Alison B

that sandbox

I love this picture of Slater from last week at the sandbox.  That swing chair is where I sit while he dumps sand between cups back and forth.  He is definitely an outside boy.  Loves to pick flowers and tear them apart and taste them (I really hope I have all non poisonous plants).  He loves grabbing dirt and tossing it around (usually on his head).  My yard isn't really freeform but he enjoys walking in between the plants and making his own little pathways.

 

Looks like we are back to the photos not loading with the color correct... you get the idea.  The original is so much cuter with his skin tones right though:P

yoga

Joe, me and Tucker and Dallon just did our first night of family yoga to this DVD.  I am hoping we can do it three times a week.  We'll see how it goes.  I am not the best on follow through once the newness of something wears off. 

Tonights wouldn't have happened if things didn't transpire the way they did.  I was leaving from Slater's room from putting him to sleep and thinking, "we can do this once a week on Saturday's", even though I had just told Joe and the boys it would be Tues, Thurs, & Sat (and they were not thrilled). But as I got closer to the office, Joe was telling the boys to go clean their room or do whatever they needed to do for chores.  Quick as I am, I saw the yoga tape as a great alternative that they would gladly accept.  And sure enough, they were all over it. 

So we did it and the tape was really cute.  The family all took turns doing a different pose and it was very loose and non yoga rigid.  The boys really liked it and it was fun for all of us to do together.  I haven't done yoga in a long time and after watching us all tonight, we all need it.  I am also doing it so we learn to concentrate.  The boys can last in a pose for like two seconds.  It's pretty funny.  I think once they learn the poses, concentrating will help them stay in them longer.  Wish us luck for sticking it with it:P

yay for rain

I love the rain.  It doesn't rain nearly enough in here.  We got lucky with an early storm.  They boys ran outside when a five minute downpour started.  I grabbed my camera... missing those days of little boys in rainboots splashing through the water.  Luckily, I don't think boys grow out of this.  Slater and I were on a walk when a little downpour happened earlier and he sloshed through the gutter water the rest of the way home.  Wasn't even phased by the rain soaking us.

After the rain, we went to our secret spot because the beach is one of the most beautiful places after a rain.  The coast is clear with a few scattered clouds and just windy enough to feel fresh.  Slater is a total water baby.  Loves water no matter where he is.  He wanted to sit in the cold water and play.  The waves were coming up a little bit on the furious side so we had to hold him back.  While I love the age between one and two, I am looking forward to the 'no fear' attitude disappearing. 

I haven't taken photos of us just doing stuff in a long time.  I really liked having my camera in hand to capture 'us'.  Here are some shots from Saturday.

this should be fun... try it

1.your rock star name (first pet & first car).
Clifford Volvo ( I think I am a folk rock star:P)

2. your gansta name(first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name).
A Bea

3. your “fly girl” name (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie).
Vanilla Chocolate Chip

4. your detective name (fav color, fav animal).
Aqua Cat (I'm kind of digging this)

5. your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born)
Morgan Anaheim

6. your star wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first).
Beaal  (That spelling does look like a star wars name)

7. superhero name (”the” + 2nd fav color, fav drink).
The blue water

8. nascar name (the first names of your grandfathers)
Harry Gordon  (Isn't that actually someone in Nascar:P)

9. stripper name ( the name of your fav perfume/cologne/scent, fav candy).
Beautiful Taffy  (wow, It's really laughy taffy but that didn't sound right;)

10. witness protection name (mother’s & father’s middle names ).
Jean Lindsey (Definitely remembering that one if the occasion arises)

11. tv weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter).

Caullis Chicago  (I couldn't think of any C cities)

12. spy name (your fav season/holiday, flower).
Summer Gerbera

13. cartoon name (fav fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”).
Strawberry Toppy (or watermelon pantsy)

14. hippy name (what you ate for breakfast, your fav tree).
Pancake Birch

15. your rockstar tour name (”the” + your fav hobby/craft, fav weather element + “tour”).
The Photography Rain Tour (If I ever have a gallery showing at some hot shot museum... this will the name of it, for sure!)

Two posts in one day... what the heck!?

Holiday Mini Shoots

This year, I am starting a new thing ~ Mini Shoots.  Here are the details:

The photo shoot will focus on the entire family or just the kids.  Each family will have one half hour of time.  Within two weeks you will receive the five best im­ages in b&w and color on a CD.  The images will be full resolution so you can create holiday gifts and photo cards to your hearts content. 

The price for this event is $190 and payment can be made by check or Paypal.  You must be paid in full to reserve your place.  The response I have received so far has been great and I do expect each one to fill up quickly so reserve your spot.  The dates are as follows:

Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach:  Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 9am to 5pm

Balboa Park:  Sunday, November 11, 2007 from 9am to 5pm

I also have plans to go to Salt Lake City the weekend of October 18th.  I plan on scheduling a few there as well for October 19th.  So if you have any friends who want family photos that are in the SLC area, pass this along:) 

If you are interested in one of these shoots, email me at alison@photographybyalison.com

Natalie & Marissa

This is the third time I have photographed these twins.  The first time was when they were six months old or so and now they are two.  I can't believe how much they have changed and it is so fun to see them as little girls.  They are expecting a baby brother soon, like days away and I can't wait to meet him too.  This shoot was done in the summer but I had to share their shoot because there were quite a few shots that I just love and I really enjoy photographing this family.  They like the 'capture our life as it is right now' concept which is so cool.

Love this of the whole family. They spend a lot of time in their cul de sac and I just think this photo captures that so wonderfully. And really the wagon one does too.  The last one is my favorite of the whole shoot.

 

Lola

This shoot was a few weeks ago.  Lola is such a pretty baby.  She was so good during the shoot and it was a long one... because she didn't make a fuss at all so we just kept going.  There are a ton of photos of Aubri and Lola together because they were just so pretty together.  I so wish I had photos of me and my boys together when they were newborns.  When I get to photograph mom's with their kids of any age, I try to really capture their relationship... the way I would want photos of me and my boys. 

So here is Lola in all her cuteness.

Mira & Rian

I have a lot of recent client sessions to share.  I am going to start with Mira and Rian, one of my most recent shoots and then I will work backwards. 

I photograph a lot of twins.  And for some reason, one year old twins.  In general, one is a tough age to photograph and twin one year olds is even tougher.  But I love it!  I told Michelle it was going to be a workout and it was for sure.  I had a blast though.  I just love the unexpectedness of it.  And Mira & Rian didn't disappoint in that area.  They were sweet little babies with cute little personalities. 

So here is a sneak peek, Michelle and Rob:)  Hope the party is great!

 

gearing up

I have a lot of things to post about but it just hasn't made the top of the to do list.  So just for fun, here are some pictures of Slater in the backyard today.  He LOVES being outside.  Love it.  Front is preferable and walking around our block with someone following him is his favorite.  He loves plants and is fascinated by ants and flies. 

He has a little table top sandbox in the back and he is all over it everyday.  Loves dumping sand in the water part and putting dead leaves in the sand and water.  And dumping the sand out.  It's very cute to watch him.  He has a favorite plant that Dallon showed him that is a passion vine that has curly tendrils.  He started going out in the backyard on his own to pick the little curly-q's and pull them apart.  The first time he did it and I couldn't find him... it was so sweet to see him at that plant totally engrossed. 

Slater is saying a few words.  This - hot - Dally (for both boys and Joe) - doggie (although Joe doesn't agree with this one;).  That's it!  And a lot of exclamations.  He is starting to voice his opinion and yell.  THe funniest thing he does is feed Robin our dog his food and then proceed to chatter yell at Robin for eating his food.  I wonder where he learned that???

Tucker is doing well at his new school and making friends.  He starts cross country tomorrow and I guess all it entails for the meets is to run a mile and a half.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  It's the first time for them and it is a meet against another school. 

Dallon is doing ok at school.  He really doesn't like the kids who act up.  And his teacher doesn't sound like she handles them very well discipline wise and that REALLY bothers Dallon.  I think the year will go ok though.  He has some friends in his class.  I am only slightly worried that he won't be ready to move to Tucker's school for 6th next year. 

Alright so here are the pictures from today... in the next few days I will post a few pictures from recent shoots.  Some cute kids!... and babies:)

Weird, the colors turned out correct.

Slater with Lovey and Robin, the curly Q's, sandbox, fuzzy headed baby, and tiny toes!