Is this my photo blog? No.

So what?  Who cares?  I'll get around to getting that thing up and running one day.  In the mean time, here is a cute CUTE family and a really sunny day!

 ^where did this come from?  It's a mystery!^

^this is NOT the edited photo... what?  I'm too tired to go and search for it... seriously though.  I'm leaving it ^

So like... Merry Christmas I guess.  Who is getting family photos from me over thanksgiving?  Cause if you aren't, you should!  However, I can't do anything about the lack of beach in Utah.  Sorry guys!

this model kid

I hit up the local Walgreens today to develop another roll of film.  I also picked up some $7.00 Walgreens fleece lined leggings for those cold Southern California days.  Obviously Walgreens isn't the classiest of places to get my negs developed and scanned (or buy myself leggins), but half of the roll were photos that my little Elle Belle shot (teaching her my ways).  I wanted a one hour photo and didn't want to pay the price for higher quality when it's just riffraff.  Anyway, here are some cute/hilarious moments that I have had with Elle... in really horribly scanned images.

 ^^^  This is what you get when you let a father get his daughter ready for school.  I was CRACKING up at this ragamuffin.  She is also super into making these weird faces lately to be funny.  I just make them back at her.  I apologize everyday to her mother for making her weird!^^^^

 ^^^ another color film image that I turned b&w but the colors from the scan were horrendous and beyond repair.^^^

 ^^^ and this, well this is just hilarious as you can see.  I had to pull her out for a picture!^^

 ^^^ Sorry that this kid is a high fashion model already.  She is also an angel for pictures might I add.  She almost always does exactly what I tell her to.^^^

Now Elle is extremely into my 35 mm as well.  She loves to cock it and wind the film.  Awesome!  I love this little one!!

It's ruined

Why do photographers feel the need to always announce when film is used in their process of creating photos?  Are we really that cool when we do it?  "A day in the life according to my film camera", "fourth of July, on film", "photos of my film strips, taken on black and white film", "film photos of my kids starring longingly out the window, going to the bathroom, AND picking their noses".  It's the throwback of all throwbacks.  Before you know it, VHS's are going to be cool again and we are going to start listening to the radio for hours on end to make a mixed tape for our BFF's.

But the reality of the situation is, Yes.  It's cool.  It's also more difficult and a slower process than digital.  It takes time, patience, and MONEY.  The most important thing above all is, it takes technical skill.  Which brings me to this....

I have none.  No technical skill that is... actually....

I bought a new old camera and is clearly didn't work.  Also I turned color film images into black and white.  So lame of me!  The good news is... some of our Disneyland trip SORT of turned out.  Because that's obviously SO important!

Just imagine what all those photos could have been.

Bye.

minnie

Happy late Halloween from Elle Belle!

identity crisis

Any of you photographers out there ever feel like you are having a photo identity crisis?  Deep down you know your style is always going to come out in your photography, but then you find yourself looking through too many other photographers blogs and all of a sudden you don't know what you like anymore?  One moment you like the clean look of film, and the next minute you start enjoying those VSCO presets and muddy black and whites.  Just when you feel you are into the classy look, you start feeling a little funky and weird and want to, I don't know, throw your subject right in the middle of the frame with a wide angle.  What if you like contrasty photos..... or do you?  This is how I have been feeling lately.  I have been obsessed with photography as of late (good thing since it's my career path and all) so I have been lying awake at night asking myself, WHO AM I?  So what am I doing to deal with this you ask?  I am getting back to the basics, spring cleaning if I may.  I've whipped back out the old 35 mm film camera (I now have a Minolta AND a Mamiya) and I have my eye on a Hasselblad (Christmas 2013 come to mama).  I'm going to try and shoot more and see where my instincts take me.  Here are a few digital images that I shot a few days ago with my friend Andrea.  I am obsessed with this girl.  Her skin is FLAWLESS and the fact that she is a professional ballerina... well.  So anyway, not much has been done to these few photos.  Just a few adjustments in Lightroom.  I can't wait to get the film back and see how my new (old) camera worked.

Also.... do I have a photo blog you ask..... yes.... but I just feel like posting on this one lately.

 ^^^I'm totally mad about that light turning on in the background^^

 ^^^  Seriously, her skin is PERFECTION.  This is not edited at all^^^^

nanny days

I had the best day with this little one.

With each and every passing day, Elle becomes a little bit more sassy, a little bit more opinionated, a little bit smarter, and a LOT more easy to love!  This kid is a total crack up!  Lately she has really started to understand more, and I can't get enough of it.  We laughed all day and all night long.  Three looks good on you, Elle Belle.  

Sorry about all the iphone photos.  I'll put some lovely photos on here another day.

Nothing like a little evening facetime kiss to cure the "I'm all alone blues".  E's mom (Marcie) facetimed me shorty after I got home because I told them I came home to an empty house.  Sooooo nice!

On another note..... sort of...

Lately, I feel as if I have gotten a tiny glimpse into the way our Heavenly Father feels about his children.  If there is one thing I have learned from moving away from my family it is that I have learned to love.  I know my Father in Heaven has blessed me this last year with a tiny sliver of his love for every single person that I have met.  I am so thankful for the path that has lead me to these people who have become my family, when at times mine feels so very far away.  I have felt nothing short of pure love from those I am surrounded with everyday.  I can't imagine life without these people.  I know not everyone believes we are children of God, but  I don't care what you believe.  No matter what it is, all of us come from the same place.  We are ALL brothers and sister.  Every race, every religion, EVERYONE.   I can't wait until the day that I am able to return to the same place I came from with ALL my brothers and sisters and I know this is possible.

Sometimes I think about all the people that I have met throughout my life, and then I think about all the people in the world, and I get sad.  I get sad because I think... of ALL the INCREDIBLE people I have met, how many more incredible people are out in this world that I will never lay eyes on?  This thought makes me want to move everyday, just to discover all the people out there that I am missing out on.   Thanks for reading.... if you did.

No jokes tonight.... except for when I got stuck in the stair climber at the gym today and nearly had my leg chopped off....

But really that's a lie.  Jokes on you. Because I chose to eat cookies in bed instead of hit the gym today.

Annnnnd.... goodnight.

boys

Boys, not the kinds that break our hearts (never mine of course, but other peoples) but the kinds that talk about garbage trucks, Spider-Man, and hammers, Because these are the best kinds of boys. These boys don't break our hearts (other peoples hearts of course) and love us even if we don't wear makeup, wear our shirts backwards all day, and laugh at our own jokes.

I'm still convinced I've met the best group of people since moving to LA. How have I lived my whole life without my California people? Today I had the pleasure of spending a little time after work to hang out with my bosses boys. I've got this tiny little fan club (emphasis on the tiny) since moving to California and these boys are some of them. 

Below is a demonstration from a two year old on how to flirt. 

^^^^^^^^^^

To say little izzy likes me, is a HUGE understatement. I actually think he is the president of my fan club.  

^^^^^^^^^ 

I know you are all obsessed with this wall, I'm personally obsessed with their whole house!

^^^^^^^

I had to put this one up for my dad. Izzy grabbed the "Porsche". I personally felt proud that he knew the name. 

And just for good measure....

^^^^^^

My tiny, tiny, bald niece Collins!

^^^^^^^

....and an Elle selfie as the cherry on top!

All of these above children own my heart. Some day I'll give it away..... Probably when I stop hanging out with infants.  In the meantime, where's a great place for a night out on the town with a two year old? I really want to make an impression.