Yasmeen Anderson Photography

Weekly Theme Photograph – Graveyards

Yasmeen — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:22:58 +0000

This week’s theme was Graveyards. I’ve been thinking about where to shoot this and I was going to head up to this cool graveyard in the next town but I looked out the window and saw our cat hanging out by our very own graveyard, for cats, and thought I couldn’t pass this up.

I run out there with my camera, kneel down and snap. Did I get the perfect shot? No. So I reframed to get the entire cat in the frame and shot again, but by that time the cat turned his head. In reviewing the photos I decided to go with the one that was less perfectly framed but captured the emotion that I wanted. I’m the kind of photographer that chooses emotion over perfection.

The cat, Blue, is standing by the graves of our other cats. One of them was his brother, who was very tragically and graphically hit by the car a year or so ago. They were litter mates that we rescued from our neighbor’s garage where they had been born to a stray cat. They were sick with eye infections and needed medical care. We nursed them back to health and worked hard with them to be socialized. We kept two, gave one to my sister and found a home for the other.

Blue is the alpha cat of the litter. He was very hissy. He is the cutest little snuggly thing now, while still maintaining his street cred. His brother Boots was destroyed by a car on the street near us. I say destroyed because he was unrecognizable. It was a horrific sight and odd how I was the one who found him even though I don’t typically go that way in the mornings. Strange how those things work. I’m glad it was me and that I was able to bring him home and bury him.

To see another photographer’s take on this theme, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Whitaker-Photography/153175934342?sk=wall

I shot this session with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), and a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras with no flash.
You can use these affiliate links to find out more about and purchase these items on Amazon.com

Weekly Theme Photograph – Red Hot

Yasmeen — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:45:36 +0000

Okay, so Valentine’s Day was yesterday and this week’s theme was “Red Hot”. So, I staged a mock up of what people think Valentine’s Day is about. Sexy underwear dropped at the side of the bed. That’s the reality for some. But not most. I have been known to say I think Valentine’s Day is stupid. I hate the subconscious competitive judging that goes on as to whether someone’s husband sent flowers or not and how that reflects on what kind of husband he is. I also hate the fact that there is one day designated to appreciating your significant other. Buying expensive gifts or going out to a fancy dinner is not romance in my mind.

To me, romance is the glance that my husband and I give each other when the kids do something cute or funny. It’s my husband making lunches for the kids so I don’t have to. It’s when we send random texts telling the other that I’m thinking about you. We’ve been married almost 12 years and have 2 little kids, and both work. There is a lot going on around here. I don’t WANT romance to be the same as it was when we first met. I like the fact that it’s changed as we’ve grown.

And with that I present….my underwear….which I had to break out of the archives from among the sports bras and boxer briefs : )

To see another photographer’s take on this theme, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Whitaker-Photography/153175934342?sk=wall

Weekly Theme Photograph – Machine

Yasmeen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:12:18 +0000

For this week’s theme “Machine,” I decided to photograph machines that have come to mean a great deal to me over the last few weeks as we go through construction in our basement - – the laundry machines. As we go through every phase of the construction I keep saying, “will I have my laundry?” I laugh at myself at how obsessed I am with my laundry, but when you have a child that is going through a phase where only certain clothes don’t create sensory breakdowns during morning dressing, having those clothes clean becomes very important in the flow of the morning. So, here are my old beat-up machines as they sit waiting in the basement to be replaced by shiny new ones, serving us until their last day.

To see another photographer’s take on this theme, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Whitaker-Photography/153175934342?sk=wall

I shot this session with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
You can use these affiliate links to find out more about and purchase these items on Amazon.com

Weekly Theme Photograph – Reflection

Yasmeen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:12:47 +0000

This weekly theme is reflection. And although the mind immediately goes to the idea of water or mirrors, I’m more inclined to lean toward the other kind of reflection, the inner mind kind. Especially right now. I’m going through a lot of transitions in my life, thankfully all good ones. These transitions make you stop and take note of where you are, where you are going, if that is where you want to go and how you are going to get there. I’ve always been a very goal oriented, introspective type. I’m probably a bit too introspective and analytical to the point where I analyze a move so much I don’t make any moves – the old analysis paralysis.

So for this week’s “Reflection” theme, I chose this photo. I was shooting a corporate headshot for this wonderfully photogenic and fun woman. We got to playing around a little with poses and I got this one of her just thinking. It’s a split second and she, being very intuitive, looked away from the camera.

To see another photographer’s take on this theme, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Whitaker-Photography/153175934342?sk=wall

Weekly Theme Photograph – Patterns

Yasmeen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:18:33 +0000

This week’s theme is “Patterns.” I took this photograph because the keyboard has an obvious pattern in it it but there is another reason. A pattern of a more emotional kind. I sit in my office where I do my editing next to a grand piano. It sits there and taunts me. We have this wonderful piano that we inherited from my husband’s father, the concert pianist, because he sadly can no longer have it with him and can’t play to the extent that he did before. This is because of what Parkinson’s has done to his gift. I am thankful that he played at our wedding before all this became apparent and thankful that we have the piano for the kids.

I used to play the piano. I started at age 5. I got the idea that I wanted to play from one of my best friends, an 80 yr old woman who lived across the street who had a piano and would let me play. I came home and announced that I wanted to play. I took lessons and played all through my childhood and through college. Sadly, my piano teacher didn’t like me showing up to class with banged up hands from lacrosse and she made me choose. Piano or lacrosse. I chose lacrosse.

I haven’t played since college and I still have dreams about playing. I’ve tried a few times to play things but it’s not as much like riding a bike as I thought it would be. I can barely even read music any more. I WILL get back into it at some point, I’ve promised myself. Here is where the pattern comes in. I walk into my office, look at the piano and think “I really have to start playing again.” Then I sit down at the computer and go on with my day. The next day, same thing. Pattern.

To see another photographer’s take on this theme, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Whitaker-Photography/153175934342?sk=wall

Weekly Theme Photograph – The Eyes Have It

Yasmeen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:53:40 +0000

This week’s theme, the eye’s have it had me thinking. I focus on the eyes so much when I shoot that this was exciting. Unfortunately, I was a little bogged down with sick kid, house construction and blah blah blah to shoot a new photo. So disappointing! Especially because it’s only the second week. I kind of feel like the child who didn’t do her homework on the second day of school. : (

So – in order to participate, I went to the archives. I wanted to choose a photo after which I thought – wow, those eyes really make the photo. So here it is:

This is one of my favorite photos. It could be because I adore the subject. She is beautiful and engaging and her eyes are so warm.

I actually feel like I could have chosen a few more photos. There is one that I LOVE that I took of my son from a few years back. He’s such a cutie! I know, but I’m his mom!!

To see another photographer’s take on this week’s theme, check out http://www.facebook.com/patriciabishopphotography

Weekly Theme Photograph – Portrait Without a Face

Yasmeen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:36:36 +0000

A bunch of photographers are getting together to challenge each other to interpret and photograph a particular theme each week. It’s going to be great fun! The first week’s theme is “Portrait without a face.” My photograph, of my new dog, does include a part of her face. But the fact that she kind of looks like she is hiding her face reminds me of a really shy person that hides their face in the hopes that people don’t even see that they have one…hence a portrait without a face. : )

Olive the Very Shy Dog - "portrait without a face"

Check out some other interpretations of the same theme:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308032729241168&set=a.308032712574503.80355.159843194060123&type=1&theater

http://mikifoto.com/blog/?p=4802&fb_source=message

Descent into Madness

Yasmeen — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:04:42 +0000

Model Nikki Fontana, Makeup Catie Friel, Photographer Yasmeen Anderson

I met with a model and a makeup artist for a shoot. We got together to experiment with a thing or two. We had sent each other some inspiration photos to make sure we were on the same page with the style of the shoot. We met at my warehouse studio, which sadly, I won’t have access to after Dec 31 so I’ll be on the hunt for a new space. I set up my stuff and the makeup artist, Catie Friel, got started making her magic.

I called this session “Descent into Madness” because even though we didn’t plan it this way, after looking at the photos, it was clear that there was an emotional transformation happening. Practically speaking, you always have a transformation during the session when it’s the first time you are working with a team as the model gets more comfortable with you and you as the photographer figure out what ways the model needs to be directed. But what was great about this model, Nikki Fontana, was that she truly embraced the makeup transformation and totally went with what we were asking her to do. After reflecting on the photos, it really seemed like a story:

Girl shows up looking lovely for a date with her boyfriend. Some back and forth and maybe some flirting and then boy dumps girl. Girl is distraught. Can’t understand what just happened. Starts looking at herself wondering what did I do and then, after a good deal of crying, smears her makeup across her face in a self-loathing kind of move. The last photo. She has calmed, remnants of her emotion still streaming across her face, but her look of reflection – looking up into the light – ready to get a hold of herself and move forward.

I know, a little over the top. But here’s the thing. Over the last few years I’ve seen a bunch of marriages fall apart around me. I’m 39 so I guess I’m at that age. This seems to be the pattern, from the female perspective I’ve seen. You wonder what happened, you blame yourself, you fall apart and then…you realize that you’ll survive and even thrive and you move forward. Even though I’m still happily married, I very much feel for the women going through this. I guess this is my little homage to those have been through it.

I shot this session with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), and a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
You can use these affiliate links to find out more about and purchase these items on Amazon.com

Look out! It’s a Dinosaur!

Yasmeen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:55:23 +0000

My favorite kind of family portrait

My son is 4 now. It’s such a great age. He is running around with a cape on, which could be made from a kitchen towel and chip clip mind you, and acting like his favorite superhero. I love his spiderman poses where he jumps off the furniture and lands on all four in his best spidey. This little boy reminded me a lot of my son. Except for him, it was dinosaurs. Stomp stomp stomp, roooooooooaaaaaaaarrrrrrr. So cute. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to act scared or not, but I play along as much as I can, while carrying a humungous heavy camera.

His mom is a lovely woman who, despite her responsible job title at work, is silly and goofy during our time together. She has the gig down perfectly. The sillier you are with your child during a family photo session, the more beautiful the photos. You can’t force a child to smile, you have to yell “poop!” or roar or whatever tickles their funny bone. And not only was she goofy, but the love for her son radiated during the session. The way she looked at him, her body language with him…all amazing.

Family photo sessions can be challenging because some parents feel a lot of pressure to get “the perfect shot” – but the reality is, if your child is covered in mud and is laughing hysterically while running away from you – it IS the perfect shot.

Check out the photos from our time together:

I shot this session with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
and a Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras. You can use these affiliate links to find out more about and purchase these items on Amazon.com