To crop or not?

I have to admit I'm pretty anal when it comes to cropping my photos. Crystal took the words right out of my mouth when she said one day that the art (& all the fun) is in the crop.
I firmly believe that a crop can make or break a photo.
I will not even edit photos for someone unless I know what size they will be printing them in.
I'm always telling everyone, "Make sure you order the size that corresponds with the size I include in the description of the photo!" It makes me shudder to think of the time wasted should someone mess this up! (:

Here's a glimpse of the process when I crop a photo...

This is the original.
Gwyneth has started posing just recently & this is one of my favs.
(along with her Shirly-Temple-dimple-pose, but I have yet to capture that one)




















I usually start with a basic crop. Here I just got rid of all the distractions in the background and "zoomed in" on her a bit.




















After seeing it this way I thought maybe it would be better with a tight crop to show off that adorable expression that I love so much...




















And I do love how I can see every detail...the pouty lips, chubby fingers, pink bows & curly piggies.
But the quality of the photo just isn't good enough to crop this tight. I was shooting at pretty high ISO and didn't nail my exposure, so I got a lot of grain...(which shows up even more after sharpening and resizing for web)Yuckers!

That's better!
I also love how the "ruts" in Mom & Dad's old road kinda frame her now.










I like how this shows off a little more of her dress.
An $80 Ralph Lauren that I scored on ebay, new with tags, for $.99-Oh ya!














And finally a couple artsy, tilted ones...




















I love to crop off the hems of dresses at an angle like
this. I just think it looks so girly and flirty!
(Plus, it's an easy way to get rid of that nasty scab on her knee!)




















Now I just need to choose a fav!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

S'more...

Ooohh, now I'm hungry...

Don't they look like such sweet lil angels?
Doesn't this look like it was so much fun?
A nice leisurely stroll with my three little beauties
to capture the perfect, loving sibling shot.

Looks can be deceiving...
and in this instance they most certainly are!
I'll be forever grateful to 2 very dedicated
aunties for helping my get these shots of the
little monsters!

Here's to 30 minutes of pure torture,
for all who were involved.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We love you so much!

Mama's Sweet Girl

Like I said before, the boys have been driving their Mama batty by staying up several hours at naptime every day playing and being just plain naughty.

I think it's been a really good thing for Gwyneth though, because it's given us several hours together each day, just her and I. She really seems to thrive when she has me to herself, which makes me wonder if "quality time" isn't also her love language.

And, if I'm being completely truthful, I think it's been good for Mama, too. This girl has really put me through the ringer for the last year or so, and I am just now starting to really fall in love with her all over again.

I'm so proud of how hard she's been working to control that fiery spirit of hers. I know it's not easy, let me tell ya. And I love how much she needs to be by my side, every second. And how she mimics my every move..."reading" her book, a big novel, just like Mama's...rolling up her pant legs...examining her fingernails...typing with her fingers perfectly splayed across the keyboard, trying to be just like me. I love her twittering little voice & the way she's started chattering non-stop. And I even have to smile when she pushes her brothers back and shouts "my Mama!" (though, she does get in trouble, I assure you).

Now, we have plenty of time to play and practice "our" photography each day...

Cowgirl, Baby!

Gwyneth is in love. She has not parted with her "girl hat" (translation: "cow-girl hat." Again, something Camden must've told her) since it arrived in the mail 4 days ago. This girl definitely has an opinion about everything, and cares not one iota what anyone else happens to think.
Do you see how she's purposefully avoiding any and all eye contact?

Stinker.
Please excuse all those stray hairs. I must've brushed them out of her eyes 1000 times, but alas, even her hair has a mind of it's own.



I fully intend to re-shoot. This is just what I snuck in while she was playing at the kitchen faucet.






My goodness! This is so Aunt Heidi.

It's like stepping back in time...


For sure.

My little pot of gold...

You are the left to my right,
The sunshine to my rainbow.
You are the glitter to my gold,
And the Sunday of my week.

My Dad...

I love you!

Happy Father's Day!






























And my Grand-Dad
He treated us like his little princesses growing up.
Love you too, Papa!