Boom!

in , ,

Dave and I celebrated the Fourth of July by taking in the firework show on the river in Newport last night.  I have never photographed fireworks, so I brought my camera along to experiment.

We had a lot of fun! :)

All of the next images were created by Dave with my iPhone.

I processed them using the Mill Colour App.

Family Fun

in

Last weekend my sister had a birthday party  for all 4 of my nephews,  Austin 15, Gage 4, Eli 2, and Kegan 1.  Sounds crazy, huh?  Well we like it a little crazy in this family, crazy is the glue that keeps us together. :)  There were dinosaur tattoos, homemade carrot and chocolate birthday cakes (Nina has to make all of their treats, Eli is allergic to everything, poor guy), lots of pool splashing, pinata popping, and way too many toys.  It was a blast.

My mom got a new puppy named Guido after her brother Joey who was one of the proudest little Italians I ever knew.  Mom always called him her little Guido! ;)    A little bit of everybody.Pinata!

This is my first picture of  Nina and ALL of her kids.  The photos on the right are a good explanation why.  It is very difficult to do.  I bribed them with cake and we managed to get them all looking. :)  My brother-in-law is outside on clean up duty.   My grandma and mom. This is where my silly genes come from. Eli does not like the birthday song at all.  Nina says it doesn't matter if it is 2 people or 15 people singing it, he always cries. I thought it was sweet the way he tried to hide in his brother's arm . Presents! Nina gave me a tiny gift at the end of the party.  It's a camera key chain that flashes and makes a shutter noise.  I always say it is the little things that make me happy, and this time it literally is!

I love it!:)

Here are some fun iPhone photos from the day.

I really enjoy taking pictures of my family.  It is the thing I am proudest to do for my nephews.  I want them to have all of these great memories to share with their families when they grow up.

As you enjoy your holiday this weekend don't forget to take lots of pictures! :)

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad

in

Today is the day to celebrate Dads.

This is my Papa in pictures! :)

He lived in Germany when he was little, my grandfather was stationed there in the Army.

Here he is around 17.  Mom was pregnant with me and he wanted to be able to take care of us, so he did what a lot of young father's did, he joined the army.  I love the Polaroids on his closet door.This is from Christmas last year.  My dad adores being a papaw to my sister's 4 boys.  I love how happy they make him! :)This was at one of my nephew's birthday party.  The whole family was cracking up when Dad walked in with his flannel shirt on.  We are so close we even dress the same.  I remember in high school I used to sneak his flannels and band tshirts.  He gave me his jean jacket from the 70's back then and it is still one of my favorite treasures.

I love you Dad!

xoxo

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

in ,

My world in pictures.  I promise to have a full blog post by Friday. I have been out photographing so much that I have barely had time to process, but the next two days are dedicated to my desk so that I am caught up before the weddings I have coming up. :)  Here is a little bit of everything I have been working on lately...

I love this woman.  Remember Gina from a wedding I photographed in April, well this is Part 2, The Party.  It was an awesome time.  By the end of the night we had the largest bonfire I have ever seen. :)

This is from a photo session I set up for fun.  It turned out so cool.  As soon as I can narrow down from my 250 favorites I will be sharing this one.  Be prepared, it's another smokin' hot redhead! ;)  This is Jessica and Michael from an engagement session I photographed last night.  I was so glad I got to do some experimenting with night shots.  Wait until you see how gorgeous Jessica is. :)

There was that massive storm that rumbled through the Tri-state.  I was lucky to be out with my camera.  Those clouds were spectacular. Lately I have been drawn to blur, grain, and abstract compositions.  I think Dave's style of shooting is seeping into my subconscious.

My nephew Austin at the skate park. Quick question... I go back and forth with myself about the size of the pictures on my blog.  I would love your opinion if you don't mind.  What do you think about the size?  Are they too big? too small? just right? I like the way they look on my computer, but we all have different screens so let me know what you think.

iPhone art

in , ,

I don't really enjoy talking on my phone as much as I love to take pictures with it.    I am addicted to it, seriously addicted.  I have had it for about 9 months and I have managed to save over 400o pictures that I refuse to erase.  I am sure I have probably taken double that,  if not more.  I have about 25 photo apps, and about 10 I really want to get.  It's kinda crazy.  But it is also nice to always have a camera with me, because I see something I want to take a picture of everywhere I go.

I snapped a picture of these statues with my Nikon and my iPhone.  I like my phone pictures best.  I have always been drawn to grain and contrast.  This phone and it's apps are great for creating images that are grainy or noisy.   I don't mind if things aren't perfectly in focus.  It reminds me of using my Holga, but I get the instant gratification of digital.

These are all captured and processed with my iPhone.  I get lots of emails about what apps I use, I will try to start including them in my posts when I can remember.  Sometimes I just go crazy with a ton of apps on top of each other until I get something I like.   I used the Mill Color App on the color photos and PS Mobile on the black and white.

The first two were taken at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.

This was taken at the entrance of a horse farm in Kentucky .

This is one of my favorite iPhone photos I have captured.  I stumbled upon this beauty after I intentionally got myself lost in Boone County.  This one was magic.

Exploring Kentucky

in ,

Yesterday Dave and I took a mini road trip 2 hours south of Cincinnati to Bardstown, KY.  We drove down to check out a venue for a wedding I have coming up.  While we were out we did a little exploring.

The next three were taken by Dave while I was driving.  I adore these and will be ordering prints very soon.  I love how much he likes to experiment, it pushes me to do the same. 

Pacing myself

in

This past week was packed with lots of great photo sessions.  I have been editing nonstop ever since.  I am thankful for the awesome opportunities I have been given.  I love that I have a job that does not feel like work to me.  I love that I have a job that fulfills my need to create.  I love that I get to be home with my dog by my feet and Dave in the other room.  Though I love it and feel like I can do it all day, I am learning  I need to pace myself and take a little time to relax in between sleep and sitting at my desk.  When I need a break I need to take a break.  If I need an ice cream, I need to go get an ice cream.  If I need to go to the gym, well, that is another story...

This is one of my favorite pictures of my boys! :)