Self Portraits

Usually it's James and Morris that get their pictures posted on here, so I figured it would be nice for pictures of me to show up on here for once!

For my birthday, my family purchased a photography class of my choice as a gift. After putting it off for way too long, I finally registered and began class at the beginning of the month. Seeing as I'm interested in portraiture and lifestyle type stuff, I chose to do a portrait class and my most recent assignment was to do self-portraits. The idea behind it is that if you can take a good self portrait, you should be able to take better portraits of your subjects and clients. Also, it can be kind of (really) awkward being in front of the lens, especially when you're usually behind it, so we also gained the experience of what it feels like to actually be a subject. 

I've done the whole "run back in forth using the timer" thing and I rather not do it ever again, so my wonderful husband was kind enough to take pictures of me, for me. This awesome location was only about two minutes from our house and you can bet we'll (or me, at least) be revisiting this site at some point. My eye was seeing all sorts of possibilities, so I can't wait to be the one behind the camera there.

I actually really enjoyed this assignment, though, and it was nice to be the model and have my picture taken. The fact that James did such an awesome job, too, and took fantastic pictures made it even more enjoyable. I'll have to recruit him again in the future and do this more often.

Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy!

Someone turned the big 25 last week!

We celebrated James turning a quarter of a century old last Wednesday in our household. In all honesty, I think I was more excited about his birthday than he was, but can you blame me? The man I love more than soccer, cats, and chocolate combined was born 25 years ago! And if he wasn't, well, obviously I'd be very sad and wouldn't be writing this. It's a big deal to me, so we needed to do something to celebrate the occasion. Also, worth noting, we've never celebrated his birthday together in the entire time of our relationship. So, a little bit more of a big deal because of that.

It wasn't a horribly big affair, but we did do a little something. Both of us dressed up a bit and went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants here, Tin Pan Galley. They have the most wonderful food. I can't even. The chef there is just impeccable and all of their meals there are really to die for. We went there for our anniversary, as well, because like I've been stating, the food there... there are not enough good words to describe how delicious it is. 

I also baked James a cake. This is something I've wanted to do for him for the past two years, but he deployed the first year and went on a month long exercise the next, so I haven't been able to. I guess third time's the charm, though, and I finally had my chance. I'm not the best cake maker, not even by a long shot. But, I do love to bake and I'm a mean baker when I get a chance to use our kitchen aid. I won't be having a career as one any time soon, but the blueberry velvet cake I made with homemade cream cheese frosting was AWESOME. I can't decorate or frost for squat, but who cares. It was delicious and yes, we definitely ate the whole cake. 

And of course, no birthday is complete without presents. James has been drooling over a custom pair of Oakley's for quite some time, and it was way past time to get them for him. He also got a new knife (Boys, right?) that he's just over the moon about. He smiles like a giddy little kid and uses it whenever an excuse to use it presents itself. Both presents were wrapped in the Avengers wrapping paper, because how could I not, and each had its own card. 

Again, not a big event or anything, but it was very relaxing and laid back, which is something we don't take for granted when we come across it these days. A quiet evening is more than welcome, and it definitely seemed like my husband enjoyed his birthday. 

Happy (belated) birthday, my love! I love you so incredibly much and I'm glad we were finally able to celebrate your day together. You deserve every bit of happiness, joy, and fun you had that day and I'm thrilled to have been able to contribute to all of that. Here's to many more of these together and many more cakes to come! 

My Special Project: Brock Homecoming

So, you remember my "special project" I was talking about a few days ago? Here it is!

One of my good friends up here, Jennifer, got back to New York a few weeks ago and had mentioned that she might steal me to take pictures at her husband's homecoming ceremony when he got back. I gladly accepted and said I would be more than happy to be there to capture that moment. As a spouse who's been in her shoes before, I completely understand wanting to have someone there to catch these precious moments during the first reunion after many, many long months apart. Like I said, I was more than willing to be that person. 

Her husband came home just a few days ago, which was awesome because he got to come home a month earlier than expected! I was ecstatic to see their adorable little family reunited and to see Jennifer look so over the moon and complete. Not to mention, too, to see their son finally have some good time with his dad. The last time they saw each other was when their son was 5 weeks old. 

Let me tell you, I have fallen in love with photographing homecoming's. This was an entirely unique experience for me, for two reasons. When James deploys and comes home, there's never a big group that comes back. We don't get these big ceremonies and it's usually not made out to be a big deal when they get back. To actually experience one and to feel that energy of excitement and camaraderie was just so incredible and I'm really glad I was able to actually see one. Secondly, this was my first time actually photographing an event. Up until then, I'd just been taking pictures of Morris and James. I'd been looking for something more to take pictures of, and I'd love to get into lifestyle type things and more portraiture, but I just haven't been able to put anything together. This was a huge step for me as a photographer, and I really don't think I could've picked a better one. 

I LOVED being able to be there and photograph this homecoming. I really hope I get the opportunity again, and if I ever get into the business and get to find a niche, I hope it's this. I know these photos mean a lot to the Brock family and I've been told thank you so many times, but I'm really the one who feels grateful and thankful. It was such a humbling and awesome experience that I am so pleased to have been asked to experience with them and photograph.

Anyway, welcome home, Brock! Thank you for your time and service over there! And to all of the Brock's, enjoy your time together as a whole family again!

Special Project

Two updates in one day? Yes, and here's why!

I have the very special honor and privilege to "work" on an incredibly special project for a friend.

I'm not going to be more specific than that for the time being, but believe me when I tell you that this mystery is more than worth it.  I'm not only excited to be able to be the one to help her out with this, but  humbled and privileged, as I said earlier. What I get to lend my services for is very near and dear to my heart, to put it lightly. As I told my friend, "It hits me straight in the hormones."

I'm ecstatic to take part in this, too, so much so that I just had to share! I cannot wait to actually share what's in store with everyone, and I especially can't wait to do it! 

Nifty Fifty

Let me start off by saying that I've been lusting over a certain lens for many, many months, now. That lens would be the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.4 USM lens, or the "nifty fifty." The aperture on it is just phenomenal and it lets in so much light, it's ideal for portraits and many other kinds of photography, all the images are always incredibly crisp, it's great for both indoor and outdoor use, and it's just ugh. perfect. 

Even after having my camera for just a few months, I was quickly feeling limited by the standard lenses that come with it. I do enjoy using one quite a bit, but it just wasn't...quite right.  I felt like something was missing, so I started to yearn for a new lens rather fast. After doing some research, I knew this was the lens I wanted to add to my growing arsenal. 

And, FINALLY, it happened. I was lucky enough to find a mildly used one for a price I couldn't pass up. I got the go ahead to buy this beauty, and I had it in my hands four days later. Let me tell you, I AM IN LOVE. Everything is just so sharp and the way the subject separates from the foreground/background (including how much they blur, which has just stolen my heart) and exactly what I wanted. 

Unfortunately for me, it rained and was DARK the entire week after I got it. Cue upset Danielle face. I may not have been able to go outside and use it, but you can bet that I took many pictures of Morris (obviously.). He legitimately glared me down at one point, as you can see in the third photo from the bottom, and was rather upset about all these photos I was taking of him, but they made for hilarious photos. 

It's also unfortunate that our summer has pretty much come to an end and the fall storms are picking up because it limits how often I can get out to take photos, BUT, that means the leaves are changing to all these beautiful different colors and I could just pee my pants from the excitement I have over just thinking about taking pictures of all the trees and such with my new lens. Be on the look out for those.