Bellingham Photographer

Take better pictures of your kids!

July 29, 2009

I’ve had a lot of inquires asking me when I was going to schedule my first photography classes for moms so I’ve added a class to my schedule for the fall!

Many of you have nice new digital SLR cameras and are using them exclusively on auto mode, just like your old point and shoot. I know how hard it can be to learn how to use a camera for the first time on your own that is why I am teaching this class!Â Now you can take a workshop where you are one of a small group of other moms (or dads) learning the photography basics to help you get the most from your camera and capture everyday moments.

josiahclass

This is a picture I took of Josiah sitting on our bed when he was about 11 months old using just the light from the window.

Find outÂ how to manually set your camera to get just what you want to take great pictures of your family everyday!Â Also get advice on what lenses to put on your Christmas list!

This is a three hour workshop limited to 6 participants.Â Bring your camera and your questions. Each participant will be given a workbook and a t-shirt in addition to the materials covered in the class.

Outline

The Keys to taking great pictures of your children
Introduction to Exposure
- Shutter Speed
- Aperture
Lens Overview
- What do the numbers mean on my lens?
Options for sharing and printing

Cost: $125 per person includes workshop, t-shirt, and workbook

Class size is limited to 6 participants to allow a more personalized class and plenty of time for questions so sign up early.

Saturday, September 19th
Morning Session
Workbook & T-shirt Provided
9:30am – 12:30 pm
Ruston, Louisiana

by Crystal

Road Trip

July 27, 2009

So as some of you know last two weeks ago we decided on a Saturday to drive to Seattle. We left that Tuesday morning and drove (yes drove with two kids!) to Seattle to see my sisters and neices, nephews, dad, step-mom, and various other relatives. It was the best decision we have ever made! What a blast! The kids had a great time stopping at parks, singing song in the car and seeing family. Everyone should drive across the country on a whim at least once in their lives as far as we are concerned. On the way home we even drove down through New Mexico and saw Brian’s family as well. We could not have had a more blessed vacation. Thanks to those of you who waited an extra week for your images and those of you who let me move your shoots to the following week! Here comes the longest picture post EVER!

You are going to see a lot of my sweet little niece Kylie….I mean I am a baby photographer!

Now you have one of both of them Jen!

Antony, the big brother!

Lucas and Yvonne making s’mores.

My beautiful, all grown up little Jennifer.

Autumn and Kylie in their dresses I made them. Yes, they have pom-pom fringe. 🙂

My cousin Duffy’s little boy, Logan.

The happiest I have ever seen my sister.

Our dad is so lucky. 🙂 This is me and my beautiful big sisters.

All the family that attended “Picture day with Uncle Phil.” He is the one in the middle, and the gracious individual who let us crash at his house.

My nephew Joey.

Dad showed up late for picture day, here is the makeup.

My used to be little cousin Amanda who is now all grown up! Isn’t she gorgeous?

Kylie with her daddy.

“Look it’s baby Brian and baby Jeff” LOL.

But seriously why do my sister and I own like all of the same or coordinating stuff for our babies and we haven’t seen each other in three years?

Auntie Jen grilled and as you can see Josiah was pleased.

Swimming and splashing.

Josiah became so outgoing on this trip, going down “B-slides” and making new friends.

Cutie.

My nephew Lucas. This was the most normal face he made at the camera all week.

Antony

People complain because there are no pictures of me, so here I am in Moab, visiting Arches National Park.

Autumn and Great Grandma Aurora.

Naturals.

“Awl! Mijito!” (after seeing Brian for a surprise visit!)

Little cousin Anastasia (on Brian’s side…obviously, lol).

The little girls. Anastasia thought Autumn was her baby doll I am pretty sure. She kept telling her to come sit in her lap, it was so cute. Thanks Valerie for keeping Autumn safe. 🙂

by Crystal

Point and Shoot Vacation

July 23, 2009

Ahhh I am on a lovely vacation with my sweet family! At the last minute I decided to dig my old HP point and shoot camera out of the junk drawer and it was one of my best decisions yet! I have been pointing and clicking at everything with ease and no editing! It is so freeing! I have been shooting all manual since a couple months after owning my first digital SLR camera and never looked back. It has made me good at what I do but my this has been a really fun break! I will be back to an extremely full week of shooting next week and lots of blogging about my trip and shoots, but for now here are a a couple shots of the fam!

by Crystal

Tucker Take 2

July 13, 2009

With this second posting of Tucker’s 3 month pictures I have some thoughts about 3 month olds. Many of you have had three month olds who I have photographed and many of you did the shoot in two sessions. Why would these parents do the pictures twice? Here are the reasons that 3 month olds are difficult:

They can’t sit up, but they are old enough to want to see evrything and get frustrated by the lack of ability to move. This means that they usually perfer to be held up and walk around to view the world.
Most three month olds can’t push up on their tummies for very long without getting mad, and this is one of the cutest positions for this age.
They are hard to schedule because they often aren’t on a 2 or 3 nap regular schedule yet.
If they get tired or decide not to corporate there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. They will not be bribed, or distracted or care to see their picture on the camera screen, nothing. When they say they are done, they are done.

Here are my new recommendations based on these set backs:

Schedule the pictures first thing in the morning, no matter how early that is, doesn’t bother me, I’m up with my kids anyways!
Consider scheduling two 30 minute session instead of one 1-2 hour session. That way if the first one doesn’t work out there always the next one.
Don’t be afraid to call 5 minutes before and tell me that today just isn’t a good day and schedule another.
Rest assured that this happens with LOTS of my babies in my one year program at this age and there is nothing to feel bad about at all! Remember I’m a mother of two kids under two- flexibility is the key to my life and my business!

And without further ado here is Tucker from his second session! 🙂