Check out my new camera bag!

It's the newest thing to have a homemade camera bag. I have seen these bags on Etsy ranging from $50 - $200. They are soooo cool and I new I "HAD" to get one of my own. I found out a friend of mine just started her sewing business called "SEW N LUV". It was great to catch up with an old friend and also be able to help support her growing business. This was her first time making a camera bag and it was so fun helping her to design the bag and to put it all together.

When I designed this bag I wanted something to be able to carry all of my wedding folders, envelopes, business cards and contracts in when I meet up with my clients. I also wanted to be able to use it to carry my camera gear in during photo shoots. So Alyssa came up with this bag design. She has two pockets to hold my lenses securely inside and also an area to place my camera in safely. A front pocket on the front of the bag for my receipt book and pens. She even surprised me with my logo on the bag!! Which is also a great marketing idea to help promote your business. It turned out perfect! I was so impressed.

It is comfortable around my shoulders and I feel safe with my equipment inside the bag. I love the ability to use it as a camera bag and a business bag. I feel all professional now! :D She also will have a smaller bag available for everyday use. Who wouldn't want a camera bag that looks like a purse. It sure does look so much cooler then my huge Tamrac bag. If anyone is interested in a camera bag email Alyssa about getting one custom made. She did such an amazing job and I highly recommend using her. She also has many other great items. I already have some more items I plan on ordering from her in the future.

Thanks Alyssa... you are wonderful! P.S. Alyssa... we need to start you a blog and an Etsy Shop! :D
I will let the pictures show you the quality of this bag



Here is my logo. I cannot sew for the life of me... I would be lucky if a button I sewed stayed on to a shirt after a wash cycle. So I am so impressed that she sewed my logo onto this fabric and the font and colors are exactly as my logo is on my website.



An extra pocket on the front of the bag for all the miscellaneous items you want easy access too.




Here is the inside of the bag. You can see the pockets for my lenses. She asked me what lenses I had and got the measurements via internet to make sure they would fit nice and snug into the bag. And they fit perfectly! She also hand picked my fabric to make sure it would match up to my logo. She rocks!

And the little things do matter. Here is a close up of the padded shoulder strap. It is moveable to adjust to your shoulder. It really does make a huge difference for comfort.

Thanks again Alyssa! This is perfect.

McCall Lake Panoramic

Stunning... simply majestic... and pure perfection

This lake is amazing! My husband asked me to capture this photo for some of our long lost family in a country called Tunisia... (You know who you are and we miss you sooooooooo much!) This was where you stood once overlooking the lake before you rode snowmobiles in the mountains! :D

Anyways this photo took me hours to create. I ran across many problems with photostitching in Adobe. As easy as it sounds it really was not that easy. I didn't use a tripod which was my first mistake! And many others also but I think in the end... it might have been worth the 2 hour headache!

I showed my husband my final edit and this is what I wanted him to say "Oh my gosh hunny you are so talented and so amazing and how on earth did you create such a beautiful piece of art."

But what he really said was "It is much better in person, the mountains look small and the water is sloping to the right!" LOL! :D Gotta love the honesty

McCall Family Trip - Part 3

The last day of our trip was mostly just the drive home but we stopped a few times and took a couple photos of the scenery and here are a few of the pictures I captured. McCall is gorgeous! The lake is beautiful and the drive home is just as spectacular!

But before we do scenery shots... here is a picture of all the kids clonked out in the hotel bed. They were so tired they fell asleep in there swimsuits! It was a busy few days for them.



Here is the view of the lake early in the morning


I love the sunflares! It always reminds me of heaven


I told my husband he had to be in at least one photo so that people know that he exists. He is always working that I rarely get a photo of him


Some different angles of the lake.




These photos were taken through the window driving 65miles per hour down the highway... they actually turned out pretty good!


This is of a Catholic Church up in the Cascade Hills. It is so gorgeous


This was my husbands favorite picture


I actually stopped along the highway and got out of the vehicle to take a picture of this cow and I spoke to him to get him to look up! I wonder what passerby's were thinking! LOL


This old barn is a trademark in Cascade Idaho. It has been in calendars because of the unique look. It started falling down almost 10 years ago but is still holding on. The back end is fallen but the front end is still hanging on. It will be sad to see it go... and yes... we stopped again to get a photo of this. It was always on my priority list.






I have so much more to post. Jake and I celebrated our birthday this week. I have some pictures of the twins to post! Oh I love them! I may not get to them right away as I have 4 photo sessions this weekend! Can you believe that. It was because I was out of town last week and out of town next week so I have to get them all done this week.... Going to be hectic but so worth it! Hope everyone is doing great! I also am excited cause I just ordered a 2.8 11-16mm lens for my camera bag. It got rave reviews and can't wait to share some amazing panoramics with it in the future! I have two urban engagement shoots this weekend so I think this lens will be spectacular to use to get some fun and creative shots! :D

What an honor....

It really is such an honor to have your photo chosen as the winner for Boise's I Heart Faces Photowalk. There were so many amazing entries and many photographers that actually knew what they were doing... (Ooops did I say that out loud!) :D

I think the greatest thing about this photowalk though wasn't winning the challenge but just meeting local photographers in the area and sharing tips, locations, photo ideas and just sharing a compassion that everyone equally shares. I didn't choose to be a photographer (I was going to college to be an accountant) but photography chose me. It is a passion that has only gotten stronger over the years. Thank you to everyone who supported me through my journey.... especially my husband who has probably (with a smile on his face of course) sat through hours and hours and hours of looking at photos and giving me advice.


So here is the photo that was chosen. It was actually taken with my 17-55mm Sigma lens (which I no longer own!! What was I thinking!) I am trading it in for the 11-14mm Tokina lens so hopefully I can capture even better panoramas of Boise!



Here is me in action! I didn't even know these photos were taken so it was pretty funny to find them on Michelle's blog who lead our photowalk.



If you look closely at this photo in David's camera you will see I am looking at this photo. Isn't that a cool photo! So creative and I didn't even see this as a photo opp!



And here is our Group on the Blue Turf! Everyone know Boise as Potato Farmers and Football Players with the Blue Turf! And for all those that don't know already.... yes we have street lights here... and yes I have been asked that question!

I have a question... and let's talk about weeds!

I am curious to know if my blog posts are showing up the way I see them on my screen. Are they showing up funky on anyone elses screen? I have been using a 3rd party to upload my photos and have trouble sometimes with my paragraph (words) showing up in between my photos and ugh... it is so frustrating. Still haven't figured out yet how to avoid all that so I have to write everything before hand and not in between my photos. But I am wondering what it looks like on your end?

Okay now to fun stuff. Here is some photos of the kids I took for Mother's Day! I made Madison a tutu! Isn't it soooo cute! I love Zebra print stuff! :D I made a whole bunch of them for my photography business! It was soooo easy and "NO SEWING" involved. They are sooooo fun to make! These pictures were taken in this weed field right down from my house! I may not have blue bonnets (yes you..I see those photos! It's not fair)... but I have purple weeds... that I think look great in photos! So all you braggers   luckies out there with blue bonnets.... well don't be jelous cause I have purple weeds! :D

Here is the gift I will give the Grandparents for Mother's Day... Including myself... of course the one below is my version... and then I will change the wording for grandparents!

I should be sleeping but thanks to PW I am not!

Okay so it isn't her fault... but PW was recently discovered in my household... and I have become a fan! I love her seventies action... does anyone else also? So in about 60 seconds I used her sharpen, seventies, eye boost, color burn action, added my watermark and reduced image size to web quality (obviously I reduced opacities) but nonetheless I created this in about 60 seconds. Fast easy and unique! I love it!

Here is the Original SOOC

Best of all her actions are free.... can you believe that! I wish I had visited her sooner... maybe this morning cause I got kids coming over in less then 5 hours... I am going to be sleepy! Oh and guess what! I will get to try out my new lens on May 15th! That's right... I booked a wedding. I have also been working with a company and possibly doing there sports photography! It is so exciting to see things coming together. GOD IS GOOD even though he has really tested my patience this week!

I even got a call back on an event I did back in August at the Black's Creek Shoot Out and they asked if I would come back and do the event this year! I am so excited! I am actually making money doing what I love... how lucky can a girl get... I almost feel bad charging people cause I would probably do it for free if they begged me too! LOL! But I guess I have to pay for this equipment somehow... so my next baby is going to be the Nikon D300.... It will be in my hands by May 15th... GUARANTEED! Sorry hunny you have absolutely no say in this one!

My super adorable, perfectly kissable nephew - Kaden

Ooh! I just can't wait to share these with you! Look at my nephew! I think he is just absolutely precious! I love everything about him. His toes, his hair, his fingers, his lips! He is just perfect! I love taking photos of babies! They are just so innocent and sweet! I have been so busy with photography lately! I have so much to catch up on my blog! But for now I will end with LOTS of photos (as usual!!!) If anyone needs a baby fix... your at the right place!