"I can ride without my butt."

nobody@vox.com(AmazonMama) — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:21:05 -0700

Or so sayeth the Girl yesterday when she was riding her bike without her rear affixed to her seat. She was quite proud of herself, especially since she's only recently begun riding her larger, big-girl bike that her Grandpa got her for Christmas. She's been a bit daunted by the size of the bike (although it fits her quite well) and all the braking options available; two hand brakes and a coaster brake; yet she still prefers to utilize the toes of her sneakers to slow herself down. Lovely.

Yes, such an event should have been cause for a photo op, but I was hanging at the neighbors and didn't have my camera tied around my neck as per usual (I know, shocker!!!). But, frankly, I need a break from the lens. I did a pre-wedding gig for a friend of mine at work whose daughter was wed on Saturday, and then had a newborn shoot with Shawn's cousin's little boy on Tuesday. I've been editing pictures nearly every waking hour. I usually love editing a shoot, but I'd prefer to do it in smaller spurts rather than spending days at a time editing.

I got some awesome images from both opportunities, and I had a lot of fun during both shoots. It would really suck to be in business doing something you didn't love to do, right? Each time I learn so much and gain more confidence and comfort with my abilities. It's very satisfying. I promise I'll post some pics at some point after my eyesight has returned.

In other news, the Boy graduates from preschool tomorrow. Yes, he's only 3, but apparently even if you aren't really leaving the preschool, you still get to graduate and come back. He's really excited about it, and he told me all about their trip to the college gym to rehearse and all the things they would be doing for their graduation. He's at the age where his memory growing, and he's able to recall events that happened the previous night and tell me all about them. It's really nice to be able to ask him "so what did you do today at school" and get more than the perfunctory "I play in the sandbox." (which is his reply regardless if he played in the sandbox that day or not).

So, if I am able to extricate myself from Lightroom/Photoshop hell this weekend, I'll get some pics up of the Party (which was a hit!) and Little Man's "gradjiashun from pweeskool."

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Official Business Startup Whine

nobody@vox.com(AmazonMama) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:48:36 -0800

This ... this starting a business thing...this is hard. Much harder than I thought. Of course isn't that how it always goes, right? Nothing worth having in life is ever easy to ascertain. This is the one true certainty of life, or so I've come to learn in my 34.5 years on this earth.

The decisions alone are enough to make me vomit. The money I've invested (and have nothing yet to show for it) also makes me nauseous. I read. I research. I calculate. I read some more. I plan. I set short term goals and long-term goals. And when goals are met, I make more goals. I make lists. And more lists. And lists of lists. And then I get overwhelmed and scared and want to crawl into a hole and forget about the whole thing. It's so very daunting. Now I understand why businesses fail or never really ever get off the ground, and why people who run their own businesses (like my husband) say that it isn't always sunshine and puppies. It really does suck at times. It sucks A LOT in the beginning.

What keeps me from stopping? I'm not sure. I think it's mostly because I love it so much. I love working with people, especially kids and babies, capturing the light in their eyes and their sweet smiles and expressions. It's almost like a high. And the challenge of harboring good light, nailing the exposure, getting a good crop of well-exposed images with no color casts. It's challenging and rewarding. And then when a creative vision you have in your head somehow works out just right, and perhaps gives you something a bit more than what you expected. That's gravy. It really makes you proud. Like these images -- which, I might add, made this baby's momma cry:

P_0012

P_0008

P_0014

Yup, they made her cry. Course it helps tons that he's soooo damn cute! Seriously, though, I can't think of any greater indication of job satisfaction than that. It inspires me to keep pushing on. Push past the fear, the uncertainty and the unknowns. "Do what you love and the money will follow." I'm living my life by that principle, and while it remains to be seen how much money will follow, I know for certain I am doing what I love.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend