Sophia Nicole

I had the pleasure of shooting Sophia Nicole, in a pretty impromptu session. Her mom contacted me on Thurdsay, and then Sunday I was at their house holding their beautiful baby girl.

I do not shoot babies often. I do have the patience - but I do not have the props that I would like to use. I really wanted to use a tutu, so I asked a fellow photographer for some help. She suggested I make one! Shelby, that was a super great idea! Thank you so much!

Off subject for a second - Shelby is a photographer in Florida, in the St. Cloud/Kissimmee area. She is amazing! Book her if you are ever down there!!
http://photographybyshelby.com/index2.php#/home/
Looks like she just updated her website too! I cannot wait to look at it!

Sophia was eating as I arrived, and mom & dad told me that she falls right asleep and sleeps for about two hours after she eats. I guess little Sophia had other plans for me over the next three hours! As I held her, I did not want to put her down. She was too cute! She was also gassy. I was able to lay her on her back, but anything to do with the belly, she just wasn't having it. I managed to snap off a few shots though. She kept trying to sleep, but the gas just kept on coming. By the end of the three hours, she was hungry again, and ate before some final shots of the family. With the few outfit changes and little bumps along the way, we got some great shots I hope her family will cherish for a long time to come!

OH, and that tutu? Amazing! :)

Tyler

His mom and I went to JHS together.  Literally, we had not seen each other in 23 years!  (That sounds so scary!!!)  But seeing her was like we never stopped hanging in school.  She looked the same, and her son - amazingly cute!  His name is Tyler.  We decided to go to a park that had access to a beach in Oyster Bay.  I hung out with my other JHS friend, (coincidentally they each did not remember each other!) and then was on my way.  I got there to find out there was construction all over the place, but thankfully the area we had in mind to take pictures was not affected.  Too bad they don't tell you that on their website.  Tyler was shy at first, but he opened up quickly to me.  I heard he never does that!  Go Tyler!  He was a pleasure to shoot, and I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship for Tyler and I!  And Antonia - hanging out is now a priority!  I cannot wait to create new memories!

 I know the next few go over the "lines" of the center, but I didn't want to make them smaller.  (It is a pet peeve when this happens, so if you see it in the future, I just didn't like the photo any smaller.  So until I can change the setup to contain a wider situation, this is it for now!)

Ra Ra Ooh La La!

Trying to catch up!  Don't want to leave everyone hanging for too long.  It is so easy for my mind to just say...Nah, we don't have to do that today! I want to though, but don't.  It is definitely hard when you are busy, to keep up with all the little things that go into this business.  I always ask how the big guns do it.  Then I remember this is usually their only job!  I have two others.  My day job, then Mommy.  I could never have started this while my kids were younger.

So the first of the two concerts was the Monster Ball.  Lady Gaga for those of you who are not familiar.  It was amazing!  We originally were going to wait from 6am, because we had general admission tickets.  But it was pouring!  So we left at 12:30 and got there... there really was not many people!  Thank goodness.  The rain scared them off for a bit I am sure.  So after waiting about 7 hours, they finally started to let us in.  We ran down and to our places.  I picked the front of the stage, front row with my nice Brianna, and my daughter and her friend stayed back on the catwalk a little bit.  Perfect for when she came up.  I had the camera, and they did not.  I wish we were allowed to bring in DSLRs!  OH MY that would have been fantastic.  I got some great shots!  Thank you Mother Monster for allowing cameras! :)

1st time out

One month?  Oh no!  We must not let that happen often!  Definitely not. It is not like I haven't had anything to write about!  I have been so busy the last few weeks, and there really isn't any sign of a break until after I get back from vacation in July.

Last we left off, I had yet to get the 7D.  As of now, it is sitting in my lap, waiting for the busy day ahead.  Today I shoot Alexa's Communion.  The anticipation was building all week for me because the forecast said rain all weekend, and through much of next week.  Looking this morning at this map, it looks like we are going to be good for the entire morning!  Just cloudy!  (a secret YAY!)  I definitely prefer the clouds to the harsh sun of last weeks shoots.  Tomorrow, I have a shoot with my little friend Gary at the beach.  I am not so sure the rain will be as forgiving then.  We all have no other plans for tomorrow though and just need that hour of no rain, and we are jumping to action!  60% is surely not 100%!

How is the 7D?  Wonderful!  It really compares to the D90 more than I thought it did prior to getting it, but it is exactly where I should be on the other side of the scope, so I am extremely happy.  Now I can plan my next steps into Full Frame, and be happy about it, instead of settling for a camera I did not like.  The controls are different, but I pretty much found everything I needed right away.  Now to find all that extra goodness. :)

first picture taken with the 7D

Names, Cars, J*, creative LIVE and Candice Benjamin!

HEEEEEYYYY Internet!

It has been a little bit, huh?  Things have been pretty crazy here, so I apologize for the hiatus.  :D
Let's see, where do I start?

I have a business name!  I won't spoil it just yet - we are still working on the logo, but it is a long time coming.  The next step will be the website.  I want to put myself out there, so that way (hopefully) next year, I will be shooting more often for clients.  I really love it!  I am scared beyond belief, but I am going for it!!!!

My car - just under three months from our drive to Florida - that would be roughly a 16 hour drive, decided to cause us a little bit of trouble.  Not solved yet - but it was "fixed" enough to drive.  For y'all who know about cars, my front differential decided to play games with us and go "bam bam bam bump bump bump".  All in all, it controls my 4 wheel drive.  SO we have taken out the front drive shaft for the time being, and just have to replace it before any snow.  WHEW!  Not the time of year for a big fix!

This past weekend I watched Jasmine Star on creative LIVE.  She has the best seminars!  If you are interested in learning about how she runs her business, it is a great seminar!  She is very smart, and creative.  A true inspiration.  You can check her course out here: http://www.creativelive.com/courses/building-your-wedding-photography-business-jasmine-star

Watching creative LIVE, there were a few people who won a contest to be there in person.  One of those people was photographer Candice Benjamin from California.  Over the last few days, I have looked over her blog, her website and have stared at a bunch of her photos.  This girl is GOOD!  She also just took a huge step moving forward with her business.  She quit her day job.  Mucho Kudos to her!  Congratulations Candice, and good luck with your new endeavors!  You can follow her here: http://candicebenjamin.com/

Last but not least, I am so happy to announce that my new camera will be in my possession early next week!  More next time on that! :)

For now, I leave you with a few pics from Central park.  My brother and his girlfriend, a squirrel, and my sister.

85mm f/1.8

INTERNET!!!  I got my 85mm f/1.8 lens today!  I got home, and immediately tried it out on Ameilia's XTi!  OMG!!!  It is everything I hoped it would be.  I cannot wait to pair it up with the 7D!

I just wanted to tell you that.

XTi - for now

My daughter and I are both on this journey to change over from Nikon to Canon.  For my daughter, the switch was easy.  She is done.  For me, not so much.  You see, I had gear.  After the last two weeks, what remains, I will be keeping.

I went from this in the house:
Nikon  D90
Nikon D40x
Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f/2.8
Nikon D3000 w/18-55mm kit lens (my daughter's)

To this (keeping):
Nikon D40x
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

This is strange to me, and I am left feeling like there is a big hole in my existence.  My D40x is great.  My remaining lenses, also great.  But I long for more.  That time will come and I am on my way!

Trading places a bit we now have in addition to the three items above, we have this:
Canon Rebel XTi (my daughter's replacement for her D3000)
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 85mm f/1.8

The 85mm will be a good portrait lens, and I got the 18-135 as an every day type of lens that I like to tote around - until I finally decide what my "good" lens will be in that area.  I will however be getting the 50mm f/1.4.  It is the start of something new!!  I am so excited.  And, as a bonus - all my gear from my Canon EOS Elan 7, every lens, and the flash, all work on my daughter's XTi!  This is great news!  And oddly enough, the Nissin flash we purchased for the D90 works on the XTi as well!!  :)    The old lenses are nothing great, but work well, and they are crisp, regardless of the reviews.  I have given them to my daughter as her kit items.  I am glad I did not try to sell them!  It makes me wonder now if the new lenses I have purchased, will work on my Elan 7!

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson