Cousins

Our family got together last Sunday for hubby's not so surprise birthday celebration.

And with pretty clothes on, we agreed to do a photoshoot for these crazy bunch.

The setting up of the studio probably took more time than the actual photoshoot.

Angelina, the youngest in the bunch, was very cooperative at first.

But when it's time to take group pictures,

…

let's just say she did not want divided attention.

Here are the outtakes (unedited)…

"Let me go!"

"I am not facing the camera!"

"The pink necklace looks better on me!"

And this one is... priceless!

(I love how Virginia, top right, is posing for the camera yet looking strangely at her sister;

and how the girls behind are posing away while the boys are struggling to keep Angelina calm.)

You can find the "better" photos at Nostalgia Photography

though if you ask me, these outtakes are the better and normal ones :)

Studio snapshots, mother and daughter

Had a wonderful time snapping photos of this mother and daughter.

Believe me, they love each other.

See what I mean?

More at Nostalgia Photography

The Bees

They have invaded my living room.

Yes, these Alien Bees.

Quite powerful for a little thing.

We cannot underestimate these bees.

Have I lost it?

Or am I just really weird?

Don't worry!

It's not what you think it is.

It's these really great strobes from Alien Bees.

Love their affordability and versatility.

And they come in cool retro colours too!

Big thanks to hunny for getting me these bees.

I am spoiled!

Lights, Camera...Shoot!

I have been playing and experimenting with lights lately

and trying to shoot on manual mode.

I have found a new way to use my hotshoe flash

and a camera feature that I did not even know exist.

I bought a softbox.

Thanks, hun!

I have no other models so I shot a self-portrait while experimenting

aside from using Donkey Kong.

Here's what I got...

Not bad.

But I need more practice.

And more willing models

aside from Donkey Kong!

I can see clearly now...

New flash for my dslr.

An early birthday present from hubby and kids.

Thanks to our yard sale which paid for most of my SB-600.

Another bonus...a 2 GB Professional SD card inside the flash bag.

Happy birthday to me really!

I can see clearly now lalalala!!!

My very willing models for my new flash minus Jakob

(he's having a "heart-to-heart" talk with dad)

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today...

We are headed to our first ever long drive. 

It's March break, and we decided to team up with friends and get in our cars and drive across the border to New York City for two days, then to Pennsylvania for three days, and we are excited and nervous at the same time.

It's our first time crossing the border (Buffalo, New York doesn't count, okay?) and driving for six to nine hours. 

I am writing this just a little after midnight. 

(I am still not done packing, ugh!)

I am trying to pack light this time

(making room for some goodies to bring home from our trip, maybe?)

This is just a short sweet note to tell you that I might be missing in action (yet) again.

With that, I want to leave you with a couple of pictures from my new lens.

(courtesy of my hunny!)

Until then,

New York, New York!

iheartfaces: Best Face Photo

Taken January 7, 2010

I wanted new photos for my new picture frames in our living room so I dressed my kids in white and made them sit in my blue and white oversized chair.  These were taken late in the afternoon, and my kids are hungry (as always), so they were not quite happy with my photo session, so I made them tell me a story...and this is what I got from my princess while doing her favourite thing -- TALKING.

PIC OF THE WEEK: My trio in B&W

BROTHER

Mischief Maker
Protector

Tormentor
Tattletale

Hero

Best friend

BROTHER

Happy Birthday, i heart faces!

Hooray for i heart faces!

And to celebrate with them for their first birthday...

“I am submitting this photo into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photo for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.”

PIC OF THE WEEK: CN Tower

Was in downtown yesterday for Disney On Ice with my camera this time, and after the show, walking to our parked car, this is what we saw...

 Beautiful Christmas colours on the CN Tower!

The case of the panicking mommy

Here I am at one in the morning, trying to figure out what to do with the few photos that I have .  I am deciding on what to include in our Christmas cards that we send our loved ones overseas. 

It's my first year with my dlsr and I only have a few decent photos to edit, to choose from.

And it's only two more weeks before Christmas. And I only have this week to mail my cards for them to get to the hands of my beloved families.

I. Am. Panicking.

I. Want. To. Cry.

I have been so behind in everything on my "to do"since the start of November. I've edited a few photos but I am not satisfied with any of them. I am going to stop now.

Maybe I can get maybe a few more nice ones in the next couple of days.  That will give me time to edit and mail them so it can arrive at least before the new year.

So, goodnight y'all...

I mean, good morning!

Proof

Here's the proof of my kiddos' cooperation to my beloved camera last Wednesday night.

No complaining.

No hiding or running away from the crazy lady with the camera.

No fake smiles (okay, maybe a little!)

Just very willing subjects, posing away for mommy. 

Especially Jakob. 

I find it hard to take a picture of him coz he is either too zealous or too lazy (or eyes are always closed) when I have my camera on hand.

But that night was different.

He was even requesting for more.

I guess it's official -- they now welcomed my D90 to the family!

Awww, thanks!
*sniff, sniff*

Angelina

As godparents for her baptism, it was quite a big decision to make as to what we would give little Angelina.

Of course, it has to be special; it has to be meaningful; it has to be from the heart.

So I decided that editing her pictures taken from kidnapping borrowing her the moment she arrived our house two Saturdays ago would be perfect.

A bit intimidating, I guess, because this is the first time I will be presenting a photgraphy project to people outside of my immediate family.

But I am so glad they like it...love it! 

I was so happy watching faces light up with smiles as they look at the pictures I carefully mounted in frames. 

It was encouraging both for me and my hubby.
{I love him; he's so supportive of my hobbies.}

Here are the said photos...

This could be the start... ;)