Pushing myself

    Every new session brings an opportunity for improvement and even when there are no sessions I have two spectacular- though sometimes less than willing- models to work with. I want to be better, I want to achieve more. I see the beautiful work displayed by the artists I look up to and I reach.

I felt stuck for a bit. Things have been repetitious and I was uninspired for a while. My work lacks direction I think.

I feel as though I've spread myself into every venue of portrait photography and I want to develop into a specialty but I struggle with the idea of limiting myself to one area. If I were to focus on wedding photography I'd miss the families and littles. If I were to soley work with family and newborns, I'd miss the weddings..

Bah, I will have to explore the pros and cons of it all...


Lately, I've been trying to find new angles, new ways to frame and compose a shot- new ways to tell a story. I love the lifestyle and journalistic approach to photography as opposed to studio and posed set ups. The "real" moments are what I've been looking for lately. It started when I looked around and realized all I had were posed set ups of my girls. No real memories of the funny things they were doing, no candids of our everyday life.

So I started keeping the camera out of its case and within reach... and I caught a few cute moments... nothing really portfolio worthy..

Then I began "setting the scene" so to speak. I set out props in hopes to coax the girls into playing and let go of any expectation for the perfect shot. I become a fly on the wall and document what unfolds.. To me, the result is SO much better than anything I could hope to pose and they tell a story that reveals my girls personalities in a way that will bring me back to this time and these moments.

I'm still developing this style and I hope with practice I can improve. So far I'm really loving this direction though. :)

Did I mention I was a horrible blogger?

    I'm just awful at blogging! I meant to post this in JANUARY.. But It takes quite a bit of dedication to start a business from the ground up, raise two little ones two and under, remember to clean the house once in a while, oh and maintain any sort of a social life...
     
Original post that sat in my drafts for 4 months:

  Current events: My beautiful Aubriella just turned TWO! And my sweet Annaliese is sitting already! I never fully understood the sadness mothers displayed when announcing wonderful new developments and ages their children were arriving into, however, now I can say I'm finally able to grasp it. There's such a conflicting emotion that arises in a mommy when she realizes the sweet baby she grew so carefully and patiently in the safety of her womb, is now not just running but SPRINTING further and further away from her gaping open arms. My heart aches to wrap both of my girls back up into the safety of me.

Alright I must share my recent endeavours. The last 5 months have been amazing for my little business and I've had many many wonderful sessions. I believe 34 in total with 2 holiday photo booths and 3 weddings! It might not seem like much but it's been an awesome jump in numbers for me considering that from January to September of 2012 I'd photographed all of 4 sessions and 1 wedding! I pray that despite this month's slow beginning, 2013 will yield even more growth :).
I'll start from where I left off with my last post...back in October.. lol


I traveled to Tucson for this session and utilized the gorgeous hidden oasis of Agua Caliente. I was actually married on the grounds there. Its one of my favorite places :).

 

 

I also used this location for a little session with my sister-in-law and nephew in November.

 

 

 

I had the honor of photographing a beautiful wedding in the middle of October. The bride and groom are the coolest people. They were SO much fun to work with and the wedding was such a blast. My kid brother helped shoot this one with me and I was blown away at some of his creativity! He had some amazing ideas and such an eye for composition!

 

This was one such idea from the little bro.. The bride and groom didn't want to break tradition so for a fun pre-wedding "couple shot" we had them in the two elevators side by side. It took a little negotiating with the janitor to get the doors to stay open at the same time because they're rigged not to do so without a key and I think it was worth the trouble :).

 

 

I've developed a love affair with sunset light and November and December were spectacular months for sunset sessions with all of the beautiful fall colors (Phoenix has its own idea of when fall hits the trees- it likes to prolong summer into about November and cut spring off around mid April. Winter exists for maybe two weeks in the desert state.)

 

 

 

I had the pleasure of photographing another beautiful wedding in December. This was a gorgeous wedding! The chapel was spectacular. I loved the bride and groom- so sweet, so in love :).

 

 

Ohhh and the babies! I just adore newborns and every session seems to teach me something new!

 

 

I have so much more I would love to post but I will save it for later :).