(click image to enlarge)

This is my submission for the Rock The Shot Forum January Photo Challenge.  

www.rocktheshotforum.com

I waited until Mr. Day went to work, and then I set up my camera and clicked away with the remote. Then I played around with it in Photoshop until I saw something I liked.  It was late, I was tired, but I was determined!  Even if I don’t win the challenge, I feel good about accomplishing something.

When a photographer takes your picture, there is so much more to getting a good image than pushing a button.  Images straight out of the camera are not fit for purchase. Well, at least when I take them, they’re not! Some editing needs to be done.  I still had some images of Sweetpea that I took for the agency that were not fit to send.  At the time, I didn’t have the time to play around with them, but today Photoshop and I had a long conversation.  I don’t claim to be the best at photo editing, but I know what looks good to me.

This is how the picture looked straight out of the camera(or SOOC):

And here it is after I worked my magic (click on the photos to see them bigger):

That represents 30 – 60 minutes of work.  So when you see a photographers prices, remember:  It’s not JUST about taking the picture.

In March of 1998, I had breast reduction surgery. There’s no need to go into too much detail about the reasons why – I’ll just tell you that the doctor removed 3 POUNDS from each one.

Pick your mouth up off of the floor.

Let’s move on, because my breasts are not the point of the story.

Right before Mother’s Day that year, my mom and I were doing our weekly shopping (back before I had children and could afford it) trips. I was excited because I could wear things that wouldn’t have been possible before. My mom and I both liked the same dress. She wasn’t going to get it, because it was not our practice to dress alike. We don’t usually agree on style. She’s more of a girly-girl than I am. She likes skirts; I like pants. She likes lace, flowers, etc.; I SO do not!

But on this particular day, we agreed. So I told her that she need not give up the dress because I liked it too. I suggested that we both get them and wear them for Mother’s Day. I must admit that she was not exactly jumping at the idea, but she warmed up to it and she agreed.

That was THIRTEEN YEARS AGO. *Due to the great hard drive crash of 2009, no images of previous years exist.*

Ya’ll have no idea of the monster I have created.

EVERY year, when spring comes, she arms herself with catalogs or we must go out to the mall to find our Mother’s Day outfits.

EVERY YEAR.

I’m not complaining. I just want you to grasp how serious this is for Momma. Sometimes a store or catalog won’t have the outfit we like in both of our sizes, or we’re having a tough time agreeing on what to get. I usually say something like, “We don’t HAVE to dress alike this year.” Her response?

“YES, WE DO!“

This year, we got out outfits from Ashley Stewart.  It seemed like we weren’t going to find ANYTHING that we could both get, but we managed to do it.  You’re looking at the result.

My mom and I are so different physically, but other than that, we’re very similar. On Mother’s Day, we celebrate that.  My momma is the best! I know everybody says that…and you know what? They’re right, because when I say my momma is the best, I mean that she’s the best mom for ME.  She is so much a part of who I am today.  She taught me how to be independent and strong; to have faith in God and to serve Him; to stand up for myself and those I love; and she’s a shining example of how to be a good wife and mother.

I hope we have many more years to celebrate Mother’s Day and continue the tradition we created.

Last week, we had our first warm, no coat needed day.  As soon as I got home, I dropped my things in the house, got my camera, and went outside to meet the boys.  It was a beautiful day and I thought I could get some great shots.

The twins had other plans. They wouldn’t cooperate, so I dismissed them and took a few shots of Sweet Pea.   He went inside, and I followed him. I was about to relax until dinner was ready (I LOVE MY HUSBAND!), but Sweet Pea said, “Mommy, aren’t we gonna go back outside?”

He wanted to take more pictures!  I was excited!

We were outside for about an hour, and Sweet Pea was SO cooperative.  I even put the camera strap around his neck and let him take some pictures.

This is one of my favorite shots that day:

*sigh*

If you’d like to see the rest, see the Flickr set:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkilyn/sets/72157626174110487/

I’ma see if Sweet Pea can get some modeling work. LOL!

Sweet Pea makes picture taking so much fun. I suppose I’ve trained him well.  All I said was, “Hold up the donut so I can see it.”, and this is what I got!

I don’t know if you’re aware of it or not, but I LOVE to take pictures. I have owned pretty much every kind of camera that exists. Except for one: a DSLR. Don’t worry if you don’t know what those letters mean.  What it means to me is a digital camera that I can buy different lenses for and takes AWESOME pictures.  One where I have to learn all sorts of new things to become good at photography. One that doesn’t limit me in whatever pictures I decide to take.

But these cameras are EXPENSIVE.  I’ve been wanting one forever, but at last, I was able to get what I wanted:

Cell phone picture.

You’ve seen some of the pictures I’ve taken with my old camera.  It’s not bad at ALL.  My husband has already claimed it for himself, and I will probably go back to it from time to time.  I’m grateful for that thing!  But this camera enables me to take much BETTER pictures:

Mr. Day

WHOO!! Wait a minute….*fans self*  Sorry…that’s what happens when I look at that man of mine!  Anyway, you’ll be seeing many more pictures, cuz I’m giddy about the Canon T2i!