boo!

from GHOULIES and GHOSTIES

and long-leggedy BEASTIES

and things that go BUMP in the NIGHT,

good Lord, deliver us

~scottish prayer~

HaPPY HaLLoWeeN!

{low down, throw down with tara leigh}

i've been waiting all week for this!! :)
i'm so excited to share her with you....although, i'm sure most of you already know her and love her! maybe you'll love her a little more now! :)

i would like to introduce you to tara leigh.....she is quite amazing! her style is off the charts and her photography is beyond inspiring.

Name: Tara Leigh (last name Cook, but we don't need to know that) :)

Business name: Tara Leigh Photography

Location: New York, NY

Website/blog: www.taraleigh.com, www.taraleighweddings.com, www.taraleigh.com/blog

Tell us one sentence to describe your photography:
full of life, joy, and delight.

What's one thing that everyone should know about you?: i make a mean meatloaf... am intensely loyal to my friends (being an only child, my friends are my family)... i'm a giant sappy mushball and will probably cry at every wedding that i shoot.

How long have you been doing photography and how did you get started: about four years, this is my first year of full time business.

I'm in a very rural part of the country and always fall in love with your "big city" images...tell me what you love most about living and shooting where you do: the city never fails to offer up a ton of edgy and urban backdrops. there's an energy here that you can feel every time you leave your front door and step out into it. electricity perhaps. it takes you over. however, i am OBSESSED with tall grass and reeds and other forms of nature not readily available here. whenever i see it, i scream 'THERE, TALL GRASS, STOP!!' and instantly make whoever i'm with go stand in it :)

What did you want to be or think you would be when you grew up?: for a very large portion of my life, i wanted to be a spy. i got accepted to the naval academy in highschool and would've gone into military intelligence, maybe work for the CIA. then a gymnastics injury kissed that dream goodbye. strange how life takes you down different paths. ha. also, a writer. i was an english major in college and originally moved to new york to pursue book publishing, network, and learn that industry. one giant layoff later, i'm now doing something that i'm truly passionate about full time... making people smile.

If you were given $500 today, what would be the first thing you would do?: buy a plane ticket to europe... i'm obsessed with travel. there's also that hugo boss black leather motorcycle jacket that was on sale a few weeks ago and i tortured myself over (but didn't buy).

Where do you go to find inspiration?: my clients. my friends. my colleagues and fellow photographers... fashion magazines. my closet.

What type of sessions are your favorite (children, e-sessions, weddings, newborns....) and why?: that's hard, since there are pieces that i like about all kinds of shooting. i would normally say engagement sessions... because it's amazing to get to see two people at the beginning of their life journey together. but liz already stole my answer... so i'll say "lifestyle/portrait work". my very favorite kind of session is one where i get to spend a few hours playing dress up, helping someone get past that "i don't photograph well, i'm not beautiful" mindset... and then showing them how very beautiful they actually are. you can change someone's life but simply taking a photograph of them. that's really powerful.

What equipment do you use and if you had only one lens to use...what would it be?:
i shoot with canon 5ds, and was thinking of switching one of my setups to nikon, just for the variety. both brands have pros and cons. ONE lens. you're funny. i was addicted to the 50mm f/1.4 until i got the 24-70mm f/2.8 L. now it's rare that i ever take it off my main camera.

What moment in your life makes you smile every single time you think about it?: my eighth birthday.. my mother made me a life-size barbie cake. it was epic, and quite delicious. OR... it was the first day after i made any big decision about my life and just went for it. moving to new york was a big one, since this place has greatly shaped the kind of adult that i've become. and i met my boyfriend here... and he's rather fantastic too.

What is at the top of your wish list right now?: more L glass... i PINE for it.

Tell us the best advice that you have ever received (photography related or life in general): stop comparing yourself to other photographers. it is one thing to draw inspiration from and learn from them, but completely destructive and counter-productive to compare yourself. we are all artists and have something different to say and offer.

And lastly.....when we started the maternal lens, all of us filled out this questionnaire and shared our answers....now it's your turn :)

What is your favorite word? awesome

What is your least favorite word? no or can't
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? laughter, openmindedness, fall colors, big collared jackets and winter hats.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? grumpiness and closemindedness...

What sound or noise do you love? laughter... especially of the guffaw or giggle variety

What sound or noise do you hate? overhearing someone else yelling at their children... can't handle it.

What is your favorite curse word? how young are your readers?? because my answer is c*********!! :) d******** takes second place {haha, yes--we censored her. sorry, tara...i think we are asking for trouble with this question. we will need to switch it up :) }

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? twelfth grade english teacher

What profession would you not like to do? plumber
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? it's only just begun...

now, leave some blog love for tara and make sure you visit her website and become a follower of her blog....

a big thank you to tara leigh!!!

photo of the day {Wednesday}

jessica.paige created this gorgeous image, capturing the sweetness of childhood and the warmth of autumn. Stop and visit her other gorgeous shots and those in the {TML} flickr pool.

[POTD] monday.

it's halloween week!! we were successful getting annie ready for party no. 1 - two more to go and then the big day! she loved getting dressed up as a princess witch. in the spirit of all things halloween i just adore this photo by keli h.. pumpkins and chucks - what could be better?!! make sure you visit keli's flickr page - inspiration to the max!

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.

"Winter is an etching, Spring a watercolor, Summer an oil painting, and Autumn a mosaic of them all." -Stanley Horowitz

the glass tile pendant winner is.............

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

23

Congrats...sodarnhappy!!

The popular choice was definitely kid pics for these pendants! Truly a great gift idea for anyone! You can find them at tj designs or you can email Lisa directly for info at lisamcwhorter@gmail.com.

sodarnhappy, I'll be emailing you so that you can claim your prize! Keep an eye out for it!

{photo of the day: friday}

so, it's only 9:20pm...so it's still totally friday!!! better late than never, right?!
i *love* this photo for so many reasons.....
taken by the ubertalented darla. make sure you check out her flickr stream....but only if you have lots of time because you will get sucked in!!


don't forget to put your photos in the TML flickr group....you may be the next photo of the day!

[out of the box]

i am going to try to bring you all some inspiration for your home office, home studio, self, anyone and anywhere. this will be the first of a weekly contribution to TML.

first up.....wallpaper.

wallpaper is definitely making a big comeback these days. you see it everywhere. it can be very expensive - but when used in small doses it can make an impact. sure we all know that a can of paint can liven up a room for little money - and i will always be a fan of a good can of paint! but maybe, like me, you're tired of looking at the same wall color as you wait for those photos to download or go through their batch processing! why not put up a roll or two of wallpaper?!! there are thousands to choose - from the ornate to the mod, from traditional to crazy. ballard designs has jumped on the wallpaper bandwagon and their offering is incredible - check them out. a roll or two just may be the change or inspiration you need!

wallpaper makes a fantastic background for shooting indoors. winter is coming in many parts of the country and with that - us natural light photographers have to get creative. you can mount wallpaper to a large piece of foamcore and have a portable background that you can bring to your clients homes or even set up outside for something different. perfect for those newborn shoots.

i used to hate wallpaper - but now there are so many beautiful and clever designs i find it to be a refreshing way to decorate and a handy tool to add to your prop box.

this trellis wallpaper from ballard designs is perfection.


i love chandeliers - wouldn't this be a fantastic background? audrey hepburn. i'd love to look at this on my walls while sitting at my desk.


who doesn't like harlequin!


what can i say - animal prints are here to stay!!


now of course you can always use wrapping paper or fabric for your background but wallpaper is sturdy and you can wipe it down a bitiof need be - also it will mount more easily on foamcore. just grab a can of spray adhesive and you're good to good.

the skies the limit. we just need to think out of the box.

more to come!

{thursday's low-down, throw-down}

i am SO super excited to share this with you all!!! starting today, we will be doing a weekly (thursday)
feature on one amazing photographer. there is so much talent out there, so many inspiring photographers, and so many rockin' site/blogs...that we wanted to share some with you!
so, each week i will be interviewing one photographer and you will get to read and learn a little bit more about them...
or maybe, hopefully, learn about a new photographer that will inspire you like they have inspired us. yay!! fun, huh?!

i'm super excited about our very first photographer to get the low down on!! i'm giddy like a little girl!
this is so fun for me, ha ha!

i would like to introduce you to Elizabeth Leighton. she is quite an amazing person (inside and out) and photographer. her style and photography draws me in...they are romantic, pure, beautiful and full of emotion.
it's my pleasure to introduce you to Elizabeth Leighton....

Name: Elizabeth Leighton

Business name: Elizabeth Leighton Photography

Location: Northern Virginia

Website/blog: elizabethleighton.com and elizabethleighton.com/blog

Tell us one sentence to describe your photography:

Wedding photography - classically romantic with a modern twist.

Portrait photography - clean and fresh

Can you tell us a little about you?

I have been married to my best friend, Bill for almost nine years and we have 4 gorgeous children (14, 7, 4, and 17 months). We just relocated to Northern Virginia. I love my Heavenly Father. I am a huge Steelers fan. I can make a mean Kung Pao chicken and a great potato salad. I am not afraid to share with others. My heart can be seen on my sleeves ;)

How long have you been doing photography and how did you get started:

I’ve been shooting for 5 years and in business for 3.

I’ve always had an appreciation for the arts...dancing and photography in particular. One day, about 6 years ago, I was going through some old photos of my daughter that a friend took with his film camera. I studied them and realized I loved so much more than the subject. I loved the composition, color, contrast, etc. I was mesmerized with the emotions I felt in looking at these photos, especially in comparison to looking at regular “portrait studio” type images. I wanted to learn to how to capture that moment in time, the emotions, to capture and compose like he did. So I called up my friend who surprisingly sent me his film camera to use for a while and I fell in love with the whole process. When friends and family started telling me I needed to do this as a business and to share my passion with others, I decided to listen to them and follow my heart. Here I am today....

What did you want to be or think you would be when you grew up?:

A fighter pilot

Lawyer

Doctor

Contemporary or Hip Hop dancer

If you were given $500 today, what would be the first thing you would do?:

Buy some more winter clothes! We just moved from Florida and need to get some cold weather gear! ;)

Where do you go to find inspiration?:

I can find inspiration nearly everywhere. Mainly my family, but also magazines, other photographers, nature, stores (like Anthropology), sound, smells, etc...

What type of sessions are your favorite (children, e-sessions, weddings, newborns....) and why?:

My favorite sessions are engagement sessions. Seeing a couple so in love and so into each other makes my heart happy. They are more relaxed on their wedding day and so eager to get great images that they are up for anything!

What equipment do you use and if you had only one lens to use...what would it be?:

I have a Canon 5D with a variety of lenses. I’m not brand loyal as I do truly believe a great image comes from a great artist.

If I were to have only one lens...boy that’s a tough question. I think it would be the 50mm 1.2. Fast, sharp, great all around lens.

What moment in your life makes you smile every single time you think about it?:

I would have 5 moments...sorry. The birth of each of my 4 children and the day I met my husband. Ask me about my love story sometime! I love to share it ;)

I am a family girl. I would rather be spending a Saturday afternoon with my family than traveling the earth any day. Being with them brings me the greatest joy that life has to give.

What is at the top of your wish list right now?:

Boda Bag!

If we surprised you at your house today, what would be the first thing we would notice?

How clean it is...I’m sort of obsessive compulsive about cleaning. True story...when I was 9 months pregnant with my 4th child, due any day, you could find me on my hands and knees scrubbing our tile floors. It’s a sickness.

And lastly.....when we started the maternal lens, all of us filled out this questionnaire and shared our answers....now it's your turn :)

What is your favorite word? LOVE...cheesy I know but true.

What is your least favorite word? Lies

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? My own emotions (negative or positive) and life experiences really. Photography is an outlet for me emotionally as it is creatively and spiritually. I release a lot of emotions when I shoot life for myself. I haven’t been shooting for “myself” lately but that is all about to change....

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Spiritually and emotionally, I get turned off by the negativity and pessimism of others.

What sound or noise do you love? My children laughing or saying “I love you”. Also, the sound of the leaves as they fall to the ground in autumn.

What sound or noise do you hate? My children crying and the sound of ambulances.

What is your favorite curse word? Oh my dog.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Dancing. I’ve always loved dancing and sometimes I wonder if I had pursued it more, if I would be America’s Favorite Dancer ;)

What profession would you not like to do? Spider breeder - I have a bad case of arachnophobia.;)

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome home, dear daughter of mine. I love you yesterday, today and forever.

now, leave some blog love for liz and make sure you visit her website and become a follower of her blog....

a big thank you to elizabeth leighton!!!

{and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway. it ends tomorrow!}

{photo of the day} thursday

Photo taken by pink.goldfish . What a sweet moment, and hey you can never start too early teaching a child music appreciation.

If you have a favorite photo, then you need one of these! It's a GIVEAWAY!!!

I love, LOVE these fabulous glass charms made by Lisa of tj designs and we want YOU to have one!

One lucky winner will receive a custom made glass tile pendant featuring their favorite photo. The tiles are .75" squares made from high quality glass.

The possibilities are endless with these pendants. You could use a gorgeous macro flower shot, a picture of your kiddo, anything! And wouldn't this make a great gift?!

If you can't decide on a favorite picture, she can also create a special monogram pendant for you.



What a great way to wear something custom and sentimental! We should all show off our photography more often! These are such a great conversation pieces and are great advertisements of your work. Lisa offers wholesale prices to photographers who would like to offer these to clients and she even has a fan page on facebook so that you can keep up with the lastest news!

Here's how to win:

Visit tj designs and then come back to leave us a "love note" (comment) HERE telling us what kind of photo you would use for your pendant. Be sure to include your e-mail or contact info (blog, etc.) That's it! It's that easy!

But wait!!
To get an additional entry, leave us ANOTHER love note that says you have clicked to become a follower of the blog or if you already are a follower. (We will check!)

THEN, you can get another entry if you grab our button (at the bottom of our blog) and put it on your blog...you need to leave us another comment with the blog URL of where the button is...

{all 3 entries must be in separate comments or else they will be counted as one}

ONLY 3 TOTAL ENTRIES PER PERSON ALLOWED!!! ANY ADDITIONAL ENTRIES WILL NOT BE COUNTED!!!

contest will end Friday, October 23rd at midnight. winner will be chosen at random.

photo of the day {Wednesday}

Some of the best moments for a photographer mom are when you can capture your children unaware, in their natural settings, while still keeping your image aesthetically pleasing and interesting. The photo I chose for today by laura frantz is a perfect example. Great use of dramatic, available lighting mixed with a sweet moment that will forever be captured and remembered.

Browse the other fantastic photos in our {TML} flickr pool and become a fan of {TML} on facebook.com! Just click the little FB thingy at the top of the page.

[the.way.they.are]

our daughters, sisters, friends, neighbors, neices, aunts, counsins, moms, need to know that true beauty lies within. there is such a strong message out there that girls aren't pretty enough, good enough, skinny enough and the truth is they are - THEY ARE!! shout it from the roof tops. fashion magazines, designers, actors, rock stars, writers, athletes all need to get the message out and not stand for anything less than. our daughters, sisters, friends, neighbors, nieces, aunts, cousins, moms, are perfect the way they are. THE. WAY. THEY. ARE!!!!

the dove campaign is phenomenal.

The Maternal Lens mamas meet!

Not all of us at once, but we have taken one small step towards knowing one another in person! It was very exciting, so I thought I'd share!

While traveling to visit family, I made some stops along the way to meet some of my e-friends and one of those friends was {TML}'s very own Megan! Megan and Sarah are lucky enough to live in the same town, so they have had the pleasure of knowing each other in person for a while, but for the rest of us, it's been strictly virtual.

It was so fun to meet face to face after knowing each other for the past couple years. Never underestimate the connections you make you online!

And the winner of the custom bottlecap magnets is.........

Melissa Berberena said...

I am a follower too!

#27, chosen by random.org.

Congrats Melissa! Please email me at jlpinkerton@yahoo.com to claim your prize!

Don't forget to stop by JEllieCaps to check out all the other goodies!

photo of the day {Wednesday}

Such a lovely shot! The butterflies have been having their final fling where we are, and they always remind of how beautiful nature is! Stop and check out the other great shots by .laurie. and don't forget to submit your best shots to the {tml} flickr pool!

Tuesday / Photo of the Day

This photo looks like it was taken right outside of my house--right now. I love the composition, tones, and feel of this photo. It was taken by the talented kristina.kie .

Make sure you drop by our Flickr Group for your daily dose of inspiration! Thanks to all that contribute!

make your fridge fun and funky with some fresh new photo magnets! it's a GIVEAWAY!

JEllieCaps just opened shop over at etsy.com and is wanting to give one lucky winner a set of SIX custom photo bottle cap magnets! How cute are they??!!


The magnets are one inch in diameter and she will crop, edit, and re-size your high resolution photos to fit. Your pictures can be left in color or changed to black and white and she can even add glitter for a fun touch! The caps come in a variety of colors (mostly silver and gold) but you can put in a request for a certain color.


These adorable magnets would look super cute in your kitchen or in dad's office on his file cabinet! They would also make great gifts for grandma & grandpa or even teachers!

Stop by and check out JEllieCaps other custom goodies!

Here's how to win:

Leave us a "love note" (comment) telling us that you'd LOVE to win! Be sure to include your e-mail or contact info (blog, etc.) That's it! It's that easy!

But wait!!
To get an additional entry, leave us ANOTHER love note that says you have clicked to become a follower of the blog or if you already are a follower. (We will check!)

THEN, you can get another entry if you grab our button (at the bottom of our blog) and put it on your blog...you need to leave us another comment with the blog URL of where the button is...

{all 3 entries must be in separate comments or else they will be counted as one}

ONLY 3 TOTAL ENTRIES PER PERSON ALLOWED!!! ANY ADDITIONAL ENTRIES WILL NOT BE COUNTED!!!

contest will end Tuesday, October 13th at midnight. winner will be chosen at random by random.org.

and the WINNER is.........

#18--melissa!!

Melissa said...

I am a follower!

6.10.09

you are the winner of the headband! yay!!
email me at thousandwords@bresnan.net to claim your prize!
thanks everyone!!