What I wanted to be growing up ~ West Georgia Photographer

So I just turned another year older…age is my excuse for not having a proper post about Georgie turning 2. That and school has just turned the world upside down…

There’s also a new Oomph website in the works. It’s agonizing going through my work. I hate everything one day and then I love it the next. Okay. Some I just continue hating, because I see what I did wrong or how I could have done better. This is especially true when I look at how I photograph now versus two years ago.

That’s right. I have only been photographing for two years. I snapped pictures willy nilly for most of my life, but I never really thought about it before. I now agonize over it. Every detail. How light falls. I mentally take a image almost constantly. I have almost quit taking snapshots, purely because I am too much of a perfectionist. I’m trying to remember that sometimes an image is just an image. I don’t know if I can go back.

I dream about photographing and editing constantly. And I like it. I love having days and nights filled with it. When I say this is my passion, I really should say obsession. I am constantly pushing myself to try and make it sharper or softer or catch the light so it illuminates this aspect or hides that flaw. And I continue to find the limits of my knowledge. I feel old. I feel I missed out on all those year up to age 30 when I could have learned all of this more quickly because I didn’t have children and my brain waves were younger.

But here I am. Nothing like my younger self thought it would be.

Initially, I wanted to be a dancer. I love dancing, but I knew I wasn’t ever going to be over 5′4″ (I thought you had to be 5′8″) and we could never afford lessons…

And then there was my bid for the Presidency…yeah, I’m not really much for public speaking and I can’t lie to save my life, but I definitely have some opinions…

Maybe a writer…well, my spelling issues nixed that for me and if you have hung around this blog for long enough, you can see the other reason…

An architect? Well…Adore houses, but I can’t draw a straight line and my math skills are atrocious…

A trumpet player…Now, I love playing trumpet. One of the best days of my life was when I was paid to do it. I knew then that no matter what I did, my “career” would be doing something I loved and was passionate about. Getting paid to do what you love is like eating candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never gaining weight or cavities. But I’m not a very good trumpet player. I can’t triple tongue and I just could never really get my head around practicing by myself.

A conductor…This was after I discovered my playing limitations. I did the drum major thing and I think that cured me of ever wanting to be in charge of a group of people who thought they knew more than me and could do it twice as well. Which actually was great lessons for parenting. That and the voice. You know what I mean if you’ve heard it pop out when the herd has gone astray. Comes in handy for large groups of people…

A librarian…My second passion in life is books. I love the way they smell, the weight of them, how they feel, their typeset…and then they entertain and teach you. I could go broke, and nearly have, with buying books. When I am really into a book, I can’t see straight. It’s the end all be all in my universe. My kids are catching the fever, too. But being a librarian is a whole lotta school. More than I think I can do, given age and financial circumstances. You need a good book recommendation, though, just ask…

A comic shop owner…well, that may still come to pass…

And here we are. Granted there were a few other paths I’ve looked down; Philosophy, Theology, Research Assistant, Massage Therapist. But this is what works. And I’m insanely happy. Stressed. Yes. Anxious. Yes. Deliriously content. I’m there.

This would be where I should post a picture of myself…just ain’t happening. That whole perfectionist thing. I’m still very outwardly a work in progress. So here’s another…just because she said I needed to blog.

So there…

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Family Adventure Weekend ~ West Georgia Family Photographer

We packed up the van and headed up to TN to meet my new niece on Saturday. The kids were so excited to meet her and she is such a doll! And the best part is I got to not only photograph her, but another family with adorable girls as well! You can’t beat a weekend like that!

There is a wonderful park in Murfreesboro, and forgive my punch-drunk-lack-of-sleep brain, but I can not remember the name of it…but seriously…gorgeous! And I didn’t even get to see half of it! (Which will be remedied on my next visit.) I’m so happy I got to meet Dana and Jeff and their girls, again. They are a beautiful family and the girls were so sweet.

Couldn’t you about eat that up with a spoon? I hate that we were running short on time, but I’m so glad we got a whole family picture in before they had to rush off for a birthday party…

I can’t wait to finish editing their session. It just tickles me that he proposed in the same park!

And, not that you could forget, my niece…

And I know there was a session leak, cell phone pictures were taken and everyone’s expecting the last picture but this just makes me tear up…

You guys are so cool and calm and I just remember what a bundle of nerves I was when Dharma was born. You did good work and she is splendid. Lavish that little girl with love, you hear me? And don’t ever feel guilty for holding her too much, because they don’t stay tiny long…shoot, I don’t remember any of mine that being small, but I know they were.

I’m all weepy now…

Talk amongst yourselves…I can’t even come up with a topic.

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And so it begins anew… ~ West Georgia Photographer

We have so many things changing in our lives. Josh just started a new job in Marietta. He will be switching to second shift soon. Ash is officially a kindergartner. Dharma started middle school. And I must relearn to parent alone.

The last five months have really been a gift…of sorts. I’ve always thought if Josh and I spent too much time, together one of us would kill the other. We tend to be of the opposite mood of the other. The words “energy vampire” get thrown around a lot here, because our moods switch effortlessly back and forth and rarely meet on the same ground. It does have its benefits. One of us is usually happy enough to cheer up the other. Or annoy…

But I have found I was wrong. I love being around him. He is without a doubt my best friend. You would think 13 years together would have assured me of this, but I seem to be a little slow on the uptake. Granted, when he tried to rearrange my kitchen without consulting me, I had thoughts that 13 years was perhaps more than my fair share of  Josh.

We made it. No children were harmed. The house remains intact. And he is gainfully employed again. Not everyone can say this…

So these last two weeks has been a flurry of activity. And we are exhausted.

Nap schedules have been altered to create some much needed work time for me. And the house gets so ridiculously quiet. It has not been nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. And I am getting some much needed work and house work done.

And there was that night we all stay up late so we could replace the cell phones. Apparently,  I feel like I should be able to make phone calls out as well as not sound like a cartoon character. I apologize to Ash’s teachers. The next day was really rough.

On to the weekend…then back to school. Holli and George are a little put out they don’t get to go. But in two years, three of the four will be attending the primary school. I don’t know what I will do with myself and all that time…

P.S.
Big shout out to the newest Nason. Look, Matt & Kendrah, I need pictures to ohhhhh and awwwww over. Get cracking. My new niece’s essence must be captured promptly.

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Hanging With The Girls ~ West Georgia Children’s Photography

“Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a pony tail hanging down
That wiggle in the walk and giggle in the talk
Makes the world go round

There ain’t nothing in the world like a big eyed girl
That makes me act so funny, make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby that’s what I like”

~The Big Bopper

I adore giggly girls, princesses, posing, running around, laughing, bubbles, tutus and playing. There’s nothing like it. And my eternal thanks to C and D for being such beautiful examples of girlishness. You both are precious. You guys left me with such a smile on my face. And I hugged people. Which is a bit unusual for me, a gal who loves her space (except for my kids, who can hang off me almost whenever they like). There’s nothing like riding a high off a delightful session.

And the eventual truth starts ringing in my head again. I have to start preparing for school on Aug. 3. Oh…It’s going to be great to have them at school and I will hate it just the same. As much as the kids drive me up the wall, they are my smile.

And, of course, I really hate getting up at 6am…

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