1. it’s hidden right off of Chesapeake Ave. in Eastport and I want people to know about it….so, if you know where LuLu Salon is, just look next door and you’ll find her.

2. she’s got some great gems in there from a very cool European vaccum coffee maker to beauitful vintage cake display plates (which I got for my upcoming wedding), to beautiful table cloths.

3. you can bring your items in that you don’t use anymore!

4. Dana is just so nice and I love that she is giving new life to kitchen gadgets new and old.

SO, go visit her!

Her website is: http://www.backburnerconsignments.com/

We went through all of the technical stuff that she was having issues with, the typical things like aperture, and what lens to use when. Then for the second half of the lesson, we went upstairs to practice photographing her kids. Once we got to the youngest ones nursery, we realized it would be easier to put a stuffed animal in place of the baby, since they can sit still and I’d  be able to teach her different angles to work with and how to use the available light. So what do we choose to photograph…a bight pink monkey! I couldn’t stop giggling as I posed the monkey with it’s long stringy arms in positions that her daughter might lay in. Vashon, snapped away and I kept laughing at how I was teaching someone using a pink monkey.

You can see some of her test shots below as well as a great shot she grabbed of her beuaitful family goofing around on the couch.

I was quite flattered when I left that day, because I was the third teacher that she had and I still was able to teach her some things that she didn’t know. Mission accomplished!

If you are interested in learning more about your DSLR, contact me to set up a private lesson. I work with all levels and all ages! I also offer lesson parties where you round up 5 friends and host a party at your home where I teach for 2 hours, it’s a fun way to learn.

My first shoot was with the Symphony. They wanted me to cover not only the live performance that night, but also behind the scenes before the performance. It’s a pleasure to watch any artist in their space, whether it be a painter preparing their canvas or a dancer warming up. That night, in the back hallway of the theatre, horns and strings were all creating sounds as they each went through their scales and small selections from the pieces they were getting ready to play. I loved the chaotic nature of the scene and started shooting right away as I looked for the right light in the darkened backstage.

Once they took the stage and started to play, I went into a zone. Now, I’ve experienced this zone many times as I’ve photographed different music groups over the past 10 years, but everytime this happens, I am filled with joy and creativity. Having a soundtrack play while you work, is a typical tool that creatives use as they sit at their computers and edit their work, or paint at their easels, music seems to fuel us as we create. So, having live music to work to, made this shoot a wonderful experience.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing rehearsals of the chorale, the men’s chorus, the women’s chorus and the woodwind ensamble. Again and again, I am delighted by the wonderful sounds that these musicians create. Back in high school, I was very actively involved in band and choir and it’s something that I have very fond memories of and still dabble in to this day. Hearing the chorale learn a piece in German, laughing as one of the men’s chorus directors made funny references to the mood of a piece, and seeing students counting out the pauses with a few nods of their head, reminded me of the hard work that is put into learning a piece and brought me back to some great times when I used to perform.

I have a few more shoots coming up with the CSPAC, and am very much looking forward to seeing my photos used for their promotional items and hearing more of the inspiring sounds that the students at UMD are creating. If you have never attended a local university’s performances, in any art form, I highly encourage you to start. It will bring joy into your life in so many ways. Music is life.

Enjoy a selection of some of my favorites:

Then it was on to the newest and happiest member of the family, Zoey! Zoey is absolutely awesome to photograph as she giggles at everything and gives you the best smiles. When I was editing the photos tonight, I couldn’t stop smiling-she’s infectious!

It was a great time with my friend and her sweet little family. It’s so nice to know that we can always pick right back up where we left off-now if those kids wouldn’t grow up so quick in between my visits, I’d be happy.

First with Dan and his wife Amanda and their absolutely adorable little girl, who is one of my favorite subjects to photograph, Charley. After a fun afternoon spent at a craft market at the Armory downtown, Dan, a very old friend of mine, Chris and I made our way to a new German beer garden in Northern Liberties called Frankford Hall. This place was a dream come true to me…giant mugs of beer, outdoor heated seating of long picnic tables in a graveled courtyard complete with a fire pit for making your own s’mores! If the beer and atmosphere weren’t already cool enough, then I saw the food! Bratwurst and GIANT pretzels with spicy mustard…yes please! I will definitely be going back there on my next visit!

The next day, I made my way to another college buddy’s house in New Jersey for the annual photo session with his growing family. He and his wife just had a new baby, bringing their family to three kiddos. The newest addition, Aubrey is the first girl, so it was a pleasure to document the sweet little girl in her pink and yellow room. The boys have grown up so much since our last shoot and have now become quite comfortable with me sticking a camera in their faces and chasing them around the yard. We had a lot of fun on a very unseasonably warm day.

It always makes me sad when I leave these guys…thank God they are all only a couple hours drive away! Maybe one day, I will make my way back to living in Philly, until then, I’m happy to drive up there anytime for a photo shoot!

A week or so later, while I was home for Thanksgiving, another friend asked me if I’d be available to photograph her entire family when they were all in town. There are three siblings in her family and they each recently welcomed a little one into their own families so this was a big deal of a shoot and get together. I assumed it would be hectic with 5 kids total (3 being new babies) and 4 sets of adults, but I was pleasantly suprised when all of the kids behaved….they rock!

So my PA tour came to an end and I have three wonderful shoots to show from it. Enjoy!

I am going to be photographing their family the day after Thanksgiving so more to come!

Gracie had lots of her friends come out for her birthday carnival. Carnival games were set up around the room for the kids to play and win prizes, a craft table where they could make necklaces and picture frames was a popular spot and Crystalooney’s Creative Arts was there to give each kid their own special face paint creation. It’s always a blast to work with Chrystalene and Chelsea as they transform the kids into princesses, animals and super heroes with face paint.

Beyond the fun and games, there was plenty of sugar to be had as the kids gobbled up the cotton candy, cupcakes and popcorn (just like a real carnival!). I have to say my favorite part was watching the kids eat the blue cupcakes which turn faces, tongues and hands blue (making for some pretty funny photos).

Thanks Amy and Jen for continuing to have me docuement your beuaitufl family, it’s always a pure joy to spend time with you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE!!!!