Yucky weather and cute couples

I met with J&A yesterday for their engagement photos. We had about 15 minutes before it started pouring. I was so bummed. I was even more bummed when I got home and realized that I didn't get the greatest shots in that 15 minutes.

We had rescheduled for today but I knew that the weather was going to be nasty again. I didn't sleep much last night because I was so worried about getting these portraits. I prayed for sunshine and I think that we had the only sunshine that was seen today. At times, it was too much sunshine.

We didn't meet at the best time of day for lighting but we did get some great shots. I am so glad because I leave tomorrow for a week and J goes back to Iraq on Monday.

J&A, it was a pleasure meeting and working with you. J, stay safe and come home soon. A, if you need a distraction during the remaining five months, I have four of them for you! :-)

Devin

Today was a very special day. It is my birthday and not only did I get to spend it with my family but I was also able to spend it with Devin. What a treat that was! He is such a sweet boy! He's just a ball of energy.

Here is a sneak peek from his session. I'll have more up later.


He loves his Mommy!

Peek a Boo

My poor boy!

I used to torture my baby brother and it was so much fun. Now, my baby boy has his own big sister to torture him. I was making a grocery list and taking care of some business this morning when the two of them disappeared. When they emerged this is what I saw. 

It's all fun and games now but this picture is going to be quite handy when he gets older. hehe! Thankfully, I'm not the type of parent that worries when my son plays with girly things. After all, I was all that my brother had to play with and he turned out to be a very well rounded man. I'm sure that if he were here he'd rescue poor little B but he's not. And, it doesn't look as though Mr. B is suffering. Haha! He'll be quite upset with his sister later though.

Watermarks

As I was working on some recent photos, I was seriously considering doing away with my watermarking. I don't like it at all. I feel like it is a distraction and really takes the focus away from the subject of the picture. But, yesterday as I was moping around feeling yucky, I decided to read some photography forums. What I found made me quickly decide to continue with watermarking.

Apparently, someone has been stealing other photographers' photographs and using them in her online portfolio. Watermarking did very little to slow her down but it will help these photographers when it comes to the lawsuit that I hope that they will slap her with.

Do I think that my portraits are so grand that someone would steal them? No, however, I would not want someone with zero knowledge and talent to grab my portraits and pass them off as his/her work. It's not at all fair to his/her potential clients. There are many, many, photographers that I admire. Many of them read this blog. I would never dream of stealing from them because each and every one of them would do anything at all to help me aquire the same skills. They would have done the very same for her if she had wanted to spend the time. The fact is that the art of photography is a gift. It takes lots of time and a whole lot of practice, practice, practice. I feel for the thief's clients.

Not only did he/she steal the portraits but these portraits were of children. Imagine how you, as a client, would feel seeing your child's portrait on some other photographer's website. This is why I will continue to watermark my work. It is to protect my clients.

I hope that this thief is ashamed of herself and I hope that my fellow photographers are able to find some justice in all of this.

Babies, babies and more girl babies!

Check out these cute maternity pics! What a cute couple. C&W are expecting a baby girl within the next 4-5 weeks. I am so excited to meet little R at her newborn session!

I'm the biggest baby!

I had to cancel my session with Devin today because I am sick! Wahhh! I don't think that it's strep but it wouldn't surprise me if I picked this bug up in the pediatrician's office while I was there. It's not pretty but I will spare you the details. I do have a busy week next week so please cross your fingers that I kick this thing before Sunday at the very least! I have three very important sessions this week that can't be rescheduled! 

I think that I am finished whining. If you'd like a quick exit, check out Amanda Zehr. She designed the new logo that you've no doubt noticed on my work recently and she's also designed some card templates for me. If you've seen my new business cards, (not the tiny ones) she also designed those. If you're a photographer, she's excellent to work with and very reasonable in pricing. If you're one of my clients, pop over and thank her because she's creating awesome stuff that you'll love and it allows me to focus on what I am best at... taking portraits. Thanks a bunch Amanda!

Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Okay, I'm done making silly slideshows. My kids have been battling strep so I'm stuck at home. I've been super bored and the slideshows are a result of that. I hope that you have enjoyed them.

I finally get to meet little Devin on Friday. If you've forgotten about him, he's the cute little two year old that is fighting Neuroblastoma. He's been enduring chemo and all sorts of tests so this is the first opportunity that I have had to meet him. Please pray for sweet little Devin and I'll keep you posted on his progress!

 

Baby CC

Another slideshow

Engagement slideshow

I decided to play with some portraits in Animoto. The music seems to be "hanging up" when you first start the slideshow. If it happens to you, pause the slideshow until it loads completely and then play. Enjoy!

Little "N"

This little guy holds a special place in my heart. I've been friends with his Mommy for years. We don't get to see each other much but she's one of my dearest friends. 

It's a good thing that he is special to me because the little rascal wouldn't sit! I promised his Mommy that I would meet her at the park one day for some candid shots. You see, the problem is that he's been neglected. He's never really had his portraits taken on a regular basis so he just doesn't know what to do. We'll have to fix that because he's just way too cute not to have his little mug plastered all over the walls. I may just have to kidnap him and return him with pictures. It's just disgraceful not to have baby pictures! Get with it, Mommy! (she knows that I'm just giving her a hard time!)

If all else fails, start singing and let him dance!

Mommy stuck him in quick and I snapped the shot. 

Thanks Mommy for letting me play with Little N today. I love you little man! 

Engagement Portraits

I had an engagement session bright and early this morning. I was out later than I expected to be last night so I was completely out of sorts (read creativity). I think that we got some awesome shots despite my lack of creativity though.

Thanks W & M for meeting with me so early. With all of the shade on your property, we probably could have met even later in the day. We'll know for next time. In the meantime, here is a preview!

Isn't this the sweetest picture? This was taken on a bridge that was built by M's Grandfather. Pretty neat!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to everyone. I feel extremely blessed to have been born into the United States of America and there is not one single day that goes by that I don't give thanks to God for that.

I want to take a moment to thank our service men and women and their families. Thank you for your sacrifices. We remember those that have been lost and pray that everyone else comes home safe and soon. God Bless you!

I attended the Lutz 4th of July parade with my family this morning. My husband grew up in Lutz and we lived there together for a short time after we were married. Going to the parade has become somewhat of a tradition. We were able to take our daughter for the first time this year. We were just waiting to meet her last year! It was so awesome to have her with us this year.

Below are just a few pictures from the parade. I took 290. I'm not sure what I'll do with all of them yet but I had fun taking them.




This is a sweet little girl that stood next to us as we all watched the parade. I seem to meet the cutest kids when I am out. Thanks to Dad and Little Miss "S" for allowing me to snap these shots. I enjoyed watching you grab candy and beads! Enjoy your summer!


She posed all on her own. How cute!


And.. you know that if there's a Kubota (or any tractor for that matter) around, it's going to be captured by me.

Stay safe and enjoy your holiday.

Textures and Brushes

I was bored earlier and decided to play with textures and brushes. This is the result. I think I like it...