Our life and stuff

From pancakes to portraits

 

HOLD ON

Allow me to start from the beginning.

So, we are all eating breakfast at the (Original) Original Pancake House in Anaheim.  We all eat too much and I drank one too many cups of coffee. 

As we are leaving I find myself with a car full of children... how did this happen?

 

They are giggling and silly as we drive home. 

RIGHT THEN  - I knew I had to take pictures of them - ALL TOGETHER

(passing up cute shopping spots to take pictures)
 

I'm pretty sure this is not the playdate they planned over their pancakes.  It probably included the trampoline, tearing up Sydney's room and running in circles through the kitchen. 

Instantly as we walk in the door I plug in the curling iron and start dressing children, rummaging thru my children's closets.  They were all ready in 15 minutes, I was a maniac. 

We just drove down the street.  

I let them out with simple instructions...  DON'T RUN AWAY

 

[they were pretty cute]

 

 
 
 

 [ Jake said :  'look, take a picture of me holding this big orange' ]

 

 

I did stop to reward them half way through with a kids cocoa...

just don't tell them - they think we are ALL DONE

'Hooray the photoshoot is over' (silly, silly kids)

 

 

 
  

 

  

I think they actually had FUN

 ... but they will never admit it.

 {Cousins Dec2009}

Adjusting to change

 

In the Spring: the air is crisp, the days are short and we all crave  a little sun! 

For the Talavera family, their warmth came in the form of SON-shine.  No doubt their days have been brightened since...

   

 

Honestly, she wasn't thrilled at me for taking these pictures... 'but I look terrible'.

In my opinion:  even though you feel awful and think you look even worse - there is never a time when a woman is more beautiful. 

 

These types of pictures take you right back, I have some like this too.  I promise you won't notice smeared make-up, puffy eyes and matted hair.

 

YOU REMEMBER- how you felt.  The moment you'd been anticipating and dreaming about is finally here.  It's as if your heart (your everything) is resting in the palm of your hands...

 

 

YOU REMEMBER- how they smelled and those little noises they made as they nuzzle into your chest.  You remember their silky hair, how they pursed their little lips and scrunched up their tiny nose. 

 

Babies.

They grow too fast.

 

 

As we welcome Fall:  we see the leaves change, start to bundle up and begin our plans to gather with family and loved ones.

Following the birth of your new baby you become a family.  We adjust with the seasons as they grow and change right before our eyes.  

  

I was hired to capture some recent photos and forever preserve his little baby face. 

It was my pleasure: 

 

  

 
 
 

He is seriously the center of their attention...

 

 

When I first saw them in the hospital it was adorably obvious of their focus ~ all eyes on the baby.

And a few months later...

 

Some things never change ~

 

cute little people

 

 

I miss my babies being little...Super Tiny.  Like when they fit in the crook of your neck and smell oh so good. 

 

The last time I saw little Ava I was tempted to just tuck her in my camera bag and head home.  She was that size then.  So small and helpless, she simply melted into you as you held her. 

Her Momma called a few weeks ago wanting to take new pictures, I didn't hesitate.  I couldn't wait to see her again and how she'd grown...  did she loose her blue eyes?  DId she grow lots of hair?

 

When they arrived, she was sleeping.  I took that time to take a few of...

Mr. Im.not.gonna.smile.or.even.look.at.your.camera. 

( I swear - that's his name.)

 

 

 

(he slowly warmed up, and I mean sloooowwwly)

 

 

He's just not a fan and that's cool.

He did give me a (as in one) little smirk that morning...

 

 

 

Ava finally woke up...  I checked her out.

She still had those BIG BLUE eyes and just a smidge of hair.  She gave me the staredown and always with this fishy face...

 

 

 

 

: Little Miss Serious :

 
  (but still SO cute)... 

 

It's fun to see them grow and I'm happy to keep these memories for their Momma.

Until next time~

  

'have we met?'

 

I got a bit of a warmer welcome by this little dude today.

He saw that I was back. 

Again, equipped with that big black thing in front of my face.

Ready to beg, plead, dance and sing to his delight.

To me, this stage is the hardest. 

They are excitedly mobile and eager to bolt in a split second.

But this little doll...   

she laid perfectly still

  

I struggled with light today. 

It was dark, rainy and the air was down right COLD this morning. 

I did not have the heart to push open the dark tinted slider and the dark tinted windows.  The natural light was not worth this little princess freezing. 

 

We'll try later in the week (and maybe I'll bring a space heater)...

P.S.  She has her big brother's big blue eyes!  Lucky girl

    

I'm a giver

 

I'm no photographer - I'm not going to pretend to be. 

I know nothing about exposure or ISO stuff.

I am a flash-hater and would rather have blurry, dimly lit photos.  I want a new camera, a big fancy expensive one.  It seems a bit ridiculous given I don't understand half of the settings (but hey- they are there if I ever need them).

I recently got Adobe CS4 and I am at a lose.  The tools, brushes and all that confuse me more than shutter-speed.  I really want to use it though - it's awesome.  It could make my wanna-be professional camera look like it takes pictures in focus with correct color balance and perfectly exposed.  

I need a few dope tutorials and lots of uninterrupted time at the computer.  Or I could just take proper photos - that would make for less editing time I assume. 

HOWEVER - with my outdated equipment and serious lack of proper technique I forge ahead.  I even go so far as to let myself say things like - "I can take some maternity pictures for you..." 

 

What can I say... I'm a poser GIVER:

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Mother's sweet little munchkin Andrew - he will be 15 months old on Saturday...  brace yourself Andrew, your world is about to turn upside down.  

He has no idea yet-  but his  little sister Ava  will be out to meet him. 

In just 7 days...

 

 

I sent over lots of proofs this morning!  We hope to order some things today or tomorrow for a book.  It will be a surprise for the Daddy.  She plans on giving it to him at the hospital.  He is away on business this week so it was perfect timing. 

And did I really say... "I'll be back to take pictures of her once she is born".

 

 

* * * * *

 

I suppose it takes practice.  Lots and lots of practice.  Maybe trial-and-error.  I can look back at pictures from years ago and see improvement.  There is hope.  

BUT...

I have no plans of making a career change (wait, do I have a career?)

It is fun though and I like to be a giver.  I really need to give to my family more.  I want pictures of us and I never take them...  why do I do that?   

The pictures we have up on the walls and in frames are YEARS old.  And that book of our vacation that I was making... did I finish it???   Um, no.  

I need to do that - Like soon. 

(You can click on the photos to see them big - especially that first one.  His eyes are really that BLUE.  My fav is probably the one of her holding him outside with his little leg curved around her tummy - OR - the last one of her looking down from above to her pink toes.)

 

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