January 28, 2011

Awesome photo frames | Grand Rapids Baby Photographer

UPDATE: This site is no longer in use.  If you've landed here, please head on over to www.elephantshoephotos.com to check out my new site.  See you after the jump! Thanks! 


I just stumbled upon these photo frames and find them adorable!!  They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors! I contacted the company for information on how I can provide these for my clients.  I'll let you know what I find out.  See how cute your baby would look in a frame from The Organic Bloom


This week I learned...

UPDATE: This site is no longer in use.  If you've landed here, please head on over to www.elephantshoephotos.com to check out my new site.  See you after the jump! Thanks! 


This week I learned how to set up a private online image gallery for my clients.  Clients, now you can click on the "Clients" tab of my website and enter the Keyword and Password I assign you and you'll be able to view all the final photos from your session as well as order prints through the professional photo lab I use.  Pretty fun stuff!

I also learned that I love square crops.  Take a look at these cute square crops from my session with baby K the other week.

Again, doesn't he just have the cutest faces?! I can't get over them.  :)

January 26, 2011

My gear | Grand Rapids Newborn Photographer

UPDATE: This site is no longer in use.  If you've landed here, please head on over to www.elephantshoephotos.com to check out my new site.  See you after the jump! Thanks! 


After much deliberation and discussion we (my husband and I) have decided to upgrade my gear.  I'm ecstatic!  I've been shooting with the Nikon D60 which we purchased a year and half ago (just before our wedding) with two kit lenses. More recently I added a Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 to my collection and I LOVE it.


The only drawback is that my D60 doesn't have an automatic focus switch in the body so I have to manually focus when using my 50 mm lens.  I can do it, but it's tedious and slow and when you're with a precious baby you don't want to worry about whether or not your shot is going to be in focus.  I'd rather worry about the lighting and my settings and the bokeh, and, most importantly the sweet baby's expression and posture. :)  So, I'll be upgrading my camera body to this beautiful thing (which also shoots VIDEO!!):

...as soon as I can find an outstanding deal on one.  You know me...I hardly ever pay full price for anything!  Wish me happy shopping!

January 24, 2011

Life is Precious | Grand Rapids Newborn Photographer

UPDATE: This site is no longer in use.  If you've landed here, please head on over to www.elephantshoephotos.com to check out my new site.  See you after the jump! Thanks! 


I just read an amazing and moving story on Joy's Hope and it made me think about these words in God's book. Life is so precious and beautiful. It comes from the Author of all that is good. Each baby is hand-crafted and formed. Reflect on this with me tonight.

 

Psalm 139

 1 You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.
 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.
 19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
   Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
   your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
   and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
   I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

A dear friend lost her Grandpa tonight. I recently lost my Grandma (and got a reminder of the fragility of life from my other Grandma this week) so I know how the heart-ache feels but at the same time we rejoice that they lived long full lives and went to be with Jesus in the end.

Psalm 39:4

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
      Remind me that my days are numbered—
      how fleeting my life is.
 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
              
              Interlude
 6 We are merely moving shadows,
      and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
   We heap up wealth,
      not knowing who will spend it.
 7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
      My only hope is in you.

Wonderfully Innocent | Grand Rapids Infant Photographer

UPDATE: This site is no longer in use.  If you've landed here, please head on over to www.elephantshoephotos.com to check out my new site.  See you after the jump! Thanks! 


The challenge over at iheartfaces this week is Innocent Wonder.  I couldn't help but think of this picture of baby K when I saw the category.  He is wonderfully innocent.  When I put him in this laundry basket with this blanket he just stared and it and stared at it.  And then he grabbed a chunk of it in his hand and wouldn't let go.  He was amazed by it and I assume he was mesmerized by the softness and the texture.  Oh the joys and simplicities of being a two-month old.

P.S. Don't you just love his long eyelashes and button nose?