She's such a HAM

What can I say, Boopy loves the camera. Big Boy obliges me on occasion but Boopy, she hams it up frequently. A couple of weeks ago they tagged along for a photo shoot with some good friends of ours. Boopy decided to ham it up and I couldn't resist her cute little face. I stumbled back upon this pic while working on the picture set, which I'm still not quite done with. I'm not sure which photo effect is my favorite, so here's all three for you to see.

Been working...

I've been working on more picture sets. Slowly starting to catch up. Check out the latest on my photo blog. Other than that, the kids and I are going to my mother-in-laws company picnic in Los Gatos tomorrow. Sunday will be spent on pictures, painting the trim in Papa's and my room and picking up a new bed for Boopy. That's right the great room switchero has led it's way to getting new beds for the kids. We picked up Big Boy's bed Wednesday night. Thanks to may friend, "Mother" Michelle, we got a super deal through craigslist! We pretty much saved nearly $700 on each bed! I'll be sure to share pictures of the beds in their rooms once we get to that point in the room switching.

So, go have a wonderful weekend, think of my parents as they go out to support the Deckers tomorrow. Be safe, kiss and hug the ones you love and praise God for all the blessings you have in your life!

Blogging Delay

Okay, so I have had a delay and haven't blogged on Mother's Day or Boopy's birthday...but I have been working on pictures. Just not my pictures. I'm still working on Megan's wedding but in between got Ashlyn's 3 month pictures done and have now been working on pictures for my sister and brother-in-law. So...go check out the latest. I've been having too much fun with pictures when I should be doing laundry....anyone want to come be my maid so I can play some more?

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!!

So, you've all probably noticed a continual lag in my posts and my attempts to catch up to current day. Well, as you've guessed it, we've been busy, busy, busy! Instead of playing with my personal pictures and blog stuff, I've been working on Megan's wedding pictures from last Saturday, pictures for my friend Karen's new baby Ryan that I took Tuesday night after work and Ashlyn's 3 month pictures that I took this morning! Wow, there are a lot of pictures to edit! All fun, but busy. Then throw in Mom's Cafe night at People's Church that I attend once a month and happened to fall on this week's Monday, then weekly bible study on Wednesday, my birthday on Thursday which involved a lovely surprise night out with just me and Papa Vaughn and you've got one tired Mama Vaughn! At least the weather is beautiful again so I'm putting things on hold and taking advantage of sneaking out with the the kids for some sheer enjoyment.

*Edited - Go SEE what I've been up to!!

Outside Time Distractions

Yesterday, I ended up taking the afternoon off because the EEG we had scheduled for Big Boy took longer than Papa and I expected. While that I'll save the details of the EEG for another post, I did want to show what I got distracted by in the late afternoon. Papa Vaughn had to work in the evening. The kids and I decided to enjoy some wonderful spring weather and spend much of the late afternoon/early evening playing in the front yard. They chased bugs, played in the bushes and I played with my camera and then later, Photoshop. So, while you wait patiently for all my other posts, enjoy the pictures below!

Distractions

Sorry I haven't posted new pics of the kids from this weekend. We spent some time enjoying the wonderful outdoors wandering the Spring Home Show. I promise I'll get to them this week before we head out for out road trip to Arkansas. And yes, I'll explain the crazy road trip too. Until then, go check out my photo blog and see what I was distracted by. If you want to see the entire set visit my photo website.

Photo Shoot & Bubbles

Yesterday ended up being a glorious day. I received a call earlier in the week from a Mom that had attended the Halloween party I photographed for our neighbors son. She had kept my card and finally called me about family pictures! She said that she mentioned pictures with me to a bunch of the parents at her son's soccer game. Hopefully she'll be happy with results and I may get some referrals! I still have some editing to do before I post her pictures on my photo site, but here's one to tide you over for a bit. The family was wonderful. Very easy to work with and all smiles!

Since I was taking the family pictures at Rio De Oso park not far from the house, Papa Vaughn and the kids tagged along to play at the park. I also thought I might try taking some more snapshots of the kids. As usual though, wide open spaces are not the best for trying to get posed shots of Big Boy as he doesn't sit still very well. Hence the lack of pictures below of the kids together and the majority of them being of Boopy. All in all though, the kids had fun playing with Papa, looking at ducks, finding lady bugs and of course running the train tracks.

Look! A ladybug!

This is how Boopy decided to pose when I told them to lay down on the grass for a picture! Big Boy wasn't impressed.

Waiting patiently, sort of, for bubbles.I love this wishful little look on Boopy's face.

Contemplating the next move....

Off to see the ducks!A boy with a mission...perhaps on the lookout for some train tracks!

Business Update

Along with working on paperwork for the photography business, I've set up a website through a service that hosts photos and processes client payments. Although it makes the whole web address a little long, it will work for now until Papa Vaughn can design an official website for me. Regardless though, this site has a great service for clients to be able to view their pictures and pay for their orders with credit cards that I personally am not set up for. So, when you get a chance check out the site. www.sunflowerphotographyanddesign.photoreflect.com

I've got pictures up in the portfolio section as well. I want to add some different ones, but need to go through the massive amount of pictures on disks to find what I want to add. For now these are ones we have stored on our computer. Soon you will also be able to see the Halloween party I shot for our neighbors last night. They are the first clients I'm utilizing the site for. The great thing about the party is that we received a lot of compliments on the invitation that Charles and I created for their party. Charles finished my business cards for me in time for the party so I was able to give them to parents to view the pictures and hopefully make an order. I also had quite a few mention that they will give me a call to take family photos for the holidays! Let's hope this can help spread the word around!!

Business Name Feedback

I think we may have decided a name for the photo and design business to make my hobby job official. The name was actually thought up by three seperate people as something they found very fitting for me, not too formal, yet not too sappy. The fact that Five & Kathie and then Kristen thought of this name without any communication with eachother, says a lot to me. It can work for weddings, families, kids, business, whatever we like. So, please let me know what you think and feel free to offer another suggestions if you have them.

Drum roll please........

Sunflower Photography & Design

I've already got Charles started thinking of good logo ideas so that we can get started on business cards. I'm starting my research of photo prices to see how what I currently offer measures up to the market and what I need to or should revise. Wish us luck and lots of prayer that this is what we should be working towards!

Fresno Fair Photo Contest - Results

Ah....nothing like the sweet taste of losing. No really, not a bad thing. I called this morning to make sure the pictures I entered were going to be displayed as I had not heard from anyone to come pick them up. I also asked if they could share the results of the judging. Upon review I was told that none of my entries placed. While I'd like to think it's truly not a big deal, as honestly I was really just hoping to have at least one entry displayed, I must admit a small part of me is a little disappointed. When you enter anything, anywhere or participate in any kind of competition there's always that chance that you could possibly win. At the same time, I'm really glad I decided to enter this year and really happy that I can go to the fair and proudly see my pictures up for all to see. That satisfaction of sharing my art with the world will be good enough to make this a pleasant experience. Besides, once I get the score card when I get my pictures back after the fair I will know better what the judges are looking for and can be better prepared for an entry next year!

So, if you are planning on going to the Fresno Fair which runs between Oct 3rd and Oct 17th, be sure to stop by the photo gallery and look for my submissions. As for the scrapbook page, I have no idea how it did. I figure that I will just wait until I go to the fair to see how it did. Thanks again to everyone for your help in selecting my entries!

Business Help

Since you were all so good at helping me pick photos to enter in the fair, I figured I'd see what creative help you can offer in my next big venture. After a lot of thought and discussions between Charles and me, we've decided that we really need to take a serious look at making my photography hobby job a real business. So, now we need to come up with something creative, catchy, fun and easy to remember, to name the business. We'd like it to reflect the ability to do more than just photos as Charles can offer graphic design ability so keep that in mind. Now for your help. I'd love any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, etc for a business name. Right now I'm mostly doing wedding photos, but I also do family and kids pictures.

The sooner we can come up with something we like, hopefully love, the sooner I can get going on a business license, get Charles working on a logo and business cards and a website to display my portfolio. Put your thinking caps on and send your comments my way!

Thanks!

Fresno Fair Photo Contest - Take 2

Phew, I made it. After issues with the printing of the pictures, stressing over the potential costs of properly mounting my photos and getting my registration form in on time, I managed to get my photos delivered to the fairgrounds for the photo contest. Next year, if I decide to enter again, the process, I hope, should be much easier. Not that this was terribly difficult, but it did take some juggling of errands and walking around lost at the fairgrounds to finally drop off my submissions to their appropriate places.

I did decide to submit 4 photos, 2 color and 2 black and white. Is was tough and I really appreciate all your help! My final selections were:

#5 #8

#1 #2

I also submitted a scrapbook page since the entry fee was only a dollar! Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it to share, but if it makes it in the fair display, you can go to the Fresno Fair and see it in person! Once I get it back, I'll try to post a picture of it for you out of towners.

Judging is this weekend. I should know Monday at least if any of my pictures will be displayed or not. Wish me luck! I'd love to have at least one put up!

Fresno Fair Photo Contest

Okay, so I am thinking about actually entering a couple of photos in the Fresno Fair. I can enter 2 in black and white and 2 in color if I want and the cost is only $5 per entry. My problem is narrowing down my choices! That's where I need your help. Do I enter 2 photos only (one in each section) or 4 photos and then which ones. Here are some I'm considering. Let me know what you think! Let me know if you've seen other shots I've taken that you think I should enter instead of these! Also, I can make any of the color ones black and white.

Color:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9 (an oldie but one of my favorite!)

Black & White

1. 2.

3. 4.

Make a comment soon - if I'm going to enter I have to have the entry form in by September 8! Keep in mind that the picture will be voted on the overall photo, not just how cute the kid is! :)