While We Waited …

Posted on July 14, 2010

Tuesday and Wednesday are my busiest days at my day job, so I typically do not do anything with my photography business, but I did want to share this snapshot of my oldest daughter this morning.

We grilled dinner last night and while we waiting, I popped my 50mm lens on and took a bunch of photos – our dinner as it sizzled inside its foil pouch, of the smoke rising from the grill, of my children when they would stand still long enough for me to manually focus my lens and play with my settings.

Jaiden is eight and soon will be at that age where she hates me, but for now I think I’ll enjoy her and all of the joy she brings.

I shot this at f/3.5, 50mm and processed it with Marybeth Mills‘ defog & sharpening actions (the best!) and My 4 Hens Photography’s Glee and Pastel Pretty.





Firecracker, firecracker …

Posted on July 9, 2010

I don’t photograph children. Well, not professionally.

The reason is because, despite having four children of my own as well as nieces and nephews, I’m not that great at it. I don’t have the patience required of child and family photographers (but I admire those who do).

Of course I would love, love, love to photograph newborns. They’re not so bad, right?

But this little guy – Tyler, the son of my former co-worker/friends/neighbors – makes me wish I was. The fact that this is not a blurry photo is miraculous; Tyler’s a ball of energy (a little firecracker!) and he was running circles around me last Friday night at the Celebrate Independence event. This is nothing new. That’s just Tyler; he never slows down.

I shot dozens of fireworks photos that night, bursts of bright colors against the evening sky and the Stars and Stripes, but this photo is my favorite from that evening. Adorable little Tyler with his chubby, firecracker-painted cheeks and innocent smile. He will enter kindergarten this fall.

This was just a quick snapshot, but I don’t think I could have done better if I’d tried. Those big baby blues don’t hurt, either.