Just as I promised, here's a sneak peak at you family photo session this morning. Be
thinking about if you would like all of them in black and white or color so you can do a photo wall if you would like. Then I can make copies of them like that for your CD I will have the rest of them available on my photo website within 2 weeks from today!

Can you believe these little boys eyes? Gorgeous! They weren't too into taking pictures. I think they were nervous. I couldn't get a smile out o the littlest one unless he was attacking his brother.It was so cute- you can tell they love eachother so much! But you know how I feel about photos of kids without smiles- I love them! No really I do. Pictures like that just capture their little souls.

Who knew?

Little did I know that one of my dearest friends from High school who grow up to be so gorgeous and have the 2 cutest boys ever born. She came to visit today- my only old friend from school who has ever actually made it up to Ogden to see me since I have lived here. Thanks Lindy, I had so much fun. David and Anders are kindred spirits in boy form and Coco sobbed for a good 6 minutes when she woke u and discovered that she could not give Anders kisses and hugs goodbye.

Against our better judgment ad the wills of all five of our children we ventured out and took some shots of her and her kids for her super cool and smart husband. WHat do you think? Are they darling. My favorite is of her oldest with his feet up and that straight face. Why do I love anything other than a smile more and more the more I shoot. Don't get me wrong, a darling smile, like her little one has melts my soul. The most important thing I learned on this shoot? Never never bring my own children if I can possibly help it.

MY kids all slept in this morning. In fact Gabe is still asleep! So I had time to fiddle around with a new story board I got. Growing up, my parents would make a framed picture when one of us got married with a childhood picture of the husband and wife with this quote hand engraved by my father. Since then, this has been one of my favorite verses from the Bible. Don't you just think of that when you look into the faces of these beautiful children?

Father's day

Father's day is coming up ladies...what would be better than giving your husband new photos of you and you kids to your husband for his office. Anyway- I went this morning to this super cool location and took these of my neighbor and her kids. Aren't they darling? The last one is my fav. The best part is my friends face- doesn't her face just tell exactly how you feel when your child hugs you?

You know what my problem is- I can never decide which retouch effects I like on my photos. AGGGGGHHHHH!!!!



Then sometimes after I have done all sorts of effects I decide I really just love the straight out of the camera image like the one above. Especially when I get the perfect exposure...

You know what I think of when I capture a shot like this? You don't? Well I'll tell you. I think of 20 years from now, (please let it be at least 20 years from now) at this little girl's wedding, when everyone is seated watching the slide show of Coco and the love of her life (hopefully) this picture comes up and everyone laughs and nods their head collectively saying, "That is so her!"

Gag, could I get any cheesier. But seriously, that is what I think.

I just can't make myself.....

I used to look at little toddlers with long shaggy hair and think, "Sheesh, your mother needs to cut your hair already." I repent! I just can't bear to cut this boy's hair. It seriously turns my heart into an melted mess when I go to get him from his nap and he is standing up with his arms outstretched, his long locks sweaty and curly against his little - did I say little, I meant giant, head. But my husband says he is looking more like a girl than his darling little face already does. I prefer to think that he looks like a French Dauphin. Help me, please tell me to get a grip and cut his hair!

P.S. get a load of those lashes- at least I'll never have to face cutting those!

I think I like these better...what do you think?

I like this effect better I think- what do you think...I sure love friends who let me practice on them!

I forced this mini session.....

This was a super mini-session that I did today on my neighbors porch against her will. Yes, I forced her to pose for me as she is going to have that baby any day and since she thinks this is her last pregnancy- we had to get these done now! Her little girl and mine are best/worst friends. You know 3 year old little girls. Anyway- what do you think of the effects? ...got these ones in by the skin of my teeth (remember I'm doing a photo a day?)

What a guy...

SO- the answer is that Gabe has figured out how to take off his diaper. So no more lazy days for me with him running around with no clothes on. I love this picture- mostly because it is such an accurate depiction of how my kids feel about their Dad. And he is not easy on them! He's more strict than me!

Vintage Bum

Last night, after the 3 monsters, I mean God given children, went to bed, I played around with some vintage effects just for fun. I can't see myself really using this in a professional photography setting (unless requested) but it is fun to see what can be done. I left it with a vintage effect because it doesn't look quite so risque. I am counting on this picture making me a lot of money someday when Gabe is a world class pianist. Wait, that would require me to fork out a ton of moolah, shed blood, sweat and tears to get him to practice, and drive him back and forth to lessons for the next 18 years. I know, I put my mother through it. I think we'll do t-ball instead. That will serve him in life just as well, no? Any guesses why he doesn't have a diaper? It's a bit of a sore spot for me.

p.s. please don't judge me for the 12 commas in the first sentence, I never really learned how to properly use them. Sorry Lindy.

So- not on the subject of photography but have you ever had to take a shower at 2:15 in the a.m. because you were covered with vomit. If you have, bless you, if not, I do not wish the experience upon you.

Ok back to photography- I love photoshop- I am learning that it can't really do much to correct the quality of the picture you took but it does let you do some really great things with effects that enhance the feeling or the spirit of the photo. What do you think of what I did here. I am posting the original too- part of me like the naturalness of the original. Part of me like the feeling of the slight browning of the colors. What is your opinion?

Day 2...what the cuteness

I told Coco to look at her Daddy and this is what she did. She was in a good mood and thank goodness, cause this little girls moods are like the world's biggest pendulum and it was swingin my way tonight.
So this photo a day thing is going to be hard. But my love of photography is growing and I am getting better every time I shoot. This next week will be a montage of our family outing Sunday night. It is for nights like those that I love living in Utah. Every time I hear (or write that phrase for that matter), that song -"This is living in Utah with the Timberlodge collection" obnoxiously runs through my head. Now I hope it does the same thing through yours. Your welcome.

Can I do it?

This picture does not need any words but it is the beginning of my quest to become a better photographer. I am going to post a photo everyday to force myself to progress enough to have the confidence to break into the professional world of photographers. So gone are the days of bi-monthly posts. Your going to have the joy of checking my blog and seeing a new photo ad possibly a new story everyday!! Stop jumping up and down, it's not that big of deal. Oh- and please read the previous post as I am still waiting for any advise as to how to react to that situation.

This day came way too soon....

Do you think that it is possible that this sweet faced boy told his mother, "I hate you Mom!" It's true folks. It's true.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I don't think I ever said that to my mother. Have I not instilled enough fear? I'll tell you I was terrified of my mother growing up and never dared utter those words. Mom if your reading this please correct me if I'm wrong. Most of the time I'm not a fan of being corrected, in this case I would welcome my false memory.

It was in front of 2 neighbor women and one of their husbands, no less. Oh yes, I almost forgot to impart what happened not 20 minutes later. I had so kindly let my husband go on a 4 hour biking excursion this afternoon...yes yes...I am a super nice wife. After he came I put him in charge of the children while I went to get a video. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I happened to look across the cul-de-sac where I beheld a fat, white, dimpled little bottom sticking up in the air while the bearer of the afore-mentioned (sp?) was climbing up onto a neighbors rock. If I had a picture I would share. This wouldn't be such a big deal except she was also amidst another group neighbors (we have a lot of neighbors who spend a lot of time outside).

After retrieving the little imp named Coco, I explained to her that she could not play outside if she kept taking off her panties. And just as younger siblings will always do she said "I hate you, Mom." and then threw back her blond little head and laughed. Today, I'm sure I am not cut out for this motherhood thing.

Feeling old

Lately I have been feeling really old. I recently took this shot of my neices 2nd baby. Yes I am 32 and my neice just had her 2nd child!!! AGGGHHHH!!! SO I am working to get a handle of in this photoshop stuff. I am just having such a hard time finding time to be a mom to 3 toddlers and master a new skill. I always thought pursuing something besides being a mother would be so fulfilling but when my 13 month old is whining and tugging on my elbow, my 4 year old has just spilled milk while trying to pour it himself and my 2 year old is glued to the TV , I feel too stretched in every way. How do all those women do it? - you know , "those women"

Save MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Could someone please save me from the rambunctiousness of this one...





the drama of this one....



and the yummy deliciousness of this one.