Art and catching up

Oh, only about a month's worth of catching up to do... ha! I have been so busy with work, trying to get photography going, and Mikenna's birthday/Halloween... but I am vowing to catch up on this blog! So here we go....

We love art around here, and I mean LOVE art... as in my 2 year old would happily sit at the table all day with paint, stickers, markers...

Usually Mikenna makes something "for Daddy!" (I guess since I'm the one doing the art with her I don't get pictures made for me... I'll hold out until the preschool days!) This was her little paint/collage masterpiece for her Daddy. Almost 2 year old creativity at it's best!

Love that kid!

DJ Shortstack

I came home from work the other day to find this in the garage:

Have I mentioned what a sucker I am for the whole Daddy/daughter relationship?

 Little miss DJ Shortstack! (Thanks for the nickname, Unco)

Future photographer... maybe?

I'm sure nobody is surprised that I love to take pictures. I take at least five every single day.

I have a serious love for photography, especially capturing every moment with my little.

My amazing hubs recently got me the camera I've been eyeing for some time now and after playing with the settings for days on end, I think I've got it figured out. 

I've thought about photography before... in that "I wish I could be..." way, kinda like a 6 year old dreaming of being a famous movie star.

It's definitely something I've never thought I had the talent or skill for.

I took some photos of my adorable nephews and beautiful sister over the weekend to get some more practice using my wonderful camera. (And some wonderful friends lent me their children too, thank you, thank you Brenda and Fallon!)

I ended up with some decent pictures, I was pretty happy with the outcome.

Decent for a newbie I suppose.
After posting some pics I had several people reach out and ask me if I was doing this on the side, and ask me to do their family pictures!
Thank you, thank you for the confidence!
I think that was the extra push I needed to get this going.
That, and the fact that I am trying to raise my daughter to do something with her life that she is passionate about, something she loves doing.
The best way to teach is to lead by example, right?
It's something I have always dreamed about and I am going to give it my best shot.
First up, lots and LOTS of practice.
I've got 2 family shoots, 2 newborn shoots, and a maternity shoot booked so far.
I know this is going to be a long, challenging road ahead of me, but I'm ready for it.
And at the end of the day, if I fail, what am I losing?
I will always love taking pictures of my little model, so none of the equipment, the practice, or the time will go to waste.

I know I am nowhere near "professional," and I know there will be a lot of work to get there.

I do not want to be someone who calls herself a "photographer" without REALLY knowing what she's doing.

But, I'm ready for the learning process and the work.

Thank you to the people who have reached out, complimented, and helped move me in this direction. And my little Mikenna Faith, thank you for making this life so much better, I think you teach me more than I teach you.