Workshop in a box!!!!

 

In an effort to keep my skills sharp and learn from the best in the business I periodically do workshops, seminars, webinars and all sorts of fun stuff.  My most recent endeavor has been in my mind to do all summer and I kept having to put it off due to my wonderfully busy schedule.   Nicole V  

is one of my favorite photographers and has truly inspired me as I fulfill my dream.  I am so grateful to these wonderful artists who take the time and effort to put together these classes and share their insights in this field.  Her presentation was so amazing I had to share it with you guys! 

The actual box of goodies

Those buttons are magnets!  So cute and so going on my fridge! 

This bow is a hair clip perfect for presents or maybe even using as a hairbow.....hmmmm.  The detail is phenomenal in her packaging she thinks of everything. 

Goodies!  Woohoo! 

My new bible, well til I get her lighting class, can't wait til she does that as a box set or maybe I should bite the bullet and fly to Utah for it.  We shall see! 

Kids Cam

 

So I mentioned the kids taking pictures.....Here they are taking them.  And here are a few of their results.  We need to work on focus but they are getting the general idea.  Love these kids! 

I had to add this one because it reminded me of that part on nemo where they touch the butt..... yes I do have boys.

A growing boy

 

Just finished a bridal this evening and was glancing through some test shots I took of my oldest son who has been assisting me lately on a few shoots.  He is really a great kid he's learning quickly what I need and why.  He claims he isn't interested in photography but I can see that he is learning to be a good worker.  At 12 he is a big boy, as big as his dad already.  People have always commented on his size and over the past few months I am beginning to see how my little man is truly not so little.  It is not just his size which makes me see this,  I have been truly blessed with a little boy who has always stood head and shoulders above other children in every way.  His 3rd grade teacher once said that at an age where every child was becoming self conscious and trying to fit in with the crowd Keaton was sure of who he was and didn't mind if that was different than everyone else. I still remember the tears in her eyes as she talked about him.  He has that kind of impact on you.   He has stayed true to himself and his beliefs in an era where children are faced with challenges I never dreamed possible when I was his age.  He as always been the perfect big brother kind and loving looking out for the little guy before himself.  I keep waiting for the days people talk about where their children get sulky and distance themselves from their family.  Keaton plays ball with his dad, grabs Gavin and tickles him just enough so he doesn't cry, plays Star Wars with Colby, follows his little cousins around like he was their soul protector and isn't afraid to cuddle up to his mom on the couch.  I really like this kid even if he is growing his hair out a little longer than I would like. He is fun to have around and I am grateful that he is mine.  

My new toy....I mean equipment

Don't get me wrong I love my 90 simple but not too simple lightweight easy to use and has given me he best shots of my life. But in every photographers corner should always be a full frame camera (as well as a backup). So after this super busy season I invested in Nikon's D700 and a pretty strap (madebymeegz.com, a shop on etsy). Isn't she a beauty....now to get a pretty strap for my 90 these things are too cute to only have one.

My Birthday Gift

Last week was my birthday, and per my norm fairly uneventful but pleasant. My dear husband gave me these beautiful roses and reminded me yet again that I am impossible to shop for. He did ask the florist to take off the tacky necklace that was attached and made sure they were fresh so they would last longer than a day. He knows me so well. Then today I was fiddling with some pic's and ran downstairs and passed these guys, and to admit a downfall in my photography ability I have been having a heck of a time figuring our how to shoot rings in flowers and get them as crisp as I would like, so I thought lets do some practising. So I took off the first gift ever given to me by my husband my wedding ring and started some practice shots. Now when my brides get married their rings are shiny polished and usually better than mine by a long shot. So as I am bemoaning this well worn ring I start to remember that time when we were young newly engaged and starting on our life together, as many of my clients are. It was a short courtship we met became friends and were engaged before we ever dated. In matter of 4 mths we were married and within the year we had our first son. It was such a whirlwind I don't think I took much time to savor it all. But today as I thought for that brief moment of how I wished we had appreciated that time together I had one of those moments sweep over me where I was reminded that we had that moment and now we have this one. The established well worn marriage where it may not be new and fresh but it is stronger firmer and greater than I ever thought it could be. All those years ago I thought I could never love him more has become but a small amount to what I feel now. We have survived some major obstacles thrown in our direction we have seen some good marriages fall. But we are still together a little careworn our hairs a mess but it's ok life happens. I am thankful for the family I have for a husband who will probably never get me lavish gifts but will always love me no matter my many flaws. I think I have it all. But don't tell them that I like to keep them guessing. So excuse the not so pretty ring in the flowers but it is mine and it was picked exspecially for me by a young man with all the love in his heart.

Just a thought

I know I say this all the time but here it is again I love what I do. Tonight as I work on the bridals of an amazing woman I am so lucky to work with. I see yet another reason why I love doing this. I see so much beauty in the people I associate with whether it be work or personal. And yet how many of these women see for themselves how stunning they truly are? Almost none. To sit down with women in every facet of life and be able to capture that special thing that makes them unique and beautiful is amazing. To show them what I see how I feel makes my job not only enjoyable but fulfilling in ways no one can comprehend. It helps even more when they ask I look like that and I can say YES you do!

The nitty gritty details!

I have had a few requests for more detailed views of my shoots. So I decided to try Flickr so if anyone else would like to see more of these shoots check out my fickr site....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28293211@N07

Now you can see pretty much every picture I give my clients.

In every shoot

You have to stop and smell the flowers.

From Bride to Friend

and now she is one of my assistants with her own blog! Come and look at Ashley's version of some of our shoots! She really has an eye we just had to show her a few ropes and viola!

http://acpictureplace.blogspot.com/

New Website!!

It has been forever since I posted anything. It has been a busy place over here. I have been working hard on my new website and am pleased to say I am officially a .com. Please come check it out at http://simplemomentsphoto.com/. I am sure there are still some tweeks to work out but I am up and running. Now that it is out there hopefully I can now be busy with some work! Then I can share all new pictures with you guys.

I am so excited I have a logo!! My wonderful sister n law is a graphic artist and has been trying to start doing some stuff from home and I was lucky enough to be related and in need. She is pretty awesome if I do say so myself!!