some shoots and stuff

Before I post anything else, I want to again share sweet Abby's site and ask that you pray for this precious little one. The strength of this family is an amazing testimony to God's grace in the most difficult of trials.

On Sat, I had the pleasure to hang with my friend, Chelsea! She agreed to let me photograph her and didn't cancel even though she was sick! She is super cool...and gracious...that way. Here are a few from our afternoon:






And...here is M in the BIG TWO shirt!!!!! Sorry there are so many, but how is a mama to choose?

when a photoshoot turns sour

I just looked through some photos that never made it to blog because most of them were WAY overexposed and because they do not represent M's most flattering side.

see how oVeReXpOsEd??!!!


So I messed around in picnik postprocessing to salvage a few...here's the recount of the madness:

We arrived at the river on a beautiful fall day. M saw some kids and, because they were more than 10 ft away from him, he decided they were OK.

Laughter, great! We're going to get some awesome photos!


We headed up to the bridge; the happiness continued.


As we began to walk through the bosque, the revolt began...


...and the walls came tumbling down...


...no matter what cool thing I showed him...


...or what area in which we walked...


...MAD.MAD.MAD...


...so I had to resort to photographing a plant:


Now here is where it gets good. I asked M on the way back to the car if he would like to sit on the bridge and eat his snack. Affirmative. I got him settled, and pulled out the ziploc of treats...a trio of animal crackers, puffs, and alphabet crackers. As I offered each one to M, he would shake his head "no." I explained that these were the only snacks we had and, again, offered each one to him. With more zeal (read: throwing a huge fit that caused nearby walkers to raise their eyebrows), he not-so-politely refused the snacks again. In all of my motherly maturity, I took the ziploc...stuck it through the bars of the bridge...and dumped the entire contents into the flowing waters below. "I guess the fish will eat your snack then" I replied. ACK!!!!!! Did I just do that? I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see who was watching then slunk back to my car...screaming kid in tow.

I did manage to snag this cute one because I am sooooo sneaky:



POLL FINALE: 60% said they would have plastic surgery but only if medically necessary. 40% said, "just do it!"

RE-DO!

I Wednesday I had the privilege of photographing the ADORABLE M kids. We were outside on a warm, sunny day...the conditions were perfect...the kids couldn't be cuter...I had reviewed my teacher's lesson on photographing outside in the light...and I STILL FLUBBED UP. If I had taken the photos a few months ago, I would have been very happy with them. But now...I notice the shadows on the faces, the overexposed backgrounds from shooting toward a lighter background, the lack of good composition, and on and on.

And I just want to scream, "RE-DO! I want a RE-DO!"

But here are a few of the shots anyway because the kids' precious faces are going to make you smile!!!

edited2add: I must have been in a state of chocolate sedation when I wrote this because I meant to say "Do-over! I want a do-over!" Not a RE-DO!!!! Re-Do??????? What was I thinking?????

Tish's Top Model

My friend and personal artist (grin), Kim, agreed to give up her Saturday painting time to let me practice photography on her. She was game for anything I suggested, she held still (unlike M) and actually smiled (unlike Scott), so she has stolen the spot as my favorite model!

This is my very favorite shot of the day because I think she looks so beautiful and this photo is straight out of the camera...so no retouching! She is just that gorgeous!



For my online class we are practicing post processing in Lightroom, a great but intimidating tool, so I gave some of the other shots some heavy Lightroom lovin'. Thankfully, since Kim is an artist, she's not scared of a little SHA-ZAAAM!


















This is from M's Jesus Storybook Bible, a paraphrase of John 1:12-13:

For anyone who says yes to Jesus
For anyone who believes what Jesus said
For anyone who will just reach out to take it
Then God will give them this wonderful gift:

To be born into a whole new Life
To be who they really are
Who God always made them to be -
Their own true selves -
God's dear Child.

And this is from me: Today, if I could just reach through my computer screen, take your precious face in my hands, I would look into your eyes and tell you, "God is crazy in love with you...let Him love you."

Fun Photoshoot!

Recently Kari asked if I would take some photos of the M family as a Father's Day present. I was thrilled and honored that she asked! It was an absolute pleasure spending the afternoon with her and the kids taking a few (like 400 or so!) photos!

Kari brought her relative's Nikon D80, and it was my first time really using a digital SLR. It was difficult at first to get used to the viewfinder...and neither one of us knew how to change the settings on the camera...but we went with the flow and, hopefully, got some shots that put a smile on Daddy M's face!

The most amazing thing in looking at the photos afterwards was seeing each child's personality shine through so clearly! They are truly wonderful kids!

There were a few moments of chaos:


And meltdown:

And many moments of true beauty: