Randomness......

So sometimes it helps when Im not too busy to go out and shoot random things.....just stuff. Its something I really should do more often. It can help me improve and keep up my technical and even more creative skills. It helps when as photographers we can "see" the world a little differently.....hard to explain. My really good friend and mentor Daniel told me to do this one day when I was trying to figure out what to so with my day and on Facebook he said "Take the camera out and go shoot." Well when your mentor tells you to do something.....you should do it! lol! I didn't have a lot of time and couldn't really wander to too many places so I was stuck close to home and so this is what I came home with that day.

Not The Normal Family Photos.

So one of my best friends (and very faithful photography client!) came to me with a request. She wanted a family portrait session.....but she didn't want the same old boring posed family portraits. She wanted something that was more "THEM."  It made sense to me.....normal posed family portraits wouldn't suit my friend anyway....she is wild, young at heart, free spirited  (Which is THE reason she is one of my besties! That whole birds of a feather thing.....yeah!)  and so is her brood of 4 kids and her awesome hubby Greg. So she sent me a photo of a couple shoot that involved chalk and said that would be perfect for her family. I agreed that it would be fun and very much "THEM".  After more brainstorming silly string was also an idea. So after deciding the what, we made the date for when. That day came and with a few "clean photos" before letting the chaos break loose and a  couple rules for the kids regarding chalk throwing (watch the eyes, aim low!) we had a successful, messy, fun and colorful photo shoot.  Becca and Greg....coolest parents ever, you have given your kids one of the most awesome gifts ever!  Memories of a out of the box fun day with photographic proof that will live on with them long after their childhoods...photos that they can show to their kids someday. How cool is that.

Sweet 16 Savannah

This is my daughter Savannah. She turned 16 at the end of November and I have been aching to get her in front of my camera again to document this time in her life. We literally had 15 minutes and I think I have some A-OK shots. Not perfect....but I still think they are beautiful.

It Was A Wild Night!

So it got pretty wild here just me by myself on New Years! See what happens when you get restless and hopped up on sick meds......its ok to laugh at me. ;)

This image is also my submission for a photography challenge I am participating in this year. Its a Project 52....basically you submit one image every week. Each week also has a theme. This week (week 1) was "NEW YEARS" I think this counts since i took the image shortly after midnight.  ;)

New Years Eve........cough, sneeze...ugh!

Well Happy New Years Eve. So I am home alone this New Years Eve and this is not the normal tradition for me. My normal tradition is spending the evening at my in laws with the whole family. We have some drinks and we play lots of games (video and board) eat lots of snacks. We count down and watch the ball drop and then everybody hugs and kisses and we are just happy to be together. It really is quite a blast!

So whats the deal this year?? I came down with strep throat...blah!!!!! No fun I tell you. So this morning I found myself in urgent care and have for the majority of today slept the day away. After lots of meds and sleep I am WIDE AWAKE and hanging out with the furrbabies trying to entertain myself. I feel a little better and I'm sure that is due to the antibiotics and ibuprofen kicking in. Thank goodness I have no shoots in the next few days....i would not like this to be passed along to anyone!

So here is the first photo for the blog....the start of my New Year! lol.  Its okay...I will make up for it next year!

New Year, New Blog!

New Year ....New Blog I decided. That means starting over....yes, I think I'm ready for that. Not that this year wasn't GREAT! It was amazing, but next year is going to be better. I can feel it. I know it. I even made resolutions! Did you make any? If so what are they? Here are mine.

1. Every body's favorite! Lose Weight! Yup I need to do this for many reasons. Health is a big one!

2. Be the best wife and mom I can be! I think I am doing a good job, but i always want to do that very important job better!

3. Become a better Photographer! No matter how much I learn, I always want to learn more. Be the best I can be at this. I love this art form and I want other people to look at what I do and like it too! I want people to want me to take their photos! It makes my heart sing when someone loves a photo I have taken of them or their kids/family/etc.

Happy New Year Everyone!