More of that beautiful baby

Oh my gosh, is she not adorable or what? 6 months old. I LOVE that age. And this little one didn't disappoint. She was such a good model. She made great eye contact and was just so sweet and mellow.









Her mom is my best friend from high school. We shot these the day before Mother's Day and it was such a treat for me. Her two older girls were out with dad watching a movie and it was just us and her sweet baby. The house was quiet and the baby was just as pleasant as she could be... It was like we were given this gift of being able to spend time by ourselves, reflecting on life stuff, reconnecting... It really was so nice and I am grateful for that time with my friend.

So thanks Erin for that day. It was so appropriate for Mother's Day weekend. I love you and thanks for sharing your family with me.

Just about me for a sec...

I'm not going to say too much about this photo and how adorable this baby is right now. (I'll save it for next time when I post more from this particular session.) But I will say that this photo is not just a snapshot of her, but also a snapshot of me and this place that I have found myself to be with my photography.

And I'm not saying that this is the perfect photo. But when I got home from this session and uploaded these images, I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that things are coming together for me; that what I am learning is starting to show in my images. I see clarity in this image. Clarity because it was properly exposed. Clarity because it was tack sharp. Clarity because I knew what to do in my post-processing to give it that bit of pop it needed, but without over-processing it to get there. I am also super happy that I was able to expose properly for using a white backdrop. Oh my gosh, I just ate it big time last time I tried to do this. And man oh man, I placed her with enough distance to blur out that darn backdrop. Okay, I'm patting myself on the back for these things. But it just feels so good to be doing something right, and with intention.

This year is turning out to be a huge year of growth for me. I have opened myself up to taking classes and even going to a couple seminars... I am very proud of myself for these things, especially the classes, because I am not only an introvert by nature, but also just afraid to put myself out there. Afraid that I will be told I suck or this isn't the job for me, find something else. Yeah, I have major insecurity issues. But it's scary being watched by other people, wondering what they think of you, wondering if you have what it takes.

This is the first thing I have ever done that has felt right. I'm not great at many things. Once upon a time I used to sing... God gave me the gift of voice. I'm not using that gift too much right now, not as much as I did in the past, but it wasn't something I was truly comfortable with pursuing. I'm not musically inclined in a technical sort of way and that part held me up. And once again, I'm a bit of an introvert, remember? I also have somewhat of a gift for crafting... Nothing major. Tole-painted a bit, cross-stitched a bit, scrapbooked... Not super terrific at these things. I somewhat have a gift for teaching and graduated college with a degree in liberal studies with the thought that I would teach elementary school. And that never came to pass. To be honest, I have no desire to do that. I cringe when I drive by a school yard.

Photography is the first thing I have done that I have genuine passion for. I know with all my heart that I am doing what I am meant to be doing. This is the first time I have a desire to learn. That might sound sad to some, but seriously, nothing else has ever moved my soul like photography.

About the workshop I am currently taking, OH MY GOSH, everything I have read about Wendy Schulz is absolutely true. She truly truly has a gift for teaching. She is a wealth of information and has an amazing way of explaining things. She's thorough and makes sure you understand. I don't even think we're half way through the class and I have learned a ton! The technical, the artistic, the post-processing end, she covers it all. For any of you who have thought about taking a class or feel you need to take that next step in your photography, I can't encourage you enough to sign up with Wendy. You will not regret it.

My business... Stay tuned because I am just about to purchase a new website template and I am too excited about it! I am so grateful to Daniel for getting me to this point with his skill and support. He did a great job putting together my current website, but I'm ready to step it up a notch and I have finally made a decision on the company to go with. So stay tuned! I'm sure I'll be asking for some feedback real soon here. My goal is to launch my new site by the end of June.

I am, however, stumped on a logo design so if anyone has any feedback for me about what kind of logo they think might suit me, please share! I am so ready to do some branding here! I way over-think this kind of stuff and have the hardest time making decisions. I love simple, but I'm searching for that distinctive touch of personality that is truly me... I feel that if I could just figure out my logo that everything else, colors and design, would all fall into place.

Oh, and for anyone who remembers my previous issues with Mr. 40D... I'm giving him the boot real soon here. And it's not because I am still having a ton of problems with it. I turned it in twice now to Canon and after the second time it has done much better with its focusing. A different kind of "adjustment" was supposedly made and it really has been better. But it left a bad taste in my mouth. Also, whenever I use my Rebel XT with Tamron lens I come home with lots of super crisp shots and then I am upset all over again with the 40D. So anywho... A new guy is coming on the scene in my very near future... Mr. 5D... and he's bringing along some pretty nice glass to boot! I can hardly wait!!!

And with that, if you have actually gotten this far, I want to thank you for listening and for letting me share about myself. I really appreciate all of you who come around to my blog. I wish I were better at posting. I write out my blog posts in my head all the time while driving around town... It's just tough to do once I get home. But thank you for stopping by and for encouraging me.

Have a wonderful week and God bless!

ETA: For those of you who think the above photo is different from before, you're right! Sorry, that's kind of cheating. Improved on my color while proofing the rest of these and this just made me happier.

It was my family's turn...

One of the MANY things that I have failed to share with you is that my family has been gearing up for our own family photo session with a photographer I found last year. We booked her in January and have anxiously been waiting for our session ever since. Her name is Carey Schumacher with San Diego Barefoot Memories. She is a master at outdoor beach photography and just this awesome helpful person besides.

All I wanted for our tenth wedding anniversary last year (it was 10 last September) was family photos. Nice family photos. Photos that involved all four of us and not just three (if you get the picture) and some photos of just Daniel and I. Sometimes (okay, lots of times) it really breaks my heart that I can capture memories for other people that I can't capture for myself. Why skimp out on my own family? I was on a mission to find a local photographer whose work really spoke to me. When I found Carey's article in a Rangefinder Magazine last year, and then checked out her site, I knew I had found who I was looking for.

Our session was last Sunday and we made a little weekend of it in San Diego. Those who know us well, know that we go to San Diego for short get-aways about 3 or 4 times a year. Another reason why using a San Diego photographer seemed very fitting for us. In the last couple weeks while gearing up for this, I suddenly became this regular non-photographer person, worrying about clothes, hair, wondering if the kids would cooperate, etc. Even almost stressing about it. And on top of all that, have just been super super excited. I now fully realize how my clients feel in anticipation of their session.

And for the most part it all worked out. The exception was that Emma started to not feel well the day before. You could see it in her eyes. They were sort of glazed over and she just wasn't right. She did okay for the beginning of our session and then pooped out fast. We could have just laid her on the beach and she would have fallen asleep. It was disappointing to me, but just sad too that she didn't even enjoy it. We discovered later that day that she had a fever and that continued for the next couple days. Oh well. But Carey did an awesome job and caught some great moments of our family. You probably wouldn't even know that Emma wasn't feeling well if I hadn't just told you.

Okay okay, without further ado (did I spell that right?), HERE is a link to Carey's blog that she just posted today (posted May 22nd). Wow, it's so cool to be on her blog! Such an honor! Close family and friends, I will email you the link to see our full gallery and anyone else who may want to see it, let me know.

Carey, if you happen to read this, and I know you are super super busy right now, thank you so much for capturing such special moments of and for my family. You are an incredibly talented lady with such a big heart. Thanks for being so giving. God bless you always.

(One of my favorites:)

Because he's so dang cute!

I started a blog post last night and long story short, I did something silly and lost everything I wrote. I just wasn't up to re-writing it. So I threw in the towel and went to bed.

But here is one of the photos I was going to share:



Okay, yeah, it was like a 100 degrees out and just this sticky sweaty mess. Kept dousing his head with water to keep him cool. So that should explain the blushed cheeks and wet hair for you. But is he not pure cuteness or what?! Okay, he's my boy, of course I'm going to think that, but seriously, I could just eat him up!

And off topic, why do we say things like that, "Eat him up"? My husband always talks about the kids being "tasty little morsels"... Where in the world does this come from? I guess it's one of those things we shouldn't think about too much, huh?

Rejected

I fully edited this one, seeing if it was a possible choice for my assignment that's due tonight, but it was rejected... By me of course! Phooey composition.



I still love it though. Even if it wasn't good enough for class. :) Mommy goggles all the way.

Oh yeah, "class" - one of those things I haven't shared with you, but am dying to because I LOVE it. Wendy rocks!

so soon?

I HAD to get rid of my other banner even though it had my very favorite little "almost" two year old in it. The skin tones were pukey and it was just driving me nuts because they just didn't look that bad on my computer until I saw it on my banner. So away with it! Get another banner little dude! One where mama does your beautiful little face justice. :)

And that's how I feel about that.

I love that new face up there though. :) Makes me very happy.

I truly have a ton to share with you. Soon... Soon.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

My first newborn is now 2!

This is my two year old niece, Autumn.


Check her out HERE to see the newborn and the one year old Autumn. I can't believe my first newborn session was two years ago... She was only five days old. Lots of hair, and dark hair at that! Now she's got this curly red mop that just amazes me every time I see her. She's going to hate it later, but for now we will enjoy how cute it is on her. And she was so calm as a baby. Amazing to see the spunk that has emerged in her!

Our shoot on Friday was funny because she is very shy and clingy with her mom and it takes her awhile to snap out of it.





I know my sister is going to like this shot. Behind them, although you can't read the name, is the restaurant where my sister and husband were married.


We were at the Long Beach Aquarium area taking these photos. After spending some time in the aquarium, then having lunch, we were able to get a much more natural Auti...



All wound up and tired... Hey, it worked!


I love this shot, so sweet.




Haven't taken photos of her in what seems like a year. It probably is. So this was a treat to get these because they are just as much for me as they are for my sister. :) Thanks Donna for spending the day with us. We had such a good time and I hope we can do it more often. The kids had so much fun. Happy Birthday Auti!

"cheeeeese"

Don't be mislead by my title, thinking that I ask children I photograph to say "cheese". I in fact don't. But these kids cracked me up because as soon as I had them set up, they instantly said cheese, often in unison. Somewhere along the way, they were trained to say this and it was just too funny. But I will say, they were very good little models for me that day. They knew exactly what the plan was and they were on top of it.

Aren't they just too dang cute?! And they have the most gorgeous eyes...









Thank you so much to mom and dad... Daniel and I both worked with mom at Disneyland, way back in the beginning of our time there. We reconnected with her during the fall a couple years ago at a pumpkin patch. It was so great to see her married and happy with two beautiful little kids. I feel honored that they would call on me to photograph their children. Truly such great kids to work with and I think it shows in the photos.



Thanks again guys and I'll be in touch soon!