Image by Laura Ketteman

Image by Laura Ketteman

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Cardinals Opening Day.

"Come sweet Opening Day - my relief from winter and my solace in Cardinals baseball." - Jason Ketteman's FB status, as of last night.

I am a non-sports fan, living in a baseball world.  Please don't misunderstand.  I'm not ANTI sports at all.  It's truly to my dismay that I couldn't care less about all the hoop-la.  My husband would be SUCH a happy man if I shared his passion in watching a good baseball game.  We have friends (a married couple) who love to travel around together, watching Cardinals games all over the U.S.  They are SO into it! 

I often feel badly that I just don't have it in me.  But I am not the kind of girl to sit back and let everyone have fun without me!  :)  I'll join in as much as I'm capable.  I'll listen to the baseball chatter about the game the night before, and smile and nod... even though I have very limited understanding of WHAT they're talking about.  And I'll enjoy myself thoroughly, sitting at Busch Stadium with my family, taking in all of the excitement... while eating a plate full of nice, hot, gooey nachos.  :)

And my favorite thing about the fun???  Well, it just happens to be VERY lucky for me that our hometown baseball team proudly displays the color RED.  :)  Ah, my favorite.  :)



Monday, March 28, 2011

Snowy March.

It is cold.  44 degrees right now at lunch time.  CHILLY!  Next week is supposed to bring temps back up in the 60s.  My children will be elated.

This weekend, we enjoyed snow... at the end of March.  The grass and trees are green, flowers are blooming... and we got snow.






The only flower in my hard that had bloomed yet.  Oh well.  :(  All for a season.

The pics were taken on Friday.  Then, the REAL thing came in.  All day Saturday, it snowed and snowed and SNOWED!  It was beautiful, really.  We built a fire, stayed in with the boys, watched a movie, and enjoyed our wintery March day.  :)

And the next day, it all melted!  I think we had about 4 inches of it.  And now, it's all seaped into the ground, making a muddy, slushy mess.

No worries.  It's just the way we live here in Missouri.  :)  Keeps us on our toes.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Weddings.

I am NOT a wedding photographer.... at least that's what I've always said.  :)  Maybe I'm reconsidering?

I've had a handful of inquiries, and I am always very honest in that I do not have a lot of "wedding experience."  I've probably scared clients away with doing "too" great of a job in explaining my "it's my first time" arguments.  It has never been that I would mind photographing a wedding, but I always thought of it as being under so much pressure.  One day, and that's IT!  Oh dear, it gives me goosebumps even thinking about it.

But this weekend made me reconsider, maybe... possibly?  Oh, I don't know.

It's different when it's someone I'm close to.  I love photographing my family and close friends.  They love what I do, which is why they ask.  And they get a ridiculous family-friendly discount, so they can't complain!  :)  And this is when I get to have fun, trying something new, and not worrying about whether or not it will work out.  I'm not "on a job."  It takes me back to my highschool days of playing "model" with my little sister in my bedroom... dressing up, trying different shades of lipstick and eye shadow, striking a pose, and snapping away with Mom's last roll of film.  :)  It's all just for fun!

My dear friend asked me if I wanted to "officially" photograph her wedding, OR if I'd rather just "do my thing."  I chose the latter.  I'd be there with my camera anyway.  I mean, it's kind of who I am.  My kids don't recognize me without a Canon strap around my neck.  Ha!  As it turned out, I had a lot of fun... especially afterwards when I was able to sneak outside with the bride and groom and do a relaxed, little session.  All of the kids were playing in the church yard.  My husband sweetly trailed me, with camera gear in tow, and I had my best friend there to assist (it's pretty much what she'd done for her sister all day, and she kind of rocks at it... catching little details, and pointing out ideas...)!  I had a BLAST!!!!  I wish I had a crew for EVERY session I ever do!  Oh, a girl can dream.

Enough of my chatter.  Here are a few from the day.  I'll probably add a lot more later.  I came home with over 800 images on my cards.  I've been a little overwhelmed, weeding through all of them.  I still and will ALWAYS prefer the beauty of the outdoors, though.  Artificial, inside light is just, plain icky.  OK, I said I was going to stop chattering now.... really!

I'll start with some of the bridal party getting ready for the big day.  :)















My photo
ilLaurastrations Photography began in Spring of 2009.