kiddosphotos's Xanga

Fun~loving~forever.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:47:38 GMT

A. Ann

Love Shack.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:42:40 GMT

A. Ann

Field of Dreams.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:36:34 GMT

A. Ann

Sunset in the field.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:33:02 GMT

I've not been taking clients this year - um, like duh, eight kids is a lot and they keep me wonderfully busy! But. . . there were a few who signed me up last year for this year and there are a few who are, well, awesome cousins to me and I couldn't turn them down for the world. Love this girl! (and she got a pretty cool guy too.)

A. Ann

More to Come.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:04:38 GMT

A. Ann

Senior Session!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:35:36 GMT

I had the pleasure of shooting senior portraits for my husband's cousin's daughter about two weeks ago. :) What a beautiful girl inside and out! She was a delight to be with and I loved getting to know her a little bit more during our picture taking time together. Though a distant cousin to my own children, it's still pretty cool to see little characteristics that are similar! :) Meredith, may God bless your senior year! You are truly a treasure to Him and to your family and friends. Thanks for spending the afternoon with me! I remember shooting pictures of you when you were little - you were a sweetheart then and now!

A. Ann

Full Term.

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:18:53 GMT

(Exposure 1/125, Aper. f/4.0, ISO 800) (Exposure 1/100, Aper. f/3.5, ISO 800)

Canon 7D Lens 50.0 mm. hand held automatic snap.

Natural light. Slight white balance change in Aperture 3.

I set these up to snap a few this week at full term and Baby wanted to join the fun. We can't wait

to see her response to the new baby when she gets here! She hasn't seemed to have a clue!

A. Ann

D + P = forever.

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:00:26 GMT

A few favs to share!

A. Ann

Just the Beginning.

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:46:07 GMT

I have been taking only a few clients here and there in this pregnancy and slow to post, but have been looking forward to an opportunity to post some from this great couple's session for awhile now.

We shot at several different locations so this is just the beginning of this fun, romantic shoot ~ but I had to start somewhere so here we go!

Thanks, guys! You were great fun to be with for the afternoon and a wonderful couple in every way.

A. Ann

Off Season: Personal Shoots in the Month of May.

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:58:57 GMT

Though this blog is typically dedicated to clients instead of personal photography posts, I hate it being neglected. I've been taking a break during this pregnancy . . . A break from regular client scheduling, but not a break from photography. I like to keep my creative juices flowing even on the off times, so every now and again I just do a shoot for fun.

Yesterday was a big day at our house. Not only was it our 14th anniversary (Yahoo!), but my youngest daughter turned two (Adorable!) . . . and we went in for our long over due ultrasound to find out the gender of our new baby on-the-way! (We couldn't be more thrilled with our discovery!)

With the first four pregnancies, I didn't take one maternity shot. Sad. And far too self-conscience.

Honestly, I think it was because I had the false belief that pregnancy was not a beautiful time and hiding the belly was ok and pictures were to be taken when you felt good about yourself. Not true, but believed nevertheless.

When I got surprisingly pregnant with Caed, something changed. My whole belief system really switched and I saw pregnancy as a MUST time to not only take pictures but document the changes, and celebrate the life growing within. I WANTED to take pictures! I think I took a picture each month throughout the nine month pregnancy. It's really cool to have those in his baby journal and it's neat for me to see the miracle of pregnancy and how God makes us as women to carry a life within! I so wish I'd done that with the babies prior to Caed.

But . . . I refused to wallow in my regret and I decided to make up for it in following pregnancies.

I've not done so good this time around (busy can do that to me) but I figured it's never too late and with the discovery of the gender of our baby yesterday I was more motivated than ever -- shooting my own maternity shoot. I plan to take a few right before baby is due as well no matter how swollen the face and belly after a long hot summer lol.

I've seen plenty of maternity shoots, done quite a few myself for others -- I know the common poses that are done, the typical looks, the belly shots, heart with hands over stomach, head bowed~contemplative - there's the lots of skin maternity shoots, and then there's the husband/wife poses and such...

Besides contemplative (which is actually something I do feel in pregnancy!) none of this is really my personal style and so instead of attempting to mimic what's out there, I went with who I am - and what's easy to shoot when you're in the picture and setting up the picture!

I wanted to show off the growing belly and baby obviously on the way, but I also feel that being pregnant doesn't mean you have to change your style of dress, creativity in color, or opt for all the skin showing (this can be beautiful - but it's not me.) Pregnancy can still be feminine, fashionable and fun and I wanted my six month documentation of how my body and baby are growing to display that.

The Goodwill store is my favorite maternity clothing stop-off. A few outlandish shoes to add to the mix always helps - and some make-up - and fun locations. I know not everyone cares a hoot about what and where clothing came from or how it was put together, but then there are some right brainers out there who find it interesting and fun like me, so I've added commentary on the outfits.

(First place I took a few shots was a lot I just discovered nearby that has several old cars sitting about. The dress and shoes are Goodwill finds - I just couldn't resist wearing happy bright blue shoes for no reason at all - earrings from sale rack at World Market, and sweater one I've had in my closet for a while now. Here are some shoes I think would be awesome for a fun happy maternity shoot:

1. http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11684332&cp=4238904

2. http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11271540&cp=4238904

3. http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11234539&cp=4238904

(A little on further down the country road there was a collection of old houses/barns. I adore the lighting. The summer top (perfect for our 98 degree weather that day!) I found at a a craft fair booth for near nothing, the shoes are pretty much my favorite in my closet - $7. at Charlotte Russe a few years ago.)

(On our way home I saw a place I've never shot before. In our old town section there was a restaurant that's been shut down. I noticed the cool outdoor patio was deserted and weather ruined, but the chairs and tables were still sitting there and sections of the barn looking structure were down and letting in light from above in certain areas. . . I couldn't resist checking it out. The green and pink flowered dress is a Betsy Johnson dress I found at the Goodwill last week. I love finding items that work for all nine months of pregnancy plus will be a pretty item afterwards. Worth the $6. paid.)

This old restaurant had more potential than I could shoot in my spare 15 min. I had there so I will have to return with someone other than myself because I enjoy taking the pictures far more than I like setting up the camera and running into a picture!

Anyone need a late senior portrait shoot and want a randomly creative old restaurant location? I'm serious, message me.

(Location - backyard. Red shirt Goodwill $2.99. Ridiculously high red shoes -I think I might reach 6'2 in those things lol! - Charlotte Russe, $5.)

I look forward to printing a few of these off and putting them in this new baby's journal. I want her to know I celebrated being pregnant with her and marveled at God's goodness in her growth inside of me along the way -- despite the discomfort. It's worth it every time.

Here are some adorable pieces that would be wonderful coupled/layered for maternity wear:

1. http://www.shopruche.com/spanish-cathedral-strapless-dress-p-7219.html

2. http://www.shopruche.com/share-our-love-floral-maxi-dress-p-7155.html

3. http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=967120022&MasterCategory_Id=MC3

4. http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=966910023&MasterCategory_Id=MC3

5. http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=22205876&catId=CLOTHES-DRESSES&pushId=CLOTHES-DRESSES&popId=CLOTHES&navAction=top&navCount=30&color=095&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=CLOTHES-DRESSES-PRINTED&templateType=subCategory

Here are some other maternity shoot thoughts - just personal preference obviously - but still, might be helpful for those looking to do one:

Avoid weird shots :)

~Avoid silhouetting bellies, hand-hearts over belly, and just anything that is overdone. Just having a pregnant woman in a picture qualifies it as maternity so you don't really need to do something that points to the belly since it's already so obviously there.

~Stay clear of muslin studio backdrops if you are after a natural look. Go for natural light.

~Remember that what works with your clothes on doesn't necessarily work with your clothes off. Maternity shoot doesn't mean you have to bare the belly. There is the typical shot of one partner behind the other in a big hug around the mom's belly. This might look fine - but take your clothes off and it is a DIFFERENT IMAGE. Personally, I find the belly covered, clothes-on maternity shoots more attractive and natural -- and I don't think my someday grown son would be embarrassed to view. Just a thought.

~Dress as comfortably as you can while still feeling like you look your best. Don't feel like you must wait until the very end of your pregnancy for it to be a maternity shoot. Tight fitted tops or something that really shows off the bump is a fine look to do but frilly dressier looks work too. Don't be afraid of color. Use it - if it's you. Too many maternity pictures are done wearing all white or all black. Put some color on for some of the shoot and celebrate life!

~Don't feel like daddy has to be in the maternity shoot. Unless you know he is going to look natural and comfortable doing so, don't push it. Just make up for it by taking lots of pics of him and baby when baby arrives.

Another little shoot I did this past month was the two birthday girls in my house. They are so uniquely different from each other, yet I can tell are going to be such close sister-friends. I just love that. Unlike the maternity shoot, my boys playing basketball and happy to stay home, I just put up a large piece of black felt in my front door way and focused on capturing close-ups and personality traits through facial expressions. They were both delightfully in the mood to let me play around with the camera and doorway lighting for a few minutes. . . then they ran off. :)

Happy birthday, my May birthday girls! You are both a wonder to me and I am so grateful to God that He would allow me the pleasure and blessing of being your mom. I don't deserve it and marvel at how you have changed my life in a wonderful way.

A. Ann~