Another Morning at CDC

More photos taken on a typical morning at CDC.

All shot with a Contax645 on Fuji 400.

Valentine's Day CDC Style

Sam's class always has a really fun party to celebrate Valentine's Day.

All images shot with a Hasselblad 500C on Fuji 400H film.

Josh and Ben

I love it when I get film back from the lab and I LOVE this shot of Josh and Ben. I just started using Richard Photo Lab and they rock the casbah.

A Typical Morning

I take Sam to school every morning and Josh takes Ben. Part of my morning routine is to hang out with the kids in his class for a little bit every morning. They are all just so darn cute and they love it when I take their photo. Plus it always puts my life into perspective. Like this morning when I was pretty proud of myself for having showered and put on not only clean clothes, but clothes that were not sweatpants. So I sat down on the playground with my cup of coffee, enjoying the sunshine when the button of my pants popped off (always a bad feeling) and then out of the blue a little boy named Alex ran towards me and gave me a big hug. It was a nice feeling. Then they all started coming to me one at a time for a hug. Pure sweetness. Suddenly Lillia was standing before me, her hair and hands covered in shaving cream and glitter. And I had to pause. Do I ruin this clean outfit and possibly hurt Lillia's feelings or do I say screw the clothes and give her a bear hug? Of course I gave her a big hug. And then Alex came running at me again and the coffee (luckily no longer hot) spilled all over both of us. Isn't that just the best metaphor for my life? So here is one morning's journey from home to school and who we found there.

This is What I Saw

These were taken the afternoon I came back from Foundation and picked up the boys at school after not having seen them for five days.

My Boys at CDC

When I shot at CDC in October I of course sicked my camera on the boys from time to time. It is one of the rare times that Ben would actually look at the camera.

Discovery School Part III | Austin Child Photographer

Discovery Center Part II | Austin Child Photographer

Discovery Center Part I | Austin Child Photographer

I spent the last week of October at my boys' preschool photographing the kids. It is one of the best gigs I do all year. I have such a great time with them all. This is the first of three posts because I love so many of them. I decided to do them in order of age, so I start off today with the youngest ones. You will also notice a few costume shots here and there. The last day I shot they had the annual Halloween carnival. Nothing is cuter than a 2 year old in a costume.

California Here I Come

I leave early tomorrow morning for California. It is a short trip to spend some time with my grandmother and to do some family sessions. I will be back in the studio Tuesday morning. If you are a client waiting for proofs, I am trying to catch up as quickly as possible, so please be patient with me. I am running about a week behind my usual schedule.All of last week I took photographs at my boys' preschool. I love doing this. Not only is it fun, but I get to learn all of the kids' names and play with them for hours. Here are just a couple of shots from that shoot. See you next week : )

Freedom is Just Another Word

Took this one at CDC today. It pretty much sums up the joyful parts of being a kid to me.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow. Things are crazy these days. Busy as bees. There is something I like about being crazy busy. I like the constant motion of it. I don't like the dirty laundry that piles up or all the junk food I consume. I don't like being away from my children. This week I am actually with my children more than usual during the day because I am shooting all the kids at their preschool. They like having me around, but it is also hard on them--as seen in this photo below. I was leaving Sam's classroom to go take photos of the baby room. He wasn't happy at all. Don't think I am heartless for taking this photo. I want to remember all of him--the good times and the sad. I love it all--it is all about the journey and the process. The rest is nostalgia, which I like too.

Home Again

I made it back home from Chicago yesterday and I am so tired and so behind on my work and life duties. Oy! But I had a great trip. I loved Chicago, I loved the wedding (which you will hear so very much about soon) and I am so glad to be back home with my boys (although less than thrilled to be back with the laundry and dishes). And even though I have TONS to do, mommy guilt about being away encouraged me to attend Sam's class field trip to the pumpkin patch today (Ben's is tomorrow).

I Couldn't Resist

Sam's school had picture day a few weeks back and I couldn't resist purchasing one. Josh thinks I am crazy, but I love the kitsch factor. That background is just too much.

Julia's Birthday Fete

Ben's friend Julia had a birthday party recently and the boys had such a great time. I apologize for all of the pinata hitting pics, but I loved each and every one of them. And the last one is, of course, taken as soon as the pinata broke apart. Like moths to a flame. Bonnie Berry is an Austin, Texas child, family and wedding photographer.