Just wanted to show a before and after. I love Lightroom! All I did here was increase contrast with curves and the slider, increase vibrance, add fill light, increase recovery, and add a vignette. Then, resize and sharpen for web. I took this picture with my aunt's Canon Rebel in RAW. Then I was able to create a preset with these settings and synchronize settings to the rest of the pictures. Lightroom speeds up the process of editing so much!

One of the things that I have been trying to improve in my Christian life is noticing ways in which God shows His love to me. I wanted to feel God is real in my life, and even though He continues to show Himself real in other ways, it helped me tremendously feeling His love. Since then, there have been numerous ways in which He has shown He loves me, and many of them, through photography.

We had been planning this senior session for a week. I had mentioned many times how I would love to have a vintage bicycle for this session. The day of the session, we got to this cute, quaint downtown. And guess what we found parked on the sidewalk? A cute, vintage bicycle! I could not believe it! We went in the store to ask the owner if they knew who owned it, and the owner was there. She was a sweet lady that was more than happy to let me use her bicycle for pictures! We got the shots we wanted! I'm in love with them!

Not only the bicycle, we also found a sunflower field on the way to the ocean that same day for her pictures! It was another thing I had been mentioning all week. And God brought both of them to us without me even asking or praying for it :)

God loves you and He wants you to know it! :D

Who said props have to be expensive?

I remember when I first started photography. Lots of investments to make! Once your business starts growing, buying equipment is not that hard. The business pays for itself. But when you are starting, there is a limited budget you need to work with. Sometimes, to make cute studio pictures you need lots of cute props. And when first starting, most of people cannot invest in expensive ones! (although they are worth it, and great quality, and eventually a great investment when your business grows!).

So I wanted to show an example on affordable cute setting! (I know it could be better, but traveling makes it hard to set up cute settings! :) )

Fabric for the backdrop: $4

Suitcase: borrowed, although I've seen them at Hobby Lobby for $30 or more, but Hobby Lobby has great coupons you can use!

Bottom ruffle blanket from Ikea: $20 (I found it on sale for $16 and I've used it a lot even as a backdrop!)

Flower: $3 from Joann's

Garland: I made it with scrapbooking paper so it was probably around $2.

I hope this helped if you are starting to do photography! I do recommend professional backdrops if you can. You don't have to iron them, they will have no wrinkles, and they are wider! But to start, you CAN do cute indoor sessions with a lower budget :) Just look around your house and see what you have. Blankets, head pieces, scrapbooking paper, fabric... I've had to use things I never thought I would use for pictures, but as I said before, traveling there is limited space for your props! So I don't bring a lot with me. 

Have a blessed day!

Arancha

Our Utah trip

Hands down Utah is being the coolest state we've been to so far :) Great rocks, canyons, mountains with snow, and city life! We love all the outside shopping areas with cute little cookie or ice cream stores. The clothing stores are becoming my favorite as well! And Jamba Juice and In and Out Burger (forgive my spelling) are everywhere here! We are having a blast! But the best of all is all we are learning here! God knew we were needing some training and knowledge on certain areas of our ministry. One of the areas we were needing to learn about was religions that are rapidly spreading in Spain and that we didn't know much about. We consider it a blessing and privilege to get this part of our training here in Utah. We've been to wonderful churches and have met wonderful people! We praise God for each and every one of our trips and meetings. Spain is in great need of the Gospel and we feel so privileged that God is sending us to Spain so we can tell people that only Jesus saves and that we can have eternal life in heaven if we accept this precious gift! God is good! :)

Here is a picture of us in the south of Utah! Photographers here must love taking pictures at this gorgeous places!

Have a blessed day!

Arancha

Jared and Katie: Knoxville, TN

Last Saturday I had the privilege to take engagement pictures for this cute couple! One of things i loved the most was hearing Jared's sweet comments about Katie and all the laughs they shared during the session! We had a wonderful time! I loved hearing about Katie's ideas for the wedding. It is going to be such a beautiful wedding at an antique house with beautiful decoration inside. A dream for any photographer!

They were such a blessing to us and we really enjoyed spending time with them! And as you can see, they did a great job posing!

Thank you Jared and Katie for allowing us to take your pictures! It was a blast!!!!!

Arancha

My Facebook photography page took over my blog. What a shame! :0 I would love to be able to post more, but in all honestly, photography has been set aside a little bit since we started our journey as missionaries. I still enjoy photography and have been taking lots of pictures! (lots of my little man as well :) ) During deputation we've been able to visit so many amazing places! And I determined to take a good family picture of each new cool place we visit! It hasn't been easy... but I'm thankful for digital cameras, tripods, and self-timers :D It's made these family pictures possible! So here is one I would like to share that reflects our lives lately: our car, beautiful landscape, and our son's favorite toy when we make stops during our trips :)

This has been an amazing year of deputation. We've met wonderful families, missionaries, pastors and their families... and we've had so many people commit to pray for us. Reaching Spain with the Gospel could not be done without the power of God. So all these prayers are going to make a huge impact in what we will accomplish in Spain. And we're so thankful having so many people be a part of seeing souls saved through just praying for us! We really are thankful for all the prayer support we have!

We've also learned a lot during this year, and are looking forward to learn more and more about the ministry, God, and how to serve Him and please Him better! I've been gathering lots of ideas for the ministry and activities! We are so looking forward to starting the church :) I've also found great books that have tremendously helped me spiritually. Right now I'm reading: "Teaching more than English," which is being a great resource for the English classes we will be offering. A couple of other book I recommend you to read are: "A Meek and Quiet Spirit" and "Healing Love." And "It's a wonderful life" by Terry Chappell.

The West is beautiful! I love the city, that's where I came from. But there is nothing like seeing a beautiful landscape and seeing what a perfect creation it is, and knowing that God made it :) The Grand Canyon was simply beautiful!

One thing I'm enjoying is seeing how God shows us His love in even little details. Nate had been so excited about seeing elk in Arizona. He kept looking everywhere and praying he would see elk. I started praying as well, and that day, God showed us a few of them :) Over and over again God reminds us that He is with us and that He loves us. Something I read yesterday as I was worrying about something (as I tend to do often...): "Faith is not believing that God can, but knowing that God will." It brightened my day, and I immediately started to feel better. Then He used a friend on Facebook to speak on his status about worrying. He said that prayer and worry cannot go together. God knew my need, and He gave me what I needed to relieve that burden :D

And yes... I rambled, as I tend to do too :) But I have so much to be thankful for, and God has been so good to us, and has showing His power in our lives in so many ways so many times! I can't praise Him enough for it.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Arancha

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the Portland headlight. I had never seen it before! I had been wanting some family pictures there, and we have friends that live close to it. So we asked them if they could take some pictures of us, and we could also take some pictures of them :) Of course, I love taking pictures of couples, specially if they are our friends! So I'm always happy when they allow me to take pictures for them!!!

They did a great job! The pictures turned out great! They were patient with us and would retake any picture if needed (my baby was not cooperating that day hehe) Here are some of the pictures we took of them :)

The day started off with bad news, but we stayed on the positive side. We had a fantastic time with them. We ate at the Lobster Shack, took pictures, tried some yummy cupcakes from East End cupcakes, and walked around Old Port. We saw the biggest cruise I've ever seen there. It was a great day, and I'm so thankful for such great friends like they are! They are being a blessing and encouragement to us :)

Sorry I'm being the worst blogger on earth...But like I've mentioned before, I post pictures and update my status on Facebook more often. So make sure you follow us there!

Have a wonderful day! Enjoy what the Lord has given you and rejoice in Him always!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Portland Head Light photography

Awwww, I love romantic pictures :)

My little ministry :) - Downtown Athens Photography

I know I have mentioned this before on my Facebook page. I know...I barely use my blog, but I think Facebook updates on my photography page took over my blogging time! Photography is something I love and enjoy doing, whether it's for clients, for myself, for family, or just to be a blessing to somebody else. I have noticed since we started deputation, that my little photography business is turning into a little ministry. It's still part business, but I'm loving what it is becoming! I have had the privilege to photograph many missionary and pastor's families, and I am just so happy to be a part of their future memories, even if it just means being the woman that recorded their memories in pictures :)

This is another missionary family I've been able to photograph! They are pros! This was their 3rd session with us, and they absolutely knew what to do. It made my job easy :D I love their style, and I love seeing them play and laugh together! And what I like the most: they are going to be serving God in Spain! Ministering to my people! God is going to bless them greatly for being such faithful servants of Him, and surrendering to His calling. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in their lives and how He is going to use them for His glory!

Here is a sneak peek of their session! There was a car show going on at downtown Athens! So it was nice for a couple of romantic shots :) And to top it off: some sunset pictures right before the sun is going away :) Enjoy them!!!! And if you would like to, feel free to leave some blog love... That would be make my day!!!!

Have a great fourth of July!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

Senior season! We are starting with a beautiful senior girl :)

Who doesn;t like a little bit of variety right? At this session we were able to go to 5 locations! And she had perfect outfits for all of them! We found a very old thrift store made of barnwood that made really unique settings. We found a little field perfect for some cowgirl shots. We stopped at a bridge on the way to downtown Madison. And of course, downtowns are my favorite¡ We finished our session with some dressy elegant images in the middle of the street :) Oh, and a truck! Something new to me! But I can´t wait to edit those! The good thing of seniors? They always know how to pose :) It makes my job so easy! And they always know what to wear! So the session was easy and fun! And having my seniors`moms come to the session always help! More than what you think! Specially when the photographer forgets a very expensive lens by the railroad... oops!

I cannot wait to post more!!! And I´m really sorry if I´m rambling a lot! I have a handsome one year old pulling my skirt and fussing cause he wants some attention :) and I can´t say no to that little face! hehe

Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, Senior, and Family Photography

The most beautiful girls ever :)

Here is a part of what we do on deputation! We are loving every part of our deputation journey (maybe except the long drives... but it's getting better!). We get to share our burden for Spain, we get to meet wonderful people, we get to encourage people to be a part of missions, we get to serve God in different ways, we get to visit new places, and sometimes we get to do pictures for pastor's families and in this case, the youth pastor's family. :) Being a missionary is the best! And I am so thankful for the many blessing and the wonderful experiences God is allowing us to have!

Taking pictures of a big family is always a challenge. Getting everybody to look at the camera at the same time is always an almost impossible task. Somebody either blinks, or looks somewhere else, or cries...here, the very first pictures I took were a pose of the whole family. And they all looked at the camera! And that makes it all so much better! These kids did great allowing me to take their pictures, specially after I took out the big lollypop :) I didn't know it would help so much! But even before, they did so good! If you are a photographer, don't tell me you would not looooove to photograph these kids with these beautiful eyes :) I got to take many close ups where their eyes just pop! Beautiful bright eyes. I'll post them some other time, but here is a sneak peek for now!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

Our new workshop!!!! E-mail us at info@nateandaranchaphotography.com for more info!

Playing with sunrise light at a pier by a river! I enjoyed playing with this light! It sure was early, but so worth it :)

A few pictures of the senior photo session I took yesterday and today! I don't take pictures of many guy seniors, so it is always a challenge for me!!! Specially if Nate can't come with me! But I enjoyed it and we were able to take a loooot of pictures! I love them all! He was so calm and posed so well! :)

Oh, and the first time I take cap and gown pictures outdoors!!!! :)

Have a blessed day!

Arancha

Huntsville Baby, Children, and Senior Photography

Textures is something I have never really been interested in when dealing with post-processing. I must say, I like colorful real images with a little touch of vintage, and I don't like to overdo post-processing. When I saw other photographers edit their images with textures, I loved the results, but it just was not my cup of tea...till I heard about the Florabella textures. Once again, I really wasn't interested in textures! But then I watched a video tutorial where she taught how to apply these textures. I would see a straight out of the camera shot and the after result with just textures and a couple of basic touches (saturation, contrast...). I could not believe what a difference it made! Then we shot a wedding in February where we had a limited time for all the family, bride and groom, and wedding party shots. It was dark, and we couldn't go anywhere due to the lack of time. So we really didn't have many backgrounds to play with, even though the church itself was great! I must say...it wasn't as hard as I thought and we were able to capture some great shots of them together, just being sweet to each other, happy and joyful that they were married, and looking forward to living their lives as a married couple! And honestly, just working with a just married couple makes photography a whole different world! Once I saw them together, the backgrounds didn't matter any more! I realized it wasn't about the backgrounds. I just had to capture their love! And once I found these textures, I decided to play around with them and try to add a little bit more of creativity to the images and make the backgrounds a little but more interesting! I love the results. Maybe a overdid it a little??? Yes, I probably did :) But it's ok! I'm enjoying just playing around with them!

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank this couple, their friends, and their family for all their help taking these pictures! We had a blast! And it was an honor to take them! She is Nate's pastor's daughter! Such a sweet godly family :)

Have a wonderful day!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

For this Mother's Day we are now offering gift certificates at a lower price!

It is a great gift for mommies or even for yourself! I have enjoyed seeing my clients' response when they did photo sessions as gifts for their moms in the past. Here are the prices!

Regular session gift certificate: $150

Mini session gift certificate: $100

Both sessions will include all the images on a cd.

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

I did it! After years looooving these cute little pictures of babies in tea cups, I decided to try it myself! I borrowed our good friends' daughter :) And she just smiled big for her daddy! I have sooo many pictures of her with a cute smile! But I decided to post this one because of that cute little I love daddy face!

Have a great day!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

Erin Rachel: Photography session in Tuscumbia, AL

After years of talking Erin Rachel over e-mail, Facebook, etc... I finally met her this month on our way back from a trip to Bay St Loius! (Looove being a missionary). She treated us to shrimp po-boys (wow, I want more so bad!), and we talked and talked! She told me she was coming to Alabama in a week, and she would be willing to do a family session for us! All my family sessions are either taken with the tripod and self-timer, or asking a family member to shoot for us and I prepare the shot. So being able to have a photographer taking our pictures, and just relax and enjoy was great!!!! And she does such a great job!!! She kept the session fun, flowing, and I just had a great time!!!! And afterwards, I was able to take some pictures of her! :) She is beautiful! Look at her eyes! There is many more to come!

Thank you Erin for taking such great pictures of us, and being such a blessing!!!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

Having fun using textures!!!

My editing will never be the same now that I've tried editing with textures :)

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Arancha

Nate and Arancha Photography-Huntsville Baby, Children, and Family Photography

Check out my stork pouch from bpdesign.etsy.com! She is amazing!