Saturday the Mazons were in the studio for pre-wedding photos. It was the first time shooting a group in the newly finished space. Adron and I worked late Friday night to get the trim installed and stained. It made the photo session go sooo much more smoothly to not have to worry about backdrops, ugly edges, etc.

The completed wedding album is here.

Ben, Kelli, Hannah, Logan and Luke were home for the weekend, so I grabbed a few minutes of their time to get a few photographs. We had hoped to get all three children in one shot, but Logan was tired, arrived asleep, and was in no mood for my strobes blasting him in the face. While Ben reasoned with him just beyond the shot, I got this image.

Later, we noticed that Luke was enjoying his time in my Papasan chair. So we turned the strobes off, moved a continuous light into place, upped the ISO on the camera, mounted it on a tripod, and salvaged the following photograph from the session. It isn't perfect! I don't like the way the shadows fall beside their faces, but I love the angelic expressions on their faces. Luke is doing what three month-olds do: his hands obscure his cute little mouth, but we got some great images of him solo later.

You want the photographs you had taken at pbh Art, Inc. posted to your facebook, myspace, etc. profile. You don't want to violate US Copyright Law by scanning them yourself. I don't want you to scan them yourself, because then I'd have to sue you. So, I will post all images that you purchase on MY facebook page and tag you. You get the digital use of the image without having to purchase the copyright; I get the additional exposure for my company.

Angel and Bruce are expecting their first child soon. Angel is a fellow NWP Teacher Consultant (with MUWP) and fabulous teacher. Bruce kept us in stitches during their session; he is a genuine good-guy clown!

For their session I tried out my new Westcott Spiderlite TD5, a continuous output halogen and fluorescent light fixture. I bought the light because so many of my photography heroes mention it in their blogs. I'm happy with the results and will probably start using it in my baby sessions. It is a nice change from all the high-power strobes I've grown to love.

Several weeks ago I co-facilitated a teen creative writing workshop at Logan High School with fellow Coalfield Writer Teacher Consultants. Khiry was one of the participants that evening and we 'played' with voicethread.

Later, I was contacted by fellow-teacher Mary Hawkins, who was so moved by a poem Khiry wrote in her session, that she wanted to do something special with the poem. After reading the poem, I knew I wanted to meet the woman who inspired the poem. Khiry, his mom, brother, and grandmother graciously gave me a few minutes of their time in my studio and this image is the result. I am humbled and thankful to be blessed by people, young and old, and by writing.

Writing is vital in my life. I work through frustrations, problems, and heartaches by writing. And of course, we are all blessed by The Word everyday.

What is Love?

According to Erika, "Love is something always present. It is something familial, platonic, and romantic. Love is acceptance and care, understanding and honesty. Love is warmth."

Last evening, Erika's family came for their photo session and I tried out the new parabolic light system I recently got. I used the parabolic light as the main light source, placed 45 degrees from the family and about six feet from them. On the same side, I used a narrow softbox, high and slightly behind them, but about 3 feet out from the parabolic and aimed at their backs/sides. Directly perpendicular to them on the opposite side, I placed a large reflector.

The first shot was of a white target that I used for custom white balance in the camera. We took fifteen shots, of two poses and were done. They chose their favorite and I worked my magic on it. Fastest photo session of my life! Erika is a fabulous student, person, and writer. It is a pleasure to be her art teacher; photographing her family is a sweet bonus.

Yesterday I made a photo montage with wedding photographs. There are many considerations when making a montage:

• Color placement
• Inclusion of selected images
• Placement of images
• Where the artwork will be displayed (color, style)
• Artistic components

It was the creation of photography montages that drew me to Photoshop many years ago. The power of the software keeps me hooked.

On January 25, Adron and I finally got the "We're having the baby TODAY!" call. Of course we rushed to the hospital and waited, and waited, and waited. Twelve hours later, Luke was born. The photo book pages I designed to commemorate his first 22 hours follow:

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While I love making albums and doing all the Photoshop work that goes along with weddings, being the wedding photographer really stresses me! Unless the wedding is for people that I love or know well, I usually say no to wedding photography. Then I run across favorite images from past weddings like this one.

Karen is more like a daughter than a niece. She was the sister Adron and I didn't give Alisha. Karen's wedding, last spring in Alabama, was more family reunion than work,so Adron and I loved the whole experience. Karen and Gary have some amazing, generous friends!

Having Alisha there with us was icing on our wedding cake. And it gave us a glimpse into Alisha's grown-up world. What an organized, with it woman she has become! If I had a photographer's assistant like her, I could do wedding photography all day, every day. She made my work EASY. So, Alisha, "Thank you again!"