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Inspired

Everyday I am inspired to photograph by ordinary moments, things I see, and people I encounter.  I am always looking at things as if I had a camera around my neck...always searching for interesting angles, beautiful light, and the feelings exchanged between people without them saying a word. Sometimes people catch me staring at them becuase I think they would be so interesting to photograph.
  What inspires me most of all are the classic photographers like Alfred Eisenstaedt, "the father of photojournalism".  They were photographers in every sense of the word.  They knew their way around their cameras.  Film was expensive and they didn't have Photoshop to 'fix' photos, so they had to get it right the first time. They didn't have unlimited chances to get it right the way we do in this digital age. They had to know about exposure.  They understood shutter speed and depth of field. They knew how to use and manipulate light.

I strive to be like these classic photographers...to know my camera and it's settings like I know my own body.  To be careful and choosey about my shots. I work hard to have correct exposure , white balance, and color straight out of the camera.  It is so important to me, espscially in this day when everybody who has a digital camera, Photoshop, and a few cute props calls themseves a "photographer" but then takes 500 photos on the auto setting and gets 20 good ones by sheer luck.

I want to be like Alfred Eisenstaedt, Dorethea Lange, and Mary Ellen Mark with some Stephanie Smith thrown in there too.

Here are some examples of  of the above mentioned photographers' exceptional work:

Alfred Eisenstaedt

Mary Ellen Mark

Dorethea Lange

Cool Tool

Here is a cool tool I found at Wordle   You can plug in the url to your blog or just type in Random words and you get this awesome word art created by using the words from your blog.  You can customize the font and the color too.  If you want to do this with a specific blog entry, just try it with a direct link to that blog posting.  I am addicted.

We Finally Have Family Photos

I recently had my sweet friend Amy Craft come over and take our family pictures.  Amy is a fantastic photographer.  She has not started a business yet...but she should.  I wish she had a blog or a website...maybe soon she will.  Amy did a great job on our photos despite the not so perfect conditions : I picked a later time because of the heat, but then our 3 year old was tired, Abby was tired and moved into her "I'm gonna act crazy and make ridiculous faces" mood, in the middle of the session we were attacked by fire ants and then Jackson was distracted by looking for ants on his feet the rest of the session.  There was a lot going on during the session and Amy was still able to capture these great shots:

I think this one of us holding hands is going over the mantle in a stand out print.

These next ones of Josh and I are my favorites.  We have not had a decent, wall worthy picture of ourselves since our wedding.

I had to be silly and try to lick his face here...I couldn't help it ( I *wonder* where Abby gets it from)???

In turn he tried to put me in some sort of face squeeze/headlock:

I love this next one:

But I think this is my most favorite:

Thank you so much Amy.  I hope you keep building your portfolio so you can start your business soon.  You will be terrific!

The Contract

This past week I spent a lot of time painting my kitchen.  Abby and Caleb sat at the table and drew pictures and talked to me to "keep me company" during many of my painting sessions.  Abby started singing the old song "Then He Kissed Me" and said it was her favorite song....WARNING WARNING!!!!!  I casually asked why it was her favorite song.  She replied that she just thought it was sweet.  I asked "Uh, are you thinking it's sweet because you want to be kissed???"  

"UGH!!!! NOOOO MOM!  I AM NOT KISSING BOYS UNTIL I AM 18!!!"

"Oh, can we get that in writing?"

I was just joking, but here it is. Heh, they both wanted to sign it! I can't wait to bring this out when they start dating!

New Beginnings San Antonio Family Photography

It seems like most of the time, when my clients call me to photograph them, it's to capture a new beginning...a new chapter....a fresh start.  These new beginnings are pregnancies, births,  photos commemorating a first birthday (any birthday),weddings, high school seniors, graduations, etc.

I was honored when my sweet friend Stacey called me to come to her new home and photograph her brave new beginning. 

Stacey, I think you are doing a wonderful job with your fresh start.

and now look at this beautiful mama:

Hager Family

A few months ago many of you generously donated to a walk/run I was participating in to raise money for an family who needed our help.  I thought you might like make a visual connection to see who you helped.  I went around and around in my head about posting these pictures and their story, but Kelly said it was okay....she said "Knowledge is Power"!  I agree.  Their story and Greg's diagnosis is something we should be aware of and is much more important that Jon and Kate's marital problems or the custody battle over MJ's kids...seriously.

The Hager family has been battling DSRCT (desmoplastic small round cell tumor)  (cancer) since 2007.  They are an average family who love to do things like fishing , crafts, vacations, going to games with their 2 young children. 

This has been a tough battle for the whole family, but through it all they continue to smile, live life to the fullest, and love on each other.  Whenever I see Kelly, she still has a huge smile on her face and even through all she is dealing with, she often offers to lend a hand or a hug to many of our other mommy friends.  She gives the best hugs!  They are an amazing example for all of us.

Greg has been undergoing many brutal and strong treatments, but at this point there is not much else left they can do but enjoy their thime they have left together.

I am so humbled and honored that they allowed me into their home to give them these memories during such a personal and tough time.  I know it was not easy for any of them, espscially Greg who has changed so much over the course of his treatments.

I guess the reason for posting this is 1) to make you aware that families just like you fight so many types of cancer each day  2) So that those of you who donated can see the beautiful family you helped and 3) So that you can pray pray pray for them.

In each of these pictures, you can see the warmth and love that they have for each other.

Greg's mom was here visiting.  When I saw her with him, I was able to see him the way she does.  When she looks at him, you can tell she does not see a grown man, she sees her little boy.

You can see how much joy and love Greg has for his boys.

and the love they have for him.

The adoration that Kelly and Greg have for each other is so obvious in the way they look at each other.

Please keep the Hager family in your thoughts and prayers and tell the people you love how much you love them...even if you think they know.

Terrible Three's

I never understood why people called it the terrible two's....the three's always seemed much worse than two.  My 3rd child is no exception.  He is the reason for my gray hairs and raised blood pressure.  He has scaled counters, cabinets, the outside of the stairs, and flushed his own foot down the toilet (yep, true story).  He is volatile with his ear piercing screams and emotional.  He has also been the most lovable and snuggly of any child I have met.  He has an outrageous sense of humor and laughs just as often and as hard as he cries. He is goofy and super confident.  He fills my heart and makes me slow down and enjoy the little things.  And good Lord, I LOVE those bucky beaver teeth of his!!!

Happy Birthday, America!

This morning my family was lucky enough to be in our community 4th of July Parade.  I got to be Lady Liberty and Josh got to be Uncle Sam.  We were not chosen because we were special or anything...it was more like nobody else in the neighborhood wanted to do it or were out of town and we were finally the people who said "yes" .  It was a lot of fun.  I got to ride at the front of the parade in a beautiful white convertible and Josh headed up the rear standing in the back of a pickup truck waving at the parade watchers.  The best part of the parade were the neighborhood kids on scooters, bikes, wagons, strollers all decorated for the 4th.  Our kids got to ride in the vehicles with us and throw candy out to the people watching. We ended the parade at the park with cookies and lemonade, a contest for the best decorated bikes, and a visit from our local fire department where all the kids got sprayed with the hose....I think this was their favorite part!
Here is one of the pictures I was able to get...I can't wait to see the rest of them.