No it's not like that really..I had to rent a Canon 5D Mark III for a recent wedding I second shot this past weekend and tried it out a couple of days before the big day - since I shoot with a Nikon primarily, I wanted to be completely familiar with the camera by the wedding date. It finally gave me a chance to see what all the hub bub was about though. It took me a bit to get used to the controls but everyone was right - there really is something about Canon colors and just its overall effect on the images that I can't really put my finger on it. It's sort of dreamy? I don't know what it is...but, the auto focusing - man that is a bummer. Apparently it's an improvement over the AF on Canon. My Nikon is just SO MUCH FASTER..and even with that sometimes I use manual focusing on my lenses (actually my 85 1.4 is a manual focus lens) - anyway, I know this should be for my photography blog too but I just can't keep up with all of my blogs anymore. I just need to choose one! or two...

Anyway, the above images are taken with the Canon 5D Mark III & an 85mm 1.2L (except the last image the lens was a 50mm 1.2L). Previous blog images posted here would have used my usual camera which is the Nikon D600 & most likely my beloved nifty fifty - 50mm 1.8G

(the wedding photos, you'll have to wait or go see it on my actual photo blog when I get to blog about them!).

quote is from Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

So..I've gone back and forth on something that weighs heavy on me. The pressure I feel from this, moving forward has taken a toll on me, in that, last night, I had the worst back/shoulder spasms I've ever had in my life (and I have a high tolerance of pain and don't try to display that I am even in pain at all) and today I can barely move because my back has pretty much given out.

I have this opportunity to be a seasonal photographer for another photographer. The actual seasonal job is not in my style (school/sport photography) but the opportunity is huge. I am interested in the experience, the networking capabilities, and the opportunity to second shoot and assist on her wedding gigs as well as learn from her photography business & marketing as a whole. The problem is - the gigs are during the week. AND it is seasonal. I was thinking of getting another PT job to make up for it but then we'd really be in trouble money wise.

An additional thing I have weighing on me is - I have this HUGE opportunity to second shoot a wedding in June for a wedding photographer that I greatly admire. His work is just outstanding, as well as his story on how he became a photographer himself. I reached out to him in an email and to my surprise he answered AND gave me a second shooting opportunity. I am still in awe over it. The only catch was - he is a Canon shooter. I am a Nikon shooter. He wanted me to get my hands on some Canon gear. And so, I did (which probably impacted my body and pocket book more than the seasonal photography decision) - that like cost us a good chunk of money that we don't have. But did I tell him this? Did I say no? Eff NO! I'd be an idiot not see seize this opportunity.

Anyway, enough about problems because despite these issues there is a lot of good, a lot of opportunity and a lot of happy going on..

And as soon as I finished writing all of the above..I get an email from Charlie with - Hey wanna second shoot a wedding this Saturday?

WHAT?! Yeah! Yup, it's like that. AND Charlie got a tutoring gig too!

Watching some more Sue Bryce tonight (she is absolutely uh-mazing) - and read this from her blog:

“Business is an equal amount of pleasure and pain (but we judge it by our pain) You will become as successful as the amount of pain you are prepared to endure” - John Demartini

So bring it! I'ma take it. I'll show you! *shakes fist in air*

**BTW: If you've never heard of CreativeLive - YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT!! It is a free learning resource full of wonderful amazing goodies - topics like Photography, Design, Business, Lifestyle (relationships/health). They have live workshops that are free during the internet broadcast or you can pay for the workshop to be played whenever you like (paid courses have worksheets or anything else for the course that is necessary).

Because my photography business has been overtaking my life recently (in a good way), my house has been overrun with dishes to be put away, laundry to be folded, junk mail to be sorted through amongst the other more important things like playing with my kids in our backyard, while enjoying this gorgeous weather and spending more quality alone time with the hubs.

So, yesterday, after picked up the kids (and played with them a bit outside before heading home), I quickly made homemade mac n cheese (yes, quickly..I make ahead a lot of pasta - just plain - to easily throw something together when I get home) fed the kiddos and then started to clean the kitchen. I didn't finish till about 9 pm or so, but boy did I feel good about it.

Did I finish the other items on my to do list? Of course not. Did I get to spend some time with my kiddos - yep, sure did. Is my house less of a disaster than a few days ago? Just a little bit. Because everyday, it starts all over again - at least this is how it feels. One minute it's visitor worthy, the next minute I'm stressing out about it again. So, I decided to try a little thing I read somewhere - I can't remember if it was from a blog or from Real Simple (I think it was from a Real Simple reader who wrote in actually).

I wrote all the chores that need to happen so that this house is nice and comfortable and presentable. I made sure to leave a space in between the chores so I can cut them up into strips, fold them up and plop em into a jar. Each day I pick one of those little pieces of paper and do that chore and that chore only. Having done the kitchen already and picked up the rest of the rooms before I started to do this, helped me start off on an even playing field.

Yesterday was the first day, and today I still continued to do it. So hopefully, I'll be able to keep it up.

Oh and here are some pictures

click on images for larger view

I'm trying to be more present, more aware and less focused on yesterday or tomorrow. less lazy in my ways and thinking. do more now than saving for later.

im usually a home body and i can become lazy and latch on to an idea of - "but it's just easier to stay home and do nothing." which then turns into some sort of complaining. anyway, charlie just signed up to be part of his school/work's softball league and tonight (last night) was their first practice. earlier in the day, i had the brilliant idea to have all of us go and watch him practice and also play at the park but the sooner it got to the end of my day at my desk job, all i wanted to do was go home and not do anything. not think, not move, nuthin. you see? lazy. while i knew it would be fun for all, all i could think of was the worse case scenarios - like: it will be too late, i won't be able to handle the kids by myself at the playground, i will be bored, i will get hungry, the kids will have a melt down..anyway, you catch my drift - total debbie downer.

but i pushed myself to not think about it and just go. we had dinner (charlie made some  salmon burgers w/ pineapple, salad with homemade garlic parm dressing - YUM!) then got the kids ready to go and brought my camera too, even though i wasnt all gung ho about bringing it (i know, what is wrong with me?!). 

and let me tell you, i am SO glad i pushed my unease and went along. because not only did i get some pretty good photos of seemingly ordinary things, the park that the practice was at is the park that raima's former daycare provider used to take her to AND on the way there - guess who texts me?! yep, raima's former daycare provider! so it was serendipitous - we all got to play and raima and cande got to see each other. it was really special.

this weekend I have a full schedule - on saturday, i have a family session in the morning, then a going away party (for Jax's bff at his daycare) immediately after and also a newborn session in the afternoon all the way in vacaville (it's about 50 mins away! - did i mention i hate driving?). THEN on sunday, (shit, i just realized i forgot to make a gift!) we have a birthday party out in pleasanton DURING their regularly scheduled naptimes. we're going to suck it up, so we shall see...ok. i should get to bed before the kids wake up...oh and so day 3 is going well -I even was the one to put Raima down in her bed, in their room!! what what! :)

Happy weekend everyone...enjoy the present!! it is a gift - (trombone sound...wah wah..)

I set up a tripod in our living room and asked my family to have a little fun, and this is what we came up with:

I think Jax and Charlie had the most fun. Jax really got into doing funny faces and pressing the remote. He also then tried to direct the shoot as well and would comment: oh, that was a good one! and turn your head this way, oh no, that's not good - and I want you to make a funny face, like this..

anyway, maybe I should have tethered it so that we could see if we all 4 were looking at the camera or have our eyes all open. There were A LOT of photos, some would be great of me and not so great of Charlie or vice versa or the kids would run out of the picture or...anyway, we had a lot of fun and Jax learned some of the buttons on my camera..not sure if that's a good thing or not.

After the photo session, I gave the boys a hair cut. I think I cut Jax's hair a little too short :(

Jax, just said as he watches me load this post up - let's take pictures!

What are you guys up to this weekend? I have a photo shoot today, so I'm packing and getting ready :)

I know I've been a little MIA but it's been hard to do everything with the little bit of "free" time I have. If you haven't already, you can find some updates here - but that usually only involves photography & business related stuff.

"A portrait of my family, once a week, every week {sort of} in 2013."

So yes, I know, I am wayyyy behind on the family portrait stuff..so maybe the cuteness of Raima will have you forgive me?

We went down to San Jose to meet up with some of my old school friends (as in, I feel old. I've known them since we were in 7th grade! SEVENTH GRADE!) who were up in the Bay for a volleyball tournament.

Anyway, I had to chase Raima around the convention center for awhile since chasing her around the courts wasn't a good parenting thing to do, lest I wanted her to learn how to play dodge ball. She was walking around and around, waving and saying hi to folks - which had everyone gush. A little tiny hand waving and a little tiny voice saying HI! - how could you not?

Here are some more photos...


So yeah, in case you didn't know - our friend Jenny had her baby!! Baby Luna Lisette on 2-13-13. It was a successful VBAC!! Way to go Jenny!!

So, am I forgiven?

Here are some photos that Jax took on our old point & shoot camera. Jax went and ice skated for the first time the other day with our friend and neighbor PK. Apparently, Jax was a hit with the tween girls there..uh-oh.

So, we gave Jax our old point & shoot - and let me tell ya, that kid is having a blast. I wonder where he gets it from? I'll post some of his photos when I get a chance!

 
I love photographing families & kids. The beauty and fun never cease to amaze me.