Jedidiah and Jessica, Save the Date Shoot

 What a beautiful couple! I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica around 2 months ago, and am excited to reveal this sampling from their Save The Date Shoot.

Their chemistry is electric,  and so easy to shoot.

 I love detail shots, and accessories.

 There is an easy-ness about their love.

Most of my favorite shots came from this part of the session. I had them close, and just moved around them as they doted on each other. 

My favorite shot of the entire session! She is stunning.

Tiny Babies & A Woman in Waiting

My Sunday morning was spent with 

a friend from my teenage years working

at Marie Callender's. Not only is this

woman fabulous, but we are birthday twins, so we have a special connection. We started the morning shooting by the water, and walking our way up past the museum cone, past the wall of glass (above) and ended our time at Anthem coffee. I love shooting, but I confess, often the best part of my shoots are the excellent conversations with fabulous clients.

I am so happy for her and Neil. Entering into parenthood is an exhilarating time. Tiny Sophia, no doubt has a beautiful childhood just waiting to  greet her.

Later, I had a date with this tiny guy. Another childhood friend hired me to shoot her tiny son, Weston. Qianna is one of my favorite friends from high school. She is just pleasant to be around, easy to get along with. I admire this blended family. They are rocking it for sure. I see such love between all of them.

These have been such fun to edit, I can't wait for the proofing sessions with my clients.

On Monday...

Yet another high school friend hired me for a session. I am blessed by supportive friends. 

Carter's daddy is an artist, I was so stoked I got to use some of his paintings as a backdrop for this special session. Steve is one of those amazingly talented people who can do anything. Turns out he was a sponsored skateboarder, too. While Carter got his sleep in, I was took this detail shot.

  

It's evolving

No photograph today. I continued working on this damn logo. It is amazing how time consuming this stuff is. Who knew something so small could monopolize my time? Usually what takes up my time are Netflix marathons, eating, and well.... you know. All this work, and I STILL have twerking, I mean tweaking to do. For another day. I've got 6 seasons of Dexter to catch up on.

Distracted

Most of the time I cook, I enjoy it. Strike that, I am a damn liar. I love to cook when it doesn't feel like a monotonous chore to sustain two bottomless pits and a hungry husband. I love to cook when I am trying out a new recipe, or my whole house is spotless, and I can take my sweet time. I especially love to cook when I am bringing a meal to a potluck, and I know it will be devoured, leaving other no-so-good dishes lonely and untouched. I get a secret pleasure out of that. It's my favorite kind of race and luckily I am always victorious. The "Best Dish" race is the only one you will see me competing at.
Today, I got enthralled redesigning my logo and website. I had no plans on doing that today, and it made me utterly useless as a mom and housekeeper. My daughter even drew on the walls in marker while unsupervised, and was left to run around like a wild damn banshee. Stew was planned to be in the Crock Pot at 6:30 am, but when 4:30 rolled around, and the Crock was empty, I had to hurry my ass up and make something. So I sauteed all the vegetables, and potatoes, and seared the meat to make up for my laziness. I pretty much defeated the whole point of a Crock Pot today. Yay me.

Making him laugh

This boy. When he was born, I was head over heels. We had four years together before Amelia came along. So much changed when she came. If you are a parent to multiples, you are familiar with what I am talking about. With such a span of time between my children, there were so many benefits. Now, that Jairus is getting bigger, I am seeing some tension. His little heart misses me oohing and ahhing over him, and instead directing the verbal doting on his sister. He doesn't understand this is just because of her age, and when Jairus was that little, I was all over his intense cuteness.

I am making myself embrace and even cheer on his awkward smiles, and snaggly teeth. His chubby hands are gone, and his baby teeth smile is falling out before my eyes. I must embrace this, before I know it, this phase will be gone forever, and I will wish I leaned into it more. So, leaning, I am. I must find a special way for me to connect with just him. Take up a new mommy/son hobby... Any ideas?

My tackle list for 2014

For me, writing down goals and dreaming is fun. The actual discipline of accomplishing those goals is what intimidates me. This year, as with many of you, I have several goals. Here, I unveil them to you, throw them out, and hope I can make them stick.

1)      Shoot every day

To structure this, I am doing a 365 project, a challenge to pick up my camera every day and shoot. I will be posting each photograph daily on my Facebook Page, as well as my blog.

2)      Learn 10 hours a week

It is vital as a photographer for me to keep learning, keep fresh and keep growing.

3)      Read 1 book a month

I love to read, but I have not picked up a book in awhile. On my list are:

A)     Boundaries, a must read for anyone who is often violated by inconsiderate friends and family.

B)      Something from the author, Jodi Picoult. Two of my Facebook followers recommended her, so I’m going for it

C)      Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, suggested by another follower.

Please email me with any book recommendations you might have, I need ‘em.

4)      Keep up with our Budget

We start the month with a budget, but sometime between the 15^th and the 25^th, we lose momentum.

5)      Date my man

It is so hard to make one on one time a priority with small kids, jobs, homeschool and the hurdles of life. But because I so believe in investing in my best friend, I am going to work hard to make time with my man happen.

6)      Keep my car clean

Miracles do happen every day.

7)      Book 3 clients a month

God has blessed me with an already growing business, now I am working on consistent and long lasting growth.

8)      Take back my health

Gah, the cliche, and I hate it. I am slaying this monster this year.

9)      Control my lack of patience

People think, “Oh you home school, you must be so patient.” Not true. I am certain home school was made for impatient mothers like me to test my ability to not give in to urges of domestic violence and alcoholism.

10)   Be consistent

Applying liberally to all goals above.

There you have it. Out for all to see.  If you are taking back your health and strength this year, you can join me on myfitnesspal at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/user/juanitabarnard/status.