3 more of Joy

Joy could do totally different looks!

Joy is a Joy to work with

I bet that was funny the first 200 times. Had a blast taking these today, all done with off camera flash. It was the smelliest shoot I've done. The granary smelled like bird poop and the woods smelled like dead fish. Some knuckelhead dumped his bait back there. Either way, we got some great shots. These are just a preview.

Tess, Connie and the dogs

I went back and finished these up tonight. They came out pretty good

Stunning

I think we took a cliche` shot up to a whole new level!

Some of my best work, ever

Still working through the maternity pics from the other day. I'd say that this series kind of captures the way I feel about maternity and the miracle of birth. It's idealized in some of these pics and more modernized in the jeans shot, but I'm very pleased with the results. Amanda's grace, beauty and spirit shine through in these...


Amanda just glows


She was shocked when I showed her this on the back of my camera. Reminds me of the Demi Moore maternity pics in a way


I love everything about this photo.


We teased her that this looked like she was saying "enough already!"

Awesome book

I just finished reading a book about what it means to be an artist, and how to be one. I make fun of my interest in being an artist, even in the name of my blog. The truth is I want to create or do something that has lasting appeal, lasting beauty. That strikes a cord with the viewer. I don't know how many of my images have done that or ever will. But deep down, that's what I'm shooting for.
The book helped me understand more about that and is highly motivational, at least for me. This is one I'll be re-reading again.
The book is called:

Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity

If you think you're at all interested in being a Creative type, you pretty much need to read this book.
The good news is if you go to his website, you can read a signficant portion of the book for free online. Then you'll figure out if you want to read the rest of it. The bad news is, the author does cartoons on the back of business cards. Many of them use potty language. It didn't bother me. I can take it, and in fact I tend to dish it out unless there are women present. Even that's fading, sadly. I really need to work on that. If it bothers you, then this book isn't for you. In the interest of full disclosure, if you decide to use the link above and buy the book, I get a kick back. I still say you should get the book.
I like the book and Gapingvoid.com enough to put a link to his cartoons on my blog! I did put a filter on it so that no cards come up with adult language.

Great links

I rarely post about other blogs and I avoid like a plague the emails that have all that inspirational crap, then say you're going to die if you don't send them on.

Anyways, Here are two that really struck a cord with me.

For the creative type

For everyone

Awwwwwwwww, Sadie and Coby

I think I spelled their names right!

More Maternity goodness

More Maternity

The beach shots were done down at Cape Henlopen. I wanted a classic look and feel for the shots. I think we got pretty close!

More maternity pics with Amanda

Pregnancy becomes Amanda. We had so much fun on her shoot. She was so patient while I was figuring out setups and whatever. I just blasted through the photos from today. Here are some highlights. I'm sure more will be on over the next week or so!

It was a dark and stormy night...

Some omnious stuff going on out there tonight before dinner!

Beth at Rockwood Park

High noon showed off her hair

Never Leave your camera where a smart aleck nephew will grab it

And if they do, of course you publish the photos!

And two more Amanda

Two More of Beth in Rockwood Park