Lessons Learned From Photography

Over the past two years, I have learned a lot of lessons from photography. Some are practical, some specific to the art of photography, some emotional...however all were learned the hard way. To start, I can hardly believe it's been two years.  In some ways I feel like it's been two decades...we've gone through a move, two home disasters, cancer, death of a pet - all this while trying to balance my current job, family, and keep it all somewhat balanced.

These are in no particular order, so I won't number them...

* God put beauty in every single soul.  Maybe not a traditional, main stream "Vogue" kind of beauty, but I see it in everyone I have had the opportunity to photograph.  The love between a mother and newborn.  The laughter between siblings - both old and young.

* This ties a bit to the first, but I think is different...God put a lot more good in people than I used to think.  I am a self-admitted introvert/anti-social/socially awkward individual.  With that comes caution and skepticism.  Photography has forced me to work through that.   I continue to be amazed about the incredibly friendly, lovely people I meet every year.

* Always spot check your shots.  Nothing worse than bad surprises when you are home and too late to correct...ie autofocus was turned off...exposure setting was way way to light or dark.  Maybe that looks unprofessional to be scanning through the camera during a session, but I'd rather that be the case than have to send an apologetic email later explaining why I didn't get a good shot.

* Always make sure you have enough memory left on your card.  This almost caused a nervous break-down during the one wedding ceremony I photographed.

* Facebook can be incredibly gratifying...and then terribly humbling...oh the tears that this has involved.  In the same way that Facebook can be a great marketing tool, you can also see your competition...over and over...and the multitudes..they are everywhere. You can see the 50 "likes" one of your pictures received and then see the 5,000 another photographer received..along with their 1,000 fans and 50,000 talking about....it goes on and on.

* You can't control people.  This is a good and a bad thing.  As a person who hates telling others what to do (yes, this can be a challenge in posing for sure), I like that free will is a part of our lives.  But that same free will can cause people to take certain actions that sting.  I could go into so many examples here, but for the sake of anonymity I will not go further....

* Always make the husband look taller.  This is a recently learned tidbit from someone who I haven't actually taken their photo (yet) but a great point nonetheless. I am sure that I have taken a photo where the husband looked shorter than the wife, yet the family just never told me.

* Get ready for (sometimes) constructive criticism, whether you asked for it or not.  Some people are gentler with this than others.

* The most talented photographers aren't always the most successful.  A Photography Business is 80% business and 20% photography.  I try really hard not to question the success (in high points or low) that God has given. I get what I can handle and I trust that God knows that better than I ever could.

* If you don't have enough time or effort enough to take photographs of your own kids, something is wrong.  That balance is off.

* Humble yourself, or you shall be humbled.  Ties into the Facebook lesson.

* Photography Business involves having thick skin.  And if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...

My Little Super Heroes!

We had a great time at "Family Day" where Trenton works...luckily (for me) I remembered that there is this super cool spot right around the corner.  I rarely venture that far south with the kids, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity :)

The lighting was beyond terrible - never take pictures at noon!  However, "you get what you get, and you don't get upset"  so we (I) persevered nonetheless.

Those Moments That Linger

Kendall and Leah have GREAT Sunday School teachers - in fact, Kendall's teachers (a husband and wife in their 60's) are very well known and loved for their faithful service in the 3 year old class.  A few weeks ago, something very sad happened...the mom/wife unexpectedly passed away.  I have a hard time with how to handle situations like this - how to express to the loved ones left behind how sorry I am for them.  There seems to be no words appropriate for that situation to me.

This morning, as with most Sunday mornings, we were running a little behind to church...I was carrying Leah and Trenton was walking with Kendall in front of me.  I hear Leah say "that's Kendall's teacher" and sure enough, it was the widowed husband, a bright and contagious smile on his face.  Kendall, somehow hearing all this up ahead, runs back to her teacher, enormous smile on her face, hugs him with all her might and they take off together, hand in hand, to her class.

Something about this scene has stuck with me all day.  My heart breaks for this person who had his future changed so devastatingly overnight.  I cannot imagine going on 'as usual' - with a smile no less.  What beautiful faith he has and what amazing strength God has given him.

I have no words to express, yet Kendall - just a four year old - has realized what this 32 year old had not.  Sometimes a hug says so much more than any words possibly could.

Kendall may not remember this morning - maybe not even next week - but I will take it with me for a long time to come.

Spotlight on Leah

Spotlight on Leah


Who is your best friend?  Victoria and Darren (preschool)


What is your favorite animal? Elephant (she was holding one while I was asking her this question)..."not monkeys or dragons...they are scary.  I don't want dragons to come into my house."  (maybe we should have done this farther away from bedtime...nightmares?)


What is your favorite color?  pink


What is your favorite food?  french fries


What is your favorite song?  "rachel song" ("Roots Before Branches" - Glee Cast)


What do you want for your birthday?  Balloons, Bunny Birthday Party


Something Mommy wants to remember about Leah at almost 3 years old...she calls parking garages "spookies"...she sings along with everything - even tries to mimic the instrumental parts...she is extremely sensitive and does not like to play with new children...she still LOVES to be carried.

Happy Valentines Day!

This year I borrowed from Pinterest for the girls' Valentines cards. I'm going to thread an actual lolly pop in place of the "BE MINE" heart on the picture and VOILA instant Valentines Day Card. The taking of these pictures was last minute and somewhat painful. They happened to be wearing their cute Vintage Baby outfits and so we tried to catch a quick shot at the lake nearby. Unfortunately it was crazy bright and very windy - which made for mostly blown out shots and grumpy children. I got a couple decent ones which became the below:

Kendall's favorite thing to do these days is play tea party. She drags an old gift bag full of plastic plates, cups, saucers, and spoons all over the house 'just in case' she realizes a moment that requires tea. Not just the cups though - she has blankets that must be placed over the kitchen table, coffee table, or pretty much any other flat surface that we have our tea on.

I don't know if I would say Leah's "latest" thing are bunny rabbits...I think this has been growing over time, but it is going full steam now. And, just like bunnies, these things are reproducing like crazy. We went from one 'build a bear' bunny that Ma and Pa got her for her birthday to at least 10. I'm not even sure where they all came from! She has to have at least one bunny with her at all times and there are two very specific ones she goes to bed with.

All for now,

KB

Free Weekends - What Shall I Do?!?!?

This is the first weekend since 10/01/11 that I have not had pictures scheduled. I'm not even sure what I will do - clean the house? Organize the kids clothes, toys, etc etc etc?

This past weekend we celebrated a wonderful yet busy Christmas. Kendall got everything on her wish list - Dora kitchen and "Dora wings" (aka the Dora doll that has fairy wings). Leah didn't really ask for anything specifically but her favorites have been the "Go Fishing" game and her cat piano.

We've had so many things to be thankful for - the first that comes to mind are my dad's scans, which were clean this time (first clean scan since early 2011). The previous two scans found cancer in the kidney and a spot on the brain. We are VERY thankful for nothing to show up this time!

We had a wonderful visit with my cousin from Taiwan. We only get to see them every couple years so it was great having them in town the past week. I also had the opporunity to photograph them, which I'll post a couple pictures later (maybe during this luxurious weekend off perhaps?).

We are also very thankful to have both families within driving distance - so we get to see most of the family at some point over the holidays.

Let's see...Leah has become quite a talker. Trenton calls them "Pete and Repeat"...Leah would be "Repeat". She has really picked up the potty training over the past few weeks. At home she is mostly in panties unless she is napping. Kendall loves playing tea party and making food from her Dora kitchen. She also loves to draw and places her artwork all over the house (thanks to Mimi for providing the stickers that she uses to adhere them throughout).

A great part of the holidays was getting people's Christmas cards - and it was nice seeing the number of cards hanging from our display that I had personally taken and/or designed :)

I'm taking January off from photography, which generally ends up being a slower month anyway between the colder temps and most people just having wrapped up their Christmas pictures. Praying for a fun and successful 2012!

Spotlight on Kendall