A friend of mine called me a while back and was looking for some pictures of her little girl.  She is going to be in her first pageant this summer and needed some pictures done for the “Most Photogenic” part of the competition.  We got some adorable headshots of her (and how could we not?  I mean – look at her!  How cute is she?) and then had some fun playing around and just letting her pose. If personality shining through in pictures has anything to do with her winning, this little lady stands a pretty good shot.

With helping direct our boys’ school musical to finishing course work to getting ready to move, I’ve barely had time to pick up my camera, let alone post anything new.  But when I saw that the theme for I Heart Faces’ monthly photo contest was “Play”, I knew I had to post a picture and one from this set immediately came to mind.  One of my favorite things about the pictures I shot of my little guy this day is that sometimes, you don’t make a picture; you just see one about to happen and follow the action.  When I saw my little guy headed outside at sunset with a stick horse and a straw hat, I knew it was going to be worth it to leave the sink full of dishes, grab my camera and follow him out.  I’m glad I did.

This photo was entered in a photo challenge at www.iheartfaces.com

This month’s theme for I Heart Faces is “wind”.  I wasn’t going to enter a picture, because I didn’t think I had any that qualified.  But today (at the last minute), as I was going through some of my pictures from this year, I came across this one.  I loved this photograph when I took it: the subtle breeze blowing the little girl’s hair, the perfect purse of her lips as she tries to blow the dandelion seeds, and the lovely summer background.  It’s so gentle and I think it’s perfect for the theme.

This photo was entered in a photo challenge at www.iheartfaces.com

From the first day I met this little girl and her older sisters, I’ve marveled at their sense of style.  They can put any model in any fashion magazine to shame.  They love glitter and sequins and big earrings, and, occasionally, Sponge Bog Squarepants shoes.  I was so pleased when this little one’s mom asked me to do pictures.  This little diva is rockin’ her outfits like nobody’s business and has the perfect sassy attitude to go with it.  And, happily, I get to photograph her sisters, too.  More fashion on the way!

So, because I had a picture in mind that I wanted to capture, I made my three-year-old put his own socks on this morning with my camera at the ready.  I figured it was a win-win.  He’d learn to put on his socks, and I’d get a picture of the process.  True to form, my boy went about it his way: with his imagination engaged.  Apparently, we needed some sock puppet entertainment before the socks mundanely took their place on his feet.

He’s my daredevil.  Whether it’s on the playground, in the swimming pool, at the hockey rink, or just jumping off the bed, I can count on him to try it – just to see what would happen.  The great thing is that this month’s photo challenge from I Heart Faces is the theme “Framed”.  I love how the caterpillar monkey bars from which my boy is precariously dangling frame him in this picture, because it fits with the theme.  And, even more than that, I love how those same monkey bars that are framing him also give his grappling feet a foothold so that I don’t have to have 911 pre-dialed on my cell phone while snapping this shot.

This photo was submitted in a photo challenge for www.iheartfaces.com

Different, but the same – it describes these two sisters perfectly and in more than just looks.  One is outgoing and precocious; one is content to observe and take everything in.  One is all about girlie things and princesses, the other wanted the Bat Cave for Christmas.  I’m sure there are times that one’s differences drive the other crazy.  But they share a lot of the same traits as well.  Each girl is fearless in her own way.  Each girl is a fighter when times get tough.  Each girl is sweet and loving.  And I have a hunch that they both may have a silly streak.  They may not always agree on what to play together (perhaps Cinderella’s next ball could be held in Gotham City?), but I have a hunch that, more often than not, the things they have in common help to connect them in spite of it.

I recently had the opportunity to connect with a college friend of mine who just had a baby – and, when I say “just”, I mean “just”.  This tiny little lady was only five days old when we had our session.  Although I have pictures of some fabulous scrunchy faces she can make, I chose the super-cute sleepy ones for now.  And she definitely has the most adorable set of little lips a newborn can have.

On Thursday, I did a belated Valentine’s Day themed photo session with my son and his little friend (and, so he says, his future wife).  Not only was I thrilled with how this photo turned out, I also thought it would be a great entry for Rock the Shot’s “Red” photo challenge for the month.  I love this shot, not just because I adore the boy that’s in it, but also because I just happened to catch the right expression at the right time.  I love it when that happens.  And wait ’til you see the rest of the pictures from this session!  Stay tuned!

http://www.rocktheshot.com