Happy Hallie-ween!

Yes I a fully aware that I am a bit late on this post, but again life seems to get in the way and somehow my Halloween pictures aren't posted until Thanksgiving.  This year for Halloween, Hallie went as a sheep and what and adorable "Lambie-Pie" she was.  Bless her heart, she was so tired by the end of the evening, she just kept shuffling her little feet.  Not so sure we got the whole trick or treat thing yet, but she sure was amazed at all that went with it...literally speechless due to all the activity surrounding us.  Overall, we had fun and have a bucket full of candy that could literally last us until next Halloween!

 

Hallie B. '"Two" Pictures...Take One...

I have been dying to take a few "portraits" of Hallie since she turned two about a month ago.  Unfortunately life in general has not allowed even a chance for me to do so.  Finally this week Cody was out of town for work so one evening Hallie and I scarfed down our frozen pizza just in time to slip outside for some magical light just before the sun set.  The problem with taking your own two year olds pictures is the fact that it generally just doesn't work out.  I would place Hallie where I wanted her, run back, camera in tow (which is not super easy dodging desert plants with thorns and trying not to ruin my new huge, expensive lens) just to spin around and find her heading towards me.  I'm going to have to give a big "shout out" to Aunt "Tace" whom I recruited last minute to contain the little jewel.  The pictures I did manage to get are not perfectly posed, nor is she always looking at the camera.  But I would say they are a good representation of the "two's"...always busy and doing precisely what she wants all while not listening.  Therefore, I think I have managed to document a special time in Hallie's life.  Stay tuned for more pictures in the next few weeks...I think I am going to have to try in take these in phases...

Welcome Parker Marie!

Last weekend, we and I made a fast and furious trip to North Texas to meet my precious little niece Parker Marie.  My first reaction was a mix of emotions...pure excitement for my sister and her husband...what an amazing addition to our family!  However, I was also struck with a bit of sadness...it seems like just yesterday that my own Hallie was once a newborn.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the responsibility of tending to an infants every need that we sometimes forget to take time to remember all the little details.

So of course I took my camera and of course I could not resist taking a few pictures of the sleeping beauty.  Because I am no flash photographer, natural light was my only option.  Fortunately Parker's house has a nice large picture window and the overcast conditions outside gave us some nice soft light. For my first attempt at shooting a newborn, I was fairly pleased with the results.

I can't wait to watch this little Jewel grow and change.  You know this proud Aunt will be right there to capture all I can with my camera.  Congratulations Meghan and Taylor!

Whitley Jean - 2 years

This little doll is becoming quite the regular on my blog.  She is so cooperative and pleasant.  A perfect little model...  I have enjoyed watching her grow over the past 2 years and feel fortunate that I have played a part in documenting those years in photographs.

More of Meghan's Bump

My how time flies and it has been well over a week since I posted Meghan's last maternity pictures...I intended on posting more in a couple of days...  What can I say, my home life consists mainly of diapers, mounds of laundry and a never ending dirty kitchen.  Trying to add any photography in the mix has proved to be quite a challenge.

I love these pictures we did with Meghan in the Mexican dress.  First I just love Mexican dresses more than life itself and secondly it just adds so much color and interest.  How festive!  Ole!

Meghan's Bump: It's all about the light!

A week ago today, I had the privilege of taking my little sister's maternity shots.  Let me speak for myself, but I had a blast!  Meghan was such a trooper.  Of course the day we decided to meet up, the temperature was 100 plus...less than ideal when you are 8 months pregnant.  Amazingly, for August the grass was still green and we even coaxed Meghan's husband Taylor into posing for a few...although he made me promise so to post any on my blog...

The location was perfect!  We mainly shot on Taylor's family's farm and some in the booming metropolis of downtown Chico, Texas.  The best part about a photo shoot with my sister is the fact that we are comfortable with each other.  I can boss her around a bit to get the perfect shot and not feel too bad about it.  Later on in the evening, the lighting became ideal.  I had a great opportunity to experiment with some shots I have been dying to try.  The results are stunning!  My best photo shoot to date!  Stay tuned for more...  

The Burbachs

I love this family!  Not only are they close friends of ours, but they are always oh so cooperative when I want to test out some of my new photography gear/knowledge.  This photo shoot was especially fabulous because we got to shoot on a private ranch that was amazingly scenic AND a real live western movie set.  Has anyone seen "Streets of Laredo"?

Best of all, this was one of my very 1st "real" photo shoots...from camera settings, to lighting, to posing, to post processing...I did it all!  While I still feel like I have a long way to go to become the photographer I want to be, I have shown much growth and improvement.  I can honestly say that I am proud of myself.

Aubrey Ky - 21 months

A couple of weeks ago, some of our very favorite people came to visit us for a weekend of R&R.  Fortunately they also brought along their precious Aubrey Ky who is about the happiest baby I have ever seen.  By the way...not that I am jealous or anything, but mine is hitting the terrible two's right about now so it was a nice remembrance of days past.  Despite this poor little sweetheart having a case of the sniffles, we decided to try and grab a few pictures of her while we were all together.  I was so eager to use my new 70-200 mm Tamron lens that I, I mean Cody, purchased for my birthday.  I love it!  

Playa Fabuloso!

Travel pictures provide me with a whole new opportunity to continue learning photography.  It seems as if so much of what I have learned to photograph portraits doesn't exactly apply.  Beach pictures are especially challenging...the sun is bright, the sand is white and my beloved travel "compadre" always seems a bit impatient when I am experimenting with my settings to get the perfect shot. For me travel photography is all about capturing the details.  Images that remind me of the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of the trip...in other words pictures that play on my senses.

A couple of weeks ago, Cody and I traveled to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for the second time and had a fabulous trip.  It was a chance to reconnect and escape from our hectic everyday life.  Although we missed our precious little Hallie, a few days in paridise proved to be just what we needed.

Ranch Ropin'

One of the greatest things about living on a ranch is the lifestyle.  We don't spend a lot of money going to the movie theatre or fancy restaurants...because that's not us.  Our entertainment is centered around the outdoors and enjoying ranching and all that is associated with it.  That's why a pasture roping is such great entertainment for the whole family.  Cody gets his roping in, I can take pictures and Hallie gets to play outside.  Last weekend we did just that.  I practiced shooting on FULL MANUAL (yes, I said FULL MANUAL) which was quite a feat in my quest to become a photographer.  The photos I ended up with after the editing process vary significantly, but I couldn't quite decide which way I wanted to go with them.  The result is a bit "hodge podge", nevertheless enjoy.