Archive for April, 2010

some haps

April 12, 2010

Just a few shots of some recent happenings at the studio.

Wait. Studio? Wha? But, Jean, you are an on location photographer! You don’t have a studio!

Well. Tis true I am not a studio photographer, but there are some times that a studio comes in handy. So, the hubbs and I do rent some studio space. More on that on Wednesday…along with a giveaway…be sure to check back!

Hello lovely Katelyn, here are some of your headshots…

Oh, and hello to you too little A, you look so lovely in your communion dress…

question for you

April 8, 2010

Traditional vs Lifestyle? What type of session would you prefer (not to photograph, but to have on your walls)?

After my last post, I got to thinking.  I know how much I love photographing kids and families in more of a lifestyle manner.  But, how do others like it? And by liking it, I mean, I-would-rather-slather-my-walls-with-lifestyle-images-rather-than-posed-with-a-backdrop-images.

Before you commit to “liking it,” let me explain exactly what I mean by a lifestyle or “day in the life” session.  The best example of what a “day in the life” would be like would be here.  A lifestyle session would be here…or maybe even here.  It is basically a storytelling session.  Backdrops, stiff poses, perfect ruffley dresses…out the window.  I’m thinking more along the lines of superhero capes, favorite foods, cooking together, games, dressups, dancing…you know…the good stuff.  Why do I love photographing like this?  Duh.  Because it is fun.   It is real.  And most important, because we are capturing details and quirks that will be forgotten in five years from now.

Coming full circle, that brings me back to my question.

Imagine your walls and picture books decorated with perfect images taken by a professional photographer…are they posed and perfect, or are they fun and unexpected?

Keep in mind as you answer the question, there is NO RIGHT ANSWER. Just because I photograph a certain way, it does not mean I don’t adore and appreciate beautiful traditional images.  Everyone has their own style, and I love and respect that.  It’s just my sheer curiosity to know what people prefer.

I would love if you (and by you, I mean ANYONE reading this blog) would leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  What do the images in your mind look like of an absolute perfect session of your children and/or family?  Oh, and you can leave an anonymous comment if you want…I just want to hear from you :)

my project

April 5, 2010

So. I have a personal project. It’s just a little fellow of a project, but it is so needed right now in my days-and-weeks-that-fly-by-at-warp-speeds kind of life.

My kids mean everything to me. I want to remember everything (well, some things could be left out) about their childhood. I realized this as I looked over the other day and realized that I HAVE A TEN YEAR OLD CHILD. How and when in the world did that happen? Ten years come and gone…like THAT.

In steps photographer mommy. This is where I am supposed to shine, right? Photographing their every sweet smile, silly dance, or quirky moment. Excuses happen, laziness happiness, work happens, LIFE happens…and their smiles, dances, and moments don’t get photographed. But yet, it means so much to me and I never want to regret. Not even the tiniest of things.

But I have four. FOUR KIDS. That’s a lot of kids in my book. So, carrying around a camera and constantly taking pictures just ain’t going to happen…just keeping in real people. So. Back to My Project. It starts with an internal vow that I will take more everyday pictures of my kids. It ends with a promise that every year, around each of my children’s birthdays, I am their own little paparazzi for a day. I will document “a day in the life” of each of my children. I will capture them being them at that time in their life….which is exactly what I want. I love it because I get to hang out with them and photograph them while doing it…they love it because they get tons-o-mom attention, get to do things they love all day, and get to show off what they love doing.

So, without further adieu, I present…A day in the life of my two year old monkey…Little I.

Breakfast was important to capture as it is such an important part of I’s life.  That kid. LOVES. TO. EAT.

So in love with his blonde mess of a bedhead in the mornings.

Not potty trained yet, but at least he sits on it.  Baby steps people, baby steps.

Smiling and playing in the bath tub is a huge accomplishment…considering he would scream bloody murder for the first two years of his life while in the bath tub.  I said he loves food, not water.

Always want to remember his little voice asking us to read him a book.  3,067 times a day.

My momma heart is melting into a big pile of goo.

Showing off his sweet moves.

Heart.  Melting.  Again.

Thanks for spending a day with us.  His day is just another day for the rest of the world, but it means everything to me.  Little I.  2 years and 11 months.

happy

April 4, 2010

happy day to everyone.

more

April 1, 2010

Oopsie.  More of Faris and Kristen found their way to my blog.  I couldn’t help it.

This next one catches my breath a little.  It is one of my favorite images ever.