cynthiagaylephotography

Curly Willow Wreath

2012-01-28T17:04:00.000-05:00

We had to do some trimming of trees around our property and we started with this curly willow tree. As soon as I took a really good look at the branches, I realized they could be used to make an awesome wreath!

I started by clipping single strands of each of the branches until there was a nice, big pile. Then I looked for the longest branch and holding one end, formed a circle. From there, I just kept adding branches by wrapping, twisting and intertwining as many as I had in the pile. Changing directions with the addition of every 3-5 branches helped to keep it from looking store-bought and 'perfect.' It's also best to use fresh cut branches because they are still pliable ;)

The first wreath is about 7 inches in diameter and hangs perfectly in my dining room. The other wreath is larger, about 14 inches in diameter and isn't finished yet. It is not bulky enough so more branches need to be added. I just wanted to share this little idea with you! If you need some curly willow, come on over! I have tons!

Gearing Up for 2012

2012-01-15T15:11:00.000-05:00

Around my little office, things have been busy with behind the scene tasks. Settling down from Christmas Holiday celebrations along with two kid's birthdays keeps us hopping for several weeks at the end of each year. So, as usual, I'm just now getting to the business side of my life. Here are a few things I've been up too:

Planning a workshop (so excited about this!!)

Updating my calendar

Organizing business files

Developing a Marketing Plan for 2012 (yeeha for planning!)

Gathering Tax Info (gotta stay honest :) )

Reviewing my 2011 Datebook (a yearly personal tradition)

The coming year is going to be an exciting one with all the plans I have in store which include:

a blog series on what to do with all of your printed images!
another personalized Mommarazzi Photography Course
wedding day posts from the 3 weddings (so far!) already on the books

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting about some of these plans in more detail so stay tuned in!

Skip - Delaware Senior Photographer

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Skip likes to joke around and have fun. Especially when his older brothers are around. He's a little more subdued when they are not around. He is a polite, considerate, hard-working and caring young man. Music is one of his passions along with taking in stray dogs! This one jumped out of a moving truck! Don't worry, Skip made sure he had all the care he needed to recuperate. Now the two are inseparable.
Thanks Skip for allowing me to capture this special time in your life!

This proves Skip is a hard worker - he split all this wood!

Peterman Family - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-12-02T19:41:00.001-05:00

Talk about some advance planning! About two months ago, Ruth called to schedule her family photo session! She knew she had a small window of time while their son would be home from college to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday. She was all smiles with her hubby and son on either side of her. In fact, I told her that every time I see her (we go to church together) she has the most gorgeous smile! Thanks Ruth, Gary and Kyle. And thanks to their furry companion, Max!

The Vandrunen Family - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-11-29T21:59:00.001-05:00

Laughter. Smiles. Movement. Silliness. Affection. Busy. Kindness. Devotion. Love. These are all words that can describe this family. They are willing to have fun with each other and to show their love for one another openly. They were so refreshing to spend time with! Thanks so much to the Vandrunen Family!

Schrock, Trivits and Chupp - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-11-26T20:24:00.001-05:00

Repeat Clients are awesome! We all kinda know what to expect from each other....I expected this group would be a little crazy! But lots of fun! Chris, Charles, Lisa, David, Mary, Truman and ALL of you crazy kids, thanks so much for a great afternoon!

Hey, what's everyone looking at?? O, that would be me on the top of their camper! Thanks for the lift, Truman!

Aubrey - Delaware Baby Photographer

2011-11-18T18:05:00.001-05:00

We know this precious little one well by now! It all started when her mommy and daddy got married. They loved each other so much and decided to produce some absolute cuteness! She was working on some cuteness in mommy's belly. Then she stepped into this world with an angelic-like cuteness. She displayed some cuteness as she increased mobility. A few times she decided to nibble on some of her cuteness. And finally, she exhibited cuteness with pink ruffles! Aubrey, thanks so much for being so patient with your Aunt Cindy! Love you little one!

Just One More! - Delaware Baby Photographer

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, you just can't get enough of these little ones!!

She's Been Busy Growing! - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-11-12T16:07:00.001-05:00

"Enjoy every moment with little ones....the time flies by so quickly!" We've all heard this a thousand times. It's so true. Danielle and Matthew are coming to understand this more each day. Their little one is already 6 months old! I can remember when she was just a little bump in the belly! And now she looks ready to take off walking! Soon enough, soon enough! Thanks to this special family for another opportunity in front of my camera :)

The Stratton Clan - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-11-09T08:31:00.000-05:00

Families change from year to year so quickly! It is so important to capture each season of your life to help you preserve your memories. This family brought the whole clan to the session: mom, dad, daughters and their families. We shared a chilly afternoon at Cape Henlopen State Park. Afterwards, they continued their family time at Grottos! Sounds like fun! Thanks to the Stratton, Myers and Webb Families for a fun afternoon! Blessings to you all!

Love the idea of sister pics!

I LOVE these last two images!! Such fun!

Meet the Johnsons - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-11-03T08:33:00.001-04:00

One loving mom

one hard-working dad

two adorably cute daughters

one active doggie

The Johnson Family.

A Very Precious Family.

Thanks to Sunelle and Kristopher for spending time in front of my camera! Blessings to you all!

Jessica and Jim are Mr and Mrs! - Delaware and Maryland Wedding Photographer

2011-11-02T21:34:00.000-04:00

They met the last month of their senior year in college. Just in the knick of time. They hit it off right away and in the words of the bride's mother they have not stopped talking since then! That's a sure sign of a great relationship...being able to talk about any and everything. I was able to see it first hand during the wedding consultation. They both were involved in the planning process. Both were equally interested in the details of their special day. And it payed off! What a gorgeous fall day we had to enjoy their celebration at Bordeleau Vineyard and Winery.

Jessica and Jim, many blessings to you both as you begin this new chapter in your life!

Ebert Family - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Family is so important to me. That's one of the reasons that I love photographing families. Whether they have babies, young children, grown children or grand-children it doesn't matter! Just seeing how the members relate to one another is so interesting.
I loved watching this family relate to one another. Laughter, teasing, hugging and a little smooching were some of the ways the interacted!

Just a little bit of fun!

Dawn, Tim, Kyle, Nicole and Taylor thanks so much for allowing me to see your family relationship!

Mommarazzi Students

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

In September, I offered the first Mommarazzi Photography Class. I couldn't have been more excited to share what I have learned about photography with other women.
The ladies who attended the 4-week course learned how to shoot in manual mode on their DSLR cameras, explored a little creativity, completed homework assignments and received personal attention from their instructor (me!) They all expressed that they were able to learn so much more than they expected in the short 4-weeks. Each one brought so much to the class...

Cathy is bubbly and full of joy!

Sandy always brought sweet words to say!

Angela is such a quick learner.

Thanks to the sweetest ladies that let me hang out with them on Saturday mornings....early!

The Lord Family - Delaware Baby Photographer

2011-10-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

Tenley is the newest member of the Lord Family! They are so excited to have her join their bunch. Big Brother Brennan is going to be very good at helping out with her. He just needs a little help in holding her up! Thanks to the Lord Family for letting me peak into your lives!

Delaware Wedding Photographer - April and David are married!

2011-10-13T17:15:00.000-04:00

It can take patience and time to find the right one to spend the rest of your life with. And when you know it's right, you move forward. April and David have done just that. When they look at each other, you know it was meant to be. Congratulations to a young lady that I have know since she was in kindergarten! Blessings to you both!

Love it when the couple decides to have a private moment before the ceremony!

Watson and Blessing - Delaware Family Photographer

2011-09-12T12:39:00.000-04:00

Maggie wanted to surprise her hubby, Lonnie, with a birthday party. She had to be very careful because Lonnie is a smart man. I mean, he picked her to be his wife, right? Lots of guests attended the celebration and we were able to capture a couple of families and the love that they share between them. Maggie and Lonnie are first. Melissa and her gorgeous daughters are next! Thanks to all!

Amanda and TJ are married!!

2011-09-06T13:53:00.001-04:00

These two know the meaning of "for better or worse" already. They took their vows just as Hurricane Irene was on her way to the East Coast. Amanda and TJ had to make some major adjustments for their wedding day, but that was no problem for the two of them. They got on the phones and made it happen! Being married one day early did not ruffle their feathers at all. Amanda was so calm and TJ continued to iron out the new details while we were photographing the bridal party! Nothing would hold them back, not even predicted winds of 100 mph! Now that's a story that will be passed down for generations! Congratulations, Amanda and TJ!! You have already faced a storm in your life with success!!

Lizz will be graduating this year!

2011-09-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

Lizz is so excited about this year. It's her last year of high school. She is looking forward to what her future will bring her. She is full of life and has such a sweet heart. Lizz, you are a beautiful girl! Thanks so much for letting me hang out with you!

Homework - Week Four

2011-08-29T12:01:00.000-04:00

The journey that Brooke Snow has taken us on over the last month has been exciting, adventuresome and a little scary at times. We've been taught how to write a story with images. That's not always easy because as we examined the quote "A picture is worth a thousand words" we found it wasn't always true. For the most part we have used the concept of telling stories through Photo Essays. We've also come to understand that Less is More and our Point of View can tell portions of the story. Then we had to step into the world of the Decisive Moment and exercise our patience!

That leads us to our final week. Part One of our assignment called us to tell a story with one image. After experiencing hurricane Irene this weekend, I stepped outside not having any idea what to capture to tell the story of the storm that raged through here. My first thoughts were the fallen branches that are scattered throughout our yard. My next thoughts went to the trailor under our carport that is packed fulled of all of our outdoor furniture, bird feeders and potted plants. Both ideas seemed a little ordinary and I wanted to steer away from that. Then I looked down and saw the biggest mushrooms I've ever seen in our yard in the 14 years we've lived here! Big enough that my camera could be placed beneath them and still have room to focus! They tell the story of strength, power and determination under an extremely adverse situation. Oops, was I supposed to use words?!

Part two of our homework was a self-portrait. Again, I wanted to stretch myself a bit so I put my thinking cap on and reached for my tripod! Much of the weekend was spent doing what I love to do. Quilt by hand. I use an antique thimble that belonged to my hubby's grandma. This particular quilt is for a future grandchild. My children are not married yet, but I have plans! This quilt will wrap love around a little one some day!

Brooke, I have enjoyed your classes so much! Thanks for all you have taught your students!

Jordan and Jason are Engaged

2011-08-22T12:38:00.001-04:00

You can just tell when two people are a perfect match. That's the case between these two. They expressed joy at the other's presence with their laughter and smiles. They showed consideration for the other one's thoughts. They demonstrated respect by asking each other's opinion. They were googly-eyed when they looked at each other! Cuteness overflowed between the two of them! Congratulations Jordan and Jason!

Laura and Eric are Engaged!

2011-08-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

She teaches. He protects. He proposed. She said yes. They contacted. I photographed. Kinda simple. But that's how love can be sometimes. It all comes down to this: They are crazy about each other and can't wait to spend the rest of their lives together! Congratulations to Laura and Eric!

Local Business Spotlight-Good News Natural Foods

2011-08-17T14:27:00.000-04:00

Marcia and Richard have a passion for healthy and organic based products. So much so, that they started their own business to provide these products to customers. With two locations, they can reach a wide spread consumer market. The Dover, Delaware store, located on Governors Avenue, is about six times the size of their Milford location. Between the two stores, they are able to carry products such as locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, cleaning products that are eco-friendly, organic herbs and a complete line of vitamin and herb supplements. The fridge and freezer section carries frozen meats, breads, cold drinks and dessert items. They also stock pastas, cereals and baking flours of all sorts. If it's organic, they stock it!

Here's a tidbit that Richard shared about organic produce: fruits and veggies can only be grown in fields that have not had pesticides, chemicals and artificial fertilizers worked into their soil for at least three years. Also, fish oil supplements are filled with essential fatty acids that help us to have better hearts, joints, brains and eyes! We all need a little help!

Stop in and visit this home-town little store. Click here for some more info. Let them know you read about them right here!

Richard said if I guessed his weight within 10 lbs, I could have a TAZO iced tea....it was refreshing!

Homework Week Two

2011-08-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

"Less is More" is actually part two of my homework this week. But I'm saving the best for last. This is the spot on my front porch where I spend mornings writing in my journal and reading the Scriptures. It's a perfect spot to be quiet because the street I live on does not have that much traffic. I can see and hear birds in our yard and that makes the spot even more special!

In telling the story of this location, I moved in closer to capture the important details and reduce the elements in the image. This is the arm of the old wicker chair that I sit in. Many prayers have been lifted in this chair!

One of the sounds I get to listen to comes from this little wind chime. There is something so soothing about the tinkling music.

Part One of the homework lesson that Brooke gave her class is "Point of View." We had to shoot something/someone that we love to photograph. Elmo fits the bill. Here is the typical shot.

Then something less conventional....

We had to select only 2 more shots to show differing points of view. But I couldn't resist this next shot of Mosey (his other name....we have about 15 names for our little fella!)

Another way to change the point of view is to peek through something to "frame" our subject, but Elmo thought it was a good idea to instead use the chair in the background to frame him. We're thinking he is pretty creative!

Local Business Spotlight - Dolce

2011-08-11T08:38:00.000-04:00

So excited to share this week's Business Spotlight! This is one of my favorite places in our sweet little town of Milford, Delaware, Dolce. After you have entered their door a few times, expect them to call you by name. You see, they want to know their customers. They want to be involved in their community. And they want to give you personal service. In the few minutes I spent interviewing Chuck, one of the owners, I heard "Hi, Joe, how was your weekend?' and "See ya, Skip, have a great day!" and "Thanks for the mail, Renee!"

Besides the great customer attention offered, they also provide us with delicious treats. Coffee is first on the list! Fresh brewed, hot or cold with lots of flavors to choose from. Snickerdoodle, Irish Cream, Jamaican Me Crazy and of course Regular just to name a few. They also carry it in whole bean packaged to take home! Pair the coffee with some of the edibles like the Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie or the American Peanut Cookie and you have a reason to sit, relax and play a game of chess! In the mood for something else? Muffins, bagels and scones could be just what you need! Ice cream in the summer and hot soups in the winter make this coffee shop the year-round place to be.

Can you tell I love this little spot?! The icing on the cake is the sense of community they exhibit. Currently, they are hosting a fundraiser for a special local little girl diagnosed with Leukemia. Here is the link to find more information. Go into their shop this week from August 10-17th, buy the Dolce Wonka-Cookie and all the proceeds will help this family with their medical bills.

Thanks to Dolce for providing our little town of Milford with a great place to meet friends, have a goodie and reach out to our community!

Wheat Threshing in Federalsburg, Maryland

2011-08-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I attended an event that we have not been to in what seems a million years! I think the last time we went to the Wheat Threshing Festival located in the sweet little town of Federalsburg, Maryland was 28 years ago. We were long overdue! There were vendors, a blacksmith, steam-driven machinery that powered saw mills and tractors galore! Hours could have been spent perusing the flea market tables! I brought home a little wicker chair, some old frames for a future project and a cast-iron rain gauge made by the blacksmith! Hopefully, these images tell the story of the day!

52 Project - Macro

2011-08-02T15:50:00.002-04:00

Ok, so technically, this is probably not a macro shot. But it's as close as I could get with the lens that was on my camera! Still, I love to be able to see the details of this flower with such clarity!

Next week: Nature

Business Spotlight - Something Special

2011-08-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

The little town that we live in is the quintessential small town that you read about in books. And I love it! We have the small town benefit of knowing people when we are out in the public, the charm of seeing the locals gather at some of our restaurants and coffee shops and the entrepreneur spirit of small business owners. As a way of recognizing the qualities of our little town and the small business owners that prosper here, I will be spotlighting those businesses periodically throughout the remaining summer and fall.

First on the list is "Something Special." Located in the Corner Shopping Center on the main highway that runs through town, this shop has so much to offer. Shop owner Mike Yordy, offers a variety of gifts and collectibles, seasonal items and specialty products. They have provided an interesting product line for about 7 years. Just recently, the store moved to it's current location across from the bowling alley. They are open year 'round with summer hours of Monday-Saturday 11-5 and Sunday 10-6.

Not long ago, I stopped in to purchase a wedding gift for a client. Mike was very helpful in assisting me in finding just the perfect item. He even went the extra mile to find me a box to put it in for shipping! Customer service means so much to me. So many stores these days treat you like just another number. Not so at Something Special. Their products are Something Special and they will treat you like you are Something Special!

Here are some of the amazing items that can be purchased:

the base of this lamp is really heavy! The colors of the shade...amazing!

this little fella has a bell inside!

just one of the many metal yard stakes....love this one that looks like corn stalks

some of the collectibles....Belsnichle Santas

If you are looking for something special for someone special, stop into Something Special! I'm sure you will find just what you are looking for. I did just that and I was able to find something special for my own garden, a metal yard stake that nestles nicely in my patch of zinnias!

Jessica and Lee - Delaware Couples Photographer

2011-07-29T14:59:00.000-04:00

Jessica rides by my house most days on her way to work. She drives a special kind of car. One that takes her to a job where she is expected to

protect the citizens in her town

do routine property checks for local businesses

constantly be on the look out for potential troublemakers

organize community events

go to court and listen to countless people say the stop sign wasn't there when they traveled that road

stop speeding cars from harming others

chase down the "bad guy" in not so comfy shoes

write endless numbers of reports

deal with shoplifters

work 12 hour shifts that translate into 14 hour days

handle a wide variety of car accidents, calmly

And this is only the tip of the iceberg! These things could happen on any given day. Sometimes all on the same day! Give that girl a cup of coffee and a donut...she deserves it! So does Lee. You see, he does the same sort of thing! Talk about hectic schedules!

But we did manage to find an evening with a perfect sunset to capture the love they share for each other. So glad they could bring their new arrival, Bailey, a 3 month old yellow lab. Thanks Jessica and Lee!!

52 Project, Slightly Overdue!

2011-07-23T15:54:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you just have to admit your failures. Here's one of mine. Months ago, I committed to a project that promised to help me work on discipline. Oops. Failed big time. It's been 20 weeks since I photographed specifically for the 52 Project. Yes, 20 weeks. So much for learning discipline from it!

I have thought of the project many times over these last months (embarrassing!) but I've also had the negative thoughts connected to resuming the project. I have given in to those negative thoughts far too long!

Then reading an article recently about being in a photographic rut, I was reminded the importance of setting goals and sticking to them. So here goes. This image was actually taken several weeks ago for week 10, Morning, of the 52 Project. But I've got to start somewhere, right?

This is my way of getting back on the horse!

Julia and Steve

2011-07-16T15:33:00.000-04:00

"Ok, mom, you can take about 10 pictures of me." Believe me, I RAN for my camera when I heard those words! It's not been too often over the last 27 years that my son has allowed me to put him in front of my camera. I think having a girlfriend is going to put him in front of my camera a few more times! Thanks Julia ;)

Tracey and Jack

2011-07-14T15:47:00.000-04:00

Tracey and Jack have a deep love for one another that is evident. They are fun and full of life. They enjoy each other immensely. He is so willing to make her happy. She speaks about him as though he were the man of her dreams. They truly compliment one another in a unique way that you don't often see.

Thanks you two for a great way to spend a morning!

Aubreys First Birthday Celebration

2011-07-12T09:48:00.000-04:00

My grand-niece just turned one! Everyone says this but really....I don't know where that year went! We were just capturing her first days not long ago. And now she is getting ready to take her first steps alone.

The party guests were all family members, even great grandmas. She had an adorable cake that was accompanied by a smaller version called a "smash cake." Self-explanatory!

She ended the festivities with a new hair-do. Styled by her Aunt Tracey. Maybe she is starting a new trend!

Ode to Second Shooters

2011-06-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Having a second shooter along with me is such a huge advantage! I am fortunate enough to have several that have helped me over the last couple of years. Two of them are my daughters, three of them are my friends. I am blessed to know these ladies!

I thought it would be fun to share how much help they can be...

Ema-Leigh likes to stand on the step ladder....she's a pro at shots like this one.

Heather likes to look for surprising shots while I'm busy with other people...

Ginger likes to pose while I set my exposure! She is also great at paying attention to onlookers while I am shooting portraits.

Ana paid close attention to the bride with her dad seconds before they entered the sanctuary. Then she was able to catch the maid-of-honor and best man exiting while I was capturing the first moments of the new husband and wife just feet away from her.

Julie did a fabulous job of capturing the full scene as the bride and groom exited while I waited down below to shoot them coming out of the church. She also captured this special moment between the bride and her dad.

Okay, so sometimes they sneak one in on me!

Here they are, my fabulous second shooters, go-to girls, ladder carryers, camera-bag getters, water-bottle holders, lens grabbers and all around Wonderful Ladies! Thanks girls, I love you all!

Anastasia

Julie

Ema-Leigh

Ginger

Heather

Bianca and Kyle Tied the Knot!

2011-06-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Dreams do come true. Bianca had wanted to meet a wonderful man and she did just that when she met Kyle. The love between them was evident when I first met them for the Wedding Day Consultation in my office. Every question that I asked, Kyle responded with, "I just want her happy." Bianca just blushed every time he spoke! During the ceremony there were tears of joy running down both of their faces. Tears and endless smiles. It was a beautiful scene.

What a joy it was to photograph such a beautiful girl!

Thanks so much for letting me tag along all day! Blessings to you both, Bianca and Kyle

Earlene and Frank are Married!

2011-06-24T09:50:00.001-04:00

She had been planning for this day for a long time. When Earlene contacted me to be her wedding photographer 2 years ago, she wondered if there was enough time to plan her big day! Love a girl with a sense of preparation! And prepare she did. So well.

Earlene's sister was there to help with all the details.

Although he was suffering extreme back pain from an injury about 5 weeks prior to the wedding day, Frank did not miss a beat. Pausing for photos, kneeling for communion with his bride and dancing the first dance with her!

Earlene....you are simply stunning!

Earlene is an excellent horse-back rider so she had to include a horse as part of their special day!

Blessings to both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Bouchat!

Sophia Kindergarten Graduation

2011-06-17T18:08:00.002-04:00

Meet Sophia. She is a recent graduate. Of Kindergarten. She has learned alot this past year including reading, math and social skills. And of course the all important recess! Sophia you have so much to be proud of and I wish you many blessings in your continuing education!

Sophia took some time out to photograph her mom, Jennifer. Great job Sophia!

Mr. and Mrs. Piccolo

2011-06-16T17:38:00.004-04:00

Jessica and Mike have found each other. They have a love for one another that can be seen from the outside and a love that only the two of them know about. Maybe that's why they decided on a very private ceremony. Their vows were spoken at the Perry Inn in St. Michaels and only included the two of them along with the minister, musician and photographers. What an honor to be included in such a special event! Jessica, you are gorgeous and it was a pleasure to photograph you!

A perfectly stunning couple!

Many years of blessings to both of you! Thanks for including us in your special day!

College Graduation--Love the sound of that!

2011-06-15T16:54:00.006-04:00

Our middle child graduated from Liberty University in May! Ema-Leigh Rust. We are so proud of her for accomplishing such a huge task! She can live much closer to home now and we are super excited about that.

The brother above met the roommate below!

5000 chairs and 5000 water bottles!

It's a good thing she now has a degree in Communications. We were able to test her skills by "communicating" via cell phone to locate each other! Ha, Ha!! Please laugh with me not at me :)

The College Graduate....

Plump Family

2011-06-13T16:52:00.000-04:00

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten. Yeah, that's ten youngins! Vonnie and Mike really have their hands full! And they are doing a great job. All the kids were so well behaved! Thanks to everyone for a great afternoon!

Class Review

2011-06-11T19:29:00.001-04:00

During the early spring of this year, I had the honor of taking some online photography courses. My instructor for the two courses was Brooke Snow. She was fabulous! Learning online is such a terrific way to learn for so many reasons and Brooke has a system down pat! She was able to explain photography concepts just as though she were sitting right here in my office. I even talked out loud with her on many occasions, just ask my family and Elmo!

Some of the things she taught included:

Preparation
Interacting with subjects
Lighting and Locations
Posing
Perspective and Mission
Manual Shooting
Composition

These are just a few things she taught on. There were homework assignments for accountability, classmate interaction on Facebook and direct feedback from Brooke. She answered the countless questions I asked her in a speedy, clear and concise way.

I cannot say enough about the classes and Brooke herself. She passed wisdom along the way that will stay with me for years to come! If you need to learn more about photography and want to learn from home, look into her class schedule. It fills up quickly so don't wait too long!

Change

2011-06-09T19:27:00.000-04:00

The temptation to say something clever about the neglect I've shown to my blog readers is strong right now. It's easy to hide behind a little bit of humor. But months ago, I decided to be transparent. That's not so easy, but if I want my clients to be genuine with me, I must be genuine with them.

Truth is, the creative side of me has been a little tired. Events over the last weeks have left me drained in many ways. You see, My Lady, whom I have been a caretaker of for 15 years (she's almost 92 years old!) has had some extreme health issues. More of my time has been spent with her, caring for her in new ways. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way. Being by her side over these last weeks has meant so much to me. But at the same time, it's left me nothing less than just plain tired.

She is on the road to recovery and for that I am grateful. Our days will be very different together from here on out. But soon we will settle into a new routine and my own emotional strength will return.

Thanks so much for your patience and loyalty.

Delaware High School Senior Photographer-Tiffany

2011-05-16T19:42:00.000-04:00

Tiffany is smart, kind, sweet and quiet. She has a soft-spoken personality that is so easy to be around. She smiled most of our time together because it just came natural to her. Even with all of the people around (we were at Longwood Gardens) she wasn't phased in the least. Comfortable with herself, she makes those around her comfortable. Thanks Tiffany for letting me hang out with you for a little while! Congratulations on finishing High School!

Heritage Told Through Photographs

2011-04-28T19:53:00.000-04:00

The importance of photographs has come to a new level for me this week. My sisters and I have been visiting my father and his wife who live 1/2 way across the country. The first night we were here, we spent a couple of hours looking through old photos that my dad has organized in albums.

photos of my dad literally minutes old being held by his Aunt Dot
photos of the only vacation his family ever went on when he was around 8 years old
photos of my father as a young military man preparing to go to Vietnam
photos of his comrades who stood by each other during the horrific scenes of that war
photos of my sisters and me as young girls
photos of my grandfather and grandmother months before their passing

The value of seeing these images cannot be expressed in words. They meant so much to my dad who shared the stories behind the photo. They meant so much to my sisters and me as we listened to those stories. And, hopefully, they will mean so much to our children when they see them in the future.

Images are not included in this post because I am away from my home computer. But the absence of them seems to point to the importance of them. Without photographs we forget. With photographs we can remember and reminisce. Without photographs it is difficult to visualize the stories of our lives. With photographs, the stories come alive. Without photographs the stories could get lost. But photographs help us to keep the stories traveling thoughout our family.

Let me encourage you to capture images of everyday events and circumstances. Take pictures of the ordinary things in your life. Take pictures of the special occasions. Take pictures that will tell your story for generations to come.

Spring Wedding for Erika and Josh

2011-04-24T16:11:00.001-04:00

Spring is a time of beginnings, new life and creation. The perfect words that also describe wedding days. A day of beginnings. A day of a new life together. And a day of creating a future.

Erika and Josh began their wedding day preparing to see each other along with their family and friends as they joined their lives together. Erika, along with her sisters, made their preparations at their parents home. Josh and the guys prepared themselves at the couples new home.

Mom happens to be one of my good friends. Also a photographer, she was an integral part of the day! We did persuade her to put her camera down for a little bit!

Erika's sisters were the bridesmaids!

Love the moments captured here...

Thanks Erika and Josh for sharing your special day with us!

Lindsay's Arrival

2011-04-22T07:57:00.002-04:00

The truth is, having two kids makes you very busy! Time can slip by us so quickly and it can get away from us. Before you know it, we realize our newborns have turned into 3 month olds! That's what happened to Brenda and John. So we quickly made arrangements to get little Lindsay into the studio!

Sister Erica joined in the fun!

Erica and Lindsay both brought items that mean something to them to the session. I love it when clients bring their own props!

Thanks Brenda and John!

Can You Believe She's Nine Months Old?

2011-04-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

Aubrey is one of my "regulars." She and her mommy (and sometimes daddy) come to my little studio and test out some new ideas. It's close to Easter, so mommy brought some Easter eggs and a pretty little dress. I can't wait to see what we come up with for her 1-year celebration day!!

Thanks Aubrey! See you soon!

Baby Savanna Is Here!

2011-04-19T17:49:00.000-04:00

She arrived one week early. Surely that means she will always be early....right?! We'll see about that when she gets to be a teenager! For now Danielle and Matthew are as happy as ever! She was wide awake at the beginning of her session...and very curious about her new surroundings. Mom loved this image when I showed her on the back of the camera. She said she loved this expression on her face! With the 80* temperature in the studio, she soon drifted off to sleep.

Mom and Dad...this is one of the best things you can do for your little one...

Love on each other in front of them!

Love the connection here with Dad. His hands will be there to guide, protect, teach and love her for many years to come.

Thanks so much Danielle and Matthew! Many blessings to you both!

Veronica and Josh are Married!!

2011-04-18T18:25:00.000-04:00

They decided to join their lives together and they wanted to keep things simple. Veronica and Josh are minimalists in the truest sense. They didn't want to have their day filled up with the craziness that can happen on a wedding day. Not that there is anything wrong with a busy wedding day. But for them, quiet and understated was more in tune with who they are as individuals and as a couple. Their day was a perfect expression of their love for each other. Real, uncomplicated and personal. Just the two of them with their parents, siblings and best friends. Simply stated, they joined their lives together the way they want to live their lives together.

What an honor it was to be included in their first moments as husband and wife! Thanks so much Veronica and Josh!

Homework Assignment-Inspiration

2011-04-11T15:07:00.000-04:00

My last homework assignment for this course! So sad it's over already. Brooke has been a fabulous teacher who has inspired me way beyond learning skills in photography! She has taught me some valuable life lessons that I will benefit from for years to come!

This weeks assignment was on what inspires us. Even though I know the meaning of this word, I had to look it up in the dictionary. I like to be absolutely sure of the meaning plus, it's so interesting to see what Webster has to say about the definition of certain words.

inspire:

"to influence, move or guide by divine inspiration;

exert an animating, enlivening or exalting influence upon;

inhale; incite"

inspiration:

"the act or power of moving the intellect or emotion"

Words inspire me the most (that's one reason I love dictionaries!) For me, the delivery of those inspirational words can come in various forms. First and foremost, I get my inspiration from the Scriptures. The words contained in these pages give me hope, joy, peace, love, foundation, knowledge, acceptance, grace and mercy. The list could go on. These words in turn shape my view of everything and everyone around me.

Books are another source of inspirational words for me. These two are my favorites. "Redeeming Love" is a book that I have read about seven times. I've bought many copies and have given them to people that could benefit from the story. It's based on the book of Hosea in the Old Testament. The story is about a man that is told by God to marry a prostitute. He marries her and she continually runs away from him. He brings her back each time and shows her nothing but genuine love, grace and mercy. Because of her past circumstances, she cannot understand that kind of love. Yet he never gives up. Persistent Love is what he shows her and it changes her world. If a novel can change your life, this one did it for me.

"Edge of Eternity" is about second chances. Like the first book I mentioned, I have read this book several times. How differently would we live if we could step outside of ourselves and our lives and see things in a completely different light? Most of us, if not all, would live very differently. That's all I'll say about that!

Through their storytelling, both authors have used words to speak truths to me and these truths have helped to define my life and what I value in my life.

Music is another source that I use to hear words. Our local Christian radio station stays on throughout my day. When I am home, it plays quietly in the background. Many of the songs bring me back to what is important and what I want to focus on in my life. Along with the melodies, the lyrics of many of the songs speak to my heart like nothing else. The words from the songs stay in my mind long after the radio is turned off.

Looking back at the definition of inspiration, I have to say that words are the very things that "move my intellect and emotion." Also, the words I hear through these mediums breath life into me. So the "inhale" part of the defintion is especially meaningful.

Humbly I say, that I look forward to what the Lord will show me about how I use my words and how those words can be used to bless others. And if He chooses to use my photography as a medium to deliver those words of inspiration to the people I encounter, then I will be blessed.

Outten Family

2011-04-04T17:46:00.000-04:00

Military families are some of the most amazing families out there. They give of so much and ask for so little. Gratitude wells up inside of me when I think of the sacrifice they make for our freedom. Tears stream down my face everytime I see the scene in Saving Private Ryan when the mom is told of her son's ultimate sacrifice. The scene in The Patriot when Mel Gibson experiences the reality of his son's sacrifice in the name of freedom brings the same flood of tears. The scene of my own son leaving Fort Meade realizing he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself brought a wave of emotion I cannot express. This appreciation is something I hope I never loose.

Ginger and Kevin's family are one such family. Details cannot be spoken here, but know that they are sacrificing for your freedom and my freedom. Everyday. If you are the praying kind, lift prayers up for them.

Katlyn, Christian, Ginger, Kevin, Olivia, Samantha and Jordan thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Homework Assignment-Posing

2011-03-28T18:19:00.000-04:00

Finding my subjects was easy this time. Cody is my nephew and he recently proposed to Julie so it was kinda a no-brainer for me. Even though he is not crazy about having his picture taken, he conceded so I could get my homework done! Thanks go out to Julie and Cody!

This weeks assignment was on posing and exhausting the pose. Below are three examples of some of the poses we used. After we took the first shot, I had Julie just turn around to snuggle in with Cody (I had to bribe him by saying that he would have alot of fun during our session....he didn't mind the snuggling at all!)

The next set of shots shows an easy example of just telling them to rub noses! Again with the fun for Cody! Julie didn't mind either!

Cody's mom and dad have a beautiful yard! In fact, I thought of this little barn right away when they agreeded to having the session! Brooke taught about using the same pose and varying it up a bit by having the clients change their perspective...Cody could have looked at her all day! Really though, can you blame him? Julie, you are just gorgeous!

Thanks Julie and Cody!

Sweetness is Not Trendy

2011-03-24T15:40:00.001-04:00

Trends are not something that I've been able to keep up with. Frankly, it's just not my thing. Not to say I don't want to stay current, but for the most part, I gravitate to what I like, new or old fashioned. Little example, somebody made fun of me once (in an innocent way!) about my use of the word "golly." Yeah, I still say that! Not exactly current verbage! But it's me.

Photography is no different. There are alot of trends out there right now that are...well...trendy. Not trying to be negative about that style of photography, believe me, I drool over some of the amazing work out there! Yet, I find myself coming back over and over again to the images that demonstrate connection between people. That's a "trend" that will always be current. That makes me very content.

Just a little tidbit about this hat...it's made from the bottom of woman's sweater and a strip of an old pink wool skirt! I love making something from other things! Seriously, my middle name must be reuse and repurpose!

Ginger and Kevin, thanks so much for allowing me to peek into your real family connections! Congratulations and Blessings!

Homework Assignment-Preparation

2011-03-21T14:56:00.001-04:00

This weekend I completely reorganized my office space in my home! I get a real charge out of throwing stuff away and keeping the things I really need...it's re-energizing! I have plans this summer to paint most of the rooms in our home including the office, so when that's complete, I'll post some images of the redo!

Some more great news is that I've started another class! Love online learning! This weeks assignment dealt with preparing for a session. I thought I had pretty much covered my bases, but Brooke brought out so many more things for me to think about! My favorite new thing she challenged us to do was "Exhaust the location." Basically, find every little nook and cranny in the spot we are in. The location for this session was the newly renovated library in our sweet little town.

My client has been on both sides of the camera with me and for that I'm grateful ;) Julie and I used the ampitheatre area that is just outside of the library (but still on the grounds) for the above shots. She quickly tossed me her jacket for a different look in the second shot.

Inside the new library is gorgeous! There was a little hallway where we were able to capture these two shots. Julie moved only a few feet for a different perspective.

Still in the amphitheater, I had Julie lean down on the wall/seat structure that surrounds the theater.

Brooke encouraged us to plan the session completely but to also be open to some spontaneity. I can say the planning helped me with my confidence level. Exhausting the location was a great challenge...stretching is a good thing...right??

Short and Sweet

2011-03-15T17:37:00.000-04:00

So excited to kick off this season of outdoor photography! To get things started, Elmo thought it would be a good idea to have a special! Dates will be announced in a couple of weeks! Stay tuned!

Tomorrow is a New Day

2011-03-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

I was talking to one of my daughters last night on Skype (Love it! If your kids live far from you, download this freebie so you can see them when you are talking to them! It's alot of fun to make faces at yourself in the little window at the bottom of the screen. But beware, your youngin' might be taking a picture of you to put on Facebook!!) Our conversation reminded me about a project I started but have let go by the wayside. The 52 Project.

She told me about striving to meet one of her goals and how she made a choice that didn't necessarily jive with reaching that goal. Light Bulb!! The 52 Project popped right in my mind! It was supposed to be something that helped me with my goal in developing self-discipline! Ha!! Let me count the weeks that have passed by since my last Project Post....somewhere around five. Actually, the shutter pressing part is done and the images are tucked neatly in a little folder on my computer. They just haven't made it to the blog.

I'll take my daughters advice, "Tomorrow is a new day. Just get back on the right path and move forward."

Patterns

Hold On To Your Feathers!

2011-03-03T18:54:00.000-05:00

Last Fall we decided to raise chickens. The idea of gathering our own eggs seems so...right. Hubby built the coop and we waited to hear from our chicken farmer when the Delaware Blue Hens would be ready. He called before we were ready but we had to pick them up that night. The chickens waited in their travel cage while we quickly attached chicken wire to a little fenced in area of the yard that was attached to the coop.

We gathered eggs (ok, Steve gathered eggs) every morning. The chickens and rooster free ranged in the yard during the daylight hours and headed back to the coop when dusk settled in.

Things were fine until one day Ricky Rooster (yes, we named him!) did not give his usual call in the wee hours of the morning. My husband was the first to discover the pile of feathers. I can't bear the details.

The girls, as we referred to them, continued on in their merry little way of scratching, clucking, running like crazy and getting in their coop each night. Then it happened again. A pile of feathers. And again another pile. And another. In two weeks time ALL of the chickens were....gone!

We put things on hold until we could come up with a better plan for keeping them caged during the day. Only my husband comes across deals like this. The cage and the coop were both GIVEN to him!! One rooster and one chicken to boot! Did I mention we also have a little coop to keep chicks when the hatch!!

Elmo could hardly contain himself. He excitedly ran around the cage (the chickens did not like this) sniffing and wondering the names of our new family members! He can't wait for the little chicks to get here...Does anyone want to explain the birds and the bees to him for me??

Danielle and Matthew Are Expecting

2011-02-26T17:54:00.000-05:00

This couple is deciding to wait until the little one arrives before they find out if they have been blessed with a little girl or a little boy! Their friends keep asking how they can wait. Matthew replies, "We just do." That shows they will have some great willpower they will need in parenting! Check back in a few weeks to find out if they have a little lady or a little man!!

Danielle and Matthew, thanks so much for being my first official clients in my little studio :)

Bursting at the Seams

2011-02-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

A little bit of help was needed and this family volunteered! They were so excited when I asked them to help me with an upcoming project that they couldn't contain themselves!! Thanks Tammie, Tara, Dalton and Sydney!

Stay tuned for more to come on my little project...

Homework Assignment-Week 5

2011-02-19T16:17:00.000-05:00

This is my last week of homework :( I have enjoyed this class so much! If you are interested in improving your skills with your camera, I recommend you check into Brooke's online classes. These classes have been fun and extremely helpful!

The first set of images shows the location for the indoor portrait and silhouette images. I have a nylon shower curtain to diffuse some of the harsh light coming in the front window and I have a reflector set up opposite the window. You will also notice I am in the middle of a quilting project on the sewing table! My sewing room is well used!

Elmo promised me last week that he would be a bigger help to me. But like any other child, he can be fickle. He started out not so happy about what I asked him to do. Really, how hard can it be to "stay?"
(ps. we know he needs braces. please no emails about his crooked teeth.)

Brooke wanted us to capture a living subject using window light. The sewing room/studio has three very large windows so it's perfect! She wanted us to have catch lights in the subjects eyes....look closely and you can see the window and the reflector in Elmo's little eyes!

All of his images were shot at ISO 400

Here are my indoor silhouette shots. Not super interesting....

The next shots are for the indoor still life. Each set has shots of the indoor location in my home that I shot my still life in. I had to tidy up a couple of rooms! All of my rooms have medium tone wood blinds in the windows so I opened them up completely to let in more light. Thanks to having a second camera, I was able to take these images.

Ok, so my camera is Not as cute as the precious little baby on the stack of towels that Brooke showed us in class. But she's still my little baby!

My living room is Super Dark! But using the techniques that we learned in class, I was able to find the light!! (Yes, that is a Redskins Recliner in the corner...I got "Wife of the Year" for that gift to my hubby!)

Two things I learned about Natual Lighting indoors:

1. I Love it!!

2. I need to paint my rooms this summer!

A Different Perspective on Love

2011-02-14T16:29:00.000-05:00

She had the door unlocked for the surprise visitor. She wasn't sure what time he would arrive and she wanted to be ready for him.

It had been a long time since anyone had sent her flowers on Valentines Day.

When he arrived, he had in his hand a beautiful flower arrangement of daisies, carnations, baby's breath, luscious greenery and a single rose. Her caretaker said with excitement, "Who is that from??!!" She ripped into the attached card, grabbed her magnifier and read it out loud.

"Thanks for being such a good friend to my mom while she was still here on this Earth."

She and her caretaker sobbed like little girls remembering friendships.

She proceeded to reminisce with her caretaker about their times together.

"We walked almost every night together through town after our children had finished their lessons and dinner was cleaned up."

"She came to my house every afternoon after she picked up her nightly salad from the local grocery store salad bar."

"We had coffee and talked about our children's lives and whatever was going on with them in their changing stages of life."

She visited her friend in her last years at the local assisted-living home for Alzheimer's patients.

The last months her friend did not recognize her.

"She was such a good friend to me."

Homework Assignment-Week 4

2011-02-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

Week Four of my online photography class was a lesson on natural lighting. It can be a real challenge to photograph using natural light because the lighting conditions are constantly changing. You really have to be on your feet! But I was ready for the challenge!

My usual subjects volunteered...although Elmo was only up for one shot! He said next week he promises to help me more. I've heard that before!

Side Lit

f/2.8 1/80 ISO 200 f/2.5 1/800 ISO 400

Back Lit

f/2.5 1/1250 ISO 400 f/2.5 1/800 ISO 400 f/2.5 1/800 ISO 400

Front Lit

Both Images: f/2.5 1/1000 ISO 400

Natural Reflector

Both Images: f/2.0 1/1250 ISO 400

Silhouette

Both Images: f/18.0 1/200 ISO 400

(I resisted the urge to increase blacks in ACR on the silhouette images.....trying to stay with straight out of the camera! Also, looking back I realize I should have found a location without the trees in the background but with my daughters work schedule this week, we chose a location close to home!)

Front Lit Side Lit Back Lit

f/2.0 1/100 ISO 400 f/2.0 1/100 ISO 400 f/2.0 1/50 ISO 400

Brooke is doing an amazing job of teaching and communcating the lessons to her students. If you want to learn more about photography, I encourage you to look her up! She has been a tremendous help to this particular student!!

Getting Organized

2011-02-10T05:55:00.000-05:00

Computer Desktops and Hard Drives can get really messy really quickly. I don't function so well in chaos. So, it's time to get some things in order around here. For me, it's a challenge because computer files are not tangible. I like to be able to pick up a file and move it to the right place....literally.

Anyway, while sorting through digital files and getting my images in order, I came across a couple of sessions I forgot to post! The embarrassing part is that the sessions were of my own daughters! Oops!!

Here is our oldest daughter, Ema-Leigh. She works full-time for a university and is earning her Master's Degree there. She also can do alot with a blog! (thanks ema!) She is super creative. I remember her sitting on my sewing room floor making little projects from my scraps of fabric, lace, elastic, yarns... She makes friends easily because of her great personality and like-ability. Self-discipline is another word that would describe her. She has so much to offer in this world and I can't wait to watch God unfold His plan in her life! Check out her blog here.

More to come next week of our youngest daughter!!

Life Lesson

2011-02-08T09:56:00.000-05:00

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

Oscar Wilde

Homework Assignment-Week 3

2011-02-06T09:15:00.002-05:00

Here goes week three - Compostion. We learned about what not to do like cutting off limbs (ouch!) And not to let weird things "grow" out of our subjects (merging...there was one shot of a guy at a fair with a bull behind him placed in a way that made it look like the guy was growing horns!!!! Ha, Ha....it was hysterical!!)

Then we learned what to look for to make interesting images. I went out looking for the elements that Brooke taught on and I wound up at the Radio Shack where my youngest daughter works. They had some pretty cool stuff. This is only half of what I shot! Hopefully, I've explained each element below each image!

Color f/2.8 1/125 ISO 800 Framing f/5 1/80 ISO 400

Color f/2.8 1/60 ISO 800 Lines f/2.8 1/100 ISO 800

Framing f/5 1/50 ISO 800 f/2.8 1/500 ISO 800 f/5 1/50 ISO 800

Lines f/2.8 1/400 ISO 800 f/5 1/100 ISO 800

Top Image: Pattern f/2.8 1/50 ISO 800

Bottom Image: Color and Simplicity f/2.8 1/800 ISO 800

Please feel free to comment below....Advice, critiques, encouragement and anything else you can think to say would be nice!!

Friendship

2011-02-05T09:38:00.020-05:00

Friends come into to your life at different times. Some stay for a long time. Some for only a short time. Some you haven't seen for a long, long time but when you do see them, it's like you just saw each other yesterday. Some come at the midpoint in life. Others at the beginning. And others at the end of your life. Some come into your life at just the right time. But you don't realize it until much later. Some come into your life when you least expect it.

For instance, my friend Ginger. She is a photographer who was shooting a wedding I was attending. From the get-go, we hit it off! I knew I couldn't go wrong with her because she carried a Canon!

Here is just a glimpse at some shots we captured for her business. It was a cold and quick 15 minutes!!

Delaware Portrait Photographer - Myra

2011-02-03T22:06:00.000-05:00

Selling houses these days must be tough. But Myra is successful at it partly because she knows real estate and partly.... maybe mostly... because she has the kind of personality that can make you feel at home. That would be an important quality to have when you are trying to sell homes!! She put me at ease when I showed up at her home to capture some images for her business cards, signage, website....

Here are just a couple to show you who you should buy your next home from!

This is my favorite! I would buy a home from her!!

Thanks Myra!

Project 52-Self-Portrait

2011-02-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

So... the other day I mentioned that I was a little behind in my 52 Project. That's only a half-truth. The image had already been captured, but I was hesitant to post it because of the theme for that week: Self-Portrait. For me, it's hard to talk about myself. Makes me feel self-centered. I would rather ask questions about you than to answer questions about myself. Especially the questions I ask myself and more so, the questions the Lord asks me.

This image was taken the day after a snow storm. The sun was shining as though there had never been a storm the day before. Remember my list of "rules" for my 52 Project? I have to stay in my yard for the weekly topics. When I saw this branch weighed down with the heavy snow and also dripping because the sun was melting the icicles, I thought that it portrayed who I am at times. No, not cold as ice....I cry at Folger's commercials! Instead, what I mean is sometimes (more times than I like to admit) I allow the troubles in this world and in my own life to weigh me down until my branches are touching the ground. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed, I freeze up. It's hard to move and it's hard to see my situation clearly because it's distorted.

But, when I allow room in my thoughts for faith, He melts me. My troubles don't seem to overtake me. The sky gets clear and I am able to move once the burdens melt away. My vision is no longer distorted.

Matthew 11:30 says "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

His way is so much better than mine!

Homework Assignment-Week2

2011-01-30T14:54:00.000-05:00

Going into this homework assignment, I knew that it would be a tough one for me. It's true, the older you get the harder it is to learn things. Maybe my brain is already really full and nothing else will fit! Ha, Ha. Sometimes it seems like it's completely empty!!

This weeks lesson was about Shutter Speed and the part it plays in the Photographic Triangle. We had to find (or create) scenarios that we could photograph to show: Implied Motion, Frozen Action and Panning.

For the Implied Motion, my hubby came up with the great idea of using his shotgun like he had that morning while goose hunting (Yay! He brought home a couple of geese!) He stood parallel to me and raised his gun quickly as though shooting a goose. It took several tries to say the least....

The next set of images are by far the easiest for me. Freezing Action. Miles is my daughters very, very good friend and he is a Kung-Fu Expert. How convenient it was for me that he came to our house yesterday!! "Miles, can you show me some of your awesome Kung-Fu moves??" Here he is catching some great air. Oops, maybe that's a basketball term.

Panning was the last part of the homework assignment and my hubby came up with this idea. He's brilliant. We used the plane that he uses in his workshop to make fine-woodworking projects like tables and such. The idea was to keep the subject that was in motion (in this case, his hand) in focus. I moved my camera along with the speed of his hand.

This class has been so much fun. If you would like to improve your skills as a photographer, I encourage you to check out Brooke. She is such an awesome teacher and she has this online class set up so well!! I can't wait for my next class with her!!

On a side note, I am a week behind on my 52 project. Please don't turn me into the principal!

Aubrey-6 Months In

2011-01-26T16:29:00.000-05:00

She is on the move! Aubrey turned 6 months old in January and she is ready to see the world! Click here to see her little teaser shot from last week.

I had mentioned before that I would give a little more info about the location of these images. All of these shots were taken in my sewing room! I have a huge (4x8) sewing table that I inherited from my hubby's grandfather. Jason, Aubrey's daddy, covered it in laminate years ago and my hubby put cabinets and wheels under the table top (someday I should post photos of it!) It moves around wonderfully which allows me to use the room for alot of different purposes.

On this particular Saturday, that room was converted into a studio! Ok, so I don't have all the fancy, schmancy photography studio stuff, but it worked. The room has 3 huge windows so I don't need additional lighting. Plus, my hubby just installed some gorgeous flooring--wide-plank laminate!! The backdrop is a white chenille bedspread covering the big table. Mom was able to stand off to the side and have her hands constantly ready for her mobile child!

We walked through my house and looked for props to use. Quilts and baskets were a few things we used. As mentioned here, I have alot of "junk." (check the very bottom of that post to see what I am talking about!!)

So excited to use this little studion again!

Angela and Aubrey, thanks for being my testers!!

Homework Assignment-Week 1

2011-01-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

Homework has not been in my vocabulary since my children were in school! Much less something that I had to accomlish myself! My husband asked my last night, "Did you get your homework done yet??" Ha, ha!!

Yet all this week, that seemed to be my focus....Homework. I will admit I have enjoyed this class that I am taking, homework and all.

Below are the assignments I had to work on this week. We had to select different shooting opportunities and within each use different settings on the camera to see the relationship of those settings.

The first set was in a vacant lot down the road from my house. One of my favorite spots that a local farmer lets me use. That just reminds me that I should post some images of one of my daughters that I shot there last fall! Soon, soon.

This set of images I captured on my way home from a Macy's shopping trip. My work pants are in need of replacing! I love irrigation systems and we are surrounded by them. I also took other images of a completely different perspective but chose not to included them. The first one is kinda blurry, too low of a shutter speed I think. But I didn't notice til I loaded them on the computer. Not too bad for hand-held.

The last set of images are my favorite so far!! Let me tell you about the chair first off. Back-up....I love getting a deal on anything! My hubby and I frequent a local junk shop (love junk!) and found this for only $25! Solid wood, worn paint, real hardware. I use it at my quilting frame and my sewing machine table. Which leads to why these are my favorite images this time. I love the room that this chair is in, my sewing room. It's just off my kitchen so I have stitched many things while cooking dinner. I've stitched quilts for family, sewn prom dresses for my girls, assembled gifts for friends and wrapped many Christmas gifts in this room. The love is there!

The lenses that I used are: the 50mm 1.4 for the first and last set; the 28-75mm 2.8 for the middle set.

Leave any comments, advice, tips, opinions in the comments section below! I'd love to hear what you think of my homework!

52 Project-Week 2

2011-01-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

My mind was stretched today. "Food" is number two on my Project 52 List. A couple of thoughts came to mind, the eggshell in the compost pile, birdseed, the candy wrapper that fell from pocket onto the driveway (uhm,uhm!)...then I walked through our garden. This loner lima was standing out from the crowd. Even though he missed the harvest time last fall, he stuck to the vine. We've already had a couple of snow storms. The winds have blown like crazy. Lots of birds fill our yard looking for leftovers. But this little guy is still hangin in there. Perseverance. A quality I will grab hold of while I am learning new things in life.

Learning

2011-01-17T17:38:00.000-05:00

My children gave me one of the best gifts I've ever received for Christmas! The Gift of Learning! My sites were set to find just the right course for me. Searching and searching, I found someone in Utah (!!) that offers an online course for photographers. Her name is Brooke Snow. You can check out her blog here. (Ema, you will love the post from today!) I had my first lesson today and I am ecstatic!! The homework assignments will be posted here for my fellow classmates and my instructor to critique. Please feel free to comment also! My first lesson is due this weekend, so keep checking back.

In the meantime, here is a look at The Precious Little One That Came Into This World Last July! Just so happens that my blog colors are her favorite colors too!! More about the location of this session soon!!

52 Week Project--Part 2

2011-01-16T16:31:00.002-05:00

Last week I decided to start one of the popular 365 Projects. As you can read in last Thursday's post, I changed it up a bit to the "easier-for-me-to-accomplish" 52 Project. What I forgot to mention was the list from the Handbag Obessed Blogger. I will be combining the list she gave along with the inspiration from a nature photographer. So here is the list if you would like to use it for some kind of 52 Project of your own! Let me know if you start one! I would love to here your ideas!! Just check out my contact button at the top of this page for my email address! You can print this list if it helps you. Stretch your mind and have fun!!

A New Project

2011-01-13T06:13:00.002-05:00

Should I really start something new? I am notorious for having too many projects going on at once. And I am notorious for saying I will not start another project or hobby. Ha, Ha. That's me laughing at myself. Just two days ago I was walking around AC Moore contemplating which crotchet book I would buy. I don't crotchet and I don't need to learn. Not now anyway.

Back to the new project. I had been thinking about doing one of these 365 Projects that are all over the blog world. If you haven't heard of these projects, here are some examples:

Writers decide to journal everyday.

Cooks decide to cook something new everyday.

Artists create art everyday.

Exercisers exercise everyday.

They commit to this kind of project...you guessed it...for 365 days in a row. It's an exercise in self-discipline and creativity. When you do something everyday, you have to stretch your mind. Think outside of the box. Broaden your horizons.

I was reading in the newest edition of Birds and Blooms magazine this morning about a photographer that is doing the project by capturing images of blooms. He didn't start his journey until March of 2010 so I figured I could start now even though January is half-way over.

I also had an email this morning about a blogger who tailored down the 365 project to a 52 project. Once a week instead of every day. That's more up my alley. She also included a list to adhere to.

So what I came up with is this (I joined their two ideas!!):

Follow the plan from the handbag blogger (her 52 ideas)

Photograph things in my yard/garden only

Allow myself to only press the shutter 10 times

Post only one photo

Hopefully, this will teach me some self-discipline and stretch my creativity!! There might be a problem. Today I went outside to start the project. I pressed the shutter about 18 times and I am posting 2 images!! It's my first day...the self-discipline will come in time!!

Cosmetics for the Blog

2011-01-11T18:40:00.001-05:00

Cosmetics are a girls best friend, right? Well this blog just received a make-over! The last couple of weeks, I've been burning the midnight oil designing and doodling in Photoshop. One of my daughters, Ema-Leigh, helped me out in a huge way...she knows Blogger!! She got everything up and running. WooHoo for team work!! Hope you enjoy the new look! Let me know in the comments below. We still have a few changes to make...

The Yoder Family

2011-01-10T14:38:00.001-05:00

This week I have been doing alot of work on the new look for the blog. It is extremely time consuming! But also extremely enjoyable! I actually figured out how to doodle digitally! This might not seem like a major accomplishment for you, but considering my brain activity, it's major for me!

Anyway, the new look will be here very, very soon! (Check out a sneak peak in the watermark on the images below!) I can't wait to put the finishing touches on everything and play with some HTML code!!

In the meantime, enjoy this family that allowed me to spend a little time with them at their home. The time spent with them literally brought happy tears to my eyes! Thanks Yoder Family...the love between you all is visible on the outside! (John 13:35)

Polly and Mark....you are beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside! Thanks so much!!

Here is an example of how framed prints could be used in the main living area of a family's home.

Comfort

2011-01-04T17:44:00.004-05:00

It has only been minutes since I got home from a family session. But I couldn't wait to post this image. When I arrive at a family's home, I usually scout the area for some locations to place the family in. Porches, a fence, a side yard, a field. You get the idea. This family had a wood shed in the back. Fell in love right away! They heat their home with this outdoor wood-burning stove! I want one. There is nothing as cozy as wood burning in the winter. And yes, I put the family in this exact spot! Those photos will be posted soon!

Anyway, we had to go indoors to warm up a bit since it was in the low 40's. The youngin's were getting cold! One of the daughters (or daughters-in-law....there were alot of people to keep straight!) told me about a blog she reads. It is written by a young woman who....well just go read her posts....all I can say is inspirational.

I did some heavy-duty glancing at her posts and I came across one of her favorite quotes:

life begins at the end of your comfort zone

It has raised some questions in my mind. Am I settling for my comfort zone? Am I just staying "safe?" And more questions.

Stepping out of my comfort zone won't be easy, but I want to step. One step at a time, but step I will. God has been nudging at my heart for awhile now to start a deeper walk with Him. I crave that. But honestly, in my humanness I am lazy.

But here goes...

Gingerbread Home

2010-12-31T15:07:00.005-05:00

As we enter the new year, consider these thoughts:

what lies behind you

and

what lies in front of you

pales in comparison to

what lies inside you

Ralph Waldo Emerson

From my home to your home, Have a blessed New Year!

Blessings,

Cindy

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-27T14:10:00.007-05:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas Holiday with their family and friends!! Here are just a few of the Christmas Cards that my clients passed out to their people this year!! Thanks to all of my clients for 2010! I look forward to 2011!! (Speaking of 2011, there will be a new blog design coming soon!! So excited!! Now, back to designing it!)

Just One Can Make a Difference

2010-12-21T14:43:00.007-05:00

For starters, let me mention Rita at the Coffeeshop, one of my favorite blogs to read. She has been such an inspiration and help to me in this learning process. I don't officially know her because she lives half-way across the country. But she has still helped me immensely! Check her blog if you have any interest in photography or blogging. She will help you like nobody's business!

Recently she designed some textures called "Baking with Mom." The timing on this is so cool because I have been doing alot of baking lately (and eating raw cookie dough!) Textures are alot of fun to work with on a photo. Basically, it is a "transparency" that can be placed on a photo in varying degrees of opacity. I don't use these alot in the work I do for clients, but I am considering adding them to what I can offer them.

This first collage of photos shows what textures can do for an image. The one on the left is straight out of my camera. The second and third have textures applied, one called "Mixing Bowl" the other is "Antique Bowl." She has the cutest names for her stuff!!

Now for the reason for this post. Baking cookies. It's something alot of people do this time of year. We do it for the purpose of gift giving. We started it 20ish years ago because we were too broke to buy for my hubby's co-workers. Two kids birthdays at Christmas time make it a little tight around here!

So every year we make a ton of dough and bake and bake and bake and bake......Pardon me, I have to go check some cookies!

I'm back......I've used the same cookie cook book for years. But just today I read a sideline on one of the pages that had the recipe for Peanut Blossoms on it. It spoke of the women who created the cookie. Freda Smith of Gibsonburg, Ohio. She entered the Pillsbury Bake-Off of 1957 in her town and won. She became a local celebrity because of her win. But she also created the cookie that we now all are so familiar with. Speaking of the contest, she said "It was the best experience of my life."

Thanks to her I have been baking Peanut Blossoms for over 20 years. Those cookies have blessed many Police Officers over the years. One of my hubby's co-workers asked if his wife was baking "those cookies" again this year. Just One Can Make a Difference. Thanks Freda!

Blessings and Merry Christmas to ya'll!!

Christmas At My House

2010-12-14T15:33:00.005-05:00

So, my house is decorated for Christmas!! I thought I would share some of my decorations with you. The snowmen (and lady) said they would pose for me! Thanks guys! You're the best!

Here is the snowman I made this morning. The bottom actually ripped when I was about 1/2 way done, so he has some major patchwork on his bottom!

This is the Air Force Snowman. He came about the year our son joined the military.

This one was created during my heavy-duty quilting phase. He even has a quilted coat to keep warm!!

These little guys have sat in my kitchen window-sill many Christmases. They are good buddies!
I have to mention the snowman on the right. He was part of a crafting frenzy my friend Kathy and I were in one year! We made about 20 of this size and 20 of a smaller version! So much fun to get with friends, sewing machines, glue and wool!
See, it's cute to be pudgy!!

And because all this snow in the house makes me chilly....my hubby bought this for my chilly office. Now that's love!!

Lainey and George

2010-12-08T19:45:00.006-05:00

Lainey smiles from her heart. And George? He's crazy about her! Check out the bling he put on her finger! He wanted to show it off while we were having some of the greatest coffee in town at Dolce.

They are joining their lives together next year, but until then.....

Thanks to everyone at the Georgia House! You have the best outdoor eating area in town! And oh yeah...The Best Brownie!

As Promised....

2010-12-07T13:33:00.007-05:00

What better backdrop for a baby....a mommy and a daddy! It's so wonderful to be invited into a clients home to capture their family in their own surroundings! Jessica and Mike, thanks so much!!

A Snippet for Jessica and Mike!

2010-12-06T17:57:00.004-05:00

The preciousness here was too much to keep to myself! More tomorrow!!

Just for Christine!

2010-12-01T19:59:00.003-05:00

Christine, just 'cause you're so special!!

The "Right" Way

2010-11-30T12:04:00.008-05:00

This is how a session often starts. "How do you want me to stand?" Where should I put my hands?" "What do you want me to look at?"

Then I say something like, "Give your honey a little smooch!" That evokes what I am looking for....real emotion, real connection, real interaction. I love the expressions that happen after the kiss.
There is probably the "right" way to pose. The "right" method for placing a clients hands. The "right" way to stand. The "right" way for a client to look. But in my style....it's no so much about the "right" way, but instead, their way. Hopefully, we can capture the dynamics of your family together! Contact me if you would like to capture this season in your family's life.
Thanks to Christine and Charles for being just the "right" people!!