So... I said I wanted this blog to be a place where I can share my heart.  In an effort to do that, I thought it might be appropriate to tell you a little bit about my last photo shoot.  It was with an ADORABLE little guy named Kellen.  He is 2 weeks old and just the cutest thing EVER!!  Two days before Kellen's shoot, I did my first session with a baby, (Jessika, 7 weeks old...another bundle of cuteness!).  But Kellen was the first true "newborn" session I had done.  I was nervous.  I love little babies, but it's been 4 1/2 years since my youngest daughter was born. 

   I went into the session very excited, but also...a bit insecure.  Was I going to be able to do this?  I honestly wasn't sure.  And to top it off, I have been feeling very strongly lately that I need to shoot in Manual Mode.  I need to know that I can be in control of the settings and decisions I'm making during a shoot, rather than relying on my admittedly AMAZING camera to think for me.  I had determined that this would be the shoot where I would step out and do it... on my own.

   Well... I am happy to say that Kellen's shoot was a great success!!  It wasn't perfect.  But what shoot is?  And who learns from a perfect shoot?  Kellen pee'd all over the place after the first 2 seconds we laid him down on the set.  No worries.  That's what wipes and new props are for!  He fussed. settled. fussed some more. burped. settled...and on we went!  It was perfect!  And as far as me and my camera went... well, I certainly made some mistakes...but then corrected them and moved on.  And when I got home, and started to cull and edit the images, I found that there was so much LESS to do.  They didn't need nearly as much editing.  I was amazed.  Literally amazed!   

   So I guess...all that to say...THANK YOU!  I am so grateful to all the photographers I love out there...blogs I follow, tutorials, seminars (Jasmine Star, Julie Klassmyer, Katelyn James, Jaime Sentz, and so many more).  It has been through those avenues that I felt able to begin this journey at all and why I feel the constant need to continue to push myself and improve.  Here's to new challenges!

{some shots from Kellen's shoot}