A beautiful morning has shifted to a cloudy afternoon. Thick, dark clouds are threatening to drop some moisture on our OBX day.
The dreary afternoon is sending me in search of a bright spot, and I know just the cure. A double-dose really; some awesome art from Jordan, and my one of my favorite subjects, waves.
Enjoy Jordan’s view of the Toys from God…
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Outer Banks: 1.29.12 - Gorgeous OBX Sunset
2012 is underway, and we now have one month behind us. I don’t want to jinx us, but it was a pretty fabulous month on the Outer Banks – bright sun, blue skies, 60′s, surf…we could use some more fishing, but overall no complaints.
As I’ve mentioned in my other Outer Banks Behind the Lens posts, each and everyday I try to make time to get to the beach to snap a photo and give a quick beach report. This morning routine has become one of my favorite times of the day. In addition to the morning photo, I do my best to snap great OBX photos anytime I see them.
I just put the finishing touches on a slideshow of all my Outer Banks pictures from January 2012 on Flickr, and in my humble opinion, it’s a great way to kill a few minutes.
Kick back, relax, and enjoy some OBX sights…
An Outer Banks photography class for kids?! Sweet!
Great idea Brooke. Let’s start ‘em young.
Outer Banks Kids Photography Class
Outer Banks Photography: Brooke Mayo
Yesterday, I threw out some virtual high-fives to Brooke Mayo for her brand spanking new book, and in that post I mentioned that Brooke has graciously agreed to join us once again for Club Seaside in 2012.
We are super duper excited to have Brooke back for our 4th year together…has it already been 4 years?! Wow.
To help y’all prepare for your fabulous OBX photo shoot with Ms. Brooke, we asked the famed photog if she would whip up a guest blog post for us, and ta da!
Here we go, Brooke’s tips on How to Prepare for an Outer Banks Photo Shoot. Enjoy…
“Photo Tips for the Modern Family” – Brooke Mayo
We are Brooke Mayo Photographers and have been photographing families on the beach since 2001. Brooke Mayo Photographers consists of three photographers, Brooke Mayo Carrie Roen and Candace Owens. We are photographers who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what we do!
We want to capture you and your family as you are, each relationship is dynamic and we want to show all the expressions you know and some you may not! We will have everyone play, build sandcastles, run through the ocean, pick up shells and make memories! Our style is more photojournalistic, meaning we value candid shots and unposed actions as much as posing – we think you will appreciate the subtle emotions of a family when nobody has to say “cheese”.
Got a big family? Great – we will take shots of the larger group, and break into individual families and the combinations of your choice, to make sure everybody gets that picture with great-uncle Bob. Looking to break away from the traditional beachside portrait? Sure – we can recommend sand dunes, old oak forests, quaint harbors, vineyards, farms and more – the backdrops are endless. It’s the Outer Banks!
When dressing for your family beach portrait, show your personality! Have everyone coordinate but don’t “match.” We want to show who you are as a family!
Wear what shows your personality! We love sundresses, pastels, polka dots and fun props! Try to avoid short skirts (as we often have you jumping in the air or laying in the sand), solid blacks, reds, hot pink/green or bright orange. If one person wears a pattern, have everyone else be in solid colors. We’re happy to help you decide on outfits!
We know you have seen the beach portraits of everyone in khacki and white or jeans and white. In everyday life you don’t all dress the same and you shouldn’t do that for your family portraits either. The white tends to wash most people out and it along with the khacki blends into the sand. Try having one or two people in patterns and the others in solid colors, pastels are gorgeous on the beach!
Also, I know the best times for photos aren’t the best times for kiddos… 630 or 7am or 7pm in the summer on the beach, but it’s the best light. If the photos are done much earlier or later, unless it’s overcast, your faces will be shiny and your eyes squinty and the beaches are much less crowded. If it is overcast, we can schedule throughout the day. Don’t worry that it’s not sunny – direct light is great for sunbathing, but not for pictures!
Bring props, if your kids like playing in the sand and using a shovel and bucket, go for it! We want them to have fun and for it to feel more like a play date rather than a stiff family portrait where they don’t get to enjoy themselves. You can even bring ice cream for the end of the shoot, make sundaes on the beach, or just eat a cone… it doesn’t get much more summery than that!
We come to frolick with you and your family at your rental home or any other location you’d like! Some of our favorite locations such as local parks and vineyards are clearly marked with ample parking.
Shake, Rattle & Shoot
I may sound like a broken record, but the Outer Banks has soooo much coolness to offer…even beyond the beach. Do I say this too much? Oh well, it’s true.
I love the beach, the sun, and the surf as much as anyone, but I also dig all of the unique features that make the OBX so special – nature, art, history, food, and for the subject of this post – local businesses.
The OBX has some amazing local businesses, but I know from experience that the Outer Banks can create a bit of sensory overload when you’re here for a short time. Lots to see, lots to do, and it’s tough to determine the real treasures. Not to mention the beach is calling your name!
This is why we created Club Seaside a few years ago. Club Seaside isn’t really the focus of this post, so I won’t give a long sales pitch, but it is a unique way that we give our guests some insight into some of the great local businesses and offer a complimentary experience with the business to give a feel for the local OBX culture.
So why am I bringing this up? Well, we are getting close to announcing our 2012 Club Seaside lineup, and I’m happy to say that Brooke Mayo Photography is once again a partner! Which leads me to the main subject of this post…
Over the next day or so, I’m going to share a few great posts about Brooke, and to start let’s offer some virtual high-fives and woo hoos!
Brooke just released her second book! Shake, Rattle, & Shoot: The Business of Baby Photography. Congrats Ms. Mayo! Love the book!…especially the cover. 
(That’s my Little Dude, by the way. )
Here’s a link to an article in the Daily Advance that discusses the book and asks Brooke some questions. Inquiring minds want to know.
And here’s a link to the book on Amazon. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
Once again, congrats Brooke! You are super cool, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for bringing your awesomeness to Club Seaside in 2012!
Yesterday I debuted a new blog item for us, cinemagraphs. Super cool picture/video thingys. Basically a still picture with a subtle bit of motion.
Yesterday’s OBX cinemagraph was of Jennette’s Pier with the wind turbines spinning. I thought it came out pretty good, but it was a relatively risk-free approach…first time after all. It was a stationary subject with a small amount of movement. The more movement involved, the more complicated it is to line up the moving pieces.
I attempted a more difficult subject today; a seagull taking flight. I have to admit that I don’t think it’s perfect, but still pretty cool.
I’ll continue to hone my skills and get more adventurous with our Outer Banks Cinemagraphs. Stay tuned…there’s more to come.
For now, enjoy my imperfect OBX seagull taking flight.
PS: You may need to click on the picture to get the full effect of the movement.
Outer Banks Cinemagraph: OBX Seagull Takes Flight
Have you heard of these super cool picture/video thingys called “cinemagrpahs?”
They’re awesome. Basically a still picture with a subtle touch of motion…a picture with a tiny piece of video. Very cool.
Here’s the definition from Wikipedia: Cinemagraphs are still photographs in which a minor and repeated movement occurs. Cinemagraphs can give the illusion that the viewer is watching a video.
I’ve been trying to get all of the pieces in line to create one, and I finally figured it out. At the risk of being less than humble, I have to say that I think it’s pretty groovy.
Below is our first of many Outer Banks Cinemagraphs. It is a picture of a beautiful day at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head with the wind turbines spinning to generate some OBX wind energy. Rad right?!
Stay tuned; we’ll have more OBX Cinemagraphs headed your way soon. And if you have a special one that you’d like to see, please let me know in the comments below…I love to hear from you.
Oh yeah, and let me know what you think of the Outer Banks Cinemagraphs…cool or what?
PS – You may have the click on the picture to get the full effect of the movement.
Outer Banks Cinemagraph: OBX Wind Energy at Jennette's Pier
Outer Banks: 12.31.11 - Last OBX Sunset of 2011
It’s official, 2012 has arrived. We’re looking forward to an amazing year on the Outer Banks, but before we move ahead, let’s pause for a quick look back.
As I’ve mentioned in my other Outer Banks Behind the Lens posts, each and everyday I try to make time to get to the beach to snap a photo and give a quick beach report. This morning routine has become one of my favorite times of the day. In addition to the morning photo, I do my best to snap great OBX photos anytime I see them.
I just put the finishing touches on a slideshow of all my Outer Banks pictures on Flickr, and in my humble opinion, it’s pretty cool. Definitely a relaxing way to kill a few minutes.
A full year of Outer Banks pictures for 2011 – beach, Sound, sunrise, sunset, storms (ah hem, Hurricane Irene!), gorgeous beach days, fish, surfing, a double rainbow, and even Scooby Doo’s Mystery Van!
Overall, a pretty great year on the OBX. Here’s to an even better 2012!
Enjoy…
Outer Banks: 12.31.11 - Last OBX Sunset of 2011
Happy New Year! Can you believe it?! 2012?!
Wow 2011 flew by. I suspect 2012 will have a similar pace. But I’m going to do my best to help us appreciate some of the simple things – like great Outer Banks photos.
The OBX is a pretty great muse. It’s difficult to take a bad OBX photo, and it’s easy to find inspiration on a daily basis.
Each and everyday I try to make time to get to the beach to snap a photo and give a quick beach report. I share these on a variety of websites, and one of these fabulous websites –Flickr – gives me the ability to create nifty slideshows.
As we close out each month, I collect the OBX photos for the month and craft a quick and easy slideshow to remind us of how beautiful the month was; i.e. Outer Banks Behind the Lens.
Since we just flipped the calendar to January, let’s take a look back at December on the Outer Banks, shall we? Enjoy!
Love the idea? Want to see OBX pictures of something in particular? Just want to say hi? 
Let me know in the comments section. We love to hear from you.
PS – Should I put together a slideshow for all of 2011? I’m thinking yes, right?
December 8th? Already?! Where does the time go?
I hope you’re well on your way to tackling the holiday “to do” list, but I want to give you a good reason for a quick break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday planning onslaught.
Each and everyday I try to make time to get to the beach to snap a photo and give a quick beach report. I share these on a variety of websites, and one of these fabulous websites – Flickr – gives me the ability to create nifty slideshows.
What a great way to share some Outer Banks pictures, right? Bingo! Let’s do just that. Let’s share some OBX pictures from the past month. I’m going to do this every month (so be sure to check back…or better yet, sign up by email in the top right ), and I’ve coined the fantastic title of this new series, “Outer Banks Behind the Lens.”
I’m a few days late, but let’s kick it off with all the great images from November 2011. So sit back, kick up those tired feet and enjoy a one minute OBX vacation.
Love the idea? Want to see OBX pictures of something in particular? Just want to say hi? Let me know in the comments section. We love to hear from you.
