Getting in front of the camera...

I'm a photographer.  I'm taking the shots, I'm behind the lens.  I'm checking details, fixing collars, focusing, refocusing, a little to the left please.  I am creating art.  I am NOT in the photo.

When my son was born, I was on the "photo shoot every month" train.  I kept it up for a full year.  I have hundreds of shots of him (and some of him and my husband).  But that was it.  I set up a session with another photographer for family portraits, but my son was cranky and uncooperative, and the best shots were of him alone.  So basically there are no "wall-worthy" photos of me and my son together during the first year of his life. -NOT GOOD-

Last year, I read a little blog post by an amazing photographer.  She talked about the importance of being in the photo, especially with your family, and she gave some great tips.  This was the motivation I needed at just the right time.

Enter the set-up: bed with a plain blanket and pillows, a bare white wall, and some gorgeous window light.   I threw on some jeans and a white tee and put my son in a simple onesie.  I had my tripod and remote in hand, and started snapping.  And this is my result:

I L-O-V-E this picture.  Everything about it.  The light, his vulnerable expression, how he's clinging to me  I needed this.


I did another photo shoot wit my son the past January.  The result didn't elicit the same heart-tugs like the first one, but I'm doing it.  I'm being part of the moment, not just capturing it.

So now it was time for an official family photo.  We had the outfits, my hair was behaving, and it was a beautiful day.  There were some hiccoughs with the location (as in no shade whatsoever, except for this little 10x10 spot) but I made the most of it.  And wow, I am happy!

I took some shots of just the boys.

And then I handed the camera to my hubs, with everything set, and got these.

And for good measure, I spent an recent afternoon updating my personal profile picture for my website and all of my social media.

Life is too fleeting to exclude yourself from the moments with your family.  So get out from behind the lens.  Join your loved ones, or strike a pose alone.  You are worth being documented.

-Stefanie

Supernatural Baby Cosplay!

Oh yes!  Here it is!  Supernatural baby cosplay!  This is one of my all-time favorite shows.  I've been watching it since it started, over nine years ago.  I love the characters, the predictability of the strife between the brothers, and just when I think they have no where else to take the story, they surprise me (LEVIATHANS!). I could have added more characters, but I wanted to stay true to the brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, who are the backbone of the show.  Besides, my little "Dean" was hard enough to wrangle.

Here's my core photo:

"Saving people, hunting things.  The family business."

A few single shots of the brothers, Sam and Dean, respectively:

And a couple more, with a toy Castiel figure, and a little 1967 Chevy Impala:

"You play with Castiel, I'll play with the Impala."

"Castiel is so silly!"

And finally, here's one of my son, as Dean Winchester.  I grabbed this shot as he was exploring the cemetery before the other baby arrived.  And besides, Dean is my favorite.

"That's Dean.  Now he can start a fight in an empty house, but deep down inside he's just a big, old teddy bear."

Here's a disclaimer, if needed.  This is not supposed to be pictures of baby Dean and baby Sam Winchester.  They weren't babies together; they have a four year age difference.  These are two little dudes cosplaying as Sam and Dean.  And they just happen to be babies.

So what's next?  I'd love to do a huge Game of Thrones baby cosplay...that will require a LOT of planning.  I have other Dr. Who ideas, some video game ideas, and of course we can go the superhero route.  Anything you'd like to see?  Share your thoughts in the comments!


-Stefanie