Sandhill Cranes

This family of birds is often seen in our neighborhood. It is quite heartwarming to see as the parents are lifelong mates. Each year we always see them with 2 young ones. They are called sandhill cranes. Here are a few pics I took. Beautiful!

Here is a bit of footage I caught with my camera in video mode. Sorry for all the movement, I was trying to get closer and keep an eye on my daughter who wanted desperately to pet them.(in order to hear the beautiful but loud sounds they make, you'll need to mute my website music by clicking on the pause symbol on the blue music icon)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

One Practice Photo Shoot Under My Belt!!

Here is another peek at some of the others I took for my first practice photo shoot. I had so many great ones to choose from, but I especially liked these.




















After I was done with the editing of my first practice photo shoot on Tuesday and had downloaded it to be burned on CD by Wal*Mart, I discovered when playing around with the editing program on my computer, that I have the ability to make my own CD covers and labels.

This is so much more personal, don't you think? It allows me to put my company name and phone number on it, so that if the client is showing it to others, and they are interested in working with me, they will have the information to contact me on it.

This is soooo much fun!!! I'm having a ball!!

Here are some that I've had the chance to clean up a little. I hope her parents like them.

I did my first practice photo shoot yesterday!

I am still floating! It was so much fun! Of course there are things I wish I could have done differently, but for the most part, I am very pleased with the results.

Here's my favorite (unedited)

Destiny is such a beautiful baby and her parents were so sweet to work with.

Their apartment was too dark, so we did the shoot in the lobby at my church since the entrance is all large windows and normally lets in tons of daylight. We met at 9:30am, hoping to take advantage of it, however it was overcast. Not ideal, I know. Shooting without the flash just wasn't looking great, so that's why I had to use it. We were hot and sweaty because we only had ceiling fans, and some shots, the dad's head and nose got pretty shiny. I hope that I can adjust for these with the editing programs that I do have. Also, my drop cloth was not quite big enough, so I kept getting the tile floor and the walls in the shots. So I will have to crop to cut that out. So that's why the shots will be so tight in some. The fabric kept falling off the cardboard or totally falling over so that was annoying. I am hoping little by little to be able to afford better equipment, i.e. not homemade.

Other than the obvious problems that go along with a first shoot, the couple was really nice to work with. It took about 2-1/2 hours with the baby sliding around on the fabric, rolling over, having to nurse twice and 3 pee accidents including one on mom! Dad had to run home and get a clean shirt for her! It can only get better right????????? Tee Hee.

I am so grateful Destiny's parents allowed me to do this for them. So if they are reading this, again, a big thank you!

As soon as I do some clean up of the others, I will put a few more on. I'm so excited!!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

For all you've done to influence the woman that I am today, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love your grateful daughter,
Denise
(myself as a toddler, date of picture approx. 1972)

Sweet Memories Captured In The Moment...

More Considerations For My Portfolio...

I just now noticed that in the first 5 of the following pictures have my daughter in the stage where she constantly had her tongue sticking out. I had forgotten about that. This was her little obsession, feeling her new teeth. So here's to babies with their new teeth! May you not rub your tongue raw on your little teeth.
Again with the hats! This was hilarious. She had just pulled the hat completely over her face and was wildly bouncing up and down in her stationary jolly*jumper squealing in pure delight!
Oh! Look, another baby to play with!
Our little bathing beauty!

This one, I placed just because I couldn't help myself!

Is it time to get up yet?

This documentary is just hair raising!










(All of the photos on this particular post were taken with Fuji Finepix A205)

My "Toolbox" Is Getting Fuller...

Last night, I found some great fabrics for backdrops at Wal*mart for a dollar per yard! I got a nice creamy satin-like fabric and also beautiful pale purple to go with the little purple flowered head wreath for the baby's photo shoot I am hoping to do very soon. I also found the cutest metal bucket with wooden handles that I hope I can use too.

Now I just need to go to the library and check out a recommended book called, 'Understanding Exposure' by Brian Peterson. While I'm there, I'll take a look at what else they might have that would give me some good ideas and pointers.

Since I last wrote, I've been able to get permission from a few of the parents of whom I'd taken a picture of their child. I would like to add their children's pictures to my portfolio. So, after I have them sign the release form, I can share those pictures on here as well.

I have thought of a few families to practice on for family shoots, I hope they'll agree.

I can hardly wait!

Leaning On His Everlasting Arms,
Denise