Zelly and Zara’s shoot

I learned a few things about myself during this shoot :

I learned that I can crawl underneath a low fence faster than a 3 year old.

I learned that I can run down a slope covered in brush and riddled with rabbit and badger holes —backwards.

I learned that I can do both of the above while taking pictures, and without damaging my camera.

Pretty cool huh! (OK, OK, I did fall in a badger hole)

SO, I always wanted to shoot on this hill with the pretty yellow flowers, but light almost never allows for it. Today it did though, and I love the pictures! (Cute outfits girls!)

 

 

Good Enough to Eat

My session with baby Remy and her family was  the sweetest little dessert of a photo shoot ever! I love it when mother nature blends all the ingredients together perfectly to create a delightful space for photography-- like she did here today.

Her recipe? Here it is:

Start with good light-this is essential!-- Add a generous amount of wavy grasses and a leisurely stream, a pinch of dandelion flowers to taste.  Sprinkle handfuls of dainty purple blooms everywhere. Combine with one cute blue-eyed baby and mix for one hour.

Enjoy lovely pictures.

 

       

Senior Shoot on Steroids

As much as I love photographing young children, sometimes it is refreshing to do a shoot  during which I don’t have to sing toddler songs, make monkey sounds (don’t ask!), find fictitious animals in trees or discuss Dora. This shoot was made to order.

Shea approached me to take entertainment industry headshots for her and some friends, all of them seniors at the College of Idaho and majoring in Theatre. A vibrant group of young people, actors who would certainly not need much directing from me…Easy!

The catch: there were thirteen of them! And we only had two hours! This is how long a senior shoot normally takes me – with ONE Senior. Not THIRTEEN! Oh well, nothing like a good old challenge to spice up my life.

During our shoot everybody worked together fast and well --(exactly how well I only realized afterwards: apparently quite a bit of clothes swapping went on behind my back…) We easily got it done in the time and each person had a good variety of pictures which to select six favorites from.

Good luck with your showcase everyone! And best wishes for a bright future.          

 

An Indoor Shoot

I have to confess:  indoor family shoots freak me out a little. There is  random light bouncing off of interior surfaces, limited space and background ‘noise’. I’m forced to use a harsh wide angle lens and oftentimes flash, the poses are formal…. For many reasons I’m just not a fan. So I decided to try and avoid them  this year.

And then I found myself in a situation where the shoot was set in stone and could not be postponed. It had to happen stat! All the while the wind was bending trees in my garden and blowing over pots on my front porch. Using an outdoor setting was simply impossible. What to do?

Well, I had not other option but to head over to the nearest hotel and…(gulp!)…. do an Indoor Family Shoot!

Despite my reluctance re. the location, I had fun with Allyson’s extended family. If  you have to shoot indoors, this is the family you want to do it with. They are wonderful; a tight knight, easy going group. 

And, as before, the Eagle Hilton graciously allowed me to use  their lobby—with only 15 minutes notice. Thank You Eagle Hilton!

  

“The shoemakers children…”

The saying  “the shoemaker’s children always go without shoes” definitely applies to me!  I take thousands of pictures of other people’s kids every year- and not nearly enough of my own children. (My son could not be happier with the current state of affairs; he does not enjoy picture taking!) 

In light of my empty photo albums, I have decided to make a concerted effort to change things around this season. These kids are getting photographed every month, starting right now (sorry Justin!). Filling those albums up before Christmas…