Oooh Baby Baby

What an exciting privilege to photograph some newborn babies these past few weeks. I had one cute little boy and then the next week a sweet little girl. I am so blessed to be able to capture these memories for my clients and newly made friends. I have been itching to show off these babies but of course, I had to show the mommies first. This is my cure for any baby fever I may come across in the next few years. Hope you guys enjoy! Leave me some love if you agree that these babies are adorable.

Imagine: SELF

One of the things that I am trying to do this year is really expand my creativity. I have lots and LOTS of ideas that flow through my mind but chasing around 2 kids kinda makes me forget them lol. I am trying really hard to write my creative ideas down and then take the next step and do something with it! I have desperately wanted to do self portraits but am totally uncomfortable in FRONT of the camera. I can look at a beautiful woman or sweet couple and tell them which way to tilt their head, move their shoulder, etc. When it comes to me getting in front of the camera, I completely freeze up and don't know how to pose myself. I guess this comes with years of self doubt and lack of confidence (but I am working on that). In my mind for these self portraits, I wanted something very bright and breathtaking. Some women have flawless skin, great body language, and can just move at ease. I on the other hand, have scars from teenage sabotage :) (acne), a body of a woman that just had a second child, and the grace of a toddler standing in high heels trying to walk across the room.

I headed outside (my backyard, isn't it beautiful!!) with my trusty tripod and camera remote. I left the kiddos inside playing because it was waaayyy too hot to be out there. I can see inside my house from where I am shooting. I set up my camera, fix the settings to where I wanted them, programmed the remote to the camera, and began my self portrait journey. Now, someone watching me not knowing what I was doing would probably think I have just lost my mind. Here is this crazy girl in high grass, running back and forth to a camera. Then she sits down on the ground and moves around like a bee is flying around her! I have to admit, I probably looked pretty silly with some of the moves and poses I was trying. Remembering that I am very ummm, the opposite of graceful, I was attempting to run back and forth in my lovely pink high heels. I quickly decided to run barefoot and slip the heels on when I was ready for them to show. After all is said and done, I am in love with the way these pictures turned out. I just wanted to post these to let other women (and men) know that it's not about how you look at yourself, but how you envision yourself. I feel that these self portraits have brought on more self confidence and a love for how God has made me. I know that I do not have the perfect body. I eat healthy, minus my chocolate addiction, I am pretty active, and I a have a pretty clean lifestyle. This is MY body and my 4 year old tells me I am beautiful all the time!

See more from this session on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Landrum.Studios

Makes My Heart Sing

Business is booming lately and I love it. I have had a few photo shoots lately and I am so thankful for the beautiful people that I am meeting and thankful that I get to capture such a precious moment in their lives. At the beginning of every session, my nerves get started up and my brain juices get to flowing. I am so excited to be working with these wonderful families, nervous that they feel comfortable with me and in my home studio. I can just read the feelings on the mom's face during the shoots. She is thinking, "Oh I hope you can get some decent shots because my child/baby because I feel like all they are doing is running wild/crying." I love showing them some sneak peaks a couple days later because I have so much joy to show them exactly how perfect and precious their child is. My heart jumps out of my chest and sings a lovely song when I have so many great shots to choose from. After I finish working on every set of photos, I think, "Wow this one is my most favorite." Then I have another set that tugs at my heart strings. Here are a few of my favorite things!

Being a Grown Up

You know that feeling you get when something happens in your life and you just think, I am really a grown up now. It happens when you have kids, or buy a house or car and you just say to yourself, I am not a kid anymore, this is for real. I had this experience 2 days ago. I know I am an adult. I'm pushing 30 for goodness sake and I have 2 kids. I received tax forms in the mail for my photography business and I just thought, this is not a game. If I mess this up I can be in some big trouble. How scary is it to be "grown up"?! I am excited about this new journey for our family and my business but boy it can be intimidating. Well, that's enough of my thoughts today. On to editing pics of this sweet baby from yesterday!

Mentoring Program

This year I really want to get my photography going  bigger and better than before. I have decided to make it an official business and much more than just a hobby that it has been in the past. As any professional should, I am constantly learning and practicing. The internet is such an amazing venue to use for people like me that can't really get out and travel the world (2 young kids and a hard working husband :D) and financially we don't just have money at our disposal. So I have made a few business goals to continue my learning, one of which is to attend a photography workshop. I love learning things on my own and by reading and watching videos but I would LOVE the chance to actually be side by side with another professional and see what they do!  I have found this great opportunity and really hope I can win this chance to learn and get better and better.
 cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway-2012/

In this LIFE

To say my life is busy these days is an understatement. From the 6:15 am alarm named Ethan every morning, to the 4 month old baby that is now rolling and I think is teething (Lord help me, I think she's gonna be a drama queen with teething), to getting my photography business in full swing and moving 3 times in the past 2 yrs, I am always on go. I LOVE IT!! Anyone that knows me personally knows that I am a busy body. I am always going. I do enjoy the occasional lazy day or two but can't sit still long.
I am constantly researching ideas for my photography and teaching my 4 yr old so that he will be ready for kindergarten. He has blown my mind with how smart he is and how easily he grasps concepts.

People have told me that when you have more than one kid, they can be total opposites when they are babies. I find this to be very true on some things. Both of my kids have big appetites so when it's feeding time, the baby is not in a mood to play around. (I have to admit, they got it from me :D). When Ethan was a baby, he screamed all the time! He never slept (until about 7 months) and he was not very mobile at all until almost 6 months. This little girl doesn't cry often unless she's tired or hungry. She is sleeping long stretches at night at 4 months (thank the LORD), and she is already rolling and and kicking and all kinds of fun stuff. Here's where the bad difference is: when Ethan was teething at 11 months, I never knew at all. When he was in pain, after he was 5 months old, I never knew it. August Lynn is cranky with her teeth and if she is not happy, you will know it.

Now back to the photography stuff: I have some great ideas for some self portraits. (I am not very good at being in front of the camera.) I hope to share these with you guys soon for you to enjoy.  Check back often for updates.

Sweet Mother and Daughter

Last Sunday I was able to capture some memories for a mother and daughter. It was so precious watching them. Savannah was nervous at first but she loosened up towards the end. She is so pretty and her skin is so smooth and creamy. Amy is such a great mother and has so much joy when they are together. I can only hope that my daughter and I can click the way these two did. Here is a sneak peek at the photo shoot.