Hello there Friends!
Just recently I put my kids through the torture of being a photographer's child! Oh the sweet satisfaction it was to put them through it. I have an old door with window panes that I want to fill with images and hang on my wall! It will look awesome! So outside we went- to the very depths of the untamable nature that is my front yard!
First, I started with my son Caden and the last homeless kitten that was looking for adoptive parents. Almost, like an Oliver and company movie, just less dramatic- If we couldn't find a home for him we were willing to keep him. Who can say no to a kitty?!
Caden was not feeling well that day so he lasted maybe 10 minutes. It was morning light and very soft light. He looked beautiful and although the kitten whom had never been outside before was a tad scared he did well in Caden's arms. Here are the images I have decide to print.
This little boy kitten laid out on Caden and his fluffy hair caught the light and and even in the soft shadow of the morning light Caden's beautiful skin glowed.
And Caden kissed the kitty and the kitty looked at me and my heart swelled. This lovely moment forever of my sweet and innocent and loving young boy.
And then a magical kiss. This makes my mom heart flutter and my photographer heart soar. This is my boy and a kitten he saw birthed, and the sweetness of a father shines through. A young boy full of hope and kindness beams in this single kiss with a kitten.
And then Caden lifted him into the air and presented the orange cat as if he too would be lion king and named Simba. With the light shining on them and the ivy brilliant in it its texture and fullness this image screams to me in black and white.
And the color is as pretty and I don't yet know which I will print. The husband will vote for color- as he prefers images of our kids in color.
And Caden Cuddled the cat in a sweet armful of furry kitten. The light caught in the kitten's eye. I prefer candid shots in black and white- and this one is no exception.
Now, I will not lie to you, I thought it would just be Caden and the kitten and I would do another theme for Corben. But then, Corben saw me editing and sharing these images and decided he want to do an animal session too. So he borrowed a critter from an anonymous neighbor and gave me the fastest 5 minute shoot I have ever had. He was totally in charge. I went along with it happy my son was telling e how it was going to to be. He would not be outdone by his brother. And so we went to the same spot in the front yard in the last rays of the day. The sun was harsh, not yet hidden by the hill side but the rays had turned orange. He sat and beauty happened in an instant as he showed me the same loving and caring qualities Caden had in just a few brief moments.
The directional light was casting shadows, and this young boy decided laying down was not going to happen. So he sat and cuddled the critter. He is not posed. He held him this way on his own. I asked only that he would keep his face in the sun. I love seeing his hair catch the light, the shadows of his eyelashes and melting butter softness of the background.
And the cuddle of a critter. I came in close to grab the image. It has this intimate feel and grand look. The black is harsher- the light was different. I love this image. I love the softness in which my son held the critter. He too is like a his father, open to giving and receiving love aware of his strength and power and gentle with creatures. My son in all his sweetness.
Corben was done he said. I was out of time. I had not directed him, but he was not interested anymore. I backed up and he was about to raise himself up when the critter moved and the next award winning image was captured.
And Corben stalled getting up to reassure the critter- and then this magic happened. The light hit him in the way and the shadows were deep and his soul shined. I look at this image and see his eyelashes flutter on the last remnants of baby soft cheeks and lips I have given mommy kisses to a thousand and one times. My baby boy. My gorgeous stunning baby boy. And an image that makes me stop as mother and photographer. Featured and published on Inspire Magazine.
This is the color image. The texture, background foreground and shadows and light have all been retouched to look this way. Like a painting, I wanted my subject to be on display.
Now, These images did not just look like this. I used the skills I have picked up over the years to retouch them to look this way. This image was taken in my front yard and the images have been edited in a way to minimize that appearance.
This is the spot used for this session as taken by my Samsung in mid morning light.
This image is from my professional camera in manual mode with a nifty 50mm. It has had some editing in adobe Camera Raw- to read the high resolution image information. I adjusted the colors, the light and shadows, and the sharpness of the image. The exposure was not changed.
Before and after Color
Before and after Color to the black and white award wining retouched image
Here the images have been placed side by side.
Photography is a sum of many parts. Light, composition, gear, location, subject and editing. Choosing a photographer a choosing the sum of all those parts. Skills, experience and education make up for amazing images. I only hope that my work will continue to grow and so will my business. Please help my business grow. Please leave positive reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, Yahoo, or words of praise here. Please send your friends! And thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement. I and my family thank you so much!