Baby, I'm in Love

When my friend said, "Yes!  Let's do maternity photos!"  I knew I had a very sweet opportunity on my hands.  I couldn't ask for a more fun, understanding, photogenic family for my first prego shoot.  Dad's a hoot, Mom's easy-going and big-sis-to-be is as smart and pretty as they come. 

And so, I was so excited, I rented a lens for the event.  I've been wanting to try out a wide-angle lens (and what better opportunity than a wide belly) and I found one that now I dream about day and night.  It's exactly the price of my first car. 

We are all very excited about new baby and can't wait to find out - princess or pirate?  Regardless, baby will be loved with the biggest of hearts.

and more (click to see them larger)

and one to grow on

Sisters
I was going through deleting photos off the hardrive, I thought, hmm...these are OK (the subject matter is my favorite), I don't want to delete them, but I don't want to scroll through all of them individually...

Every once in a while I'm really happy they have each other.  forever.

Another Montage
This is SUPER fun!  I just had to post because I LOVE doing these! 

Hazy Collage
So, I read that hazy and sunflares are "in" even though most photographers try to avoid it.  I think your subjects need to wear the right attire and be in the right spot to make it work.  I went out and tried it on subjects already in the thick of it so no posing aloud.  Raking leaves was never so much fun!

ps - my daughter has accomodative amblyopia, no big deal, we just patch her good eye to make the weak one stronger.  she's very good about it until someone asks her about it - so word to the wise - never mention eye patches to any kid - it's just part of their lives.

Gathering of Photographers
Keven Vandivier (http://www.kevinv.com/) hosts a gathering of photographers quarterly at his Gallery in Downtown Austin, Alpha & Omega, near 6th and San Jac.  They actually let me attend, and even let me participate in the 2 minute critiques - even though I've only been at this for a short period of time!  The range of work was astounding.  We have some masters (in my opinion) here in Austin and I hope to learn a lot from them!  One photo that got an "awwe" that isn't on the blog is below.

Backyard Day
or should I call it Action Day?  Whatever I call it, I like it. 

Guinea Pigs
My friend generously allowed me to practice on her absolutely super fun family.  My first family shoot!  I already knew mom and girls were a hoot, but dad is too!  They were game for anything - poison ivy, stabs by branches and sugar melt-downs.  I can't wait to shoot them again in a year or so and see the improvement (in my photos, not in their beauty - they don't need improvement there!).  The best part is she makes super yummy apple pie and the second best part is I learned a ton.  Thank you friends!

C & L
My first wedding!  Mike Reed (http://www.mikereedphoto.com/) generously invited me to be a second shooter at this beautiful wedding.  I can't thank him enough for the opportunity to "practice" on real subjects and his coaching is invaluable.  Shooting weddings is tough work and his photos make it look so easy.  Check him out!  And, thank you to C & L who were so beautiful and joyful and clearly in love.

What NOT to Wear
Today I took the little one to South Congress...on a whim.  Well, if you're going to whim, make sure you're dressed for it.  Little one in white and jeans just didn't stand out nearly enough.  Boo.  Imagine these pictures (I'll help you in one of them) with a big red poofy petticoat skirt or, at the very least, a bright pink shirt.  A hat or bow or flower would have really been great, but she wouldn't have any of that nonsense.

A good reminder at any age.  Well, maybe she should learn to talk first.

Wait a minute!  Isn't  her shirt white?  She just didn't stand out enough with a white shirt.   It may look a little fake, but she gets lost otherwise. 
Wear BRIGHT colors!

This is how she must feel every day.  poor thing.

We're Goin' Downtown
So, the smallest had a runny nose and I couldn't teach my fitness class.  boo.  So, we made the best of it and decided if we couldn't contaminate the kiddos at the YMCA, then we could at least contaminate the peoples downtown.  We stopped in Wee, a super cute baby store.  We made a gift exchange and drooled.  Then, we drooled at all the downtown shopping.  What happened to weird?  It ain't weird and it ain't cheap, but it's pretty!
Again, it was close to noon, so I ran for cover in the shade.  I haven't figured out that whole backlighting but still correct front exposure thing and with no auxillary light (yet!), so the shade it was. 
You may tire of looking at the same subject matter over and over again, but I never do!

I'm diligently watching my daughter as I photo her.  In this picture (my husband calls the 'busted' pic), my daughter has her hat in her hand and I'm basically lying on the ground.  The parking attendant comes over and asks if I'm OK, totally taking my attention away from my daughter.  He goes on to say that the black boxes (out of shot) contain poison.  No, I didn't know, we're out.  And, in the millisecond I spoke with him, she had managed, hooray, to get a piece of broken glass into her mouth.  most excellent.  We are out with a very big O.

I am trying to hold this big tall wall up and it's soooo hard.

I'm a big girl, I promise!

not that big.

I heart Austin!
I know, I know.  Everyone loves Austin.  But, we do, and we just can't help it.  Maybe it's that braggin' Texan in all of us, even if we're from out of state.  When my friend visited from out of country, I had to take a few obligatory shots.  It was dead noon, but come on, don't you have to if you're here already?

It's not weird, but it's home.

POP ART
OK, so I'm no Andy Warhol, but it's pretty cool, I think.  Let me know, and I'll make one for you too!

A Jumping Bean!
A gymanstics party! What!?  What a fantastic idea!  Our sweet friend turned four today and HAD to have a Jump! party.  She's going to be a blast of a party planner when she grows up, just like her mom!  Both my girls tumbled their hearts out!  A CD with all the pics is coming to you!