Introducing Ethan Roney!

So, my friends Errin and Pat have their hands full!  Joining their already adorable son, William (I've taken lots of pictures of him...see earlier posts), is Ethan!  I learned that, much like young children, babies can be difficult to work with, especially when they won't stop moving their arms!  I would like to try taking his picture again when he is asleep :-)  However, I think Errin and I worked around the problems and I got some great shots.  Enjoy!

Twins!

Tara's a twin.  She also has a brother and sister who are twins.  Chances of her having twins?  Pretty good.  Awhile back, I took pictures of Tara when she was pregnant with the twins.  They finally arrived and were about three weeks old when I shot these pictures.  The only time I could get Ella to cooperate was when I was alone with her shooting some pictures before the rest of the family came out.  As soon as the whole family was out and we wanted Ella to sit a certain place or a certain way or look at the camera, it was anybody's guess what she would do.  She would not listen to me, Tara, or Kevin.  While I was lucky to get a few shots of the whole family when Ella was actually looking, I think the day was still a success.  I learned how difficult it can be to work with children and that sometimes some of the best pictures come from unplanned moments.  I also learned that Ella is going to give Kevin and Tara a run for their money.

My First (and last!) Wedding

I have never aspired to be a wedding photographer.  I enjoyed shooting my friends' engagement pictures back in August of 2010, but there was no pressure.  We got some good shots and if they hadn't worked out, we could have tried again.  Weddings don't work that way, unfortunately.  So, when my dear friend, Pat, asked me to consider taking her wedding pictures, I agreed, but was also scared to death.  I have known Pat since I was in college, when we worked as youth leaders in the junior high youth group at Church of the Canyons.  Hearing how God had drawn her and Jim together through difficult circumstances in both their lives is a true testament to God' perfect timing.  While Pat assured me that she did not want "typical" wedding pictures, but instead, more candid shots, and that she was fully aware that I am a novice photographer, the pressure to try and capture their special day was still tremendous.  The experience taught me a few things:
1.  While I respected professional wedding photographers and all their hard work before, I walked away with a whole new level of respect for the pressure they face in trying to capture such an important day in the lives of their clients.
2.  I have no idea what I am doing.  I can frame a shot.  I can point and shoot.  I have a good eye for what might make a good shot.  This is where my capabilities end.
I realize I have so much to learn and am lacking what real photographers would surely consider "basic" equipment, but I am so appreciative that friends and family are giving me the opportunities to learn as I go.
What follows is my feeble attempt to capture their special day.

I totally stole this from a picture I saw online.  Isn't it cool how the shadows of the rings form a heart?  I would have chosen a more wedding-appropriate passage, but I forgot to bring my Bible and the only Bible I had access to was paperback and I couldn't get it to stay open to the passages I wanted.

This was the moment when they saw each other for the first time before the ceremony after they were all fancied up.

Baby Love!

So, my friend Tara is a twin.  She also has a younger brother and sister who are twins.  Therefore, well, you know, the chances of her having twins was probably really high.  And here she is, glowing and lovely as ever, expecting TWINS!  She and Kevin already have an oh-so-cute little girl named Ella.  She will be joined by two sisters, Scarlette Jane and Gracie Jewel, very soon.

Here's the family in the summer of 2009...I know, you can't see their faces.  I was trying to be "artistic."  I'm still learning!