Senior Pictures Practice- Round 1

I have discovered that I love shooting seniors (or anyone in a 16-20 age range who will pretend to be a senior for my photo purposes).  Why? Well, for starters, I only have to catch one person looking good at any one moment, as opposed to 4+ people for family photography and- the best part- seniors want to have their photos taken.  They smile and pose and do whatever the heck you tell them! The same cannot be said of 3 years old.  So, when I do get this photography thing off the ground, I plan on making senior pictures a staple of my business if there is enough of a market for it.

Here was one of three practice shoots I did in Downtown Anoka over the last few weeks.

14,000 Views

Whew! Another thousand page views just zipped by- thank you all so much for checking in with us to see what we're up to this fall.

In related news, my goal is to have a decent enough portfolio by the end of this year to launch an honest to goodness photography website and see if I can't make a buck or two taking photos of people.  It may take longer but I'll keep everyone posted. 

I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true - hard work pays off.

If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice.

If you don't love something, then don't do it.
~Ray Bradbury

 

 

Eva's Bestie

The day has finally come; Eva has a best friend.... and it's not me.  If I didn't like her bestie so much I might be a little bit sad for me ;-)

Sadie and Eva go to Montessori school together as well as gymnastics.  Sadie's mom and I are still debating if putting them in the same gymnastics class was a good idea as their coach has to split them up and tell them to stop talking at least twice every class but I'm hoping they can rise to the occasion.  I've done the, "if you want to stay in class with Sadie" ultimatum so many times I sound like a broken record. 

We're planning on trick-or-treating in Sadie's neighborhood this year.  Both girls have informed me that they want to be princesses so it should be a magical, candy-filled night to remember!

Brad Paisley Does it Again

I've blogged before about my love for Brad Paisley and his progressive, awesome country music.  Well, he's done it again with his new single "Southern Comfort Zone"- it's an homage to his southern roots but has some great lyrics.  I love it and I can't wait for the new album to go on sale!

When your wheelhouse is the land of cotton,
The first time you leave it can be strange, it can be shocking

Not everybody drives a truck, not everybody drinks sweet tea
Not everybody owns a gun, wears a ball cap boots and jeans
Not everybody goes to church or watches every Nascar race
Not everybody knows the words to "Ring Of Fire" or "Amazing Grace"

Oh, Dixie Land,
I hope you understand
When I miss my Tennessee Home
And I been away way too long
I can't see this world unless I go
Outside my Southern Comfort Zone

I have walked the streets of Rome, I have been to foreign lands
I know what it's like to talk and have nobody understand
I have seen the Eiffel Tower lit up on a Paris night
I have kissed a West Coast girl underneath the Northern Lights
I know what it's like to meet the only one like me,
To take a good hard look around and be a minority

And baby makes 5!

My oldest friend Jessica gave the awesome chance to shoot her pregnancy announcement photos.  For those of you who don't live on Pintrest, coming up with cute ways to announce new bundles of joy is all the rage in photography, so I was so excited for Jessica and also excited for myself for the opportunity.  We took them along with their family photos down at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis- here are some of my favorites!

Eva's Book Review- September

For those of you keeping score, yes I missed the second reading selection for July... and for August.  We had a visit from Katie and back to school and State Fair and in-law visit and... time just got away from me. Now it's almost October- gah! 

So back at it we go.  It's not that we haven't been reading, I just haven't been blogging about it- but I'll pick up where I had left off.

Tomie DePaola was our theme for awhile.  I really enjoy when authors have enough good books that I can do an entire section on them.  DePaola, author of the famed Strega Nona and many, many other books has been a favorite of mine since childhood.  Accents and funny voices are lost over the internet but I still remember my mom's goofy way of saying, "Bubble, bubble pasta pot. Boil me some pasta nice and hot" with an Italian accent.  Side note: Katie also used the same accent when she was reading Strega Nona to Eva during her visit. Love it!

1. Strega Nona
Who doesn't know the story of Strega Nona!?  Winner of the Caldecott Honor in 1976, it's the story of a magical witch in an Italian village and her meddling helper Big Anthony. We've had this book in our home library since Eva was an infant, but she's finally old enough to appreciate it now.  I do a mean Italian accent so this is one of Eva's favorites and she seems to love books where people get their comeuppance; Big Anthony having to eat a whole village of pasta must seem so cool to a 4 year old.

2. The Art Lesson

Eva and I both love this one. It's about coloring and art, which Eva is obsessed with as of late, but the message of the book is also one of individuality and the perseverance to go your own path.  Maybe it's the Montessori-esque theme to it but we both really love the story and pictures and enjoy the fact that, in the end, little Tommy is allowed to do his own thing.  

3. Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Every now and then I'll do a religious theme for the month, but this one just happened to fit in with de Paola so it was a bonus.  This is a beautiful story of the earth and all its creations and everything God has made for us.  This book always sparks a conversation for Eva about God and how he's always with us even when we're alone and how he loves us as much as mommy and daddy love us.  I love that she's becoming old enough to understand God and all that He means and we can have real conversations about her faith. 

4. Pancakes for Breakfast

This one is pretty self explanatory- plus, it's only a picture book, so Eva wasn't very interested.  Great start for children though who need an introduction to Tomie.

My Better Half

Happy anniversary to the most loving, goofy, hard-working, caring, handsome, sexy, devoted and wonderful man I could have ever hoped to have the amazing good fortune to fall in love with!

Two years down, many many more to follow. Time flies by when you spend it every day married to your best friend. 

“It is often said that it is love that makes the world go round. However, without doubt, it is friendship which keeps our spinning existence on an even keel.

True friendship provides so many of the essentials for a happy life -- it is the foundation on which to build an enduring relationship, it is the mortar which bonds us together in harmony, and it is the calm, warm protection we sometimes need when the world outside seems cold and chaotic.

True friendship holds a mirror to our foibles and failings, without destroying our sense of worthiness. True friendship nurtures our hopes, supports us in our disappointments, and encourages us to grow to our best potential.

Today, Jason & Rebeccah pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and, most importantly, the fun of true friendship.” ~Rev. Matt, 9/18/2010