We're back!

Wee-hoo! The Computer Wizard worked his magic and we are back in business!

I have a Senior photo shoot with the lovely Jordan this afternoon, but I will be working on maternity, vacation and senior photos after that! Ya-hoo!

For now, I have more pics of the kids - they are getting so big! Cole and Alex actually had fun with this - B-Man wanted nothing to do with me and the camera...but that could be because he is cutting his 2-year molars. I'd like to think he doesn't have an aversion to the camera! :)

I took a few pictures with the intent of giving them to the grandmas...portraits of the kids that showed what they looked like and not just cool artsy shots so they could show them off...but there are a few included of those artsy ones too. Some are also to send to Fisher Price, since we have been asked to send some in to see if the kids would be suited to a photoshoot there. Their cousin ended up on a few packages back when he was this age, and I remember thinking what a cool memory/experience they were preserving for him - to be on a toy package! So, we'll see where that takes us. Maybe they will be cooperative enough to be included.... :)

I was wowed by just how blue their eyes are getting, but some of them looked great in black and white too - so, I am including the large amount of colors today and then tomorrow I will post the black and whites separately, since they are so different and cool in their own way - tell me what you think! Prepare...this is a LONG one!

Alexandria

Braden (for not cooperating, I certainly got the MOST from him! Weird.)

Cole

Erin and Jimmy E-Shoot

Ok, so it's been awhile! I want to share my very first professional shoot results with you guys here - even though "professional" may mean with our good friends and it was really only practice. Shhh! It was a good first dip into the world of directing photo sessions, and I must admit I was hesitant that I would be able to do it. Even though Erin is our close friend, I still had worries of feeling like I wouldn't be able to direct well enough to get good shots, not be able to strike the balance between bossy and indecisive. :)

See, dogs and kids - especially your own - you just kind of... follow. And take shots here and there - more candid. Truly candid. Adults... you direct to make it look candid! A whole different ball game! But, I feel good about this one, I got through it and now know that I can do it - and want to do more of it! I want this to be my true following, and I think this was another sign along that path.

Thanks again, Erin and Jimmy for letting me find that out on you guys!

They got married a week and a half ago, and I wanted them to be comfortable with me posting these pictures....since they had a lot on their plates - I waited until this week to ask, after coming home from their honeymoon - hope you had a great time, Mr. and Mrs P!

This will be a first in many posts, check back every day for more... I have a lot I need to share!

We started out on the steps:

One of my favorites: You can see so much of one's personality in their shoes - I LOVE shoe shots!

Then we moved to the open grass to try for some with a cute picnic feel - I was forever chasing the light - I didn't want to miss the warm sun setting, but we were a tad too early. Great light anyway, though still bright, so we improvised with an umbrella. :)

And in color - the POP of the umbrella and her gorgeous eyes were too much not to include!

eternal dilemma once again: I liked this one in color too:

More tomorrow!

Three Dogs and A Gorgeous Tree

So, I know you all know I am a dog lover...that's pretty darn obvious, considering my new career choice.  Also, if you are a regular reader of this blog (thank you!), you also know I am a flower junkie! So, what do you get when you cross three beautiful and loving dogs, two beautiful double lilac bushes and one insanely gorgeous pink magnolia tree? Well, you get me jumping up and down like a crazed lunatic, so excited, even if it's drizzling and cold outside. Yep! Magnolia trees are my latest obsession. I want one.  No, I want a whole forest. And this tree was no exception, it further fanned the flames! I was even willing to create more work for myself in the form of photoshopping out some leashes (since we were in the front of the house by the road), some hands and some cars... but the background was soooooo worth it! What can I say, flowers just get me going, especially if I have my favorite animals in the foreground. ;)

I was having a blast with Simon (a spunky black lab), Sadie (a super sweet golden retriever) and Riley (of course, Sara's infamous great dane!). Here are some of the shots we got on that drizzly, wet day a few weeks ago - thank you again to the loving parents of these sweet doggies, for braving the rain with me and not laughing at me too hard when I was laying on the ground to capture these shots. I am a goof, I know! But I am loving every.single.minute.of.it. ;) Thank you for letting me into your lives!

Details: If I were a "pro", which I am not just yet - I would have rules for myself, one of which is that I would get the proofs up in a timely manner and they would go up all at once.  BUT, since I am still a learning newbie, I am choosing to put these up as I go along. It works as motivation for me to keep plugging away and it also feeds a bit at a time to the parents of my new best friends, so they don't have to wait so long! ;) I will try to do them in themes, so here are some of the shots we got by the trees...

Is that tree not GORGEOUS??!

I love this one, with Simon as the focus!

I think this one is my favorite, with that buttery, purple blooming background - it's almost like a painting!

More Learning and Progress

I am constantly trying to learn and push myself in photoshop, so here I am with two more collages - one of Paige's wedding and another one of my outing with Cody a few weeks ago. I am still working on the Three Dog Shoot and STILL trying to finish up Paige's photos (I am almost done, Paige -I promise!). I have an engagement shoot coming up soon with Erin and Jimmy (whether Jimmy likes it or not! lol) and some horses to get to as well!  It should be a busy month and I am so excited for it all to get underway. I am trying to get my sister and her family for a shoot, but schedules are just not meshing... ;) Hopefully, that will be able to happen soon - they are a beautiful and loving and stylish family that I am just dying to photograph!

Here are the collages - and the "three dog" should be up this week!

Paige's:

Cody's:

"3 Dog Day" Teaser

Get it? A play off of 3 Dog Night?  Anyone???  Oh, whatever.  ;)

Yep, I had the pleasure of practicing a 3-dog photo shoot this weekend with our amazing friend Sara and her beautiful family of dogs - Riley, Simon and Sadie. Here's a sample of the shots we got, even though it poured buckets that day and I still have yet to master the flash. Boo! Low light + 3 moving dogs = very difficult day! It was a blast, and I hope to come away with a few shots for these guys, standing out in the drizzle for little old me. ;) Thanks, guys!

Two quick ones and the rest will be up soon - I promise!

Red Door Awesomeness (I love red doors!!!!)

Blooming Beauties (Making me a crazy girl, oohing and ahhhing over this tree! I am insane!)

More up soon!