The prairie skies are big and wide...

Deep in the heart of Texas.

I shot this while taking the obligatory Springtime in Texas "Children in the Bluebonnet" photos. Actually, this is the first year I have ever taken Bluebonnet photos. They are quiet beautiful.

Entered into the March 2013 "Flowers" photo contest
 www.rocktheshotforum

A January Wedding

This set has been a long time coming! The day before another Texas "Spring" sets in, I'm already dreaming of cooler weather! It hit a whopping 90 degrees here yesterday, ALREADY?? Congratulations Debby and Bobby Allen, may you spend many frosty winters in each other's arms!

 

 

Dreaming of Spring

The time has come once again, (ALREADY??!) to start thinking of spring and new spring portraits to boot!  I hope these images give you a little spring fever. Please feel free to share, pin, & tweet my work but please do not copy, print, edit, or steal them, it's SO not nice! Model: Melissa Black MUAH: Melissa Bratton of Salon Salon Corpus Christi, TX.

Hello Me - Self Portrait Light Study

Good Morning Glory!

I rarely post photos of me, okay...I rarely get in front of a camera. I turn onto a complete buffoon (if my son were reading this he would be rolling on the floor laughing...literally) in front of a camera. Sure, I can tell you how to stand, where to stand, what to do, when to do it...come to think of it I'm pretty bossy, yikes! In all seriousness though, I am totally lost  in front of the lens...I think it is especially hard when there is no one else behind the camera. Also, I hate that word "selfie, or selfy," or whatever, however you say it just don't say it around me, PLEASE! I mean for the love of God, how narcissistic are we? *unintentional rant over, sorry*

Anyways, I have been shooting more natural light photos in recent years and I needed to knock the cobwebs off my brain the old  flash heads. The end result...a rekindled love for off camera lighting and some surprisingly "ME" self portraits. So without further ado...me, no retouching, (hell, I couldn't even be bothered to brush my hair apparently), no processing, just dropped them in a template, straight out of the camera, no makeup, me...and my ridiculous but favorite wear it every freaking day shirt.

 

1 vivitar 285HV flash @ 1/16 directly behind me pointed at my back. 1/100, 2.8, ISO 800

RED Entry - Rock the Shot

Entry for Rock the Shot's RED contest. Head on over there and have a look around!! www.rocktheshotforum.com

Funny, I started out to enter a completely different photo but as I looked through my Lightroom thumbnails to find my entry I realized I have a surplus of photos with red. I must have some subconscious pull to the color red! I really enjoy this photo as I feel it exudes "red" on more than just a literal level.

A little help from my friends

We all get by by with a little help from our friends every once in a while don't we? *interjection (bulk of my rambling blog post to follow then I will get back to my main point)*
I hope this fine Wednesday Thursday morning finds you all well. Here in Southeast Texas there is a bit of a nip in the air, it doesn't get too nippy around here so we take what we can get. I am especially excited about Thanksgiving next week and a friend's Wedding the following weekend. This will be Ladybird's (my youngest's  youngestest  youngests' baby's) first Thanksgiving and our first Thanksgiving away from our extended families. My son has high expectations for a 3 day feast...YES, a 3 day feast!! What the heck are they teaching him in school anyhow??! A 3 day feast, HA! I'm just going to leave that alone.
Moving on...
Ok, so I do have a point (and I will eventually get there). I have been hard at work BTS (that's behind the scenes for those of you that are not in "in the know") to link all my social interfaces together and make sure my branding is coherent throughout, actually writing updating my about me and business profile, planning blogs, posts, etc. Basically, I am starting all over again because I knew that this was an important step considering we are in the age of the internet, but being the exception to every rule, procrastinator that I am I didn't do it. Boy, that was DUMB! Seriously though, keeping up with my online presence can take some serious time away from the whole reason I started this business to begin with...I mean how the heck am I going to find time to shoot photograph people when I'm sitting in front of the computer 27 hours a day? What? There aren't 27 hours in a day, huh...
Ok, so you all just learned something right? If you plan on starting a business (yes even a creative one, we are the absolute worst business people ever, ever, ever!...Most of us are anyhow) and everything says BRANDING is super important, do your marketing research, & link everything together...JUST DO IT. Crap, do I have to pay Nike now??
*End Rambling, lesson*
Back to how you can help me!! I would love to have some feedback from you. I know you all want to see pretty pictures, but in addition to that: What would you like to read about here? How can I keep you hanging on the edge of your seats griping, gripping for more? How can I engage you? My plan is to make this a mixture of a lifestyle/business blog...a glimpse into my  insanity insanity. Less talking? More pictures? So seriously, will you take a few minutes to look around and give me some feedback, what do you, love, hate, want to know? And then please stick around, follow my blog. I'd love the opportunity to entertain you!
*Remember, I can see you (okay I can't really see you but I can see how many people read this) seeing this, please take a moment to help a gal out. I would totally do it for you!*

Tweet, Tweet!

I have started a twitter. I know I am seriously behind the times and I am still having a bit of a time trying to figure it all out. I'm sure I'll be blowing up the twitter feeds in no time at all. Come along and follow me @lisablackphoto

Decide what to be...

and go be it. You are your greatest tool & You are your own worst enemy. Things are not always what they seem.
Today I thought I would take the time to find something inspiring. I warn you, it is a little long but it is worth a look. I hope you enjoy it and find your own way to reach out and acheive your dreams.

Chic Critique Magazine Cover Contest

Chic Critique is running a cover contest! There are so many amazing and inspirational female photographers I have discovered via Chic Critique you should run over there and have a look around...Go NOW to Chic Critique!

I entered the photo below into the cover contest. What do ya think?

Model: Melissa Black
Stylist: Melissa Bratton (Licensed Cosmetologist at Salon Salon of Corpus Christi,TX)
Photographer: ME

Busy little Bee

Hello all,
I have been very busy these past few weeks building new sets. I have finally finished one set and hope to bring a couple others to life in the next week. A few small fronts have been blowing through and I am getting super excited about Fall - can't wait to start shooting some Fall sessions! Here are a few photos from the bringing to life of the newest set set by me - The Princess and the Pea.

 

 Happy Friday!

Hiatus much?

Hello,
Whew, that was a good nap ;) Ok, So maybe it has been almost a year since my last blog post but here I am again. Just finished re-launching the website (www.lisablackdesigns.com), woot, woot!! Not much to say right now, just want to share the new business card, Oh yeah!

Strap Happy & Geeking Out!

So, I have been hunting for a camera strap recently, something funky, one of a kind possibly even comfortable *gasp*...(of course I went straight to Ebay and started looking for vintage). We all know how rare it is to come across a vintage gem that isn't trashed & overpriced or well, let's face it...just plain ugly! Upon further thinking I would of had to make some major adjustments to a vintage strap anyhow, so, I decided to make my own, surprise, surprise (yeah not really, I am a DIY junkie...as a matter of fact, I think I just heard my hubby's eyes rolling, hahaha). I will be making a few more of these out of various textured & unique fabrics to sell as well. If you are interested in one let me know! I love it & it is ridiculously comfortable & reversible!  :)

Furthermore, I have been pinning like crazy. Follow me here if ya like: My Pinterest!

In celebration of PhotoGeeks everywhere:

Here is my newest board where I am collecting seriously cool, funky, or vintage camera related goodies! If you know where else to find awesome photo related art or paraphernalia, drop me a link!

Happy Friday everyone, I'm off to see what I can shoot today...with my fabulous new strap of course!

The Skinny on the Mini

These Sessions will be available in both Houston & Corpus Christi!

Life, interrupted...

Oh hello there, yes, yes, I know you have missed me! Nevertheless, I am back from my excessive hiatus, my sincerest appologies, I will try to keep life from interuppting us again. You see, there I was just b-boppin right along and suddenly the rug was ripped out from under my feet. I fell flat on my rear only to hear a bit of a chuckle & a tap on the shoulder revealed none other than Life itself, "Hey, noone said this was gonna be easy, get up!" (K, so here I am ;) 

First off in general I would just like to share a few things pertaining to the business:
1. I am finally introducing photo prints, yay! Any size, canvas, mounted, framed, just about anything you can imagine I can do!
2. For the remainder of September I am offering special "mini photo sessions" These special shortened sessions can be booked with 3 different package selections starting at $55. I will have the flyer with full details up likely tomorrow.
3. I will be working over this week to add pages, with an about me & other special sections to the blog. Bear with me, I am new to blogging.
4. I am currently looking for a young French Bulldog to adopt or re-home (this has consumed so much of my time, I can't stop looking at them, seriously, OOOOOh they are so darn cute)...Oh, whoops...that has absolutely nothing to do with the business, sorry about that...and sorry about the next 2 hours you'll waste looking at Frenchies (P.S. Don't forget to look up Frenchies in costumes) ;)

Alright, so there is a little update. Didn't want you thinking I was abducted by Zombies or anything.

Short on words, long on heart

Today I thought I would keep it simple. Here are a few of my favorite shots from this weeks adventures in the hood...um, the Mommyhood that is ;)

One Summer Day

  

I'll be the first to admit (like it's not ridiculously obvious), it's H-O-T (hot) out there! (Boy, is it ever hot out there, ugh.) Summer has been brutal this year! (BRUTAL, did I say that already?) I am also a firm believer that the heat of a Texas summer is so traumatizing that we block it from our minds the second the temps drop below 90. This in turn makes the next years Summer heat feel even worse, thus turning our brains to mush for the next 9 months (okay, maybe summer isn't quite 9 months long). In fact, I personally dislike, hate, ok, despise Texas Summers so much I prefer to pretend that they doesn't exist, especially toward the end, you know when everybody else is getting all those cold fronts  and the stores are packing in all the Fall merchandise. Ok, Ok, enough opining about the nasty (last one promise) Texas Summers. I really DO love Texas! I even love saying "I love Texas"! Ok, everybody together now..."I ...(too much?)

The problem, I have come to realize, is that I spend so much time fretting over "the dog days," that I seemingly miss out on the beauty of it. (What an ungrateful wretch I have been!) You'd probably be right if you assumed that my days of 'Summer Loathing' (Did ya get that Grease reference? Yup, BIG fan) are anything but far behind me, but I would like to give a BIG 'shout out' to my wonderful son, without whom I would have never stopped to smell the proverbial roses! There is a certain innocence most of us tend to leave somewhere in our childhood. So for him, I will try to remember Summer a little more like this and I will preserve as many of those memories for him as I possibly can.  (Oooooo, she's startin' to get all sappy now...CUT).

 

  

  

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!



(P)inspiring

Oh I know, I'm a little late jumping on the Pinterest wagon, but since I know I'm not the only one I figured I'd "shoot from the hip".  The truth is...this Texas HEAT has literally sucked the creative lifeblood from my body and so this is pretty much the first thing to pop into my pretty little head ;) (Doot ta doot doot Rambling...)

Ok, so have you heard about Pinterest? No, Really?? Boy, you really must be living under a rock. (commence Google search)...No, No, WAIT, I'm not going to make you Google (or Bing or other silly search engine name turned evil empire verb) it! Come on, sheesh.
Pinterest is your very own Social Networking Pin board. The beauty of it...Well, Yes, it IS another form of Social Networking, BUT, with all the FUN Stalking and Stealing, (huh?) Browsing and Collecting Inspiration...WITHOUT all that BORING having to listen and pretend to care crap, (what?) Oh sorry, I could't think of a nicer way to put that one ;) (Don't be mad cause you wish you had said it). Yes, Yes, I'm being facetious, I love you all really I do! So let's recap, Pinterest = wicked awesome virtual corkboard, no holes required!

Yes, you can and should follow people who tend to Pin things you like, and you should like & comment, & you should certainly ALWAYS give credit to the source of the image whenever possible. Another cool thing about Pinterest is that is is NOT just a place to collect interesting or inspiring images but it can be used rather than bookmarking tutorials and recipes. I am constantly bookmarking things and forgetting about them, but being a very visual person, Pinterest is the perfect place to collect these things. So, in the words of the Yo Gabba Gang, (Yup, that's how I roll) "Try it, You'll like it"! You do need an invite to join. I can send you one or you can request one from the Pinterest Team. WARNING: The site can be a little slow at times & it's mega addicting (just what you needed, yet another way to waste your precious time)!

So, in the spirit of cooler weather finding us all soon (a girl can dream), here's to Fall:

Go get inspired.

Click here to check out Pinterest for yourself.

I heart faces photo challenge (White)

This weeks Challenge - White.
Challenging, yes, Impossible NEVER. This is what I came up with, I had several ideas all of them a little more messy than this one so I went it in an effort to save clean-up time.

Please check out the other entries at iheartfaces.

In Memory of Chadd Thomas

I find it much more difficult to write about things that are not easily injected with a touch of humor. So this will be a post of few words. It's true a picture is worth a thousand words and sometimes those pictures can put a sweeter note on bitter words. This weekend I was able to attend a benefit with my husband for the young daughter of friend/muscian Chadd Thomas. Last month, Chadd was abruptly and tragically taken from this world, leaving a hole in the hearts of his family, his many, many friends and fans. A(ustin Tx)PD is still investigating and further information/donations can be made by visiting Celebrating Chadd Thomas.

The reason for the gathering is not one we ever expected. The love, the adoration, & the generosity is inspiring. Here are a few photos from the event at the Continental Club in Houston Tx.

Patrons. Dancers. DollyRockers.

Dancers. DollyRockers

Johhny Falstaff

Johnny Falstaff.

All images copyright Lisa Black.

Winning!

Yes, WINNING... Ah, the sweetness of the the kill, the WIN, and all without the assistance of tiger blood, (promise). Okay I'm rambling again. Back to the point, WINNING :)

Take a trip on over to iheartfaces HERE to check out all of the winners. If you love animals you won't want to miss these photos!

In all seriousness I want to say that I am sincerely honored and seriously stoked about taking 6th place in the iheartfaces pet week photo challenge. There were 686 entries, the judge Jamie Pflughoeft (pet photographer) of  http://www.cowbelly.com/ really had her work cut out for her as there were some truely amazing photos! Take a look around her site she is really great!

Now, back to WINNING for just a moment. I want to say that I absolutely loved the show, Two and a Half Men and I still watch reruns occassionally. I did NOT get caught up in all the Charlie Sheen Hullaballu. BUT, I did recently run across the site winning.com and there is SOME funny stuff to be found there if it floats yer boat. Some of it is funny, some not, some is just kinda sad...but ALL pop culture.

Have a lovely weekend!