Let's Luau!

Do you guys all remember my little neice...E?

Remember...the funny face and the tears?

Yes. She's adorable. AND...she's getting ready to turn 2 the end of August. My sister is planning a big 2-year birthday luau party and it should be a blast. But in order to plan the PERFECT Hawaiian-themed luau party...she needed E's photo taken with her in her size 9 months mu-mu. I think that is what mu-mu's are for....no waist and can wear them whenever and whatever size.

So the other night we were all at my dad's for dinner and had an impromptu photo-shoot to try and get some good shots for her invitations. I think we got some good ones...and I just laugh at the looks she can give you...or how silly she can act.

And let's not forget her sister...M (who will be 5 in November!).

So, I decided to post some of my favorites. This fall we'll get M & E's offical 2 and 5-year old portraits done...as well as some family portraits. So until then...ENJOY all the images!

Head-Shots

I was contacted not that long ago from an old friend from my childhood. She now lives out in California with her husband and daughter, and she was going to be home over the 4th of July.

Her daughter is gorgeous, and she was looking for someone to do some "head shots" for her to send out to some agents. She's a reader of my blog (Hi Jaime!) and thought of me!

Yay!

So the day after the 4th of July, I met her, her daughter, and her sister-in-law for a quick mini session.

Little Emma wasn't quite sure what to think of me, and kept giving me some dirty looks with her scrunched up face. It's pretty funny. I did get some shots where she wasn't giving me the evil-eye, and I think they turned out pretty good. By the way....I LOVE her little dress!

Oh, and she didn't like the wet, dewey grass. :) I think this was a mixture of being tired, being off of her time-zone, and needing a bit of a snack. So instead of walking and frolicking in the grass, we played on the playground! And picnic tables!!!!

Enjoy!

I love this one....giving me the evil-eye while she eats her strawberry snacks. I think she thought I was going to reach over and take one. :) Too cute!

Good Weather....Good Photos!

Well, the weather has finally cleared up some from our nasty bout of severe weather. All I can say is Thank The Lord! I'm tired of all this rain.

What comes with good weather?

Good photography conditions!!!!!

I've been brainstorming on ways to advertise my business more and more. I've got it on the classifieds here at my work, I've got it on Craigslist, I've got it on IndyMoms.com. Where else should I advertise????

My portfolio lacked some babies and pregnant ladies. So I ran an ad on IndyMoms.com for some newborns and pregnant moms out there. I've had some luck...and have added those photos onto my website. My neighbor is due any day...but not real comfortable with taking maternity photos. I've advised her that I'm stealing her newborn for an hour or two when she gets home to take photos of. I just know she'll be beautiful! I've also got a maternity session lined up this week so hopefully I'll have photos to post later on.

I'm going to a playdate on Wednesday to meet some west-side moms and kids....and bringing my camera. Who knows if I'll run into the Cutest! Kid! Ever! while I'm there (besides my own). Plus, this is a great way to spread the word. An added bonus is that G will wear himself out and sleep soundly that night...and hopefully meet some new friends.

So back to my baby shots. I took them on Saturday...and photographed a 7-week old little girl...and a 4-month old little boy. Let me just say that they were ADORABLE!

The 7-week old ideally should have been a few weeks older...or a few weeks younger. Not an ideal age...but my word she was gorgeous. Can you tell her name started with an R???

And the 4-month old little boy was happy as could be. He literally smiled the entire time his big ol' toothless grin. Made me really miss my G-Man when he was that age. Also, while editing the photos...I have found that the colored photos are really the way to go for these little guys. Black and white I have found rarely look that great with the little ones (some exceptions do apply). I think it has to do with their innocence and perfect, soft, pink skin.

I've got a 1-year old girl on Friday night...and my friend (the graphic designer who I have been working to death) and I are getting together on Saturday so I can photograph her kids. Let me just say that they are gorgeous so I know they'll turn out great.

So, share some ideas on how to promote my business (kinda cheaply) and spread the word for me!

Photos for the taking...

I love taking smiling photos, sleeping photos, staring intently photos...but most of all I love the pissed-off/crying photos.

Like this one of my neice, E.

I do believe she's crying because G-Man knocked her over and her mommy (my sister) came to the rescue.

I just love the big tears....

Photoshop is my friend...

and I'm just now realizing how much I love one single photo....7 different ways.

I mean...how do you choose 1 single photo? Especially when I like that one photo with a lot of color, with black and white, and with an "old school" look to it?

I'm finding out that my preference is an old school look...with a lot of light.

Like these kiddos...my triplet neices and nephew. In order, A, B and C.

I guess I need to ask my clients what they like (BW, color, old school) before I edit 100 photos for them...and edit them 3 different ways. *sigh*

First "Official" Photoshoot

Okay, the photoshoot was a hit. I don't know if I had great models (yes, I did), or if I really do have a knack for this photography stuff.

I'm thinking both.

I definitely feel more qualified after having my first "successful" photoshoot. I got a ton of photos that I'm working on editing, and I have to say I believe this one is my favorite so far.

My neices are beautiful, and my nephew quite handsome (although he quit posing for me about 30 minutes into the "shoot") and I can't help but take good photos when you got cute kids to work with.

Question for my readers....would YOU pay me to take photos of your kids? I think I need a little validation here.

Anyway, enjoy! I'll post more of the shoot later...but I am thinking this one is my favorite so far.

My neice, A.

Saturday

In starting my new side-business, I need subjects to photograph. And G-Man is certainly adorable...but I think everyone over at Ms. Crafty Wanna-Be is sick and tired of looking at photos of my son.

I am not...but it's all about you.

So I called my step-sister the other day (who has triplets) and asked her if I could practice on her kids. You know, the ones that are at that perfect age where they're not too old to hate getting their picture taken, and older than the kids who avoid me like the plague.

And it doesn't hurt that they are adorable.

So I'm going over to their house Saturday to do a shoot, and I hope to get some great shots. I can't wait to share them all with you!

Until then, here's their Christmas card photo from 2007.

First Post....

Of my brand new blog.

Welcome! Ms. Crafty Wanna-Be lurkers can come on over to JVW Photography!

As long as I can remember, I've loved to take photos. It's always been a dream to be a photographer. You know...one of those dreams that never come true and you never think they'll come true.

Yeah, one of those.

But guess what?

It's coming true.

Thanks to my handy-dandy camera I bought late last summer and some really cool subjects, websites, and some moolah ($$).

Again, welcome to my site. I plan to update it as I go along and get a better look, but for now it's going to have to do.

In the meantime, check out my photos, think about hiring me to take your kid's photos, and send me cool photo ideas (I'm always up for inspiration!).

So, for now, I leave you with my neice, E.