It was pretty chilly when we did this family session.  Thank goodness we both live close to the location so we could get warm again quickly!  Everyone was a trooper though, and we got done as soon as we could.  And look Mom, I even got a couple of smiles

I really love working with my playgroup families.  All of the moms in my group are so nice and great fun to be with.  There were a few who couldn’t make it last weekend, so I told them I could work in a session for them around another session I had scheduled.  Thanks for coming out ladies!

I had the opportunity to photograph the “B” family tonight, and they were a lot of fun.  Their son had the best red hair and blue eyes, and he was a busy little guy, but a lot of fun.

Thank you guys for a fun session!

    

Yesterday morning I had 5 mini-sessions lined up.  Back to back sessions like that are always so tiring, but it is so fun seeing all the kids, especially ones I’ve been photographing for the last couple of years!  Here is a sneak peak of my families.  I hope you all enjoy them!

If you have a group of at least 5 people who would like to set up mini-sessions, contact me at beth@bethvalentinephotography.com!  I’d be happy to put something together for you!

          

This family just added an adorable new member, and it needed to be commemorated.  He wasn’t too sure of me and my camera, but I managed to sneak in a few shots.  Thank you for letting me capture your family, and enjoy your beautiful children!

If you or someone you know is adopting, or has  adopted with the past few months, contact me about a special adoption session to commemorate the beginning of their new family.

      

Today I had the distinct pleasure of photographing a new little boy.  He is the sweetest thing…unless he is hungry (aren’t we all).  His mom (from my last maternity post) is adjusting well to having a little boy in the house, and his big sisters love him lots.  Thank you, Deborah, for allowing me to photograph your little boy.  He is just precious, and congratulations to your family!

    

I also want to thank my good friend Margie for helping me with this shoot.  She is visiting from Florida, and came with me.  It was nice having an extra pair of photographer eyes. Thank you Margie!  We are going to miss you when you leave tomorrow!

I hope everyone had a great 4th holiday!  We really enjoyed the day having a cookout with our neighbors, and then going to see our local fireworks.

I wanted to give you some tips on taking pictures of fireworks.

There are a couple of things you need to get good fireworks pictures.

1.  Someplace steady to set your camera

2.  A very slow shutter speed.  You will want it to stay open for several seconds. (hence the need for a steady place for the camera)

3.  If you can control the aperature on your camera, you want to set it to about f11.

If you aren’t using a tripod, find something steady to set your camera on.  This is important because with the slow shutter speed, you will get a LOT of movement if you try to hold the camera.

Once you hear the fireworks thump when it is fired, press your shutter gently.  You will need to work on the timing a little bit because you want the shutter speed to be long enough that it captures the blast of the fireworks and a bit of the trail.

With a bit of experimenting, you will be able to get some really neat shots.  Here are a few that I got last night.

 

Some may know that I am actually a native Floridian. Moving to Tennessee in 2006 is the first time I have ever lived more than 150 miles from where I was born in Central Florida. I am very proud of my Florida roots (3rd generation) and although I love my home state, I must say that Tennessee is beautiful and I really do feel at home here. AND, this time of year, I just love driving around in all the beautiful color.

A friend from Florida shared this with me, and it very funny, and so true.

A friend forwarded this to me, and it is SO true!

You know you’re a Floridian if….

..Socks are only for bowling.

..You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.

..A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.

..Your winter coat is made of denim.

..You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.

..You’re younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 65.

..Anything under 70 is chilly. Living in Nashville I’m adjusting my internal thermostat a little lower these days

..You pass on the right and honk at the elderly, but pull over for a funeral.

..You’ve driven through Yeehaw Junction.

..You could swim before you could read.

..You have to drive north to get to The South.(and drive clear into Georgia to get boiled peanuts). Not really sure why anyone would want boiled peanuts though

..You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix. Glad they have them here in Nashville!

..Every other house in your neighborhood had blue roofs in 2004-2005.  including ours!!

..You’ve gotten out of school early on Halloween to trick or treat before it got dark.

..You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn’t worth waking up for. Ain’t that the truth!

..You dread lovebug season.

..You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren’t Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances…but Charley , Frances , Ivan and Jeanne.

..You know what a snowbird is and you hate them.

..You know why flamingos are pink.

..You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.

..You were twelve before you ever saw snow, or you still haven’t.

..’Down South’ means Key West.

..’Panhandling’ means going to Pensacola.

..You think no-one over 70 should be allowed to drive.

..Flip-flops are everyday wear.

..Shoes are for business meetings and church.

..No, wait, flip flops are good for church too, unless it’s Easter or Christmas.

..Sweet tea can be served at any meal.

..An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.

..You smirk when a game show’s ‘Grand Prize’ is a trip or cruise to Florida.

..You measure distance in minutes.

..You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.

..You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.

..All the local festivals are named after a fruit.

..A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.  This us SOO true!

..You think everyone from a bigger city has a northern accent.

..You know the four seasons really are: almost summer, summer, not summer but really hot, and February.

..It’s not soda, cola, or pop. it’s coke, regardless of brand or flavor, ‘What kinda coke you want?’

..Anything under 95 is just warm.

..You’ve hosted a hurricane party.

..You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when to get on the best rides. ( Space Mountain during the Electric Light Parade!)

..You understand the futility of exterminating cockroaches.

..You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Ichnatucknee and Withlacoochee  Yes, I can do all of these

..You understand why it’s better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.

..Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include: various fish, NRA, Nascar and Go GATORS!

..You were 5 before you realized they made houses without pools.

..You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn’t swim.

..You get angry when people say ‘ Florida isn’t really part of the SOUTH.’

..You’ve worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas. Also froze in 20 degree weather on Christmas day…you just never knew

..You know what the ’stingray shuffle’ is, and why it’s important!

..You recognize Miami-Dade as ‘ Northern Cuba ‘.

..You own a copy of ‘Voting for Dummies’.

and last, but not least:

..You know that ‘Hanging Chad’ does NOT involve a lynching (or surfing, for that matter).

When you are getting your holiday pictures done, whether it be at Sears, or Picture People, a best friend or me, make sure YOU get in the picture!

So often we say, I don’t want to get in the picture because I’m too fat right now or I don’t like my haircut, or whatever. But you know what? This how your children know you. Fat, thin, tall, short, makeup, no makeup….this is who you are RIGHT NOW and this how your children know and love you. If something were to happen to you tomorrow, would they have pictures to remember you by? If something were to happen to your son or daughter, wouldn’t you want pictures of you WITH them?

Our husbands tend to be the same way (at least I know mine is) and I feel just as strongly about them getting in the picture.  This is something that really can’t be put off.

Please make sure you get in the picture, and OFTEN!