i like my job

the computer doesn't represent "me" time any more. 

now when i sit down to the computer,  i have hundreds of photos to edit, literally, from the several shoots that i've done over the last six weeks. and while showing up for the shoot doesn't take a ton of time, getting the photos looking all awesome during editing, does. 

don't get me wrong, i am grateful for the work that seems to be flowing my way right now. all the extra cash has helped to pay for all the things that seem to pop up when you move into a new home, and some fun summer activities too. so it's all good. no complaining here.

but... i do miss blogging.

and reading other people's blogs.

and twittering.

and editing my own photos

and time-wasting activities in general.

but it's worth it. 

 because seriously, look how much fun i've been having...

this sweet girl - eight is such a lovely age. so innocent.

this super fun family getting ready to send off a missionary.

and these darling sisters that are so lovely that i wish i could be part of their family.

and oh this tiny baby girl that i kissed and contorted a little too much.

and one of my favorite families on the planet! 

love these guys!

ya, i really do have the best job! i loved hanging out with the families on all of these shoots and i was pretty happy with most of the results. i do feel like i need to take a class or get involved with some kind of project that doesn't involve photographing people just to stretch my creative wings a little bit. although landscapes and architecture aren't quite as friendly.

so it's a good thing that i like my job, because i have a few more shoots in the queue waiting for editing and a few more scheduled on the calender. i like it, even if it means i don't have time to blog right now....

abc girls

for about a week now, i've been slowly editing a fun little ballet shoot that i did of allie, blair and chloe over the summer. the girls were nice enough to be my ginuea pigs for the afternoon, and lovely ginuea pigs they were! i had fun just shooting for fun for a change, playing with different techniques and styling.

i especially loved shooting their feet.
  this one is playing with depth of field.

what is it about toe shoes that's so fun to photograph? maybe it's because i'm such a fan of ribbon and also their lovely pink-ness.  i also love how they're worn out and dirty from so much hard work.

their shoes were fun to photograph even after they had come off their feet.

we had fun using the mirrors, although it was a huge challenge to shoot photos without catching my reflection along with the dancers.

at one point i put my camera in "rapid fire" (rich's term) and tried to catch some action shots.

there were several shots that will make a fun series to frame and hang, but my favorite might be this one of chloe because it catches the movement with the blur so well, and because she's completely airborne in the shot

i also tried to catch some more serious artsy portraits but ended up being stunned during the editing process by how grown up the girls are in these photos. especially allie, of course because she's mine and her grown up-ness in photos always startles me somehow.

the best part of the day though, was just how much fun the girls had hanging out and being silly together.

i am so grateful for the wonderful friendships of the lovely girls in allie's life.

lovely lovely girls.

i just adore them all.

note: there were way too many photos from the shoot to try and plug into a blog entry, so i loaded them onto flickr, and you can view them here. be sure to click on the ballet shoot icon on the right.

then leave me a comment on which one(s) you think i should blow up big and hang in allie's room.

then and now

a few years ago, i put together a series of grand kid photos for my mom and dad for christmas. i had a lot of fun shooting those gorgeous faces and in my favorite style, super tight, close up and simple.

they were a huge hit, mom and dad loved them.

since then, the kids have grown up quite a bit and a new baby was born, so it was time, this year, to update the wall. as i was going through and editing the shoot, i was surprised by how much everyone changed!

i thought it would be fun to document the difference just a few short years makes...

 ethan

taylor

spencer

allie

addie

laurel anne

charlie

makenna

ashton

and still missing....

baby cole - because he was kind of cranky when we shot these photos.

i'm going to have to catch him next time.

i was also surprised by how much my skills had improved, i am almost embarrassed to post some of these old photos, there's so much i want to change about them! i guess the kids aren't the only things that are a little different a few years later.

the kid wrangler

this is the time of year for family portraits. everyone loves the autumn leaves. unfortunately, it's also the time of year that i feel the most anxiety about my craft. i still get knots in my stomach before a shoot, especially a family one. it's really dumb, i know, but welcome to my anxiety, it's the irrational kind.

there's plenty to worry about with a family shoot, they seem to be the hardest ones for me. i worry about being able to capture the right tone and feel of the family, getting the group to all smile and hold their heads just right at the same time, and of course all the technical aspects of the photoraphy itself. it's enough to make a girl quit her glorified hobby job, and believe me, i've considered it several times. but, i have a secret weapon, and her name is allie.

  you thought i was going to say xanex didn't you?

not unlike xanex, allie has a nice, happy, calming effect on me.

makes me feel like i'm not alone at the shoot, and takes away some of the anxiety for me. makes me feel like i brought a "crew" with me which helps me feel more professional. 'cause you know you only bring a crew if you're a pro. right?

she's also good at placing people, which is such a relief, that's one of the hardest parts for me. she's also fantastic at "wrangling" the children, which can include, but is not limited to: jumping up and down,  making funny faces, loud zerbert-like noises, etc. no matter what, she gets the job done.

oh and did i mention?

she is a fabulous photographer herself.

and i feel a little twinge of JOY when i see this...

so she's also my little apprentice, except she has a way better eye for beauty than i did at her age.

is there nothing that this girl can't do?

and of course, we have to have a little self portait before we leave the shoot.

freezing cold red noses and all.

 love. this. girl.

toddler's eye view

funny little surprises from the camera tonight.

ethan must have gotten ahold of my camera.

spencer is composing a song, taylor is doing his homework, very observant.

some artstic takes on ordinary things around the house

even some self portaits!

(he must be taking lessons from mom)

this is my favorite - what is he trying to say with this face?

over all i thought it was so funny how i could tell from these photos that he really was trying to take photos of specific things. i don't really think of his brain working like this, but i was wrong.

he must get his great eye from his mother.

i heart summer photos

one of my favorite photos of the summer.isn't she beautiful?

ya, i grew her in my belly.

work?

ok, so last week was not ALL movies and pajamas. i did bring home a little bacon as well, but these guys were so sweet, can we really call it work?

monday i got to hang with this little guy, who has the most hair i've ever seen on a toe-headed newborn. he even had pork chop sideburns like elvis, which i couldn't stop shooting. his siblings came too and i have a thing for feet.

especially little ones.

especially all different sizes of little ones.

tuesday i hung with these little beauties. oh. my. goodness. i just wanted to nibble their tiny little toes like corn on the cob.

pretty much, i love my job. can you blame me?