Me and My People

Before 2013 is too far gone, I wanted to post a few of the photos from our Family session that we did back in the fall.  We had our pictures done in early November to use for our Christmas cards.  We used a new photographer this year.  She did a wonderful job and was able to capture some beautiful images of me and my people.  The three peeps in these photos with me will always be my favorite things from each year.  I don't think 2014 will be any different. 

Happy New Year!

{Wordless Wednesday}

{Words}  Still loving on the photos from the fall session with my baby girl.

Happy Wednesday!  This time next week we will be preparing for Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for!

linking to:

And then, She Snapped

Live & Love. . . Out Loud
Project Alicia

Autumn Splendor ~ I heart Faces

Autumn Splendor

I love the beautiful fall leaves that the girl is wading through here.

Linking to this weeks challenge at I heart Faces.

Learning Curve

I still have much to learn about ISO.

Not to mention shutter speed and F stop.  All that is just too much.  I've got to master this ISO stuff first.

I like my pictures bright and I like for them to "glow".  But not this much.

I'll keep working at it.

The worst part is. . .I went and posted my best pictures from the day on FB and forgot to save any surprises for the Christmas Card!!

Window Shopping

Yesterday we ran out of day light, so G and I ventured out for a second time to try for a Christmas card photo shoot.  All photos today were taken in full manual mode.  Needless to say, I have some good ones, and some REALLY BAD ones.  **Note to self:  Two hours is pushing it for a photo shoot if you want a happy model.**

We started our photo shoot at the location of G's choice and ended up in downtown.  She wanted to browse in a few shops, but most of them were closed.  So she just did a little window shopping.

 Christmas day is near.  Due to the oncoming holiday, the toy store was open.  She LOVES this toy store!  They have lot's of unique toys that you can't find anywhere else.

 Somehow I managed to get her to pose one last time.

 Here she is at her favorite shop.  She wanted to look at the Christmas trees for inspiration.  This year she plans on having her own tree for her bedroom.

 I ended up with about 200 pictures from the afternoon.  I have to go through them and decide if any make the cut for the Christmas card.  I definitely got a few that are worth framing atleast.  I'll go ahead and share one of my favorites.

I love everything about this one.  The background, the angle of the shot, her outfit, her sweet smile, etc., etc., etc.  I can't wait to share more pictures soon.

The "M" Word

Today I decided to take the plunge and try to take photos in Manual mode.  I have been completely inspired to do so by my friends Brandi, and Pam.

I read all kinds of information on Manual settings while I watched Big10 at basketball practice lastnight.  Somehow, I still have no understanding of what I'm doing.  I just adjusted until it looked the way I wanted it to.  Below are some of the SOOC shots that I got today.  I hope to be able to look back on these one day and see how far I have come.  (If I don't give up first!)

 We were exactly styled for photos at this point in the day.  But the sun was pretty.

 I brought in two new models today.  Sadie (the pup). . . .

 and G's friend C-bug.

 I finally got these two photos with the beautiful glowing light that I love so much.  I don't know if this is good quality or not, but I think they are pretty.

 {puppy kisses}

 I got the girls all dressed up (minus Sadie) and ready for pictures at sunset.  My hair appointment was scheduled for 3:30.  Wouldn't you know that she was running WAY behind and by the time we got to the park, this is what it looked like. . . .

So, it looks like the big Manual Photo Shoot has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon.  Any pointers for me until then?



Pumpkin Patch {Sneak Peak}

Last weekend babyG and I went out to Old Bakers Farm for some fall fun.  We were accompanied by my MIL, my two SIL's, my three nephews, and one BFF.  It was a great day full of fun and wonderful photo opportunities.

I wish I could sit around all day every day learning how to edit my photographs.  I feel like I sometimes have a pretty good shot, but can never get the look I am going for.  I love the soft, vintage looking photos that I am seeing everywhere these days.  And one day, I would love to be able to edit that well.

For now, this is as good as it gets!!

Stay tuned for more pumpkin patch photos. . .coming soon.

By the Sea. . .

I was lucky enough to spend Fall Break doing three of my favorite things.  Spending time with my family, lying on the beach, and snapping some pictures.

I thought long and hard about naming this post "Bird Watching".  But it almost feels like I have used the title before.  I probably have.

The more we vacation at the beach, the more I realize that I am obsessed with "coastal" birds.  Or pretty much anything you see on the beach, even if it is just a log washed up on the shore.  I love taking pictures of all that stuff.

Sometimes I feel a little silly when I unwrap my camera from the gallon size Ziploc bag as if it cost a million bucks.  And then proceed to walk around taking pictures of things with my zoom lens like I am some kind of professional or something.  But I really do not care, and after a few minutes I forget that people may think I'm crazy.  How am I supposed to get better at this photography thing without tons and tons of practice?!

This time the wind happened to be in full force the whole weekend.  So I only had a small opportunity to take photos.  But I took advantage of that opportunity, and got some that I am really pleased with.

I am still learning how to work with my ISO settings.  But I was able to get some of the best sunset shots for me to date.

I even managed to get one of those birds in the sunset.  {Bliss}

This is my favorite picture, and I am linking it to Show off Your Shot with Rachel @ and then she snapped.

I am thinking about printing a few of the pictures this time to hang on the wall.  This is the one place that we can ALL say we love to be.  And I would like to see a reminder of that every day of the year.

Still Life Standouts

I finally got out and spent a little time with my camera.  I got some really pretty pictures last weekend, and I am all about sharing them.

I am linking this one up at the Still Life Standouts photo challenge.

Backyard Photo Session {B&W}

The girl and I ventured out into the backyard for a mini photo session.  I don't know what I was expecting. Something great & wonderful, I guess.  I don't know how many great and wonderful photos you can capture when it is in the nineties and the photographer is being eaten alive by fire ants. My originally enthusiastic model decided it was entirely too hot for this kind of nonsense.

This is what we got this time. . . .

Clearly I am taking the route of "learn as you go" with this editing stuff.

Happy Monday!