This is kinda neat

Ok, tooting my own horn here. I printed the pictures for Shannon and put them in a little photo book that was included in her baby shower present. Shannon ended up passing the book around to everyone in the shower. I tried to avoid listening to peoples comments as they looked because these kinds of pictures aren't for everyone and I'm just not ready to hear negative!! Well, by the end of the shower one of Shannon's friends came up to me and asked if I do weddings. I said no, that I am not a photographer. It is just something I really enjoy but I am taking classes and hope to get better. She said taht she would love for me to shoot her wedding next September. I told her that made me too nervous because I would hate to mess up something so important as a wedding. She left the conversation saying that I should really consider it and to let her know if I change my mind. HOLY COW!
I have a year to practice right?!
I think I might call Shannon and have her get in touch with the friend to see if she wants to take some engagement shots with her fiance. If she still likes my style after that then I think I might take on the wedding. Then at least it is her choice based on the pictures she has seen. WOW!

here's a little peak

I took some maternity pictures of my friend Shannon a few weeks back. I'm giving her the 4X6 print outs of them at her shower this coming Sunday, but I'll give you guys a little peak. Keep in mind these are all taken without formal classes. There are technically a lot of things wrong with many of them, but I think they turned out well for the most part.

These ones are my favorites. How did I do?

First Class Review

No homework? And this guy calls himself a teacher. Ha!

Ok ok, so I'm not normally one who likes homework, but in this case I would love for him to assign us a task to do with our cameras and share in class the following week. Perhaps he did, but it was minimal. I think he said to play with different setting on our cameras. I'm a little iffy on the class so far but it has only been one and we have 8 more to go so I am positive I'll learn something. All I have to say is that I'm glad I already shoot in Manual and know about apeture, ISO, and shutter speed or I would have been extremely lost last night. I think he tried to go over too much in the first class. I know several people around me who have only ever shot in the automatic programs were lost.
But I have faith. I will learn more. Infact, I plan on asking him next week if he'll assign us some homework!!! This week I just need to get my camera out more often and play around on different settings. I may have to use Jason as my subject since the kids don't sit still.
Oh and since I'm the youngest in class by about 25 years, I don't see this as being the great social gathering I was hoping for. Ha ha.

I'm doing it!

I have signed up and will be taking my very first photography class tonight!!! It is being held at the Studio 1219 in Port Huron, once a week for 9 weeks. I'm so excited! I have so much to learn. Some of you have let me practice on you, but they weren't that great because all I have ever known is just what I have learned on my own. It's about time I get into a class and actually learn what exposure, composition, and white balance are all about!

I'll be sure to post any pictures that I have to take as homework assignments. I am relying on you to let me know if I am getting any better, or if I should just leave it to the professionals! Hopefully I pick up a few things before Shannon's little guy arrives. I'm going to be doing a birth slideshow for her. Then I can get my hands on another newborn for some practice shoots! Oh yeah, and I really need to learn a thing or two so that I can do Emerson's two year old photos come November. Once it gets too cold to go outside, I struggle!

Wish me luck!

First day of school and first soccer game

Seriously, this is the only kind of smile I get anymore.
Big hugs for her bubba
Isn't Emerson's new bag sweet!
It's the only time in my life I have cheered for green!

Darn keyboard

I've been wanting to update for a while. I have pics of the first day of school as well as Kaleb's first soccer game. BUT..... our stupid keyboard is giving me fits. The d,b, and o keys never seem to work. It's kinda hard to do an update without those keys! Until we get a new keyboard, I'll just update you from school.
I'll fill you in on what's been going on and then later tonight I'll just post the pictures from home.

On August 29, Kaleb's old babysitter and Jason's cousin, Jenny had her baby Matthew. He's very cute. You can check him out on the Pitzo's site. Congratulations.

On September 5, our new niece Elsa arrived. I still haven't seen her, but I'm sure she is gorgeous. The funniest story is that my dad thought my brother told him that her name was Elfa. All day long we all walked around thinking "What kind of name is that?" Luckily Rene got to the bottom of it that night and called Chris back. This is when we figured out her real name. Too bad mean Aunt Amber will continue to call her Elfa as a nickname!!! We can't wait to meet her.

We are all back to school and in a good routine. Kaleb and Emerson seem to be doing well at preschool/daycare. Or at least I haven't had any bad reports yet! Grandma Rice is again taking care of Emerson 2 days a week and they really love spending that time together. Emerson calls her "mama Wice". I'm having a great school year so far. It is completely different from last year and more like the kind of classroom I have always wanted. I actually like coming to work this year, so that is a good thing. After last year I could have seriously retired already!!!

Kaleb has started his first soccer season. It is going alright. I'm not sure if he really likes it or not. He gets excited about going, but is easily upset when the ball isn't passed to him or when he can't run as fast as the other kids to get the ball. I think he actually quit 5 times during his first game. I'm hoping that this is a sport he gets into. The amount of running around he does will be great for him and his bed time! I have to remind myself that he is only 4. Some of the other kids are 5 and most of them have already played their first season this past spring. He has a game every Saturday at 9 (until Oct 11) if you are interested in watching.

I'll post the pictures tonight.