Pics by Mic

Going Pro

2011-01-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

I have recently made the switch from Amateur to Professional Photographer, which by definition only means that now I am getting paid to take Photographs. This was a very difficult decision for me as I love Photography and am a people person. However, I know that some Professional Photographers, after making the switch, start to lose their passion for photography. This was a concern for me, a fear if you will. I never want to lose my passion for this field as it is very soothing for me. If I am having a bad day, week, month, or even year or just in a bad mood, I can always pick up my camera and take a walk or drive and just start shooting & by the time I am done, I am relaxed, focused and have a new perspective on life in general. This is how I know I will never lose my passion for Photography.

I have taken a lot of Portraits lately & have recently scheduled my first Wedding Shoot. This is very exciting for me & nerve racking at the same time. Here are some of the Portraits I have recently taken. I hope you enjoy them and see what I saw while taking them & editing them.

The Wigginton Kids

I had such a blast with the Wigginton Family. Their kids are adorable to say the least and were such fun to take pics of. Thank you guys for allowing me to take your Portraits, I enjoyed it immensely!

Vahida Ganchi

One of my most Beautiful Subjects of all time, the lovely Vahida Ganchi. Yes, Gentlemen, she is single, but be sure to come at this beauty with respect and honesty or you will be quickly dismissed. She is one of my very good friends and if you know me at all, I am very protective of my friends. Thank you, Vahida, for allowing me the opportunity to Photograph you. It was truly an honor for me.

Miguel Jones

This Photo Shoot was such a privilege for me for several reasons. Miguel has been a Professional Photographer for 17 years, so getting an opportunity to work with him & get a few lessons on lighting, equipment, lenses etc. was very useful and informative. Not to mention, this handsome & very successful Photographer had never been photographed professionally by anyone. So him asking me to take his portraits was quite the compliment. Thank you, Miguel, for your knowledge, your friendship and most importantly, your leadership in this crazy industry of Photography. I look forward to working with you again soon.

The Ganchi Women & Their Kids

This shoot was a lot of fun, but also a learning experience for me. Only because of the quantity of people that were involved. They were all very kind and fun to work with as you can see. The ladies certainly knew how to have fun and getting their "good side" was never an issue, because they are all stunning. Thank you so very much ladies for allowing me to take your pics, pics of your kids and enduring the cold, windy weather we had that day.

The Julian Center

This particular shoot was very near and dear to my heart. As a Survivor of Domestic Violence, I was honored to be asked to take their Portraits after receiving free hair cuts from True Barbers Hair Salon. Having the opportunity to put smiles on their faces where there once were tears was such an amazing experience. I will never forget any of their faces or their personalities. The kids were so fun to work with and the women were so strong and beautiful each in their own way. A very special thanks to Carrie Haines from True Barbers for asking me to take their Portraits.

Princess Jada

Meet Miss Jada. She is the daughter of my neighbor and yes, y'all, she is stunning. Back off guys, she is too young for you and has a very tall & protective Father. At the tender age of 13, she is beyond gorgeous and very intelligent. Standing at 5'11", she has the desire to get in to the Fashion industry. She received a sewing machine for Christmas and has already begun making one of kind pieces. Thank you, Jada, for allowing me to take your pics. You will always be my lil Princess no matter how old or how tall you get. All my love always, Mic.

After all of these Portrait shoots, I am not slowing down. I am doing my first Wedding shoot coming up this Friday as I previously mentioned and am working on scheduling my first Band Photo Shoot in the near future. I am officially available for hire. Please feel free to contact me via email at picsbymic7@gmail.com to schedule a shoot. I am only in the Indianapolis, IN area, but am not opposed to traveling if the price is right.

-Mic

Games People Play

2010-11-15T09:31:00.000-05:00

I have recently taken a lot of pics of Sports/Games. What I realized was that each game required very different types of skills or talents. Some of these skills or talents can be applied to everyday life. For instance, someone who is observant & analytical can be very good at Golf or Poker or someone who is precise & plans ahead can be very good in Pool. These games also require a great deal of focus, determination & strong sense of competitiveness. No one likes to lose.

In Golf, you must be aware of your opponents weak points. Although, sometimes, your worst opponent could be yourself.

Over analyzing your shot could cause you to play poorly. Trusting your instincts & being confident in your abilities will assist you in doing your best and overcoming obstacles put in your way. What happens when it doesn't go the way you planned though?

Finding yourself in a difficult situation can be very humbling. You must play it where it lies. Deal with what you are given & make the best of it. Just because you find yourself (or your ball) at the bottom of hill, doesn't mean that it can not be overcome. Just simply means that you have a hill to climb. Get to climbing it!

Oh, and remember... Almost doesn't count.

Sand traps: You never know where they might be strategically placed and need to be avoided whenever possible. But, unfortunately we all manage to land in one a time or two in our lives. What can you do? Get yourself out! Is there really any other options? Nope.

Golf is a very difficult game to master. You must be determined to learn the mechanics of the game & know your opponent even if that means taking a good, long look in to a mirror. With the proper form, mechanics, determination and focus, you can become one of the best.

Key point in Golf... Keep your eyes on the ball, stay focused & confident and always remember your basic mechanics of the game. Patience is a virtue.

Now how about Poker? Know any Poker players? They are very good at reading others. Their body language, what they say, how they say it and knowing when they are bluffing. I found this game to be very intriguing. You are basically trying to figure out if someone is lying so you know whether or not to raise, call, check or fold.

Do you know what the other person is holding? Not typically. Are they bluffing? More than likely. This is where you need to have some prior knowledge of your opponent. A friend, a relative, your neighbor... these are usually the people you play against and have some knowledge of the types of personalities they have. What happens when you are playing against a stranger? Then you must have knowledge of basic tattle tail signs when someone is lying.

Maybe they fidget a lot, they could talk more than normal because they are nervous. They may try to distract you with casual conversation. How about their breathing? Is it more shallow, more frequent? These are all signs that your opponent doesn't have the "hand" they claim to have.

Key points in Poker: Play with people you have common knowledge of. Never assume you have the best hand. Be observant of people's body language. And never ever under any circumstances do you count your money while you're sitting at the table.

There is always time enough for counting when the dealing is done....

Know any Pool Sharks? I do. They are the best of the best when it comes to playing others for a fool. They will make you believe that they stink at playing, maybe even allow you to win a few. Then before you even know what hit you.....BAM! They are sinking in the eight ball in the corner pocket with an unbelievable combo shot.

This game requires great skill in geometry... yes I said geometry. Angles, resistance and precision are a must. Defense is always always the easiest way to win. Tiring out your opponent & getting them frustrated because they are being left with no shot, is so easy to do if you have the patience & knowledge of the game.

Pool is really a simple game, but requires skill. It is not hard to learn, but you must have patience & the desire to learn to be good at it. Know your own abilities in this game, knowing your opponent's is not as important in Pool.

Games people play... well that can be taken a number of ways. I hope you now see how these games in particular & the skills required to play them well, apply to a lot of different aspects of life.

Know your opponents
Be observant
Know your skills
Play it where it lies
Almost doesn't count
Don't over analyze yourself
Count your money when you leave the table & you know it's yours
Don't get stuck behind the eight ball
Defense is always the best Offense
When at the bottom of a hill.... get to climbing it

A special thanks to my Subjects, whom I consider to be Masters of the games they play: JR Anderson (Golf) Josh Wigginton (Pool) and to the many who allowed me to photograph their Poker game that shall remain nameless & faceless you know who you are. :o) Thank you very much for allowing me to photograph you and your favorite games to play.

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”

Playing the game of life to the best of my ability & knowing more about my opponents than they know about themselves is how I have survived life so far...

-Mic

Playing With Fire

2010-10-04T09:04:00.001-04:00

Fire can be such a beautiful thing. I own a firepit & have realized how relaxing it is just to sit by the fire & watch it burn. I have caught some crazy images in the fire. Fire can also be a dangerous thing. You certainly have to respect it or you will get burned.

I believe I have given new meaning to the words "Playing With Fire". The old saying "If you play with fire, you are bound to get burned." is true. I, for one, have played with fire several times in my life & have been burned only a few times by it. This is how some people live their lives, constantly taking risks and playing with fire. I have watched people that I know play with fire including the literal meaning.

People are always telling me to be careful to not get burned, but I say, life is too short not to take risks & if you get burned a time or two...so be it. Lesson learned. I have had many relationships in my life so far, friendships included, and have been burned several times by people that claimed they loved me. This does not stop me from loving again, making new friends or having another fire in my fire pit. You know you have a true friend when they are right there next to you when the fire is hot, burning bright and there is the risk that they will get burned with you. But isn't that what it is all about? Sticking by a person even though the road is rough & dark, this is definately when you find out, who is a "True Friend" or just someone who claims to be.

I had fun photographing the fire in my firepit. I was a lil nervous that my lense might melt, as I was very close to the fire, but my lense survived & so will I.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but that's alright because I like the way it hurts. ~Rihanna

Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire. ~ Garth Brooks

-Mic

My Own Worst Critic

2010-08-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

I belong to a Social Network for Photographers called Picture Social. On this network, there are several groups. One of the groups is Tuesday Weekly Challenges. This week, the challenge is Self Portraits. I knew at some point in time I would have to face this challenge, but was not looking forward to it. I am my own worst critic. When it comes to pics of myself, I will pick it apart til there is nothing left, pointing out flaws and so on. When it comes to pics that I take... same thing. So it is no surprise why I was not looking forward to this challenge. I am, however, thankful for getting the swift kick in the butt of motivation to get it over with.

I found it to be difficult, but entertaining as well. Figuring out settings, poses, lighting, angles, wardrobe etc., it was not easy, but I always enjoy a good challenge. I probably took at least 50 pics before I called it quits and it was absolutely nerve racking trying to pick out my favorites. Post production was also aggravating because you always look at each pic in great detail while editing them.

I don't know if I will win this week's challenge, but I am certainly glad that I finally had my first "Self Portrait" Photo shoot. More glad that it is over and done with to be honest. If you want to see more Self Portrait pics then head over to Picture Social and click on groups. Wish me luck!

"I think the hardest thing to overcome is judging yourself and being your own worst critic so to speak."
~ Nile Rodgers

-Mic

Family

2010-07-25T23:22:00.000-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to take some candid pics of a family of 3. We went to a festival that the neighborhood was having & I tagged along to catch some pics of the family enjoying themselves together. I love taking Candid pics. It is by far my favorite type of photograph to capture because it really shows true personality & emotions.

Daddy's Girl

Blowing Bubbles For Mommy

Family Love

Happy Baby

The Lower Lip

Precious Moments

I learned something very valuable while spending time with this lovely family. Family is priceless. Family knows no boundaries, no limits. If you have family, you are rich. Doesn't matter how much money you have in your pocket, how big your house is, the cost of your car, how popular you are because none of that matters when there is no one to share it with. You could have nothing, but if you have family you have it all. I would like to say Thank you & I love you to my Family. They are the best & I wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world.

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family” ~ Anthony Brandt

“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing” ~ Anonymous

"I love you... Then, Now & Always." ~ Mic

-Mic

What Fine Webs We Weave

2010-07-08T22:38:00.002-04:00

Oh What Fine Webs We Weave...

That saying has been around for a long time & still remains true. I myself have gotten tangled in a few webs of my own. I know several people that have gotten tangled in a few as well. I find it intriguing why we do this. Why do people insist on telling severe lies about others to make themselves seem more important? Why is it necessary to tell a lie to get your way? Is it because you weren't smart enough to do it the right way? Or maybe because you were too weak to be the bigger person? I read a couple of articles on "Webs" & this is what I found...

The wicked webs we weave are emergent from our subconscious fear and inadequacy as we attempt to bend the rules of life to our gain, in response to our fears. We all tend to do this instinctively, without much thought. An acceptance of this is crucial. ~ S. J. Wickham.

Lying to yourself about the way a number of things have come to be, possibly your way of life. Maybe lying to yourself caused you to feel better about something in the past that it seemed alright for a reason. Maybe it lifted you to the point that you didn't want to go back to knowing the truth. Is it wrong to tell these kinds of lies to yourself? Is it wrong to tell people the same lies? Is it wrong even though you have reached the point that you believe them to be true and you don't even realize you are telling lies?

Does it really hurt anyone if you've made something up about your past to cover something that hurts you to remember? Have you ever told a lie to make your situation look worse? Made it seem like you've overcome adversity that you've never faced? Can you grow from false experiences? Can you make yourself a better person based on the lies you've told yourself? Is it possible? ~ Chuck/Pork Chop Sandwiches

I guess the question really is, are you the type to get tangled in webs or the type that weaves those webs? I know which one I am.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." ~ Sir Walter Scott

"When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion” ~ Ethiopian Proverbs

Just sayin...
-Mic

Random Thoughts of Random Pics At Random

2010-06-23T01:42:00.002-04:00

We have all had our experiences with closed doors. Don't try to open them again.

You can go over it, under it, around it or through it.

Not everything is always as it seems.

Travis Tritt said it best. "Here's a quarter..."

Give me the moon and I'll ask for the stars.

Taking time to reflect on one's self is the best way to know what needs changed.

Open waters & open minds leads to open hearts.

Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by it's growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.

All paths are the same, leading nowhere. Therefore, pick a path with heart.

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

It makes no difference if I burn my bridges behind me. I never retreat.

Sometimes life brings you disaster, but when you survive that disaster life can regrow.

Even the sunshines....

Many men go fishing all of their lives with out knowing it is not fish they are after.

Sometimes the best defense is just not to be there.

You are never alone when you have family.

-Mic

Innocence

2010-06-09T10:38:00.003-04:00

The only innocent left in this world are the children that are born and too soon after they are born, they are not considered innocent anymore. We are all so sure of our innocence until we are proven otherwise. What is innocence really? Is it innocent of a crime? Innocent of a feeling? Innocent of a situation gone wrong? Or is the true meaning of innocence, having an innocent heart. One that has not harmed another heart in it's lifetime. If that is the case, none of us are innocent.

These pics were taken of my Nephew before I moved. I had a shoot with him the day before I left. It was very informal, which is the way I prefer it. I was not surprised at the innocence that I captured on his face and in his eyes. If we could only go back to those years in our lives and remember how innocent we all used to be. Maybe this world would be a better place to live in. Until then, I will just have to keep taking pics of perfectly innocent children to be reminded.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

~Pablo Picasso

-Mic

The Climb

2010-05-27T01:05:00.003-04:00

How do you look at life? Is it all about you? Is it about your experiences? How about your knowledge? Life to me is all about sharing it with loved ones. There are times though that you must live it alone. When you have a child that option is excluded. I have been a Mom for almost 9 years now & have raised him, for the most part, on my own. Sure there have been outside influences, but one thing always remains true, it has always been just the two of us against the world.

We are getting ready to start a new chapter of our lives & I will be honest, it's scary at times, but we both know that we have each other no matter what is going on, who is involved or where we are. People, including our closest family members, have tried diminishing the bond between my Son and I. No one has succeeded yet and on my watch, they never will. There is no stronger bond than that between a Mother & her child. I was once told that the most dangerous place in the world is standing between a Mother and her kid. This could not be more true.

Through the last 9 years we have had several ups and downs. Our life experiences, so far, have been more like a Drama series than a Fairy Tale. My Son is incredibly intelligent, strong, independent and the most resilient person I know. No matter what happens in this chapter, I am at peace with my Faith in God and knowing that during our climb back to the top, neither of us will ever take our eyes off of our dreams.

"There's always gonna be another Mountain. I'm always gonna wanna to make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb."

-Mic

White Men Can Jump

2010-05-19T09:13:00.001-04:00

There's a skate board park nearby & I recently had the chance to take some time & take some pics of the guys doing what they do best. I was very impressed with their abilities & skills. I was also impressed that they were obviously not camera shy & I was able to capture some great action pics. I took over 100 pics, so choosing my faves was very difficult.

Before I got my new camera, action pics were not possible, they always ended up a blur, so I am thankful that I am now able to capture moments like this. When I went back and handed them prints, they were very grateful & I could sense that they were proud of themselves for accomplishing some of their tricks. There were many falls, but they got back up & tried again. For that, I admire them.

"Fall 7 times, Stand up 8."

-Mic

It's Raining Men

2010-05-11T11:08:00.001-04:00

I am having so much fun with my new Camera. I am also having a lot of fun being recently Divorced and free to be me. I have been taking a lot of pics lately, mostly of men. I have been reminded what it is like to be treated like a woman instead of a piece of property.

I had these two visions in my head and found the two perfect subjects for them. I will not reveal their identity as they know who they are & their privacy is needed. I love the emotions all of these pics invoke. Of course, for us ladies, we are intrigued & attracted, but for the men, they respect the Cowboy after a hard days work and the Rebel for doing things his way no matter what.

Being attractive and being credible can and do go together.

~ Lisa Guerrero

-Mic

So Much Country Side So Little Time

2010-05-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

I was born and raised in Indiana, the time has come for me to leave my home state and venture out. America is so beautiful, but there is one state that has captured my heart completely, Florida. In 23 days, I am leaving and moving there, finally.

This has been a dream of mine for a while now. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but I must go. There are several things, people and places that I will miss dearly. The country side in Indiana is one of them. I have been taking a lot of pics lately of the country side where I grew up. It is so beautiful. It's strange the things you take for granted. There has been a lot of pondering over the things that I will miss lately, this is what has inspired me to write this blog.

Just taking a Sunday drive in the country is so peaceful and humbling and it's been a favorite past time for me lately. These pics are sure to be on my wall of my new home... I hope you enjoy the pics of my home town & state as much as I have enjoyed living here.

-Mic

The Only Constant In Life Is Change

2010-04-07T09:15:00.004-04:00

Through all of my trials and tribulations of life so far, I have come to the conclusion that there is only one thing in life that is always there, Change. We change, our friends change, our environment changes. How you handle those changes is a test of your character. Do you try and keep things from changing? Do you embrace change? I guess we all do both depending on what is about to change and how comfortable we are with it. I have learned the hard way that trying to keep change from happening only makes the transition harder to cope with. Rather than looking at the doors and windows that are closing, I choose to look at the doors and windows that are opening and embrace them, prepare for what God is about to hand to me. Change is a blessing that keeps us on our toes. I have experienced a great many things in my life so far, but my fondest memories are of when things, places and people in my life have changed.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. "

-Mic

Angles

2010-03-26T08:49:00.000-04:00

I have really been trying to change my angles on the pics I take. I enjoy taking pics that make you stare at the photograph rather than just your typical pic of a person posing in a common pose. These were taken at two different playgrounds around my home. The first is of my son and I caught him climbing up one of the ladders in the park nearby. I chose sepia tone because there was a conflict of colors in the pic and I didn't want the eye focusing on the colors, only the angle. The second was taken at the park just outside my home of a brave boy that decided to climb to the very top of this jungle gym. I love the sky in the background and the height feeling you get when looking at it.

I am really enjoying the social network I have found, the photographers there are so talented and more experienced. They are all so nice and encouraging, they have inspired me to take even more pics. I hope you enjoy the angle pics I have given you today.

-Mic

Bundled Up

2010-03-14T22:15:00.003-04:00

This was taken when we had about 17 inches of snow fall over night and school was cancelled. My Son, Carson, had so much fun playing in the snow, I had to practically drag him in because I could see his face turning red from the cold. He made a snowman, had a snowball fight with the neighborhood kids and made a secret tunnel in the yard. I can't stand the cold and will not miss it when we move to Florida at the end of the school year! I am sure he will miss it though, maybe we will visit for the Holidays and get lucky enough to have some snow on the ground.

-Mic

Jump For Joy!

2010-03-07T21:37:00.003-05:00

I took this pic of my son last fall when we went to pick out our Pumpkins. They had a large triple decker hay stack there for all the kids to play on and, of course, mine was no exception. I could not tell you how many times he jumped off of there, but it was a lot! We had so much fun that day.

-Mic

Focus On Hands

2010-02-21T23:39:00.002-05:00

Well, this is my first post on my new blog.

I took this pic of my nephew when he was just a few weeks old. He is just now 12 weeks old. Some of you may remember me talking about doing this shoot on iheartfaces. I think this pic represents how precious God's gifts are. I remember when mine was this tiny, I am only sad that I did not have pics like this one taken when he was little.

-Mic