Christmas Photography Tips and Tricks

With Christmas right around the corner, I thought I would share some tips and tricks to ensure you get some great pictures to remember Christmas 2013 for years to come!
Tip 1: Take pictures when people aren't paying attention.

You get the most genuine expressions when people aren't trying to look good in front of the camera. The pictures I have when people aren't looking become some of my favorites.
Tip 2: Take pictures of the ornaments that are important or sentimental to you.

Take pictures of ornaments that mean the most to you, and write down why they are important. For example, in the top picture, the ornament with the white lace? My grandma made that before she died. And it was on my mom's tree. My first Christmas in my new house my mom gave it to me to put onto my tree. Someday, I want my children to know why it is so special to me.
Tip 3: Take pictures of your tree.

This may be an obvious one, but I think its very important. I have started taking pictures of our tree every year to see how it changes. My boyfriend and I don't have children, but when we do I expect that our tree will change very much. Right now it is a lot of store bought ornaments with a few sentimental ones. I expect that ratio will change after we have children. I think the tree is a good indicator of how your life has changed Christmas to Christmas. 
I hope you can utilize these tips to capture some of your Christmas on film (err.. on memory? What do we say now that we use digital cameras?!) whether you use a DSLR or a point and shoot.  And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Getting in Front of the Camera

I have made a decision to actively try and take more pictures of the people in my life. And the things we do. This decision is thanks to Abigail, who persuaded me to bring my big camera to the gun range yesterday. I'm so glad I did. I even let Abigail take some pictures of me. And I made sure to get a picture of my dad! He's at the bottom of this post. 
I decided that no matter how fat I feel, I will cherish these memories someday, and if I don't get pictures of myself, I may regret it. I will be making my camera a bigger part of my life. I want to start having these images all around my home! So I need more :)
Let's all give a round of applause to Abigail, who can focus my camera very well for a beginner. :)

Do you try and get in front of the camera sometimes too?

It's hard! 

Photography - DJ and Julia, Part 2

First of all, I know I have been gone a lot lately. Truth is, a lot has been happening around here. Not the best stuff. But we are working through it. The other day, to get my mind off of it, I finally went out and got some more pictures of my brother and Julia. I got some pictures of them in New York, but it was raining, and I was a wuss about getting my camera wet.
Plus, it was cold.
Anyway, I took advantage of the sunshine the other day and got some pictures. Now that Julia has her ring and everything, you know.

Let me know what you think. My mom was happy.
And that's all that matters right? Pictures of her son without his glasses.

I think he looks weird, but who am I to judge.

I love these people.

2012 in Pictures

So here we are, at the end of 2012. Did you think we would make it? Did you believe in the Mayan Apocalypse? Not me. I had my doubts. And we are still here! :)

Since this is my first year blogging, I decided to start a tradition for New Year's. I will do a review in pictures.  Some of them are from my DSLR, some are from my phone. Next year, I will try and get more from my DSLR.

Join in on the fun with Ashley!

Me!
I am most proud of finding my voice not only here on the blog but in real life. And also for having the courage to open my store and work for myself.

I Love You
Dakota, you are my everything. Thank you for being my better half for the past 4 years.



Still Laughing…
Loki has a fascination with bags. No matter if it is plastic or paper, or even if it is a box, he has to get in it.
This particular time happened to come at a time where he was already crazy. He ended up tearing the bag apart.



Winter Wonderland
We don't get snow here (stupid California!) but this picture is still pretty winter-y. Is it bad I already miss Christmas?



Birthday
For my 21st birthday, Dakota brought this home for me. In case you are wondering, my birthday is the 21st of February, so I usually get combined gifts with Valentine's Day. This was one of my favorite presents ever.



Friends
Abigail is the best friend I could ever ask for. And plus, Dakota said I had to put her picture up here once in a while if I am going to show his picture. :)

I Was Inspired… 
Watching Nana do her artwork. Crazy woman. Sitting on the floor and what not.



Spring Fever
In 2012, April showers brought some pretty flowers.

Travel or Vacation
I'm glad that I got to go back up to the mountains with Dakota this year. I love the photography opportunities. As well as spending time with my love, away from technology and just spending time with him.



Summer Days
I love when our tree grows back every year. It is the sign that warm weather is coming.



A Day In My Life
Computer screens, O&Ms, oh my.



All Smiles
Two of my favorite people. Smiling and laughing, as usual.

Autumn Harvest
You can tell it is fall when our tree is trimmed. It looks so pitiful.



Family or Home
When I am home, Loki is usually with me. He is incredibly strange. Cats aren't usually so dependent.

Celebrate!
Went to a beautiful wedding with Abigail. Sat next to one of my favorite coworkers. There was much fun to be had.

Let’s Do It Again…
Can we go to the mountains again?



I Miss You
It is almost unexplainable how much I miss these two. It's been over ten years since I've seen either. I miss you guys so much.



Beautiful
I love this thing. I need to figure out how to use it.

Dress Up
I was so happy to see Julia graduate. She left for New York shortly thereafter. But she is back with us now!



Holidays
One of my favorite decorations from Christmas.



My Favorite
Isn't he the cutest kitten ever? I miss when he would let me just take pictures of him. And just lay there. Now he knows when I pull the camera out and he stops being crazy. Silly cat.

Don’t Ever Change
Loki, you are weird. And crazy. But you certainly make our life interesting.

Just Because…So There!
How could I not share this guy?

Hopes and Dreams
Next year, I want to take more photos like this. I want to go out with the intention of taking amazing pictures. I want to take pictures that I will hang on my wall. I am thinking of doing a 365, or even a Project 52. I may do Project 52, just so that I know I will finish. :)

But my goal is to further my craft. Photography, design, and blogging.

I hope you all have a GREAT New Year's Eve! I will try and be back tomorrow with some of my resolutions and goals for next year.

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Abigail's grandmother loves peppermint patties. Except that she hates dark chocolate, and York patties are all made with dark chocolate. Grandmother claims that she found milk chocolate York patties, but Abby and I have yet to corroborate that.

So I found this recipe and decided that we should make it. We doubled the recipe and did half milk chocolate and half in bittersweet chocolate. Both were yummy. But next time we will make the patties a little bit thinner.

After the holiday season, the last thing we want to do is eat sweets. I know that's what I'm feeling right now, but these peppermint patties are refreshing and light. They are amazing.

Now by no means am I a food blogger, but I thought I would share this with you, because it is my goal in the new year to get rid of some of the preservatives that I eat.

And York patties, without the preservatives and high fructose corn syrup? Awesome.

Taking these pictures was a challenge for me. Abby's kitchen isn't the best lit, and it was dark outside. I fixed this by using a slow shutter (but fast enough to not have camera shake). And then in post production (AKA Photoshop) I upped the fill light and brightness. The result is a bright image, that could have been taken in the daytime. You get a little noise with this method, but not enough to be able to tell here on the blog. 

Check it out!

You start with the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and heavy cream in the mixer. I am so jealous of Abby's mom's purple mixer. I use it every time I come over.

When you get the right amounts of stuff in there and mix it up, this is what it looks like. When I doubled the recipe, I forgot to put double the amount of peppermint extract. It was all powdery. Then I realized, added the 2 TEASPOONS of extract, and it came together in no time at all.

Baking is so finicky.

Roll into balls and squish into patties.

Abby has such pretty hands. And doesn't even think its weird that I took so many pictures of her hands.

They kinda look like mozzarella.

Right up until you cover them in chocolate.

Bowls of chocolate. Makes me happy.

The first few come out looking goregous.

And then you get down into the bottom of the bowl, and they get kinda yucky looking. But they still taste good. I promise.

Check out the recipe at Serious Eats!