Freckles, Freckles, Everywhere!

My children were invited this week to a little birthday party at the local splash park. The one thing that stood out to me were all the freckles!

I love freckles! Especially on children! The way they sprinkle themselves across those cute noses, and especially little shoulders, is the absolute sweetest and the best!

Here are a few undeniably freckled cuties I came across (posted of course with parental permissions). The birthday girl amongst them!

I even found some mommy freckles! Beautiful!

My only regret was that I didn't get a shot of any freckled shoulders!

A great time was had by all, and the weather was absolutely perfect and brought with it actually a bit of a cool breeze!

Here are a few other favorites from the day to share...


Since I last wrote, I received another generous blessing in the mail of a speedlight by the same loved one that got me the Nikon D80! I am still beyond words and very grateful. To say I've been enjoying the practice and the noticeable difference in the benefit of having it, is an understatement! So, loved one, if you are reading this, thank you again so very much! Your confidence in my abilities and potential as a professional photographer means more than you know. I hope to do you proud!

In closing, tomorrow is the big day when I capture the wedding of Kirby and Casey! Lots of preparation and practice has been going on, and I pray it results in photos they will treasure for always. I will post some from the wedding as soon as is possible.

Well, I hope your summer is filled with laughter, love, and a few little freckled friends for good measure!

Leaning On His Everlasting Arms,
Denise

Wedding Bells Will Soon Be Ringing!

I have the privilege this coming weekend to capture Kirby and Casey's wedding!

While checking out the location where we will do the wedding photos afterwards, we did some engagement shots. These are just a few of my favorites! We found some great spots and had lots of fun! So very happy for them!

We tried this set-up shot just for fun. Thought it turned out cute! He thought she was a real head-turner!

Some fun with photoshop!

Well, I found a wonderful assistant to be my second set of eyes for things like crooked boutonnieres and also to be a second camera for those few times where I can't be in two places at once for those special shots that would be a shame to miss...the look on the grooms face at the first sight of his bride, and the special moments between the bride and her father right before going in.

Extra equipment has been rented, checklists and notes are being written. So you can see, lots of practicing, preparing, studying, researching going on before the big day on my part. For this, I thank my little family for endulging me so that I can do my utmost best for this most important day!

Leaning On His Everlasting Arms,
Denise

Babies, Seniors, And A Wedding Coming Up!

A little while back, just before I was able to take those courses, I had the priviledge of doing an impromptu mini-session with 4-week old J. As you can see, he easily captured my heart in the process within just a matter of minutes! What a sweet face! He had the greatest expressions while awake and I was able to catch this one. Love it!




Here are some of the more formal ones once he fell asleep...



Perfect Little Hands...


And Sweet Little Feet!

In the next several weeks, I will be doing, not only my first Senior session, but also, a Wedding! And after that, I will be doing not only a couples shoot, but later in the summer, my first maternity/family session followed by my first birth story session! So for now, that means tons of research time so that I will be thoroughly prepared. Busy! Busy! Busy! but great for building my experiences, as well as my portfolio!

Well, as for the upcoming wedding, the equipment needed has been rented for several days prior to the wedding for lots of practice time. I was also fortunate enough to be introduced to a couple with vast experience for doing weddings and so appreciate all that I will learn from them in order to do the best possible job. I realize the enormous significance of this special day, and I so want the bride and groom to be pleased. So, prayers will be much appreciated in the next few weeks!

Leaning on His Everlasting Arms,

Denise

"Love is in the Air"

Had a fabulous engagement shoot with Richard and Sarah last weekend! The weather started out cloudy, but soon cleared for some good old fashioned 'warm and fuzzies'. This was my first time shooting in Ap Mode on my camera since taking those 2 courses, and it went not too badly. The session felt very relaxed and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Here are a few of my favorites from this session.

I also got some great feedback from a photographer friend regarding changes I could make with regards to working in open sunlight and shade spots, as well as changing up my aperture setting for the best possible shot. I look forward to putting into practice at my next engagement session this weekend!

Richard and Sarah, thanks again for the pleasure of doing your engagement session. I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Leaning on His Everlasting Arms,

Denise

Spring Has Sprung With A New Excitement!

Wow! It's been awhile since I've posted, but it's not because I haven't been busy practicing! I finally got the 50mm portrait lens I'd been saving up for, and am enjoying it immensly!! I also signed up for a couple of mini-courses this week, and can hardly wait for the knowledge I'll gain from them!

I got to take my very first photography class last night, and left so encouraged and excited about the possibilities down this road. I learned so much in just 2 hours!! What a great class!! I took 7 loose leaf pages full of notes. Can't wait to put it all into practice!! I finally found out what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong! The whole time, whenever I'd get something that I hadn't quite gotten learning on my own, I'd just about get goosebumps, I was so excited!! After class, I got great feedback from the instructor. He was so helpful and encouraging! I feel reinvigorated, because at times I wonder if I really have the potential to go professional with this someday and it just gave me that boost to go on with it!!

I am so excited to be doing several photo shoots in the next few months, including a couple of engagement shoots, a couple of family shoots, a wedding, and even a birth story shoot!! I look forward to them and the experience I'll gain, especially after having the much needed courses I'll have taken by then!! More sessions + More experience + More learning = A much better prepared photographer (Me)!

I've gotten a few more props lately and couldn't wait to use them. I've taken up crocheting again, and have made a little hat and matching mini-blanket for this shoot. I used yarn in a Brown/Blue/Burgundy/Turquoise mix to go with the dark wood weaved basket I got the other day.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to do a mini-shoot for new parents of a beautiful baby boy! They are for the same couple I did a shoot with last fall. I hope they like the results, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with them once more!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thanks for dropping in!

Leaning on His Everlasting Arms,
Denise

My Two Minute Shoot!

Each year as they grow, I want to take a comparison shot of our children. Here is the one from last year.

As you can see, we struggled a bit...

But all in all, it went pretty well.

This time, with our son being a curious almost toddler, I knew I didn't have time to waste, but I didn't think I'd have to work as quickly as I did! I took about 2 minutes to shoot these pictures before the little one got restless! Surprisingly, I managed to get a few good ones out of the 6 or 7 that I was able to take.

This last one, I actually took at a relative's house. It was completely spontaneous and she didn't have a chance to smirk before I took it.

I'd be interested to know if some of you do yearly shots and where, or maybe what they might wear each time. I've heard of some wearing their dad's tie or mom's dress and the fun of seeing them grow into it. Just curious!

Ever Leaning On His Everlasting Arms,

Denise

Some of my "never-before-seen" photos

"Daddy's Little Girl" This is a shot I took a few weeks ago of a friend and his daughter.





Here is his older daughter in a shot I had taken a month earlier...