Archive for November, 2009

City girls

November 30, 2009

I’m not gonna lie. It’s tricky photographing children. You have to be sneaky, manipulative. Downright conniving to get a good shot! Or maybe you just have to be patient and wait until they finally settle into their environment and don’t. quite. know. you’re around. Snap!

My very good friend Amber met me at City Centre with her two lovely daughters that I’ve literally watched grow in front of my eyes. Heck, Amber used to let me practice photographing K all the time before I started this crazy business! She trusted me THEN. So, we converged at City Centre, and Amber thought it was impossible to get a good shot because K and T were being. . .typical young children!!! Why can’t they just settle down for one photo?? NOOOO!!! That’s what makes child photography fun:) You never know what to expect, and if you roll with the punches, you are bound to capture some beauties.

 Here are some unplanned shots:

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Remember what I said about being tricky? Candy was the bribe for this setup! Worked like a charm!

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Before I snapped this one, I asked T to put her arms around K. . . she had her in a choke hold! Gotta love sisters!

keepin’ it real

November 29, 2009

The last time I photographed this beautiful family, they had one precious baby. Now, they have two! How exciting to watch a family grow! I especially enjoy moms and dads that are relaxed and easy-going. That makes the session go smoothly. And if something doesn’t go as planned (it ALWAYS does!), nobody freaks out. For example, we had to convince E that she had ketchup on her toe instead of a small amount of blood from stubbing her toe while running down the hill in Discovery Green by George R. Brown. She bought it! (Actually, she’s takes after mom and dad, so she’s naturally good-natured)

The O’Connors are exceptionally easy to work with and their pictures are testament to this. I was able to shoot quite a few natural shots, mainly because they were themselves. Yes, I do wait for the right moments and try to capture them, but the O’Connors certainly contributed to these lovely photographs. Way to go, you all! Hugs and kisses to E and R (names not posted for privacy reasons:)

E imitating Swiper from Dora! So cute!

E imitating Swiper from Dora! So cute!

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I NEVER put away my camera. This photo being one good reason. LOVE IT!

I never pack up my camera. This shot is one good reason.

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I absolutely adore this photo. The way they are looking at each other is priceless!

I absolutely adore this photo. The way they are looking at each other is priceless!

connected

November 20, 2009

This session was definitely meant to be! On a cloudly day, with rain clouds looming over us, I met Ashley and Jeff and their two lovely children at a park near downtown Houston for their family photo shoot. As soon as we finished, the rain began to POUR! We couldn’t have timed it any better!

I do like to mention a little something about each session I have, particularly the people I photograph. The dynamics of a family are easily exposed during a photo session. As the photographer, it is my job to be aware of what’s going on in front of me and to try to work with the client(s), help them relax, etc. Being a photographer means being an observer, so I have learned and continue to practice this.

Remember, the weather was ominous, and did I mention the mosquitos? They were FIERCE! This session had all the makings of a disaster. But you know what? It was far from it. The Days are a happy family. I saw this through my lens. Not that I didn’t know it already. I’ve known them for almost 2 years. They moved from New Orleans to Houston soon after Katrina. They had to completely uproot themselves from what they called home for a long time, yet they are the most grounded family I know. They are laid back, funny, real, and loving to their children. It does show in their children, too. I think kids are shaped by lots of things. They are certainly born with a personality. But their parents have a considerable impact on how they develop. Both the Day children are happy, content, and loved. That is a tribute to their parents! So, here are a few pics of this “connected” family. Enjoy!

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Discovering

November 15, 2009

Every time I visit Discovery Green Park, I “discover” something new. It is truly a beautiful park, and if you haven’t been yet, you really do need to see it. There are so many different spots to take in and it’s just so modern. I absolutely love it for family, children, and senior sessions. Who wouldn’t be captivated by all it has to offer? Oh, and the basil lemonade at the Lakehouse Cafe is divine!

Now, on to my session! I’ve watched these two precious boys grow up before my eyes–Andrew, the older one, even more because he’s the same age as my daughter and they’re buds. Mom Lynn and I are buds, too. Little brother Hayden is almost ONE!!! He’s on the verge of walking. I can see it in his eyes. He wants to go there. SOON. It’s just a matter of time, Lynn!

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Photographing my friends’ families is equally satisfying and terrifying. Satisfying because I feel like I’m doing something special for people I care about. A photograph is so much more than a possession or item. It’s an emotion, memories. Those are so important to us. A photograph is the first object a firefighter tries to salvage in a fire. Because of this, I try to go to every session with the belief that what I’m about to do is important enough to be saved in a fire. Pretty powerful stuff. But just as it’s satisfying, it’s equally terrifying to photograph my friends’ families because I want every shot to be the “money” shot. Realistically, I know this cannot happen! However, I always have an underlying anxiety when photographing people I know and love because I want to make them extra happy. This is not to say I don’t care about making clients I don’t know happy (NO, not at ALL!). What I mean is, because I know my friends, it brings a very personal element to the session, therefore, making me a little anxious. thomas-65blog

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I love the above pic of the three of them! Lynn is very photogenic and the boys are actually looking at the camera!! Way to go, guys! Brian, I’ll get you next time!