Andrew and his Boring work day

Today was "Take Your Girlfriend to Work Day."

I accompanied Andrew to work and it's not the first time, but

the last time I had gone, was when I was still in school at cgcc.

So, it was a bit odd going and not having homework to do and only trying to come up with

something to keep my sanity going. Nah, it wasn't that bad, but hey...

who wants to go to school when they don't need too?

His job is pretty amazing though, if you sit there and think about it.

He has no supervisor breathing on his

back every single second that he is there. I despise working retail.

But hey.... that's not what I was meant to do in life. NOPE!

I know photography is my calling and thank goodness it is, because

I love it!

Happy Monday!

-Diana

Jennifer&Georgia l Portrait Session

one of my favorites from the Lake House.

ok is this not such a cute tiny acorn? I love all things tiny!

This past weekend, the fam and I took a road trip to Georgia,

where my sister and her husband currently reside.

They live in this cute adorable little lake house and the view is just so relaxing

and enough to get me to stay there and never go back!

The one thing, that did change my mind, was the hornets that live there too.

o.m.g

I can't stand those suckers.

It was indeed a long 8 hour trip, but it was tons of fun

and I loved spending time with my sister!

She's a flight attendant, so she basically lives 30k feet above all of us,

so I hardly get to see her.

Don't forget to leave any comments, I

would love to hear from you!

I want to start doing an FAQ every friday,

so if you have any questions about me, my business, or

photography, I would love to answer any question!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

-Diana

Jasmine Star on CreativeLIVE

This past weekend,

I sat on my toosh, for about a total of 10 hours,

watching Jasmine Star on creativeLIVE. The course taught me,

more than I could have ever imagined and it just gets me

more pumped about my wedding season!

Since the move, I have been researching, working with other photogs with weddings,

and stalking Jasmine Star's blog :)

Nothing could have made my brain click, unless it was Jasmine Star.

Now, I'm a bit more business savvy, actually a LOT more, and I plan to keep

on learning each and every day.

I made some new photogs friends too while watching Jasmine Star!

She should have her own forum for photogs! Well, I guess she basically already does

on her facebook. Anyways, just wanted to share that with you!

Although, I have weddings to photograph this year, I will be going full-time next year.

Andrew and I will tag team to photograph the beautiful memories that can always be created

during a wedding! It will be exciting!

Jasmine is a huge inspiration to me and

I love helping other photogs when they ask me questions!

I would love to do a Q&A once a week!

So, photogs, if you see this, shoot me questions

through email or facebook and I'm thinking every Friday

I can do Q&A time! Whether it's personal questions

about me, my business plan, or my photography.

I want to hear it all!

Find us on Facebook

Have you seen our website?

Happy Monday everyone!

-Diana

Love & Other Things

I never believed in soul mates, until Andrew and I started dating.

We have this roller coaster of a story and no matter what, we always came back to each other.

Now, I know a lot of you might be shaking your head at me, but I truly believe this.

I actually believe what we see in chic flicks are true stories.

I will stand firm with this belief.

Every single love story, has such an amazing beginning and a

happily ever after. Since getting all these contest entries

and you have all been generous enough to share your story with me,

I, for sure 100%, believe in fate. Some stories are about

how these couples were across the country

and somehow met and, than it began, this spark.

I believe that we all have a magical story with our soul mates.

I have mine, I have witnessed many other stories,

and now I know about all these amazing love stories and

most of them I was so amazed at how these couples

were able to meet.

Fate works in wondrous way and I know

for those of you who don't believe me, it will happen to you!

You will get your prince charming!

I'm a huge believer of love and will do anything

to witness all sorts of love stories and capture them

within my camera!

Happy Monday!

Hope this wasn't too random, but I love, love stories!

-Diana

This&That

Before

after

Cold color tone: 28%, Color Punch: 22%, Glenwood Springs: 20%, Magic sharp

After a couple months of trying to get my own style,

I think I finally found it.

I'm not trying to say I am some great photographer, because

I don't think of myself like that, but

I have had photographs ask me about my editing and this is

a great way to show you all a little behind the scenes of my processing.

I have been using Trevor Dayley's actions for my work

and they are so amazing! It helps to cut my editing time by half.

Having these actions actually helped to bring out my own style now.

I just tweak it to my liking and my style. I also use the Magic Sharp

from Kubota. You can actually download a free trial

to see if you like the actions before you buy them ;)

I hope this helps to give some insight, I know I have had a few

asking me. I will do more of these posts when I can!

Cause, it helps me too, to see the progress I am undergoing.

Happy Sunday!

-Diana

Comments and Feedback are always appreciated!

April 2011 Magazine

Yes, it's 2am for me, and I am still up.

But I wanted to post this and show you guys what I have been working on!

I wanted to celebrate Simply D's one year today!

A year ago, I started my little business.

I was not that confident in what I did, but was determined every single day

to get out there and photograph.

Thankfully, one year later I am still here, doing what I love and

I owe it all to all of you! All my fans, followers, friends, family.

You are what truly kept me going and pushed me to be here!

I really want to thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you.

I hope you guys all like the magazine!

I would like to get feedback and depending what the feedback, I would love to keep

doing a monthly magazine!

-Diana

P.S. if you want to view the issue in full, please click the middle!

Tangled&Pascal

I was SO excited to wake up this morning!

Oh, my goodness, seriously!

Tangled was being released!!

I have been waiting since the day I watched the movie in theaters,

to buy this movie. Now, I know I might be obsessed

with this movie, but it's all for good reason :)

If you had seen me this morning, you probably wouldn't have thought I was

so ecstatic about getting this movie, but that's cause I usually don't find

joy in waking up at 8am. Not that it's wrong, but hey...

I woke up after I got some coffee and OH, MY, GOSH.

TANGLED!

I went to get it and I got a free Pascal along with my purchase!

He is just so darn cute! Me and him are pretty close now :)

(As you can tell in the above photo)

Let's fast forward.

When I finally got home, I ran inside, threw all my bags down,

except my camera. I can't just throw it.

I ran upstairs and hooked it up right away.

I sat in front of the tv, just like the time when I was 5

and watched Little Mermaid over and over again.

Yes, that was me. I had Pascal on my shoulder

and we were ready to watch Tangled!

(I'm a dork)

Before I could even press play,

My eyes glistened and happy tears rejoiced.

Now this done sound a bit over the top, but I was SO happy :D

Anyway, enough about my crying.

The cutest couple contest is going wonderful!

Thanks everyone for sending your friends and

family over! We now have over 1700 fans and growing!

Loves doing contests! So much fun :)

Happy Tuesday!

Go BUY TANGLED!

-Diana

Michelle Moore has love for D!

All you guys need to know is that, this photo represents me.

Like, right now! Currently.

At this second! OMG!

Michelle Moore, Seattle photographer.

Fashion and senior photographer who is featured

in many, many fashion magazine. She recognized my photo!

She loves one of my photos enough to feature it under her

inspirational photos!

Through her Pinterest.

I am SO happy about this.

Such an amazing photographer actually featured me

under her site! SO, SO, SO cool!

This is so amazing and it makes me extremely happy!

-Diana

I say ichat you say Skype

Yesterday Andrew and I were chatting in ichat, like always and we got in a pickle.

I don't know who says pickle, but I so just did.

Anyway, we were arguing about how our chat thing looks.

Now, I'm not some ichat expert, but the way I have it set up

looks way cooler than how he had it set up.

Our conversation is pretty silly, but hey... no one tells me

my MAC is kinda old. My MAC is black and that is

just waay cooler than a white MAC.

Personal preference :)

The way he has it set up is as a "balloon" effect.

It's so stupid. Why would anyone

even like that?

Well... although we had this 'pickle' I do want you to know that

once I switched to see how dumb it looked,

I stuck to it. Andrew doesn't know :)

I guess he will now!

So, now to the topic question.

Why use Skype?

ichat is pretty dang awesome :)

My family uses Skype, but I don't know why.............

-Diana

Monday Madness

Good morning everyone!

So, I have been reading The Meaning of Lila since I worked at the bank.

Now I understand why bankers love comics!

Anyway, before I give any news, I wanted to share this particular

comic. Not only is it hilarious, but it's so me!

I have no idea as to where my New Years Resolution went!

Out the door?

I guess so.

Come on, I know some of you are like,

"Wait, where did I place that thing?"

It's ok, it happens to all of us.

Well first things first.

Facebook,

what is happening?

Now we can ask questions.

Ok, so that is SO cool, but...

now I can't erase the question that I didn't mean to ask.

Well, I did mean to ask, but it was a test!

Aye.

Anyways, another awesome thing...

The Cutest Couple Contest is now posted and happening!

If you didn't get a chance to see, this contest is open for couples only.

Engaged and couples are allowed to enter for a chance to win a FREE photo

session with Simply D. Photography! How awesome, right? The free part, of course.

If you want to submit, you still can!

It's open to AZ and NC only.

Unless you are from another state and totally want to fly us out there if you win,

that is totally fine with me :)

No, I am kidding.

Submit your awesome photo to our email: info@simplydphoto.com

Hope to see your entry!

-Diana

P.S. my blog looks a bit different, but I think

it looks way more organized!

Oh and I have an awesome poll on the side you can totally vote on,

it's for fun! Don't sweat it if you are not feeling the poll :)

You can suggest poll questions too!

Lighting and Such

So, I know a lot of you ask me about my lighting and how I do it.

Truth is, I took a workshop with Trevor Dayley and suddenly,

everything I ever learned in school suddenly clicked.

His words spat out lightbulbs and by taking that amazingly awesome

workshop, I am where I am today, with lighting :)

I do encourage all photographers who are starting out, or have been photographing

and it hasn't clicked yet, well take his workshop!

It did wonders and it is amazing!

I know money is sometimes an issue, but it's the best investment I have ever made!

But, if it really is an issue, you should check out this article by the talented,

Michelle Moore. Her photographs are amazing and once you look at them,

I know you will be like, "oh, I so have to read this awesome article!"

It's a long read, but it's so worth it.

It explains backlighting, photographing in the shade, and what not!

I'm gonna go practice and get her technique down!

Really awesome article is here.

Happy late Sunday!

Boo to mondays!

-Diana

New lens! 28mm Baby!

I bought a lens the other day and it came in today!

Woo hoo!

I am loving my 28mm 1.8 :)

Just to make sure it worked out ok, my sister and I took a "nature walk."

We were supposed to just walk to the park, but ended up coming across a trail. 

It is a trail that will haunt us for a while.

As we walked through the trail and came across branches

slashing us, our faces running across cob-webs. EW!

We came across a really creepy creaking tree. It swayed back

and forth and it's a way tall tree.

I ran across it yelling "Timber!"

Yes, I am sorta silly.

As we got closer to what ended up being out destination,

we heard from afar light wind chimes.

It grew windy and the trail became long.

Soon enough, we heard some quaking and than we looked around us

and we were in a cemetery.

Talk about creepy trees, spooky trails, spiders, and wind chimes.

Happy Monday!

-Diana

Wish list

I often get asked, what lens I use.

Or what's my favorite lens.

Truth is, I love using my 50mm

and it's literally the only lens I use.

I just bought a new lens and am waiting for it to get in.

Don't worry, you will find out eventually what lens it is :)

As I think more and more about this question I am asked...

I want to show you what's on my wish list.

Since, I don't do nature shots, or bird-watch,

I don't need a lens that zooms in.

Yes, I shoot weddings, but why do people need zoom lens?

Often, we are afraid to get too up close to people

while we photograph them, so we zoom in and frame them that way.

I want to say, that I am very proud that I don't feel

the need to hide behind my lens anymore.

I'm really dorky and move around a TON.

and I mean.... a TON.

Ever since I converted over to my prime lens,

things changed for me.

It wasn't only the quality of my images, but I changed.

I changed in the best way possible.

Like I said before, I move around alot.

It's something I wasn't able to do before, but

since my lens, I haven't been the same.

It's safe to say, I can act my dorky self

when I am photographing.

Some may think that zoom lens are the best,

but hey... we are all entitled to our own opinions.

And to top it off, a few of the best photographers

use prime lenses.

And... it's not because they use prime lenses,

that I decided I want to, but it makes me interact with my clients more.

Woo hoo :)

Happy Thursday night :D

-Diana

Yogurt and Me

I don't know why I am posting this, but

I wanted to finally let you guys know, I am the famous

blonde in the movie. Did I trick you guys? I knew it!

First off, excuse my poor quality, Baby Canon was with me today.

Big Mama Canon, decided to stay home and rest up

for our big wedding tomorrow!

We watched Beastly tonight

and by we, I mean my sister and I.

(I promised her I wouldn't post any photos of her)

Anyways, it was such a wonderful movie!

Ah, I loved, loved it!

It's no Tangeled of course,

BUT, it's still really great.

I really recommend it; the Beast is pretty cute ;)

Afterwards, we walked to Sweet Spoons.

It's a very quaint yogurt place.

I <3 yogurt, by the way.

Anywho, I don't care if I go to Yo Love, or Kokomo, or Yogurtland.

I get the exact same flavors and toppings.

Chocolate on Vanilla

with strawberries and chocolate chips.

The only thing that changes is... the name of each item.

Chocolate chips were called Chocolate Drops.

Which, doesn't sound as appealing...

Oh... and I got to advertise for free :D

Aren't I sneaky. Hehe.

Happy Friday!

-Diana

There comes a time, during a photographers day, where

they actually finish all their daily tasks and unfinished work.

During this time, we are free to do whatever we want,

woo hoo!

So, what I decided to do on my quick spare time...

was just to photograph quick details.

AKA my steve madden's and my mom's wedding ring.

Eh, yeah I know what you're thinking.

I must be bored... well I am,

but I love knowing I spend it doing

more photography versus... laying around all day.

Not that I did that yesterday. Oh wait...

-Diana

Lover of Shoes

ok, you may think I'm weird,

BUT... I love, love, LOVE shoes.

and not just any shoes, but usually ugly shoes.

Especially when they wrap around my feet and ankles.

Boots, are just.... amazing and to be honest.

I am obsessed with these. 

I can't wait to get them one day!

You can check these out here.

Awesome store! I recommend you look around.

Miss Ruby Sue

I have been featured on Miss Ruby Sue's Etsy website!

This is all super exciting and I can't wait for more amazing

things to happen :)

Thanks again to:

-Heather V.

-Kisha H.

-Kelly O.

Thanks so much for your time and

amazing photographs that are not being featured on

this amazing site!

-Diana

P.S. at the bottom of each page Miss Ruby Sue wrote:

Photographed beautifully by Diana at:
www.simplydphoto.com

Time to Decorate

you can never go wrong with a

gorgeous and fun chandlier

Grey is my favorite color.

This would be amazing to just relax in.

Occasionally fall asleep while editing my photos too.

Damask. Oh, it's the fabric of the year, isn't it?

This looks really elegant, yet fun.

I know, I know. I should hang my photos up.

But, I love this one much more :)

I can imagine having a vase with freshly picked

flowers inside!

It gets cold in NC. So hey, we all need a coat rack, right?

Just adorable!

I would have this in the waiting area.

Later on, in the future (or my dreams)

I want to have an office where

all my friends and clients can come and just come around

look at their photographs

and feel totally relaxed in a tiny, fun space.

All images from Urban Outfitters

-Diana