friday's featured resource-canvas wraps

We put so much thought into planning our portrait sessions. What to wear? Where to shoot? Then there's the challenge of coordinating schedules, and trying to make sure our kids stay clean for ten minutes. It's easy to see why some of us procrastinate family portraits year after year. Then again, sometimes we do go through all the effort of coordinating a session, only to end up with a couple 5x7s framed on a desk or on a bookcase. To me, that seems like a waste. If you're going to do it, go BIG! Don't go through all the planning and expense of a portrait session, only to have a CD sit in a drawer. And there's no easier way to turn your images into wall art, than through Simply Canvas. They have one product, and they do it well. Plus they're fast, easy to work with, and they can create any custom size that you need. Love them! 

*Edited to add: sorry everyone! When I wrote this, I didn't realize that Simply Canvas is a professional printer only. I know there are lots of places online that do gallery wraps, which you can find using a google search. I don't want to recommend one that I haven't used. So here's another great option. San Antonio Photolab is a local resource here, but they do have online services. You can easily create an account and upload your files. They do great work. You do have to pay for shipping for the wraps, but is FREE for regular prints.

truth

"Everywhere I went people welcomed me with warmth. In friendship they  politely expressed their natural apprehension about pictures: 'We hope photographs can express the truth'. Fortunately, the language of pictures, like the language of friendship, is very straightforward and uncomplicated. Like a helicopter, the photograph takes over where language leaves off, transcends linguistic limits and lands in the heart of the matter."

-Bhupendra Karia - Russian Immigrants, Tel Aviv, 1972, Creative Camera, page 421-December 1973

What kinds of truths do your photos reveal today?

discovery

I spend lots of time thinking about what I want to teach her. I want to tell her that the older you get, the greyer life gets, and it's always hard in one way or another. But it's also beautiful, so don't become jaded and worn. Continue to look for what settles you. And It's okay if people aren't happy with you, as long as you're being your own best friend. And if you get married, make sure he has social skills because you won't want to baby-sit him at parties. And there's a God who's really big, who has your best interest in mind, so try to spend time with him. And it's okay to ask the pedicurist when was the last time that she sanitized that bowl. And on and on. And then I worry and worry. And worry more. Because I'm afraid I might not be doing it "right".  

Then I see a photograph like this. It was a surprise to me, until I downloaded it. This little moment of her, right before she blew out three whole candles on her birthday cake. I marveled when I found it. Her little life. She's circled the sun just three times. Yet she looks like she carries secrets to the universe in her pocket. And then I realize that for everything I want to tell her, teach her, show her...the exchange will be mutual. And I'm happy to be humbled.

What about you? Download any surprises recently? 

Crap Shoot

I saw a photograph the other day of a baby. She was about eight months old, with round bubble gum cheeks that sat on her tiny shoulders. It reminded me of my own babies. Except suddenly I couldn't think of any pictures that I had of my own childrens' cheeks. The realization felt surprising and sad. And final. Like without the solidity of a photograph, the memory of those details was now precarious. What about their fat knuckles?  And their finger nails? And their belly buttons? Did I take pictures of these things? Or had I been putting it off until "tomorrow when I wasn't so busy". And now it was too late, and those memories feel like any minute they might fly away. Then, the more I thought, the more I realized I hadn't been putting off those pictures because I was busy. It was because I'd been viewing my life as a photographer. Instead of a mother. Person.Observer. We talk a lot around here about showing the messy, the real, the imperfect. And I believe in all of that. So that's why it surprised me to realize that I'd been looking at my whole LIFE as a photo session. If the light was bad, what's the point? If I was too far away, "it'll just sit on my hard drive as a snap shot anyway". YUCK. Sometimes we end up longing for those "bad" snap shots!

So, I'd been mulling this over. And Monday I had an opportunity to get over my self and my stupid perfectionism. My daughter, Annie, started kindergarten and my heart was in my throat. There were people, and flourescent lights. She was nervous, and I was missing her already. All I had was my little camera, and a horrible view of her in a far-away sea of children. But it was the last view I'd have before she walked into that Big Girl Hallway. My baby. The one I kept in the hospital bed with me because I wanted to watch her breathe. She used to fit into my kitchen sink. And her day belonged to me. Now I would have to rely on others to tell me about it. So many times I'd been counting down "until". But at that moment I would've given anything to be able to put her back into that sink for one more bath. Or to feel her sleeping on my shoulder.

I didn't want to lose that feeling. So I whipped out my little camera, zoomed in as close as I could, and got this. A shot that is so blurry you can't hardly make her out. But I love it because it reminds me of how fast everything goes by.

So, in honor of "letting go", I'm calling this "Crap Shoot" day. These are your shots that wouldn't necessarily win an award, but that help you save an important story. Please share yours with us! And then next week, stop by my blog on Thursday, because I think I'm going to make this a regular thing.

p.s. I don't consider this shot above as a "crap shot". It's just an image of one of my sweet clients. They're expecting their first child, and it reminded me about how fast it all goes. One day you're shining a flash light into a belly. The next, you're watching your baby waltz into kindergarten. So take pictures. In the end, all that matters is remembering.

surprises everywhere

At first, I found the request for shooting an office party to be puzzling. I imagined dozens of people in slacks making awkward small talk, while balancing shrimp cocktail on their knees.  Why in the world would someone want to document this?! But I agreed. And when I showed up, I realized why they'd hired me. It was a group of 13 people who had worked really hard together for years. It didn't feel like a "networking event" as much as it felt like a genuine celebration of dedication, and accomplishment, and joy. There were pride-filled tears and hugs, and laughter. And since they seemed more like family than co-workers, that's how I wound up shooting them. It was a sweet reminder that it's always about the people. It was also an unexpected treat to find an empty office in the back, with the best window light ever! I used this room for headshots. This is Mr. Boston, with his awesome parents Jesi and Winston. They all have a special place in my heart, not just because they are so fun to photograph, but because Boston is single-handedly responsible for the Red Sox winning the World Series last year. Yep. AND, in the spirit of surprises, I'm totally going to rat Jesi out right now. Look closely...can you see her toes? Looking all painted and cute? When she took off her shoes, only TWO were painted! She is a girl after my own heart! Congratulations everyone at United Lending!

How about you? What surprises do you have in store for us today?