For A Moment Photography

Dancing her way to my heart. <3

Presley with her best friends!

Presley and her friends had a dance recital this weekend.  We decided we were going to have their hair done before the recital and I would take a few photos of the girls.  I figured the photos at the salon would be fun and make the whole "event" of it all more exciting.  To be honest seeng them get their hair done made me want to be pampered a bit myself!  I was so busy yesterday I didn't even have time to put on my make up or curl my hair!...  OK enough about me!...

After the salon we took a few photos of the girls.  I think us Moms would of liked a few more but the girls were more rambuncious than expected.  So we got just a few then went off to a quick dinner then to the recital.  I was able to find a seat in the front but off to the side of the stage.  So right before Presley's group was to take the stage I could see them waiting to come on.  

My heart started to race, I was so nervous for my little girl.  It made me laugh that I was so nervous and excited for her.  I don't even know what I was so nervous about.  It really doesn't matter to me if she knows the routine or not.  I'm just so proud of her...  Maybe as she grows up I'll beable to find the words to explain my feelings of seeing her on stage.  

As much as she complains about going to dance class she always enjoys the recital!  Hopefully the summer off will help her get excited about dance class next year.  

 

 

 

 

Sweet Summer Session

I love you because...

Can I order one just like this lil guy?

 

In heat of the Arizona summer is rolling in and my session days are coming to an end (here in AZ).  I'm so glad I was able to photograph this adorable little family visiting from Canada!  They heard about me from another Canadian family I photographed during the holidays.  Haha, I'm tempted to start saying "process" and "about" with a Canadian accent...

We did the photo session early in the morning trying to beat the heat and we still ended up stopping during the session to get little Jakey indoors (with for some a/c).  They were a lot of fun to photograph and great to learn about them and their little family.  Jake was a typical rambunctious tot interested in everything but me or my camera.  Which is quite all right and pretty much expected.  We were able to get a few of him playing, looking at the camera (even if it was for sweets) and sitting with Mom & Dad.

I had an new idea (the second photo above) after seening a similar photo somewhere on fb.  One of my crafty photog friends took a photo with the note card hanging in a tree saying, I love you with the couple in the background.  I thought it was cute and changed it up a bit.  I had the couple both finish the sentance, "I love you because"...  I didn't let the other see what each of them wrote until after.  That made for another sweet photo...  

I'm having fun editing their images and I look forward to putting together their mini album they have already ordered.  I had a great time with them and hope to photograph them and adorable lil' Jakey again!  

 

 

iPhone Photo Collage

 

A lot of my favorite ideas (haha, I don't want to say best) come about when I'm slipping away to sleep or even in some my dreams.  It sounds crazy but I 've heard that your subconscious mind is working with out you getting in the way of it (or something like that).  This is how this idea came to mind today. 

Like most of you I use my camera phone a lot and snap tons of photos I don't (allow myself to) erase at don't love the quality enough to print.  All I do is admire them or post them to Facebook only to be forgotten days later.  Then this collage idea occurred to me this morning!  I don't know if there is a product out there like this but I love it (if I do say so myself).

The thing I love about this collage is that these photos (for the most part) don't really mean much on their own, they are just fun snapshots.  However grouped together it's a fun little peek into what our year has been like so far...  They mean more to me all put together.  I'm reminded of our trips, yummy food, our flowers we planted, my grandmother and little Mr. Lenny (our new dog).

It's sort of funny, I found myself importing my photos taken with my SLR camera on to my phone for edits!  What?!...  This is a test collage and I have plans for my next one already.  These are a bit out of order because I imported a few etc.  This next time around I already have my system set up to organize and store them so I can simply import them (and they will be in order).

Next time I may add more photos and depending on how this one turns out I may change the color to blend them all so they look more the same...  Or not we will see...  I wanted to post this because I think it could be a fun do it yourself type project! 

 

 

High School Past and Present

 

We got the gang back together (this was in 2008)!  Paula is in front on left...  I'm in the back, big dorky smile.  

 

The great thing about my job is I get to work with a lot of different people and a lot of the time I get to work with friends.  For this session I got to take photos for a friend from high school!  Her son is graduating from high school.  I was really excited about taking his photos for him and for his mom.

Paula (my friend) and I grew up together in the same small town.  I actually don't ever remember a time I didn't know her, she's always been a friend.  We lost contact for several years but thanks to a few emails (before facebook) a group of high school girl friends and myself got back in touch with each other.  It was great to see everyone so many years later and be able to have the comfort we had with each other back in elementary school.  Then along with facebook we have maintained contact for the past several years and I've got to see so many great things going on in all of their lives.  

So when Paula contacted me about taking photos for her son I was really excited!  I knew how hard she had worked to raise him and be a good Mommy.  I really wanted them to be something she loved and something he liked as well...

So after having to schedule and reschedule a few times we finally got to do Reece's session.  Now with Reece's being a guy I had a feeling he was not going to be nearly as excited as his Mom and I were.  But he was a great sport and seemed to have fun being photographed.   Photographing guys is a little bit harder to do, there's just not as many posing options...  I knew I wanted to try some different stuff with his photos.  I love the way the photo with him in the hood turned out.  I'm really happy with them and can't wait to give them all to him and his Momma.  

 

Surprise Around the Corner

A big part of what I love about Mexico is you never know what is around the corner.  The colors, the people, the food and the dogs.  We walk a mile every morning to breakfast and we see so much of the culture along the way...  The butcher shop is see to spot by all the dogs patiently waiting for the bones he gives out.  The houses and store fronts are built with narrow openings (like a hallway) that open to these beautifully landscaped open air patios or gardens.  Many of the little convenient stores are just the entry of peoples homes.

I've left my camera home a lot more than I usually do this trip.  I figured out pretty quickly that my huge camera doesn't do this place justice.  Not only that- my back hurts carrying it around.  This village is truly a place that needs to be experienced to really get the favor of the place...  As our trip is coming to a close I hope to get that one photo that I love and really helps capture the life of Ajijic.  

 

 

 

 

Open Air Market

Jacaranda Tree.  I love these!

Open Market

 

 

On Wednesdays there is an open air market here in Ajijic, Meixco.  I love going to these markets whenever I travel to another country.  I never know what I'll find but it's always a beautiful display.  There wasn't anything too crazy at this market other than the hot dog on a stick spiral cut (I've never seen that before).  Oh and all around town and here at the market you'll see people making pork rinds.  They have these huge tubs of  hot oil and large pieces of pig fat and intestines.  It's pretty different...    

This is the first time going to one of these markets with Bugga (Presley).  Having her created a bit of a frantic rush, she had her eye on every toy and after she got one she wanted no part of the market.  Which I totally understand, she's been a great traveller hanging with adults this whole trip...

The first photo is of this home and jacaranda tree we walk past every morning for breakfast.  These trees are every where and they are huge.  I love these trees we had one at our house in Arizona, they don't flower as nicely as they do here.  They are everywhere here, it's such a beautiful tree.  I had to add a photo.     

 

 

Jonas Turns 5

Where does the time go?  My nephew is turning 5 next month.  He and Presley were born six weeks apart, they'll be in the same school next year...  Right before we left I took some photos of him for his birthday.  Being on vacation I've had sometime to edit photos (thank goodness- after all my computer issues).  Above is a little collage I put together for his birthday party (thank you cards or maybe invitations).  I haven't finished the card, but I just wanted to post the photos because he looks so stinkin' cute...

Being in Mexico I've thought a lot about my family.  I sometimes see the face of my grandfather in the men walking around the town.  I've thought about how nice it would of been to bring my grandmother here.  She spoke english but as she got older she spoke more spanish...  I think more than anything it's reminded me that I need to learn spanish...

 

It Isn't Easy Being Green.

One of our more dramtc photos, I love it.  

My dog Lenny was rying to sit on her lap.  He lovvved her!

Looks sort of beachy- but it's AZ.

I am so loving this session!  Ugh, it's killing me that my computer screen is green and blurry.  Yes, I'm having computer issues and can't have it worked on until next Wednesday (after a few scheduled photo sessions).  For a day this week my computer screen was working fine, granted I had to sit and turn it on and off a few times to get it to work- but it did (and I put my battery in the refrigerator).  

Today I sat down to work on a few sessions and the screen went green on my and has been green all day.  You don't want too know how many times I've turned this thing on and off trying to get it to work again...  I'm really trying to look on the bight side, and now when it works I'm so excited to edit photos!..  I am pretty bummed because I just realized (now) I would have my computer during Presley's birthday skiing trip...

Ok, focus!...  Good news is, I have great clients being very understanding!  My computer will be fixed and they are doing a whole overhaul so it will be like new!..  I'm also thinking maybe I should take the time (while my computer is being repaired) to disconnect from all things technical.  It could be a fun!...

Anyway, so here are the photos I worked on so far from this session.  I've been thinking about photographing at this location for awhile I just never got around to doing it until now!  We had so many ideas for this session we just ran out of time!  I love what we got and I can't wait to edit more and work with Holly again!

 

 

 

Baby Blue Valentine

He has the most incredible blue eyes.

I had a fun photo session this weekend with a lil' guy I've photographed several times before.  It's been so great to see him grow and change.  I have to say he is for sure all boy, he was running, jumping and climbing everything.  As nervous as it made me (Mom seemed use to it) it was great to see him so confident!

We decided to do a few photos with a Valentines theme in mind.  The "kisses" photo was the one I was most excited about and I love the results.  His smile is too adorable...  I think a future girlfriend or wife will love this photo...

The top photo was a fun surprise.  His sweater was knit for him by his "Mimi".  So Mom wanted to make sure to get a photo with him wearing it.  I decided to do a little side by side shot with the handmade label.  This is a style I've started to play around with.  I usually see this type of photography done in weddings and advertisement's.  But it works just as well with any photo session.  I've also had started to mess around with colors in my photos.  I still love bright and vibrant but I've played arouns with my muted dreamy tones.  Like photo number two...  We'll see how it developes!

 

 

  

 

Not Your Average Business Card

This week I've been working hard on several photography jobs.  Now that I'm starting to get caught up I thought I'd blog a little about them...  The photo/business card is a job I just finished.  I've posted before on a few of the cards I've done for MVP Realty Team and this is another one of their cards.

We had decided to step away from industry standard and not put a head shot on their cards.  With Heather's cards I thought of photographing her crystals and use that photo for the card.  The crystals are something important to her and it makes her card more of a conversation piece...  It is no doubt out of the norm for real estate and I love it!  I'm pretty sure if her card was in pile of real estate cards hers would stand out.