Catching Up

Why didn't anyone tell me that life with a five month old would be crazy??

Just kidding - someone did tell me that. In fact, lots of people told me that. I just thought they were exaggerating. Well, I've FINALLY gotten Abigail to go to sleep after a long day. There's still dishes to wash, floors to vacuum (.. yeah, that's going to wait until tomorrow), clothes to throw in the washer. And yet I find myself here at my computer, blogging about photography. Maybe that's a clue to me that this is a stress reliever? Or maybe I just really enjoy it. Either way - here I am!

My website still says that I've taken some time off to get to know my daughter. And that's still true. But I have found myself excited to try and make it work when people ask me to capture memories for their family. That's what I've been doing since my last post.

Mama-Razzi: Baby Body Shots

Job #1: Shy and DLN

Dan and I are in Iowa this weekend. Abigail is being dedicated tomorrow morning at our 'old' church. Our pastor's daughter asked me if I would take pictures at her wedding in September, so this seemed like a great opportunity to sit down and talk about what she's looking for. We also took advantage of my being in town and did some engagement pictures. It was a lot of fun! We first went downtown in Des Moines near the railroad tracks, next we took some pictures by a bright red door at a local church, and we ended up at Grey's Lake. Shy and DLN were just so cute and obviously in love :) ! I can't wait until September.

The Zoo

We took the kids to the zoo yesterday. I love the zoo! It's always fun to see the animals, to learn something new, and to spend time with family and friends. Here were some pictures that I got of the kids (thanks Angie - for getting one of me and Abi!).

The Mama-razzi Project

As previously mentioned, I'm a new mom. And I'm proud to say that you could consider me as part of the "Mama-razzi" ! I love to take pictures of my daughter. This week, I'm beginning the Mama-razzi Project. More sharing to come!

Welcome to my photography blog!

I think it's funny how many people find themselves working in industries they never first intended. I'm pursuing my love of photography - but I majored in history in college. I took a ton of history courses, because I find it fascinating - the stories, the relationships, the social connections. But at the end of the day, I couldn't really picture myself in a career that was supported by a degree in history. My mom used to always tell me growing up, "Do what you love, because you'll be doing it everyday." It wasn't until I had volunteered to take pictures for a church camp that it hit me - I really love this!

When I first began to see what it would take to become a photographer full time, I found myself diving into every avenue of portraiture - weddings, children, family... want your dog pictured? Sure! It wasn't long before I was feeling overwhelmed and wondering what I had been thinking. And then I got another piece of advice: "Find the story you want to tell and use your professional skills to tell it."

I want to tell the story behind the child. Who is this kid? Who are they when their parents aren't watching? What do they just love? Who is important to them? What do they want to be when they grow up? And as they blossom into their teen years - who are they becoming?

I'm a new mom. My baby girl is, at this moment, 6 weeks old. And, you know, as familiar as she is to me right now, I still have very little idea as to who she is. I can't wait to see more of her personality! I can't wait to hear who she wants to be when she grows up. And in these early weeks, months, years, who knows what I'll miss if I'm not careful? I knew that I wanted to tell the story behind the child before I had a child of my own, but now that I have Abigail, I believe I have an even greater understanding of what it's like to want to capture those moments!

I am relatively new to the world of professional photography. I still feel as though I have a lot to learn. And I've got goals. My biggest goal for the next year is to become a certified photographer with the Professional Photographers of America. This involves an exam and submitting images from 20 paid jobs.

As for my other goals?
* Complete 20 paid jobs
* Successfully study for the exam
* Pass the certification exam
* Pass the examination of my images from the 20 paid jobs
* Take one fantastic photo each day
* Create one masterpiece a month
* Complete the Mama-razzi Project

What an adventure lies ahead! I get excited just typing out those goals. And to think it will hopefully all unfold right here before your very eyes. I still love history ... but I have to tell you I'm so glad it's not required that we have careers in what we majored in!

Thanks for visiting today.