photography

She poses

Yesterday, I asked if I could take her picture.
Generally, she’s not a huge fan of pictures (Unless I’m taking other kids pictures. Then, she wants in immediately).
So, I say, “I’ll give you a gummy bunny from Trader Joe’s.”
She agrees and comes up with this pose:

ME: “Why don’t we try having you put your hands on [...]

*Giveaway* HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer

Once upon a time, there was an Arizona mama [see left] who took lots and lots and lots of photos. Beautiful photos. Colorful photos. Emotion-filled photos. Frame-worthy photos.
But they just sat on her computer.
All they did was just sit, sit sit. And she did not like it – not one little bit.
Then, she got smart [...]

Make Someone’s Day — Give…Photos

If you have a DSLR or an above-average digital camera…and you know how to use it, then you have an awesome tool for gift-giving in your hands.
Never underestimate the power of photos to stir a person’s heart.

If you know a brand new mama, offer to stop in for a photo shoot of mom + baby.
Snap [...]

Photos On Our Walls – {finally}

Remember this photo from our trip to Washington State this past October?

That picture is now hanging on an elegant canvas in our living room. See?
You can get a better feel for how it looks in my recent post about the Dance Dance Revolution alternative.
Beautiful, isn’t it? We’ve recently started hanging photos – large and small [...]

do you ever…?

Do you ever look over at your husband…really look at him…and see all the good that is in his heart and think to yourself, “I totally married the right person! He’s even more amazing today than way back when…and man, he could make my heart go wild even then.”
I do. All of the time.

Do you [...]

at least a hundred a week

I take at least a hundred photos every week.
Some of them are so bad that I delete them right away.
Some are mediocre, but they capture a great moment.

Some are good, but not outstanding.
And then there are a few that are magnificent.

I back-up my photos on Seagate hard drives. I take this precaution because [...]

Themed Weekend: Photography

I get about 1 good picture for every 10 that I take.

My ratio is high because my models are so strikingly beautiful.

That said, my pictures don’t always turn out how I envision because…

My house is not at all conducive to picture-taking.
My backyard is teensy-tiny and kinda blah.
I am almost always holding a baby while [...]

Surprising Way to Save Money #1: Buy a DSLR

It was 2006. My oldest daughter was about six months old and I had been enticed into a department store photo studio by a “FREE 8 x 10″ coupon. I got all my baby gear together, dressed my baby in her prettiest outfit, and drove to the mall. The mall was a zoo of people [...]

FOR THE MEMORY-MAKING MAMA: Vado HD

I grew up in a family of six kids. Five girls and one boy in a 3-bedroom brick house with shaggy brown carpet and a pink tiled kitchen.
I have many memories of that place. Of my childhood.

Shimmying up and down the doorways so that my head touched the ceiling. 
Playing Super Heroes with a towel cape [...]

Look Pretty in Pictures…Postpartum

Dilemma: You want to take “mom & baby” photos a day or two after the birth, but you still look 3 months pregnant and your face shows that you just went through the marathon of birth (the tired eyes, the washed-out skin, etc.).
What’s a girl to do?
Here are a few tips:

Wear solid colors. Dark [...]

PhotoStamps: Too Cute to Use

We gave our parents and grandparents photo stamps for Christmas this year, along with our annual family photo card. They were a big hit and produced many “oohs” and “ahhs.”
In fact, my grandparents e-mailed me this afternoon to say “thank you” and they noted how precious the stamps are. But they pointed out that there [...]

Your Scrapbooking Advice, Please

Once upon a time…I was an avid scrapbooker who attended crop nights and expos, shopped at the local scrapbook store, and created beautiful masterpieces on paper.
Then, I had kids.
I still love the hobby…and especially the finished product. 
BUT scrapbooking takes time. It creates a mess and it requires a certain precision and focus that is difficult [...]