A Fresh Snow

Warming cold hands after posing for mom.

      I am the opposite of a winter person.  Give me summer heat any day over the cold dreary days of winter.  But I can't deny the beauty of a good snow.  Those first few hours while everything looks perfect and white are incredible.  Of course reality of its mess sets in when you're slushing through the parking lot of target and can't fathom where all the mud and dirt came from.  Snow can be a little difficult to shoot in but I always love a good challenge when shooting.  It's a little like shooting the exit of a bride and groom while people are throwing bird seed or rice.  The camera tends to grab the little pieces in front and you lose the focus on the face.  You also have to be careful of overexposure with all of the white.  That's more of an issue on a sunny day but not too big of a problem with overcast skies.  The biggest challenge for me was to put an 8 year old in the snow and tell him not to roll around in it.  Of course we had to end with a few snow balls!

Fall 2013

Tricks

      Visits from the cousins always equal fun times in the studio.  Little ones usually have their own ideas of how they would like a session to go so as a photographer you just roll with it.  A few tricks that have worked for me...up high equals a slower exit, squeaky toys sometimes provide a welcome distraction, always tell big sister or brother how helpful they are and what a great job they're doing, and utilize dad and mom to make silly faces right above the camera for a smile.  

New Backdrop

      I usually grab the nearest kid, dog, or stuffed animal to test lights for a new shoot.  Hunter happened to be walking by this morning so he was the lucky winner.  Isn't he handsome, pjs and all???  I have a few new backdrops to play with and I'm loving this neutral gray.

Weddings

Baby Conway

 Introducing Conway Michael Willis, the newest little addition to our family.  I have loved capturing all of my nieces and nephews as they grow up and I'm so happy to have a new little one to experiment on. Dad and mom have their hands full with this bunch, three under four years old!  Congratulations Mike and Jen!

All three kiddos as babies. 

Distressing Furniture

      It's been a little too long between blog posts so obviously I haven't caught on to this blogging thing well.  My biggest problem was figuring out how to even log on to the account and if the problem takes longer than two minutes to fix I will often avoid it.  Soooooo, here we go again!!!

      I have officially jumped on the furniture painting bandwagon.  Actually, the furniture distressing bandwagon.  I usually acquire projects throughout the year and wait for inspiration to complete them.  I kept seeing all of these cool distressing techniques on pinterest and after lots of procrastination, I jumped in feet first.  I have always been that weird girl who will take a metal lamp and paint it white (much to the chagrin of my Sherwin Williams trained husband).  But I wanted to take my painting to the next level, and I am super happy with the results.  I got so excited about it, I started looking for things around my house to distress.  I may even distress my kids if they hold still long enough!!

Kids Chair studio prop.  Cost $2.00 at the Flea Market.

Distressed this little table and chairs just to give it a different look.  

Found this little set for $30.00.  Gave it an updated color and distressed the finish for the inevitable wear it
is about to receive to my wonderful family.

Hand me down from mom who can't help but buy things if they are marked low enough.
She handed that trait down to me...