Your mom. Me? Really.

I like to infuse a little of myself into my photography blog so here's a little peak into the life of me.  A recent conversation with my boys...

Aidan: Moooooom!  Jack called me "stupid".

Jack:  No I didn't.  I said you're "stupendous".

Nice recovery Jack ;)

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Last week I shot a group of Seniors from the Class of 2013.  It was a great day until I suddenly realized, I'm old enough to be their mom!  Reality check since really, I feel like I just graduated!

 

It was a gorgeous, warm day in Old Town Sacramento and after a little shyness these kids really opened up for the camera.  It was a breath of fresh air to be around such young, respectful kids.  Best of luck 2013!

Two Peas in a Pod

Heather had her twins in June (see post below) but I never posted her beautiful belly; I photographed Mama Heather in May.  We had a great time in my studio coming up with various poses to show off her growing belly.  Hard to believe two little peanuts are in there!  

Smiling Eyes

Our truck was in the shop so my husband was given a loaner.  Jack didn't quite understand the idea of a loan and was totally displeased with Brad, "Daddy spent ALL his money.  He bought ANOTHER truck!" ~ Jackism #4,263 ;)

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Most photographers will tell you that working with kids is challenging...not fun, even.  Kids don't listen; they have short attention spans; they want to play; they get cranky; they cry.... They also happen to be my most favorite subject! 

True, they are the most challenging to photograph, but it's the challenge that makes it so great!  Kids are the most gratifying. When you earn their trust and are able to capture their spirit in a portrait, there is nothing sweeter; it's that special something in their eyes that cannot be duplicated in an adult. 

I had the pleasure of taking portraits of the Ellis family.  For two hours this little guy's eyes smiled.  He was one of the best I've every photographed, especially for a three year old in a 90 minute photoshoot!!  He has model written all over him... 

Babies Make Three!

These adorable baby girls are mine...well, in my mind anyway.  Meet my new cousins Ashley and Alicia. LOVE them up!  Nothing better than one newborn, until you have two! Big brother Nathan has his job cut out for him watching over his precious sisters. 

Hanging with Mosquitos and Soccer Moms

Jack and I were sitting at the car wash waiting for our CRV to pull through when Jack nodded in the direction of one of the cars.  A man was buffing the car with a round, electric buffer....Rather seriously he asked me, "Do they do that to bald people?"

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Sunday night I headed to Willow Creek for my photoshoot with the MacDonald family.  We met the MacDonalds four years ago when Aidan joined Bryce's team.  It was our first soccer experience and my last time being sane. Once I applied sunscreen and kicked out my Tommy Bahama beach chair I learned the true meaning of [Super Psycho] Soccer Mom. Witnessing me on the sidelines, it's a wonder that this family still calls us friends ;) 

The MacDonald boys are gorgeous and precious and such troopers!  We were outside shooting for two hours in the heat, walking through questionable poison ivy, swarmed by mosquitoes and through it all, the boys were patient and willing to work.  I really love this family and I hope you enjoy a preview of some of their photos.    

  

 

 

 

The Park

"Can we go to the park?" Aidan asks from the backseat.
Brad explains that since it's Mother's Day, Mommy gets to decide what we do today.  In response Jack asks me, "Mommy, do you want to go to the park?" :) 


Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mommies out there.  I hope you had fun at the park too!

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Speaking of parks... (nice segue, eh!) ...I was at William Hughes Park on Saturday for a Meetup photoshoot.  The lighting was gorgeous - we caught her as the sun was setting!  We also used a gold reflector for fill light.  I shot in manual mode (Fstop = 2.8, Speed = 1/1000 sec, ISO = 320).  Here are some shots of our model April.

 

Bellies R Us

I come from a family of photographers...which comes in really handy when you need stuff.  Today, it was a studio. Yup, an actual studio.  Of course, I had to do a little borrowing first... A backdrop from my sister, lights and umbrellas from my dad and Voila - Welcome to Tricia's [temporary] Home Studio!

The really cool thing about being a photographer is meeting people. I know it's cliche, but it's true. I was blessed to have met Samantha a year ago at a playgroup photoshoot and was honored when she thought of me to do her maternity portraits. Earlier in the week I captured her with her family and today it was just the two of us in "my studio" (love saying that!).  

Samantha's daughter is due any second now so we were thankful to successfully make it through both photoshoots.  And by successful, I mean I'm pretty sure Sam's water breaking all over the backdrop would be a deal-breaker with my sister ;)  

Check out this cute baby belly....  

        

Having a little fun in Photoshop... What do you think?