FAQ


Are your glasses real?

Yes they are! I would be blind as a bat without them. If you see me not wearing them that means I have contacts in!

Do you sell your knitting patterns?

I create and design all of the patterns for the knitted and crocheted items in my shop myself and it's a lot of hard work! But at this time I do not sell the patterns.

How the heck do you pronounce your name?

I get this a lot.
To put it simply: LeeKnee. Or even, the way it sounds at the end of Tortellini.
Hopefully that makes sense!

Who took the welcome images on your blog?

My friend Meagan Abell! She also helped me design my logo. You should check out her website: www.meaganabellphotography.com

Which iPhone apps do you use to edit your photos?

I love Afterlight, VSCO, Over and of course Instagram!

What camera do you use?

I use a Canon 5d Mark ii with a 50mm 1.2, a 40mm 2.8 and a 85mm 1.8 lens. 

What Photoshop do you use?

I primarily use Adobe Lightroom 3. 

Do you have any tips for someone opening up an Etsy shop?

 I answered a few questions and gave a few tips in this post here that you might find helpful

 Can you recommend some things to do in Richmond? 

 Definitely! I'm actually working on a Guide to Richmond post for the blog, but in the meantime feel free to email me for any suggestions.

 Would you want to meet up for coffee? Or donuts? Or pie?

 Yes. To all of the above. I love making new friends! Just shoot me an email and we can coordinate schedules. 

 Do you travel for weddings/other photoshoots?
I do indeed! Shoot me an email for more info: by.leney@gmail.com 


A 40mm Pancake Lens Review




So in light of this months goals, I recently invested in something fun.
The oh-so-cute 40mm f/2.8 lens. 
I've had my eye on this lens for awhile and I've been reading various reviews, but this one by Dylan and Sara finally sold me.


I'm seriously already in love with this lens.
 In my opinion, for the price and it's size, it's so worth the investment.
For various reasons. 
I personally have a really hard time sometimes with taking my camera out when I'm going to a casual event, just hanging out with friends or just heading out the door to see what adventure I come across.
  Not to mention the beach, the river, or other outdoor activities.
Sometimes I just don't really want to keep up with the $3500+ of equipment (since I almost always shoot with my 50mm 1.2) I have on my shoulder, not to mention how heavy and bulky it is.
And sometimes I just want to be a little more inconspicuous and not draw so much attention to myself (don't get me wrong, the 50mm is amazing and I am still very much in love with it. But sometimes it's just a bit much for my every day activities).


But with the 40mm on it's so much easier to just grab and go and I'm not worried about someone bumping into it in a crowded venue, or (heaven forbid) if it got stolen I wouldn't be as devastated as I would if I had my 50mm on (these are the things I think about sometimes... possibly over thinking but hey, it could happen...)


I went for a walk the other night with it and shot some photos to test out it's low-light performance and while it, of course, is nowhere near the capabilities of the 50mm 1.2, I still got some shots I really liked. To be honest though, comparing it to the 50mm isn't really fair anyway. But it's the only other lens I shoot with on a regular basis so it's what I have to compare it to.

I also took it sailing last weekend (another situation I don't really want to have my 50mm in all the time.... Hello waves and sunscreen and salt water) and I got some really good images then. It was also surprising how nice it was to have that extra little bit of width for my shots.
Especially on the close quarters of the boat.


I've been trying to free lens with it some, which is a bit hard to get the hang of, but it's very different then when you free lens with the 50mm. Mainly because you have to focus the lens before you unmount it. Still doable though.

Overall though, again, I just love it. It's the perfect mini addition to my camera bag.
Especially for my constantly on the go, wandering, traveling self.
Plus, how cute is it's name?
If I was a pancake eater I totally would have done a mini breakfast shoot with it on a plate of pancakes. ;)

Anyway, that's all of my two cents on the matter.
I'll be posting some photos taken with it soon!
//////////

All photos taken with my phone and edited with VSCO cam.

Contact


Have a comment or a question? 
Wanna write a note just to say hey? 
Want to feature or interview me? 
Have a business proposition or a custom order inquiry? 
Want to host a giveaway on my blog? 

You can email me:
 by.leney@gmail.com 

I'd love to hear from you!

Bridget | Senior Portraits

Meet Bridget.

I traveled up to Maryland to shoot this gorgeous girl's senior portraits a few weeks back and I don't think I could love the results more. 

Talk about a babe.

I've actually known this beauty since she was a baby and I seriously can't believe she's all grown up and off to college next year!

Man how time flies.

Here are a few favorites from the day.

Enjoy!

Wishing you the best of luck in this new season Bridge, I know you're know you're gonna rock it.

I love you heaps!

//////////

If you're a senior it's not too late to book a spot for your own portraits!

Or too early... if you're thinking about next year. ;)

Shoot me an email for more info.

by.leney@gmail.com

My RVA: The Gatsby Afternoon Picnic

Last Sunday I attended the 

Gatsby Afternoon Picnic

 here in Richmond, put on by the 

Art Deco Society of Virginia

.

It was the third annual and held at the oh so lovely 

Wilton House Museum

.

I've been wanting to go to this event ever since I heard about the first one but somehow I've always been busy. So I was super excited that I was actually free this year.

I mean, who wouldn't want an excuse to dress up in your 1920's Sunday best and step back in time for an afternoon?

The whole event was fabulous. 

From the costumes, the vendors, the music, the venue, all of it. I met so many lovely, eclectic, fun, interesting and wonderful people. It was such a great afternoon. 

I'm already thinking about doing the 

Tweed Ride

 (even though I don't own anything tweed...) and I'm definitely going to the 

Jazz Age Preservation Ball

 next year. 

(Another event day I always seem to be busy on... but I'm planning ahead this year)

I'm 

super

 excited for that. 

Like... really. I'm already dress shopping.

Anyway, here are some photos from the event! 

Enjoy.

^^and then sometimes your friend steals your camera and insists on taking a few herself^^

//////////

You can also see more on my

Facebook page

(feel free to tag yourselves!)

And if you're in Richmond be sure to go join the 

Art Deco Society's Facebook group

 as well to keep up with all of the fun events!

A Summer Mixtape

If You're A Bird I'm A Bird
| Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney |

Because music is my favorite.
And Because summer is still here.
And because I came across this winter mixtape from earlier this year. 


//1. Let Go - RAC, Kele MNDR
//2. Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks
//3. This Is The Beginning - Boy
//4. Leave The Night On - Sam Hunt
//5. No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
//6. Age of Consent - New Order
//7. Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
//8. From Eden -Hozier
//9. Alex Chilton -The Replacements
//10. Midnight City - M83



Natural Ways of The Soul

Maryland Freckles

"This showed me, once again, that I was happier when I accepted my own real likes and dislikes, instead of trying to decide what I ought to like; I was happier when I stopped squelching the inclinations toward note taking and bookmaking that I'd had since childhood and instead embraced them. As Michael de Montaigne observed, 'The least strained and most natural ways of the soul are the most beautiful; the best occupations are the least forced.'" - Gretchen Rubin


"Natural ways of the soul"
It's rather a lovely phrase, in all of it's simplicity.
Reading this passage from The Happiness Project last week gave me a somewhat obvious mini epiphany.

It's okay that I don't like cooking.
Maybe I will one day, but I really don't right now.
Sometimes I do. When I have extra time, when it's something relatively easy, or when I'm doing it with someone.
But for the most part I do not enjoy it.
And that's okay.

It's okay that I don't like gardening, or doing anything excessively dirty outside.
I love being outside.
 I love camping, I love sailing, I love riding bikes and picnics and reading in the grass, and going to the river and the beach and I don't mind getting dirty. Sometimes I even like getting dirty, It can be kind of satisfying in a way. But generally when it comes to working outside, with bugs and the heat, and heavy lifting and labor and hard work... I am not a fan.
And somehow gardening/anything plant related (with the exception of succulents. When I can keep them alive...) has always encompassed those things for me and I never really enjoy it.

It's also okay that I'm not good at math.
Other people are.
And there's always a calculator.

It's okay that I do not enjoy talking on the phone.
I honestly would just rather just see you in person, or if it's just something quick, send me an email or a text.  Or even a letter in the mail.
I don't know what it is, but with the exception of my long distance relationships (and even then it's hard to reach me. Sorry Maddie...) I really just don't like talking on the phone.
(Ironically I do like voicemails though...? I don't know. I don't make sense sometimes.)

It's okay that I don't like seafood.
I try it. I try it a lot. And I've always felt bad for not liking it. I want to like it. But I just don't.
I'll keep trying it. And maybe I'll like it one day... but in the meantime I won't feel bad about it.

It's okay that I'm really bad at multitasking.
(With the exception of when knitting is involved.)
It's apparently not as productive as I thought it was anyway.

It's okay that I would rather pay for certain things to be done then learn to do them myself.
I know time is money and all, but I feel like sometimes it's not.
And I really would rather just have the time.

It's okay that I'm not the most technological savvy person.
Even though I'm from the generation that's supposed to be.
(Like, what is Tinder? Does anyone even use Google+? I still have an iPhone 4s, is that okay? And how do I get iCloud to work... help me.)

It's okay that I don't like flip flops.

It's okay that I don't own a hair dryer.
Or know how to properly apply foundation or blush (neither of which I have...)
Or that I'm still not able to use a curling iron very well.
Or know what the heck mousse is even for.
Or that I've pretty much had the same makeup routine for the past 5 years.
Or that I've only ever gotten a manicure twice in my life.
I'm still a lady.
(Just not a well manicured, beautifully blushing, fluffy haired one.)

It's okay that I don't like watching sports.
Even a little bit.

It's also okay that I don't like playing sports.
Even something as simple as cornhole.
I really would just rather not.
//////

There are, of course, exceptions to all of these.
For instance: I love playing basketball with my brothers, I kind of sort of like calamari (if I don't think about it), I love cooking with my Aunt because there's always stories and illustrations involved (and plus she usually does most of the work and then I get to eat the delicious creation afterwards), some of the best conversations I've had have been on the phone, and of course there are some things I need to learn how to do rather than pay for them to be done so that I can counteract my occasional penchant for laziness.
But overall, these things do not come naturally to me.
And that's okay.
I'm really great at other things. My soul is full of all kinds of beautiful and natural ways.
And so is yours.
So don't beat yourself up for the ones that aren't there.


My RVA: September First Friday

I hadn't been to a

First Friday

in

ages

.

I always seem to be out of town when they come around, so I was stoked when I realized I could attend this one. It's one of my favorite things to do in

Richmond

.

There's always so much beautiful and insanely creative art to look at, interesting people to meet, thrift stores to shop in (

Books Bikes And Beyond

*cough cough*), ridiculously cute puppies to pet, street musicians playing your favorite Beirut song (thanks guys!), and of course heaps of restaurants and food trucks to eat from.

And of course if I get to do all of that in the company of a lovely friend it's twice as enjoyable. 

(Hey there Laura) 

P.s. Check out the window display in the first few photos at the oh so gorgeous 

Verdalina

. 

Isn't it just so perfect? Knitting obsession personified. I met the lovely woman, Marty, who designed the whole thing and told her so myself. 

Also: I could pretty much live in that store. It's so beautiful and put together oh so perfectly. 

Their whole aesthetic and design is so spot on. 

Go check it out if you haven't yet!

Places Pictured

Verdalina

1708 Gallery

Quirk Gallery

For more info about RVA First Friday's check out their site

here

.