...love is in the air

This past Sunday I had the privilege to take some engagement pictures for some friends of Brad and I. When I was talking to the bride to be about taking their pictures, she said "I don't need 50 pictures, just a couple good ones" and my response was, "I may have to take 50 pictures to get just a couple good ones!" and I was right! I know it was the bright sun that screwed me all up, but it seems like I forgot everything I was supposed to do with my settings. At the time, there were several things I could have done to make the exposure come out better, but it didn't click for me until later that night - after the fact. Oh well, if I can at least come away from each experience learning my lesson, I will be able to take better pictures each time. I feel self-conscious when people have to wait on me to get my setting right. I guess I need to just get over it and just take my time.

Here are some examples:

Summer Fun

A couple weeks ago Addyson went to her first "pool" party. Now, the water entertainment at the party wasn't a "pool", but an inflatable water slide. Addyson and some other kids were too little so they had fun with sprinklers and the kiddie pool. Addyson enjoyed watching the other kids going down the slide and getting splashed...and so did Mommy - it was hot as Haitis that day!

Initially, she was afraid we were going to dunk her in...


Then we couldn't pry her away


This was a little more her speed


Funny girl!

....A sigh of relief

Monday after work I was determined to try my new camera ninja skills, so me and the fam loaded up and ventured to the new community in Cypress, Bridgeland. This place is awesome for pictures! They have lakes, trails, a waterfall, a park with old oak trees and lots of bridges and benches and gourgeous flowers. We got there as the sun was starting to set so I was able to try out some of the silhouette tricks we had learned the other day...here's my shot at it:


Here's one trying to use the rule of thirds....or something like that :)



Here's one of Addyson:

Hello....anyone there?

Yes, I know it's been 3 months since my last post here...I've been super busy and can hardly find the time to update this thing. I'm happy to announce that I finally took my first photography class this past Saturday. It was offered by Leisure Learning and I totally recommend it to anyone who thinks they're reading Japanese when people talk about aperture and depth of field. The teacher is Kathy Adams Clark and she was a wonderful teacher. I already have a couple more of classes in mind that I want to take. So...I was all excited Saturday and thought - I'm a pro now, I know how to make my way around the Manual Mode...yeah right! Today, me, Brad and Tooty set out to take some pictures. To my horror, my pictures SUCKED! I was so upset..I even went out and bought a tripod. Just a few minutes ago though, I noticed that I had my camera's white balance on Tungsten the entire time...I'm hoping that was why all my pictures were way overexposed....if not, I have a lot more learning to do. Well, I know I have a lot more learning, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I hope to stay active with this blog as I want to post my pictures as I progress with my photography. Hopefully as time passes all these settings will come a lot easier to me - and I can learn to be happy with my pictures.

Proud Mommy

This weekend was beautiful and we spent most of our days outside. I had a little bit of time to play with my camera and of course took some shots of my favorite subject!

Texas Pickin' Park

This past weekend me, Brad and Addyson went to the 1st Annual Bluegrass Festival in Fayetteville, TX. Brad has picked up playing the guitar the past few months and has been waiting on pins and needles for this festival to come around. Basically it's a weekend full of live bands as well as folks with their stringed instrument of choice coming together for a "jam session". I thought to myself at first that this was going to be pretty lame and I was just going to support my hubby's new addiction. However, I actually found it to be pretty fun and I might try my hand at an instrument before next year's festival comes around. Brad suggested the washboard...I'm not sold on that idea just yet. Anyway, we always go to Fayetteville for dinner when we're in town visiting Brad's parents. But this time I was able to walk around town and get some cool pictures.


This is a picture of the clock on top of the original court house on the square in Fayetteville.



This is outside of what used to be an old movie theater...Brad's parents actually went there when they were dating - now it is someone's residence



Brad enjoying his first "jammin" session



More pickin and grinnin

I need a hobby

Well, Brad decided that I needed to get a hobby (so I would quit bitchin about him always buying things for his 50 hobbies) and suggested that I go buy a camera that I've been talking about for the past 2 years. Since Addyson has been born I've been totally disgusted with my regular cameras for the simple fact that by the time I click the button to take the picture, she has already moved! Plus I've been talking about taking some photography classes...so here I am. Best Buy had a deal the other weekend for a Canon Rebel XT that came with the 75-300mm zoom lens. I'm still trying to figure out how it works, but I'm definitely loving the fast shutter speed!

Here's a couple of samples: