Hissyfits Photography Blog

In my last post I mentioned our trek to the Grand Canyon. We drove a long way for a super short amount of actual canyon viewing {once you’ve seen it, you’ve pretty much seen it!!}, but I also had big plans to do a photo shoot for the girls’ birthday invitation while we were up in the mountains. The temps where we live are well over 100 already and let me just say that I don’t do heat. At all. I would much rather spend hours driving to a cooler climate than wipe dripping sweat off my neck while shooting. And if I am hot and miserable, we know that my subjects {the girls} must be every bit as hot and miserable as well!!

It’s a  great plan if all goes accordingly, but how often does that actually happen? As much as I like control, some things just can’t be controlled. Such as the wind. And let me just say it blew and blew and blew that day! And as much as I tried not to stress, I did. Like to the point of fighting tears. My big plans just weren’t going to happen. The location I REALLY wanted was being used for an art festival so we had to find someplace else. A park. It worked, but it didn’t have much to offer. Except lots of wind because it wasn’t sheltered in amongst the buildings!!

I’ll start with my least favorite….it IS cute, but something about it just seems off to me? I am sure I am probably being extremely critical of my own work, but I am being honest!

Another one that is off…

I shot both the one above and below wide open at 1.4. With backlight. I don’t use either one frequently – or ever. I am challenging myself though to work on both!! Shooting wide open will be easier than backlight. Yes, I live in the valley of the sun, but finding the “optimal” light when it is still 110 at dark {okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea!} isn’t something I plan to do! Just.keeping.it.real.

I LOVE this next one! Also shot at 1.4 but it is MUCH better!

I just realized as I was loading this image in that the vertical and square ones won’t be centered on this post!! I got in a hurry and forgot a step! Oh well!! I don’t have the time or energy to redo them!!

The rest of these I took closer to home. We headed out early Memorial Day morning so I could have my second chance and let me just say, I am SO glad we did!! We managed to beat the heat and I got some definite keepers – especially considering I had absolutely NOTHING to work with of Gentry girl. She LOVES to be in front of the camera but she totally turns on the fake smile. I can usually get some genuine grins out of her, but the day we were in the mountains I was already frustrated and off my game!!

A real smile. Daddy was sticking his tongue out at her just behind me! Works every time!

And more of “baby” Brighton.

Out of all the images of Brighton, this is my favorite. This is her. So her.

Are her bloomers not the cutest EVER? LOVE them. LOVE LOVE LOVE them. You can find them here. My aunt has a store and she made them for me!! Well, for Brighton to be exact! Anyway, when I started thinking ahead to outfits I knew that I HAD to have a tutu and coordinating bloomers! Here is the great part – while she has an actual store, she also ships so even those of us who live far, far away can purchase her pieces!  And her prices are great. Go see for yourself!!! Or if you have something else in mind, send her a message!

I am sure you are oogling over the headbands, right?  They are AMAZING. Even better than I had imagined. THAT good peeps – THAT good. They are custom pieces from Chelsea Ann at Itty Bitty Birdy. She rocked them – out of the park. Check out her work – you’ll love it!

{Gentry’s dress is from The Children’s Place this past spring and Brighton’s shirt was a lucky find at Target! The tutu is from Hannah’s Tutus on Etsy.}

I have been wanting to get out with just Huntler for a really long time now. It still hasn’t happened. And now that it is really hot, I don’t foresee it happening anytime super soon! But I did capture a few of him that I just love!

He used to have the straightest little teeth EVER. His two top ones are loose now and separating. I smile every time I see his gappy toothed little grin!

Random moment I was lucky enough to freeze. Adore.

Retro chic.

*****

And a few “Everyday Moments”  from the same day!! I am once again behind…clearly finding time to edit and blog during the summer is much harder than during the school  year. And even then it was hard!!!

These first two were taken by one of the kids…

Okay! On that note I haven’t even uploaded anything I have taken since last Tuesday! Yikes! Time to get that done and maybe I can get some editing done tonight!!!

I am following this post up with another one today {at some point!}, but wanted to keep the other one separate, so here are just a couple of photos for now!

Last weekend {Memorial Day weekend} we loaded up for a LONG day trip to the Grand Canyon. We had been once before, but that was before we even moved here and Huntler was just a tiny little bug and I was pregnant with Gentry!! We have been talking and talking about going again but something else always seems to come up. The story of life, right? Anyway, we made a point to get up there over the long weekend! Us and hundreds of other people that is!! Luckily it is HUGE and there is plenty of room for everyone!

Family snap. I turned my camera baby over to a total stranger. It is my most beloved possession but I have learned to trust others or I am NEVER going to be in any family photos! While I would have loved to perfectly position everyone and have the person taking the said photos shoot off about 50 frames, that’s not realistic. So I told them to take two or three and chose the best one to share!!

And one of just the kids. Harsh shadows, squinty eyes and all!

And that’s it for now!! More coming soon!!

So in my last post I mentioned that Brighton is learning to walk. Much to my disbelief, she is. Huntler and Gentry were both thirteen months when they started so it seems a bit crazy to see Brighton just stand up and start walking!! Now, she isn’t “all over” yet, but she is most definitely learning. We are talking far more than 2 to 4 steps but not walking across a room just yet!! And she is determined. Unless she is in a huge hurry, when she falls, she stands back up and tries again!

We went outside a couple of nights ago so I could attempt to get some decent photos of her!

I have a TON of these with such cute expressions, but unfortunately I don’t have a ton of time!!! Yesterday I bought her shoes. Two pair.

This little guy is something else. He was showing us many tricks…

And she graduated from preschool yesterday. Sigh.

Hip hip hooray!! After getting way behind, and by that I mean WAAAAYYYYYY behind, I mounted a come back and somehow managed to get caught up! Just in time for summer! I haven’t yet figured out if that will allow me more or less time on the computer. Actually, at this point Gentry hasn’t even finished school yet. Just Huntler. So next week is “technically” our first full week of summer I guess! Maybe then I’ll know!

Whew!! It’s late. My back hurts from sitting in the computer chair {obviously it isn’t ergonomically correct}. But I am CAUGHT UP! And I am so excited I am not even saving this post for tomorrow! I am trudging ahead and getting ‘er done tonight.

Sooo….backing up just a bit. I posted a couple of images from Mother’s Day weekend but as I was sifting through and deleting some, I found a couple more I want to include in our book at the end of the year so I thought I would share them here as well!

Sweet “Hunter” as his certificate says. We get that often. Often. The “l” is easy to overlook apparently. Probably because “Huntler” isn’t exactly common!! Anyway, this was after his last soccer game. I can’t get over how RED his cheeks are in this shot. Holy heat wave. Thank goodness that was his last game because let me just tell you it has only gotten warmer down here in the valley of the sun. He was sooooo proud of his stuff! And we are so proud of him! This is the first sport we have ever really participated in and it was good for him. I think we are going to give basketball a whirl next!!

The inside of my Mother’s Day card. Priceless. Way better than my gift  - an uber cute turquoise purse I picked out myself and gave Chris to wrap for me! Yes, that’s how we do things around here! Huntler decided to get artsy. He drew a little picture of himself saying “Hi Mom.” The heart says “Happy Mother’s Day” all smashed up. And a happy face. Gentry actually gets to take credit for the happy faces. She ALWAYS signs her name with one. Cards. School papers. Sunday School. The funny thing? I always sign my name with one too. Even in emails. Always. But I don’t think she got that from me. Gentry wrote Brighton’s name for her this year! And I should add that this is like the only time Huntler has ever signed his name with one!!

Self portrait. Flipped the old dial to “auto” and started snapping. Ended up with my mouth in focus instead of my eyes, but those are the breaks with auto.  Seeings how I adore this image of me and my middle, I am totally fine with overlooking the slight focus issue.

Camera shy? I think not. The headband and clips are all from Itty Bitty Birdy {whom I HIGHLY recommend if you read a couple of posts or so ago}! I am waiting on custom pieces to match the girls’ birthday outfits as I type!!! EEEEKK!! So excited!! And did I just mention birthday outfits? Why yes, yes, I did. Brighton will be eleven months old this week. ELEVEN. The joint party is next month. More on that soon since I am FINALLY caught up!

This one deserves to be printed large in my opinion. It is SO her.

Several months ago I took a photo of the kids on the end of our bed like this. This attempt was a little more challenging. Baby has developed a mind of her own in recent months and this didn’t really fit into her plans as you can see.

Canvas worthy baby buns. No need to explain.

I am soooooooo excited I managed to capture this face!! We saw it often there for a few days but she has since moved on to bigger and better {nearly walking} and this has become old news. And I only took this last weekend.

And some of the whole fam that night on the patio!

Last day of kindergarten. I cannot believe he will be in FIRST GRADE next year.

Not sure what she was thinking about {obviously}, but this was too cute!

Girlfriend LOVES Elmo.

All of the rest are from yesterday {Sunday}. We had watermelon for lunch and let Brighton feed herself. You can imagine. I was wanting an excuse to give her a sink bath anyway. However, with the paparazzi in my way, I didn’t get many shots in!

And then a little fun on the Slip n Slide!

And then a baby girl soooo tired she couldn’t keep her head up for supper. I’d say that is a sign of a pretty darn good day!

And with that, my friends, I am caught up!! Now to dive into some serious party planning and summer loving!

I AM still shooting for myself almost everyday and love it. LOVE IT. Here we are mid-May and I can with 110% honesty say that this has by far been THE single best photography based decision I have EVER made. I look at these images and fight tears at the simple memories I have been so lucky to capture. The everyday moments with dirty faces and toys everywhere. Not that I don’t love the images I capture at our “shoots,” but there is something so raw about capturing life as it unfolds, bed head and all. Have I shot something EVERY single day? Nope. But I have hit most of them and for that I am beyond grateful.

So here is a hodge podge of the last few weeks! I am so far behind!! BUT – some of these are from just over the weekend so I am mounting my come back!

Tears came quickly after this shot…

Sunflare streaming into the playroom…

Brighton is obsessed with the stairs! She zooms for them at warp speed. It was getting to be too much for me to try to get her every.single.time while trying to fix a meal or whatever, so we had to start trusting the big kids to help. They fight over who gets to get her!!!

First swim 2011…

First swim ever…

She LOVED it.

Reflections…

Dream a little dream…

My crazy little baby!!

Mother’s Day gift from my favorite almost kindergarten girl…

Last soccer game. We survived the season. But as the temp creeps up into the “way too hots,” I was glad to see it come to an end for this year!

I am full of all sorts of fun finds this week!! I am playing MAJOR catch up if you can’t tell!! My lil’ blog has been neglected lately and I have come to accept that that is simply the way it is going to be these days. There just isn’t enough time, or me, to go around. Something has to give and it isn’t going to be my family!! Or my sleep!

Two or three months ago I contacted Chelsea Ann at Itty Bitty Birdy in regards to making a custom headband for Brighton. She had all sorts of adorable pieces  in her Etsy shop for big girls {meaning for Gentry and all the way on up!} but nothing for the bitty girls. We emailed back and forth several times and that was the start of not only a great friendship, but a burst of creativity for her! We are now the happy owners of several Itty Bitty Birdy pieces and I ADORE them!! These are great for everyday wear as well as photo shoots!

Gentry is wearing one of Chelsea’s new “Simple Headbands” here – meaning it has fewer yoyos and therefore costs a little less than the ones with more yoyos!

This last one is just an outtake that I love! There were ants on the tree and Gentry was fascinated but overly cautious all at the same time!

These can be totally customized to fit your needs as far as colors, simple or not, big girl or baby girl. I know for a fact that Chelsea has DOZENS of darling embellishments for these! I would love love love to take a peek into her craft supplies to see what all she has stashed away!

You can even get matching/coordinating ones…

And here is little bit sporting a couple of her new accessories…

Rocker baby. I had COMPLETELY different plans for this outfit and our shoot but as you know, babies have opinions too. My baby has strong ones. I could NOT get her to stand up or do exactly what I wanted for the life of me! So I gave up and just got what I could!!!

As you know, I love to share the happiness I come across online and wanted to make sure you all knew about these hidden treasures!! I can assure you that you won’t be one bit disappointed in anything you purchase or have designed! Be sure to tell Chelsea I sent ya!!

So you may remember back when I shared photos of Brighton in her Noodle Noggins hat? You don’t think I could have one of my girlies do some modeling without letting the other one in on the fun now do you? Gentry LOVES my camera. And I mean LOVES. “Oh Mom, grab your camera.” “That would be a really great place to take pictures, huh Mom?” “Mom. Take my picture like this.” Not a day goes by without Gentry requesting in some way, shape or form that I take her photo! I love that. And I love that she whips out her little Fisher Price piece of junk camera to capture moments as well! {Although I am seriously thinking she needs some sort of little point and shoot that takes something half way decent instead of the indestructible yet horrible quality camera she has!!}

Anyway, we went out a couple of times recently to capture some photos of her in an adorable hat made by friend Kristy at Noodle Noggins! These hats come with nothing but the highest of recommendations from me! I am somewhat {okay, A LOT} on the picky side and out of all of the Noodle Noggins hats we own, I don’t have a complaint one. I love them all!!!

And now for some photos of my almost kindergarten girl sporting the latest…

This was from our first night out. LOVE the dress. Do not love the dress in photos – it seems way too low cut!

Had I dressed her appropriately, we wouldn’t have had to venture out for a “take two!” But then I wouldn’t have these images either!

Anyway, loving this colorful little sunhat! Doesn’t it make you smile just looking at it? Go get yourself one. If not this one, there is plenty of other cuteness to choose from!!

There are more coming. And several “other” posts too!!

{Ignore the corners – I must have done something to this after I had already rounded them!! }

So I had NO idea you would be able to see what was on my phone when I shot this! I was actually just trying to capture Huntler! When I pulled this up I was SO excited to see the moons. Not because they mean anything to me or I even know what exactly they are, but because this little guy is consumed with space these days.

I know I have said this before, but this photo challenge is one of the best decisions I have EVER made! I CHERISH these photos. Not because they are all perfect or canvas-worthy or even frame-worthy. But because they are real. They are our everyday and they tell our story, piece by piece. I look through the album that holds them all on the computer often. And almost every time I tear up. The moments I have frozen are priceless. PRICELESS.

Have you noticed I have a “thing” for sleeping shots? An obsession really? I was actually going to do this whole series titled “While You Were Sleeping” but I just haven’t gotten to it! On the flip side, I have captured numerous sleeping images that I adore and that makes me happy! I love sneaking into the kids’ rooms long after they have drifted into a peaceful sleep and pulling out my camera. Oddly, although my shutter is loud and seems SUPER loud in the stillness of the night, I don’t really worry about waking my babes. I guess I figure that settling them back in for the night is more than worth the moments I have forever frozen… That being said, they never wake up! Well, Brighton has during her naps but not at night!

We don’t see a lot of rain down here in the desert so when we do, it calls for puddle jumping! In your jammies.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how she drags her hand down her face and rubs her eyes when she’s tired…so happy I was able to capture this!

More are coming! LOTS more!! Gotta get back to work now!!

Somehow another week has come and gone! Here is a peek into what was happening around here!

A little Minute to Win It cup stacking fun! The kids LOVE this stuff!! Last weekend they were bored so we busted out the plastic cups and the ping pong balls and they were easily entertained for over an hour!

Painted toes that lasted all of 30 minutes. Seriously. She decided she MUST take a bath before they were completely dry {against all of my warnings} and just like that, they were all messed up! I have since bought a “quick dry” spray! We also bought some super cute and fun little scrapbook stickers at Michael’s so we don’t have to keep using the boring flowers!!! Imagine shimmery hearts and butterflies! I might even jazz my toes up too!

We cancelled our cable today. We barely watch it during the day but watch it WAY too much at night. We decided that we can watch what we really, really want to watch {General Hospital for me and then Deadliest Catch and Friday Night Lights for both of us!} online. Most of what we record just sits in the DVR until we get tired of it sitting and delete it. I am actually really excited! However, I am a bit concerned that these two punkins’ are going to want to be on my computer a little/lot more! I keep telling Chris we do not need an iPad. Maybe we do?

And this shot? It is screaming canvas at me too!! I was actually on the phone when I took this! I was chatting away and happened to pass by Brighton’s crib and she had rolled over and looked like this! I ran for my camera and started snapping!

Okay, so she didn’t look exactly like that. She looked more like this…

Photoshop is an amazing, amazing tool!!

More from last week coming up! The kids have been “playing” on pbskids.org so I am just now getting my turn on the computer!