So Much Fun!

Thanks Camille, for letting me photograph you and your sweet little girls! It was a blast and I learn tons every time I take pics for different people in different locations. Here are a few of the shots I've edited so far. Hope you like them!

Taking a Moment For Myself

I'm just sitting here at Starbuck's. Just Me. I could say that every moment with my children is bliss and I miss them every time I'm away. But I won't. I have discovered something important about myself this past few months and it's really given me the ability to let the guilt go. I need time to focus on myself occasionallly. I need to get excercise and I need to have some sort of creative outlet. I think if I am a better person, I am a better Mommy. Sounds simple enough, but how many Moms out there really take care of themselves? For me, a stay at home Mom, it is my job to take care of others. It's really the only job that you won't get a break from unless you seek one. We need to seek breaks! Right now I hope my kids are seeing me as Mommy, but also a person who also has hobbies and interests.

In other news, the family I took photos of got their disc on Monday and the Mom sent me a really sweet email thanking me. They loved the photos and said if I get to the point someday where I want to do it professionally, they will refer peole to me. She also gave me specific feedback about which were favorites, which was really helpful. Loved this!

I am going to do a little shoot for my friend Camille and her two little girls this afternoon. Camille has been a good friend of mine ever since our 5 year olds were born and we were in PEPS together. (For the Non-Seattle Moms, PEPS is an amazing program that forms groups of new Moms who live near each other. It is an awesome thing!) I am so excited to do pics of people I know really well. I think the comfort level will help things flow really naturally.

Off to bootcamp now. Or, as my 5 year old sometimes calls it "boob camp". She thinks she's hilarious. And? She kind of is.

Fun Chalk Photo Challenge

www.iheartfaces.com has a weekly photo challenge that I wanted to participate in. Two rules: use chalk in some way and must include a human face. I didn't have long to come up with an idea, but I thought this was cute! I wish some of the shadows could have been worked out better, but this is what I came up with in a short amount of time.

Which to choose?

I have the most difficult time picking an edit and sticking with it. I may think it's done and then look at it a couple of hours later and think, "maybe if I just lighten it a bit..." Sometimes I take in a totally different direction. Skilled photographers, how do you know when to stop?




And this last one? Posting just because Evelyn is awesome and she loved this zipline at Discovery park.

Oh yeah. Baby Mac is pretty cute too.

I think I love you.

Ok. I'm enjoying switching cameras. It's kind of fun. The one thing that seems hugely different between the cameras is the aperture. The old camera 1.8 would give me a blur in the background. New camera? 1.8 makes the blur a little more extreme in close up shots.

Here are some SOOC shots I took of Mac picking tomatoes in the backyard. I went to edit and realized, "I don't think they really need editing. Sweet." Well, they could use a teensy bit of editing, but you get the picture, right?

While I haven't learned much about my new camera, I have taken a few photos. Lots of reading (and practicing to do). Here are a few of my first shots with it.

Nothing to Write Home About...

The beginning of the school year and Charlotte's birthday celebrations have worn me out! Yikes. I feel like I haven't had a moment to even breathe. Here are a couple of pics from Charlotte's tea party 5th birthday party. Nothing special photography-wise, but loving the kids working on their art as the sun streams through the window.

And in other news, my new camera arrived today! I cannot wait to figure it out. It looks a tad confusing, but I think I can learn:)

I'll leave you with a couple of shots from my first non-friend or family shoot. Adorable little boy! He was very serious, but quite darling!

Been Crazy Busy and New Camera on the Way!

Only time for a short little post right now. I did my first photo shoot on Sunday. It went pretty well and I learned a lot about what I will do differently next time. My husband surprised me with a new camera for our anniversary. I'm getting the Canon 60D, it's on the way. I should have it in time for the weekend so I can do some serious learning and experimenting. I can't wait!!! I'll be back soon with pics and more. I'm off to finally get my hair cut and colored. Woohoo!

oh, the nerves.

Like I've explained before, I am very new to this photography thing and am loving learning all about it! Our former nanny has pics of my kids all over her office (of course my pics she prints off of the blog of FB) and one of her coworkers asked if I would be willing to take family pics for her. She wanted to pay me! Of course I said I would do it, without pay. I am in serious "practice" mode and could definitely not accept money. She told me "I know you say you are an amateur, bot I just love your photos and I think it will be wonderful." Gulp. I'm kind of scared. So send some kind thoughts my way and any tips for me would be great.

Another Before and After blog hop

I'm participating in Pixel Perfect's Before and After blog hop, check this blog out!
http://www.pixelperfectblog.com/

Before: If you look closely, her face was splotchy, just not so good.
After: I did some eye pop action, and messed around with black/white actions quite a bit until I got this. Don't ask me to duplicate this, because I have no idea!

G Mac and Sunshine

now and then

Last year my daughter was just days away from being a 4 year old. Why am I finding 5 so difficult? The amount she has grown (and I don't mean just physically) this year is astonishing! This first pic was shot last year at about this same time. The second was taken today as we were on our way into her first day at pre-k.

Geez. Doesn't even look like the same little girl. *wiping tears as they roll down my cheek...

Sweet Charlotte

My little girl starts Pre-k tomorrow and turns 5 on Thursday. How can this be possible? 5? While we may butt heads from time to time, she amazes me every day.

Where little one sleeps

Mac's bedroom. Really liked the lighting here. Looks very inviting!

Aha! Higher ISO

Early this evening, I thought it would be lovely to take some nice shots of Baby Mac. I envisioned lovely pre-twilight light streaming softly through windows, casting a light softness on my adorable little guy. Of course, that did not happen. I couldn't get a shot that was way too dark or way too blurry. I messed with a few things, nothing really helped. I even tried using the flash. yuck. So I gave up. Then, I saw Mac trying his hardest to get up to the sink while the girls were brushing their teeth. He was standing on a teeny tiny stool saying "plee, plee" (his word for please). I thought, "I have got to get this!" I had not really taken my camera fully off auto mode. But? I did. And while these may have some technical issues, I was pretty happy that I was able to get these. I switched the ISO all the way up to 1600 and suddenly the blurry, dark shots looked light and fairly crisp. They may be a little grainy, but hey, I'm thrilled that I went off auto! Baby steps.

Technically Challenged

Ha! You know how long it took me to make this new blog header? You don't want to know! Please tell me this stuff gets easier. It isn't even exactly how I want it. Of course I'd like it to fit exactly in the middle, but I'm now mentally incapacitated. So that's how it will stay. Incidentally, I am really excited that I have two friends who are volunteering their children for practice photo shoots with me! I can't wait to see how I handle this challenge. Between now and then, much, much more to learn. Whew. Too. Tired.
Goodnight.

PS. I realized after I typed this that I actually used an older saved version of the header before I added the title and had to redo it. Seriously, when I saved it I named the file "lastblogheaderdamnit.jpg" or something like that...

Before and After

www.pixelperfectblog.com/2010/09/beforeafter-blog-hop_09.html
I'm participating in this Blog Hop Before and After Challenge. Check out Monica's blog, lovely photos!

Before: Washed out, blah.


After: did a little color boost, eye pop, and voila!

Walking the 'hood

Blustery days. I love them. Why else would I have lived in the Pacific NW my entire life? I decided it was a good day to dress the girls in cute new school outfits and head off on an adventure. Have I mentioned that taking photos of my own children is getting a little less fun these days? They are staging a coup. "Enough with the camera Mom!" I can't help it, I just want to get as much experience in as I can. Note to self. New subjects, ASAP. Other people's children won't whine and ask repeatedly if they could "please take these legwarmers off? Please?" (Hahaha, I made my 5 year old wear legwarmers. Ok, I didn't force her. She was game...at first.)

Oh, by the way, it didn't stay blustery for long. As soon as we stepped outside, the heavens parted and sun shone through. Bright sun. Not good light for taking photos at 2 in the afternoon. Stupid shadows.


This is my favorite of the entire shoot. Loving me some blue doors! Different door this time, same school.



Here is one of the way too bright shots. I played around with it and made it (I think), kind of fun.


I love my Evelyn! Her unique-ness thrills me.


I'm loving these next 3!
This? Because I live in Seattle and this view is at a park just 1 mere block from my home.

And the reasons for loving these next 2 are pretty obvious.



You may notice the absense of Charlotte photos. She wasn't happy with those darn legwarmers, I guess.

Anyone want to help me out on this?

I was looking through some old photos and came across this sweet little shot of Evelyn around her first birthday. I was playing photographer and had zero idea what I was doing. Even less than I do now! So I thought it would be fun to do some editing.
Before Edit



After Edit: I like it, but am wondering how on earth I can get rid of that horrible shadow above her head to the right? Also, I'm wondering how to make it not so obvious that there is a white comforter up next to her face? I'm sure it's fairly simple, but my PSE knowledge is quite limited. Ideas?


Oh boy. I have so much to learn!

A Photo Challenge

This blog http www.faith-simplicity.blogspot.com had some photography assignments posted, so I figured I'd join in. The theme this week is LOVE. What captures the word better than two big sisters that love their baby brother?

Why I am so happy...

It doesn't take much to put a smile on my face and right now what is making me grin is my Photoshop Elements program. I am, by any stretch, an expert. As a matter of fact, I really know nothing. However, I LOVE how I can take a photo that I didn't even notice straight out of the camera and turn it into something that I love.
For instance: This pic of Charlotte and Mac is not great. Charlotte is making a funny face. Sure, Mac looks cute, but it's just blah. A couple of minor little changes and it looks like something interesting.



And here. "look, it's a baby eating a strawberry. hmmmm." But I made a few changes and turned it into something I think is really cool. Probably won't be displayed at the Seattle Art Museum or anything...




All of this is so new to me, so pardon me if I just go on and on about how much fun I'm having!

It's been done before, but I love the light in my bedroom. Also love playing around with images in photoshop. I thought these photos captured my girls to a T. Serious and Goofy. My 2 little sweethearts.