Project 10 - September

One of the best things about photography is the community it creates.  When you find a group of friends that you can talk shop with, people who will discuss lenses ad nauseum so your hubby can quit pretending he's interested, then you know you're having a good time!

Every month we do a 10 photo round up and link up with each other.  It's a great way to see some quality photography and keep up with each other's progress.  It is so fun to watch other people's interpretation of lifestyle photography from around the nation, and see how it inspires my own version here in Gilbert AZ.


So here's my 10.  My favorite photos I've done in the last month or so.  Some are clients.  Some are my own littles.  All of them captured my heart a little bit.

Next up is Kristin B Photography, in Edmonton Alberta Canada! 

The best kind of newborn photography {Gilbert AZ}

Does this story sound familiar?  The pregnancy which you thought would take forever, went by in a blink of an eye and all the sudden she's here.  And then all the sudden, she's three weeks old and the photos of her only exist on a cell phone, because hello?!  There's three other kiddos running around and their world has been rocked too!

That's where lifestyle newborn photography comes in.  A super nice photographer comes to your home.  She plays with your kids while Baby finishes her nap and eats her next meal.  Instead of growls from the three year old, you hear "Take my picture too!".  Everyone has fun for an hour and then she leaves, and you wonder "Was that really family pictures?  That was too easy." 

Even better.  Those are photographs that you wish you could take while you're busy living life.  You try to burn them in your brain:  how your son looks with his favorite Superman cape on, how your daughter looks twirling in the sunlight, how your oldest boy scrunches his eyebrows when he's playing Star Wars on the piano.  Those are the scenes that you feel slipping through your fingers as time marches on.

But now they're caught.  Now you have them forever and ever.  You know, teenage blackmail if needed.  But more likely, that wedding video when Superman is all grown up and wearing a much different kind of suit.

 

 

 

 This photo shoot was done as assignment for an awesome class I took through Chic Critique forum with the amazing Lindsay Silsby (Pied Piper Photography) and Summer Murdock Photography. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published? Check!

I am so excited to check one thing off my bucket list this year.  I have been published in Denim & Grace magazine.  It's a publication for other photographers, and frankly pretty small.  Also, mine is one of the "filler" images, used in between the real articles about much better photographers than me. 

But I was included nonetheless, and I'm pretty dang excited!  My name is up there with Freshly Wed and Lisa Holloway, see?!

What image was it, you ask?  Pretty much my best photo of my entire year. 

 

 

Thank you so much Palfreeman family.  You brought the magic and you made my year a success! 

 

 

Best Family Photography Location {Gilbert AZ}

I love the busy fall photo season.  It's a huge kick in the pants but it reminds me of "doing reps" (re: the Jon Acuff book, Start.  Ah-mazing!)  You learn so much by doing shoot after shoot in such a small period of time.  Your photography muscles really start to buff out by December.  :)

The only thing I hate, and I mean hate, is that the locations are over-run by other photographers and families just trying to do the same thing you are.  "Who cares?" you say.  Well, Dad cares.

It is so stinkin' hard to get Dad on board with those photos, and you know it!  He hates the expense, he hates the clothing, he hates how much Mom screams at him while she's trying to make all the kids and herself look cute so it can be documented for the next year.  He hates me pointing the camera at him.  And most especially, he hates that other people are wandering around, watching him feel so uncomfortable. 

Now, if I can get a nice, private location, I can have Dad won over within 15 minutes of him getting out of the care.  The majority of my Dads will say at the end, and I quote, "That was almost fun!" or "That wasn't total torture!".  But even I can't make a Dad comfortable if there are 20 other families and photographers wandering around, staring at him. 

Last year I had a family that truly needed a peaceful location.  And thank goodness we found it.  It's private and quiet and just lovely.  Within 10 minutes of walking away from your car, you feel like you're removed from life, the screaming of the last hour is gone and in it's place, children are running and giggling through wildflowers.  I know it sounds hokey, but it's true!!

Now because it's private, it comes with a very small fee and it has to be reserved.  Like now.  Just sayin', people.  Don't say I didn't warn you. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to do some reps.  With my Sonic cup.  hahahaha!

Free Lifestyle Photo Shoot!! (Gilbert AZ Photography)

Hi everyone!  So I am mentoring with two amazing photographers right now.  This week's assignment is the last and it's pretty dang specific.  A portfolio of the type of photography you absolutely love.  For me, that's documenting families in their own home, enjoying each other and their comfortable space. 

Given the very specific timeframe I have to work with, I have decided to offer this photoshoot for FREE to one lucky family.  It's normally $250, includes 25-35 fully edited photos, on a disk with printing rights. 

So if you or someone you know is interested and available this Saturday morning, at 9 am, EMAIL ME!  ejtcat@hotmail.com  I need info like ages of family members and where you live.

Thank you so so so much!!

D* Family Rocks It Out!

So when a friend/client starts the conversation with, "I saw this thing on Pinterest." it makes every photographer's blood run cold.  Because you have no idea if it's even possible, let alone if you can live up to it.

But this chick is different.  She's so real and so genuine and so fun, that pretty much I was willing to try whatever the heck she wanted.  And it turns out her idea was really stinkin' cute.

She wanted a filmstrip display for her living room, which is gimongous and with really tall ceilings.  And this is what we came up with:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is how it looks in her living room.  Mission accomplished and it was a stinkin' blast!!  Love that girl and her crazy ideas!

I hope....

About a year ago I wanted to put together a vintage photo shoot.  A little Jackie O and man friend.  I had my Jackie O, this stunning friend of ours.  But the man I had in mind went and got married and the idea sifted out of my brain.

At the beginning of this summer I heard that said stunning friend was leaving her life behind to serve her church for 18 months.  I knew I had to squeeze in a photo shoot before she left but it was so hot!!

Then I got hurt.  And priorities changed.  I could only afford to photograph, edit, and present that which I truly loved.  Even writing this post, I've had to stop twice to rest my eyes.  And a vintage, leaving-on-a-mission photo shoot was on the tip top of my list.

So we took two simple and meaningful props, went to the closest, private location with great light and whipped it out.  Two hours before the shoot yesterday, my doc called and wanted me to come in ASAP the next day for some serious tests.  I knew I had to shoot and completely finish editing because within 24 hours I might be down for awhile. 

The doc appointment is in two hours but the time has passed peacefully because I knew I was doing what I loved.  I've never had such an easy time editing and post-processing.  I know Heavenly Father was blessing me with peace and joy during a time of stress and anxiety. 

Kimee is going to go on to bless way more people and I couldn't be more proud of her grace and beauty.  She shines!!