I’ve gotten a lot of scans back this week, and while some are being saved for my Dec Film Blog Circle, I wanted to share a few as well now!

(HP5+, pushed 2, home develop and scan)

(some forgotten type of 35mm)

(Portra 800, pushed 1)

(Portra 800, pushed 1.  The kid that doesn’t like to pose )

(Portra 400)

(Portra 400 in 120mm… I prefer this SO much more than the digital version I took at the same time!)

***And an announcement!  Due to an upcoming move (finally!), I will no longer be accepting clients for the time being, but will continue to share my love of photography***

I hope you’ll keep hanging out in the meantime!

Last month (yes, I’m a little slow on blogging!), I had the absolute pleasure of meeting up with this family for their family photos.

I LOVED our session!  I loved the clothes they showed up in (not overdone, comfortable, real!), the location they chose- all of it.  And the fact that they were completely adorable was just an extra perk

When the opportunity arose to join in a blog circle with some truly talented ladies, I jumped at the chance   Our blog circle will focus on a shared love of film photography, with the ladies participating being at different levels of experience in this film journey.

Please be sure to click through and check out all of the amazingness being shared!  It’s a small circle, and I promise you’ll LOVE what you see!

With that being said, November is the first month of our circle, and our November posts are an introduction to us and our film- why we love it, and what we love doing with it.  So…

My name is Tara… and I LOVE film!  I’ve only recently (since March) really gotten into using film in the same way that I’ve learned to use digital, but I’m totally smitten.  My previous film experience was limited to a 35mm point and shoot in high school (that I bought with my first paycheck ever!).  By the time our son was born, I had gone to using a mostly digital point and shoot, and as my photography skills advanced, it felt right to go back to the film format to continue my photographic journey.  I’m still shooting digital, but the experience of film is something I love, and I’ve taken to shooting most of my personal family photos in this format.

The whole experience of film is freeing- no checking the back of the camera, no editing… Just wait, and shoot, and see what happens

(fresh 120 stock, Mamiya C330 TLR)

The accidental double exposures

(fresh 120 stock, Mamiya C330 TLR)

The tools are another perk.  There are sooo many more choices- which format to use (35mm, 120mm, instant?), which stock (color, B/W, Kodak, Fuji?), and the most fun - which camera (modern, vintage, etc?)…. I’ve learned a few things about myself.  I prefer a certain stock, and I prefer vintage cameras.  I love the images from color film, but I also love the experience of developing my own black and white film.  I do like my modern film SLR, but there’s something about the ‘old’ ones.  The 70s, and older.  The more complicated and the simple box cameras.

 (expired 35mm stock on Nikon F100)

(fresh black and white stock, vintage 35mm Mamiya 1000DTL))

And sometimes, it just doesn’t work out like you’d hope (a risk with eBay bargains for sure!)

 (fresh 120mm stock on a late 1940s Zeiss Ikon folder camera – camera has issues!)

Even the oopsies are amazing though- there’s no deleting the duds, every image is developed, created, and exists rather than an instant deletion.  I hope to share lots of progress, and lots of film in the coming months!

Please continue through the blog circle- grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and enjoy   Next up is the fabulous Mandy Haber Photography !!

I’ve been experimenting some more!

These first shots are 35mm (HP5+ on my F100 for those curious), but this was my first go round at home black & white developing.  I am so excited to be able to do some of my stuff here now, and it really helps with impatience – instant gratification!  (Well, as far as film goes- a few hours from canister to dry?  I can handle it!)

The next set of images is from my recently acquired C330 twin lens camera… I’ve been wanting one of these for awhile, and finally got one.  I am in as much love with it as I thought it would be!  It really slows you down (and me more so because manual focusing is a task with awful eyesight!), but it just feels good to shoot

And, the camera itself … yes- a cell phone shot, but I really love this camera.  It’s a beautiful piece!

So, last weekend, I took some time to do something out of the norm for me…. I photographed THINGS!  No people (ok, well a few quick shots of my kids).

I packed up the kiddos before sunrise, and we headed out to a photo walk up in Birmingham organized by members of the fabulous ClickinMoms forum!  Meeting people that I only knew online was awesome, and I had a blast stepping out of my normal photography box!

I also had a ton of fun with my wide angle lens  And, I’m still waiting on a roll of film from the day to come back!

And, of course I got ONE shot of the kids!

I had the pleasure of shooting this adorable family a few weeks ago   I had  been wanting to revisit a location, and they were totally willing to take me at my word and meet me there!

Though little man wasn’t really having it, we made it work (and the gummy worms in Dad’s pockets saved the session!)

And what I especially loved about the spot we used was that, simply by crossing the road, you have an entirely different backdrop!

And a reminder- The Fall Family Portrait Special is still running!  These are full-length sessions, and are a great way to update your family portraits, get a little wall art, AND be ahead of the game for the holidays   More info on these sessions HERE

From NOW until November 16th (so as to allow for prints and products to be back in time for holiday gifting and card mailing), I am offering the special below!

The details:

*Sessions will take place on Ft Rucker, or in Daleville/Dale County between Sept 12th and Nov 25th.

*Your gallery will be available approximately one week after your session for viewing and ordering.

*Additional products may be added to the included items, payment is due at time of order.  Additional cards (24 flat cards included) will be available in sets of 24 at a discounted price!

*Contact me at tara@tarastallingsphotography.com to book your session while they’re available!

For those that know me, and those who follow the blog / Facebook page, it’s pretty obvious that I’m not a wedding photographer.  However, when a friend calls you midweek to tell you about their weekend wedding, who can say no?   Especially when the location is described as ‘a tree’.  Call me intrigued!

The wedding was indeed at a tree, and it was a sentimental place to the couple.  Just along the edge of a peanut field, and with just enough shade to make the 95 degree temp bearable!  It was a simple, laid back, beautiful ceremony, and I am so thrilled to have been able to be a part of it!

And, we turned around, moved about 15 feet, and had a whole other view and setting for a few more portraits!

And the exit?  Fantastic    And I sincerely wish nothing but the best for these two- Congratulations!!!

Last weekend, after a lovely bout of rainy weather that forced a reschedule, I was able to shoot a fellow local photographer’s family    As a photographer, I know it’s rare that we get to be in front of the camera, but it’s a good reminder that we SHOULD be- at least occasionally anyway!

And, generally, black and whites aren’t my thing, but I LOVED them on this session!

I am lucky to have friends who share the same interests, who also happen to photograph beautifully!

I’ve been tryng to shoot more film for personal work, as the best way to know what I’m doing is to actually DO it!  I’d love to get to a point where I’m offering film shoots for clients, but I’ve got to get to where I know my film stocks and figure out a good workflow first   Hence, personal work!

The following are 35mm shots where I tried out some local developing, and scanning the negatives myself here at home.  I’m fairly satisfied with my first attempts on my own (previous attempts always had them scanned for me as well in case I royally messed up!).

(Yup, my kids will pose, but they’ll make sure it looks forced!)

The following are just a few playing around shots.  The first is from my Holga, and the 2nd set are from a vintage Baldixette (1950s) that I managed to semi-break after one roll of film, and I haven’t been quite brave enough to try again yet.