{Sneak Preview} Prosin Family

Today I had the pleasure of photographing the Prosin Family. They have a 3 year old boy, the exact same age as my 3 year old. As boys are he was full of energy and much more interested in the playground than taking pictures. I need to rethink taking pictures near playgrounds with the under 5 crowd. Its very distracting although the background is gorgeous and we worked with it very well.

Aaron and Amanda were so much fun to work with. Amanda is a fellow academic so we related well and Aaron is also a photofile so we could talk shop easily. Zach, well he was just a three year old with some of the most gorgeous blue eyes I have seen and full of energy. You could easily see how much love and how well this family worked together.

We spent the afternoon in the park trying to capture some family pictures; some in the moment and some posed. The highlight of the day, a tree Zach could climb himself and an old fashioned playground where he could climb everything. This boy was definitely a monkey in his past life.

 

 

 

 

Learning to ride a bike

This is a major milestone in a child's life. I had vision of all of us heading to the park or Erik's school yard since that is the nearest flat ground, and I would have my camera out while Carl carefully instructed Erik. He is my first and this is what I thought happened with every child because that is what the movies told me. I am serious when I say that!

Then this summer right before Erik turned 5 he expressed an interest in learning to ride a bike without training wheels so we purchased bikes to use in Michigan. We went to one of the many deserted asphalt roads and tried to teach him. Erik just couldn't balance, over and over again he would go about 5 feet and fall and get frustrated and hurt. After a day or two of trying he decided he didn't like it and we gave up on the idea of a two-wheel bike and stuck the training wheels back on. I wasn't going to force the poor guy.

There is one thing I know about my first born, he likes to be in control and likes to do things independently in his own way and in his own time so when I least expect it he already knows how to do it and I didn't even have to teach him. This is exactly what happened yesterday.

We were at his friend's 5th birthday party and while I was watching Elliot in the bouncer Erik is in the drive way picking up the two-wheel bike and trying to ride again. The hostess instantly informed me worried he might get hurt. I walk over there to see my boy riding down the hill perfectly steady like he already knew how to ride a two-wheel bike.

Now I know for a fact that this is a new thing for him. We were at this exact same house and he tried the exact same trick just two weeks ago. Instead of riding, he kept falling and couldn't balance, but in just two short weeks, something just clicked for him yesterday. Their house provided the perfect Erik learning opportunity, an environment he could control himself. He rolled down the hill to get the bike started and then crashed into a wall to stop himself. Complete control and the only way Erik would do it, no teaching involved for my very independent child.

So we came home, it was dark, but after the birthday party we were all excited to try again and see how much of a fluke it was. Carl took off the training wheels and we went outside to play while dinner was in the oven. Guess what, he did it again on his own without and help, he just needed us to start him. Then realistically we waited until the next morning to teach him the final step.

So here are some pictures of my "little" boy who taught himself how to ride a bike. He can now start, stop and break all without falling. Our next step will be mastering our crazy hills without putting his life in danger. I definitely see some bike path rides in our future and he goes so much faster on a two-wheeler than with training wheels. This is going to be an adjustment for all.

 

 

 

{Sneak Preview} My Kids Outtakes

It can be easy and a pain in my butt to photograph my own children. By this time in their life they have been on enough photo shoots or sat through enough on their own that they are very familiar with the camera. At the same time I am very familiar with nuances of my children and that Elliot never looks at the camera and Erik would rather be doing goofy faces that giving me a real smile.

Then I always bring my husband along to just wrangle the kids and try to help with smiles, but at some point he tries to take over and doesn't listen to my instruction and it all goes awry. Husbands and wives don't always make the best teams, especially when you are both control freaks like me and my husband.

That said, when I was photographing the Isabella children the other day I caught a glimpse of photograph I wish I could explore further. It was sunset overlooking the basin of Burbank. So today, with the fluffy clouds, sun out, and Erik begging me to do their pictures, we went back.

I don't like to photograph at this park, in this spot, on Sunday. Mostly it is because its a popular party spot and this shot requires that people not walk in the background. We lucked out and the field was mostly clear and people respected our time today. That doesn't always happen.

I didn't really diversify my shot because I just wanted this one picture. I will probably take them to a few more places just for fun and the heck of it, I need some formal pictures for their photobooks. But I got my money shot today. That shot will be shown later when you get my Christmas card.

The first of our funny pictures is a pretty random idea. Erik decided his special picture word instead of cheese would be presidents, and our first was "Obama." The problem with that word is that your mouth looks like a "o" when you end. For the life of me, I couldn't get Carl to stop saying it and get them to stop. The power struggles. So I got some good pictures in the beginning, but with "o" mouth.

The other issue I struggle with, is Erik likes to make mean faces. It takes a lot to get him out of mean face mode, but we always somehow manage.

Even Elliot has a mean face sometimes, but its more of an angry face.

Then when I am trying to get the sweet photo Erik always insists in silly photos so I have some with both being silly, some with just Erik and vice versa. Its fun I guess that is what matters.

 

Then there is the famous, one person is looking at the playground shot. Its not their fault, I am looking at this beautiful background, but these poor kids are sitting right next to a playground watching all these kids have fun while they get their photo taken. Of course one is always not looking.

 

Then lastly I like variety and I always end up with way more images than I could possibly use or hang on my wall, so here are some of my favorites that didn't make it to my top 5 pics.

  

Just for fun, here are the pictures from years past. Its interesting in looking back because I have always been interested in studio lighting and have definitely evolved in my tastes and style. Last year maybe be one of the only years I did all natural light. I definitely like an off camera lighting in my pictures consistently.

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

{Sneak Preview} The Isabella Kids

Today one was an interesting day and I don't try this often unless I know the family pretty well. I went on a photo session with both kids in tow. We met at a local park and the goal was to get Christmas pictures of Vivian and Lochlan together and separately for their holiday card. We wanted some posed, some posed together and some playing at the park. We accomplished all of the above.

Vivian is a 5 year old who LOVES dance and you can see it in so many of her poses. She is obviously a natural at this stuff. Lochlan is very much a two year old boy with a mind of his own. He had very strong opinions of what he didn't want today like all two year olds, but we tried our best to negotiate. Along with my two boys, 5 and 3 and we had a bunch of energy for the 5 and under crowd. Luckily my boys behaved very well and Erik was even my photo assistant and held my reflector for me for a couple of the spots. I might have to bring my little man again sometime.

Here are some of the posed shots of the lovely Vivian.

 

I had to follow Lochlan around today a lot to get him with just the right look, but when I snapped that picture he was insanely photogenic.

 

The the trick, trying to get a 2 year old boy who just wants to be playing with sticks and not taking pictures to pose with his sister who is more than willing. Mom helped, and we got some.

Then we called it a day and just had a "playdate" at the park with all the kids to get some natural action shots. My kids were in the way most of the time, and Elliot and Vivian surprisingly hit it off, but they had a good time and kept trying to get me to take a picture of all the kids. The only success "group" shot I got were of the 5 year olds.

 

Then some fun outtake. Photo #1, my favorite spot but couldn't get both smiling at the same time and Lochlan and the boys only gave me a chance to shot off one frame. Photo #2, pretending they are Superman. Photo #3, not sure what they didn't like but the only double pout I got. Its pretty cute.

I was very happy their mother called me to photograph these two great kids. We had our challenges, but it was a fun afternoon and there were some great images from it.

If you want to learn more about my photography or talk to me about taking pictures for your special event please visit www.heathergotlieb.com.