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I feel like I talk about babies at least once a week now.  But seriously folks, everyone around me is having babies.  Three ladies at work (well, one down, two to go).  A gazillion friends.  Those I’m very close with (Like Melanie!!  I can finally tell you because it’s FBO now: Facebook Official.), those I visit with every couple months (ten or so sorority sisters and girlfriends) and those that I don’t see often but am still connected with thanks to Facebook.

Everyone.  Having.  Babies.

It’s all I hear about.  It’s what I’m photographing.  So that’s why I talk about it.  That’s why I’m a broken record.

Boo broken record, boo.

I’m sure some people get a kick out of it.  Like my parents.  Quit praying for triplets, DAd.  It’s unbecoming.

Broken record begins:

So last week I visited my gal pal Jacqueline and her baby, Evangeline.  I’ve told her maybe a thousand times already that the shots we got were great.  But she hasn’t seen them yet because sorting through photos that your giving to someone to frame have to be really, really good and that takes time.  But last night, I narrowed down my selection even more and picked a favorite [but oh so many are favorites].  And I thought you guys might like to see it.

It’s a favorite because of momma’s expression – not much can be seen of le bébé.  But look at her face.  A look of love.  Of happiness.  And amazement.  I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.

Natural light makes all the difference.  It makes shooting babies (ha! shooting babies!) and people more fun and just draws on creativity more than I imagined.  I can’t wait to show you some more.  But you have to wait.  So does Jack.

I was at [yet another] baby shower yesterday.  (Big shocker, I know.)  This time, only the guest of honor was expecting because three ladies already popped.  And three babies were in tow.  This little gal was there.  So was little Liam I talked about last week.  And Reece.  A bambino I’ll be photographing later this week.  Me and Reece?  We’re good pals already.  I am apparently snuggly and am perfect for taking naps on.  Of course, I already knew this because the doggins lounge on me as often as they can.  But I’m excited and looking forward to Wednesday.

Gifting photography.  This was such a good idea.

I have a new-er pal.  Her name is Navi.  She carpools with dates my friend Alan.  She’s also my current hair-advice-expert.  She does it for a living – it’s all good.  But her expertise does not stop there.  She has a green thumb.  A big honker of a green thumb.

She gardens tomatoes and peppers and potatoes and other veggies.  She keeps fruit bushes along her property line.  And she tends to flowers.  Navi has the most beautiful little spot in her backyard filled with flowers.  And she cut a few to bring to me.  All different kinds in blue and white and  pink and green.  But the sunflowers were my favorite.

Such a bright, inviting flower.  You can’t help but smile in its presence.

Navi shrugs off my amazement of her gardening ability.  “It’s nothing, really.”  I guess she doesn’t realize she’s talking to a gal that’s killed a hosta.  And a violet. I’ve managed to do well in the summer months with my potted flowers (begonias are stellar for people that might forget to water for a day… yes sirree, a hearty plant) but for the most part, I suck at gardening.  Vegetables and flowers alike.  I’d like to change this.  But then I realize that I really don’t care enough to.  Because it’s hot outside.

But these sunflowers.  Oh how I love them.  And I thought it was extremely sweet of Navi to share with me her garden.  On second thought, she might have already known about the hosta.  My reputation may proceed me.

With so many friends expecting [and being invited to so many baby showers], my wallet started sweating bullets.  I decided to go out on a limb and give them something completely different.  Something that couldn’t be rubbed on a baby butt and hopefully would never be spit up on [but you never know with babies].  My wallet might be a bit skinny but I have time.  And since I have time  – and a camera – I gifted my photography.

One baby has already been photographed.  Little Liam.  But this afternoon I’m heading to another friend’s house to fulfill my gift to her and meet her baby girl, Evangeline  I’m quite excited to meet la niña (who we could easily call Evita) (which happens to be my favorite from Andrew Lloyd Webber) and stick my kahuna in her face.  But for a little inspiration, I’ve flipped through Liam’s photos a few times already this morning.  And I thought you might like to see how darn cute he is too.

I could not get over how much hair this bambino has.  And boy does he have a set of lungs on him.  But the most exciting part though was seeing my pals with their new baby.  How they fawned over him and shared with me little pieces of his personality.  All while smiling.  The kisses that baby got in an hour outnumbered his fingers and toes.  And I got to see my friends transform into parents.

He’s quite the tyke.  I can’t wait to see what this kid does with a football.  Well, we’ll let him tackle rolling over first.

I’m just so excited.  It’s taking everything I got in me not to run out the front door.

And do cartwheels in the front yard.

But the hubs just doesn’t get it.  You will.

My photo.  Was chosen.  By PW.  The Pioneer Woman.  Ree Drummond.  Herself.

Shut the front door.

I made the cut and got wedged into America: Group 3.

I’m tickled pink.  I almost wet my pants.  I’m beside myself.

Because PW liked my photo.

I got nothing but love for ya, P-Dub.

I just might have to stay up past my bed time tonight.

I’m surrounded by babies.  Friends are having babies.  Friends of friends are having babies.  Two babies were born last week to sorority sisters.  The number of expecting mothers is growing astronomically.  Which is making the number of mommas grow quite astronomically as well.

I’m not kidding.  Babies.  Are.  Everywhere.

That means I’m surrounded by baby pictures.  I was sorting through a folder and came upon this baby boy.

Love his baby blue eyes.  He’s got his momma’s eyes.  Or maybe his daddy’s.  Either way, he’s a cutie.

I’ve began to notice that my 50mm has me trained.  After using that lens for about a year and leaving is slapped on the kahuna 85% of the time, I’ve been whipped into shape and “step away” from subjects I’m photographing.  With the slight zoom and the fact that you have to be about a foot away for AF to work, my feet automatically shuffle backwards.  And now I do this with my other lenses.  It was time to break the habit.

On my lunchtime walk last week my only mission was to lean in and get as close as I could.  Not exactly macro shots but just up-close-and-personal.  A different view for the sake of getting out of a rut.  I didn’t dare stray too far because it’s been hotter than the hinges on hell’s door lately, so you local folk will note I was around Slugger Field.  I’ve photographed everything in the five-block radius of work so this was a chance to try to capture something different.

Statue of Paul Hornung, a Louisville native who played football at Notre Dame in the 1950s.  He went on to be a Green Bay Packer.

Our trash cans.  I happen to like the detail.

And being reminded I’m in Downtown Louisville.

Chain = Do Not Enter

Warehouse loading dock.  Old dirty buildings keep things interesting.

And another view of the lily.  I like how the filament follows the color of the flower, changing from red to yellow.

If it blooms, I will find it.

I love flower shots.  It’s a mild obsession.

I took this photo down at Waterfront Park on my lunch break.

Pretty.  Lilies are a favorite.  Stargazers and Casablancas topping the list.

What you can’t see is the bum on the bench behind.

You also can’t hear him asking “What are you doing?”

I have a camera.  Pointed at a flower.  So… what do you think I’m doing?

People always want to talk.  Can’t just mind their own business.

Don’t worry.  I was nice.  I smiled.  Kindly.

No.  I don’t have a cigarette.

It never fails.

Vanilli.

A few months back, one of my Mom’s acquaintances had asked to purchase one of photographs.  I brushed it off as a form of flattery and thought nothing more of it.  The next time I saw this acquaintance, she again brought up the photo and said that she really was interested.  I let it slide – why on Earth would anyone want this photo?  It didn’t make sense.  Mom called a week or so ago and said “Toni wants it, in black and white, please do it this time.”

OK… third times a charm… your wish has been granted… I’ll do it.

But I didn’t just want to print the image and hand it off.  I mean, she was purchasing this photograph to hang as art in her home (her bathroom to be more precise).  I had to dazzle it up a bit more to appear professional [because I am not].  And to take my claim to fame.  Even if it is in the john.  So I mounted it.

I haven’t mounted anything since high school art class.  And even then, posterboard and masking tape were the main ingredients.  So I did some quick research, purchased the supplies and mounted this bad dog.  And I happened to have the kahuna poised to share with you how to mount your own photographs if you wished to gift them or to keep for yourself.

It’s very easy.  Actually, the only thing I found difficult was separating the hinging tissue from its backing.  And I’m not gonna lie, the supplies can add up quickly.  I made an extra purchase of protective plastic sleeves since I was going to be shipping this mat – I’m not taking any chances on it getting dirty, faded or worn.  But let’s hop to it.

How To Mount A Photograph

What you need:

• a mounting board (the back)
• a mat
• adhesive hinging tissue
• a photograph

You’ll notice that my mounting board is blue.  The photo and mat will cover it so it really doesn’t matter what color it is [which is good because the store didn't have white boards].  And I selected a white mat.  There are debates on using colored mats and I figured white is universal enough for Miss Toni.  I did re-process my original image and made hers black and white; at first I was on the fence but once I saw it matted, I liked it.

First, I hinged the mounting board and mat together with the adhesive hinging tissue.  The tissue is acid-free, should cause no discolorations and will help the pieces stay together.  I laid the board facing up and the mat facing down, lined their tops up and taped them.

I didn’t have a long enough piece of hinging tissue so I cut another so that the adhesive strip would extend most of the length of the boards.

Once it’s hinged, you can fold the mat down on the mounting board.  Everything should be square.  Now you’re ready for your photo.

The mat’s opening will be slightly smaller than your photograph.  You’ll want to move the photograph around, closing the mat to make certain you’re OK with its position.

Once you find the right place, take a pencil and mark the corners of the photo on the mounting board.  You don’t want to lose your place.  Believe me.

I decided to create a T-hinge with my photograph.  Since it  will be matted, the adhesive strips will never be seen.  There are other techniques – I didn’t do those.  It’s my understanding that a T-hinge holds the photo in place but also allows it to naturally expand with the mounting when framed; if you taped the photo down completely, bubbles would be created over time.

To create a T-hinge, you first need to apply a two two-inch pieces of the hinging tissue to the back of the photo.  When you lay the photo on the board, the adhesive side will be facing up.  Line your photo’s corners up with the pencil marks you made earlier.

To finish the T-hinge, take a second piece of adhesive tissue, about two-inches in length, and lay it over the top of the first piece, creating a “T”.  Same for the other side – don’t want to forget about the other side.

And then you’re done.  Your photo is mounted.  Or rather, my photo is mounted.  And matted.  Much more professional than just a flat 8×10 in a cardboard envelope.  Yeppers.

The only thing left to do was tag and bag the finished product.  I’ve heard so many different people weigh in on how to sign, where to sign, what to sign, what to sign with on a mat.  I chose pencil (HB) and signed my name and dated it the year it was taken, 2009.  Since I really have no title for the piece (I didn’t feel comfortable writing “Week 21: Toilet” on the mat), I left it off.  This is enough for me.  The last thing to was to slide it in the protective plastic sleeve.

Wow.  Looks… real.  Whodathunk?

There’s something rewarding about placing that white mat on top of your work.  I happen to like that feeling.  And I hope that Miss Toni likes her new bathroom art.

Last night I finished editing and uploading the photographs from my cousin’s wedding.  I spent the entire day with the bride and was able to capture some really fun shots of the bridal party getting gussied up.  I tried my best during the ceremony and made out with a few shots I’m proud of.  And I gave it my all at the reception – even after The Black Widow decided to fail on me (believe me, I understand this is operator error).

These are my favorites.  Not only because the composition worked well.  But these show the essence of that day.  I think everyone was excited for Tammie and Chip to say ‘I do’.  As they were meant for one another.

These next few feature my Uncle Timmy.  In all my years, I’ve never seen my uncle break it down like he did this day.  He had the best time and kept us laughing.  And it melts my heart that Chip asked Timmy to be a groomsman; he was tickled pink to be a part of their big day.

It was a very fun wedding but also touching.  The ceremony was special with their song choices and acknowledging that two families were becoming one.  I do have to admit the singing preacher threw me for a loop.  But after seeing my cousin sing along to her groom, the meaning behind the words were important to them.  But I believe one of the best songs that sums up love is set to country music (of course) and holds meaning to almost any couple in the world.

Like two sparrows in a hurricane
Trying to find their way
With a head full of dreams
And faith that can move anything
They’ve heard it’s all uphill
But all they know is how they feel
The world says they’ll never make it, love says they will

My dear cousin Tammie, I send nothing but good wishes and my love to you and Chip as you begin your journey together as husband and wife.  And never pass up the chance to sing to each other.

I’ve got a lot of editing in front of me.  As I scored several wonderful shots at my cousin’s wedding this weekend.  Don’t worry, me and The Black Widow had a major falling out during the cake cutting and that’s when I ditched the bitch – I don’t need that kind of pressure.  But luckily my 50mm is still my BFF.  Heart you, 50mm. ?

But yes, lots of good moments captured and lots of editing ahead of me.  So I thought I’d leave you with a sneak peek for now.  And a warning: I will be in front of the computer a lot this week but not with fun life-as-I-know-it photos – my eyes will be bleeding flower petals and sequins by the time I make it through the editing.  But it’s worth it.

The kiss.  [hubba hubba]

The dance.  I love how Chip is all smiles.