My photo class!

Hey all! Well, I think my class was a success! So far good, positive feedback, nobody has told me I totally sucked yet, we will see what happens when I get the questionnaires back! Anyway, I am not going to be posting pictures of the class here, if you want to see them and hear about it, head over to my new Wordpress blog www.roxseyphotography.wordpress.com I will eventually be saying goodbye to the gat clan chronicles and keeping only one blog, that will focus on my life and photography together. Much easier than trying to keep 2 up. Plus I really like wordpress better. Sorry blogger! I don't have to re size every picture myself when I post! So if you want to start keeping up to date with me, start checking the new one out, feel free to comment, I don't bite, and I wont think your a stalker. Believe me I stalk many blogs! I love my blogger friends!

Looking forward to 2010!

Haven't posted for a while so I thought I would throw something up real quick! My class starts tomorrow morning! Looking forward to it! Last night I made the final touches on my presentation and I think its going to rock! I have 8 gals signed up, and I know most of them, thank you friends! I really hope I can take these ladies to the next level with their photography. I know for me, I spent years trying to learn from books, websites, trial and error, but it wasn't until I took a specific class that was HANDS ON that I really figured it all out!

Christmas was fantastic! The kids had a blast and got lots of great stuff. I got some excellent stuff from my wonderful husband too! I am now rockin' a new iphone, fancy camera bag, and have a new washer and dryer to do the millions of loads of laundry this family creates! It was good times!

On to the new year! Hopefully my new website will be ready in time for the new year. They guys from Finn Media are great and created me something that was more my style "nothing too fluffy" as I like to put it. They are just putting the final touches on it. Along with that, I have a new blog site for my photography. Check it out, leave a comment. www.roxseyphotography.wordpress.com

I look forward to 2010! The kids are getting older (translation-things get easier for mama and I get a little more freedom!). I can't believe I will be signing up Dane for kindergarten in March or April, and he will be starting basketball this month! Oh how my baby has grown up so quickly! My business is growing, so I look forward to what it brings me! Anyway, I need to get back to fine tuning a few more things for the class tomorrow (what to wear)!

Da boys...and one of the basketball princess

Two of the boys ripped into one of the Christmas packages from their grandparents. OOps, oh well, at least they were cute, and nice enough to pose for me! And another picture of "killer" playing ball this morning. She may be cute, but just don't cross her!

Maia Singin'

Isn't she just the cutest?

My little superstar

Last night was our church Christmas program. Even though I hate snow, it was kind of lovely and magical to start snowing on the day of the performance. Especially for the kids. Maia had a part in the play and sang a song. I was so proud of her! She did an excellent job and , even though I shouldn't be, was surprised at how well she sang. I don't have very good picture, but the hubs got some video and hopefully he will have it edited soon so I can post her singing her song. the usually shy girl around people really performed her little heart out last night!

Stoked

Yes, I am stoked for this class. Just started to put together some folders for the ladies. So pretty. Currently I am half full, which is fantastic! As my first ever class, I am just happy SOMEONE, ANYONE signed up. Honestly I am not much of a public speaker, but for some reason I can talk for hours about a camera. I was talking (probably too much) about the camera to someone who had asked me a question, and they said "you should just teach this". I thought, why not? There isn't much out there as far as I can tell, and spending the day with a bunch of ladies that WANT to talk about a camera all day, sure sounds like fun to me! My next goal is to get a monthly or every other month girls photography group together. I LOVE swapping ideas and websites and stuff I have learned, and certainly appreciate it when other people share with me! Anyway, that's next months goal. So more about the class, just in case you have been thinking about it. Its December 29th, a Tuesday, from 9:30-4:00pm at Homestead Resort in Lynden. The room I rented is fantastic! The best light coming in from the windows that line one wall. Its going to make figuring out that camera all the better. The first part of the day, we will learn the technical stuff. Lunch is on me. Then the last part of the day we will do a photo shoot with some live subjects and then come back together to talk about it, trouble shoot, and then talk business or whatever other questions anyone might have. Its going to be a fun day! And speaking of photo shoot, if anyone has a little baby 6 months and under that might want to model for the day, give me a holler. Wouldn't get paid for it, but you can get pictures of the shoot. If you would like to register for the class, go to www.roxsey.blogspot.com and go to the link to the right side.

The Wellman's

This shoot was from a couple weeks back. I am done for December! Now to sit back and enjoy the month, and get ready for my class! So excited, made folders last night, but I will post a sneak peak later of those. Right now, here are the Wellmans. I went to high school with dad, and haven't seen him in about 10 years or more! Always fun to reconnect with past school mates, especially when they call me to take their pictures. What fun!

A Sunny VERY Cold Day with the Kortlevers

I think I had to reschedule this family a couple time due to November being so crappy! But December is having some wonderful, clear, sunny days, but oh so cold! Being the photographer, I can bundle up with layers looking like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man, but my clients, of course, do not want to look that way. So they were great and braved the cold! What a beautiful family!

Me and the Boy

I took Dane to the Mt. Baker Theatre today to see Charlottes Web. I wish they still showed movies there, it is such a fabulous theatre!

Christmas Tree at Stoneyridge

Friday was a very busy day! After my husband went out into the craziness at 4am to get the Santa present, I had a photo shoot (that I will post pics of later) and then we headed out to StoneyRidge to get the tree. This is the earliest we have ever gotten our tree before and I am a little worried it may dry out too soon, but how wonderful it will be to have everything ready for Christmas so early! The kids decorated last night and I tested out the video capability of my camera (yes it shoots video too!) and I will post that later! But here are a few of our day. We were so lucky that it was nice out!

Thanksgiving

I will keep it short and sweet with a few pictures! So thankful that we had a wonderful dinner with my family! Preparing dinner wasn't stressful at all, pre made and pre chopped stuff the night before and popped the turkey in the oven and done! I am very full now, but contemplating having another piece of pumpkin pie. Steve and my mother will be getting up leaving at 415 to do some shopping. I think they are crazy so am more than willing to stay home with the kids. But grateful that the husband will be getting a good deal on a Santa gift for the kids!

Thats Dane before the all the food got on the table, he was VERY ready for some turkey and jello

I heart Michael Buble

This post is for Amara. This is Michael. One day I will be so famous that he will want me to take his picture. I am sure of it. Its one of my long term goals. :)

Wanna watch his video...go here... http://www.michaelbuble.com/

A break in the rain

Yesterday was cold, but at least it was not raining, so we didn't have to reschedule, yeah! Another beautiful family I got to spend the morning with down in Fairhaven. Check it out...

Christmas and stuff

I have big plans for Christmas this year! I want to be DONE Christmas shopping by the end of November. I have to say I am over half done! Getting a little at a time is really going to be nice on the pocketbook. I want the entire month of December to be free and clear of any shopping, or working so I can spend some serious quality time with the kids. I want to bake, make crafts and just enjoy everything about December! Even the snow (blech!). At least if I have everything done, I wont have to drive anywhere in the snow! I decided on Christmas day that not only would we do the "traditional" Christmas morning with presents and Santa gifts, but we would also have a birthday party to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We will just have a nice big birthday cake after dinner and sing happy birthday! This will help the little one understand why we are celebrating. Little Miss Maia is in the church play and has been practicing for the last month. She has some speaking lines and she has a solo she is singing! So proud of that little girl for being brave enough to sing and talk in front of ALL those people! Maybe she has no idea just how many people will be out there in the audience! Gage and Maia both have started basketball too. Both are very excited to be playing and I am very excited that it is indoor! Ahhh the warmth! Dane will be starting his first year in basketball as well, but not until January. He is very excited to be like his siblings finally! I am so happy my kids are active kids and love to play sports. I really enjoy watching them, even practices, its fun to go through each season and see how they progress with which ever sport we happen to be playing at the time!

Weather

This weather is really putting a damper on my photo shoots! Yesterdays session was cancelled but I think our reschedule place is going to be more fun anyway! I am going to go shadow them while they go get their Christmas tree. I love the more photo journalistic shots, so I am excited and kind of glad we picked a different day. In case you didn't read, I am opening up the workshop to ALL women no matter what your age. If I get the max number of students (15) I will be giving away a really cool product to one lucky person! This is going to be an awesome class so if you want to learn the basics of your camera and learn to take some awesome shots, sign up! I have already loaned out both my backup camera's so you will have to have a DSLR to go to this class! And of course a post is never a post without a picture.

My own kids for once....

I went out to take a few senior pictures today at a friends house today and dragged the munchkins along with me. Decided I better get a few of them today too since who knows when the weather will be nice again! My heart bursts with love every time I look at these pictures. How truley blessed I am to have these beautiful, healthy, well behaved kids. How did I get so lucky!?

Books...

I bought a new book the other day called Visual Poetry. Love it. It is a very inspiring book about photography that makes you think about pictures that are more than just pictures. A little snip it...

"A great photograph has the potential to transcend verbal and written language. But how do you create these photographs? It's not the how that's important, but the who and the what. Who you are as a person has a direct impact on what you capture as a photographer."

I love that last part. Great book, if you love photography, its a good one to have in the collection.

I also went to the library today to see if they hung my flier. They didn't. The librarian seemed a little put out when i had some business cards to go with the flier. "It's in multiple parts?" she says. I'm thinking, its just some biz cards to tack on. Whats the big deal? I just said "Never mind, here is just the flier, the address is on there." She probably tossed it when I walked out the door. (No Danya, not your mom, I was hoping to talk to her though for some special treatment).

So anyway, I picked up a couple books while I was there. I got Organize Your Life free yourself from clutter and find more personal time. I skimmed through the first chapter and realized I didn't have time to read it and really I just needed to pick up and throw out old crap.

I also got The Dynamic Path access the secrets of champions to achieve greatness through mental toughness, inspired leadership, and personal transformation. I have no idea why, I just happened to be wandering through the aisles looking for the photography section (they moved it) and came upon the feel good section. Looking through the titles I started feelin' good and inspired so I figured I could give it a good skimmin' through. Who knows I might learn something.

This is a big difference from when I usually go to the library. All my friends know and make fun of me because I mostly go straight to the teen section. I am a very busy gal so these are quick, easy reads. And believe me, if you thought they were all G or even PG rated books, they aren't. I was actually surprised that the last one was even allowed in the teen section, not to mention a Lynden library. Anyway, I am sure I will be done with my big girl books soon and back to reading some easy fiction.

I LOVE this picture!

Today was a good day. I was to have 3 photo sessions this weekend, only one was rained out. Thats pretty good considering the torrential rain, hail, lightning, thunder, and wind that was happening this weekend. The dark clouds were hanging around, just teasing me today, but it never did rain. I am really trying to get out of the more "traditional" posing and try to do things a little different. I had an idea in mind before I left the house and it didnt turn out exactly how I saw it in my mind, but pretty close. I have to say though, most things I think of dont actually come out the way I imagined, most of the times it is better.

So I had the parents get close, real close. I wanted them to be very intimate, while the kids just hung around them pretty much. I had the middle boy hanging on to mom to represent how much he still needs her. The oldest boy just kind of chillin' next to dad because he is at the age where he really is admiring his dad and wants to be like him, and of course the baby still in mom's arms. I wanted this photo to show how much Dad is in love with mom with his hand on her shoulder coming in to kiss her like there is nothing else in the world that matter. I threw in one of the boys together too, just because they are so cute!

I know, I know, all that from one photo. But now you know a little bit about what goes on in my head. I am sure most of you will just see a snapshot, but more than anything I want my picture to tell a story.

Jenn's cute little family

Just a quick post, but I love checking out new places, so Jenn took me to WWU for her family pictures today. It was POURING when I left but as soon as we showed up at campus, the sun decided to come out. Thank you God for turning off the water works for awhile!

Beginners Photography Workshops for Girls!

Okay time for some fun stuff! I will be teaching a one day workshop for beginning photography just for high school girls. Cost is $95 and will be held at Homestead Farms in Lynden on December 29th from 9:30-4:00. You must have a DSLR (no point and shoots) and bring with you to class. I do have a couple extra cameras but you must let me know BEFORE you register so I don't lend them to someone else. First half of the day we will go over the basics, ISO, aperture/F-stops, shutter speed, we are going to get you out of point and shoot mode! Second half of the day we will be putting our new skills to work with a photo shoot! We will be practicing on real people! This is going to be such a fun class, so register fast as I am capping the class at 15 students. To register and for more information just go to my website at www.roxseyphotography.com and if you have any other questions, feel free to email me anytime roxseyphotography@yahoo.com

New Things!

Wow, there is so much going on here. I am really excited about so many things right now! I have had a lot of things on my mind this last week about the biz. Some new risks I think I am ready to take on. I really have been struggling with a few things because part of me still wonders if I am ready for what may come. So, I don't really want to say to much about everything quite yet, but just know I am really excited to be able to show you all some cool stuff coming up soon! Oh and I decided to enter a photo contest. I haven't really entered anything except the Lynden Fair where I did get my awesome ribbon. You can go check it out if you like at TopKnots photography contest. Just go to latest entries and you can scroll through all the entries. My name will be at the bottom of the picture for the ones I entered. I decided to go with a series of one of the weddings I did this summer so there are six images. They said there will be a peoples choice award, but at this point there is no where to vote yet. Probably not until the contest closes in December, but I will beg you all for votes then! Here is one of my favorites!

Scotty Browns to Bobby Lees

Last night we celebrated Tiffiny's birthday! We started out at Scotty Browns with dinner and drinks, made a quick stop at Barkley Bobs, and then off to Bobby Lees in Everson. Bobby Lees is certainly the best place to people watch! All in all, had a great night, stayed out too late and am paying for it today. Although I only had one beer at the beginning of the evening I woke up dizzy and feeling hung over. I thought maybe the water had been spiked at BL's but then I remembered I didnt drink a thing there because someone told me if I had to go to the bathroom, I might want to go in the trash can or outside instead of using the toilets.

I look forward to taking the kids to our church tonight for Halloween!

Here are some pictures of our night!

(darn you pictures..not working! I think my files are too big. I will post them later!)

Defriending can bruise your digital ego....

I just realized I had been de-friended on facebook! We probably have not been friends now for some time, I just now noticed! Wow, I even have taken pictures for this person! Thats ok, we were not really good friends anyway. I have 426 other friends to keep me company!

I found this funny little article on 5 steps on how to get de friended here. Really though, no worries, I am not crushed at the loss of a "friend". At least it wasnt a good friend who left me!

A picture just because..

Isn't this the cutest picture! I love it! Just thought I would post it just because. Tomorrow is Halloween! The kids have been doing the countdown. Unfortunately, Maia has come down, with what I think is the swine flu. They wont test them unless they are on their deathbeds, but it has been going around the school, and I am pretty sure Gage had it a few weeks ago. Hopefully she will be better tomorrow! Tonight I get to hang with the girls for Tiffs birthday party! So much fun. See ya all later!