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!