My new lens

John gave me a big surprise for Christmas--an amazing new lens! It's a 50mm f/1.4 and it is so much fun to shoot with. All of the photos on this blog since Christmas Eve were taken with it.

Today I had some fun capturing a couple of the new ornaments we received this year. Look at that beautiful bokeh! (Bokeh is the out-of-focus area in the image.) If you like such things, you should go over to the Pioneer Woman's Photography site this week--she has been running a little holiday bokeh contest. The photos are amazingly beautiful!

Brrr....did I mention it's cold outside?

I had a photo shoot today in the below freezing temperatures with 2 very cute kids. They were troopers, but by the end we were all freezing and they were both crying. They probably hate that lady with the camera, but I hope in the long run they'll enjoy their pictures for many years to come. They couldn't be cuter--wouldn't you agree?!

In the afternoon, we received our delivery of firewood for the winter! Yay! We all worked together to get it stacked in the garage. There is barely room left for our vehicles!
I love our fireplace. It warms my heart as well as my toes through the long cold winter.

Sunday, October 18

We drove 2 hours north this afternoon to see our beloved Jayme and Scott. They live in Boston, but were in our neck of the woods for a wedding this weekend. We had such a sweet time talking and playing in the woods. The kids were especially happy to see Uncle Scott. We haven't seen him since last Christmas. We loved every minute of our short visit.

When we arrived back home it was sunset. We have a soybean field behind us. The beans are dry and I'm expecting the farmer to come along and harvest any day now. With the sun at a perfect spot in the sky and the air with a slight crisp--I just had to get us out there for a small photo shoot.

September 25 - day 266, right?

Just a few photos from our homeschool group's field day.

It was my job to take the photos, but I had a big surprise that morning. Christi Nelson just joined our group and being the fabulous and dedicated professional photographer that she is, she had her camera with her. And being an extremely generous and trusting person, she let ME use her camera all morning. Well, not with this shot...

...but with all of these. I had so much fun!! You should have seen the major equipment she let me haul around! It was amazing! I did suffer with a neck ache for the next 3 days though.
(My friend Khara posted a picture of me with said camera on my facebook page if you want to see the monster.)

If you think these are enjoyable, check out Christi's work here.

Weddings are tiring!

I assisted my cousin Brittani again today photographing a wedding. Weddings are exhausting! I don't know how she does it over and over! You're amazing, Brit! Thanks again for everything.

Studio Express

Long story short: I met a friend of a friend at the baseball game last night who needed a headshot by Friday. FRIday. I thought I might be able to pull it off, so I dusted off the old studio lights, set them up in the half-finished and still empty room downstairs--and TA-DA! A studio!

It took some time to adjust the lights. M and C were good, patient, and silly enough to be my models.

Friday

Friday morning the girls and I were so excited to have a van that we decided to drive down to the park, even though we only had 30 minutes. I was so excited, I left my camera at home.

Friday afternoon and evening I assisted my cousin, Brittani Renee, photographing a wedding.

It was fun to shoot a wedding again. It's been awhile. Thanks for the honor, Brit.