I'm a good "guy"

While on an amazingly fun shoot yesterday, I asked my hubby to hold this red backdrop I had to block a bit of rays...it was flapping so stinkin' hard...flippin' HiLARious to see Dave try to get that thing under control!!!! We managed to get some good shots even with the crazy mast in the air...and then he proceeded to tie the "cape" like backdrop to his neck. I then was reminded of that commercial I triple heart...the super pages commercial! So funny!!!! I laugh big fat belly laughs every time I see the end. SO...I was all like

"DAVE! DAVE! I wanna picture with the cape! Because I'm a 'good guy!'"

It's so ironic to me that the same day we were remembering this commercial, I had a run in with a not-so-wonderful situation that is still haunting me almost a year later.

*Cue Alanis Morissette*

I have been extremely blessed to have some of the most amazing clients in the entire universe! After the visit yesterday from "the spirit of nightmares past," I was tempted, and almost caved in, to insecurity, self-pity and a very. VERY. Bad attitude.

Instead, I have chosen to accept this as a gift:

A fresh gratitude to all my wonderful clients who love and appreciate my work...

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! a Bajillion times over!!!

Love, me

XoXo

And for your viewing pleasure, here is one of my fave commercials...I give major kudos to the genius ad peeps who thought this up :)

The giddy mob...

We were there for one purpose...and one purpose only.  I have been calling my sister numerous times reminding her of this momentous occasion.  As I pulled into the parking lot at midnight giddy swarms of girls AND men clenched onto their new found treasure.  I briskly walked through the sliding doors not to look TOO excited...oh what the heck!!!  I basically ran in panic that there were no more left!  And there they were...in all their awkwardness,  two "How may I help You?" blue vests crouched down trying to lift the glorious display of newly shrink-wrapped  cases.  You could already see cardboard in the back of the display from all the folks who ventured before me to take their precious copies (by mere minutes)...That's right...it was the release of Twilight at midnight and I snatched a 2 disc special edition before my luck would set in and a huge mob take every last one before my eyes.  As  I wait in the long line, I have never felt closer to a larger group of strangers.  In everone's hands was the blue and silver title.  The anticipation of watching was in the air.  I knew that they would be up till 2am (3am if they watched all the special features) and we shared this common ground...We loved Twilight and we were die hard fans enough to stay up to get it.  

I happen to like nice vampires...Now if you would excuse me...I have a date now with some Extra Butter popcorn and Edward Cullen. :)

My Sophie & my new/old red chair!!!

I have been looking for THE chair for almost a year.  I have wanted something old and vintage-y yet bright and happy to lug around with me for certain sessions...I was on a budget for this perfect chair and always couldn't get one I wanted because they were over 200 dollars...because they were in nice shape and all.  I could get one for about $150 but then my kids would have springs pokin' their bums.  Anyhoo, I saw this new antique/second hand shop while location scouting called "The Barn" and decided to pop in.  There are so many fun treasures in that store!  But the most exciting thing about my day today...is I found it.  THE chair...and I got it for a deal too!!!  So, here's my pretty kitty Sophie sitting on her throne.  

And to add some Ali funk, I edited it with a cool worn texture.  Dontcha just love layers???

PS.  I probably should've edited her eye boogers out...oh well...it's 1:41 am...practically sleep editing :)

Speaking of monkeys...

I found these little baby bananas at the store.  Anything that is remotely miniature is automatically awesome to me.  So, I HAD to buy them.  It was funny how the normal sized banana looked like a "mamma" to me and the kids.  Mamma Banana.  Here's some funny Mamma B images:

Mamma "Hen Banana"

Mamma "Dog Banana" (nursing the babies)

Now these next images might be disturbing...as I was crazy enough to create any kind of attachment to bananas...my son then enjoyed a baby banana...I swear I'm not a sicko...he's just too cute not to post:

because you need a laugh :)

i don't know if ya'll have seen this yet...it makes me laugh every time :)

note: make sure your speakers are on...the more times you replay it,  the funnier it gets,  thus increasing the volume of your laugh...just ask my husband.

Baby It's Cold Outside...

Really.  Really.  Cold.

Keepin' it real

When one is wed to a photographer... there will be times that the photographer wants a mug shot of themselves.  In which they will usually bribe their innocent other to take their shiny camera and take said photographer's portrait.  Caution:  This could be very frustrating for the spouse behind the camera as the photographer barks orders on how they want the shot to be taken and mumbles to themselves that they wish they had a clone.  C'mon guys...I'm just being real here.  Has anyone else done this to their poor spouse but me?  If not, may I be hung from my toenails and flogged with a very wet diaper.  

I really wanted a new portrait of myself to put on the website.  He didn't do to bad at all...but I feel bad for him because I'm not the most patient person.  Anyhoo, here's one that I really like...it looks fun in color, but I just LOVE the black and white too :)

What was he thinking?

OK.  So I'm going over some family images and as I was looking through them this one image made me about pee my pants I was laughing so hard.  I had forgotten this day.  The kids were SO dirty from summer playing and they were hanging upside down on my neighbors stair rail in her yard.  We have a few steps going up the hill to each house hence the rails.  Anyhoo, I guess I got my little one at just the right moment.  I just wish I knew what he was thinking to make a face like this...

What do you think he is thinking?  Write it in the comments.  Here's mine:  

"I think I have to poop."

Meet Peanut...

Peanut is the 5 week old squirrel that happened to land on my 4 year old's head Saturday morning  during my workout routine.  I was on the ground on my belly doing "supermans"  I am told that these are a good alternative to back extensions...anyhoo, getting one with the earth I hear my son say, "Mom LOOK a squirrel!!!"  "Cool bud" *not even looking up*  "LOOOOOK mom, it's a squirrel."  "That's awesome Ash" *more sarcasm this time, because I'm getting a teeny bit annoyed*  Then at last, "MOM!  LOOK!  A SQUIRREL!!!!!!"  And I finally look up to see these bulging eyes staring at my face.  I first gasped...because I am known to do that.  Then I said, and imagine this in the slow motion sound, "Puuuuuuuuut iiiit dooooowwwwwn..."  

Ashton gently set the rodent down  and I noticed, this was not an adult squirrel, this was a baby squirrel.  It was so helpless.  It just layed there making these horrible grunting noises because it was threatened.  I am one to first let nature do it's thing, and then if nothing happens, then intervene.  So my boys and I went about 20 yards away, maybe it was more, and just watched and looked around for mamma squirrel.....nothing.....still nothing....after almost an hour, nothing.  I went home, and no, I didn't finish out my routine...I went home and called a vet technician that I knew for advice.  I looked up a rehab place for Great Falls and there isn't any.  She told me that if the Humane Society or the F&W folks gotta hold of it, they would probably just have it put down.  She said if, the mom had not come back after a couple of hours then, I would just have to feed it and let it go when it got bigger.  So, I did just that,  I waited till it was a little over two hours.  Went back with the kids and he was still there.  I gently encouraged him into the carrier and went immediately to the pet store for the formula.  Yes, internet, I know that Peanut is in a towel for the pictures and that I'm not supposed to have him in a towel because his claws might get stuck.  That has been remedied.  I was just grabbing anything I could for warmth...

Being the animal saver I am...I have done this since a child.  I have taken care of a puppy that was hit by a car, a dove that had broken its' leg, several fowl that have had numerous injuries...so a baby squirrel would be different.  I have read everything I can look up on the care of a baby squirrel.  

I know he's about 5 weeks because he still doesn't have his top incisors yet and they get those at 6 weeks.  I found images of baby boy parts and girl parts for a squirrel and I'm pretty sure Peanut is a boy.  At 5 weeks they open their eyes.  They are still nursing, so I purchased some kitten starter formula...cows milk will kill them so I'm glad I went with my instinct on that one.  I am feeding Peanut every four hours...he will eat anywhere from 5 ccs to 7 ccs of formula and then contently go back in his little ball.  He is on a small blanket...with a heating pad under half of the kitty carrier.  If he gets too hot, he just goes to the side that the heating pad isn't on.  When he gets three weeks older, we are going to build him a cool place outside that's sheltered with lots of branches and things he can climb/play on.   At 12 weeks or when he's able to figure out how to open a nut up by himself, we will let him go.  Worst case scenario is that we will have Peanut visit us to say "thanks" every once in awhile.  

He had his first poopy for me today which is what I've been waiting for...this means he is digesting the formula well.  I will keep ya updated on how Peanut is doing.  He is doing well so far.  I hope there are no internal injuries...that's my only concern.  The kids named him Peanut...I think it fits him well...

Caught in Action

Yesterday I had the opportunity to shoot a family in Augusta.  I wanted to let Dave in on the deal if he wanted....I am trying to get into the wedding industry and Dave would be my ideal second shooter.  He has a different eye than me.  I look at his images and I "wow".  So, he jumped at it but we had one little dilema...one camera, two shooters.  My friend had offered us to use her camera, which was awesome because it's the same as ours...she just got it as a birthday gift and they (meaning her hubby and her) LOVE it.  Dave is used to it and she even went further and offered to watch our kids.  You are AWESOME Dave and Ann!  Thank you so much! The weather looked a bit iffy and I actually missed the call from my client to reschedule...which turned out to be a good thing because the weather was beautiful!  A little chilly but I run around everywhere when I shoot so it felt nice :)

Since I never have another shooter with me, I've never been at risk of having a picture taken of me...taking a picture.  So Dave surprised me mid session with a couple shots...I also snuck one of him.  Isn't he so cute behind a camera?  I just LOVED having him with me.  He had some great ideas and it was just so much fun doing what I love with my love.

Come back to see this beautiful family's sneak peaks :)

Here's Dave, doing some on the side stuff while I had just reloaded another Flash card...

Apparently, Dave said that I would make a pretty good sniper. He said I laid prone the right way naturally...coming from a Cert. Sniper...I take that as a compliment....I can be really sneaky "shooting" people...hahaha I'm such a dork!

This shot I was taking of the family turned out so cute BUT I about fell off the bench onto Grandma taking it...

MIA...

yes.  I've been missing in action...wallpaper action that is.  I have been ripping down not one, not two....nay, three!  Count 'em people...THREE layers of wallpaper in my office.  About one wall into it I was asking myself, "Why in the world did I start this???"  I have to just keep telling myself that it will be worth it.  I am a visionary...I can see things in my head and then get so excited about them but I want them to happen now.  So, now that all the aged paper is peeled away from the old plaster (and cracked I might add) walls, it is time for the texture.  I have done all the re-doing-of-the-walls in our house.  After texture comes the priming, and then finally, my favorite part, the paint!  What I want to see when I walk into my office is a tan room with chocolate brown and splashes of turquoise.  Maybe even some RED.  I want it to be wonderfully mix matched and I want every piece in there to be a treasure I worked hard to find.  My chandelier for instance...I picked her up at a 2nd hand shop for 40 bucks.  Of course she needs a little TLC but she is gonna shine like no other when I'm done with her...is it weird for me to genderize (not even a word) random objects in my house?  Kinda creepy?  OK.

So, later I will have before, in process and after photos for you.  As far as sessions, I am available for some more.  I really want some seniors..so much fun!  Thank you friends for bearing with my absence...

There's no number that starts with a "W" on Wednesday

1. I am waddling like a pregnant lady in labor because I'm so sore from the last Strong & Healthy meeting...thanks Nicole :)

2. My husband got a day job with Home Depot

3. Awesome lightning tonight...

4. I think I just found a new favorite song... "The Heart of Life" by John Mayer

5. Why do chocolate chip cookies have to be so good?!?!

6. My mom is so fabulous...Love you mamma!

7. Doesn't this sky remind you of "The Never Ending Story?" One of my ultimate fave movies of all time...don't remember when I shot these but I was surprised when I found them in my stash and wanted to share :)

*edited to add: Kendi helped with pushing me to go furthur with my workout too...so, even though at the time I really didn't want to hear, "C'Mon Ali! One More!  You can do it!" (cause Ireally could do one more) I really appreciate the encouragement.  You guys rock!*

Parker's Flip Flops

This is my baby. It's sometimes sad how I can forget about him amongst the fast pace of life...c'mon moms...don't tell me you don't occasionally leave your 2nd and subsequent offspring in the background...you know, void out the whines and "mommy's" just to save your head. So, this morning when my sweet 3 year old came walking down the stairs in his new "big boy" flip flops (no strap in the back) complete with poofy diaper that needed to be changed, my heart melted.

He is in this stage right now where he IS almost a boy. I feel the sting in my nose just blogging this. He's not quite potty trained but he's oh so Mr. I wanna-do-everything-like-my-big-brother independent man.

I feel that the whines of him needing me to give him some attention will soon disappear. I would have missed all those opportunities to love on my baby...the last product of Dave and mine's reproducing career.

I love my Parker and though it has been very hard having my two so close, I don't think I would do it any other way. Sometimes I feel that both of my children were robbed of my attention due to me being pregnant while one was a baby and having a newborn when the other one was still a baby. But, I can't dwell on what could have been. It wasn't in my plan but this is the plan He had for my life and I am thankful that I have been given supernatural grace to raise my kids.

So a little tribute to my sweetheart of a son. He truly is so sensitive and wonderful...though needy most the time. But I guess I should eat it up while I can...I love you Parker!

Second shooter training

After church today I was feeling confident about how I looked so I asked Dave if he was ready to take some pictures for me.  I need a good updated picture for my website and he's been buggin' me about getting my pictures taken anyway.  He was up for it then,  but I bet now he doesn't want to be my second shooter.  

I was trying to explain to him how everything works and let's just say that I probably expected too much from him and gave him input overload...poor thing.  But, I think out of the 200 some odd pictures that he took, we got a few keepers.  

By the way, if you don't know how to shoot pictures other than in Auto, I HIGHLY recommend Me Ra Koh's DVD Beyond the Green Box...she explains everything so it makes sense.  This is how I started out.  She offers exercises and tips.  If you want something less expensive than a photography class, I would get the DVD for 30 bucks plus some shipping and handling.  

I usually don't like pictures of myself but after a little editing and yes, I'll admit it...some photoshop trimming on one image, I think they look ok.  Now for me to get down to a size where no trimming is needed...

I found this sweet chair in an alley and had to use it...

This next one is me squatting next to a dumpster near my house believe it or not ;)

My first retouch project...

David's Grandparents and myself had a fun time talking via our i Macs and taking over each others screens...They just bought their Apple recently and they learned alot today.  Kudos to them for taking the time to learn new technology :-)  

Grandpa B was interested in my photography software after showing him my website, so I shared my screen with him, and he was able to view my desktop on his computer.  It's amazing that even though we are in Montana and he is in Florida, I was able to show him how I work my magic on images like he was right in the room with us.  

After seeing how amazing CS3 was, he asked me if I would take a stab at retouching an old photo he had of an airplane he flew...he called this airplane his "friend."  I didn't know how I could help, but I spent about 45 minutes on the picture and I must say that I am pleased with how it turned out.  I already emailed him the retouched version and thought ya'll would like to see the before and after photos.  

This could actually be another aspect of my business...some people can make 30-50 dollars an hour retouching old photographs.  It's something that I may consider in the near future.  I tried to keep everything about the photo as true as I could.  It was badly damaged from a deep fold/crease down the middle and mold all over.  I restored some color to the sky and sharpened the airplane...the clouds look a wee bit different, but I think it turned out pretty darn good.   Tell me what ya'll think.... (you can click on the image to make it bigger)

Before:

After:

Liberty Adventure

Happy  5th....I would say Happy Fourth but that was 16 minutes ago.  Our day included sleeping in, going to bio life to donate, being rejected to donate because it would have been our 3rd donation within 7 days (we can go tomorrow though), going to the river to hang out with some church family, heading over to Michelle's to grill my famous steaks...they were a hit.  After that we cruised on over to the Johnson's to shoot off some fireworks.  

This is where the adventure took place.  The night was so much fun.  I had bought a whole bunch of morning glories from a firework warehouse on our way back from the TN trip last year, so I was glad to see some kids having fun with them finally.  It had been drizzling a little. We were graced by a beautiful rainbow and a hot pink sky before nightfall.  

The kids were lighting bees and blooming flowers and I had some fun tanks and a chicken that pooped out an egg.  

Mr. Matt is a little kid when it comes to fireworks.  He has made this contraption out of pipes and carefully places each mortar thing in with fuses going from pipe to pipe.  It was all quite fascinating actually and brilliant.    It's a system.  He goes to light, sparks start, and he runs away with this big grin on his face.  So, with no limbs lost, I was thinking everything was going quite well.  

Until...towards the end.  Somehow as he was lighting the first fuse, the mortar ball came out and and all I see is Mr. Matt running away with no grin.  I was already bent down lighting something else and see Parker in front of me approx. 15 feet from the ball.  It happened so fast but in slow motion at the same time.  Has that every happened to you?  My first inclination was to get him out of the way.  These are the bigger fireworks mind you.  So as everyone else is ducking and running, I run into a beautiful blue cloud of sparks to shelter my kid.  Parker was crying with no injuries, but I was impaled at my hairline by one of the blue beauties.  Thank goodness my hair didn't catch on fire.  I was a little singed but mostly shaken.  It wasn't anyone's fault...just an accident that happened when my kid decided to be too close.  If anything, I probably should have been watching him closer...

Other than that little scare we had a blast.  We continued on and Parker sat in Mrs. Jolene's lap for the remainder of the night.   We laugh at it now, but I am so thanking God for His angels who watched out for my little boy.  I think next year we're gonna make the kids sit down farther back and not let them run around.  

We now are going to watch some Season One Heroes and intend on sleeping in tomorrow too :)

The culprit...

I spent the last hour and a half dusting my furniture, sweeping the whole downstairs (1400 sqft of hard floors) and mopping.  I have a headache from fumes, and a sweaty sore back.  I try to keep a clean house...truly I do...but with husband working 60 hour weeks, dirty summer kids and a 150 pound mastiff, it's hard to keep up.  So, I normally don't do all that in a day.  On a normal day I would vacuum...(I do vacuum just about every day - I think it's one of those OCD things) clean the dishes and if I'm feeling ambitious, do a load of laundry.  Why would I go beyond the norm  you ask?  Because IT is stinking my house up.  I don't exactly know what IT is, but I am determined to find IT.  Every day for the past week I have stepped into my home with a whiff of "Ughhh" in my face.  Could it be my massive mucky mastiff?  Or the remains of a sweaty child on my couch?  Perhaps a dirty diaper that lost it's way from bum to bin...I don't know.   So, I've dusted, swept, mopped, cleaned kitty box, bathed kids, and Sam is next for a bath.  I am burning approximately 241 candles to get rid of the stench.  I have an older home...over 100 years old.  I love my home and I worked so hard to get the "old people" smell out of it.  So, who knows what or who the culprit is...but I will find you...and smother you with the aroma of a Bath and Body Spice oil in no time flat...

Oh, and I had to show you some faves of my last few sessions I did...if you've already seen these on the website...sorry...I'd like to hear some feedback on how you like my site.  Also, did you notice that I made a nifty new banner for the blog???

Playing with texture...and man hair

I have found a nifty little action that puts texture into the image...ok...I know this probably isn't new for many of you, but I am just ecstatic with this!  

First, my husband has been growing his hair our since he separated from the Air Force...it had kind of just been blah for a while.  So, the day before yesterday I decided to take a stab at styling it.  YAY!  it turned out awesome!!!  The only drawback is, that he wants this done everyday now and that means I have to take more time away from  me getting ready for his hair...

So I used this texture because it was the perfect grunge feel to match the grunge hair...or if you want to get really specific...emo hair.

Then, I had taken this shot of the beautiful bouquet of flowers that my sister had for us bridesmaids.  Aren't they gorgeous?!?!  Anyway, it was neat to see the texture applied to this because the flowers are so delicate that it's almost an inviting conflict between the two.  

I have had the opportunity to make a little money towards my business...so I am debating on whether to go ahead and proceed with the studio lighting or to get some more of these great actions and presets for photoshop...what do you think?