Getting back in the groove

Of pictures!!

 It feels so good to pick up the camera, hear that click of the shutter, and then download the images. And as a natural consequence, as I use the camera more, the more proficient I get. One would think that I could remember that, but I don't. So I get discouraged. Frequently. Then I get bummed that my images aren't turning out as I want them to - so I stop shooting for a while. Sad, pathetic cycle. I am my own worst critic.

 But I dust myself off, pick my self up, (anyone else singing with me?), and I remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.

 The holiday season is presenting itself again with photographic opportunities abound and I am taking advantage of the this year! I will not be intimidated by other people with cameras snapping away. I will be more aggressive and creative in my angles and poses. Finally, I will not be afraid to take that picture because I fear it will not measure up to my standards. I will tell myself that not every picture is equal and that is okay - the important thing is that I am there, preserving the memories.

 This is our annual tree choosing outing. Thankfully, we are back to choosing our tree from the famous Lally Christmas Trees! So nice to back around family. :D

Papa Baker gets in on the fun!

A true princess never leaves home without her tierra.

Emmett says this tree is just his size!

Even Clovis gets in on the Christmas tree choosing.

A future tree.

Beautiful Heidi

This wasn't from the tree choosing outing but from a cookie/ candy bake and exchange (Thanks Ashley for letting us come!). Yum - icing on the cookie is the best part!

Annual Family Photo Book

My annual tradition has become to create a photo book and give it out as a gift for my parents and Jon's parents. I think it is a wonderful idea, combining something I love - photography, along with something everyone loves - my kids. :D (Everyone loves kids - they're cute, cuddly, and in photos don't annoy anyone!)

Every year I underestimate how much work I need to allocate to create my photobook. It's my fault, really. I am such a type A (okay, I'm finally admitting to this behavior) that I can't just go with filling in the pictures anywhere. No, I have to have them in the correct order AND there has to be sentimental quotes/ saying / cute embellishments etc. Really what I want is a scrapbook but without the work of scrapbooking. Is that too much to ask for? I have found that Shutterfly is actually going more towards the digital scrapbook movement and has added all these awesome stickers, ribbons, sayings, backgrounds, layouts, idea layouts... Add a couple more hours to my creation time now :-)

This year, I really am cutting it to the wire getting my book done in time - especially when you consider that I have to mail 1 book to Arizona and another to Nevada. And of course I don't start until ... say about 8 pm?

I finally finish and I go to preview the book. Only, I can't figure out how to get out of the preview. So I press the back button. DON'T PRESS THE BACK BUTTON!!! Leave it sit, be patient, JUST WAIT A MOMENT because even though the website auto saves, it did not auto save before the preview and I lost about 2 hours worth of work!!!!!!

So I redo half the book and some how end up with 4 extra pages instead of 2 but I'm not going to try and figure it out. Nope, blaze ahead!!

Long story short - here is a link to my Christmas card and then photobook. Which, after all the work I put into it, I *think* is pretty good. By the way - the picture on the Christmas card was done by The Salty Peanut Photography http://www.thesaltypeanutphotography.com/ She was an awesome photographer to work with and we are very pleased with the results!!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Visit Shutterfly.com to create your own personalized photobook.