Shooting for Perfect, not Perfection!

I am currently on a family vacation to the central California coast, and I have been enjoying leaving the “fancy camera” in my bag. Rather than shooting for perfection in my images, I'm shooting for the freedom to create perfect memories. That being said, of course I couldn't go on vacation without taking SOME photos, so I'm relying mostly on my iPhone camera and my Instagram feed to capture and store images without distracting from the adventure. 

This week I will be updating Facebook, Instagram, and the blog with images and memories from our trip with our best friends, the Hillmans (you may already know them from some of my photos and ads!). I will also be taking some more official Megan Henson Photography photos that will surface after we return and I have time to head to my office for post-process. 


Today's entry covers our trip driving from Portland down to San Luis Obispo. We did the trip in one and a half days, stopping to visit family in Medford, then continuing on for one long day on the road from Oregon all the way down to San Luis Obispo.

Sweet Bethany snoozing on the first leg of our long, long road trip to San Luis Obispo.

Kasey & I getting pumped for hours of entertaining little ones on the road.

While taking crisp, beautiful, frame-worthy photos every time is basically my goal in life, sometimes that bulky, expensive equipment can get in the way of enjoying some of life’s experiences. Rather than worrying about all the details of setting up the perfect photograph, grabbing a snapshot with my cell phone camera to capture a moment or memory is more than enough to keep me in the game. As a photographer, it’s easy to only experience life behind the lens, but I’m learning how important it is to set the camera aside to make my own memories rather than just capturing them for others. 

One of our stops: 
Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA

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Enjoying nature and texture. | Golden Gate National Park, San Francisco, CA

I'm a sucker for reflections and capturing them. Jorma was enjoying the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and I snapped a quick photo of myself and the vista in the reflection of his glasses. I love finding ways to incorporate anything creative in our snapshots. There are lots of little tricks like this one, and we all constantly see them on Facebook/Instagram/etc. I was trying to capture a picture that included the Golden Gate Bridge, but because it was so sunny I couldn't see my photo screen; this was one of those, *click* "I hope I got it" moments. I have been enjoying the freedom from pressure in taking these snapshots for my personal enjoyment. Rather than having to take perfect photos, I can snap whatever I feel like and know that there's no pressure of perfection.
Jorma & Megan, Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA

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Another beautiful break from the road at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! | Santa Cruz, CA

As our long day on the road came to a close, we stopped to stretch our legs while enjoying the beautiful, scenic drive down Highway 1. While we did take a few moments to grab photos with the "actual camera," my husband, Jorma, snagged this beautiful silhouette of me along the side of the highway with his cell phone.


Megan's Baby Bump (28 Weeks) | HWY 1, CA Coast

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After arriving at our destination, we were eager to hit up the beaches the following day. After a quick stop at the farmer's market to grab as much fresh produce as we could carry, we hit up Pismo Beach for a very windy, slightly chilly day enjoying the sand and ocean. Since we are Oregonians, we still swam in the ocean and laid out in the sun, despite the lower temps and brisk wind.

Fresh Californian Strawberries

Jorma and I being cheesy for the camera at 
Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach Boardwalk

Brayden & Jorma enjoying chocolate covered crickets on the boardwalk.

Since Kasey and her family have been coming to San Luis Obispo since Kasey was young, there are lots of things we need to do and see that are part of family tradition. One of these stops was Foster's Freeze in San Luis Obispo, "the original Dairy Queen." While killing a little time and waiting for our ice cream, we took an opportunity to grab a few adorable pics of the kiddos. It can be really funny to ask kids to show you their "happy," or "mad," r "sad" faces--and then, since we have the instant gratification of digital photography, the kids are stoked to see themselves making their faces. It's also a great idea to get the camera "down on their level," so you can get a straight-on angle with your camera/phone. Here are a few shots from our impromptu session while waiting for ice cream:

Maddy, Beth, & Brayden
"Sad"

Maddy, Beth, & Brayden
"Happy"

On day two we ventured to Avila Beach, which made for a much more successful day at the beach. The sun was shining (we all got a little pink), and we all enjoyed being in and out of the ocean for the majority of the day! 

Despite plans to head back to the house early, the sun and waves proved too tempting, and we spent several hours lounging, playing, building, and swimming on the beach. We will definitely be making another trip while we are here!

Megan (28 Weeks Pregnant) | Avila Beach, CA

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Jorma & Elven Body Surfing  | Avila Beach, CA

One thing that has made this photo-venture more exciting and successful was the addition of a water-tight iPhone case. We are able to take our camera out into the ocean for some action shots!

Sending virtual flowers | Love, light & beauty from Cali!