keepin it real

I am so in love with this article today...

http://shuttersisters.com/home/2008/12/30/the-courage-to-tell-it-like-it-is.html

"With all of our digital tricks and tools, I can't help but wonder if our idealism isn't sneaking in to tinker a bit, much like a writer using her words to defend herself, her point-of-view or position rather than lay herself bare."

Having said this, I totally believe there is the time and place for a beautiful, touched up, well thought out portait. As a matter of fact, I'm working on some today. But by far my favorite shots are taken in between shots when no one thinks I'm watching--when the lighting is what it is, and when all barriers are dropped and the real individual emerges.

Anyway, this is just something I'm musing about, and that I was so thrilled to see someone touch on today. Are we truly leaving our posterity a record (written and photographic) of our true selves? Is it not the messiness and genuine truth of our lives that it truly beautiful and worthwhile?

Just a thought.

Just a few Christmas thoughts

Here is Lily waking up. I didn't get a shot of her brother, as he was already upstairs checking out the loot.

Here are Alex and Lily opening presants. But we know who the real star of the show is here. Here are the pancakes I made Alex and Lils for breakfast. I only had to add them because I'm never "culinary" like this. I like how they turned out. And they liked them too. Here is Lily eating with the ladel that came with her new kitchen.
Aaaand this is what Lily ate...



And this is what Alex ate. Yah. Pretty much just the whipped cream. But hey, it's Christmas.

That's all for now. I haven't even dumped the pictures from the Canon yet, so more yuletide joy to come...

Santa, if you're listening...

what happens when a 5 year old finds a camera

public service announcement

First of all, let me just say that I love taking pictures. I don't think anyone who has read my blog can dispute that with any kind of leg to stand on.

I have many hobbies, but photography has been one of those true passions these last few years that has allowed me to creatively interpret how I see the world. And I still feel like I am charting new territory for myself all the time. My very favorite thing is to photograph the world the way I see it, through my lens. I love finding new angles, new lighting, and new subjects--and I love to tell a story. This is me. This is why I love photography.

I also love taking photos of people--especially families and children--and documenting the way they interact with each other. It's an eye-opening and awe-inspiring thing to capture the unique way a family loves one another.

And my very favorite (and the reason I started this crazy hobby in the first place) is taking pictures of my kids. I don't have many physical possessions I could live without, but if ANYTHING happened to my hard drive and I lost the pictures of my children, I just don't know if I'd ever get over it. Their entire lives have been painstakingly photographed so their children's children can marvel at their great-great grandmother's photography skills. (just kidding). Actually, they're for me. So I can look back when their 30 and living in my basement and remember why I love them so much.

OK, I'm just rambling now...prolonging the inevitable announcement I must make. This is the thing, I've spent the great bulk (like 100%) of my free time lately working on photography (THAT"S GREAT!), but none of that has been spent on my own children (oh no, that's bad). I was never completely "on board" with starting a photography business...I've kind of had one toe in for a long time now...sometimes charging money...most of the time not charging money. And I've been fine with that. Honestly. The truth is it has been an absolute joy to photograph the families I've worked with. I've loved every minute.

But it's starting to take over my life. Which is GREAT, except that I have kids who don't think it's so great. So the bottom line is, it's time for me to start charging actual money for my services.

Obviously, if you already have an appointment scheduled with me, these prices don't apply (you have to live with the higher ones I quoted you...just kidding). But OK, here goes...

A session with me (about an hour give or take) is $60. This includes a CD of your images which are naked. Meaning I have not added my creative touch to them whatsoever. No touching up, no color boost, no nothin'. But they're all there.

From there you can browse through and pick your favorites, send a list back to me, and I will process them through the "digital darkroom", brighten, boost, and beautify your favorite shots for $5/picture.

From there you can just have them back and print them yourself through one of the places in town, OR you can order through my zenfolio site and get professional quality prints. The choice is yours.

Whew. That's a load off. Don't we all feel better? I know I do.

If you'd like to contact me for an appointment you may do so here:

beka@thebrackens.net

I love you all!

Lily's playlist

This is what Lily's singing this morning...

(to the tune of jingle bells and old mcdonald)

"Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinker all the way

ee i ee i ooooo...

cha cha cha."

Lucy, you have a lot of catching up to do.

OK, lame title. Sorry.

It was the weekend of Christmas parties...first, the Sullivan party at which I was stuffing myself with too much yummy food to take any pictures, save this one. It's all eatable. All of it. And every bit as big as it looks...maybe bigger. But I've never been one for exaggeration. It's a bit misleading because the kitchen it's sitting in is probably as big as the entire basement in which I now reside, but see Kathryn's head in the background? She's standing right up next to it. That gives you an idea of scale.

Then it was immediately on to Angie's cookie exchange...girls only! There was the normal girl talk consisting of kids, husbands, Christmas shopping, and aphrodisiacs. Though in no particular order or hierarchy of significance. The food was delicious (thanks Dan), but since I was already stuffed, I had the presence of mind to take a few pictures. Ready girls?

Our server

Look at all these cookies! I came home with 7 DOZEN delicious cookies! (which, of course I will benevolently give away to friends and neighbors...*whistle*, *whistle*).

Here's Megan pretending I don't exist.

This is Megan acting like it's Christmas, for crying out loud.
And now for a choppy transition to Sand Hollow. Oh, how is the house coming? I'm so glad you asked!

Here's a window in the basement.

Alex is running through the kitchen, Lily and the dog are sprinting through the family room.

Here's a stack of OUR LUMBER, BABY!

I call it: Large Pile of Dirt with Boys and Canine.

Bird's Eye

Daughter

I said "Show me your teeth!"

Then she said, "Mom, I show you my nose."

That will do for now.

how to get a family of seven to look at you all at the same time...

PEEK-A-BOO!

OK, I cheated a little. But I bet you can't tell who I Photoshopped in.

And those boys did that little pointing thing on their own, and I thought it was awesome.

Don't ask me how they all got so...symmetrical. I guess I just got lucky there. I loved photographing these kids! I'll have to show you some "outtakes" when I'm done. They are hilarious!

it's 8:58

and I'm sitting at my computer blogging.

So what's the big deal, you ask?

What's the BIG DEAL?

It's that I've been here since 8:10...WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SLEEP!

She's actually TIRED from not having a nap today, which means I'm not in her room right now consoling, persuading, bribing, threatening, or yelling. Nor am I chasing her with a diaper, fetching water, or pretending to be asleep.

I'm blogging. WAHOO!

Oh, and I'm eating a cinnamon-sugar bagel. I think I'll have hot chocolate, too.

With marshmallows.

No more naps for Lily.

recipe for bagels

gather supplies. excitedly ask if anyone wants to make bagels! No response. ask again. hear..."not me" from the peanut gallery. So begin on own. And, of course, right on cue, they will come running once it's time to add flour.

Start counting out cups of four with 5-year old, carefully, conscienciously, and s-l-o-w-l-y.

Lose count. Start over.

finally get a good dough going, and it's time to knead. get on the floor and let everyone have a turn until "smooth and elastic".

This takes "a while".

Play catch with the dog while kneading so he doesn't get into the dough.

set out the dough to rise for 15 minutes. Get the kids dressed. Well, get "kid" dressed. 2 year old would like to remain naked.

Ready dough for sectioning into 12 equal pieces.

Send 5 year old downstairs to let 2 year old out of locked bathroom.

Clean poop off of carpet in bathroom. (so close, and yet so far.)

Wash hands. Well.

Section dough. poke holes. Let rise. Let kids watch a movie. Try to persuade 2 year old to put on clothes. Clean kitchen.

realize you didn't add enough yeast. Continue on, self-reliant.

Boil bagels 1 minute each side.

Show mother in law new stain on the carpet.

Bake 375 for 20 minutes.

hope for the best.

Desperately...oh so desperately trying to document...must...document...life...of...family...

Here is my holiday in a nutshell:

One big move to the in-laws basement for an undetermined amount of time. Theoretically until our house is complete, but Jake thinks he might list it during the home show since there is a parade home right up the street and he thinks it might be worth it.

Joy. Love being homeless.

One little girl who REFUSES ALL CLOTHING. All. Not one stitch to be found.

And she's not potty trained.

TWO children who cannot go to sleep at night. They just barley went to sleep at 10:00, and these are 8:00 bedtime kids. This has been every night since we moved. They just lie there and lie there...and lie there...and lie there some more.

And we feel bad cuz we're all, "poor kids are so displaced, we should lay down with them", and now they have this nasty nasty habit of not being able to go to sleep without us.

It's a holiday downer, I'm not going to sit here and lie to you.

One mom with a mullet.

3 photo shoots in one week. Now, I LOVE photo shoots, don't get me wrong. I haven't turned one down yet, but 3 in one week...well, let's say it's been a bit hairy. Between that and the virus that almost ate my computer, plus my slower than normal network speeds, and well, my friends, that right there is a recipe for a holiday trip to the psyche ward.

One weekend of the stomach flu. Yuck.

One husband who can't stop coughing.

Two stockings being knitted BY HAND because, apparently, I don't have enough to do.

Two kids who miss their friends and are BORED.

One dog who is, well...happy as can be.

And me? Despite everything I'm happy too. I'm glad to be better. I'm happy with the photo shoots. I'm so THANKFUL to have a place to live. I'm happy that it's Christmas...even though it's hectic. And I'm happy to be with my family whom I feel like I'm starting a new adventure with. I know I'm more short with them at times these days, but as we settle in here (as much as we can), I think things will get better. It's been stressful, but we're surviving. We'll survive. And I feel bad for not blogging the last few weeks. I have tons and tons of pictures I've been meaning to blog since Alex's birthday! (that's still a blog in progress). I just know that I've missed a lot of moments, but I'll try to do better.

And a partridge in a pear tree.

yippie ki-yi-yo, get along little cowboy...

Well, I've been a little AWOL from blogging of late, but I'm still alive and kicking for the most part. We're all settled in to the in-law's basement, and there's nothing to complain about as far as that goes. We have our own nice little space and that's something to be grateful for when our house sold so fast that the new one was still only a hole in the ground. I'm grateful on a lot of levels for that. As a matter of fact, and in the interest of new developments, our hole now has walls. Well, that's being a bit generous. It has concrete forms erected, and will soon have walls. (And yes, husbands who read this fine blog, I just said erected. Stop laughing and grow up.)
The children are...adjusting. Slowly. Lily still asks to go home every day, and misses "Nana" a ton. It's been a big fight to get them to go to bed ever since they figured out that it wasn't just a fun sleepover at Grandma's anymore. They miss their beds and their room, but I figure the moment they get used to it the house will be done and we'll move again. That's just the way it is. Poor parents.
Well, that's all for now. I'm exhausted. And even a bit tired. I'm a little sleepy too. And it's only 10:30.
Joy.