Painfully Phony- Posed Photography

I recently had an experience at my work with a professional photographer. Now, normally I'm behind the camera. Or if I'm say, in a wedding party, they usually don't need a ton of photos of me and there isn't a whole lot of posing that I had to do. Suffice it to say, I'm not used to being in a posed group of people. Let's just say that it was a very eye opening experience for me. Now, perhaps was just an off day for the photographer and I really don't want to put him down too much, but it sure felt like he hadn't a clue what he was doing.

Perhaps you saw these pictures in a little article in the Reporter Herold in the At Home section a bit ago. If you didn't, try not to be too disappointed, as I have included a snapshot of the snapshot for your viewing pleasure. And, many that I have shown this picture to say that is wasn't as awkward as we in the office felt, so please take what I say with a grain of salt and let me vent.

First of all he posed us outside, in the cold, while it started snowing, and then took quite some time telling us, the girls mainly, how to stand. I repeat, in the snow.... in heels....in light, white shirts. Then his feet positions that he told us girls to stand in was off. He had us point our right foot- or left foot as the case maybe- toward the photographer- with your other foot at a 90* (or perhaps 110* angle) behind it while touching heels. This was to bring the shoulders up and out so you don't collapse in. It was partially correct, you do point your foot and you do have your other foot behind you- but in a 75* angle and about 2/3 of your foot size away from your heel, not touching them. This gives you a nice line and in most cases will make you look slimmer. However, if you touch heels and have a bigger degree of an angle you look like a penguin and it makes your shoulders look very broad (not something we women usually want). Also, it makes you look highly unstable because most people- or maybe its just me. Yeah, I think it's just me- are not ballerinas with the best balance.

Secondly, he told us to have our arms "just by our sides." You know all that hard work we just did to bring our shoulders out and get a good posture?? Yeah, it just got wiped away with what I like to call orangutan arms. Letting your arms "just be by your side" without specific placement tends to make them look long and dangly. Also, people feel pretty awkward this way and you will end up with some hooking their hands in pockets (the cowboy look), others who have a weird leg grip going on (the half squatting look), while others look like they are dangling their fingers in the ocean trying to catch a shark (the fishing look). And since this was to be a professional picture, a good place would be comfortably clasped in front or behind our backs. I prefer the front as sometimes when you put them in the back it can make you look like you haven't any arms at all. This also brings your shoulders out and gives you a nice upright position.

Thirdly, he told us not to smile, but to look content. It's very rare for a person to not smile and still look content. If you can successfully accomplish this, you tend to look as though you just peed your pants. Not really  a pleasant look at all. Most of us that try to look content and not smile end up looking like serial killers. I did watch this video recently that discouraged against using the hard "e" words that we usually do when taking pictures. I.E. Don't use "cheese". It makes your smile more forced and in some cases very wide and -HA- cheesy. This, I would agree with. Kids do tend to need words to say to focus them, but you should use more "ah" words such as "mocha" or "yoga". The best way of course to get that natural smile is to make them laugh.

Also, we were not given a count or any indication that he was now taking real pictures, and not just testing his lighting. I will admit, as a more photojournalistic photographer I tend to have a hard time remembering to tell people when I'm actually taking the picture. But for a professional picture such as this, some indication would have been much appreciated.

I'm all for friendly photographers. You want people to be very comfortable and themselves with you. But, especially in a business setting when everyone is just thinking of the next thing they need to do, I don't think getting their life story is needed. Especially when you are standing in the snow....in heels..... like a duck..... in a white shirt...... on the edge of a curb.......at 8:00 in the morning...... in the wet snow.......or maybe I've mentioned that already??? ;)

Next he did very, very posed pictures of us "working." Now I know this one is simply more my style than something that is fundamentally wrong in photography. But honestly, I don't think it makes someone look very friendly when they are awkwardly standing over a co-worker with orangutan arms trying to look natural and failing miserably. (That one probably had more to do with his model than his posing abilities.)

Which brings me to the point of this blog (which, surprisingly isn't just me rambling on and pretending to know something, like usual. HA). It's not easy for me to take criticism. At all. Even more so in photographing because I'm so insecure about my photography. But if I ever want to grow in photography, I have to learn and be willing to take advice or criticism from others. So those of you that have had your pictures taken from me, did you go home and complain to your family about how awkward that was? When you got the pictures did you bemoan the fact that none of them looked natural or like you at all? Did you and your friends use or want to use the pictures as a dart board?
What about you that are just looking at my photos? Do they look cheesy? Do they look like unbalanced ballerina ducks?

Always learning,
Ti-Ti

Considerably Cute Chipper

Finally some pictures of David Lance "Chipper" Saxon, III

In case you didn't know, he was born March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day, at 6:54pm. (Which also happened to be his actual due date. Well kinda. I think he sort of had two days given, the 17th and the 18th.) He was a whopping 9 lbs. 21 inches. He ended up being born by c-section (which mommy was kinda glad when she found out how big he was), due to his heart rate dipping.

We got to see him literally minutes after he was born as they paused for like 4 seconds as they wheeled him back to the room. We heard the length pretty much right away (which I won the guess, by the way), but then we waited forever for the height and to hear how mommy was. I think they forgot about us out there in the little room. We got very used to that room while we were there. It consisted of one small round table with 3 hard chairs, two armed chairs, microwave, and most importantly a coffee machine. I soon discovered that it was much too small to pace in. At least there was Internet access.

Due to some concerns about his oxygen level, his sugar level, and a dipping heart rate, Chipper was kept in the nursery from his first night until I left. Right as I had to go back to the airport, they had decided to take him to the Milwaukee Children's Hospital. It was so hard to leave right then. Thankfully, after checking him out for a night there, it was determined that everything was good and he was cleared to go home.

I know it's been a bit since I was out in WI- but my OCD was having a battle with the graininess of these photos. He was born at night and was in the dimly light nursery the whole time. So while most of the pictures turned out pretty blurry due to the low lighting- at least you get a general idea how cute my little guy is.......and I get to go out again at the end of this month for better photos! Which makes me just a bit happy........

  

Missing my cutie,

Ti-Ti

Pet Peeves

So I'm on a.... what would you call it.... sensory trip? Ummm "this is how I feel, how do you feel?" sessions? I'm not entirely sure what to call it, but hey at least I'm posting again....

This time it's Pet Peeves. I've got a lot of pet peeves. Most of them I try to hide or I at least try to control them, so I don't "go postal" on you. But sometimes, sometimes they just jump out.

Like chewing. I mean really. We all have to do it, but there are those that seem to not be able to do it unless their mouth is open. And the crunchier the thing, the worse it is. As long as I'm crunching with you, I'm good, so don't be offended if you happen to be eating chips and I all the sudden grab your bag and start chowing. (Oh, and please don't start grunting while you eat like Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice.)

And one that's close to that, I don't let my dog chew her nails. It's normally not loud enough to bother me when humans chew theirs (although I don't really get the point of it.... they invented clippers for you, FYI). But dogs are just annoying when they chew theirs. And I don't let her lick her paws very much either..... It goes back to that chewing or "smacking" noise that drive me up a tree.

I don't know if I would necessarily count as a peeve, but I can't do lint.... or loose hair.......or flannel....... or corduroy...... or anything fuzzy really. I involuntarily will get chills and my toes will curl so much they hurt. I think it stems from hating things that are "dry" and why I never touch a news paper with out recently lotioned hands and why I'm always carrying around a big bottle of lotion and why I throw fits when airport security takes away my lotion. The meanies. I mean, you have to be much more clever than I am to make a weapon with that.

I hate it when people say that "every one's a photographer." No. Not true. Everyone can take pictures and "think" they are a photographer, but that does not make them a photographer. You don't hear people say "every one's an artist", do you?

I don't like it when someone tells me that I either will or will not like the ending of a book or movie. Please just state it as your opinion and not how I *will* feel about it.

I cringe at the sound of certain types of cardboard on cardboard. You know if you set a box on top of another and scoot it the rest of the way. Or if you fold the flaps inside and it rubs on the side.

Another one I'm not sure that really counts as a peeve, but I don't do throw up.... cleaning it, smelling it, hearing it, seeing it. Anything. So while I have the deepest sympathy for your pains, please just imagine me rubbing your back while you are hurling, as I run to the nearest windowless, soundproof room.

What about you? Your pet peeves? Do I do them and make you go bonkers?

Cringing,
Ti-Ti

Covering the Comencement and Comglomerate

So, yeah, it's been nearly a month since I've left for Virginia and yet still I haven't done the traditional flying blog, let alone my trip blog.
In my defense, may I please add that in that time I have: driven to Denver twice to hang out with Stephanie, watched children multiple times so mother and father could have a few dates, filled out 2 applications in person, 15 online, had an 35 minute interview, a 2 hour group interview, had a prayer conference, gone to 2 different libraries approximately 7 times, did laundry 3 times at the parents house, hung and ordered pics for my mother, completed yet another all-nighter (or rather a partial-nighter), edited photo's from VA for a very anxious young man and his wife, celebrated Mother's Day with the family, gone on a fishing picnic, went camping for a night, dressed up as a super villain, hung out at a garage sale, dug through somewhere between 30 to 80 very interesting old books, went Frisbee throwing at 10pm, broke my computer cord, bought a cheap cord that ended up melting things with the charging box thingy, returned the second broken cord, received a second slightly more expensive computer cord, hung out with a friend I haven't seen in months, went to DIA in pouring rain, had a ladies bible study, put out the church calendar for June, saw a partial eclipse, washed my "brown" dog twice, rebuilt approximately 24 Lego airplanes, started a part-time job for two weeks, got "fired" from the part time job after two weeks, celebrated memorial day, helped weed at my parents house for two days, got sun blisters, had an amazingly crazy 3 year old birthday party, welcomed my sister and her husband to Colorado, started the process of booking my first wedding shoot, and so much more, I'm sure.
So go easy on me.

I've decided to combine the classic "people-watching-in-an-airport-blog with my trip blog. You know, kill two subjects with one blog. You must know that I write airport bogs the moment they are happening. And I have to write them out with a pen, not electronically. Things just come better that way. I don't, however, do this for the time that I'm actually in the state I'm visiting. Otherwise they would probably be cooler.... or maybe they wouldn't... Anywho- enjoy...

FLYING TO VIRGINA:
I've got to stop doing these early morning flights out of Denver. It's one of the best airports for people watching but these early flights, one, make me way to tired to care about watching, and two, there isn't a ton of people to watch this early. I felt bad about being unsociable and facing the widow so I tried to wake myself up, by whistling. But what song came out of my mouth? Brahms Lullaby. Yep. I'm that cool. So as I was going through security they were checking everyones boarding pass, looking for something specific. That's a comforting thought, no? There isn't much to report on my flight to Midway, other than this person doing a complete bobble head. Oh, yeah, that's me. As we're landing there was a group of people talking and I hear one of the dad's pipe up referring to pacifiers falling on the ground, "With the first one you wash it off and disinfect it, with the second you lick it off, and with the third, you let the dog lick it." I feel the man speaks truth. As we're waiting to get off, all super patiently of course, there was this adorable, bald, round headed little tyke totally flirting with all the guys- raised eyebrows, grunts, coy looks and all.
It must be the time for sports teams to go traveling- I've seen no less than 11 matching tee shirt/ sweats groups pass by. And then there is this large group of college aged kids, guys dressed super nice with ties (no, not the white shirts with black ties, with a name tags pinned neatly to their pocket type of nice) and girls in skirts. I'm closish to MBBC and I so bad want to ask them the reason for the dress. I thought I was going through Saabreen withdrawal when I thought for sure I heard a collar jingle 3 times and couldn't find a dog to fit such noise. But I just heard 7 barks and I don't think humans that are barking in this said manner are allowed to stay long in airports, at least with out close supervision by men dressed in black with dark sunglasses. So I totally forgot to pack a pen in my carry on bag. You would think I would learn. You should see me covertly looking under chairs and in seat pockets for one. When I told mom I forgot a pen she asked if I had a knife so I could write in blood. Ummm....in an airport. Can someone please explain to my mommy why this would most likely not end pretty?? Ha! Just kidding. So I caved and went looking for pens in the airport. What can I say? Boredom and tiredness don't make me wise. But then I didn't feel right buying a $2 pen with a credit card so I got Pink Lemonade and yes, the pen was also pink. Dude, this dog better stop barking- He's making me want to go find him at all costs and I just know if I leave, my seat it will get stolen. It was with great trepidation that I left it to go find a pen. And yes, you better believe that I'm in the kids section watching cartoons (which are mainly super dumb and I don't even know them, except the good ol' Yogi Bear). It sounds a bit racist but I mean it in the nicest way, but you can tell that you're in IL. There's a much higher percentage of African Americans here. And they don't got that sweet southerner accent here. It's definitely like a gangsta twang, and it's oh so hard to remember that I'm from Colorado and I don't have an accent. Pity really. Do you ever kinda want to get a wheel chair, at the airport mainly, although other places might be cool? You get to go to the head of a lot of lines, and I mean, you don't have to walk and get lost. Am I right? Why is it all pilots are old? I mean I guess that means experience, right? Forgive my random musings. I'm kinda weird on no sleep. What's the proper seat manners in an airport? I mean, you give your seat to one elder person, when someone who needs it more just walks up....


VIRGINA:
Now that it's been so long since I've been there I'm not sure that I remember all of it too well. I do know it was a lot of later nights with earlier mornings. And really it was the mornings that got me, naturally, but it was worse with the 2 hour time difference. And since I don't remember the small details very well now, I will mainly tell of that time with pictures. I'm sure you will enjoy that better than my strange ramblings anywho. So here you go...

This is what happens when you try to frost cupcakes in a professional manner with frosting in a jar (except the other cupcakes that someone made the frosting for us)..... at least that's what happens when I try to do that.

Smiling away as she makes the poof balls....

Roderick made a nice little speech at the President's umm... thingy.... that ummm... we went to ummm... on Friday night.... you know before the graduation.... with only family there. What do they call that anywho?? And yes, he received an award too, but my camera was focused the lady's hair in front of me instead of Rod receiving it..whoops. It was nice hair...

 So the funny thing about this little balloon arch thing. It was so hot that the balloons kept popping but we never knew when that would happen. It was like having our own fireworks. And this table... we spent all day staging it  just right to fit everything perfectly on it. Yes, that's how my sister works.... it's kinda crazy but we love her. ;)

 Made them pause the mad panic (ha) to get a picture...
Check out these cookies. A friend from "downstairs" made them. And she made the frosting for the cupcakes (which was amazing). And I'm sure she did much more too. She was pretty cool. I mean, check out those cookies.  I have to note that the saturation on these pictures is not bumped up. The party was naturally this bright.

I have to say that this table was one of my favorite places to hang out. It was so bright and all the food on it was so awesome. It was a very photogenic table too....

 A sampling of the candy table. Every type of candy on the table was specifically chosen by Roderick, as he's kinda picky about the candy he eats. This table didn't have a chance to be "staged" as the time just ran away from us. It was quickly set up just minutes from the start of the party... But I think it was pretty cool... even if we were sweating bullets to get it out there. :)

I mean- how cool is this cupcake???

The theme was "It's So Sweet To Be Done." Laura's been planning this party for about a year- partly because that's the way she is but also to giver her something to do to help things out. No wonder it was pretty smooth and all the details were well thought out.

Yes- my very organized and detail orientated sister even thought of small toys, bubbles, and crayons (all of which matched her color scheme of course) for the small kids coming. I mean- seriously- who thinks of the tiny details like that? She's kinda cool that way.                                          

 And then the actual graduation....

 
The only proof that I was actually there. I'm a photographer- behind the photos, not in front.

 The graduate on stage...

 One of the hardest goodbyes for Laura (and probably Rod as well)....

 I will say that I was so glad to get back to the land of dry. And I was so glad that I had received an inhaler for the last cold that I got. It was seriously hard to breathe there. There was alot of errands, baking,  prep, eating, talking, decorating, sweating, playing, walking, laughing, cleaning, and even a freak intense rain storm the night before the party. But I believe all the goals were accomplished. And that pretty much sums up the Virgina part of things.

FLYING TO COLORADO:

So security is very small in Norfolk. I notice that there is a same lady with two little, cute, but a big handful boys and their grandparents are on my flight again. It's a bit harder going through security with young kids, and the littlest one, who happened to be wearing a batman shirt, started crying. One of the security guys said, "Hey man, Batman don't cry!" I wish I knew Batman that well. I mean- how else would he know that?The mom must have had at least a bit of a vacation though- she's super tan now. Ha! There's a lady talking Hunger Games on the phone beside me and I kinda want to jump in to correct some of her statements. Not that I'm a super Hunger Games nerd but I have read the books and I've got this thing when people tell things that are wrong. So I just write about it. lol. So this lady has this interesting book beside me. She keeps falling asleep so I get to read a page or two unnoticed. It's called Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee E. Thomas. I find this a bit humours due to the fact that I'm missing part of my own church's prayer conference. It intrigues me. So I wasn't supposed to change planes this time but something was wrong at the airport and we had to switch planes. It was all okay because we got to board first and they had to hold everyone for the flight attendants anyways. But oh, let me tell you. I've regretted that plane change ever since. It was by far the worst experience flying ever. Not that there was turbulence. No, I'm all for turbulence. I wish there was more sometimes. You know, crank that epic cello music as you rock along. No, turbulence was not the cause of my distress. It was the fellow in the seat next to me. At first I reconciled his lack of understanding of personal space to a cultural difference. But after the sixth time he drank his ginger ale and rubbed his elbow up the crook of my arm I started getting seriously disturbed. And then there was this whole like hand on the armrest creeping toward my leg that made me jumpy. I was trying to be understanding as I did that whole pull-the-tray-out-and-rest-your-elbows-heavily-on-it-to-squish-his-hand move. But what really put me over was this like slow reach he was doing toward me at the very end. I don't think that was necessarily necessary. In fact I'm pretty sure it wasn't. And when he covertly looks at me out the corner of his eye (no direct eye contact was made) and then pretended indifference every time someone walked by in the isle, well, that just put me over the edge. I spent the last part of the flight sitting sideways in my seat jammed against the window pretending to read my book. At least I know what to do in a situation like that again. But let me tell you, if anything would have happened, even accidentally, that man would not have walked off that plane with a straight nose. It wasn't the greatest end to my travels.

And there you have it. My boringly, exciting trip to Virgina.

Learning martial arts,
Ti-Ti

Complaints Cancellation: I Never Would Have...

7 months and 10 days

That's how long I've been unemployed. Somehow, every month, God has given me just enough to make it through until the next month.
Good paying babysitting jobs with people I've never meet before, through a friend I haven't seen in a long time. A week of substitute work with my old job. Care package from mom saving me from having to buy necessary things for at least a month. A larger than expected tax return. Generous brother and sister-in-law assisting with occasional financial needs. Small photography jobs that have actually paid. House sitting/companion job. Earlier saved "house plan" money. Valentine's day money gift from mom and dad. And so it goes....

God has shown me just how much He loves me and takes care of, not just my big needs, but my every day small needs. Showing me that I don't have to plan the future to death. That He's the only one that holds my future. I'm SO grateful for where He put me during this time.

If I hadn't quit/ lost my jobs, I never would have been living with Mike and Mindy. I never would have been going to the best church ever. I never would have gotten my crazy, funny Saabreen- at least so soon. I never would have known the feeling of a warm dog head sleeping on my feet and pushing me off the bed. I never would have been a live in nanny for the awesomest kids ever. I never would have the spiritual growth that can only come from trusting God for every single thing in my life. I never would have the awesome quotes that can only come from living in this crazy house. I never would have had the relationship that I now have with my brother and sister-in-law. I never would have had the time for amazing dates with adorable, messy faced children. I never would have had the time for late night bowling or midnight movie showings. I would never had the time to direct a Christmas play. I never would have the maturity I've gained from planning my own life. I never would have the patience or energy to lose 20lbs. I never would have done a ladies bible study. I never would have the relationship that I have with my parents, the occasional visits only being sweeter now. I never would have been able to help  friends have a family vacation. I never would have gotten to be the occasional substitute first grade teacher. I never would have learned to be as frugal as I have to be now. I never would have gotten to meet 7 kids in Weld that are so full of energy and yet so much fun. I never would have had fun coming up with creative ways to make dinner out of not much. I never would have this addiction to lattes that I have now. I never would have been able to watch an adorable, mischievous boy learn to speak his mind. I never would have been able to watch a graceful, ADD girl learn ballet. I never would have been able to listen to a rambling, blue eyed squirt giggle uncontrollably. I never would have known how giving my sister-in-law is. I never would have respected and turned to my brother as much. I never would have learned the art of articulating during interviews. I never would have known what it means to give out of my heart rather than my abundance. I never would have giggled with my sister-in-law over silly things like buns. I never would have gotten to know an amazing church family. I never would have had fun during a church business meeting. I never would have gotten to dress up in crazy outfits to be the mascot for football. I never would have been able to go to an all day ladies conference with mom. I never would have been able to poor chocolate over grinning teenagers. I never would have 10-ish kids fondly call me Ti-Ti and not really know my real name. I never would have been able to go to CHESS and eat lunch with "my peeps." I never would have been able to sing the songs I get to sing in church. I never would have blared music and danced wildly with three dance partners. I never would have known how much germs don't really matter in the long run. I never would have known the freedom that comes from just being what God is making me and dropping my false "christian" self. I never would have been able to be a "kind of church secretary." I never would have known how much joy comes from growing closer to the Lord.

And so, even though I long to complain, that it's about time I could start planning my life again, if just my summer, that I certainly have to have money sometime soon, that life is so hard going from interview to interview, putting myself out there just to be turned down, yet one more time, that I can't live on the generosity of family any longer.............

How can I??? With that list of what I wouldn't have....... I can't. I just simply can't complain. There is way too many blessings in my life.


Honestly, this isn't where I thought this blog would go. I didn't much know what I was going to write but it certainly wasn't going to be thankfulness for where I am.

Sometimes, life hurts. Sometimes it's just way too much of a bother to struggle through to the next day. Sometimes it's just too stressful to get up and try again. And that's when God shows you all He has done, through and for me. And all you can do is praise Him in the storm, to dance with joy in the rain.
He has so much more in store for me.......

Trusting and leaning- leaning and trusting,
Ti-Ti

Collegiate Connotations

My deepest apologies for neglecting you so long.... I could say that I've been super busy planning my bungee jump from the Storms River Bridge, or that I've been caught up in planning my tour of the world, or even that I was so booked with extra cello rehearsals for the piano guys, but the real truth is...... I don't really have a good excuse.

And so I'm going to give you a super easy recipe with minimal pictures that you don't even really need the recipe for to make up for it...... wait..... that doesn't really.... okay so....... that sounded more exciting in my head........ so ummm....... yeah.....

This recipe reminds me of school. Oh, the fond memories I have of eating 2 of these with a cup of very sugary cappuccino just chillaxing with some friends.
It's probably the only food that I really remember from school.... except the epic peanut butter milkshakes. Oh, and the amazing dairy days with the pastries. So apparently the only food memories I have are filled with sugar. What can I say- I was in college and had to do something to stay awake all day.... and night.

So here you go: Peanut Butter/ Frosted Flake Treat/ Bar-ish Things (catchy title, right?)

Start with 1 cup corn syrup

Add 1 cup white sugar

Put this on the stove to heat up

Measure out 5 cups of corn flakes (mine where frosted corn flakes- I just needed a bit more sugar, you know) Set aside

Add 2 cups smooth peanut butter (unless you are into that different texture that crunchy peanut butter will give you)

Stir into the boiling syrup and sugar mixture (so apparently I was all about my bracelet this day- all I have is pictures with the bracelet in focus. You have to admit- it is quite the nice bracelet. Wonder where I put it?)

Pour this over the corn flakes

Saabreen's reaction to my professional manner in which I juggle the camera, spoon, and pan.

I added a bit of chocolate for decoration on top

And there you have it. Simple. Easy. And ummm..... Short?

Collaborating a longer blog in my head for next time,

Ti-Ti

Cherising Conjugality: Mr. & Mrs. Saxon

Yes...... it's true. This is really happening. You aren't just dreaming. 6 months and 12 days later, you finally get to see pictures from Jenni and Lance's wedding.

See I had to give them to Jenni before I could post them to facebook or blog about them.... cause that's just rude if I don't let the "client" see them first....... it just took a while for me to get *all* of them to Jenni and Lance. Yes, all of them is the key in that sentence. She has seen a few of them trickling her way since the wedding. And for Valentine's Day she got the official CD.....

And that means......... y'all get to see them..... for real..........

 

I'll put some on Facebook later...... so keep watching .....


Promising to try and get photos out sooner,
Ti-Ti