW to fabulous editing/retouching available.  Send me a message!

Deer me!  The Hatch Riverfront Wildlife Retreat
 
Do you feel the need to get away from the traffic, blaring car horns, rude gestures?  Perhaps you can’t take one more day of that mundane task at work just to come home to a mound of laundry and a sink full of dirty dishes.  Some days I’m appalled at how customers are treated in the checkout line (and vice versa) be kind people!  You know what I’m talking about!
 
The Hatch Riverfront Wildlife Retreat is just what is needed. Escape from the noise of the metropolis and revive the senses. Close your eyes and listen to the sound of the Sevier River as it gurgles through the backyard.  Put down the phone and let your eyes scan the yard for small and large ‘locals’ who meander looking for food or a place to rest.  Our yard is a revolving door for a variety of small birds (including our resident bald eagle), as well as large wild turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, deer and across the river you might spot an occasional cow foraging just to name a few of our furry friends.  There are smells too.  The pleasant scent after an evening rain or simply the aroma of your morning coffee reminding you that something fresh is waiting to awaken the senses.  Unwind, unravel, breathe!
 
If you are not one to sit in one spot for long and feel you might get bored hanging out in our peaceful backyard oasis, I assure you there are other outdoor attractions just around the river bend.  We are located just fifteen minutes from the Red Canyon trail system and thirty minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park, both just off highway 12.  You can’t miss Red Canyon with the vivid red sandstone spires contrasting against the green pine trees.  Red Canyon has several hiking and biking trails to choose from. Bryce Canyon National Park with its pink sand hoodoo spires is a must see and has hiking trails for days.  You may choose to have camera in hand or just soak it all in unencumbered. Ah the great outdoors, beyond the asphalt!
 
You’ll pass small towns including our own with quaint little shops and down-home cooking as well as the occasional espresso bar – because that is necessary city or country!
 
Simply login and book through Airbnb.com.  Once you have left the big city behind and you get to our little corner of Southern Utah there is a lockbox for an uncomplicated check in.  Restaurants are within five minutes of this little oasis as well as we have a kitchenette with all the practical necessities for simple meals.  Why yes you may bring one to two furry friends under 20lbs.  You will want to schedule treat or nap time in the room around dusk so you can sit out and watch the deer.  They are a bit shy when it comes to our domesticated animals.
 
We may be new, you’ll see from the few simple reviews and multiple photos, that we are well loved by prior guests!  Come and de-stress today!
 
airbnb.com/h/hatchriverfrontwildliferetreat

The crashing of the waves, the sunsets, the sand between your toes. Sigh!  The quandary of how much gear should I take, as I know I’ll want a few photos, but I don’t want to constantly be worry and or carrying a lot of gear.  We spent a few days in Oceanside, CA last week with some adventures at the Huntington Beach Dog Park (so fun to see the fur kids run and play in the sand), Laguna (pirates castle - who has been?), La Jolla (seals and sea lions -squeal), Del Mar (yet again another dog beach, that's just who we are).  It’s all so lovely.  Weather was fine, food was yum (and coffee, lots of coffee), views were spectacular.  Just a few photos from our adventure.

yYou may have heard photographers talking about shooting in manual mode.  Words such as ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, raw… Those are the different parts and pieces we live by to create art.  I’ll give you a brief “my simplistic version” of ISO, aperture and shutter speed known as the Exposure Triangle today.  These three must be in perfect alignment for the environment you are shooting in, in order to get an amazing photo. 

ISO – how much available light I need to pull into the cameras image sensor.  If I have too much light, full sun with a high number on the ISO I can literally get a white image.  Same on the flip side in a dark room, with a low number, the image will be black.   I need to tell the camera how much ‘light’ to allow in for a balanced image.  Some of you may remember film, you know the transparent plastic roll that we put in our cameras, take 12 -24 photos, and then drop off to a facility to have printed – fingers crossed.  Back in the day typical film was 100 ISO, taking its best photos in daylight; 800 ISO was used for lower light and was grainy.  Today’s cameras can take a fairly nice photo at 6400 ISO; eyes will not be as crystal clear, but still stunning images. 

Aperture - measured in ‘f-stops’ is how much lens we open.  The lower the number the more shallow the depth of field (only a small portion of the photo is crystal clear).  When you see those amazing photos where the bride is showing off her ring or bouquet and those items are crystal clear where anything in front or behind is blurry, that is probably a lower say f/2.8 aperture.  It is typically done with settings in the camera at the time the photo is taken.  A full view of a sweeping vista would be a f/16 or larger aperture so everything is sharp and in focus, fair away mountains and up close shrubbery. 

Shutter Speed – Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second.  Couple different things I need to think about is, is my subject moving and/or am I moving.  Without a tripod, I will shake just a hair holding and pressing the shutter button.  I need to compensate for being human.  If my subject is standing for a portrait, I can probably be safely at 1/60, if I’m filming moving musicians, 1/200 is safer although with low light sometimes I’m trying to snag a paused moment at 1/100.  Capturing little tykes running around at least 1/250 and fast moving vehicles especially race cars 1/1200. – This is where we might get artistic.  Do we want a full stop on the musician strumming, the stream flowing or the car moving or do we want to show a bit of a blur?  The musicians head is in focus, his hand is blurring with the movement.  The mountains are in focus, the stream has a blurred flow, etc.  We would adjust, lowering the speed to gain some artistic flare in our photo.

There is no formula, every scenario is different.  Daylight I might take photos of a family at 100 ISO with an f/8 aperture and have a 1/250 shutter speed available, that same scenario with good inside light would need possibly 1200 ISO, line them up with a f/5.6 aperture and I’d possibly have 1/100 shutter speed.  In a home with no special lighting you won’t be able to have a large aperture or fast shutter speed.  Your ‘model’s will need to be slower or standing still for the best photos.  That is why lighting it so essential at wedding receptions with dancing and often brought in for the event. 

I have opportunity to photograph concerts since my husband is an amazing guitar player.  Some venues not only have constantly changing lights, but lights in a variety of colors.  You can snap two consecutive photos, one in the white light and the other with a red or purple spot and the first photo will be lighter and clearer in the bright light.  Those fun funky colors play havoc with the camera.  And often you’ll notice photographer might change concerts, or party scenes with crazy lighting into black and white to pull out this ‘distortion’. 

So I am constantly changing these settings.  The more light we have the sharper the image will be.  However excessive light and shadows are a challenge as well.  Constant variables which can be fun and frustrating in the same moment! 
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Little snippet so you might start to get an idea of what we are doing when we hesitate looking through the lens until we snap the shutter.  We’re working our triangle to create a lovely image!

We see models every day in fashion magazines and on TV that seem to be naturally ‘sexy’.  As every day women we can easily be intimidated by this seeming perfection.  A boudoir shoot seems out of OUR realm – ‘I’m a mom’, ‘I work a desk job’, ‘my body does not look that way…. or bend that way’.  Ladies, this is for you!    We’re not here to embarrass you; we understand you are being vulnerable.  My team is looking at you as art.  We accentuate you curves, pull out your beautiful eyes, if you have tattoos to flaunt, we show them off…  Specific poses show off your hour glass figure and slim down some of our curvier portions if necessary.  We really want you to have a good time and to surprise the man in your life.  Would he ever think you would do this? Did you ever think you would do this?  I didn’t.  But I LOVE the photos I stepped out for and so does my husband.  I LOVE giving the opportunity for you to have photos for the one you love! ​

My grandmother's photo is one of the first things you will see when walking into my studio.   Lots of memories of this beautiful lady.  In her early years she used to hand tint photographs at Wallace Studios in San Angelo Texas.  Many stunning photos of her in her cute little dresses and heels.  I think she would be pleased with the studio.  Possibly where I get my love of shoes and lipstick!

All my husband has heard for the past six weeks is: Sue Bryce, Sue Bryce, Sue Bryce.  He has dubbed the studio WWSBD? (What Would Sue Bryce Do?)  I’ve just completed one of the CreativeLive classes: 28 days with said photographer and have started some portfolio sessions.  I LOVE this!  Continuing to refine who I am as a big girl photographer, this is a keeper!  Hair, make up, clothes, backdrops, smiles, laughter and beautiful photos!  Seriously what is not to love!!  ​Book your session today!

I love our growing ‘memory’ wall(s).  The different variety and textures brought out in the subjects (ocean, city, rocks, people) as well as the frames and printing styles.  We ran across this metal artwork noting ‘You Miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’.  Not only is it appropriate in photography or shooting your Glock, but life in general.  Near the same time our Pastor posted a photo on social media noting ‘Fear is a Liar’.  How many missed opportunities because we’ve dwelled on the negative, the ‘what if’s’ the ‘I’m not good enough’?  It’s so easy to make a list of all the things that may go wrong.  How about what might go right?  I’ve found a photographer who shoots in a ‘family documentary’ style.  Very organic, no posing:  a day in the life the ‘Your Last Name’ family.  Temper tantrums, tickles and giggles, dinner, homework, baths, pillow fights, story time.  I can worry that there isn’t enough light to shoot, not enough room, what if I miss the moment, there are no redo’s, OR I can book a few family sessions and see where this new direction leads!  What have you always wanted to do!?  How can you test the waters?  Life is flying.  It’s going to be Christmas 2016 soon.  Don’t be directed by fear and insecurities, we are created with Power, Love and a Sound Mind  (2 Timothy 1:7).  Take a shot!