A little home improvement | Southern Maryland Photographer

There I was sitting at my desk as usual, answering emails and trying to decide where I wanted to shoot my session on Saturday. I looked at the usual spots in my home that I set up, and felt I needed something a bit different. That's when I decided I needed to paint my kitchen NOW! Well at least one wall anyway. The rest of the room can wait a week or so. But I had to paint this wall NOW! So I asked Nick how he felt about me painting the wall before the weekend and he was fine with it. The next morning I drop my daughter off at school and head right to the local paint store. The man behind the counter was very helpful when I told him what I needed and what I was doing. He seemed interested in the outcome so I promised to bring in before and after pictures. And I will share them with you now. Here is the ugly wood panel wall.

Here is a durring where you can tell I did the whole thing backwards. And brushed the entire wall. There was no roller involved.

And the final product...

Now I can't wait to finish the rest of the room. One more wall to stripe. And 2 more to pait after that. I love this wall so much!! So excited to use it as a background in some pictures tomorrow.
One more thing, can you guess where we had dinner tonight? I love watching these guys cook in front of us!

A messy desk is a sign of genius...

I read this on a sign somewhere. Well here is a shot of some of the things on my desk the other day. Most of these things are on my desk everyday. Make up, scissors, hand sanitizer, cell phone, and coffee. I was rearranging some stuff. I looked down and for some reason felt I needed to take a picture.

2 more | Southern Maryland Senior Portrait Photographer

Just posting 2 more of my favorite shots from Friday.

Big Birds | Solomons Island Nature Photographer

I love large birds. I really don't know why. But I am in awe everytime I see one. But I have yet to get a shot of one that I think does it justice. Maybe I'm being over critical. Probably not. I have shots of people and other things that I can pat myself on the back for. Of course I could also look at those same pictures and tell you in hind sight what I would do differently. It's the curse of being an artist. I think we all do it. Anyway here is a shot I got yesturday afternoon before I scared it away. She's camera shy.

Playing in the street | Southern Maryland Senior Portrait Photographer

I've gotta friend, my friends calling me...I hear in a tiny singing voice that would be annoying if I didn't find it so darn funny. It's Shannon calling my cell phone (that's her ring tone). "Hey honey" I say to her. And the first words out of her mouth were "Do you want to shoot a wedding tomorrow?" Wait. What?!!? So she gives me a number to call. I call it, and get another number to call. I call IT and they have already found someone to shoot the wedding, but we book a senior session for the next week.

Well guess what..... It's next week. We met in Solomons Island this evening and Ms.G. and her Mom followed me from one location to the next. Her mother told me she would be easy to photograph and she wasn't kidding. I told her where I wanted her, and she posed herself almost everytime. Let me show you some of my favorite images from today. I had a really hard time choosing what to share. I wanted to post them all.

The first location...

As we were going back to our cars to move to another location we stopped to take a few more. I couldn't resist the tall grass.

Ms. Softball in her formal gown with her bat, I love this!

And before we left here I asked her if she wanted to play in the street, and she did not hesitate! I'm not even sure I finished my sentence before she responded.

Untill tomorrow...

Southern Maryland fine art photographer

Just posting a shot taken earlier this year. I borrowed a pair of pointe shoes from a friend just for the purpose of takeing pictures. I haven't taken a lot, but every once in a while I like to take them out and play.

Untill tomorrow...

All for love | Southern MD photographer

I reluctantly scoot out of bed this morning, so early the sun isn't even up yet. Why did I do this? Because my high schooler informed me last night that if he wants do do drill team (and he does) that he has to be at school at 5:55 am. Crazy boy said what?? Since when are activities in the AM? Someone please tell me who's idea this is. Anyway, I get up, make my way to the coffee maker, and check the clock while I wait for the coffee to brew. As I am finishing said cup of coffee I realize he still isn't up. I check the clock again. Looks like we aren't going to make it to his practice. Before I knew it, it was 6:30. He had 5 minutes to leave for the bus stop and I haven't seen or heard him yet. So I stroll down the stairs and knock on his door before opening it...he's still sleeping. Well he did make it to the bus stop. And when he came home this afternoon he told me he can just go tomorrow. Fantastic! I get to get up before the sun again! Can't you just feel the sarcasm? I sure hope he enjoys drill team as much as he thinks he's going to!!

A totally unrelated picture just because I have a thing for spotting cloud formations.

Site makeover | Southern Maryland Photographer

A few weeks ago I watched an online wedding photography course on CreativeLive. There are a few reasons I wanted to watch this course. One is I can't get enough education. I'm always researching things. And two, it was taught by Jasmine Star. I'm sure that means nothing to most of you, but to anyone in the photography industry, she is a rock star. I've followed her work for a few years now because I admire her style. Not only her shooting style but her story telling. And after watching this course I admire her even more. The woman has guts! To shoot a wedding live in front of the world online. And to sit in a class room environment and tell the world how she did it, mistakes and all. Well I learned a lot from her in those 5 days even though I missed parts because I was shooting a wedding myself one of those days. I took some of the things I learned, and gave my site a much needed makeover. I hadn't added pictures to it in almost 2 years. That's like a decade in art years. So some images are gone, some new ones are up. And I'm not quite done. But done enough that I would like to say here, go have a look and tell me your opinion.

Hooray for Holidays | Solomons Island photographer

I love holidays when we can get together with friends and family and simply enjoy each others company. But this time was a little different than normal. My daughter wanted to use one of my older cameras to take pictures this day. But silly mommy forgot to bring it. So with teeth clenched I let her use MINE. So scary to even think about, but she's responsible. I watched her as she protected it while walking and not shooting. I watched her put the lens cap on and put it back in the bag the way it goes when she was done. But when I got home and looked over the pictures (as always) I was pleasantly surprised. So I thought I would choose 2 to share with you.

I really like how she used the bottom of this overturned boat in the bottom of the picture.

In this shot of her sister, I like how she framed her with the slats of the swing across from her. I think she has a natural eye for the interesting, or how to make the ordinary into interesting.

Isaac went for a little swim today after the rest of us finished some yard work. Can you guess from this image what he was swimming in??

If you guessed large flower pot....you are right!

At Isaac's request I took a picture of Sugar. He wanted me to stop taking his picture so he suggested another subject.

And well I can't take a picture of one dog and not the other right?!!? Although Missy would be really happy if I never pointed a camera at her EVER. She ducks every time.

Untill tomorrow....

What I learned tonight | Southern Maryland Photographer

Another late post today. At about 8:00 this evening I looked around my kitchen/dining room/office and decided to rearrange and organize. What on Earth is wrong with me?? I knew this was an all day job before I started, but did it anyway. Here it is going on 11 and I'm not even close to done. And just remembered I needed to type something on here.
So I will share with you some things I've learned this evening. I think this room has too many functions. I don't throw away junk mail fast enough (I just found some sale papers from last Oct.). I write way more than I thought I did. I have a ton of spiral notebooks full of info and notes. I save all of my kids art projects and concert programs, but none of thier school work. And I'm not finishing this job tonight.

Everyday simplicity | Southern Maryland photographer

Just posting a few shots from today. I'd love to be able to tell you some great interesting story right now, but alas the stories I have are anything but interesting. So just for tonight I won't bore you with words.

Untill tomorrow....

Concrete Love in Solomons Island

As I was walking and talking today I glanced down at the walkway and saw a heart shapped hole. I pull out my camera and start taking pictures....of the ground. Does this seem odd? Maybe to some, but those who know me well are not surprised at all. I ALWAYS have my camera on my shoulder or next to me. And it's quite normal for me pick it up, crawl on the ground or climb on something to take a random picture in the middle of a conversation. The part that amuses me, is the conversation doesn't even take a break. Shooting is not a distraction. In fact it's more like breathing, I just do it. I have often taken out my camera while on the phone and started snapping through the conversation. There have been a few times I've been asked "what's that sound" in reference to the sound of my shutter. I guess it sounds like there is something wrong with the phone line. I guess the point is photography is more than a job to me, it's life.

A little change is good every once in a while

So I've moved the blog off of the site. Don't worry old posts are not gone forever. I will post a link where they can be found at the bottom of the page.

It is September 1st and I have decided to blog everyday this month. Sounded like a challenge, and I so love to challenge myself one way or another. Lucky me the first post is easy, introducing the new blog address. Now to figure out an entire months worth of content, this is not going to be easy.

And because I can't post without a picture, I'll share a shot of the flowers I came home to after shooting a wedding all day Saturday.

See you here tomorrow!!