52Photos :: trail

week 39
I had to get creative, being that I didn't come across any traditional trails this week.  (I took this picture in RAW. I posted the SOOC version at the bottom for our comparing and contrasting pleasure.  Look at all the details that can be pulled out.  Fun!)

Summer's Family Photos

So my beautiful friend, Summer, asked if I would take family pictures for her.  I thought, "Whaaaat?  Whoooo?  Me?"  I really do love my camera, and taking pictures and playing around with them in Photoshop, but by no means do I consider myself adept to take family protraits for anyone.  I was super flattered that she asked, and excited for the challenge (and also nervous, very nervous.)  I asked her to keep her expectations at a minimum and then if anything actually turned out, she'd be pleasantly surprised.  I must also add that Summer is a professional photographer...emphasis on the part where I told you I was nervous.  So very very nervous.

We went to her house and shot outside around 7:00-ish.  I learned a lot from doing this. The two most important things being:
#1.  Do not wear a skirt during a photo session. 
#2.  Do not wear white if that photo session is outside.
#3.  It is much easier to edit photos that only have to be pleasing to me.  Since this was my first time making pretty pictures for someone else, it was really hard to try and guess what someone else's taste might be.  I basically just edited the photos the way I would if I was doing it for myself.. 
#4.  It is hard to take a bad picture with such beautiful people.  A girl can't get prettier than Summer Dawn.  (And she is equally beautiful on the inside!)

Here are some of my favorite pictures!

And my personal favorite picture of the session...

Thank you, Summer Dawn, for sharing this with me!

52Photos :: red

week 38



52Photos :: music

week 37

 (thank you to my sweet neighbor for loaning me her musical boy)

Back to School Part Three

It's finally Caden's turn to start school!  My poor little buddy has been waiting years and years for his chance.  It's been rough the past two years, dropping his brothers off at school and always standing on the outside looking in (longingly).  He was so excited to start school that he actually posed for many, many pictures for me...any of the Boyd boys stopping for a photo op is a rarity; an extreme rarity.

Yesterday we made our back to school cupcakes.  Caden chose sunshine cupcakes, which I think is a perfect reflection of his shiny, happy personality.

He decorated his own cupcake, and called it a birthday cake.  He even stood the candy corn up like candles.  He is a tiny genius. 

Last night after his bath, he jumped in his new jammies and posed for many, many pictures.  I won't share them all, even though I want to.  It's so unusual for me to have cooperative subjects to photograph.

Hooray for learning!

Peek-a-boo!

Caden was totally ready this morning to begin his preschool debut.

More posing.

It's so crazy to have all three boys in school at the same time.  I have not been home alone on a regular basis for almost eight years.  I don't know what I'll do with myself for the two hours twice a week that I won't have any children with me.  I'm sure I'll figure something out...

Boyd boys with backpacks...everyone's got one!

When we got to school, I let him out of his car seat...and...he was off and running to his classroom!

So exciting!

He wore these shades for his big entrance.  He wanted to make sure that Miss Amy saw his new sunglasses.

Our beloved Miss Amy.  We ♥ her!

He made himself perfectly comfortable in his classroom, and didn't make a peep or a squeak when I left him.  I took the time by myself to go to Costco.  It felt so amazing to be there sans children.  I felt like giving a princess wave to anyone who looked my way.  It felt so liberating, maneuvering that giant cart around without trying to simultaneously wrangle any children.  I have to be honest, I didn't hate it.  But then when I came home to an empty house, I realized that this is the beginning of the end of having my babies at home with me.  I felt lonely.  Tomorrow I get to go to Shanna's.  Feelings of liberation will descend upon me once more, I'm sure.  I love my sweet Caden so much.  His sunny disposition and loving little heart make him a real endearing little guy.  I really will miss him while he's away. 

Oh, and Caden had a WONDERFUL first day of school.  He loved it, and had the saddest, pouty face when I came to get him.  He said his favorite part of the day was, "eating a snack of crackers and cold water, and playing with my cousin, Addison."  (She's not his cousin...but possibly a future girlfriend.)

LOVE YOU, BABY CADEN!

Enter To Win

Hey, photog friends.  Wanna enter to win a sweet lens?  Go HERE to see the giveaway from MCP Actions.

(I soooooo badly want to win this, that I am tweeting the deets from every social network site available to me!  If you win because of me, you will have to give it to me.  Deal?  Deal.  Okay, good.)

Ten on Ten: September

morning bokeh

karate chop station

celebrating 9 years of marriage this month

he loves me

first soccer game

beauty in the ordinary

baby love

something pretty

laughter

night lights

go HERE for more Ten on Ten goodness

Back to School Part Two

Chase started his third year of preschool this morning.  That's right...we're on year three of preschool for Mr. Chase.  He is back to Joyful Noise this year (hooray!), and we celebrated yesterday with our traditional back to school festivities.

While our cupcakes were baking, we decided to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and then paint some little caterpillar critters. 

The artwork.

The owl cupcakes.

(Pinterest...I love it!   Pretty much any good idea that I appear to have from now on can most likely be attributed to Pinterest.)

(Someone got their nose a little too close to the chocolate frosting.)

The night before school new pjs.

Here we are this morning, bright and early and ready for school!

This was sitting outside the preschool this morning...so adorable.

Chase was a little shy going in, but he got over it in a New York minute after he spotted a giant box of blocks.

I was so nervous to leave Chase this morning not knowing if he was going to have a good day or not.  I was DELIGHTED, THRILLED, ECSTATIC, OVER THE MOON, and DELIRIOUS WITH HAPPINESS when his teacher said he had a great day!  (I can tell that I am going to LOVE his preschool teachers this year...yay!!!)

Way to go, Chase Ryan!  Love you, big five year old!