Colors Don't Matter

I saw this idea on a FB group that I'm in. I then contacted my daughter's teacher and she was thrilled with the idea so I went in to take the photo. This photo is to depict that it doesn't matter what color your hair, eyes, or skin is, but that we are all people and we can work together to get something accomplished. I don't know if you realize - but just taking this photo took some pretty great teamwork with 31 kids in the classroom. We had someone get the paper, we had the teacher organizing how the children were going to lay down and then each child had to follow directions huddled closely together to make this heart. I haven't decided which I like better. Color or BW. What do you think? Initially, I like the color better, but at the same time feel as the color of the shirts is a bit distracting from the heart shape and hands/arms of the children. Please leave a comment below and vote.

If you are friends with said teacher, please don't mention this to her - Christmas is around the corner :)

Past the year mark

Well, the 365 day challenge for my peers is over. I almost made it. I plan to start a new challenge on January 1 - Dec. 2015. This challenge is going to be 1 pic a week, 52 pictures and post them SOOC (Straight Out of Camera). No post processing (except my watermark). The perfectionist in me is going to go mad, I'm sure. But trying to reduce my work load and will result in quicker turn- around time for my clients, I feel it necessary.

Here's one from yesterday. No watermark.

Metadata: 50mm, NO flash (sun only), ISO200, 1/200, F18

Day 324/365 Raking Fun

My girls wanted to play in the leaves. SO, we got out the rakes and got down to business.

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Day 323/365 Fun Family

I took photos for this family last year (click here for the post) and just took their photos again yesterday.
I laughed so hard I had to stop taking photos since my camera was shaking so much. Here is a nice pose, but then a silly one as well. The milk weed pods were just too much fun! Check out the bearded fellow.


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Day 322/365 Frost

The 2nd frost for the year. In the shade it looks so blue next to the bright colors of fall in the bkgrd. Winter is coming.

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Day 321/365 Not gonna make it

Our 365 day challenge began Nov. 1 last year. I've had to take some time off and lately have been quite distracte, kind of like my dog here. Not sure what she is looking at, but longing to go on a walk.

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Day 32/365 A favorite

This is from my recent senior session but I wanted to share. This is one of my favorites.

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Day 319/365 Lovely young lady

This session was perfect timing for October colors. I wish the colors would last longer.

Day 318/365 Memorial Service

As many of you may have seen on my facebook page, this month is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month. Yesterday, was the official day, made by proclamation of President Ronald Reagan back in 1988 (Click here for information). As a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I had the honor of participating in the memorial service that Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI had for those people that have lost their babies. They launched balloons and released butterflies in memory of their little ones. Well done, Hurley.

Day 317/365 Senior Session

I have NO idea what day I'm supposed to be on due to the time period that I had to take off. SO, I guess I'll just take pictures and post when I have something. I meant to post this yesterday, but forgot. From a senior session I had on Monday.

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Day 316/365 Baby Bump

I love taking baby bump pictures and even more so when its a dear friend who has been wanting to be a mom for a long time.

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Day 315/365 Dog Park

The Dog park is FINISHED! Come THIS SUNDAY to the Howl-o-ween event at Bicentennial Park and the grand opening of our very own dog park. Event information HERE

Here is the before after dog park picture.

Day 314/365 HOWL-o-ween

For the past 5 years, this couple has been AMAZING at getting through the hassles of paperwork, funding, donations, lay-out/architecture and many other steps I'm sure I'm missing. Why? You ask...b/c they are determined for our town to have its very own dog park. A safe place to take our pooches for exercise and socialization. 5 LONG, hard, frustrating years. For the past few, they have had a Howl-o-ween party for dogs and their owners to dress up in costumes and trick or treat for doggie treats around the park. I was able to help raise some of the funds by taking photos, li to donate the money to the park. These are the wonderful people that did so much work for us. Thank you Kris and Vanessa!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to take pictures this year due to being out of town. I hope to make it for the grand opening, however. THIS Sunday Oct. 12. Join everyone for the Howl-o-ween contests and trick or treating along with the grand opening following.

PS - they ARE having another person take photos for $10, it just won't be me

Click HERE for further details

Day 313/365 Lunar Eclipse

I got up at 5:00am this morning. I'm so glad I did, as the sky was fantastic for a perfect viewing of the lunar eclipse. I don't have the best lens for this type of work and the clarity on the full eclipse was poor, but I'm glad to have seen it. I even got my oldest (11yrs old) up a little before hand so she could experience it. She was thrilled.

This is photoshopped of different times, it moved through the sky much further apart than this.

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Day 312/365 Collage of Senior

I had to share the collage I made for this young lady. She was so fun to work with.

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Day 311/365 Lovely Senior Session

Here is one of my favorites from tonight's senior sessions. Those EYES!

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Metadata: 105mm, f4, 1/400, ISO640

Day 310/365 Origami Owl

Hey all, today I'm letting you know about an online party that my sister and I are having selling Origami Owl. A friend of my sister's is selling this great quality jewelry b/c she has a TON of medical bills from her fight against cancer. This collage are pictures from my personal order. I LOVE my locket. I thought the box they send it in was pretty cute, so I HAD to take a picture of that too. If you have any questions, leave a comment or PM me and I'll try to help you. BTW, my locket is a medium size. These would make great Christmas gifts.


Check it out! - please use this link so the proceeds go to my sister's friend.
http://bloveday.origamiowl.com/parties/HeatherRegnier470347/collections.ashx

309/365 Statue

As I was running errands, I noticed this statue in front of someone's yard. (I asked permission to take photos). I think I like BW better on this. This was taken with external flash.

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Metadata: ISO125, 1/125, F2.8, 35mm

308/365 Lines

I was walking around the park and noticed this little bush, already without leaves...OR dead. I'm not sure which, but all I saw was the crazy twists and turns of the branches. I like the color one, but BW looks neat too.

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Metadata: 50mm, 1/640, ISO320, F3.5

Day 307/365 This time of year

This time of year is my favorite time for exploring and finding new parks and places of color. Although the color isn't quite here yet, I found myself enjoying the weeds. I found myself taking many pictures of these weeds yesterday as I was scouting for a session coming up. I love shooting at different angles, different apertures, and different shutter speeds then created this collage.

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Metadata: Different for each picture - contact me if you are interested in one specific picture.

Day 306/365 Tires

As I was scoping out a new park, I ran across these tires, which I thought made for a cool line. More from my park visit coming soon :)

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Metadata: 25mm, ISO320, F5.6, 1/1000

Day 305/365 Creepy

I certainly hope this is a friendly spider. I noticed this fella outside my bedroom window today as I went to open it and let the nice breeze enter my home. Creepy. I do NOT like spiders.
Now all I need is someone to get a ladder and wash my windows :)

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO1250, F18, 1/200

Day 304/365 Harry Potter home

I have two girls that LOVE the Harry Potter series. So this evening when the sun was heading down and my youngest just got her Halloween costume in the mail, I opted for a few pics.

First is SOOC, then the changed photo. The sun flare was cool, but gave me the idea to add a little magic of my own. Hope you like it.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO1000, F25, 1/125

Day 303/365 Morning Light

The morning light streams through my front door. I decided to play with the light and this little cage I have sitting in my home was the perfect piece. Do you prefer color or BW?

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Metadata: 105mm, F6.3, 1/125, ISO500

Day 302/365 Every Time

Every time my family leaves the house without our dog, Zoe, this is what we see. Its pretty sad, she watches us leave. If we are gone for 2 minutes or 2 hours, her reaction to us when we come home is the same. EXTREME excitement. Thankfully, it doesn't last long and she goes back to her favorite spot on the couch.

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Metadata:

50mm, ISO640, f4.5, 1/160

Day 301/365 A touch of Autumn

The beginning of my favorite season. Autumn. Here is the first sign of it in my own back yard. I jacked up the aperture so we could see the gorgeous blue sky.
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Metadata: 105mm, ISO1600, F22, 1/200

300/365 What a day!

This is from my phone camera. I was enjoying the beautiful, fluffy clouds, temperature and wonderful breeze as I watched my girls jump on the neighbor's trampoline.
What a day!

No metadata

Day 299/365 Look at those feet

I really enjoy using a wide lense distortion to do these types of things. This cute 5 yr old has the biggest feet EVER!

Metadata: ISO800, 1/1250, F5, 22mm

Official Day 298/365 Back

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement while I've been off these last few weeks laying low.

For my first picture back as I finish my 365 day challenge - a silhouette of a bee that was chillin on my window. Its been getting cooler here in Michigan and the bees don't move very fast anymore. Soon enough, they will be gone and the dreaded winter will appear. I'm looking forward to the fall colors though before the misery starts. :)

Metadata: ISO 160, F5, 1/500, 105mm

Days 298-??? Time off

For those following my 365 day challenge, I require a little time off. Last night playing sand volleyball, I tore my rotator cuff and the doctor is making me wear a sling. So, I'm one handed for a while until who knows when. I hope to rejoin you, my fellow photographers, soon to finish the challenge. I will continue to watch our facebook group and provide CC. Happy picture taking, friends.

Day 295-297/365 Teen session

Thought I'd share a few more from my shoot the other day with this fun teen.


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Day 294/365 Teen fun

This was from a photo shoot yesterday. A fun time. Teens are a blast to work with.

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Metadata: 105mm, ISO800, 1/640, F3.2

Days 290-293/365 Always playing catch up

Thankfully, I have been extremely busy and enjoying the last few weeks of summer with my girls. Here are 4 pictures to catch me up for this week. It does seem that these are all pictures with fire.

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1 - A special order for a client's website - candles, very serene and relaxing
2 - A tiki torch
3 - floating candles
4 - lighter

Days 287,88, 89/365 Party time

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to be a photographer at an Indian Sari party. A "coming of age" party for an Indian girl. It was nicely organized & decorated by the parents. I had a great time being a part of the cultural experience. Here are 3 pictures to catch me up. If you check my facebook page, I have more posted. Click Here for FB link.

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Day286/365 Sleepy head

Today I am practicing external, off-camera flash with bright background. Here, my dog sleeps in one of her favorite spots in the house. By the back door in the sunshine.

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Metadata: 66mm, ISO80 (w/flash), 1/125, F6.3

282-285/365 Random

I have been taking pictures, have you noticed that I missed a couple days?

I'm so pleased with the outcome of my garden - picture 1 - Carrots (still thinning to produce bigger ones) - 50mm, ISO200, 1/1000, F4
2 - Watermelon - NOT from my garden, but wanted to play with indoor, off camera flash for a shoot I'm doing Saturday (stay tuned for pictures from that) -
50mm, ISO50, 1/125, f2.2 (w/external flash)

3 - My session with my girls. I found a lovely location I will most likely be using again with clients

282/365 Take 2

I took my girls out for pictures a couple days ago for my mantle and the sun came out after being cloudy all day. SO, we went out again today and we were much happier with them. My youngest, however, apparently has a blinking problem with flash so I didn't get near the amount I was hoping for. I did get one worthy of printing, so I guess that's good enough.

Here's one of my favorites of my oldest.

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Metadata: 50mm, ISO100 (external flash), 1/125, F3.2