Summer Days

It was a hectic summer - and my camera has been on perpetual back log but I did manage over the last few evening to process some photos of the girls from summer. Bean is getting harder and harder to wrestle down for pictures - she wants nothing to do with me and my camera anymore - I count myself lucky to have snagged the few that I did. Now if I can only get them together.... 

Hello, Maureen's Sister! (or Blog Fail)

I admit it - I have been terribly remiss in maintaining my blog. I have been incredibly busy with learning the new job (which I love) and balancing family life (which I also love) - so something had to slide by the wayside. My camera's CF card is also on perpetual backlog, so I suppose that makes two slides.

What I have been doing - is spending time on the sofa cruising Pinterest for things I will (most likely never) make and clothes I drool over. This requires no more energy than a slight swipe of my finger on the iPad and I do this in a "my-mind-is-numb-because-I-have-been-working-and-caring-for-small-children-who-are-hiding-their-mission-to-drive-me-insane-behind-their-adorably-cute-faces" kinda way at the end of the day. Many of us are guilty of this exact crime - admit it.

 Which brings me to this oldie of a gem text message between my beloved husband and myself.

I mean thank goodness for mobile technology or these moments would have been lost forever. Sadly  (or happily depending on your viewpoint) I have more than one of these literary masterpieces saved.

summer evening

My dear friend, Christina, recently moved back to Manchester in June after completing her Master's Degree and becoming a licensed therapist. We have gotten together for visits since she has been back, but last week, on a perfect summer evening, was the first time she and I got to sit together, sip wine and do some serious girl chit chat (without the interruption of a hungry baby or a bored Bean). It was divine.

I'm not sure if any other mothers feel this way – but I am pretty sure the moment after you give birth, they hand you not only your squirming little miracle, but also a HUGE side of guilt. I often feel guilty for wanting to take time for just myself; there is always too much that "needs" to get done. I have to remind myself that it's not selfish for me to want to be away from my kids, it's necessary to relax and recharge.

Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband who realizes this time  - for both he and I - is important. He encourages me to take an evening here and there and head out for a couple hours with my girlfriends, and I do likewise for him. (Of course, this also means after he gets the kids to bed, he gets to be a kid himself and play on the video games completely undisturbed)

Silly little fly flew in my wine!

This is a good shoulder... all great friends should have one like this

I would also like to take this time to warn the rest of my girlfriends that in lieu of my decision to upgrade my camera and lenses, I have decided to lug that thing just about everywhere. Put on your lip gloss ladies - 'cause your picture will be taken on girls night!

i am a pixel pusher

It started almost 17 years ago with graphic design... and now my obsession has grown and I am recently (re)obsessed with pixels... more specifically the sharpness of pixels in my photos. It's never enough.

I am constantly striving to improve what I have previously done... always viewing my work with a critical eye and telling myself "Ok.. you did well, but you could do better, now get to it". I get nervous - even when shooting my own kids - about finding pretty light and that and exposure just right, creating a pleasing compositions in camera, angles, catch lights... Ahhhh! It is safe to say there is a lot whirling around in my brain when the camera is stuck to my face.

Fortunately, I have a tiny little model (who cannot runaway when she sees the camera like her big sister, Bean) with me when the light is just right. While I prefer to use only natural light, but I have been know to pop a flash or use my alien bees from to time to time. From her expression in these two photos, you can see she has already learned, at her young age, to be patient with Momma when she has her camera out.

Right now - other than pushing the sharpness of photos (it's not enough!! I want more!!! I want better!!!) - I am also experimenting with different angles to take photos of the baby. As much as I like props, I seem to lean (recently) in just taking photos of baby in her natural element - whether that be in a little sundress or just her diaper chilling out on a furry rug on the living room floor. The way I see it - this little image is more real and when she is grown and perhaps has babies of her own, this is what I will remember and will make me smile when I look back.

four months old!

Happy 4 months, Violet Catherine! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! The photo is a little grainy - but it was dusk when I took the photo so I had to push the ISO... but she was giggling so hard I just couldn't miss this little moment!

{love}

I am not a wedding photographer by trade – I much prefer the pace of modern portrait work.  I have the utmost respect for my photographer friends who regularly shoot weddings – it is truly a natural talent and a love. Not only is it an incredible amount of work – hours of constant shooting at the event it self, plus all the hours of post processing and editing – there is a lot of pressure not to mess up a couple’s big day! “Excuse me.. could you kiss the bride again.. my exposure was slightly wonky….” When close friends of mine decided to get married in an intimate celebration – they asked me to shoot their day. How could I say no to such an awesome couple? I couldn’t! I am still in the process of… errr… processing - and there are more to come - but here are a couple of teasers.

Congrats to Tiffany and Jeremy! Thanks for letting me part of your wonderful day!

Cheers!