Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The best toy ever

If you are ever looking for a great toy for either one child or siblings THIS is it!

These cardboard blocks get so much use in my home. All three kids love them and play with them in different ways. Here is a picture of Frannie and Adam playing like they are horses inside of a stable.


They are constantly coming up with different imaginative games with these blocks either as a scene, or just as something fun to stack up high and knock down or walk across like a bridge. They are both lightweight and sturdy. The kids are 6, 3, and 1 and it's been a favorite with all of them.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Photographer Spotlight- Loreta from EarthTone Photograpy

Loreta Washington of Earth Tone Photography is a Natural Light on location photographer based in Southern California, who loves what she does.  Her style is relaxed and photo journalistic.
“I love capturing the true essence of a person big or small.”
Most people need some time to find their groove in front of the camera.  Loreta is great at creating an environment for this to happen naturally.
“I fell in love with photography and the process of photography in my 8th grade photography class.  It wasn’t until my first child was born that I truly started to feel and understand what photo journalism was. I documented everything my daughter and my family was experiencing!  The camera, at that moment, became one of my best friends”
A creative soul from birth Loreta found that creative expression is a necessity in her life.
 “My first love was music.  I started writing and composing as a child.  I became so connected with music I remember vividly making that emotional connection with art and how amazing self-expression through art felt."
Although she loves photographing everything, Loreta decided in 2011 to specialize in Portraits, with an emphasis on Maternity, Newborn, Children and Families.

“I have 3 very young and beautiful girls.  I loved being pregnant with all of them.  Pregnancy is the most incredible experiences ever!  I had maternity photos taken with all my pregnancies and totally understand how a woman feels, good and bad, when it comes to being pregnant and being PHOTOGRAPHED while pregnant.    I pride myself in making every woman look and feel great while I am documenting their pregnancy.”
It wasn’t until 2005 that Loreta decided to pursue photography as a career.   Although a lot of her ability came naturally, Loreta enrolled in photography classes then eventually a photography school to help hone her craft.
“Learning how to step outside of the “green box” automatic mode was a challenge at first.  But learning how to shoot in Manual has been freedom for me.  I truly feel like my camera is an extension of me now.  I forget I am holding it sometimes.  Even on a loooong newborn shoot!”
In 2010, Loreta began teaching an “Intro to Digital Photography” class through a local school district. 
“I had always heard that you learn so much from teaching.  I totally get it now.  Although I bring the  info and my experience to my students, I am often asked questions that force me out of my comfort zone and challenge to me remember things that I don’t practice regularly.  I love it!” 
Along with her Husband of 8 years, in the summer of 2011 Loreta, will launch her new website and her “new” business.  Stay tuned!   “I am so excited for what’s in store.  I truly feel like I have found my calling. It is revealed to me every day!  I love what I do and I hope it shows in every image I take. I feel blessed every time I am invited into someone’s life to capture those precious moments in time.”








Contact Loreta at earthtonephotography.com for information and to book your session.



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Not all things work out perfectly

I just attended a birth last night for a Bradley couple. I got a call at about 4pm from her husband because they were at the hospital (after having transfered from a birth center) and the staff were talking the "C-word". He was nervous and wasn't sure what to do. His wife was fully dilated and had been pushing for two hours in various positions but the baby just wouldn't move down. In my heart, once he said that, I knew that she probably really would need to have a cesarean and I offered to go to the hospital just to hold her hand and provide moral support.