Hello down there

This photo makes me giggle.  Meet Joey, he is my 9 year old paint.  For as far back as I remember I had always wanted a paint horse.  The reason is silly, I was a little girl and I thought they were so pretty and they were super cool because a paint horse was the kind of horse the Indians rode.  And of all the photos I have of him, this one is my favorite so far.  It looks like he is smiling for my camera.  He is a big guy so he really does stand this much higher than my eye level, this photo makes him look 10 feet tall.  And the nose and outer edges of his lips and the chin is the softest parts of a horse.  I love petting him here.  If you ever find yourself out in the pasture with some horses you trust, pet one right there on its nose.  I promise you'll love it.

Anyway, thanks for reading.  Enjoy your weekend J

Tail feathers

Well I guess this is proof I have made it to being a real "country girl"  because who else other than a country girl would think that a bunch of chicken butts was photo worthy.  I know it's silly, but there was just something about the way they couldn't have cared less that I was in their space snapping pictures of them...all they cared about was the feed I scattered on the ground 15 minutes before I decided to take some farm photos (this is just one of many from that day)  I love the whole farm life thing I don't have a lot to share about this photo, but I loved it and wanted to show it off.  I do believe that when I get to do the chicken coop remodel in the spring I may just have to print it and hang it up for them to enjoy (i know, crazy...but hey, its OK)

Thanks for visiting.
Have a wonderful day!

ps.  don't forget to check out my other blog
tlcsrandomlife.blogspot.com
there is going to be a giveaway soon!  :)

My go at senior pictures

That's right, I got a real chance to do senior pictures and what better senior than one that don't judge me about my ability(or lack thereof).  This was so much fun for me, a photo shoot a full year in the making but fun nonetheless.  I hope to get the chance to do senior photos again.  I will say that as outgoing and head strong as she seems to you she is quite shy when it comes to being in front of the camera.  Now maybe she isn't like that with everyone but she was with me.  I not sure really why she was so tense sometimes because my only request was that she just be herself.  Most of the time it only took a few clicks of the shutter when she wasn't paying attention to get her to relax a little(some of my best photos of her are when she wasn't trying to pose)  We did photos for all seasons except winter...not sure why she wouldn't go out tromping through the 15+ inches of snow we got last February with me to get some winter shots.  Anyway, we started with summer shots at the lake, then I got a new point and shoot camera that takes underwater photos I jokingly mentioned we should do some underwater shots for fun.  I didn't think she would really want them as her senior photos but she did.  Now I love everything about this photo.  The green is green, the blue of the pool just pops, her hair(I love the color of her hair) EXCEPT that silly truck in the background!  I hated that it ruined my favorite shot (she loved that part about it-her and her momma both)  Most "real" photographers would say "oh no that won't work" there is garbage in the background, the light on her face is too splotchy there are too many shadows or some mess like that, but you can see her reflection in the water and the waters light on her pretty face is awesome.  In this photo, I don't recall just what she was looking at, but it was one of those moments that she wasn't paying me any mind and I was clicking away and captured "just Nikki".  As it turns out this photo has wiggled it's way into my favorites file.  I don't know why, honestly, when I first previewed it before printing I hated it, but every time I open it up I see how all the things I love far out weigh the one thing I hated about it. 

Thanks for reading, have a great day.

Rainy day

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Its been a minute since this photo was taken, but I love it.  Meet Kashly, I have been taking her picture since the day she was born (before really if u count the belly shots of her momma @ the baby shower)  she is one of my most favorite subjects to shoot photos of.  She has so much attitude and personality that I never know what kind of shots I'm going to get with her.  What I do know is that 9 out of 10 shots are going to be great ones.  I love this one because it is so natural and not posed, you can see the water drops on her sweet little face. 
Now don't be asking me what f-stop I used or the shutter speed because I don't know and I don't have a fancy studio somewhere to take amazing pictures in.  And quite honestly I don't care.  I am not a professional and don't claim to be and you know what else, I'm ok with that.  It took a bit to get there, but one day after getting my feelings (and my pride) hurt over someone who had just had family photos done and was going on and on about how great the photos were going to be because the photographer had a hugely awesome camera and she has a nice studio @ her house over in so & so estates the pictures are going to be perfect.  That's nice, if that is how you want to spend your money.  It just isn't for me, I want good quality photo (I have a decent camera) at a price I can afford so that I can share them with more of my family.
I mentioned this situation to my uncle Mike and what he said has stuck with me since.  I was worried about not having a studio and he said "yes you do, u take your pictures outside, you have the best studio of all because God made it for you."  Ya know, I never thought about it before that moment, but he was right.  I have a new found pride in the photos I take outdoors, because God helps to give me the best photos.  As for this one of sweet Kashly Grace you can see his handy work in her face, the rain & the perfect lighting.  She was having such a good time playing in the stream of water falling off the awning and I was snapping away capturing shots like this.  You can't get this beauty stuck inside a fancy studio.
Thanks for reading, check back often for more stories & photos.
Have a great day.   :)

Love his face

 

That's my guy :)

I know its only a profile shot with my phones built in camera and that I just took it the other day while out driving with Stephen, but it is already one of my favorites.  No cropping, no photo shop, just plain ol' Stephen. 
This is the first time in the 18 years that we have been together has he had this much hair on his face.  Back in November it was the thing to do "NO SHAVE NOVEMBER"  So seeing that he was home healing from surgery and couldn't work or volunteer at the FD he decided to participate in the crazy man trend.  At first I was ok with it, thinking that he has never really grown a beard so he will give in and shave before too long.  about mid way through, everyone was making comments (his momma HATES it) about "that mess on your face"  lol yep he'll be shaving any day now...here we are December 25 (Merry Christmas)  and he still has this crazy full beard.  He says he likes it.  Me, I don't mind either way really, it tickles when I give him kisses and i cant even think of kissing him on the cheek (weird) I think it makes him look older and if I told him that he might just shave it, but anyway...
I love it how he never even gives my camera (no matter which one I use) a look.  Not even out of the corner of his eye do I even get a glance.  Now if i catch him off guard and have a great lens on I might get a smiling face shot, but most of the pictures of him are this type of strong, manly, stern, rigid look on his face...That is what I love about this photo...His face.  :)

Have a great day