The Joy of LOVE - Part 5

 Day 25- When You Love Them the Most

Sam works very hard for his family.  I love how he's meticulously putting together this wooden swing set, making sure that it's safe for his kids.

Day 26- Bromance/ Best Friends

Brian loves to hang out with his best friend, Caleb. 

Here they are enjoying one of their favorite drinks, hot chocolate. 

 Day 27- What They Say

That cry of is saying, "Mommy, can you make my gums stop hurting?  My first tooth sure hurts!"

Day 28- The Future

This picture says it all.  Brian sure looks up to his dad.

The Joy of LOVE - Part 4

Day 19- When They're Gone

Tyler gets to watch whatever he wants on TV when Daddy and Brian are gone.
He can totally relax and kick his feet up.

Day 20- When They're Home

When everyone is home, my kids still make it outside to play.  Sometimes, we're really relaxed and let the kids play in the rain.  They more mud they can create, the better.

Day 21- Hands

The mouth behind those little hands is saying, "No more pictures, Mom!"

Day 22- Face: Portrait

Here's my man, Sam!  I love him.

Day 23- Facebook

This was taken back in 2008 at Staci and Kyle's wedding.  This was the best self portrait I could get of

me and my man.  Looks like my little man made it in the picture too.  Too bad he's squished between us.

Day 24- Where

Sam and I met almost 9 years ago.  We first met in The Galley (BYU-Idaho's cafeteria.)  My husband is a pretty quiet guy, so people are shocked to hear that he was the one who approached me and introduced himself.  To read the whole detailed STORY about us, our time dating, engaged, and so on, click HERE.   I'm glad we took a picture in front of the entrance over 2 years ago because that cafeteria no longer exists.

SOAR! Teleconference with Me Ra and The Wisdom Connection

Here are my notes from the Teleconference that was back on February 18th:

SET BOUNDARIES - Don't surf the internet after 10PM looking at other photography blogs.  It makes you feel discouraged.

THE FIRST STEP.  Each woman that submitted a SOAR! application video came out of the dark and let the world know of their dream... to have a photography business of their own.

The SECOND STEP.  Don't put all of your effort in building your photography business into the wee hours of the night.  Let your kids see the ups and downs of you building your dreams.  God is going to give you a vision of your dream.  Hard days come.  Don't second guess yourself.  Believe and tell your kids what your dream is.  An idea is to hire a babysitter for 4 hours a week twice a week.  There is no shame in that.

ME RA's ASSIGNMENT:  Write a paragraph that answers the question:  What does it mean to shoot like a woman/ approach the camera like a woman?  Email your answers to mera@merakoh.com

Here's what I wrote for Me Ra's assignment:

"As a woman, my mind seems to be racing of all the things I have to accomplish in my day.  So when I want to stop and take a photo, I pick up my camera and my mind switches gears to thinking:

-Where is the light coming from?  

- I then change the white balance.

- I meter off my hand.

- I take the picture quick before I loose "the moment."

- I cross my fingers hoping that the pictured turned out.

It gets overwhelming to remember what is most important in taking a photo.  I want to get to the point where I've mastered the camera settings, especially manual mode, and that I can work on getting more creative photos."   - Lisa Ward

* Side note:  Follow the SOAR! blog and leave the 3 Soar Scholarship Recipients comments on the blog. 

Wendy Zippwald is the SOAR! Coordinator and a photographer.  Check out Wendy's photography website/blog.


SOAR! Weekly Events on the Soarority Forum
These events are meant to empower and encourage women.


Ask and Learn with a Professional Photographer- 1st Thursday of every month from 6-8pm MST.
* You can email Wendy Zippwald if you'd like to suggest a photographer.  wendy@merakoh.com

Images for Inspiration- 2nd Week of Each Month. We will have a new category for you to post images to inspire others. If you can, please include your photo recipe, including ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and Lens used.

Ask and Learn with a Previous SOAR! Applicant or Confidence Workshop Attendee-  3rd Thursday of every month from 6-8pm MST.

Monthly Photography Exercise- Due the last Tuesday of Every Month. This is where you will post your monthly SOAR! photography exercise results. (The exercise that the SOAR! Recipients do during the second week on the SOAR! blog.) Two to Three will be Critiqued by Pros!

Christine Baker created an very detailed video on the Soarority Forum that tells how to navigate the forum.

Notes from Karen Buckley of The Wisdom Connection:

TIME TO REFLECT.  Notice your breath.  Look out to December 31, 2011.  Imagine your heart feeling full and satisfied because you fulfilled your business dream.  Here are some questions I'd like you to answer: (I pushed 1 on my phone to "raise my hand" and answer the questions out loud on the teleconference.  It was fun to share my answers.  My answers are italicized below.)

#1 What is one step you can take this year towards your business dream?  I am planning on taking Brooke Snow's Advanced Pro Photography online class this year... most likely in the fall.

#2 What is one way I can hold myself back this year?  I can hold myself back this year by continuing to view other photography blogs late at night.  I get somewhat discouraged at looking at other's professional photographs, but I try to stay positive and realize that I too can capture great photos with more practice and more education in photography.

#3  What is one phrase that you can say to yourself to help you stay encouraged this year?  I've been reading Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist Way."  In the book, my favorite affirmation that I read and will now say to encourage myself this year is: "As I create, I will be led."

The Joy of LOVE

I'm enjoying the free online photography class, The Joy of Love.  The instructor of this class has been sending the students an email every day.  The email has a topic for us to photograph.  We are to photograph the ones we love.  You'll notice that I have the most pictures of Tyler.  It's not that I love Tyler more than the other members of my family, it just so happens that Tyler is the one I'm around the most during the day and he is the most willing person for me to photograph.   Here are my results so far:

Day 1:  What They Do

Tyler LOVES eating plain bagels covered with a thin layer of creamy peanut butter.

 

Day 2: How They Look

This is Tyler's look of LOVE... messy hair, chapped lips, and all.

Day 3: Then & Now

Can you tell this is the same boy?  I sure can. 

Day 4:  What They Wear

Tyler got these camouflage boots for Christmas and wears them almost everywhere.

Day 5: Love to Hate
I'm glad Brian has socks to wear.  I just wish he'd find matching pairs of socks to wear instead of his mismatched huge socks.

Day 6: Who They Love
My boys LOVE hanging out with their dad.  They especially love eating breakfast together.
The boys usually run to the door to greet their daddy after he's had a long day at work.
(Brian is covering his eyes because he was tired of me taking pictures.)

More photos to come soon!

FREE CLASS - The Joy of Love

Join me in this free photography class.
Class starts tomorrow. 
Click HERE to find out more and to sign up:

This Looks Fun

This FREE two-week class begins on July 6, 2009! Click HERE for more info.

Free Online Class from a PRO!!!

This flier says it all. I've never taken a class from Jessica Sprague. I have heard of others who have loved her classes. And, since this class is FREE, I'm going to take the class. For more detailed information, click here.