-Working On- One

It's been awhile, months actually.  Months since I charged up the battery, loaded my backpack and set out to shoot for someone else.    It felt good...normal and natural.  And normal is something that I cling to almost as fervently as hope and faith. 

45 minutes we spent on the hill, a family of 3 and me.  He's turning one.

Twelve months of sleepless nights, soothing, and worrying, are going to be celebrated.  But more importantly, twelve months of undeniable joy.  Joy in looking in to eyes that you recognize as your own, joy at first smiles, first steps, and milestone moments that happen nearly every day.  Joy in realizing that this little tiny human is fulfilling your purpose in life.

Realizing they aren't just our future, they are also part of our past; soaking up and absorbing all of our traditions and experiences.  They are living pieces of us, a record of our life experiences and the roads we traveled.   They are everything we will them to be. 

Yes.  I remember first birthdays.

The Video - Mi Chloe

From her 3rd birthday shoot...

Session: Young Cowboys

We met at Myakka State Park on Sunday.  The weather was beautiful, the boys were in good spirits, and I was crossing my fingers that just a few shots would turn out.  It's been six months since I played photographer, and six months since I've done a mock session. 

We enthusiastically headed over to a tree to climb.  The boys hopped up and I snapped a few shots, but then decided I should be up on the limb too.  I attempted to jump up on the giant limb multiple times before requiring assistance.  It made the boys laugh, I got my shot, and also got some motivation to get back to the gym.

After hiking down a trail, and around a swamp, we changed location.  I knew there was this rustic "cabin" not too far down the road.  So, we drove there, climbed out and then discovered it's a bathroom.  Didn't matter...I just wanted the background.  I wanted the texture of the wood. 

It turned out to be a great spot for these young cowboys.

This hobby of mine is still relatively new to me.  I'm still trying to figure out what my "style" is.  I'm trying to figure out what I like and what I don't.  I know I'm not good at posing subjects.  Photos of forced smiles don't really speak to me....not the way that this one does, anyway.

If these were my children, I'd hang this one.  It's unscripted, it tells a story.  A story of a little brother who is looking up at his big brother for his next step.  In the photo, he's trying to figure out what big brother is doing with his hat, but in life, he's learning how to grow up by watching his big brother. 

And I think they'll figure it out together, side by side.

And I love this one too.  It's life with more than one child; kids going in different directions, momma trying to pull it all together, while keeping herself together.  It's one of those moments that just IS.

And it all comes together eventually, doesn't it.  That's the way life works.

So, we ventured down a trail to a real log cabin.  The boys had renewed energy to explore while I tried to keep up.

They broke my camera with their goofy faces and cuteness and then Big Brother tried on his somber face.  He's a stone-faced cowboy and he's mad that his horse ran off.  That's what we pretended anyway. 

Then, Little Brother did some rock climbing.  He seems so small compared to the big giant rock.  And I had the chance to nail my focus. 

As the sun was fading and the mosquitoes started biting, we decided to try one more location.  Down the road we drove to a wooden fence covering the entrance to a trail.  It was a good decision.  I think I took my best photos of the day in that spot.

I still don't know what my style is.  Different photos speak to me in different ways, I just can't pinpoint it, and that's okay.  Maybe my style is that I don't have one.  Regardless, I had a great time, and I hope that their momma got a Christmas card shot out of here somewhere.

Working On - Young Cowboys

Oh, what a 4 day weekend does for the soul!  We had a great time.  I had family in town and hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the very first time.  It was also the first time that my new dining room table was properly dined on, although the room looks just as naked as it did before.  Except, now our Christmas tree is up, and the room has been rearranged to make room for it.  I love how a beautiful tree changes the whole mood of a house and room.  This is, indeed, my favorite time of the year.

So, I have stories and photos to share this week, but first I'll share a few of these.  I had the pleasure of photographing my two favorite boys yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day, and the park yeilded a fabulous venue for this rustic/ranch style session.  It's been a long time since I've given this a shot, and I definitely had issues with my focus being off or just way too soft.  I think I took nearly 200 photos and came up with a handful of keepers.  I'm working my way through them, but here are a few of my favs.

Big Brother was dying to lay on a bench or table for me.  I love it when kids call the shot.  They are always so happy to smile for the camera when it's their idea.  These smiles are real!

One of my favorite photos of the day - who knew a giant stone BBQ could turn into a decent photo spot!

Y'all this room was dark, really dark.  I had to take my ISO up to 3200, and my shutter was dragging, and no tripod on hand.  I attempted to salvage the photo.  It's not perfect, but it's much improved from my original image, and I love the texture of the fireplace.  Next time, Carol, bring your dang tripod..oh, wait, I still need one.  Dear Santa, bring Carol a tripod for Xmas!

There was a mamoth rock across the street, and boys being boys, wanted to climb said rock.  It gave me the opportunity to change perspective a bit, since I was shooting up and toward the sun.  Sure I blew out the sky, but I managed to focus on his eyes in this one.  This photo is like a time machine....I can see exactly what he'll look like at 15, in this photo.

The softer side.

I lovey this one too, although my focus is on his knee, and not on his eyes...I still think it's sweet!  He looks like a lonesome lil cowboy. 

Happy Cyber Monday, Y'all!! 

Down the Lane {photos}

Sometimes my girls will fall asleep on a short car side, say in the 7 minutes it takes to get from the grocery store to home.  I feel like they deserve at least a 20 minute nap, and so I drive through the country side, aimlessly.  I take roads that I've never taken before.   

That's how I happened upon this canopy covered lane, the trees arched over the street, moss dripping from the branches, and holes of sunlight peeking through like a moth eaten bed sheet.

On Sunday, I asked my oldest girl to come with me to the lane.  "It'll only take a minute and you can wear that pretty new dress that is hanging in your closet."

To my surprise, she agreed, and willingly came with me. 

Together we went Down the Lane.

She hopped out of my truck and asked me where she should stand.  She followed all of my directions.  This isn't the first time she's been in front of my lens, but really it was. 

This is the first time that she played to the camera.

"Momma do we need to worry about cars since we are standing in the street?"

"No, love.  This is a dead end street, there shouldn't be many cars coming our way."

"What if I pick up this pine cone and hold it?  Remember that?  Remember at the park?"  I do remember that...so I let her call the shot.

And then I called this one.

And in less than 15 minutes, we were back in the kitchen.  I didn't need to take photos for an hour...just for a spell.  Just long enough to get a shot, and to test out that vision that was rolling around in my head.

I found inspiration.  I found motivation.  I found that creative "thing" that was missing.  And the best part is...that my little girl helped me find it.

We found it Down the Lane.

Boys Will Be Boys - Photo Preview

Every now and then someone will ask me to take some pictures for them, and I jump at the chance.  It means I get to spend a solid hour doing something I like to do.  I get to practice my hobby and each and every time I learn something.  It's the best way for me to grow and it gives my girls a break from the camera.

Such was the case last Sunday evening when I met V and her boys down at the Marina for a mock photo session. 

The weather was perfect and the smiles were everywhere.

And, this just might be my favorite photo from the evening.  Pure joy, real smiles that result only from belly laughs and hilarium.  I love the way big brother has his hand on little brother's shoulder, and how Momma is laughing with her boys.  This photo is SOOC.  I sharpened it a little for the web, but I couldn't bring myself to edit it.  I think it's lovely the way it is, it is an exact picture of the moment.

And boys will be boys and they enjoyed playing on a sculpture in the middle of the park.

Ahhh, hands in his pockets....

Big Brother asked me if I wanted to see his silly face.  Of course I did!

I'm a sucker for pictures from behind.  So little, and such a wide world infront of them. 

This couldn't get anymore picturesque...water, rocks, bridge, sailboat, and a partially toothless grin.

Our final photo of the evening...

Thanks for the opportunity, V! 

The Halloween Photo Session

On Sunday, we met Bridgette, our photographer, at the park before the sun was all the way up.  We bribed the girls in to their Halloween costumes, and followed them around the park for an hour and half while Bridgette snapped away in the cool morning air.

These pictures have become our annual tradition.  Every year since Camdyn was 9 months old, we've taken her to Sears to have her picture taken in her Halloween costume.  This provides me with a memory of what she wore that year, and I can also gage how much she changed in that one year, because the pictures are always taken at the same time.  This year, we decided to skip the studio and hire a real photographer.  Photographing toddlers in a studio is a nightmare, and Sears is always hit or miss - usually the pictures are only as good as the person taking them, sometimes they are adequate and sometimes they are a waste of time.

Bridgette did an amazing job catching some fleeting moments.  Click Here to see our pictures.

Do you have a favorite?  I'm having a really hard time picking out my faves!

Thanks, Bridgette for handling my squirrelly girls so brilliantly!

Happy Sunday and a Photo Shoot

I can't believe it is Sunday already.  Our family is hanging out at the house today, coloring, cleaning, and keeping things low-key and cool!

Here are some pics from the shoot I did for Little Miss' 3rd birthday!  I'm still learning, so please offer constructive criticsim, but be kind, I bite. ;)

“Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it my be.”

~Edward Weston