Real Padawan Updates

Apparently this is what I look like when I am using the camera.

A constant state of confusion and analyzing.

Over-analyzing, really.

Yep.

So I was gonna give this big long spiel of whats been happening

(because it's exciting, trust me)

BUT really what it boils down to is that I have been taking a lot of photos.

A lot.

Like an obnoxious amount.

But it's cool. 

mainly because it's a blast. 

There have been issues here and there.

There are issues that are mine.

Or the cameras'

Or the little girl editing tools that I am using. 

Really, they are all my issues but we'll just blame it on the technology for right now:)

So let's look at all the photos of late.

Here are a couple that I have taken with A Moment In Time Photography with my mentor, Liana. 

(edited by Liana using big girl photography tools and skills)

FYI, I'm just gonna shorten A Moment In Time Photography to "AMIT" for the rest of this!

A close friend at a fundraiser from church

very first engagement photo used for a real album for AMIT

another engagement shoot I got to do with AMIT!

 I have also gotten to tag a long on a couple of weddings.

Will some of my photos get used in the real set of photos??

I don't know! 

It's always exciting and nerve-wracking to get feedback from Liana.

She has been nothing but encouraging

But it feels like the equivalent of giving a famous chef a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and hoping they will at least just taste it.

I have also done some of my own stuff

Three family photo shoots?

The Barney Family

Pretty much models, right?

And from these photos I got 2 more shoots!

The Sauer Family

And also

Christy and Mike

These two just so happen to be getting married in February

And guess who gets to photograph this wedding?

This little padawan right here!
I'm so lucky, it's ridiculous

It has been lots of fun
and I love getting feedback from people
and like I said there are still issues

nervousness

I barely know what I'm doing

blurry photos

little girl editing tools

But I'm banking on the fact that these things will come with time 

(and dinero) 

I hope at least.

And then one day I'll have a facebook page and website and my own photography blog and a legit company name... (you just got a small glimpse into my way too optimistic head. I also am hoping that Santa and/or the city of Phoenix will get me a Sprouts and/or Sunflower Marker and a Super Target within 2 miles of my house) 

I'm so realistic.

But like I said at the very beginning of this adventure...

There will be good photo days and not-so-good photo days

And learning how to make the first outweigh the latter is a crazy good adventure.

Also random fact: it is a really odd experience to airbrush yourself

 I guess that's enough of an update!

And I'm positive this is way longer than anyone intended to read for.

 I will leave you with some of my favorite Christmas photos

GQ, right?

 Merry (early) Christmas from the AZ photography padawan!

The Grand Finale! Part A

Self Portrait

Finished.

Done.

Succeeded.

Accomplished.

There are so many things I want to cover that I made part A just in case I forget something and need to make a part B.

So like I said at the very, very beginning.

It's a process people.

I can't believe I have learned SO much and still have no idea what I am doing all at the same time :)

I have learned there are lots of different settings to adjust and what there names are. 

Inanimate objects are beautiful but are getting SUPER boring. Time to move on to people

My husband gets bored really fast when he is my human subject. 

Technical terms like bokeh.

How to appreciate good lighting outside.

It's no fun to take photos inside

I'm too scared to ask people if I can take their photo. Even though I really want to practice.

Editing can really help fix an oops. and I would like to have a better photo editing program.

Apparent some people think I am good at writing. That's hilarious in itself.

Overall though, I feel this accurately describes how I feel when opening my Canon camera bag.

This really is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship :)

I SO completely and naively thought that self portait on the last day would be much easier and way less awkward.

WRONG.

It was horrendous, and I felt like I was doing a trashy myspace photo all over again.

Let's enjoy these gems, shall we?

Precious.

I wish I could tell you that was all of the not-so-good. 

There was this times about 40.

I don't think self portraits are meant to be flattering or easy.

I've decided it's next to impossible.

They got a little better eventually.

And I will leave you with the two. 

(I guess I can consider that a win...I'm ending this with two photos...of me of all people)

My hubby likes one and I like the other. Can you guess who likes which one?

I don't think the above one is the best. And I don't think it is an awesome photo of me.

But it is the most natural.

and that is my goal.

To capture the natural beauty that does exist in this world.

I have so much more to learn and am so excited to learn it.

Oh and without further ado. 

And much deliberation.

The name of my "yettobenamed" Canon Rebel is

Zoila

She is named after a housekeeper on a reality show called Flipping Out.

Here is clip of her. (Viewer discretion advised :))

She is spunky and fun and has an attitude and is beautiful

And has an accent.

My camera would be all of those things and more.

Thanks for reading my crazy rants and putting up with me for 30 days.

This happy padawan greatly appreciates it.