I Find it Kinda Funny

You know, I find it kinda funny....

Today's big adventure was taking my two little angels out to take their pictures. Now, being a photographer, you'd think that wouldn't be such a chore. After all, I clearly LOVE taking pictures. I've even made the decision to specialize in child photography. Making my own offspring the subject of a photo shoot should not be such a difficult undertaking. So we went. I dressed them all up, even down to matching shoes (which of course, you'll see here in a minute). I even persuaded husband to come along for the ride and help out.

Here's where it gets sticky. See, with other people's children, I can tell a joke or make a funny face, and it's all good. They will let out a squeal and a smile so big it'll knock you into next week. I can tell them NOT to smile, and they'll make the most beautiful natural face. It's a wonderful thing. However, with my OWN munchkins- nothing works. Nicholas, my oldest, has the I'm-Way-Too-Cool-For-This-Even-Though-I'm-Only-Ten look in nearly every picture. Ben, my youngest, has the tendency to make "Goofy Grin". We've all seen it. You know what that looks like. It's not pretty. So, I took A LOT of pictures. I mean.... A LOT. Now, rumaging through them, tossing out a gazillion with still a gazillion left to go through, I've decided to throw in the towel and ask my friend Amy to take the next batch. Geesh.... yeah. I suppose it all is, kinda funny.

Here's a few from the collection of today's adventure.

Children Get Older

Today I had the pleasure of photographing a little boy who has been in our life, off and on, for the last 5 years. My oldest son befriended this little guy when he started elementary school. Just a couple short years later, he and his family had to move away. While they just moved across town, to little people, that's a very very long way. We haven't been able to get the boys together more than a handful of times, but each time they just have a ball. It's amazing to me just how much they have both grown- now that they are in 4th grade. Big 10 year olds. It's just crazy. I am convinced, with this kids' good looks and charms, he's probably going to be the next Robert Pattison. We can hope anyway, right?

Aspirations

One day, when I grow up, I wanna be like Skye. Not like Mike...Skye. Hardwick that is. Skye is my inspiration in a lot of ways. She probably thinks I'm a total stalker, cuz I post on her blog and send her the occasional random messages on Facebook. I just *heart* her in a big way. I mean really... who doesn't! I'm about to give her a total shameless plug here- so get prepared.

Skye is an amazing child photographer. And I do mean AMAZING... with a capital everything. From posing to lighting, to after-effects. While I know I have my own style, it comforts me to know that I have Skye to look up to.

I mean- first of all... look at her.She's gorgeous. And she gets extra points for capturing sun flare in a self-portrait. Secondly, her work is beyond compare. Check out her website... http://www.soulographer.com. She's AMAZING. Thirdly, she put out this super-cool workshop workbook for other aspiring child photographers (like yours truly). The work she put into the workbook is phenomenal. She gives you ideas and specific words to use when talking and working with children. She gives you tips on lighting, props, posing and so much more. I had only one problem with the workbook. I wanted more. I could have read her writing for hours, and was just really hungry for more. But now she fixed that too. She added onto the workbook!! And now, to top it all off, she's come out with a posing guide, with specific tips and suggestions, and pictures to elaborate. http://www.pocketposingguide.com/

Now, I've already got the workbook. So, I get the posing guide and add-ons for the workbook already. But the thing is... Skye is having a CONTEST! It just wouldn't be right for me not to share. So, go to her blog, check it out, and ENTER!

Love ya Skye!!

Mystery Bride

Yesterday I had the privilege of shooting a bridal session at one of my favorite locations in the DFW metroplex. We were fortunate enough to have a gorgeous weather day, and shot for over TWO hours!! My poor bride was so little, at one point, her hands actually turned blue because she was cold! She was a trooper, though. We got some rockin' shots. She's been gracious enough to allow me to post them here for you guys, as long as I don't name her until AFTER the wedding (that way the groom can't do a Google search to find them). So, here's a sneak peak at my simply gorgeous, yet nameless bride. Thanks Mystery Bride!!

This is going to be one fantastic wedding.

More VERY soon... Amanda

A Little Nookie

As most of you know, I'm a little bit of a geek. I love science fiction, anything having to do with vampires or supernatural beings... and where else can you find most of that but in the pages of a good book. Or, my new favorite techno-gadget- my Nook from Barnes & Noble. I am completely smitten with it.

At first I wasn't quite sure if I loved it or not. It did take me a couple days to get used to it. But, one week and three books later, I have decided it's probably my new best friend (no offense, Paula. I still love you too.) Although I did discover "The Immortal Series" by Alyson Noel. I breezed through the first book, Evermore , in just two days. Then last night when I finished it, I had to move on to Blue Moon- the second in the series. I have to say, it was quite convenient to have the entire Barnes & Noble library available to download from my jammies. So, needless to say, I was into the pit of the best part of the book this morning around 2am when my darling husband turned off my light and made me go to sleep. Thanks for that, by the way, Honey. I'm a bookworm, and I really do LOVE LOVE LOVE my Nook.

I've been a little worried about carrying it, though. Afraid of getting it scratched up, etc. I planned on making myself a little case for it, but I just can't top what I found today. Now, this is definitely a girlie girl thing. Although I'm sure I have no male readers- I just have to say that. Today I stumbled across the Hipster Bag by Vera Bradley. It's the PERFECT size for my Nook! My Nookie fits snuggly inside. It zips all the way around, then I can throw the strap over my shoulder, across the bust, and that baby isn't going anywhere. Not to mention the fact that it's just super cute.

I have a feeling this is my new accessory that will go with me everywhere. So, now that I've been a sales person for Barnes & Noble and Vera today, I'll take a break and do some reading. :)

More soon...
Amanda

Spring has... well... SPRUNG!

So I've been leery of blog posting because I just hated my blog. But, thanks to a totally awesome (yes, I did grow up in the 1980's- thank you very much) gal named "Cinnamon Girl" I have a sweet new blog template that I'm in love with. So for a grand total of less than what I spent on lunch yesterday, I'm back up and running. The weather here in Texas has been pretty lovely for the past week. So much so that I was able to get out and have a very special photo shoot with a very special little girl named Erin. This little dollbaby was going to be a challenge to me. I did a photo shoot with her back in September and got exactly ONE good shot. And, that shot- well, take a look for yourself.

Yep. That's her. Walking AWAY from the camera... holding her Mom's hand, and oh so glad to be done with me.

Shortly after this little session (which, by the way, wasn't a total wash because we got some amazing shots of this little princess' big brother) I recalled a conversation with another photographer whom I love and respect, Mrs. Amy Karp. In that little chat with Amy, she gave me some good advice. She asked me what I wanted to specialize in. She told me that she thought my work was "Solid" but scattered, and that I needed to choose a specialty.

Well, at the time, I had really just started my photo business, and the only thing I really thought I wanted to specialize in was WEDDINGS. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love love love weddings. But even as I made that decision, something started to happen. It seemed like more often than not, I was shooting families and children. Then, when I would come back to the computer and start my editing process, something magical would happen with those images of the little ones. They would just come to life. After some months of thinking, clicking my shutter over and again, and reading the workshop workbook by the amazing Skye Hardwick, I realized that child photography is where I need to be.

Don't get me wrong. I have a few weddings booked, and am super excited to be doing them. I'll even continue to do weddings (because I'm just a sucker for all that love and romance- and the gorgeous white dresses), but when someone asks me what my "Specialty" is... the answer will be "Families and Children". And boy does it feel good to have a focus!!

So, back to my story with little Miss Erin. We decided to let little Miss Erin have a photo shoot all for herself. As the days approached, I got more and more excited. I knew that if I could get this little girl to work with me, that my confidence in my specialty would be confirmed. When we arrived, I started to work on Miss Erin. Before long, she was excited, and posing, smiling, twirling and laughing like she'd been modeling from birth. Here are a few of the fun moments we captured that day.



All in all, it was a fantastic session. It left me and little Miss Erin's Mom with smiles on our faces. So, with Spring having SPRUNG here in Texas.... I'm just a little bit excited for many, many more of these happy little faces in my future sessions.

More soon... Mandy