I am Thankful

For beautiful light...

Soon To Be Three

 I absolutely love maternity sessions. It is just something about it. I can't help getting excited in all the things that coming near the end of a pregnancy means. Who will they look like? Will it be a baby boy or girl? What will we name her? And the idea that you are now a family.

This particular mommy to be didn't know her mom set up a maternity session for her while visiting from Chicago. When I came just a couple hours before sunset we got started and I realized right then I would be getting some of my favorite photos I have ever taken. When a naturally beautiful mom to be wants to lay in a field and put flowers in her hair, you know it is going to be good.

Emma {Senior}

 Tall with dark hair and striking features is a photographer's dream model. I am lucky enough to be related to this beautiful senior and had the opportunity to venture out to take her senior photos. 

One thing I always want to do is have people look like themselves in the photos. Expressions that are recognizable as the "real them" when others see the photos. But even more rewarding than that is when they see photos of themselves and realize they are so much more beautiful than they believe them self to be. We may never be told specifically but when you see someone light up when seeing a photo, and showing them off with confidence they didn't have behind the camera, you know you have succeeded in showing them how beautiful they truly are.

Intimidating New-ness

It took a very long time to learn Photoshop. I was lost every time I opened it even after reading the Missing Manual cover to cover. It took many hours of reading and watching tutorials on how to use the different tools and effects. I am finally very comfortable in Photoshop and I know there is still so much more that program can do. It took me over a year to really, really learn it, one technique at a time. 

A couple weeks ago I received Lightroom as a gift for my birthday. It is a supplment to Photoshop and is a very powerful program that can save a ton of time editing since you can edit many photos at the same time. But...... I have no idea how to really use it. I have started the process of reading and watching tutorials but it seems as if I am starting over again. I did finally manage a big hurdle this morning, learning how to bring a photo from Lightroom to Photoshop. Yay me! 

I know I will love it once I understand all the features. I am looking forward to when that day comes. Until then I just need to sit down with an extra ounce of patience.

What is a post without a photo??
My family and I went to a summer concert series at a local winery recently. It was a beautiful, breezy night to be outside. I debated on bringing my camera. Sometimes when I do I forget to enjoy myself and just take photos the whole time. But of course I threw it in my bag. I am glad I did because my two boys were being little hams for the camera.

Ava Marie - 6 Days

 My two boys gained a cousin last Saturday and that is great for two reasons. One, they get a new cousin, and two, I get to take photos of a newborn which I love. We set up and she was perfectly calm for the whole time I was there with a few feedings throughout. Ava will be a great addition to the family and hopefully will learn to like Power Rangers and Toy Story since my boys will try to convince her they are the coolest toys ever. And what I am really excited about it to be able to dress up a cute little girl and photograph her since I don't have much frill at my house. :)

Transformation

Anne (my sister-in-law/friend/photo companion) recently got Photoshop Elements to edit some her pictures. I would say that every single photo you see from a photographer has had some type of processing done on it. After we were done getting some shots of flowers we headed back to her house to show her some of what I do in Photoshop. I have watched tutorial after tutorial and am completely self taught in Photoshop. And that being said, I am no expert and learn something new every time I read or watch a new tutorial. But I remember how overwhelmed I was the first time I opened up the program so I knew how she was feeling. And wanted to show her where to look to learn. 

When I got home and started to learn about processing for floral photos I ventured into the world of textures. And I might have fallen in love a little bit. Actually a lot bit as my three year old would say. It really does transform a photo. I wanted to show a before and after to see where a photo starts to where it ends as the final photo. On this photo I used an action from Coffeeshop Blog called Vintage Blush that adds a soft pink tone and haze to the photo. Then added a texture from Shadowhouse Creations along with cropping and basic color enhancements. 

I love how the photo ended. It went from a photograph to looking more like art work!

Earth Day Flowers

 It has been many months since my sister-in-law and I went out for a photo fun day. Last Sunday we ventured out in search of roses for her to hang in her baby to be's room. My niece is expected mid May and since they got married in a rose garden it seemed fitting. Unfortunately the rose garden they married at wasn't quite in full bloom yet so we went to our local botanical garden where there was an array of flowers to photograph. I don't usually photograph flowers but have decided I might just really like it. But then again... I like to photograph most things.. so I don't know why this surprises me very much. 

In another couple weeks we will head back to the rose garden where they got married since photos of the roses there will have more meaning. 

I Heart Faces: Happiness

This month at I Heart Faces photography website the theme is happiness. This picture doesn't need much explanation.. he is just plain happy!!

Photo Swap

 Several years ago now I was in the same training class at an office job as Mrs. P and who knew that in just a few years we would both be stay at home mom's to multiple kiddos each when at the time we each only had one. And mine wasn't even born yet!!

The other thing we both didn't know at the time was that we both loved photography. We ended up chatting one night about how we both really loved photography. We got to talking about wanting to start taking photos for other families and around the same time we both did just that! We chat often about photography and/or mom stuff and that is what brought us to the photo swap. I take hers.. she takes mine... and then there is proof that all of these children have a mother!! (Since we are rarely not behind the camera!)

She went first.. which put the pressure on because ours turned out incredible!! And I loved that she wanted to do a funky shoot downtown in front of a brick warehouse building! The building was funky, the outfits were colorful, both fit their family perfectly!

Kissy Face

I have never entered a photo into anything before but I Heart Faces contest theme was beautiful black and white. I knew this photo would be perfect for this theme.

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

Baby Bump Barry

 My sister-in-law is pregnant and was finally ready for some baby bump pictures today! She was so worried that she would look awkward and feel silly in front of the camera. And then she got in front of the camera and was a natural!! If a maternity model is needed I know where you can find one for the next 8-10 weeks or so!! :)