Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Family Time: It is too Precious to Not Capture



Family Time
A stay at home mom, trying to return to work. 
This is the hardest thing I have had to do, it is emotional. 
While I am not doing full time work, a lot of the work I do have to do is on the weekends, during what would be family time. Trying to run a business requires time doing a little bit of everything.  Sometimes, I just miss my family. So when I do get a chance to go out with them I feel guilty for picking up my camera. But, why should I? Capture them having fun, let them make messes, watch them play. Or give them a camera, let them take photos like mommy does..include them in passion.

Here's to making messes, having fun, and making memories.
I cannot wait to have these printed for them to have a constant reminder of this day.




Friday, January 13, 2017

A first painting: Not a career





Isaac

This term in school I have the opportunity to take my first art class. I do not hope it is the last, but I have to admit when I noticed that our first assignment was to paint an image...I was rather terrified.

The assignment:
  1. Create a value strip beginning with White. Your strip should be gradually moving toward the black. See Pages How to Create a 5 Value Scale
  2. Using the grid method create a 8" x 10'' Achromatic painting using only black and white paints. Use a black & white portrait to copy from. See Pages: How to Use A Grid Method

While my first work of art..I think I may need to buy some more black and white and try again.

Somewhere below on that mess of scratches (at the top of the page) is my 5 value scale of White to Black (black to white).

While I don't see me being a full blown artist with painting, I will continue to create digital art and photographs. But who knows, maybe, after this ten week class I will be turned and be able to offer something truly unique to clients!



Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Weekly Reflections December 28th, 2016





Einstein's Dreams

"In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum of iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay." ~Alan Lightman  (Lightman, 1994)

Most of the time, I am one of the many that runs on mechanical time. Get up at the same time every morning, get the kids ready for school, make snacks, have breakfast, take to school...making it hard to step out and live on the spur or in the moment.  I become stuck, anti social, having to force myself to do something different. 

But, when I do live spur of the moment and go against the normal flow of mechanical time, I create. I become a visionary. It doesn't last for long though, because actually carrying out these visions seems impossible, not knowing where to even start: models, costumes, locations, time, ....money.

There are many big things I want, no I AM going to do this year. I do better when I feel like I am helping someone...so I will find others to share this creative journey with. Others that share the same sorts of visions and have the same struggles I have had. This year, I will create, I will become a full time visionary and I will bring these visions to fruition.

Who's there with me? 

References

Lightman, A. (1994). Einstein's Dreams. Warner Books.


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Weekly Reflections



Weekly Reflections
December 18th, 2016



Sometimes, we are so wrapped up in our weekly normal routines we may miss the exceptional happenings in our lives. In a journal, in a post, or talking to a close friend, reveal and reflect at least three things that happened to you this week that were exceptional, that made you smile, that uplifted your spirit.


My first of three exceptional reflections this week cannot go without the mention, again, of having my art piece, "Glimmering Light"  published in Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine. To be included among many artists, that I aspire to their artwork and teachings, is such an amazing honor.

Second, and something that will probably be in every weekly reflections post, is my family. My husband, supportive and does a great job of reeling me in when I need it. I tend to toss myself to the middle of a pond and hope for the best..when it may not be the best choice. My sons, Lucas and Isaac, make me smile every single day. The stuff that kids do and say are magnificent. Or sometimes, in my case...just eye rolling and gross. But my boys wouldn't be boys without cuddling them and hearing a 'pfft' followed by a loud cackle saying 'excuse me.'

Third: The honor of working with Geoffery Nesossi. Every week I learn something new, lighting, posing, and business management. Plus, being able to just sit, collaborate, share, and make artistic plans are amazing.

So, what are your weekly reflections?

Tuesday, July 26, 2016







Squeal!? Such a fantastic pleasure to work with good friend Johana, her sister Monica, and their two little princesses. Although it was a very hot afternoon, we were able to find some shade and make a couple hours out of it. The girls were definitely little princesses. They lasted pretty much the whole two hours...pretty much. But to watch these little ones dance and twirl on the beach and to see their story come to life is why I do what I do. 

Capturing stories created only by and for the families.

Growing memories are so easily forgotten in our adventure of life. Until recently, I had forgotten the quality play time I was privy to have with my thousands of cousins ...ok maybe not thousands but there are a lot of us. Recently? Well, my two little ones are becoming old enough that the memories they are now making can last a lifetime. And I was lucky enough, not only to watch them make these memories, but capture it. Gliding high on the tire swing by the house, or climbing on the old truck that has weeds growing into it from sitting in the barn, to running in acres and acres of Kansas rolling farm fields.

Without photos only those that were there can have the memory, even if tucked away. But with the photos, the day can help be told and imagined by anyone. 

Here is a tease to the story that creative writer, Sara Jarvis wrote special for Johana, Monica, and the two little princesses. 



"Perfect moments are etched by the sands of time,
Slowly building into the next, forever fruitful with our love,
Gentle waves of happiness welcomed on these shores,
With laughter floating on the wind swirling all around,
Our hearts rejoicing as one in life’s remarkable dance,
This rhythm found together remains even we have parted,
Such profound memories echo endlessly back to this one,
In this perfect moment with each other together forever." 
~ Sara Jarvis | Creative Writer


 Their Story
Click to see their favorites

Thank you Johana and Monica for sharing your evening!




Friday, June 10, 2016

Origin Story

What is your origin story? We all have the one we lived as a child. Is it this origin that decides our future and how we choose to live as adults. Are the values that are taught by those that we are surrounded carry forward? Or are they forgotten? What one thing, as a child, was present in your life that you said you WOULD not do when you are an adult? My husband and I both agree, we were going to make sure that when we had children we wanted them both to grow up with a mother and father that loved each other as much as the love for them. Our parents love us unconditionally, but seriously, the back and forth to see one or the other , taking turns on holidays to visit, just feels like being passed around, and quite like it is in the adult life: which parent do we go visit for our vacation this time? It isn't healthy. In a lot of ways, it felt we were alone, instead of a family. Torn.





















Today, I am happily married and have two children that are our entire world. We haven't smiled and laughed so much since we were kids doing the things we loved.

Photo credit: Custom Minds Photography


















So when I see other families that have this same connection or even yearn for this same connection I want to capture it for them. I want to capture the things that mean so much to them right now. The things that make them happy.

This is why I am a photographer. This is why I put, what is left of my energy, into perfecting an art. So that these moments that are created and captured for the families closely represent who they are. They can look back and see their own story. For the photo below, during the family consultation, I learned that these two boys are part of the homeschooling community. Meaning, they are always around each other and in their mother's own words: "They have beef." I asked, "What do they do well together?" and she said..play games. So I combined them 'having beef' with each other and playing games together in one photo, encapsulating, for the boys, a little portion of their childhood.
















What is your origin story? What has shaped you to be who you are today?