Times are a changin'

Christmas is over! I can now breathe. I loved it to be honest, I've never been so busy. I'm so thankful to be in a place that gives someone as inexperienced and new as me such a huge chance. And I'm so thankful that everyone I worked with this Christmas season were so cool and awesome. I'm really looking forward to the New Year and all that it will bring to me!

Anyway, I haven't been able to share on here in a while so here are some of my very favorite Christmas pictures I took.

Pretty girl :)

I gotta say, these were some of the most well behaved girls.

I know that other photographers can look at this and see a million things wrong but I love the personality. I think years from now this will be the pictures that will still make her family laugh.

Finally snowed! I'm so lucky I know some of the prettiest girls in Schweinfurt.

Christmas day.

I remember my first time...

I am a military wife photographer. There's millions of us. Maybe not millions but there sure are a lot. Anyway that means one thing that I am asked to photograph that is a little different than other photographers is homecoming ceremonies. I was asked to do one this past week. I'm actually fairly new to the military life. I've never been to a homecoming at all so it was a totally new experience. I have actually never really paid much attention to homecoming photography either or thought it was something I was interested in. See, I like to be in control and bossy when it comes to photographing people. You know, sit this way, look this way, do this not that kinda of thing. Anyway, I was asked to do it and I thought I should at least try. I mean, it is part of my life (and I actually love the military life). So here is the final product.

Nervous hands. 

These three pictures were taken one after another. It is the second she saw him and then her showing their daughter where he was. It really makes me smile. 

This was before hand while we were all waiting.

And of course kissing pictures. I loved all the happiness in that gym. It really is overwhelming and wonderful all at the same time. And I felt so great that I was asked to capture this day for them.  

My thoughts and words...

So there are a lot of websites that make fun of some photographers and kinda blast them by putting their pictures up and letting others make fun of them too. I don't find it super funny and I think it is mean to call people out like that, I think even as adults we forget that people have feelings. With that said, I don't think it is fair for everyone who can afford a good (or great) camera, lots of lenses, and actions a photographer. It doesn't necessarily make you a photographer if you have these things and a passion either. I have a mad passion to paint but believe me, I don't hold that talent or skill so I wouldn't never call myself a painter or ever charge people for something I painted.
So what is a photographer to me? It is someone who can get behind a camera and know what everything they are looking at is. If photography is a passion you (you as in the photographer, not you as in you, I have no clue if you want to be a photographer or not) will know your camera. It is someone who can be technical and romantic about photography all at the same time. It is someone who can see a picture in their head and can translate that. Pablo Picasso said, "Bad artists borrow. Good artists steal." When you borrow something it is not yours; when you steal, you make it your own. A photographer will always take an idea they saw and make it their own, change it to be their idea. It is someone who can work with very little and still come out with a great picture. It is someone who has the ability to meet someone and suddenly be able to capture their personality on camera. It is a patient person who can work around a client. It is someone who can edit a picture on their own to make it look like what they see in their head. I don't agree with actions, I see two different pictures and know they used the same actions and it makes me sad. People are losing creativity with this uproar of actions. It is a sea of who has the coolest action and not who has the most creative beautiful picture. A photographer is someone who loves the pictures they take but are always wanting to be better. A photographer is all of this and sooo much more.
I'm not trying to bash anyone or call anyone out but I guess I see that the people who do bash and call people out are probably just frustrated. This doesn't excuse it at all but I get it. I'm not calling myself a photographer, not yet, as of now I'm an aspiring photographer. But I do feel I have some of those qualities that just come naturally. *pats myself on the back*
So this was a look inside the brain of Lynz, I hope you enjoyed it...

'Tis the Season for Bokeh

It is getting cold and windy here in Germany but still no snow. If it's gonna be this cold, nature should give us a break and give us snow right? I did get a change to do another outdoors shoot though. I got to take pictures of two very cute little boys. There is something very darling about brothers.

Next was my much awaited Beauty/Glamor shoot. It was a ton of fun. Everyone who participated was amazing and wonderful and great! I had two beautiful and talented ladies doing hair and make-up; Shamila Mote and Tamara Martin, thank ya'll. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Even I took part...I think I work better behind the camera then I do in front of it.

Now I'm working on the two Christmas sessions I did this week. I love taking pictures of little girls especially Christmas pictures. First was a shoot with a 3-month old girl. I swear she is the happiest baby I've ever seen. She smiled and (I swear) posed for the camera. I've said before that I love to take pictures for people who really want their picture taken and lets face it, babies don't care if I take their picture, but she did. Next was an almost one year old girl. I love this age. They can sit up on their own, they kinda understand when you want them to do something, and you can make them laugh. 

I did both shoots with my new background, twinkle lights. I love it and the bokeh looks great, but now I'm seeing it everywhere. I feel like I'm not standing out much so that's kinda a bummer. But I'm overcoming it.

So now you've read the LONGEST blog post ever, thanks for making it through it.  

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And Breathe...

Longest week ever! I did have some really great shoots though. I only have half of one more to edit and I'll be completely caught up. And tomorrow is my big beauty/glamor shoot! I'm super excited. I just spent the last 2 hours ironing out my two backdrops (because they never stay unwrinkled). But I think I'm ready. Anyway here's some of what I've worked on since last time.

First, I got to do a really great family maternity shoot. I love bellies. 

Isn't she just so pretty?

Not to talk myself up, but isn't this picture great?! I love the expression, it's so real.

Next shoot was a couples shoot. I've actually haven't gotten to do too many just couple shoots, I get a lot of families and maternity were I get to shoot couples though. 

I found a new place thanks to this shoot. There is a pond and this awesome rock wall and beautiful trails. There is this crazy excitement I get from finding new places to do shoots. I wanted to pose them everywhere (I re-framed).

Who's kinda busy? This girl!

So my days for taking pictures are numbered. Not only are they numbered but we are at the horrible transition period between the beautiful fall weather and the beautiful snow (which I'm praying I can find some totally awesome troopers who want to take pictures in the snow...hint hint). But anyway, I'm still doing them outside for the moment and I got to tell you, I'm really liking them.

These are from two different shoots from this weekend (I had four this weekend. Explains the title, huh?)

I've also ventured into making Christmas cards. I think they are looking pretty cool, I'm going to try out some different designs when I find some time.

So on top of all of these great people letting me take their pictures, I have Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping, and my big glamor shoot (which I'm really stoked about) all next week. I'm also participating in a year long photo journal here: http://www.facebook.com/militaryspouse365.

I know some pretty cute girls

After weeks of looking for a Christmas background everywhere I decided I wasn't going to do Holiday pictures. Partly because it's my first Christmas as a photographer and I thought that it would be too much for me at this point and partly because I couldn't find a background that worked for me. I don't like backgrounds that have an actual picture on it and choosing between a red, gold, green or white vintage type of wallpaper background was a never ending battle.
So here I was decided on not doing them all together until I saw this on Pintrest (gotta love Pintrest): http://pinterest.com/pin/92394229824866322/
I did want to spread the lights out a little and I wanted it to kinda still look like Christmas lights and of course I'd never want to completely steal someone else's idea so I tweaked it.

And then I was like, "Hey, you know what would be cute? Ornaments and candy canes!" I was talking to myself of course....

 So I called up these two pretty girls moms' (who happen to be my awesome friends and neighbors) and forced them to let me use their kids. I love how it turned out.