Since Eric has taken on coaching the varsity softball team this year, I took a shot at some team pictures. All girls love to be photographed. These chicks are a silly bunch too.
Mommy In Progress
I convinced Erin that we should at least take a few pictures of her adorable belly before the little man is born. I will say that we had a few laughs with the awkwardness of focusing on a belly and not a face.
We can’t wait for his arrival!
93.3 CMA watch party!
I didn’t know about this annual event before this month. Apparently hundreds of people in Eugene/Springfield like to crowd themselves into the old theater to watch TV together. Yes, they could be comfortably sprawled out on their couch with their jam-jams on and sipping drinks without having to tip, but they don’t. I think the oddest part was the applause after the music performances. Nowhere else would you clap at a TV. Seemed strange, but ended up being pretty entertaining people watching, AND A NEW ADVENTURE for this girl. I was the official photographer at the event. I had a great time, learned a lot about my camera capabilities, and rekindled the love of working with adults. A good weekday break from ten year-olds. The 93.3 crew was really nice to work with and I’d be happy to do it again next year.
Sweet Little Reese
I had a wonderful weekend taking pictures of our sweet little niece and her Mama and Dad. This little booger was either being camera shy or just avoiding her Auntie.
We couldn’t ask for a more beautiful fall day at the Keyser’s farm either. Aren’t those trees just amazing!?
I’m so lucky to be a part of this wonderful, beautiful family. Don’t worry Reese, you’ll get used to me snapping pictures.
I’ll have to keep practicing taking pictures of kids because as I looked over the roll I didn’t catch enough shots of her looking in the camera and the cute silly ones turn out too blurry to keep. I went home and practiced different camera settings on my puppy dog, but then you can’t very well tell a kid to “Sit! Stay!” …Not that Beta listens either.
P Family takes on a photo session
It’s time to invest in a newer computed if I’m going to keep at it with photography. Each time I sit to edit photos it takes a bit longer. I’m spending most of my time relentlessly watching that annoying color wheel go round…and round…and round…and..
But I can’t give up on it. By the time I’ve waited out the wheel I’m more determined than before to get through ONE MORE.
Katie asked me if I’d have time this weekend to take pictures of their family this last Sunday. We wondered how well the boys would do with Auntie being the photographer. But I quickly took over and made an ADVENTURE out of it.
What makes the boys smile for the camera?
- yelling “oh coconuts” instead of “cheese” ( which I was informed is from Jake and the Neverland Pirates cartoon)
- pretending there is a snake next to Aunties foot
- throwing filberts at the camera and hitting me in the forehead
- climbing trees
After about 35 min. of great pictures we then had the inevitable melt downs. But not before some true Piquette cherished moments.
Dylan’s Senior Picture shoot
I took Dylan out to Silkey Field for our first photo shoot. I got there a half hour early to scope out good angles, backdrops and such. I forgot most of them once we got started. This was a great learning experince for me as I journey towards doing this as a semi-profession.
Lessons Learned:
- Have a written list of places to go for pictures. Spent way too much time standing and thinking.
- Carry both lenses with me at all times. Which means I may need a bigger bag.
- Bigger bag means more investment into this venture…..I better start making a dime or two soon.
- Those light diffuser disk things really come in handy. Buy one.
- It’s a lot harder to get boys to smile naturally than it is girls. Find a way to get them to channel their inner diva before taking 100 pictures of the “football smile”.
- Don’t over edit. Walk away and come back. I ended up deleting the first few I sat in front of for like an hour.
I think I did end up with some winners. I really hope they like them.
wedding season ends with a good one
Matt and Jac tied the knot last weekend at King Estates Winery. Obviously it was beautiful, she was gorgeous, and we had a lot of fun. The highlights of the evening were
- The release of the doves at the ceremony. Its funny to watch people hold birds.
- The Best Man speech. It involved something about Matts shenanigans growing up, an alarm clock, and Matts mom doing gangster rap.
- When I busted out 30 glow sticks and turned the dance floor into a reenactment of last years New Years party. Awesome.
- Jac’s 93 year old granny boogying down and getting jiggy with it. I’m serious, she was amazing.
Even though I don’t want the stress of photographing weddings I can’t help but take pictures. It’s probably no surprise to our friends that I’ll show up snapping away and inevitably give a tap tap on their shoulder for a ..”couples photo..yay!”
”What do I do with my hands?” ~Kenny
She was truly a beaming, beautiful bride. And the groom embraced the importance of this day.
July 14: A week and a wedding in Kauai
July was an extraordinary month for me this year. My husband, Eric, and I were lucky enough to plan a trip to Kauai with my entire immediate family. Shocking because I never thought I’d see the day my parents planned a tropical vacation, which then led to seeing then in tropical clothing like… shorts! And Swimwear!
Furthering my luck, our good friends planned a wedding for the SAME WEEK, SAME ISLAND, SAME BEACH that we had already planned. All without communicating. I was then asked to take some of their wedding shots. A little nerve wracking because weddings are a lot more pressure and I insisted they referred to me as ” The Person Taking Pictures” and not their “Photographer.” It was so beautiful. The setting was at Shipwreck Beach. There was a spectacular cliff behind them, and just as the sun set they said their vows inside a heart shaped rock display with all of us encircling them. Highly recommend the destination wedding.
In addition to this great event, my family was surprised and excited to hear that my little brother popped the questions to his long time girlfriend on that same cliff the following day. So cool! She has already asked if I’d be a bridesmaid in their wedding next summer. OOooo so excited to start my wedding crafting ideas. I’ve already started doing my bargain shopping for decor. She better be ready for this action.
Never thought I’d be a BLOGGER
I first heard the term “blog” in my first years at OSU. I think one of my science professors used it as a way of asking her questions. It made me giggle – “BLOG”. If you would have told me last year I’d be starting a blog I would have spewed my milk out my nose. Not because there is anything wrong with blogging or bloggers, but because I’d be saying ” WHAT IN HELLS BELLS WOULD I BLOG ABOUT.” It has since morphed into a particularly great idea.
I’d like to share with you my passions for photography, fun and creativity. Here it goes…
