08-23-2012 Thursday: Today was a wash...

                                  (08/23/2012 Thursday)

Today was a wash...

               A really good one that is.

I spent the day with my littlest.  

Miss Amelia Laelyn

 age: 16 months, hair: golden, eyes: blue, personality: devilish

(I'm not joking all of the above is factual)

Washing is about all we did aside from a few errands. Washed the laundry the bathroom, the floors and the baby. Amelia was the only subject on my list of must do's that I felt excited enough to take pictures of. Then again I admit I am more partial to her then doing laundry x5.

It goes without saying, EVERYTHING was wet... 

It's moments like this that make me think about how awesome and carefree childhood can be, should be, and for my kids it is. Time well spent for sure. It wasn't until all ten digits and toes were pruned, counters soaked, water dripping all over the floor and everything within a 3-4 foot radius splashed on  that we were done. Although Hurricane Amelia pretty much achieved mass destruction within 10 minutes- fun this affordable is worth spending at least 35 minutes in the sink. 

           exploration

innocence

                          amazement

             playful

                                            imagine

   inspecting 

curiosity

        astonishment         

      loving

wonder 

                                      innocence

     

      scrutinize

examine

                                             aware

                       interpret

investigate

The GROWING Rosa Family!

The Growing Rosa Family

Heather+Brynne-Mason-Landon-Laylah-and baby #5 

 I had a great opportunity to photograph Heather and meet all her little ones. It had been about 10 years since we last saw each other. What made it more exciting for me was that we both grew up, became military wives and made some really beautiful kids! I have had the pleasure of following Heather and her kids on Facebook over the years- and it became clear how much easier a shoot was with kids 9,7,5 and 3 when I knew their names... really knew their names.. without stumbling over who was who. That is actually pretty shocking when your a mom- because most often in our house I address the presumably guilty kid as "who ever you are," and I only have 3 names to cycle through compared to Heather's soon to be 5.

Brynne, Mason, Landon and Laylah are all really camera aware, making the day much easier. Heather herself is really into portrait photography so these kids are used to having a camera pointed at them. They were able to take direction really well. It was a real perk considering they outnumbered Heather and I.

Sometimes you never know what your going to get...

With children's portraits that's absolutely the truth! I never pass up a chance to snap off a few frames during those moments when kid's do what some may think are less then desirable poses, after all they are just kids. I like the pictures that really depict their nutty, fun, pushy, demanding, loving, silly energetic and even mischievous sides. From trying to win center stage by Heathers belly to sibling instigating Laylah age 3 probably took the cake here.  

Then there are those moments when it all goes right. 

It's those moments I'm totally thankful for amazingly fast Cannon shutter speeds! Ha!!

Brothers: Always put a smile on my face. To have two boys a little less then 2 years apart in age is a true gift to give to each of them. I never had a sibling very close to my age and seeing kids like Mason and Landon who have one another is really special. Maybe I am partial because my boys are 22 months apart.

There is nothing like having a sidekick to play, explore and be mischievous with. As Heather and I swapped some mothers of boys stories we laughed. Sometimes it amazes me what little boys think of- and a tag team only makes for twice as clever and twice as frequent escapades.

This sequence of two kids swapping  focus may be the first time I've ever posted pictures like this. They make a great unit but are amazingly cute individuals.  I really like taking complementary pictures and the boys looked great in color, black & white, and this aged  black & white wash... I went with the wash.

I gravitate towards warmer photos almost always. I really like a picture that has rich colors and more yellow tints then cooler pictures. Brynne (left) has gorgeous brown eyes that pop against her soft skin and light hair. Some truly photogenic kids come from this family. 

Baby #5 Will be.. another Girl.

Although spelling is up in the air Sophiah/Sophia.. is due well ASAP. 

With the possibility of maybe even being born yesterday since induction started at 8am Sunday.

Cam-tastic! Camryn's shoot with cousin Kaleb

 Little Miss Camryn

Tenacious & Angelic 

age..2.5. Need I say anything more?

         Talk.About.Having.To.Work.For.It!

Only at first though :) It took about 20 minutes for this amazingly cute Cam to warm up to my cam and from then on out the shoot became a synch. I really got to enjoy watching a 2 1/2 yr old girl play and just be a kid- and I believe that usually turns into some of the best candid pictures.  I had the to opportunity to take photos of a little barefoot girl running around and picking flowers (weeds) in a pretty dress. I considered myself lucky. I love the way a dandelion can make a child's day. Oh to be almost 3 again... 

Even moments where a parent is trying to persuade a toddler into cooperation I manage to snap off a few pictures that do not seem to let on what is really happening :)

 Accompanying Camryn was her baby cousin

Kaleb

 Happy as can be, crystal blue eyes, hands jammed in his mouth with a smile on his face. 

Oh Boy! Tummy Time! 7/29/2012

Captains Log... Wait..  Photographers Log :)

Jordan, Marie +1,  Lucy (pup) & Mike

 Here's to my first blog ever. I think it has been over a year since Nicks mom began and has yet to stop encouraging (sometimes known as nagging) me to start a blog. Here goes it, even though I really have no idea where to actually start.

Marie, my long time hair dresser is 28 1/2 (she was very firm about that half) weeks pregnant. Jordan, Mike and Marie's 7 yr old daughter is eagerly awaiting her baby brothers arrival.

I use a Cannon T2i and it is practically a life line in our house. So much so that my kids often avoid me when I pull the camera out- or they turn on their selective hearing and completely tune me out. Kids that are not quite so sick of being photographed are a true treat for me. Not just because they are sweeter...

Jordan was a great age to get some good practice in. She was really calm and still, took great direction and was posable. A photographers dream kid... as cute as they all can be and as much  as I really do love those kids that look mischievous I was happy. I was able to take more pictures using more talent and know how then luck and hope. Always a plus in my book. Lucy, the pup on the other hand was faster then a toddler and a bit hairier too. 

The day was gloomy, cloudy, muggy and it sprinkled all morning. We were due to have cloud cover almost all day- and even mid afternoon when my TheWeatherChannel app said there would be less rain and partial clouds.. from the looks of the skys I didn't side with my app till BAM.. sunny. Hot sun about half way through shooting. Not my favorite. Cloudy days really cut down on all the harsh squinty eyed pictures.

I think these three and fourth B&W one could possibly be my favorite belly only shots out of all my frames. From the worn red barn wood to the pop of Mike's tattoos and Marie's blue and terquoise bracelets. It works for me... Of course it works for me... I took the picture after all.  I didn't have to crop these or level them. For some reason when the photo is just about fine the way it was taken I typically get more excited over it. 

I tend to like more candid shots. I usually take a combination of pictures where my subjects are looking at the camera in a more traditional fashion. It's the pictures where they are not usually looking that feel much more intimate to me and for Mike he even seemed more relaxed when he did not have to stare at my lens.