Natural Indoor Light - PART TWO

A couple more new shots that were taken indoors with natural light.

Natural Indoor Light

We are not accustomed to having so many consecutive cold days much less all the rainy, snowy, and overcast weather as well. Since it's hard for me to go a week without my other half (MY BELOVED CANNON), I have had to resort to shooting inside. GiGi helped me practice last weekend, and we came up with this little gem. I love the softness of the picture and might just have to add this print to my collection.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I haven't done a very good job of updating my home projects on this blog as promised, but I have completed a few projects over the last month. I refinished another end table (just like this one), refinished an extra dining chair for our breakfast room, and hung a few pieces of art including the one below. Yes, I finally got around to ordering my first gallery wrapped canvas, and I am in love. I could order so many more, but am holding off for new spring and summer pictures. This one is 24 x 30 and is hanging in our formal dining room.

My Biggest Critic

Occasionally, GiGi will come sit in my lap while I am looking at photos on my laptop. It turns out that she is my biggest critic of my photography. She will say, "ooohhhh, that is a horrible picture" or, Oh, Mommy, I love that one." She does this with pictures of herself as well as pictures of others. Of course, she always pays attention to what people are wearing and how they are styled. She definitely knows what she likes and has a strong opinion on what she views as pretty.

A few weeks ago, I was blog surfing. I don't think GiGi knew that I was on someone's blog other than my own, but she immediately started her critique, and THEN one picture caught her eye which she loved. She was in complete awe. The picture was of a little girl laying on a rug in a pretty little tutu. Before I knew it, she was marching down the stairs in her pettiskirt asking to have her picture made. So, I guess this makes her a photography copycat, but I can't complain when it results in this....

Comparison

They sure grow and change fast, don't they?

At 3 months...

Baby K turns ONE....

My sweet baby K is turning one! How time has flown once again. It seems just like yesterday that I was taking pictures of these sweet baby legs and curled up toes.

It has been fun getting to know this beautiful baby girl and capturing a few special milestones during her first year. ...And now at one, she is just as cute as can be! Don't you just love a toothy grin!
I sure do!

What a sweet and innocent little face.
Her mommy brought a cupcake for her to tear into during her photo shoot. We couldn't wait to see her get messy, but I should have known that precious little baby K would not want anywhere near a messy cupcake. She pulled her feet up and shook her head no every time we put it near her...

...And then she let us know that she did not like it near her one bit! It was so stinkin cute!

...So we put away the scary monster that messy cupcake and sang songs instead!

Happy 1st Birthday sweet girl!

Self Styled

I think I should be worried!

Photo of the Day - Monday

XOXO Love, GiGi

I thought GiGi's Valentines cards turned out really cute this year. I ordered these in 4 x 5 cards and glued them to the inside of an "I LOVE U" chocolate heart card. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I can almost feel the warmth of the sun just seeing these pictures. Ohhh, to have sunshine and above freezing temperatures...that would be SO wonderful.

I wish I had some Valentines pictures of my GTO to show, but it just wouldn't be cool to show up with photo cards if you are a boy in 2nd grade. :)

The Party Bus

When I started my blog in Jan of 2008, I set out to do what most Mom's do with a blog: share pictures and stories of my kids with grandparents and close friends. I picked a quirky little family name and began posting without ever giving much thought as to who might stumble across it. Had I known that I would become known as the fish photographer, I might have put a little more thought into it. :) While it makes more sense to have a photography blog AND also a personal blog for my kids' adventures, I just don't have the time or energy to manage two separate blogs. So I will continue on being known as the fish lady, and continue sharing my photography as well as my family on this blog...

It appears as though someone celebrated a birthday at our house this past weekend. I FINALLY got a party somewhat planned FOUR WEEKS LATE, but who's counting? I threw together some very last minute decorations.

What to do when you haven't purchased any decorations three days before party time??? Decorate with sweet treats....

Planning kids' birthday parties in the winter time is always a little difficult, but this bus made it super easy. It backed right down our driveway...

the girls all boarded...

...and HAD A BLAST! (okay so maybe it appears that one little girl wasn't having the best of times, but I promise you that she really did.) HA!

Who would've thought that GiGi would be hanging upside down by her toes in a school bus for her 5th birthday? The girls even got to zipline back and forth in the bus.

I am so glad GiGi was able to share a special day with her friends.

Taking the plunge....

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me over the week with words of encouragement and support. I never intended to have a photography business, but the business apparently found me. Last year was a bit of a struggle trying to balance two jobs and a family, but it was so rewarding as well. I thought long and hard these past few weeks and many times thought about giving up photography, but what I realized during these slower winter months is that I miss it tremendously. I didn't realize how much I depended on it as my creative outlet, and I have felt a bit empty without my weekly shoots these past few weeks. Am I quitting my full time job??? No. But I am not giving up my passion either. I never developed a plan last year and just flew by the seat of my pants with e-mails, scheduling, editing etc...This year, I am going to try very hard to focus on my photography business to see where it may lead me in the future. So now I take the plunge...wish me luck!

Every great leap forward in your life comes after you have made a clear decision of some kind.

My first goal of 2010 is the branding or marketing of GreyGill Photography. I didn't even have a business card last year and almost hid the fact that I dabbled in photography. It was all so overwhelming. Now, I feel ready to take on the photography world by storm. :) I now have a beautifully designed logo....

An awesome business card,...

and now offer gift cards as well.

Capturing what makes you tick. love. laugh. breath. be.

This one line sums up what I want my photography to represent. I hope to continue to grow and learn this year, and can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for me. I am excited to get back on track. Now bring on the sunshine!

LOVE my business designs??? None of this would have been possible without my friend, Kendra Jane. She dealt with my indecisiveness and designed all of these fabulous marketing tools for me. Interested in your own logo design, or card? Click HERE to be linked to her website. Kendra also designs custom birthday invitations, Christmas cards, and beautiful stationary. Check it out. She has a lot of customers from out of state and would love to help you!

Parenting 101

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep.

I just want my kids to love who they are, have happy lives and find something they want to do and make peace with that. Your job as a parent is to give your kids not only the instincts and talents to survive, but help them enjoy their lives.

Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Papas have only so many horsey rides in them.