Kids Fall 2011 Portraits - My how they've grown!

4 years ago, now, I put my foot down, and decided that school portraits both A) Suck, and B) Cost an arm and a leg. So, to get around it, I decided to pick up my own little Kodak point and shoot, and try my hand at taking the photos myself.

I wasn't sure where that would go, but it wound up becoming a part time job that I love. I've long since upgraded from a point and shoot to a Sony DSLR that I absolutely love. And as for saving money? Well, I suppose when you factor in the cost of my camera, I really didn't save money anymore, but it's something I love, and it does make me some money on the side.

Anyway, here is a look at how far I've come, and how much the lil monsters darlings have grown.

I have seen a lot of growth both in my SOOC (straight off the camera) photos, and my editing skills over the past year, and I love seeing how they turn out each time I do a shoot.

This summer, we were out a lot- we did a 5 day family vacation, a few small weekend things, and I went on my own kid-free, spouse-free vacation for 5 days as well.

With all of this, I did not do nearly as many photoshoots this year as I did last year, but it picked up this fall, and since September, I've done 3 senior portrait sessions, and several families. Fall is just a fun time for photos!

Time Management

I am the first to admit it- craft wise, I've been a bit of a slacker this month. Spring is always such a fun time, when the world around us is waking up. It's also the time when my second life comes to the front, and takes over.

Several years ago, I discovered that I loved taking pictures. Love, love, love it. And last year, after doing my own children's portraits for school, I started hearing the question, "Will you do mine...?"

With a bundle of nerves (will they like it? will I flop? will they suck horribly?), I stepped off a platform, and started to advertise to family and friends that I would take photos. Last fall, I did 9 photo shoots, which wasn't much, but fall in Michigan is cold, and the weather is temperamental.  I only do outdoor shoots, as I have no studio, and none of the fancy equipment that a studio requires for lighting issues.

Now, though, with Spring here, I've been busy advertising myself, and scheduling and doing photo shoots. Well, shoot. I've done one so far this spring, and have a few more booked.

I still love crafting, and will still make time to sneak projects in weekly, and will still be running this blog, but I wanted to explain why I've only posted a few projects so far for April.

Here are some photos of my last shoot, which was of my daughter, Raegan. She's not the girly girl type, and refers to these shoots as "Raegan Barbie Day", but she loves how they turn out, and in turn, I get some referral help through her friends, who all want great photos, as well.

So, that's what I do when I'm not crafting. I tote my camera around, and take pictures. Now, I'm hoping to earn some money doing it. So I can buy more fun craft stuff. So I don't put us in the poor house crafting. :p