Awhile back I had mentioned that I went to a photography workshop

by Sandy Puc,

"If It Moves, Shoot It".

The entire workshop was about incorporating motion pictures

with your still photography.

I've tried real hard to take short video clips through out each photo session I have.

It isn't always easy, especially with young children. 

My first goal is to capture great photos

and once I've done that, I like to think about video.

There has been times when by that point

the child is done, and then I get no video. 

 But I'm trying, and it's becoming more natural for me.

I love-love-LOVE

putting together these slide shows with video

for my clients.

Check out the slide show/video

from the family featured in this blog post:

 H Family Slide Show/Video

Also, check out the tabs at the top of my blog

labeled Slide Show/Video

I try to update that with the newest slide shows

I've completed.

Reminder: Enter the Giveaway for a FREE photo book

winner will be drawn and announced on 6/14/11

Special Session

This is so fun! 

I'm offering a Special Birthday Photo Session. 

Such a great way to document each milestone of your child's life.

This session is about 20 minutes. 

Includes cupcakes, balloons (blue or pink),

banner (the one pictured or a pink girly one)

 and a 5x7 print AND 8 wallets.

**BONUS**

as a bonus I'm including a
Slide Show/Video (click to view sample)
of your child during their birthday photo session,
oh it's such a fun time!

Call to schedule your session, this is a limited time offer!

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Reminder: Enter the Giveaway for a FREE photo book

winner will be drawn and announced on 6/14/11

Happy Birthday

My son turned 3 over the weekend, and thank goodness the day finally arrived.
This kid has been asking me daily. "Mom, my birthday?"

He was THRILLED to have had a birthday, birthday cake and presents.
and we pretty much celebrated all weekend long,
I kept reminding him that he's my birthday boy,
and he was lovin all the attention.

Oh, it seems like yesterday he was my little baby

goodness, how the days and years fly by.

Happy 3rd Birthday Nelson,

I love you.

Enjoy the little slide show I put together of our fun birthday photo session.

Say a Prayer

I've been thinking of Kiana and her family a lot lately. Just four short months ago, on January 10th, Kiana was diagnosed with Level 3 Neuroblastoma.  Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from nerve cells.  Often the tumor arises from branches of nerves that exit from spinal cord.  These branches reach many areas of the body, so tumors can be found in many different locations.  In half of the cases of children with neuroblastoma, the tumors are found in the abdomen, or belly, and usually involve the adrenal gland, which sits on top of the kidney.  Neuroblastoma also can be found in the head, chest, neck or pelvis.
And a  few days following her diagnoses she started her first round of chemotherapy. I had been in contact with her family, and we were planning on taking family photos the following week, if Kiana was feeling up to it.  Well, Kiana had to stay at the hospital a little bit longer, her counts were low and  she needed some blood platelets.  So I offered to come to the hospital and take some photos of just Kiana.

It's hard to believe how sick this beautiful, smiley, little girl is.  She is so strong. 
We can be comforted to know that it's in God's hands, he has a plan for this beautiful little girl
and so we continue to put our trust in him.

A few days ago I had the opportunity to meet with the entire family, for a very fun and special family photo session. It touched my heart to see, after everything they all have been through over the last few months, there was much laughter, many smiles and pure love. Thank you Forstie family, for allowing me the honor to photograph you, you all are truly blessed, and I'm so touched that I was able to document this moment.

look how happy they all are...just looking at them, I smile.

seriously this girl is awesome!

Please keep Kiana and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

She's having surgery this week, to remove part of the tumor.

Stop by and leave her a message on her CaringBridge site.

Enjoy this slide show I put together:
Forstie Family {May 2011}

Baby Eli {3 months old}

Cute little slide show of this little boy:
Baby Eli {3 months old} - Slide show

Baby Eli
{pictured here at 3 weeks old}

Merging Motion and Stills

A few weeks ago I attended a Photography workshop by Jared Abrams and Sandy Puc'', If It Moves, Shoot It.  It was a very motivating workshop.  The first I heard about this technique was at her previous workshop, Power of Passion Tour, back at the beginning of April.  Since then I've given it much thought.  The whole idea behind, If it Moves, Shoot It, is combining motion picture with still photography, to create a real life story.

Just picture this, I'm photographing a 1 year old and throughout the photo session I take a few 5 second video clips.  Later I combine the still photos with the moving images in a slide show and that moment, that I capture, actually comes to life.  It's truly amazing....I'm very excited to master this and start marketing this new product

I'm finding out though, that as much as I LOVE this idea, I completely forget about it during a photo session.  I getting completely focused on my photos and in the end am so bummed that I didn't remember to take a clip or two.  The last couple sessions I had, I did (just at the end of the session) remember to stop, and go into video mode...see that's the issue, I need to switch modes, change all my settings...the ISO needs to be increased and the camera can not auto focus in video mode, so I need to switch a few things and then remember to switch them back after. 

I did a fun practice session the other night with my kids playing in the backyard...it was so much fun, and I became a tad more comfortable with the switching back-n-forth.  I think that is just what I needed to do, to make it feel more natural so it becomes the norm for me, during any photo session.
Check it out, and let me know what you think.

Slide show:
My Family {May 2011}