This Means Trouble

 

This is my sweet 2 year old who loves to make trouble, but can also melt my heart in an instant.  She is growing up way too fast!

The lighting was really low when I took this photo.  It is amazing that the sun starts setting around 4 pm and it is way too cold for a wimp like me to go outside for better lighting.  So, these photos aren't as well lit or as rich in color as I would like, but they work.  Plus, she was hamming it up for me, so these are definitely worth sharing.

Sunshine, On a Cloudy Day

A Blessing

Our sweet little one was blessed at our church by her Daddy this past Sunday.  She wore the dress that her great grandmother was blessed in.  It was lovely.

Bedroom Re-Do

 This is my 6 year old's room before:

This is her room now:     (for more photos and a better description, visit our family blog...the link is on the side-bar of this blog).

Here she is.  Reason #3 that I am such a slacker with photography lately.  She's totally worth it though...all my girls are.

BFF

Ha!  I think that phrase 'BFF' is hilariously corny.  I actually took some photos this week of somebody other than my kids....are you proud?  You should be....I am ;)
My life-long friend, Sara, called and asked if I could meet her someplace and snap a few quick family shots for her.  I am 39 weeks pregnant and playing the waiting game, so this was a good distraction.
She wanted her photos in B&W because of an existing family photo wall she has in her home.  I edited them in color and B&W just for some variety.
It was literally a 20 min. escapade of trying to fight the wind and getting the kids to cooperate.  She has such a gorgeous family that I knew we couldn't go wrong no matter how it all went down.  Here are just a couple of the favorites.  Thanks Sara!   I hope you like them.

Crafty Pants

My uber-creative Sister In Law, Summer,  has a great blog that more people should know about so I am just posting a link to her page even though it has nothing to do with photography.  This girl can CREATE.  She just completed an AMAZING headboard.  Go check it out!
http://summerized.blogspot.com/
I wish I had the time to create, but for now my time and energy is being used to create people :)
Someday I will spend more time expanding my very limited knowledge and experience with photography as well as creating some crafty crap that I am always dreaming up in my head .
And I'm okay with that :)

Wild Utah

Our little family of 4 went up to our favorite canyon in July.  Normally, in the middle of July, this canyon is in full bloom.  We were slightly disappointed to find out that it was running behind due to the colder, spring weather lasting 3 weeks longer than usual.  So, we I don't have photos of fields of colorful wildflowers, but did catch a few that were the early bloomers.  I tested out the macro setting on my new lens and it seems to be working just fine :)
By the way, this state that we are lucky to live in sure has a lot of beauty to offer.   What are your favorite places to visit here?  Or, if we haven't had the pleasure of your company here, where would you like to visit sometime?

Few and Far Between

I realize that I don't post on here very often.  I'm sure there aren't many people paying attention anyway, but sometimes I feel a twinge of guilt over this fact.  I think it is a summer thing, or maybe a pregnancy thing.  I don't get out to take photos as often as I normally would.  I am thinking this will change as summer comes to an end, things slow down and I am forced to be inside more due to the cold weather.  Who knows?  For now, thanks for checking up on me (if you do)....I will return soon.

Birthday's Are Great!

My smokin' hot husband got me a new lens for my birthday!  I am already loving it.  It is my first lens, other than the kit lens that came with my camera. And although it is not an L-series lens (or any other lens that I could never justify purchasing, but drool over when rented,) it has made me very happy and continues to impress.  I am looking forward to getting out and using it.
Here is one image of my 5-year old sweetheart that posed for some of my practice:

Confession

I have a small confession to make.  I haven't printed photos in almost two years.  Other than a few to hang on the wall.  In fact, I look around my house and for having an interest/ hobby for photography, my walls are barren.  I can count on one hand the number of photos that I have taken, printed, and hung.   
Why, you ask?  I don't know.
Sometimes, it is the money.  Other times it is the fear that when I print my photos, they won't turn out the way I have envisioned.
The sad thing is that I have a massive stockpile of photos that are just sitting in Lightroom waiting to be printed and smacked into our the girls photo albums.
I am overwhelmed with attacking this project of organizing the photos and actually printing them.  Where do I start?  Do I print the most recent photos and work backwards, or try to figure out where I left off and work forward?
What do you do to keep your photos organized and remember to print them?  I need some inspiration/direction.

Macro

I don't get to use a macro setting very often, but it is kind of fun to snap a few when I have a chance.  It really requires a steady hand.  Pretty cool though.

My Sisters Sweet Family

Put to Good Use

It was a blustery day...

My cute Auntie asked me to take their family photos last week.  It just turned out to be incredibly windy and cold while we were shooting. It is not apparent in the photos, but all of the girls (including me) were shivering.  That sunshine can be deceiving!
Of course, my favorites were of my gorgeous cousin who is a Senior and wanted some senior photos before she graduates.  My comfort zone is definitely having one subject.  I have a lot to learn when it comes to shooting groups.  Practicing helps, but I have a long way to go.

A Few More

It was easy to photograph these two.  Adults are so much more cooperative than children...for the most part.  It was fun.  Thanks Matt & Carrie!
ps.  All of my photos are mine.  So, don't copy them without my permission.  Thanks!

More to come

I am slowly working my way through the engagement photos that I shot for my cousin and his gorgeous sweetheart this past weekend.  Here is a sneak peak.

It's been a while

These are two of my favorite people...my parents.  What a great looking pair!  This was taken right in their backyard, with my standard kit lens.  Not my favorite lens.  In fact, it drives me nuts most of the time, but it's the only thing I've got right now, so I make it work. 
I just haven't posted something in a while because the weather has been horrible until recently and I have been horrible about picking up my camera amongst all of the sickness in our home.  I am also a hermit in the winter because I HATE being cold, so I avoid it at all costs.  I really should live in California or something, but alas...all the grandparents are here.  So, here we will stay.
I am anxious for the warmer weather and have already been asked to do some engagement photos (a first for me) for my cousin and some family photos for my Aunt and for my sister.  So, the warmer weather brings more opportunity to pick up the camera and get back into the swing of things.
My anti-flash tip for the day, get outside and stick your subject in some great shade.  It does wonders....even with a stinky, kit lens.

Turn Your Flash OFF

Here's a fun little tip:  The next time you have a birthday party, before the candles are blown out, turn off your flash and all the lights in the room and let the candles do the "talking" if you will. 
It creates a great glow and communicates more than just a standard photo....don't you think?

Great Link!

I still feel like a beginner photographer in so many ways.  Probably because I don't have the time or means to be as involved with photography as I would like to be someday.  For now, I'll just keep shooting when I can ( I definitely need to be better at this!) and keep learning from my many mistakes.

For you other "beginners" out there, here is a great link that I came across randomly:
http://allbowerpower.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/shoot-me/

I think I will break down and make myself spend money on a new lens.  I have had my eye on this one for a while, but I am wondering if I should start out with one of the lenses suggested in the link. The Canon 50 mm 1.8  (only $100), or the Canon 100mm 2.0 (a little more pricey).

Any input on what lens I should start out with on a small budget?

By the way, the following little squirts are what keep me so busy, but that is fine with me.  That should be priority #1, right?

Grrrr....

I took some photos tonight for some family members.  It was a big group.  I rented the lens that I always rent, I shot it in RAW, the ISO was set at 100, and I had it on one-shot focusing.  I just uploaded the photos to Lightroom 3.  THEY ARE GRAINY!!!!  WHY???  Grrrr....
They don't look fuzzy until I zoom in, but I know that they aren't crystal clear like I know they SHOULD be.  What did I do wrong?  And, what do I do now?
HELP!!!