So to start…do you ever have trouble picking whether an image is better in color or black and white?  I do.  My Mom on the other hand doesn’t. She hates black and white images.  She says it is because she come from a time that B&W was your only choice and that maybe I would feel differently had I lived in that time.  I disagree.  Sometimes a picture just is so moody color would do it no justice.  Then there are certain images that I really can’t decide.  Below for instance, My son Liam has the most beautiful blue eyes that just look amazing in a color picture. He also has the cutest freckles that really show up better in black and white.

Hmmmm….sometimes I think it is better just to print them in one of each.  Then at least I can shut my internal argument up and can call truce.

Hope it is easier for you!

Shefton is headed off to college very soon, as I was taking these images I kept thinking how fast time goes and how before I know it my own boys will be ready for that step too.

Congratulations Shefton and Good Luck with this next chapter of your life!! Looking forward to sharing the rest!

Flash forward a year, the timing was perfect to go as a family on a whale watching excursion. We arrived at the Dana Warf in Dana Point, California on sunny St. Patrick’s Day and boarded the Dana Pride.  I thought maybe we would see some seals and dolphins, but I was so hoping for my son we would see a whale. Little did I know, not only would we see seals, and dolphins, but two Gray whales were going to give us a once in a life time show!!

Our captain had mentioned that two gray whales were courting and he hoped they were still there for us to see.  I thought we would just see them swimming in the distance. I was beyond wrong.  These two beautiful giant gray whales played , breached, spy hoped, and swam all around, so close we could almost touch them. My son Jack was in awe.  My other two sons were amazed too.  I was just honestly in shock.  There was an insane couple in a dingy boat that the whales really enjoyed playing with.  All of us on the big boat thought they would be tipped over, but it didn’t happen.

We were the last tour of the day, so the captain even stayed longer then we should have because he said the whales were putting on such an amazing show. Some video from our tour even made the local news and the Today show!!

When we left my son Jack said “This was the luckiest St. Patrick’s day ever!”

I couldn’t agree more.

They gray whale season runs to the end of April. So far this year they have already spotted the following on trips, 292 Gray Whales, 6 Blue Whales, 6 Humpback Whales, 187 Fin Whales, 11 Minke Whales, 5 Killer Whales. I highly recommend taking your families on this trip.  It is about a 2 hour tour and the Dana Wharf crew and staff are wonderful. Trips are usually scheduled 10am, 12pm ,and 2pm everyday.  The Dana Pride even has a snack bar and indoor seating, which was great for the kids to take a little break.  It does get really cold on the boat, so make sure everybody has a warm clothes!

Book your trip today!!

http://www.danawharf.com/whalewatch.html

I chose the 7:00 pm hour. It was my youngest sons bath time and bedtime routine so that was my theme. I am so glad I picked this hour because he was at his cutest. Make sue you pick an hour you know you never want to forget

Hmmm, it always makes me think…how do I photograph the moment?  Especially, indoors in bad light.  I usually always have my camera ready sitting somewhere it is easy to get, but here is the truth… A lot of my “in the moment” shots suck.  My kids move pretty quick (as most do)  and I have a pretty dark house.  Now, I have a camera that pretty much can shoot in the dark and Photoshop skills to make them seem like there was perfect light, but sometimes they are just missing something.  This is where the set-up begins…sometimes a “moment” needs a little help.

I have a total weakness for jammies.  I love them for me, but I really LOVE them for the kids.  To me a clean baby or kid in jammies means comfort and love and everything I am supposed to be doing right as a Mom.  A bit dramatic, but true for me. I know that when they are grown, I will want to remember how happy we were on jammie days.  Anyways, this December I bought an especially cute jammie for the baby with Santas on it.  I knew by next month they wouldn’t  fit and it won’t be Christmas anymore, so I needed some good pictures fast.  I had been trying to get some really cute shots of the busy little man all month.  Really, everything I had taken indoors was nothing to Facebook about, if it is not Facebook worthy, then I am not happy with it.

Then something happened to bring me the perfect mini session I had been waiting for.

Our gardeners trimmed our trees and left a huge mess in our yard.  I went out to inspect the mess and the baby followed and instantly started having the best time…. in his jammies….in perfect light.  I grabbed my camera gave him a few ornaments to set the scene, then I just let him play.  I never asked him to look at the camera,  so the shots I have of him looking at the camera, he is doing it because he is “telling” me about all the cool stuff he is doing.  Messy yard+cute baby in my favorite jammies=happy me and awesome pictures!





Still here?? So here is your assignment:

Keep your kids in their jammies and let them outside.  For example, you  could go to the doughnut store and eat outside,  put a blanket down on the grass and let them have a tea party, just make sure it is something that will really engage them.  Keep you camera near with you, but never tell them what to do, just snap while they do what they want, all while be perfectly them in their most comfortable of clothes.

Bonus Assignment for Pros and almost-pros who have Photoshop

Play with your edits.  Use at least 4 completely different editing styles, especially ones you would not normally do (example: vintage, b/w, vibrant) and post them on a blog or on facebook. I found that while trying to figure out my “style”, that when I posted pictures I kept going back to look at certain ones my eyes were drawn to and that those certain edits ultimately became my signatures.

If you would like to link your jammie  pics feel free to send me an email or just post them on my facebook page!  I would LOVE to see what you come up with!! Just hashtag #CompositionUniversity
https://www.facebook.com/Jennerrose

Hope you have a fantastic Holiday!!!

~Jenny