Photo Freak

Unconvention

2011-09-03T11:31:00.001-07:00

I don't like the tilt the head, smile into the camera while your hand is against your cheek kinda pictures.

BUT, when a senior getting her pictures taken happily jumps into a waterfall, I then in turn fall in love.

Isn't she pretty!!

That was a blast!!

Vaction...In cell phone pics.

2011-07-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

I need to download the big honking camera pictures, but these will do for now.

VOTE VOTE VOTE

2011-06-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Can you PUH LEEEEEZE to me a favor?! It's just a itty bitty one, but it would mean the world to me. Can you vote for my oh so amazing and talented cousin? It's really easy to do. Just click on the link: http://jugcountry.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=33150&s=9193149&i=1#SD. Do a little sign up and then vote!!

MAYBE if all us PhotoFreaks band together we can help her win.

Once you sign up you can vote once every day until closing. It's Simple. Wake up, brush your teeth, pee and then vote for CLAIRE!

Make me proud!!

NOW GO!

5 months old

2011-06-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

Inst he adorable! ack!!

Twins

2011-06-02T05:01:00.001-07:00

I took pictures of these twins a year ago and they got more active but much prettier. They are so much fun.

Best Face {I heart Faces}

2011-05-31T07:01:00.000-07:00

This is the best picture I took this month. One of my favs of all time.

Love those bellys

2011-05-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

My curtain and my favorite shot!

Testing the light

2011-05-29T04:36:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends came over yesterday and I MADE her pose for me so I could check the light in my room. I am doing some maternity pictures today in this exact spot, with most likely some of the same poses, except more belly.

I think the light passes as EXCELLENT.

Its also nice having gorgeous friends!!

She was smacken away at her gum, so I made her give it to me...then put it in my mouth. Apparently it tickled her fancy!

Someone got me to take some pics

2011-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

I got to visit with some lovely girls the other day and Wym took my camera and I got to pose and have fun.

I am NEVER on this side of the camera.

I like it!

HORRIBLE BLOGGER

2011-04-08T19:37:00.001-07:00

I have been so busy its been crazy. I haven't stopped to even think.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

That's better! I miss all my amazing photo blogs and tomorrow I have some time to sit and look around at the amazing pictures.

Today I will leave you with a picture of what God is speaking to me.

He has been telling me he loves me...and during a particularly intense moment of him telling me that he thought I was the bees knees I cut open my onion and I saw this

God is sweet isn't he? I started crying a little, and not because I was slicing open an onion.

The Almost KISS...

2011-03-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

I HAS ONE.....Best almost kiss ever!

This picture cracks me up because my oldest looks so SKETCHY! HAHA

This one is cute! One of my best friends daughters! LOVE!

Before and After

2011-03-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

I love chubby baby legs. I love little baby fingers. I love black and whties. I love this pictute!

Happy Sunday

2011-03-13T04:08:00.000-07:00

Paper Mamas PEACE

2011-03-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

This took a while to find. I am surrounded by crazy boys who are crazy crazy crazy. BUT, I did find this picture of the baby when he was just able to stand up on his own at around five months, he was looking outside like he had never seen anything like it before.

Before and After

2011-03-10T06:44:00.001-08:00

I love this photo. Its not "typical" that's why I loves it! What is better than daddy hands?

Cant pass up the golden hour...

2011-03-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

Do you ever look outside and you see that its that perfect hour were the sun is going down and everything looks better in it but NO ONE in your family wants to pose for you. What do you do?

TURN THE CAMERA AROUND, OF COURSE.

You cant let beautiful lighting pass.

I Heart Faces

2011-03-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

My best picture in February! This must be the one. Somehow I got an excited wiggly boy to look at the camera the same time I got an animal to look. What the what?

Mamas

2011-03-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

This woman already has three kids...crazy beautiful!

Day # 2

2011-03-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

30 days of one thing

2011-03-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

I missed this by about...ohhhhhhhhh 4 months. Everyone in the blog world was taking one thing and taking a picture of it everyday. I am now doing it, I am such a rebel!

Haha. My son just got this red horse, and I love it so much, I want to use it.

Now, I need to just make sure it doesn't get lost in 30 days!

Before and After

2011-03-03T07:56:00.001-08:00

I love Thursdays! I also love this girl in the picture!

A visit from the "rents"

2011-03-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

Hi, I have been so busy that I have completely neglected my photo blog. Its sad. I am sad about it, becuse I need to catch up on so many blogs that it makes me tired, but I am going to be going around today and looking at all the great pictures, so expect a comment from me today!

My parents came not last weekend, but the one before. It was super fun and refreshing to see my wonderful parents. They came for the boys of course, not me. But I still recieved the trickle down of the blessing my kids got.

We went to the Zoo.

Adorable Mother.

The bird cage was fabulous. A photographers dream!

YES, all of my friends growing up had a crush on my dad. Cuz hes adorable!

My Hotel Room...was so high...I literaly plasterd myself against the wall...and snapped without looking. I dont like heights!!

The husband called me a bug...

I Heart Faces

2011-03-01T05:13:00.000-08:00

I love this weeks theme. Because honestly, I love NOT face photos. Yes, that's how I just said it. Kids are hanging on me, and I'm not changing it. I have became lazy scenes hiring an editor!

Phone Pictures on I Heart Faces

2011-02-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is my beautiful cousin in law. Aint she purty!?

Happy Birthday #1

2011-02-21T09:25:00.001-08:00

If I could come up with one word for you, it would be excellence!

Or outstanding...that would be a good one!

Stinker would be a good one to. You have spent over half your life in time out. It really does nothing, but I enjoy the quiet.

You stress me out by trying to constantly hurt or kill yourself by being super brave and daring.

Your an amazing big brother, and put up with a lot. Everyone thinks your the naughty one. If only they knew!

I see so many things in you. I believe in them all!

You are fun to be around, and you definitely make life exciting.

I am proud of you, the little man you are becoming. Keep it up, remember Gods grace and accept it.

Your to good to be true little boy! Happy Birthday! 6 years old! Knock it off and stop growing!

Red {I heart faces}

2011-02-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

I love this boy! I just love him!

Lex

2011-02-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

Remember this belly?

This is the cutie that was hiding inside of it!

I love him, he has so much skin and squirmy. Didn't get very many sweet little sleeping pictures, but we can always try again!

Love

2011-02-08T20:17:00.001-08:00

I heart Faces {Heart}

2011-02-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

The thing I love the most about this picture is that it looks super magical and romantic. What you don't know is that I was reading "The lightning Thief". Shadows can make anything look pretty!

Before and After Thursday

2011-02-03T14:45:00.001-08:00

Hey, its late, but it still counts! Here we go, from the sickie Photo Freak!

Please Vote

2011-02-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Please, pah-l-eas vote # 27.

#27

If you want a laugh...this is the post for you!

2011-01-31T19:58:00.003-08:00

I am feeling silly today, so I thought I would share my all time favorite things that have ever made me laugh that I have found on the Internet, but first I want to talk about a book I just finished.

Its called "Switched" by Amanda Hocking. Ummmmmm. If you like fantasy's that are romantic, then you well love this book.

Here is the link, go buy it. Just do it!
http://www.amazon.com/Switched-Trylle-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B003VD1GBA

Here are a few Utube videos that make me laugh so hard I literally almost pee when I watch them.

Arab man on Treadmill

Drunk man pulled over

Fat kid on roller coaster. I cant help it, I laugh every time. I think its the evil laugh that the lady has.

Greatest freak out ever. Watch this at your own risk. It is hilarious, and I am convinced he is demon possessed. DON'T LET YOUR KIDS PLAY WORLD OF WAR CRAFT. Also, I love the little brother.

OK, now your sides hurt. GO PEE, I know you have to!

OH and I freaking love this video. I want so badly for my sons to get what beauty is. Real beauty! This video is vulgar and wildly inappropriate, but I agree full heartedly with the message!

My favorite lines in this song are...

Disease's growing, it's epidemic
I'm scared that there ain't a cure
The world believes it and I'm going crazy
I cannot take any more
I'm so glad that I'll never fit in
That will never be me
Outcasts and girls with ambition
That's what I wanna see
Disasters all around
World despaired
Their only concern
Will they mess up my hair

I heart Faces (I was used as an example)

2011-01-31T01:40:00.000-08:00

Squeeeee: A noise one makes when they are to excited they can not form a normal word.

Squeeeeee, one of my photos was used as an example for this weeks I heart Faces Challenge. The challenge this week is "Best Face Photo" and my current banner was used. I opened face book this morning and there is was staring at me!

So, I figured I would use my favorite picture from that photo shoot for the contest.

Go check out some more faces. I can only imagine how wonderful the entries are going to be!

Dont come to my house without make up on

2011-01-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

So I have decided that this year I am not going to let one day go by without taking a few pictures. This is supposed to make your photography skill grow leaps and bounds. That's why tons of people do the 365 picture challenge. I'm not going to be that formal, but I'm going to try my darnedest. This is what I took yesterday. She is a friend. I think that my friends are going to be soon coming to my house looking all glam, because they know ill snatch em up. Love it.

Yes, I have pretty friends. That is by total design!

Before and After

2011-01-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

A lot of times if my ISO is to high in a beautiful picture I will just make it into a soft black and white. Problem solve people! HAHA!

Fun in the Sun

2011-01-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

I have some pretty friends, but more importantly, they have pretty kids. One of my friends has a daughter that is so amazing. I seriously want to dress like her, everyday. I will be stealing her, and keeping her.

The mom. The friend. I love her. I swear, I did nothing to the eyes, it was that sun shinning on them, it made them crazy bright.

The sun was going down and I had so much fun with it.

can I just say

2011-01-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

~~I hate that my banner is fuzzy, I hope blogger fixes it soon, becuase Im a little obcessive and this is really giving me a run for my money. Amen.~~

I FIXED IT. Thats better!

Head Shots

2011-01-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

I did some head shots for the first time the other day. They were so much fun that I am dreaming about doing it again. I might do some kind of photography special soon for head shots. It was that fantastic and fun to do. It also helps that this woman was beyond words pretty!

She was a giggler, it was hard to get her straight face.

But once she got it, it was magic. (Al tho I really love her giggle pictures)

These are my two favorites. I think I'm in love with her...

Who does head shots a lot. What is your favorite thing to do?

Jersey Folk

2011-01-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

I have a friend from Jersey, she is amazing. She is sarcastic, funny and lovable. Her husband is the same way. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun!

She is also my editor. Who wouldn't put there work in these hands?

They are so in love its ridiculous. I swoon.

I am so in love with these next two pictures.

It was an honor taking pics of her and her husband. Bless you both. I pray God gives you every desire of your heart!

Friends

2011-01-19T19:06:00.001-08:00

These are some amazing Friends of mine. When I moved to this new town she was the first person I met. I met her a few months before her pregnancy and now her little boy is almost four months old. They are also good sports and when I told her husband to make out with his wife...he did just that.

Baby Breaux

Mom told him a secret.

Still shocked

Daddy = amazing

Family shots

And the fun! Rawr.

He started acting silly (my favorite picture)

But she took charge by grabbing his collar and kissed him. I was in love.

This was the most amazing restaurant, it had the best lighting EVER. I want to buy it and make it into a giant studio.

What I learned from this photo shoot is, never take pictures of photographers (the blond) becuase all they will see is there hair and how it was messy. Everyone tell her how amazingly beautiful she is.

Don't you LOVE

2011-01-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

Don't you love when you take family pictures of friends and they take you to breakfast afterwards, and they want to take a picture of you and because they were just friends who see you all the time you don't try to look professional, you just put your hair back and go. Don't you LOVE that?

Don't you love that the second a camera gets on a baby he cries. I love that.

Don't you love having beautiful blond haired, blue eyed friends? I actually do love that!

And those said friends do whatever you tell them to do.

Don't you love it that you go out and fight with the sun while your taking pictures then you go to a little hole in the wall restaurant and the lighting is PERFECT and you get there best family photo?

Don't you love it when guys have longer eye lashes and bigger lips than you do?

Don't you love diet coke and greasy breakfast tacos? (I'm going on a run today)

Dont you love baby sitters that are so rad they drop your kid off at a restauraunt for you?

Dont you love sweet little boys that are so tierd of the camera but eventually give in? I DO!

Dont you love reflections. I do. I try to take pictures of relfections at any chance I get.

I had a fun morning with firends. There photos will be up later today. Maybe tomorrow depending on my energy level.

HOT

2011-01-16T17:48:00.001-08:00

Allie Photographer is having a HOT contest, but I'm going to make it a HAWT picture.

These two were making me blush, big time, when I was taking there picture. I loved every minute of it!

My heart

2011-01-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get really sad, because I'm not were I want to be, and I don't know how I'm ever going to get there. It seems like kids are just so happy, like they are free to be themselves, no matter what they look like. It doesn't matter if something is on there face, they have a stain on there shirt, it doesn't matter. Because they haven't been taught to be embarrassed yet.

I want to be like a kid, and honestly in a lot of ways I am. But, I want to go back to dreaming like a kid. Were failure hasn't accrued to me, just the simple fact that it looks fun, so I wanna do it.

I want to be gracious with people, and loving. I want to love people, all people. Not just expect there fault, but love them for there faults.

I watched Penelope, the movie about the girl with a pig nose. (I'm not going to mention that it could of been way better) It touched me, all this girl needed to do was love herself, and that's what broke the spell. (Sorry if you never watched it, OOPS)

It was a great movie, about crazy moms, snobby boys and those boys that make your heart melt because they love you anyways.

I want my boys to love people based on there personality and not how they look. I want them to see more than flesh, I want them to see spirit.

But how does one teach this to there kids if they are always worried about how they look?

I think its teaching them the most important thing of all. Its more important than keeping your room clean, or making sure you do good in school.

Being kind to people. Treating everyone like you would treat yourself. Small. Big. Short. Tall. White. Black. Brown. Yellow. Love people, because God loved us first.

Be the example.

Lead the way.

By excepting your kids one hundred percent. Warts and all.

They will follow you.

This video is the cutest thing I have ever seen, its the inocence. Kids kissing. I am flipping out thinking that my boys some day are going to kiss someone. I hope its sweet for them! (In like 15 years...)

Not Always Picture Perfect with Tezzie

2011-01-14T12:51:00.001-08:00

First off, what a thrill to have been asked to guest blog here at Photo Freak’s fabulous place...and what a totally humbling experience it is to follow the past guest photography bloggers who have written such amazing posts! I’ll do my best to keep the quality standard at (at least) a ’worth reading level’....the best I can hope to achieve, comparatively ;D

(a very rare thing; a self portrait from the summer '09...wouldn't post that for just anyone, Aurora! ;D)

So, all about me, huh? Well, let’s see...I call myself Tezzie here in blogland (for many reasons not worth getting into, I prefer to blog under an assumed name). You’ll find me at Not Always Picture Perfect where I sometimes write and post pics about my life living in Finland as a Swedish Canadian...but mainly it’s an outlet for my attempt at creativity and art through photography, and it’s a place where I can truly be myself. And, before you get all excited about ’creative and artistic photos’, I should mention that at the age of 40, I am (at best) an aspiring photographer who has only been clicking pictures for 2½ years now, having bought my first DSLR camera in 2008 (a Pentax K200D, for anyone who might be wondering).

I’ve always loved looking at photos (especially ones taken by people who know what they’re doing!). I feel like I’ve always viewed the world through a camera lens, even when I haven’t had one! My eyes have naturally sought out scenes that I would love to capture in order to share them and have others see and experience the beauty of what I saw. One could say that I’ve yearned to fill the need to express a natural part of myself... and after economy and circumstance finally merged (plus with the amazing guidance from my younger brother, who started his photographic journey a couple of years ahead of me), I was at last able to buy a decent camera!

My style...hmm...while still at an intermediate amateur stage, I’m not sure if I have a style that can be defined as such. I suppose ’candid natural light photography’, might describe it... I also love creating ’photo art’ from landscapes and macros...but my personal favourite thing to capture is ”beauty in the oddest places”. Very, very rarely will I do posed shots...and it’s also uncommon for me to ’set up’ a photograph. What you see, is (pretty much) how it was!

It’s hard for me to give advice to other photographers, since I feel like such a beginner still! A couple of things, though, that truly make a photograph a ’good one’ are lighting and focus. If you don’t have those two basic ingredients, the rest won’t matter much.

When taking a photo, consider what it is that made you want to take that picture to begin with...(what is you want to show?...what is the most important thing you want the viewer to see?). Consider, then, how you will compose your picture to get your ’message’ across.

Something that has stayed with me from the first day I got my camera, is something my brother said to me; ”try to show your subject in a way that has never been shown before...find an angle that will make the viewer look at your subject as if it’s the first time they’ve ever seen such a thing, even if it’s something as common as a flower”.

Some simple ’tricks’ that can greatly help your photo composition are the rule of thirds, and the use of leading lines. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I strongly suggest you google the terms and read up on them; I promise you that you’ll improve your photography immediately if you start incorporating them into your photos!

Another thing that (in my opinion) is a MUST as a beginning learn-it-yourself hobby photographer, is photo editing software of some kind. So many of my shots have been either greatly improved, or even saved because I was able to ’fix’ them later on. Start learning editing with the easier things; like cropping, adjusting the lighting, sharpening the focus, and boosting colour. You’ll be amazed at how a photo you thought was pretty good SOOC (straight out of the camera) is turned into fabulousness with just a bit of tweaking in photoshop! (or, in my case, Photoshop Elements 6)

Here are some before and afters to show what I mean (all of the befores are SOOC, other than the watermark and resizing for the web):

Edit 1

Before

After

What I did: slight straighten and crop, unsharp mask, brightness and contrast boosting, colour saturation boost.

Edit 2

Before

After

What I did: slight crop, white balance correction, unsharp mask, lighting corrections, colour desaturation to bring a melancholy mood to match my boy’s expression, edge burn to help focus the attention towards the centre of the photo

Edit 3

Before

After

What I did: flip to mirror image and crop to make use of leading lines and rule of thirds within the photo, unsharp mask, brightness and contrast boosting, colour saturation boost.

Edit 4

Before

After

What I did: drastic crop to bring the subject much closer and place it centre/right (also taking advantage of the natural framing of the leaves), unsharp mask, brightness and contrast boosting, colour saturation boost, edge burn

The most important piece of advice that I have to give, though, is to LOVE what you’re photographing; if you can’t see the beauty in what you’re capturing, then noone else will be able to see it either!

OK, folks...I need to wrap this up now...hopefully I’ve managed to inspire some would-be photographers out there from a fellow beginner’s viewpoint. If any of my advice was helpful in creating an image that you love, please stop by my blog to let me know; it would make my day!! :D

Thank you, Aurora, for allowing me to do a guest post here...it was a true honour, for sure <3

Happy clicking, everyone! :D

Super Hero Contest

2011-01-12T18:11:00.001-08:00

OK, we who have kids have pictures of them dressed up. So lets see it!

Here is how the judging is going to work. I am tired of judging these amazing photos because they are all so good and it stresses me out, SO, I am going to judge this week but the winner will judge the next one and that winner will judge the next and so on and so forth until the end of time. Amen.

So have fun and show me those super heroes. Or princesses. Dont forget to put my button on your blog post.

Green to Blue

2011-01-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

How weird is it that four years ago (and all the years before that) I had super green eyes, then after my third son is born they go super blue. These were not photoshoped, nothing. They are 100% my eyes. Anyone else out there experience eye color change? Besides darker to lighter. I mean a real change, like you went from one color to another. Iv heard its a hormone change. Could of been the pregnancy. Either way, I'm kinda digging them.

Some Preggy belly

2011-01-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

Don't you love those baby bellys

This woman has a cool story. They tried to get pregnant for six years, trying several different methods before they decided to give up. What do you know, they got pregnant. She says she still cant believe it, even tho she is three weeks away from having her little boy. I cant wait to take pics of him.

I heart faces

2011-01-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

SAY CHEESE....I heart faces is doing a smile contest this week. This is a sweet smile I get to see everyday! I love this picture, I would like to wall paper my house with it.

This kid

2011-01-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

Makes me want to be a better woman.

A better mother.

A better friend.

I'm not gunna lie, the glasses are hot!

Anything

2011-01-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

I am doing a photo Contest, and the theme is anything. So I picked a picture that makes me laugh. The older one (the one who is getting scratched) is always the one who is "picking" on his brothers. I caught the younger one being mean to the big one. I love that stuck out chin that is defiant as anything. Bless you kid.

Beautiful Girls!

2011-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

I love these kids. These are some friends of mine, which is always fun to do a photo shoot with people you know!

Mother of two everyone. HOLLA!

Keep going

2011-01-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

I love this so much because the guy at least keeps going. I mean he is in the wrong lane, after he fell on his face and makes a complete fool of himself, but dang it, Hes going. I want to be like that!

Total Eclipse of the Heart

2011-01-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a little pic of the eclipse we had the other night!

I'm a little obsessed with Glee...Just a little!

ALSO, would you vote for me? Go here and find 348 then press vote. Ill give you a dollar (But don't quote me on that!)

I heart faces

2011-01-02T21:11:00.000-08:00

I had to pick one face shot for 2010 for {I heart faces} might as well of asked me to pick my favorite child or which hand I liked better. GAH. I picked this one just because of those baby eyes. I miss them, they are getting lighter and that makes me sad.

A mess. A cute kid. A not so cute kid.

2011-01-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

My neighbors threw a big ol party on new years. They set off so many fire works, but the best part. They didn't even clean up afterwards. Lame. So this is what my street looks like.

This kid is cute. I just love him! He got one of those looking glass things that make everything looked like its Thur the eyes of a spider.

This kid is just throwing a fit all the time because we are going and going and going. Stinker! (yes, he is in the baby toy. And I the only one who has kids who likes the baby's toys more than the big boy toys?)

Cake Drama

2010-12-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

I made a cake...the baby helped me lick the chocolate!

The little turd also smudged my new lens with batter and snot. Thankyouverymuch baby!

The next day when I was taking my shower the baby helped himself to the last two large pieces.

Then I took it away! Sad!

I know what your thinking. Doesnt he ever have a full outfit on. The answer is no.

Happy New Year yall!

2010 best pictures!

2010-12-29T21:12:00.001-08:00

Here are my favorite pictures that I took this year. They aren't all my "Best" but, they are most definitely my favorites.

Hooray, its going to be 2011. I hope this year was just as good as last year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced complete shut down because of sickness? All 5 of us were so sick it was crazy! Come Saturday morning (Christmas) all but me were 90% better (I was around 80%) Here are a few pics I managed to catch.

Passing out gifts...my favorite picture. The baby new it was his but the boys were touching it so he was pissed. I love that baby!

Husband telling the story of Jesus birth

The highlight gift of the day! Husband was determined to get it. As a girl I thought that it would be boring to watch little cars go around in circles but he is a guy and we have guys so we got it. Wouldn't you know it we have spent hours in front of this thing watching it go around and around and around...

I look over and the baby pulled his new pillow bet over and laid his head down and passed out!

And my oldest being completely obnoxious after winning. He is so much like me, I am a bad loser, but a worse winner!

3 of ME

A very frazzled but happy mom. And taken with a new lens.

I am now going to go to all the BLOGS I have missed out on for almost two weeks. I cant wait, I missed all those beautiful blogs!

You know youv been in the house to long when...

2010-12-20T22:32:00.000-08:00

This video bring tears to your eyes because its so funny. Someone please come to my house and take care of my kids for me.

Sepia winners

2010-12-19T21:03:00.000-08:00

OK y'all, this was harder then I thought it was going to be, only because of my vast snobbishness when it comes to sepia. I think that different editing styles are great, some are more clean and fresh, while others are grungy. It takes all kinds. BUT, when something has actual rules like Sepia is brown and white or black and white is, black and white (weird) then I get all snobby. Yes, I admit it, the one thing I always said I never wanted to be, I am a snob. So be it. Everyone did really great, however these three pretty much held the essence of Sepia, with the warm brown tones, and soft contrast. Plus they are stunning pictures. So without further adue, the winners are...

In third place: Kristen. Great shot. The browns are stunning.

In second place is: Christine Marks. This picture screams amazing. The simplicity, the warm feeling. I love it.

In first place is: Snapshots of happiness. The centering (or cornering) the beam of light, the rich sepia color is right on. This is an amazing picture. Congradualtions.

Here is a little present to all you winners!

bleh

2010-12-19T06:01:00.001-08:00

My kids have all had a fever flu that's going around. One gets sassy, one gets whiny and the other shakes. I haven't taken a picture in over a week. I took a shower yesterday, that was awesome.

The 16Th, last Thursday was my 29Th birthday. I got a kindle. I am in love with it, especially scenes I have been a prisoner in my house held hostage by little boys.

I did get to go out of the house yesterday by myself and go Christmas shopping, that was seriously nice to get out and get stuff for the little ones and the husband. I'm dressing him like a punk this year!

I got a 24mm lens. It sucks, so I'm trading it for a 50mm 1.4 (weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee) seriously excited.

(This is a picture of what I'm NOT feeling like!)

Can I have a nanny and a house cleaner for Christmas. And a Cruise were no kids are allowed. Please!

PS. Tonight after my husband goes to work I will post the sepia winners.

Today I

2010-12-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Cleaned

and cleaned

I took care of a sick kid

and I made out with a dog.

OH, and I wrote about this guy!

I Heart Faces

2010-12-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Daisy pants. I love her. This was when she was a brand new member of our family and was still to excitable to hang out with the baby. Daisy and the baby are looking at eachoether thru the window. I got both of them in the reflection. But now she is allowed to hang out with the kid, she is an old hat and the baby can lay on her and she will just let him do whatever. A good dog is priceless.

Happy Thursday

2010-12-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas Challange

2010-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

This was one of my first pictures taken with my NEW camera I got last year! I love it and am sad to see how little the baby used to be!

Married 12 years...CHECK

2010-12-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

These guys are so cute and so in love!

Is it fair to be this beautiful? I don't think so!

Sepia Contest

2010-12-03T08:29:00.001-08:00

HI, So I need to do a contest because I love seeing every ones photos! I have been writing and editing Christmas pictures like a crazy woman and need to take my head up for air.

Sepia is a beautiful edit that should be done sparingly (IMO) I absolutely love it! I am a total sepia snob, for some reason it bugs the crud out of me when someone makes a sepia YELLOW. BLEH. Sepia is brown and white, not yellow and white...but brown.

Here are a few of my Sepia's.

OH, and have fun!

Grab my button baby!!

Before and After

2010-12-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

I figured scenes I had just done this shoot yesterday I would share a before and after!

Christmas girls

2010-12-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

I took these little girls pictures about six months ago! They are precious, I love them. They are just as good now as ever.

I heart Faces

2010-11-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

I heart faces is a great photography website, if you are a photographer and your not apart of it, you really should be. They have weekly challenges and this week is Black and White Scenic. I picked this one because I LOVE it!

Black and White

2010-11-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

I love the way that the dress disappears and it looks like she is a fairy or something. Hey Tezzie...you always win mine, I'm just sayen! wink wink!

Christmas Pics...

2010-11-27T09:18:00.001-08:00

Its that time of the year, christmas pictures are under way! FUN FUN FUN

A little grandparent action!

Beautiful Family!

The reason the family is so beautiful!

Nathan

Randy

Nana

Rings...I must do it, every time!

Having some fun on the trampoline!

Grandmas are the best!

So are Daddys!

The end!

Colors

2010-11-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

BLUE

ORANGE

WHITE

RED

PURPLE

YELLOW

GREEN

GOLD

PINK

BROWN

RAINBOW

P.S. Check out my Operation Tummy Tuck up top!

whatever you do...

2010-11-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

Make sure you get a baby's hands when you take baby pictures.

Get a picture of twigs and a couple unfocused in the back kissing, if at all possible.

When your taking pictures of grown up kids, make sure that they act like un grown up kids.

If you are in the middle of a road with a girl who has awesome gold shoes...make her jump.

Work with whats around you!

OH, and Happy Birthday little boy #2!

Scripture SnapShot

2010-11-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

Judging a contest...

2010-11-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

Yes I AM...over at Paper Mama I am judging her "eyes contest" So head on over and do it, because I like to Judge people...

Yours Truely!

A few more hours

2010-11-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

Click to enter contest

Ya ll have a few more hours to enter my "Best picture you've ever taken contest." I cant wait till tomorrow, I will be doing a video of me and my boys picking at random the three winners! YAHO!

{Another favorite}

Click that link above and get in on some awsome prizes from made by crissy mathers

Photo Contests...

2010-11-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

COZY

The blanket up to his cheek is cozy enough but what I really love are his eyelashes, I think a whole blanket could be made with those things. I could really snuggle into that!

Accidentally photographed

2010-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

Have you ever accidentally gotten yourself in a picture? I do it all the time. Its probably because I'm so GOOD LOOKING! Yeah, that's probably it.

Link up and show me pics that you've accidentally gotten into. Just for fun!

Silhouette

2010-11-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

Iv shown this picture about 3,000 times, but how could I not use it for this weeks {I heart faces} contest? It would be an insult!

This is a picture of two people that I love very much!

Quinceanera

2010-11-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

Quinceañera (sometimes also called Fiesta Quinceañera, or simply quinces) is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of immigrants from Latin America. This birthday is celebrated differently from any other birthday, as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.

I did my first ever Quinceanera today. It was super fun. Something I Love about the Hispanic culture is that were there is one, there are twenty. Literally there was a gang of people behind us watching, picking on her, making sure this and that was perfect. I mean what fifteen year old girl doesn't want to dress up like a bride? These were a few of my very favorites!

I always start with the feet...its what I do!

Beautiful girl.

I got her once with her hair in her face. I snapped it real quick before a few aunts and sisters came running up to re pin her.

Can you believe this amazing pecan orchard with the tall grass. {Is this what heaven looks like?}

I got to dress her up right before we were leaving and made her wear what I was wearing. I love things like this!

I wish I had a Quinceanera when I was younger!

backwards on a pig, baby monkey...

2010-11-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you've ever thought: I wonder what makes Aurora from Photo Freak laugh, then your in luck, because this is it!

You have two more days to enter my amazing contest.

Before and After

2010-11-11T10:42:00.001-08:00

WOW...finally got to it today. My friend took me out to a park and she kicked my butt with lunges and running up stairs and all kinds of shenanigans!

But here we go, what better on this amazing Thursday than a little baby tush...nothing!

ALSO...all you before and after blog hoppers I am having a contest. "The greats picture youv ever taken." If you want to win some amazing prizes and show off your favorite picture then click this --------> "Greatest picture youv ever taken" and enter. The ones Iv gotten o far are AMAZING. I will not be judging according to what my favorite is, because I dont think its right to prize what I think is the best, when it is what you Cherish so much. So the winner will be chosen by my kids pulling from a hat. Bless you, have an amazing day!

Dirty Rotten Cheater

2010-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

I am LOVING all of these photos y'all are entering. They are fabulous! I have gotten lots of feed back of feeling intimidating, trying to only pick one...but I'll bet if you thought about it, there is one that pops out in your mind! I know there is!

And because I'm a cheater, and its my blog so I can do whatever I want and to inspire you, I will show you some others that are my ultimate favorites!! {This is me sticking my tongue at you}

SO go to the post below this one to enter the "Best picture youv ever taken" contest and get amazing stuff from Crissy's store! Remember, Im not picking my favorite becuase they are your favorites and I wont be judging that. I will be picking numbers at randome for the winners!

A contest with AMAZING prizes

2010-11-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

This week we are doing a contest for some amazing prizes.

The contest is going to be "The best picture you have ever taken." Anyone from armature photographers to professionals can enter because I will not be judging on what I think the best one is, because that would be silly to put my opinion on what you feel is your best shot. What I am going to do is put eveyones number in a basket and pick out three numbers, those will be our first, second and third place winners.

I picked two pictures that are my ultimate favorite just for examples. Please only pick one picture and make sure that my button is on your blog post.

The prize, I know y'all wanna know what the prizes are. My amazing friend Crissy has an Etsy shop that is full of delishious goodness that is so beyond good its criminal.Made By Crissy . She has agreed to give you all some of her goodies away to the three winners. Your happy! I might enter this contest myself!

So good luck and have fun. You have a whole week to enter. Next Monday we will pick the winners!!

My button ---------->

Baby Breaux (bro)

2010-11-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is my good friend Shanon's baby. He is precious and TINY...ack, my baby's come out 3 pounds bigger than he is right now, and he is a month old. OH so so little, I love him to pieces! Here are a few of my faves form today!

And of few of yours truely! I wish Shanon had told me my boby pins were making it look like I had two bald spots, but yall are looking at the baby anyways! Isnt he precious!

Happy Day

2010-11-05T06:03:00.001-07:00

My good friend had a baby, and the cord fell off yesterday. SO OF COURSE, that means that she is coming over today to get those sweet naked pictures taken, and little toes, little sweet lips and delicious fingers. ACK, I'm so excited!

A little hospital picture of the cuteness that is Breaux

Before and After

2010-11-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

I picked this picture for one reason..THE SPIT. Baby spit has healing powers, im convinced!

crazy flipping week!

2010-11-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry, its been four days scenes I have done a proper post. I didn't even do a challenge this week...that's OK because i be tired. Sick kids, projects due, husband off of work, writing a book...but its 6 am right now and I'm all alone (for now) to do whatever I please!

So the WINNERS of the bath contest...

In first place is TEZZIE : Good job girl, I hope this doesn't mean you stop entering because you now have a first, second and third place! She got 33% of the votes.

Second Place is Jeanette : girl that baby is cute. I think the lip and those eyes are the whole reason this picture won, its so fabulous. She 31% of the votes.

In third place is Mandy. This boy is so cute and not the first time he has won one of my contest. He is that amazing! She got 15% of the votes.

And finally, a new treat. You all sent in such AMAZING photos that I just had to make something to recognize you. For everyone who was a finalist in this contest, grab this button and display it proudly!

I'm going to go write a little more...

Be Back Tomorrow!

2010-11-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

Bath Contest Finalists {poll vote}

2010-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

OK, So I said that there were only going to be three finalist this week...I lie! I said there was going to be a guest photographer picking the finalists...I LIE. My sweet friend over at RUNNING WITH SCISSORS has lost her Internet and that is why its taken me so long to get this going, I was waiting for her to come back and I couldn't anymore SO I picked the seven I had already chosen to be my favorite picks...but now they are the 7 (I own the blog, I can pick any odd number I want!) finalists. So pick your favorite...You have two days. (I have a short attention span, that's why its so short, mmmkay!)

First Finalist is Tezzie (Those lips, the bubbles. Amazing)

Second Finalist is Jeanette (Excuse me but what don't I like about this picture...There are no words for the adorableness of this picture, makes my uterus hurt!)

Third Finalist is The house on Robin (I picked this picture for one reason, and one reason only...THE BELLY. I'm dying with cute)

Fourth Finalist is Mandy (This kid cant take a bad pic. he is so cute)

Fifth Finalist is Our Precious Jas (This girl is adorable and has a mom who takes amazing pictures of her. Also, its hard to take bathroom pictures with the correct lighting, and she did amazing)

Sixth Finalist is Flat yeast Bread (the centering, or cornering I should say is fabulous and the hair kills me)

Seventh Finalist is Jzenna (I love that tush)

Vote Vote Vote, the fate of someone lays in your hands.

Before and After Thursday

2010-10-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I love this photo. My ISO is WAY off mostly because there were six kids in a collapsing building with us and so my mind was on other things, but its still a beautiful picture that I love.

Child Labour

2010-10-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

Child Labor: The first general laws against child labour, the Factory Acts, were passed in Britain in the first half of the 19th century. Children younger than nine were not allowed to work and the work day of youth under the age of 18 was limited to twelve hours

MEH...Honestly, this is why we had kids, and I was thrilled each time I heard it was a boy, that meant hard labor would get done!

FACT: I have webbed toes.

Don't you love happy helpers? I'm sure they will always be like this...right?

changing his name

2010-10-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

I'm changing my youngest sons name to naughty, because he is...

Naughty

Naughty

Naughty

Naughty

Naughty

What do your kids do continuously that they shouldn't, no matter how much trouble they get into?

Scripture and a SnapShot

2010-10-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

This is my oldest son, I am going to miss those little feet, even tho they look huge to me right now.

Paper Mama Photo Challange

2010-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Is one that I was going to do, but she took it! Ahh, well, I guess that just means that it was a good idea. Its a Black and White challenge. I looked on her blog and I saw that she likes softer black and whites so I picked one that I thought looked like her (Is that cheating?) I love this picture. One of my favorites, and it is very soft.

PS have a wonderful day! I am sitting inside on a rainy day, with a sick kid and a book that needs to be written.

Fix-Friday

2010-10-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Iv never done this before, but loved the picture this week so I went and played with it. I brought out the fall colors. What a cute kid!

Some amazing photos!

2010-10-22T06:44:00.001-07:00

This video is amazing and there are a few that I wish I had taken!

Just what I needed

2010-10-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

I got a first prize ribbon for a picture I took! Squeee. I won it inbewtween bathroom trips, were I was throwing up! Thank you Hun!Go check out her blog, she has a cute kid!

Before and After Thursday

2010-10-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Today I feel sick...I am throwing up and...such. I need a call in sick Mommy day...wait, that doesn't exist. BLERG! Well, here you go, a little bit of my Mirror View action. If you want to link up one of your mirror pictures from your car then click the page above us.

P.S. Don't forget to do my Bathtub contest. I know EVERYONE has a picture of there kid in the bathtub!