red pajama contest

Well, I rarely enter any sort of contests....but I got an e-mail with a list of giveaways to winners of a "holiday humor photo contest." Hope this fits in that category. I thought it was pretty funny? I was trying to get them all (including the dog) on the edge of the bed....as they were not cooperating I bribed them with suckers. A lick per still position. Sebs face is great - she knows she's not supposed to share with dogs. lol. Then, Ava dropped her sucker in Rusty's jumble of fur, it was all downhill from there. BAD idea mom. Anyway, wish me luck....even the 6th place winner gets something good. I'll let ya know and if I don't get squat, probably won't let ya know.

Done editing for the Christmas break. *sigh...

M+A

Tami, as I promised :).
It was so fun meeting you. What a great family you have, and I'm so happy for your sweet daughter and new son in law. Thanks for letting me share the day with you all!

drumroll please

And to help bring in the new year (bet I won't post till after) I'm changing the color of my background. Tired of black. You ready....dundaududu....WHITE! Too exciting. come on though, what are you here to look at? Right, pictures =)

December. Low light circumstances

I'm not going to post any from the weddings just yet. But I will say it has been way fun, and good practice...not only with photography but trying to juggle the busyness of things.
There have been a few times where I've felt frustrated with lighting, or lack of lighting....I was trying to practice the other day, and here is what I've decided - I want to be able to get a good/decent picture no matter the circumstances with lighting. It's so convenient and nice to plan on that sweet light when doing controlled photoshoots. But what about all the indoor stuff, and receptions and things at night? The other night I was messing around trying not to use my flash. I also didn't have my tripod, I was really surprised (with a few funky casts) to see that I could get these pictures without using my flash and liked them much better. (the few that weren't blurred. ha!) Anyway, there are ways I assume... just gotta keep playing with them to figure it outThe other thing was, this picture made me laugh. (It actually looks like it could be summer, daughters dress, and heels of coarse. She also had a trial of curlers in her hair) This is a typical view... Rusty waiting and Ava looking.
Here's one of our attempts to getting a family picture taken this season. This isn't the one we used for our cards, but wished I could have made it work. My dear friend Staci S. did such a great job taking pictures though (considering the circumstances - having her family kids there, rotating, trying to do both our families. Whew. It was funny. Thanks again girl =)Wishing you all a wonderful "Christmas week." Hope it's joyful and peaceful, and not stressful! =)

This is what I couldn't resist. She has that soft fuzz, and the tiny rolls. MMmmm sweetest thing.
BTW on the one below (had a few people asking about it) I just brought the suitcase, which I found at a yard sale a few months ago. The walls in their home happened to be perfect with it, also Amber had a wide selection of beanies n' bows. Colors all slipped together so nice =)

Simone

Isn't it amazing that a little soul like this can need so much. We were planning on an hour and a half shoot. Not sure why I think I can do newborns with that time frame, it always takes 3+. We had a few hold ups in the start =) but then when we got her how we wanted, I just couldn't stop taking pictures. It's been hard picking my favorites. She is sooo beautiful!

Very Thankful

Note: I am surely not a writer, but wanted to try and express a few thoughts. Here goes nothin out of somethin:

I was thinking lately, with thanksgiving and all...about things I am grateful for this year. One big one has been, everyone who has let me and pushed me to practice and grow in photography. When I started out, I really just hoped for good pictures of my kids. It brings me a feeling of fulfillment to freeze time and enjoy them through my lens. Never would have guessed I could be so comfortable behind it, and with people I just met...You've all become good friends, and I'm so lucky you pick me and trust me to capture you, your families, kids, brides, babies etc. I'm passionate about it, and can't wait for another year of growing and experimenting ahead. Way excited and drooling over my hopeful, few new gadgets to go with my camera + some HELP with the business/workflow side of it all! This is more fun than most anything else:) I've used this as my out, my away time to focus on something I truly love. Some days I've felt pretty tired trying to keep up, but never not had the desire to want to get the best results out of my work.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Oh, one more thing about photography. (wish I wasn't so cheesy about some of this) In all honesty though, I didn't know I could see such simple things be even more beautiful than I noticed them before. What a world we live in. My camera just helps me find those things even more around me.
...and because it doesn't snow often here...

Bianca's Bridals

I'm so excited for them, and what a beautiful bride she is. It was a fun setting, and I loved the idea of her musical joys incorporated in some of these shots

Project S.I.L's

Shouldn't call it projects...they're the most enjoyable kinds of projects. First miracle is the way my older sister in law can sew. She comes up with magic in her machine. And my beautiful youngest sister in law helped model her latest makes. Second, is my middle sister in law (I wasn't kidding they were all involved this weekend :) I'm pretty lucky) Anyway, she is due in a month. Their little girl will be beautiful, I can already feel her cute little spirit. Thanks for letting me take pictures of you. And I have to admit, I got tears in my eyes when I pulled up these pictures. What a miracle pregnancy is.

Quick photoshoot with some feet

....and a CUTE boy. :) Didn't have to worry about the upper halves, just feet in place - and gettin baby to look. Quick, and turned out so fun.
6 months now

For Brianna

Ava's 4 yr pictures

Okay, I'm totally favoring my child. Have the rights, right? :) I took almost 500 pictures of her the other day. These are just a few of the favorites. I'll put together a collage when I have more time. Can't believe she's 4! What a great time we had, just me and her. Tender moments. I was holding off for this session, to use this purple chair that belonged to my dear grandma.

Jos you've waited so patiently

I'm sorry I'm still finishing these. I truly am trying to keep up. How do people do it!? I think I'm going to talk to my hubby about hiring someone for the house work around here....then I can spend all my days editing. Heehe. NO, but really if any photographer happens upon this and can give me some time saving tips, it'd be appreciated. That's going to be part of my new years resolutions. Figuring out a good work flow - oh, and a bunch of other things I'm yet to figure out. Life is never dull :) Anyway! Josie, here are just a few more of your cute family. If anyone needs to find an awesome eye doctor in town, this guy is the man - Dr. Robison at Southwest Vision

One for now

This was just the first one, worked on it while the others loaded. We gotsa lotsa pictures today! It was nice meeting Richards family. Glad the weather held out for us.(after sitting in the car with fingers crossed) Thanks Bri for not giving up on me while setting this date up. You guys are so awesome.