A surprise!

I got two rolls of black and white film back today! That means today was a great day. One of the rolls was of my kids, and the other was from the workshop. OH MY...my workshop images are so good. I am very happy with quite a few. My kids pics are not so good, there are too silly. =) I hate waiting for my film to be developed, hence loving my digital....but I LOVE FILM. It has such a beautiful depth, and I miss the pretty grain. In digital land grain is called "noise" and it isn't pretty.

Here are two of Wyatt and Talia that turned out cute.



I was doing the dishes tonight, and decided to give Lincoln a call. He is NY this week, and I hadn't heard from him today. He didn't answer. That is not a good thing....my mind starts spinning all types of crazy things. I pictured him hurt (or worse) in NY, and I had no clue where he was. Except for doing work for HBO. Called him again a little while later....no answer. Later still....and finally he answers, but says "I am walking to my car, can I call you back?" A few minutes I heard a *only Lincoln would knock like that* knock on the door! He got to come home a day early. Now we sit here next to each other, on our computers......how sweet! =)

I had the hardest session of my life today. A darling little boy, but he was so quick. Really quick. It was extremely overcast too. I had to bump my iso to 1600 sometimes....(ideal for me is 200-400).

Here he is....cutie huh!?

A good week.

(The kids playing on the excersize station by the lake.)


Rebekah and Brian came to visit us! They attended a wedding in NY for Brian's friend, and made a side trip to see us before going back to AZ. They got here on Monday. We took them out to eat at Red Hot and Blue for BBQ, and then to a see a move..."The Illusionist". It was a good movie, but very predictable. The next morning we left at 7:30 to go tour DC. We saw the Capitol Building, the Natural History Museum, The American History Museum, The Washington Monument, The White House, The Lincoln Memorial, then we WALKED across the Arlington bridge, and went through Arlington Cemetery. Along with the changing of the guards at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we were able to see a wreath presented from India, and a military band played. It was very cool.
We were supposed to be back at 4:30 for the babysitter....but we were going by Lincoln's watch which was an hour slow! oops! We came home a little sunburned and with very sore legs.

They left on Wednesday. We all went out to a yummy breakfast, and then walked around our lake. Well, not all the way around, but by the lake. It was so fun to have them here.

NO time to write...

I spent the first three days of this week at a photography workshop in Fredricksburg, VA. I have a lot to write about it, but need to get cleaning......

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!






Okay now I have a little time. The workshop was amazing. It was just what I needed. Lately I feel like every time someone hires me I change my style to fit what they will want...what they will buy. I love my style! I think it is unique, emotional, intense, but still beautiful and captivating. That is what I want people to hire me for.....for my vision and style. I am changing everything I have in place now....my site especially. OH! and my prices....they are going through the roof! =) I will have to do some marketing, but I have a few ideas.....I just need to start implementing them.

The little girl in the photographs above with the brown hair was my favorite subject. She totally reminds me of ME as a little girl. We had so much fun together....she was constantly trying to sneak in smiles, and we would both just laugh. (Yes, I said sneak in smiles!!!! I didn't want them!) I have so many amazing images from the workshop. Working with the models (these were not professional child models...just kids) was so liberating for me. I was shooting for me, and no one was over my shoulder saying "smile, SMILE, look at her- not me....smile!" I made real connections with my subjects, we had fun, we were a team....I want that feeling everytime I go to a session.

Cheryl critiqued my portfolio while I was there. She had some really positive things to say. One thing she told me to work on is backing up. I am always in for close ups, and she wants me to be comfortable with both close ups and shots from further back. Well I know why I don't scoot back!!! My 20d is having major focus problems....I don't have a problem when I am close to my subject and the sensor can't see anything else with more contrast to grab away the focus. Very frustrating. I am contemplating a new camera. I can't be with out my camera for 6-8 weeks for Canon to fix it. Anyway...I did take some "not so close" shots with my film camera...I will post them when I get the film developed.

I missed my kids like crazy, but the break was so nice. Lincoln dressed Natalia in some 12 month dresses while I was gone. How funny...she is in 2T now. They were so short he just put denim shorts on underneath. =) The night before I left Wyatt said," Mom, I will miss you when you are gone at your photography session, take so many good pictures that will blow my mind!" I am noticing that he is so observant and sweet. He noticed I painted my toes and complimented me, and I put sponge curlers in Talia's hair (that didn't work at all!!) and he told her she looked so cute with curlers in her hair. Little things like that. Except...here is a funny one. I went to sleep with a pony tail on top of my head because I forgot to take it out. When I woke up the elastic had slipped all the way to the very end, and my hair was crazy. Picture: large birds' nest. Wyatt walked into our room and in a sleepy voice said "I like your hair Mom." I should have taken a picture to show how funny I looked. =)

Natalia is talking so much. This is what she said about Nursery today...
Eye-li (Eli) and Tori. Babies. Play toys. cereal. Raisins. Color.
I know exacty what she did....I love it.
Oh, and Mommydaddy is one word, and she can say it so fast. She says, "Mommydaddymommydaddymommydaddy", as she runs to the door when Lincoln pulls up.
We called Mike to wish him a happy birthday and now she says happy birthday to everyone on the phone. I love the way she says "hello", but she only does it if no one is actually on the phone talking to her.

A messy day!

We were stuck at home Monday. Lincoln needed to take the pathfinder, so I was planning a day of cleaning and doing laundry. For some strange reason, there was no Tide...just an empty bottle sitting on the dryer. =) I decided that we would spend the day taking pictures, and the kids would love it. I had bought them two huge lollipops, and Wyatt knew they were hidden in the cupboard. We finally had some free time at home where they could eat them! I was ready....light meter, camera, a handful of paper towels (just in case!), and a plate to set any unwanted suckers on. We started on the steps, then moved to the grass...then we heard thunder. Wyatt is so scared of thunder....so we were tugged inside by him. It rained really hard for 20 mins, and then the sun came out. Perfect puddle weather! They jumped in the water, and dug in the mud.... and I just let them! On our way in the house, Wyatt picked up two handfuls of mud and proceeded to wipe his hands on his sister. She didn't mind...she looked at him adoringly as he did it a second time.

I did end up cleaning the house today...but mostly wiping up mud from the floor, and brown hand prints from the walls. =)