4-23, AESI Brochure

I've been working with a local printing company to get this brochure printed for As Eye See It (soon to be an LLC in CO!).  So.....what do you think?

3-7, Studio Set-Up

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the studio set-up for the senior session I did in March.  I'm pleased that I was able to fit 3 different sets into the space in my basement studio.  I've since developed a plan to work in an additional set to ease the set-up and break-down time.  I have a feeling that with the nice weather arriving, I won't get much use out of the studio for awhile.  But, what's a better background than nature?!

A cute little helper is always worth a test shot!

4-18, "Pinkalicious"

For those of you who have little girls and know this story, enough said!  LOL.....

3-14, Senior Practice Session

I have a very sweet friend who graciously offered her daughter to me for a practice senior session.  This session has given me a lot to think about.  Who is my target market?  What is an appropriate pricing scale? What is my marketing strategy?  Do I have enough backgrounds?  Do I have enough lights?  Do I have enough time for all of this?!   The answers vary, but my dedication to proceed remains.  It's like rekindling a fire that has almost extinguished and with one strong gust it erupts into flames.  I've learned too much to ever go back to where I was before I started, so there is only one direction to go:  forward.  Thank you so much to my dear friend and her beautiful daughter for your time, your patience, your advice and your support.  May you have a beautiful senior year full of wonderful memories. 

3-3, Slow Shutter Speed

I've been doing some thinking.  I've also been studying, reading, prepping, processing and pondering.  You see, sweet Emalie will be starting preschool at the beginning of the next school year.  Having been through this whole 'starting school' thing before (although that was nearly a decade ago), I can foresee what is going to happen.  After hearing little voices in my head (oh wait, this time they are real...just kidding!) for 12 hours a day, 3 hours of quiet time 4 days a week is going to drive me crazy.  I wasn't prepared for this when our oldest child started full-day kindergarten.  I thought I would just soak up all this time to myself and love every minute of it.  I did-- to a degree-- but it wasn't long before I found myself entering the world of children's portraits to fill my time.  I looked forward to those sessions with the kids and their parents.  It was a new experience for me and I loved all that I learned.  Now, six years later, I think maybe it's time to pick up where I left off (with the exception of those customers now being 1600 miles away).   I'm not quite 'there' yet, but this is the direction that I think I am heading.  So, when I'm not juggling the kids, the husband, their respective schedules, shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning and budgeting, I allow myself the luxury of learning more about my cameras, my software and the business practices of successful photographers.  (So, no, I generally don't lie awake staring at the ceiling, it's all I can do to get to bed fast enough before I fall asleep!)  In that very lengthy segue, I intend to begin (again) posting pictures that I haven taken with the emphasis on photography rather than family.  (I think there are only so many 'cute Emalie' and 'karate Nikolas' pictures my extended family and friends can handle on my other blog.)  This latest batch was inspired by a photography course I am currently taking.  The topic is 'Shutter Speed' and the artful way it can be used to capture moments that do not appear in real life as they appear when stopped at 1/30 of a second (for example).  Now, you all may get tired of Emalie pictures now, but focus not on the subject but on the way that shutter speed attempts to capture the movement of a toddler.  Some of the photos give a very artistic rendition, but as you can see, Emalie moves way faster than 1/30 of a second (give or take a little).  This concept is a little foreign to me, as I like my pictures tack sharp.  My goal has always been to zoom in (and I mean WAY in) and have everything be perfectly clear.  That's how I was trained.  But, this little exercise has given me an appreciation for thinking outside the box and imagining scenes differently.  There is merit to having a particular style, but who doesn't want to deviate from that and experiment a little?  

The swirling colors of motion.

Is a 3' slide really that terrifying- or just fun if it's as tall as you are?!

Bear had one heck of a ride, too.

3-3, Our New Focus

I feel a sense of gravity-- as if I am beginning this blog for the first time.  Granted, it has been a long time since I've posted.  So much has changed in my life since June of 2012.  Where to start?  I couldn't possibly give you a rundown of everything that has transpired, nor do I care to stress my memory in that way.  What I can emphasize is that after six and half years of adoption tribulations, life is good.  We have a very happy, very healthy little girl to call our own.  We love her with all of our hearts.  We have been blessed, very, very blessed.  I will introduce you to this little girl who has stolen our hearts (and the focus of my lens and days).  Meet Emalie.  The day we met her in Wuhan, China, she was 15 months old.  She is now just shy of 35 months.  She's a full-fledged two-year old with a very strong sense of order and independence.  On most days, I'm fairly certain she is already smarter than I am. (Lord knows her memory is better!)  I am not a religious person, but I have to admit that during the adoption process, I said a little (ok, not so little) prayer acknowledging that it would take 'the perfect person' to fit into our family.  I'd have to say that my prayer was answered.  I can't imagine anyone blending into our family and home better than she has.  Can you tell I'm totally smitten?  Here's a little chronological photo diary of Emalie beginning in August of 2012 through February of 2014.

6-16, Camping in Colorado

I know, it's been quiet on the 'Finding Focus' blogfront.  And although my posts are spreading thin, I do believe I'm slowly achieving my goal of -- you guessed it-- finding MY focus.  I knew things would start to settle into place if I could just take a step back, let the chips fall where they may and not force them.  I'd really been struggling with the concept of my business.  How much do I want it?  How much time am I willing to commit to it?  How much time do I really have to commit to it?  Is my motivation for the money or personal satisfaction?  Family first or a balance of both?  These questions have weighed heavily on my mind.  And what I am discovering the answer to be...... a place and time for everything.  In Washington, where I began my business, my photo cards and the farmers market were my outlet.  My husband was deployed, our son was quite young, and As Eye See It gave me a link to the community.  In Maryland, my husband was home and our son was in grade school.  I had more time on my hands and the desire to broaden my photography skills.  I dove into children's portraits and acquired more than experience, I acquired friends.  This endeavor filled a place in my mind and in my heart that was just what I needed and when I needed it.  And now, in Colorado, I have decided that it is ok to be a photographer whose priority is capturing memories for my own family instead of for others.  I have enjoyed getting up close and personal with all that Colorado has to offer.  I have rekindled my love of nature photography.  I have taken very few photos of people and when I do they are of my own family.  In the beginning, I struggled with this, I felt like I was sliding back down the hill of progress rather than climbing up it.  But in this, too, I have discovered that it's not the destination but the journey.  My here and now is my family.  See, next month, we are bringing a little one into our family.  We didn't have the typical 9-month wait, our wait was 6 years.  It has taken 6 years for this to be the right time and place for our little girl from China to join our family.  The adoption journey has been a lot like my photographic journey.  It's been filled with hopes, doubts, skepticism, optimism, you name it.  Nothing ever seemed to be where I thought it should be at the time I wanted it to be.  And now I see-- that's ok.  There is a time and place for everything.  So while I am not pursuing my photography skills professionally at this time, it's ok for me to enjoy and pursue them personally.  I don't pretend to know when the tide will turn and things will again change, but I have vowed to take that step back and let things present themselves as they may.  I can hear my beloved Grandmother's voice in my head, "Oh, be still, Tara, be still....".  What wonderful advice.

"Hancock View"

"Alpine Flower"

"Red Cactus Bloom"

"Cottonwood Lake"

"Cottonwood Pass North"

"Cottonwood Pass West"

"Cottonwood Pass Northwest"

"Cottonwood Pass Northeast"