There Goes My Life...

My 3 Sweethearts.

I was on such a roll last week with my posting.  The most consistent I have been in a long time.  I feel like I have fallen a little behind, but I have been busy with work.  That is a very good thing! This past weekend I had Valentine mini-sessions.  Before my first session of the afternoon, I had a little shoot with my own three kiddos.  They needed photos for their Valentine cards, and I needed to do Molly’s 9-year photos.  Well, as far as that goes I still needed to do Elizabeth’s 10-year photos.  Little behind on those. :-p

It was a gorgeous sunny day and was warm for January.  It was still a little chilly in the shade, but they were troopers and didn’t complain too much.  I found these dresses for $5 on clearance at Wal-mart after Christmas. 

A couple of my favorites of Molly. She recently had her hair cut after asking me for over a year.  It is pretty cute.

 

Elizabeth. This one about took my breath away when I first saw it.  When did she grow up? I always struggle with her glasses in photos because it seems that no matter what angle I try the frames still cover one of her eyes.  So we took them off, but I told her to hold them because they are so much of who she is.  I think she looks so much older without them.  Maybe I won’t let her get contacts this summer after all! ;-)

And my little heartbreaker.  Love, love, love this boy.

We did some Valentine themed ones, too.  I’m going to save those for a later post those. ;-)  Just a little more February sweetness to look forward to!

A little hike.

Sunshine.  Oh how I have missed it.  At least for a week it has been gray skies, rain and cool temps.  Sure, part of spring, but not what I think of when I think of spring.  Saturday the sun finally decided to return.  The weather man was already telling us that it wasn’t going to last.  The forecast for next week looks much like the one for this past week with threats of severe weather moving in on Monday.  That meant we needed to get out and enjoy the warm weather and blue skies while they last.  After lunch Elizabeth announced that she was going to walk down on the farm to the pond.  We’ve started trusting the kids to go on these hikes the past year or so.  I told her I would join her this time, so we all changed out of our flip flops into more appropriate footwear and headed out.

Down the hill and the first look at the river bottom.  So green.  This is more like spring!

Are you coming, Mommy?

Notice my oldest.  Yes, this is the “Really, Mom?!”  look.  This would have been probably the fourth one of these looks I had gotten in the 10 minutes it had taken us to walk from the house to the bottom.  This shot captures all three of them exactly.  Words not needed.

I turned my attention to something else in my path.

 

Honestly it was more to get their attention off of me a bit so that I could turn my attention back to them. I had put my 70-200mm lens on before we left so that I could get some shots of them like this.

 

While it looks like Stewart was  about to wallop his sister when she wasn’t looking, I promise that he really wasn’t.  I did give him a yell anyway. 

Elizabeth realizing she was getting lost behind.

But she quickly caught up.  She is my runner girl.

Our destination.  The pond. Watering hole for our resident wildlife.  Lots of tracks and poop.  Such a proud mom that my kiddos know what deer poop looks like.

 

It’s also good for throwing rocks and sticks in. 

Perfect for getting your boots muddy.

I’m glad they let me be a tagalong.

Honored and blessed.

A few weeks ago I received a very unexpected phone call.  In fact, when I saw the number on caller id I thought to myself, 'Why are they calling me?"  It was our local newspaper, and they were calling to tell me that I had been voted Best Photographer in their Lincoln County's Finest contest.  I cannot tell you how surprised I was.  I always vote in this yearly survey so that I can at least vote for my kiddos' school. However, this year the deadline snuck up on me, and I didn't get my ballot sent in.  Never in a million years did I expect to be chosen. 

I have been so very blessed these past three years since I first decided to try my hand at having my own photography business.  I have met so many wonderful people, and many of them have become very good friends.  I have shared in the most personal of moments from birth to weddings to anniversary celebrations.  In many cases I may have been hired to do a job, but I came away with a friend. It is just a blessing sharing in the most important moments in my clients lives.  I have cried as I watched a baby enter this world, and I have cried as I watched a couple of 25 years finally have the wedding that they never had.  I have laughed at one-year-olds smashing birthday cakes and two-year-olds that were determined not to have their photo taken (in most cases I won).

To say that I am honored would be an understatement.  I am honored every time someone calls or emails me to schedule a session.  I am honored that they want me to capture memories for them.  I am so blessed, and so very thankful.  I truly appreciate everyone's votes.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your little and your big celebrations.

I also need to thank my sweet assistant, Hannah Gray, for taking these photos for me.  It was a rare occasion for me to be on this side of the camera.  Thanks, Hannah!

Popcorn Valentines.

I just finished assembling Stewart’s valentines for his classmates, so I thought I would share.  This year I decided to do something a little different.  Instead of candy he is giving popcorn.

I ordered 4x6 prints of a favorite photo of him.

I cut 12x12 sheets of red cardstock in half with my paper trimmer.  I then used glue dots to adhere a package of popcorn to the center.  I just eyeballed it.

Fold over the flaps and then fasten the top flap down with a glue dot.

Flip over your envelope and adhere the 4x6 print.  I found that I needed to use glue dots rather than photo splits.

All done and ready for giving!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Photo of the Day 2011.

One of my goals for this year is to take more photos of our family doing what our family does.  As I looked back on 2010 I saw that I didn’t take near enough everyday photos.  That is why this year I am committed to taking at least one photo each and every day of 2011. I also didn’t scrapbook nearly as much as I would have liked to in 2010, and that is why I am so excited about Becky Higgins’ Project Life.  My kit came in last week, and I cannot wait to get my first week’s photos printed and into their slots!

If I keep up with it like I plan, at the end of the year I will have an album filled with memories of 2011. So excited about that!

I’ve done a great job staying on course with my photo taking, and after seeing my friend, Jennifer’s blog devoted entirely to her Photo of Day quest, I decided to put together one myself. So even if I dont’ blog here each and every day, I will have one photo and journaling on my POTD blog. I added a link over there on the right hand side under my photo for anyone who wants to keep up.

This is today’s POTD. Elizabeth got the first three Harry Potter books for Christmas and devoured them in a matter of days.  No surprise there!

I love these daily photo borders by Ali Edwards. I think I am going to have my photos printed with them for my album.

It has really been pretty simple so far.  With Chris and Molly’s birthday and our snow days,  I have had plenty to photograph.  Most days I have taken lots of photos.  I’m keeping my camera in the kitchen (the heart of the home) so that it is in easy reach when those special everyday moments happen.  Looking back just over the past 12 days makes me very happy.  I can’t imagine an entire year!

40 is just a number.

Yesterday was Chris’ 40th birthday.  I wanted this birthday to be memorable, and it was in so many ways.  We had been hearing for days that a snowstorm was coming our way.  It was promising to be the biggest we had seen in years.  The most snow our kids had ever seen!  We were both giddy Sunday night when the snow finally started falling.  There was probably 5 inches on the ground before we finally went to bed around midnight. We woke up to a winter wonderland.

 

Chris’ phone starting ringing before we were out of bed.  Little did he know that I had arranged for him to have 40 phone calls from family and friends on his birthday.  His first call was supposed to be when he was driving the kids to school.  There was a little change of plans! The phone calls would continue every 15 minutes throughout the day.  After about the third call that he refused to answer because he was still trying to sleep,  I got up and cooked a birthday breakfast of blueberry pancakes for him so that he would HAVE to get up.

After breakfast he worked on our farm road packing down the snow to make it perfect for sledding!

We loaded the kids in the Mule and were off for some Snow Day fun!

 

Stewart was the first to go.

Here they go!

This would be Stewart’s first and last trip down the hill.

The girls were a little more game.

They would sled down the hill and then I would drive the Mule to the bottom of the hill to pick them up. The girls took turns being pulled behind the Mule on the way back up to pack down the snow more.

Notice who was on the sled every single time.  The birthday boy!

After the snow was packed down really well from the plastic sled, it was time to get the fast wooden one out!  I gave Chris this sled for Christmas the year after our last really BIG snow.  That was before we had kids.  This sled had never seen snow before.  I know this next photo is a little blurry, but I still love it.

Max tried his best, but he just couldn’t keep up with the wooden sled!

Before quitting for lunch the birthday boy had to go down a couple times by himself.  You can see Max up there around the bend.  He just could not keep up.  He definitely got his exercise!

I think he looks pretty good for a 40-year-old.  A bit like an L.L. Bean model. ;-)

Just a kid at heart!

After a lunch break we put up the sleds and had a little snow fun in the front yard.

That included building the kids first ever “real” snowman. We called him Harry,

We decided to venture out in search of something to eat for Chris’ birthday dinner.  We couldn’t travel to Huntsville as I had planned, but we were happily surprised to find that our favorite local Mexican restaurant was open.  After a yummy meal we headed back home for birthday cake and SNOW CREAM!

Not the birthday I had planned for Chris’ 40th, but even BETTER.  God gave him a better gift than I eve could have.  I am just thankful that God gave him to me.  Happy birthday, Sweetheart!

Surprise visit.

Sunday afternoon I had a session scheduled at the barn and since I was going to be there anyway, I thought it would be a good time to have a little Christmas shoot with our kiddos.  I don’t seem to ever take photos of them anymore, so I thought it would be a good idea to actually schedule a shoot. We  We had been there for just a few minutes when guess who arrived?!

The kids were so excited! Stewart quickly sat down beside him and starting telling him what he wanted for Christmas.  Surprisingly, he only had two things on his list!

Next it was Molly’s turn.  Her list was a little longer! ;-)

Miss Elizabeth waited patiently, but when it was her turn she went right to it.  She wasted no time telling Santa what she hoped to find under the tree Christmas morning.

My friend Chris who is also a photographer always has Santa sessions at his house and we go there to visit Santa.  With building a new house, Chris decided things were just too hectic this year and didn’t have Santa sessions.  We didn’t know how or when we were going to get to see him.  I guess Santa knew of our dilemma because he came to see us. Before he left he told the kids that Jasper our elf would soon be arriving to watch them until Christmas.  Stewart promised to leave some cookies and milk for Santa and apples and carrots for his reindeer.

What a magical afternoon!  The kids were buzzing about Santa’s visit the rest of the afternoon, and they can’t wait for Jasper to arrive!

Re-evaluating.

I have been doing a lot of that lately.  Where do I even start? I can already feel the lump in my throat, and I’ve typed two sentences.

Time.  That is what it always seems to come down to.  There just isn’t enough minutes in the day for me to accomplish all the things I need to do.

Balance. That is what I need.  Right now I cannot seem to find a balance. Every time I think about it I am reminded of Economics class and opportunity cost. If I do one thing that takes time away from something else.  Right now it seems work is taking away from family, home and myself.

Summed up.

I. Am. Frustrated.

I have been re-evaluating my photography business.  I love it. I really do.  I just can’t justify the time I am spending for the amount I am making. I can’t justify the time and money for the time it takes me away from our family.  Chris and I have talked about this at length.  I am just going to be honest.  When comparing what I am being paid at the end of the day, I could make more at a part time job and probably work half the hours. At night when we are together as a family, constantly in the back of my head is all the things I have to do.  All the people I have waiting on me for their proofs. 

I remember how disappointed I was when my friend, Jen, announced that she was going to be leaving the digital scrapbook design industry.  She just didn’t have the time anymore.  I completely understand.  I never have time to scrapbook anymore and once that was such a part of my life.  I never have time to sew any more.  I missed my first field trip last month because I needed to work.  I might could justify these things if I felt like I was contributing more to our family income.

The recession has hit us.  We own a small business, and we see first hand that people aren’t spending. When they don’t spend, we don’t get paid at the end of the month. Don’t get me wrong.  We are incredibly blessed.  We never wonder if there is going to be food on the table, but things are tighter at the Barnes house than they have probably ever been.  There just isn’t the extra money at the end of the month to spend on the extras like the new furniture I have been wanting to purchase for 2 or 3 years now.  I think it hit me when I wanted to go to the mountains for a couple nights next week while the kids are on Thanksgiving break and just had to face the fact that there wasn’t the money to do that.  Sometimes it stinks to be responsible. If we weren’t as responsible as we are we might not be in as good of a place in this recession as we are.  At least we don’t have to worry about making payments.  Thanks, Dave Ramsey.  I meant for my photography business to supplement our income, but right now it’s not for the time invested.

So here I am back where I started this post. Re-evaluating. Yesterday I started working on my new business model. I am going to be scaling back on the number of sessions I do in 2011.  Weekend bookings will be very limited and will include an extra fee. There is also going to be some changes in pricing and terms/conditions. I have to make these changes. Chris tells me that I will regret it if I get out all together. He is probably right, but if I don’t make some changes I will regret continuing.  I want every family to have portraits they will treasure but not at the cost of my own family’s time together.

When it all comes down to it these three are what matters. 

I want to be the best mom I can be for them and the best wife I can be for Chris.  Right now I don’t feel like either.  That makes me very sad. I have to change that.

A little less conversation…

…a little more action. 

Okay, it’s my favorite running songs so I use it whenever I can.

Actions.  If you don’t know what they are, you don’t know what you are missing.  Actions can speed up your photo editing, and they can also add an artistic feel to your photos without a lot of work on your part. 

Gina Miller is one of the most artistic people I know, so it was no surprise when she added actions to her collection of creations. I am going to do something here that I don’t usually do.  I am going to show you my images straight of the camera (SOOC) and then I am going to show you the same image with one of Gina’s actions applied.

For this first example, I did my basic edit that I do on most all of images.  I sharpened it just a bit and popped the colors just a tad.  Then I applied Gina’s Bumblebee action from her Bitty Baby collection.  I love this action.  I use it all the time.  Play around with the opacity until it fits your taste.

This image of Stewart’s Levi’s wasn’t bad, but I thought it would look even better a little faded and worn.  Once again I used Gina’s Bumblebee action.  I really love this one.

For a soft black & white I like Mud Pie from Gina’s Little Sprout Collection.  It’s also fun to play with the opacity of this one to give just a tint of color to your image.

Want to try it before you buy?  Gina’s Creamy Butter is a freebie action so you can see what it is all about.  This is a great little action for a quick edit.  It was all I used for this photo.

Now before you buy, you need to know that a lot of actions do not work with PS Elements.  However, Gina does have some actions that will work with PS Elements 5 or higher.  Just make sure you read the description fully before you buy.

Have fun!

Welcome to the World, Harper!

I know, I know! I missed posting yesterday! I promise that I have a very good excuse. Yesterday morning I was at the hospital at 6:00 AM.  A few hours later my friend, Lori, delivered little Miss Harper Reese.  I was so blessed to be there to witness her birth.

What an AMAZING, AMAZING day I had. I was so thrilled when Lori asked me to photograph her labor and delivery.  We kept it a bit of a secret, but now I can share.   I cannot thank Lori and BJ enough for letting me be there are they welcomed their sweet baby girl into the world. It is a day I will always remember.