Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Catching Up and Eye Candy

So it has been quite a while since I have been able to put up an extensive post. That would be because I no longer have access to the internet all day. Well, scratch that, I have access but it is much more strictly monitored. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining, I just don’t have the time that I used to make at work. I like the structure actually. I am currently typing this draft as I am on hold with an insurance company. Much fun. I don’t mind this job so much while I wait on my photography business to take off. It’s a good company and not nearly as frustrating as my last job, which is funny since I initially left this job because of frustration…well being overwhelmed is more like it. The only thing I don’t like about being here is that, well, I don’t know if I have mentioned it on here before but I have a problem with daytime sleepiness. I will be reading the computer screen or other such related activity and will fall asleep without realizing it. I’m pretty sure I have mentioned my fear of falling asleep while driving to work before. Unfortunately for me, where my desk/cubicle is situated here is right by the main walkway. :( This means that people talk. People who don’t understand that this is something I am seeing my doctor to try & figure out. {{sigh}}

Anyway, as for a few more personal updates, my mom is recovering nicely except for the fact that she has had some blood pressure issues as of late. She still can’t do diddly squat which is driving her crazy. Our other invalid, Milo is finally out of her splint and head cone and flying around the house and backyard as if she had never broken her leg. Just in time to get her fixed. Poor dog. She is going to be traumatized.

I am hard at work on getting my photography underway. A friend of mine who is into graphic design and I have been working on a logo/icon that is almost ready. I wish that I could show you a sneak preview but as of yet do not have a usable file...just PDFs.

For those photo minded people who know what I am talking about, I have been utilizing Lightroom and purchased an amazing Noise software to do batch processing that make my post processing time SO much faster. Just recently I have been able to filter the computer noise out of hundreds of photos while not being tied to the computer. Talk about freedom. I am also now the proud owner of a Canon 70-200 2.8, IS USM Lens and am so in love with it. As a precaution though, I am not allowed to use it until I insure it. We can't afford anything to happen to it. I also now own a Shootsac created by the amazing Jessica Claire and can not WAIT to use it. All kinds of goodies coming out of my "secret stash". As mom so aptly put it, might as well use it for importatnt things rather than let it lose value sitting around as the stock market plummets.

Last night I was up till all hours finishing up my dear friend's maternity shots which I am happy to show you here. I had a hard time picking only a few out of the many I loved from this shoot so please be prepared for a photo feast below.

First here are a few more shots from around the house.
I love how at home they look here. So natural with Lola sitting in.This has to be one of my favorite images becaus it is completely them. Him making a face and her laughing at his goofiness.Then we went to downtown Buford for a few location shots. This house was great and the sky was really that beautiful. No retouching to it.
This was Misa's idea and I LOVE how it turned out. He is a budding photographer himself. Whispering sweet nothings?
Another favorite.I've been playing with sun flare recently and these are my firstborn efforts. I need to work on the technique some more but I am not at all unpleased with the result.This was another one of Misa's ideas...I think...and again it worked out amazingly. I love the color and the way the lines lead to her.

We next moved to another location but I will save those for a later date. :) What can I say, I have a heavy trigger finger.

Also, in case you couldn't tell, or if you are a first time visitor, I have played around some more with my blog layout. I googled HTML for dummies and am learning it and CSS slowly but surely. I am excited to keep learning more and making this better and better for the faithful few that follow me. Please give me feedback as to what you think of the changes, namely bigger pictures and wider margins for the important stuff. I also took off the borders that used to be around the images and header.

Have a good one all and I am headed to bed.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Toesies

I am still having issues with blogspot not letting me edit the size of my photos on here so I will only post one picture yet again with much chagrin.

These are Isabella's little feet. So stinking cute. Her mother mourns the fact that her daughter has toes like her but I think these little long toes are just the cutest things.

Don't you?

{{Edit: Thanks to the wonderful people at OpenSourcePhoto, the problem has been fixed. WHOOHOO!!}}

{{additional edit}} Spencer took this amazing shot also.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Meet Isabella

Okay so I am completely and totally annoyed with blogger right now because I can't seem to edit the size of my images on my blog anymore. This annoys me to no end as I had just figured out how to do so within the last few months. I was planning on posting a BUNCH of images of sweet little Isabella Mila Vazquez. Instead I am being forced to only post one to whet your appetite as I refuse to post them all with the current limitations.

Why is it that a baby yawning just seems to be the cutest thing in the world? I used to think that I would love to be able to watch Liam yawn for hours on end. {{sigh}} They really grow up too fast.

More to come, I promise. I finished Nicole's wedding tonight and am working on clinching the maternity session for this little girl. My computer has been a bit on the fritz so I have a bad feeling I will be going through computer withdrawal soon. :( Not good. But, I will survive.

I'm off to work on more pictures. Have a great rest of the weekend.

{{edit}} In response to my sister's lovely compliment I have to put a disclaimer on this picture. My dear husband has been taking the camera over at times and is getting better and better at his images and composition. For example, this image is his. I thought I had mentioned that already. I want to give credit where credit is due. :)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

It's about time for some Liam up in here!

After an absolutely insane few months, I have been home for over a week and am enjoying it. Between going to Macon for my Mom and New York for the annual meeting, I just felt like I have been gone a LOT more than I have.

These pictures were taken two nights before Liam started school....I think. It's been too long ago now. My son has zapped my memory. I think that they are the cutest shots ever simply because 1. They are of my son (duh) 2. They bring back SUCH memories. Seriously, who hasn't begged their parents to lick the dooflotchies from the mixer after something yummy was just churned up in Mom's kitchen? This person with a mouth full of sweet tooth did...Heck do you really think Liam got both of the dooflotchies? (give me a break, I don't know what they are called)

As you can tell by the picture below, this task is somthing he takes very seriously. I don't think I was aware, before this point in time, that he could do this with his tongue.

Concentrating very hard right here. Can't miss anything.
Quick tongue break to talk to Grandpa. Not taking his eyes off the goods though. That's my boy.
By the way, this batter makes the most amazing butterscotch blondies. I don't even like butterscotch and I L-O-V-E these things. MMMMM....
My son has the best expressions ever when he knows you are joking with him. I love how he is so forebearing of how "silly" Mommy and Daddy are. Note the batter that is on the tummy. I guess he wanted to see if he would enjoy it by osmosis as well? I dunno. And check out that tongue action again. Don't want to miss any on the lips now. That would just be wasteful.
And yes, my son is wearing whitey tighteys. Fruit of the Loom, baby, YEAH. :) He's still a bit small for boxers. And yes, he does have an outie bellybutton and I think it is the cutest little thing in the world.

On a side note, one of my best friends brought her dear little 7 pound 5 ounce daughter in the world today at 4:05 pm. Isabella made her first appearance two weeks before the doctors said she would and all is well. Proud papa says she is beautiful. I can't wait to see her!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Preparation and Details

I thought that it might be about time to post some more pictures of my first wedding in over a year. I hate that it is taking me so long to finish them, but that's what happens when you have a million things going on in your life at once. Makes it a bit difficult. However, I am happy to say, I still got it. :) NO! I am NOT being cocky. I am talking about my love for wedding day photography. It is so incredibly addictive. I think my favorite thing about it is capturing the emotion. I have always loved that about wedding days. No need to do major posing just be there and be invisible (as much as possible with a flipping huge camera).

I don't think I had mentioned before how I came to shoot this wedding. Quite by accident. I wanted to shoot it, of course, as I do all my friends' weddings but was told they had already commissioned someone the groom knew. After talking to the bride's sister about engagement pictures that we never got around to, the bride asked her sister to ask moi if I would mind coming by to take pictures of the girls getting ready since the hired photographer was a man.

Would I? Would I? I was thrilled.

One thing led to another and they kept asking me to stay longer. I didn't mind as I had been trying to figure out a way to do so anyway without seeming imposing. I am so glad that I did. I enjoyed myself so much, got bitten by the wedding bug again, and have experienced the most wonderful feedback from her family as to how I conducted myself and my images that it makes me grin just thinking about it.

These are just a sampling of the getting ready shots that I was originally implored upon to take. I will get more up later as I am able.

I love this shot of three generations of girls getting ready to get ready. (Look closely, do you see me?)
These two gorgeous women are the bride's sisters. This was the first time the one on the left had seen her sister that afternoon. The expression is priceless.

If she wasn't so incredibly sweet and loving I might almost hate her for how beautiful she is without one bit of makeup on.
Since the mother was the first to be ready, she was able to sit back, relax, and watch all of the goings on. This one I love because it just seems timeless of the mother watching her two girls prepare as the baby girl is about to get married.

I don't think a single woman in the world can explain completely the reason we contort our faces when we are applying mascara. Does it really help?
I found it humorous that the bride was helping her neice put on makeup. She was so calm and collected. I liked that about her. It made me feel good about her relationship with her betrothed. From personal experience, I think that is what happens when you marry your best friend. :)
Now on these two shots I could not choose which effect I liked best. I love the "in faux red" black and white shot...
...but I also love this homestead black and white action so incredibly much. Both actions by the amazing Doug Boutwell.
Ahh the delicious detail shots. I believe I overheard that this was her grandmother's necklace. I love being at the right place at the right time. The way this shot is framed makes my heart flutter.
Deep breaths before the plunge.

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Good the Bad and the Absolutely Gorgeous

There are some sayings that I hate simply because they are too true:

"It never rains but it pours."

My dog broke her leg, my mom found out she was to have heart surgery, my mother in law was admitted to the hospital for a night, my car is going to crap, my son had a concussion. Oh and to start it all off, my husband lost his job. That's enough for a few months I think.

Along with all yucky things, a few good ones are bound to happen. My mom is out of the hospital and back recovering at home. I was priveleged to go to New York to attend the Annual Meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses and was so incredibly encouraged. I was also able to spend time taking pictures of two of my best friends deeply in love and ready to start a new family.

We started off the session at their house where I got some amazing images of her gorgeous belly. I have been attempting to get some more unique images and break out of my box.

I also just recently purchased Totally Rad Actions from the Boutwells and am L-O-V-I-N-G them so incredibly much.

I love the two of them together. They are such a beautiful couple. I didn't have to direct them at all, they just look this good together.

I love this shot of them just hanging out...with their first baby "Lola".

Lola made an appearance a few times throughout the picture taking process.

Love that maternal glow. These two following shots, I just love because it is so THEM.

I have many more to post but this is enough to whet your appetite. After shooting at their house we went to downtown Buford and then to the depleting Lake Lanier. Those will be coming soon.