Exposing Grace

Moments

2011-01-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Moments I'm thankful for...

“What if we really figured it out - the gratitude for the seemingly small and insignificant?
This is the seed that plants the giant miracle in the midst of it all.
So count the ways that He loves, a thousand more.
Never stop.
So that when you wake in the morning you can't help unfold your hands to the heavens.
And though you grieve and though you wonder, though the world is ugly - it is beautiful.
And though time moves on, its moments are holy.
And though the planet spins - a blur, you can slow and you can wake.
You can trust and you can pay attention to the moment with this offering of thanks.
Because this is how you spend your one life well,
receiving each moment for what it really is -
holy, ordinary, amazing grace, a gift."

~ Ann Voskamp

Today's Through The Lens of Worship post was inspired by Ann Voskamp and this video...

Head on over to Through The Lens of Worship to read more and share your moments.

Soar

2010-12-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

Yes this is a photo blog, but this post won't have a picture. I just want to tell you about something that has blessed me as a photographer and as a child of God in 2010.
I can hardly believe it has been a year since I applied for the Soar scholarship.
The excitement over Soar is back on because its happening again.
If you don't know what Soar is you can check it out here.

Maybe you should even apply. (The deadline is this Monday.)

As I have been supporting Soar 2010, I have been thinking about all that Soar has been to me in the past year. And I have to say that I wouldn't be who I am as a photographer today without it. One of my favorite things about Soar is that it is designed to empower and grow anyone who wants to follow along. And the more you participate the more you grow. I believe there are several of us women who didn't "win", but actually have won so very much as a result of Soar.

I never cease to be amazed at what I learn and how I grow from the photo exercises. The funny thing is, every time there has been an exercise posted, I think about the images that I have already done that would be good to turn in, but I determined at the beginning of the year to participate fully, which meant doing the exercises again, being purposeful - and it has grown me.
Everything I've learned about running a business, marketing, pricing, etc. has all come about as a result of Soar.
Early on in the year, Karen and Fay (the business coaches) asked us to consider "what is so."
My "what is so" list has moved forward because of Soar.
And the list of friends I have made - friends who share my heart for worship - still amazes me. God has really used Soar to bless me in this area. I just LOVE how something that was started because of a Godly calling in MeRa Koh, but is not about God (it's about photography), has become a place where God is glorified regularly, where His people have a safe place to ask for prayer, where He provides support and encouragement through His people. It's pretty cool. And I'm blessed to be a part of it.

I want to encourage you (if you are female) to join the Soar community. Even if you don't apply, you can still be a part of Soar. I'm sure you will be blessed by it.

Rescued From the Junk Pile

2010-09-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

I praise You, O Lord!

You have rescued me from the junk pile and clothed me in Your righteousness.
I am nothing without You.

I praise You, O Lord!
All glory and honor belong to You.

Go to Through The Lens of Worship for more of this post.
And then link to your post of praise.

Sweet Sophia

2010-09-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

Remember this baby?
Well she's not a baby any more.
In fact, she's going to be 1 this week.

Sweet Sophia, thank you for the impromptu photo session.
Sophia's mommy, thank you for your friendship!!!

Malachi

2010-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is Malachi...

Poor little guy has such bad gas and it makes him really unhappy.
This was our second attempt at getting some pictures, because the first day he cried the whole time I was there - 5 hours.

At first it seemed we were going to have the same experience this day.

But he eventually wore himself out crying and fell asleep.

He gave me 10 solid minutes of deep sleep and I was able to capture these...

When he woke up, he gave me a few more minutes before crying, so we could get a few with his eyes open.
When he started crying this time though, it was because he was HUNGRY.

Waiting patiently

2010-09-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm really behind in posting some of the photoshoots I've done lately, but I'm working on getting caught up.

Meet my beautiful friend Emily.

We took these pictures before my family vacation to Seattle.

I was sure she was going to have a baby while I was gone, but that cute little baby waited for me.

He was born 2 days after I got home (2 1/2 weeks after we took these pictures).

I'll post his newborn pictures tomorrow.

For now here are a few more from Emily's maternity session....

See what I mean?

Beautiful!

Eric + Jamie

2010-09-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bruce and I hold a special place in our hearts for these two.
They were part of our ministry and great friends when we lived in Lakewood.
They have a love story that resembles a Nicholas Sparks novel, only with a happy ending.
What a privilege to be able to be a part of their special day.

The ceremony was so special
and even tech-savy (notice the minister using his iPad?)

Here are a couple of reception and detail shots...

When Eric & Jamie drove away from the church, they went and changed their clothes and headed to the real reception - a beach bonfire. I'm sure they would have been happy if this had been the only reception.

Jamie and Eric, thank you for letting us be a part of your day. We pray for you as you settle into your new life in Alaska.
xoxo

Being a mom AND photographer

2010-09-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Bruce and I had the honor of photographing the wedding of some dear friends a couple of weeks ago.
The kids were invited to the wedding, but we opted to not bring them since we would be working. Well, what's the saying?... The best laid plans of mice and men go awry.
My sister got very ill with meningitis and ended up in the hospital so my mom was unavailable to keep the kids for the weekend. We managed to farm the boys out so they didn't have to miss school, since the wedding was on Friday and we had to travel to Southern CA for it. But we ended up having Molly with us. She was a trooper. We had lots of friends at the wedding, including Jason and Janira, whom Molly knows well and loves (thanks guys!), and she hung out with them while we worked. (She slept through most of the ceremony.)

She did however come with us to the park to take some of the formal pictures.
Most of the time she played happily with the doll house we brought to keep her entertained, but she did have to get in on some of the action...

Bruce took this one. She was holding onto my leg trying to look around me and watch.
It got a GREAT smile out of the bride.

Here is the image I was taking...

More wedding pictures tomorrow!

Psalm 29:2

2010-08-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

A few more images from the redwoods for Through the Lens of Worship.

How Great Is Our God!

2010-08-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Share your worship experience through photography at Through The Lens of Worship.

Psalm 25:4-10

2010-07-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the right path for me to follow.

Lead me by Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in You.

Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love,

which You have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love,

for You are merciful, O Lord.

The Lord is good and does what is right;

He shows the proper path to those who go astray.

He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them His way.

The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness,

all who keep His covenant and obey His commands.

Psalm 25:4-10

Join me and share your photos of worship this week over at Through The Lens of Worship.

Friends

2010-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

Do your friendships cause you to give God praise?
Read more on this week's Through The Lens of Worship post.

Being still

2010-06-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, in order to sense God, to hear His voice, to know His leading, we have to slow down.

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."

Psalm 37:7

Check out Through the Lens of Worship for the rest of this post and to join in if you'd like.

How is your perspective?

2010-06-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Check out Through the Lens of Worship to see where my perspective is this week and maybe even share yours.

Derek & Stephanie {maternity pictures}

2010-06-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have been anticipating the day my brother and his wife would give me a neice or nephew to love on for a long time. And I'm soooo excited that the day that will finally happen is just around the corner.
I always knew that Stephanie would wear pregnancy in a beautiful way.
And does she ever.

I'm so excited that I got the opportunity to take some maternity pictures too!!!

If you live in Orange County, Fashion Island was a pretty fun place to take some pictures while we waited to be seated for dinner.

And it just wouldn't be right if I didn't include one that tells you about my brother's personality... he was always the fun one!

Derek & Stephanie - I'm so excited for you!
I can't wait to meet little Holly Jo

Maddox

2010-06-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures awhile back, but it's never too late to post pictures of a cute baby is it?

{Hanford Photographer}

Isaiah 40

2010-06-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Monday started out to be a pretty tired day for me.
I just wanted to sleep.
It hurt to keep my eyes open.
I have days like this sometimes and they aren't usually related to how much sleep I get.
But Monday was a holiday - a holiday that beheld a Memorial Day picnic with our Epic family.
I spent lots of time in prayer that morning asking God to help me have the energy I would need for the day, and I did my best to "BE" there.

And God met me there.

Read more at Through the Lens of Worship

Confidence Workshop - Families & High School Seniors

2010-06-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the Seattle Confidence Workshop was just as amazing as day 1.
We started out the morning with some more inspiration and teaching from MeRa and Brian and then headed to the University of Washington campus in Tacoma.
What an amazing place to take pictures.
It was like it was built for photographers with a different style of background scenery around every corner.
We had 2 beautiful families and 3 beautiful high school seniors as models for us.
I spent most of my time with one senior and one family, but I did sneak a few images with the other family and one of the other seniors.

Check out these beautiful people...

See what I mean? BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thank you models. You rocked it!!!
Thank you MeRa and Brian for an A-MAZ-ING weekend!!!

Confidence workshop - babies

2010-05-26T01:26:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing time in Seattle last weekend at a photography workshop.
You can read about my experience here if you'd like.
But right now I'm just going to show you the images I captured of
some beautiful mommies and their babies who came to be models for us.
Thank you ladies!
You truly are beautiful - each and every one of you.
And your babies couldn't have been more perfect for us to photograph.
Warning: LOTS of pictures ahead.

Fruit {of the Spirit}

2010-05-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

To see what this is all about, head on over to Through The Lens of Worship.

A magical day for princess, ducks & flowers...

2010-05-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

Are you still friends with the kid who was your BFE when you were growing up?
Well I have a great friend who is still BFEs with her childhood BFE.
A while back she told me that this friend was coming to visit and she wanted to bless her with some images of her girls. She said that all the pictures they had were Picture People pictures and this friend always admired the photos my friend had of her family taken outdoors by professional photographers.
AND she wanted me to be the one to take the images to bless her with.
I can't begin to tell you how honored I feel.
Boy did we have a magical time being princesses, chasing ducks, picking too many flowers...

I managed to sneak a few in with mom too...

Thank you girls for a really fun morning!!!

Nixon {newborn photo-shoot}

2010-04-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the newborn images I captured of the beautiful baby from the beautiful mommy in the previous post.
(Who is such a proud mommy - and with good reason. You'll soon see. I love that she signs everything I get from her as Nixon's mommy now.)

I think this one might be my favorite...

Nixon's mommy, your baby boy is BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of photographing him.

In full bloom

2010-04-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

Well, here is the rest of the maternity shoot as promised.
We got these pictures only a week before the beautiful baby was born.
(Those pictures are still coming)

Maternity and Newborn sneak peek

2010-04-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

When I was asked to take these pictures for my friend I was thrilled.
We took lots of fun pictures outside and I LOVE the way the newborn pictures came out,
but I LOVE even more that when I said, "I want to try...", she said, "Let's do it!"
These are my "I want to try" images
(the regular maternity and newborn shoots are coming next week)

Psalm 96

2010-04-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have a new post for Through the Lens of Worship.

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

Sing to the Lord; praise his name.

Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.

Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.
The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!

Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.

O nations of the world, recognize the Lord. Recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.

Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!

Bring your offering and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him.

Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

He will judge all peoples fairly.

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!

Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord, for he is coming!

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.

Psalm 96

Oh What Joy!

2010-04-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

I Love Spring!!!

2010-03-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

I Heart Faces - Focusing on Angles

2010-03-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

This week at I Heart Faces the theme is "Focusing on Angles".
Here is my entry...

Evidence

2010-03-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Central Valley, then this is probably a familiar site to you...

It's a beautiful gift every Spring that doesn't last very long.
Soon those trees won't even have a hint that they were covered with flowers.
They will be completely covered with green leaves.
But sometime from June - September (depending on the type of tree), they will be full of delicious fruit.
This beautiful gift is just evidence

of the real gift that is coming.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:19-23

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

EVIDENCE

of the real gift that is coming.

The one who sows to please the Spirit,

from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:8

See more posts like this at Through The Lens of Worship

Simplicity

2010-03-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking and praying about more simplicity in our lives.

And in doing so I came across Luke 18:16-17

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!

For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive

the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Have you ever considered how a child receives the Kingdom of God?

Simply.

Bruce and I took Molly out to get some pictures in the wild flowers last week, before they were cut down.

She had so much fun just noticing the flowers.

You can't really tell in these pictures, but there were little pink flowers mixed in with the yellow flowers.

She ran and spun and picked flowers - lots of flowers.

And she cried when it was time to go home.

She has asked me twice in the past week if we can go to the flowers again.

Simplicity lives in the wonder of a child.

Another post for Through The Lens of Worship.

Hands-On Fun for I Heart Faces

2010-02-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is "Hands-On Fun"
I have been working on a "details" photo for Soar and happened to take this photo today.
I just LOVE what it says about Molly.
Notice the worn out nail polish and ink between her fingers on her left hand.
My baby LOVES to color and she LOVES nail polish.
She asks for "pretty nails" all the time.
And as soon as one chips, she tells me its broken.
(It's only been a week since my mom painted her nails.)

Reflection on a Worship Wednesday

2010-02-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, the girls and I got together to take some pictures and worship God.
It had been a foggy week around here so the dew was heavy.
(Walking across the fields meant getting wet pant legs.)

We went to a particular field to photograph the beautiful oak trees there, but what caught my eye (and how God spoke to my heart that day) was the dew.

As the dew reflected the sun, it sparkled like hundreds of diamonds, like stars shining in the universe.
And God spoke to my heart.

That's what its like when you reflect my glory

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his

likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Cor 3:18

Lord, I want to reflect your glory more!

Later that week, this was brought back to me again by an episode of 3-2-1 penguins.
(Gotta love those kid's shows!)
This was the verse that the episode was teaching:

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,

children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,

in which you shine like stars in the universe.

Philippians 2: 14-15

Let's shine like stars in the universe!

Check out more posts from Through the Lens of Worship or add your own post here

Doing the Deeper Work on a worship Wednesday

2010-02-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

For Soar, our first photography exercise was about capturing the essence of ourselves - where we are now.
We had to capture two images
One of ourself and the other of an obect that represents who we are.

Wow was this difficult, but rewarding all at the same time.
It was difficult to put all of that into one image.
And I didn't anticipate it becoming such a time of worship for me, but it did.
To help me, I followed MeRa's example and wrote 3 I am statements

I am tired and worn down - running on empty

I am leaning on my only source of strength - Christ

Though many things may try to tear me down and get in my way, I will stand strong in Christ.

I am standing on the promises of Isaiah 40:28-31:

Have you never heard? Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Here are my images...

The day I was out taking these I couldn't stop singing this song:

With mercy You've shown me Your unfailing love

Your holiness purges my sin

Your blood has redeemed me, I'm washed in Your grace

With patience You cleanse me within

Make me like You - Take the pieces of my life and make it new

Make me like You - Make me wholly completely brand new

To love the unloved ones To count all but loss

I'll take up my cross for You

To picture You broken To see You as King

For You anything I will do

Make me like You - Take the pieces of my life and make it new

Make me like You - Make me wholly completely brand new

(Make Me Like You by Mike Busbee)

I Heart Kisses for I Heart Faces

2010-02-09T17:18:00.000-08:00

This week the theme at I Heart Faces is I Heart Kisses.
It was really hard to pick my favorite picture this time.
But I settled on this one because I think it fits the title I Heart Kisses the best.

Worship Wednesday

2010-02-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today is the launch of Through the Lens of Worship.

I had initially intended to launch it right here on Exposing Grace, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I should just start it off on its own.

So go here to post your link in the Mr. Linky.

Wednesdays are going to be focused on worship around here from now on.

Here is my personal worship experience to share for the first week of Through the Lens of Worship...

Remember this tree?

Or maybe you remember it better like this?

Well this is what it looks like now.

When I first heard they had burned it down I was so sad.
I loved that old tree.
But as I pondered it some more, I was reminded of Matthew Chapter 6.
Here is a little of what it says...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

That tree has been standing, lifeless in the same place since we moved to Hanford.
I don't know how long it has been dead, but I've never seen life on it.
And as beautiful as I thougth it was, there was nothing heavenly about it. It was death.

And now it is nothing more than a pile of firewood.

"Store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust (and fire) do NOT destroy."
What are you storing up?

Through the Lens of Worship

2010-01-28T00:37:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to finally be sharing this with you. And if you love taking pictures and love God, I'm inviting you to join me. (I know this is the photo blog and this post won't have many photos, but please bear with me. I need words to explain what I'm asking you to join me in.)

Sometime during last summer, I got this crazy idea to start a photo group with a few girls from Epic that love photography as much as I do. It wasn't going to be a typical photo group though, where a bunch of photographers go take some pictures together (although we would definitely do that), or learn from each other (although we would definitely do that too), or even grow as a community of people who share a passion for photography (I'm thinking that is going to happen too!) No, this photo group was going to be focused on worship.

Or more precisely, it was going to focus on using our photography as an act of worship.

So towards the end of summer I approached the girls (who were just as excited about the idea as I was.) We met over some yummy Panera. I shared my vision for the group.

They shared things that made my vision grow, and so it began.

We called ourselves the "photo worship group" (although we knew we had to get a better name than that!)

Here's how our group works:

We get together on the first and third Saturday of every month for an appointment with our Bibles, cameras and most importantly, God. (And we have an assignment to have alone time with God with our cameras in hand too.)

Once, a month we meet early, grab some coffee, have some shared devotional time and then venture out together with our cameras.

And the other time of the month that we get together, we settle in with at least one print that came from our alone time with God. And we share how God met us - maybe what He taught us, or how He revealed His glory to us. We have a shared worship experience.

This group has been amazing for us in more ways than I can explain in this post.

But our vision isn't to keep it under lock and key. It's about inviting you to join us via the web (or if you're in Hanford, maybe on a Saturday morning?)

Here's how we thought it could work:

You start having an appointment with God with your camera in hand at least twice a month.

On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month I will put up a Mr. Linky right here on my blog, where you can link to a post on your blog, displaying one of the images that you took during your quiet time and explaining how God met you. You might have a lot to share or maybe just a scripture. Then on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, I will highlight one of the posts that was linked the week before.

This has been so very rewarding for me (I know it's going to be for you too) and I am so excited to read your posts about how God meets you and your camera.

I love Colossians 3:12-17.
It's all about how God wants us to behave as Christians in everyday life.
Here's the summation of the passage in verse 17:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Let's build an online community that does photography in the name of the Lord Jesus!

I'll share more of my vision for this group in another post.

(I think this post has enough words already)

Oh and we have a new name now too:

Through the Lens of Worship

Happy 2010!

2010-01-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

I really feel like 2010 is going to be a productive year!
I have GOD-SIZED dreams for Exposing Grace, and already some of those dreams are being worked out.
I would really appreciate prayer as you think of me!
Here are some tangible things that I'd like to happen this year:

1. I need to get business cards printed.
2. I need to get a website.
3. I need to learn more about running a business. I have had some profits this season, but outside of the half that I have given back to God and the small amount used for some photo props, the money sits in the bank. I'm really afraid to touch any of it until I understand the legalities better. I really DON'T want to get in trouble with the IRS.
4. I want to upgrade my equipment, although this is not a necessity. I'm finally at the place where I feel limited by my camera, but it is still working and I thank God that I even have what I have.

I'm also working on some projects that God is bringing my way. One of them is teaching a basic photography class and the other is a photo group that I have started that you will be hearing more about VERY SOON!

I'm filled with excitement as I look toward the New Year.
I know that my dreams have come from God and I am anxious to see how He uses me to fulfill them.

And if you hired me to take your Christmas photos, you helped support Lamb Orphanage, an orphanage for the abandoned children of Swaziland. THANK YOU!!!

And what would a photoblog be without photos?
Here is the first group of family pictures (Bruce's extended family) I took this past Thanksgiving.
(We had over 40 family members gather in Hanford, and we had an amazing time.)

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe 2010 is just around the corner.
I have several pictures to share with you from this past month, but that is for next week.
Today will be spent enjoying my family, worshipping my creator and the reason we even celebrate Christmas, and resting.

1 Peter 1:24-25

2009-12-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

This is part of a new project I'm working on that I'm really excited about.
I'm so excited to tell you all about it, but that will have to wait until after the holidays.

Playing with textures

2009-11-22T00:30:00.000-08:00

I'm loving these new textures!!!

My friend Annie

2009-11-20T01:41:00.000-08:00

I am so blessed to have Annie as a friend, so you can imagine how excited I was to have her ask me to take her family picture for their Christmas card this year.

The most exciting part about that was that they came here to Hanford so our families could spend the evening enjoying each other's company - and that we did!

Annie, I know you are checking regularly to see these, so this is for you my friend...

My favorite image from the day:

I've been playing around with some new textures I got.

What do you think?

You guys are amazing!
Thank you for making my job easy (and for dinner!).

Love you guys!

Exposing Grace - Kings County Photographer

The other infant... {Hanford baby photographer}

2009-10-31T23:33:00.001-07:00

If you read this post or this post, you've probably been waiting to see these pictures.
Here she is - the other precious infant I got to photograph.

Don't you just love the faces babies make when they are trying to wake up?

Yay for infants - Hanford Baby Photographer

2009-10-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege in the past couple of weeks of photographing 2 infants.
Ever since I got to see Carrie Sandoval and Brittany Woodall in action (photos from that day to come), I have been itching to get my camera on an infant, so getting to photograph 2 has been such a treat.

Here is the first precious little guy...

With his handsome big brother...

I just LOVE the details...

Congratulations my friends.
Your new little guy is absolutely precious.

Purdue Wedding

2009-08-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

This wedding was a small and personal ceremony on the sand at Avila Beach.
And it was a real challenge for me photographically.
We started late and lost the light before the ceremony was over.
Because of the way the beach is set in the cove, you don't get to see the actual sunset, and it gets dark more quickly than the beach on the other side of the cove.
It is a beautiful place though.
And I was honored to get to be a part of the special day!

The image above was the actual kiss.
This one was posed so I could get a picture without the flashes, but I think I actually like the one above better.
It tells the story of the evening!

And I think this is my favorite image of the day...

Joshua

2009-08-13T17:18:00.001-07:00

I just LOVE this little boy!

My new friend...

2009-06-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't she beautiful?

I had so much fun photographing A and her parents yesterday.
This sneak peek is for her parents.

Pepper Camera Straps

2009-06-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

I've seen lots of do it yourself instructions on how to customize your camera strap to make it cute, and plenty of already made ones in etsy shops, but I just found Pepper: Spice Up Your Camera through I ♥ Faces (they're having a giveaway).

Look how great these are...

Here is one of the designs I like...

And I found a couple of user reviews on these and they are all good.
I think one of these is going to make its way onto my wishlist!

I ♥ Faces week 24 - Let's Hear It For The Boys

2009-06-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

This week at I ♥ Faces the theme is "Let's Hear It For The Boys".
So here are a couple of MY boys...

I chose this picture for the child category because I feel like it really captures the essence of "BOY"

Here is my adult entry...

I ♥ Faces - Fix It Friday

2009-06-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

I don't often join in on these (just because I don't have time)
But I finished a couple of huge projects this week so I thought I'd give it a go.
Here is the original image...

And here are a couple of my edits...
(My favorite is the black & white)

I ♥ Faces - Sepia Toned

2009-06-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

This week at I ♥ Faces the theme is Sepia Toned.
I LOVE sepia toned images. (That is probably obvious to you if you've looked some of the other images I've posted on Exposing Grace.)
I love the warmth and mood that adding sepia gives to an image.
Of course, it doesn't work for every image, but I like what it did for these images.

Here is my child entry...

Here is my adult entry...

Fairies

2009-06-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

It seems we have a fairy living in our backyard...

I ♥ Faces - Happy Birthday

2009-06-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my image for this weeks theme - Happy Birthday...

And I ♥ Faces is having a give-away for a Tracy Joy bag this week.
You can check it out here.

Psalm 100

2009-05-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD!
You know the LORD is God!

He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.

Be thankful and praise the LORD as you enter his temple.
The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.

2 years of blessing

2009-05-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe she's already 2.

Zoo Animals

2009-05-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Animals are such beautiful creatures.
Every time I get to see them up close, I am awed at the wonder of God's handiwork.
Our little family went to the zoo on Memorial Day.
So I had to get some animal pictures.
You can see the family pictures (and the tiger) here.

Family

2009-05-23T01:05:00.000-07:00

Bruce took this one...

I LOVE my family!

Not small in God's eyes

2009-05-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

You can't exactly tell from this picture, but this flower is incredibly small.
If you walked by it, you probably wouldn't notice it.
But, look at it. It is beautiful...

It struck me the other day as I was editing this image, and noticing the beautiful details of the flower that - God designed it. And that no matter how insignificant it may seem to us as we walk by it, it is still a beautiful creation of God and therefore, not insignificant at all.

Do you feel insignificant and unnoticed? Well you aren't. You are a beautiful creation of God too and He cares way more about you than He cared about this little flower.

I hope you always remember that your NOT insignificant to God - you NEVER will be!
What you will ALWAYS be is His beautiful creation (regardless of what the world may say or think.)

I ♥ Faces - reflection part 2

2009-04-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure if I had an image for the adult category, but as I was going through some of the images I still need to process, I came across this one which fit this weeks category - reflection.
So here is my adult entry...

I ♥ Faces - Reflection

2009-04-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

The theme at I ♥ Faces this week is reflection.
Here is my entry for the kids category.

Baseball

2009-04-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

I finally took the camera to the ball field.
My favorite pictures though are not the ones of them actually playing ball.
They are the the ones that tell me a story.
The ones that evoke emotion in me.

I ♥ Faces Fix It Friday

2009-04-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

I just got this book, which I am really excited about.
I decided to join in on the Fix-It Friday fun, to try out some of the new things I've learned.
I made all adjustments using Photoshop CS4.

Here is the original image...

Here are a few fixes that I did...

For the above image, I started by running a couple of actions: TRA Boutwell's Magic Glasses (free), and then TRA select-o-sharp on just the boy.

Next I cropped in closer.

Then I adjusted the red using the TAT (Targeted Adjustment Tool) in the Hue/Saturation panel. (This is my favorite new tool that I've learned about from my new book.) The boys face seemed to be glowing red before making this step.

Flatten layers.

Blur background a little more using a layer mask with lens blur.

Run free MCP action touch of light/touch of dark and darken the background with my brush at 30%.

Use TAT again in the Hue/Saturation panel to make the pants a true red and take away the fuzziness.

Add a border.

Flatten and save.

I made 2 different black & white versions, starting from my fixed version of the image.

If you have Photoshop and feel limited in your knowledge and ability to use the program, I HIGHLY recommend getting Scott Kelby's book for the version of Photoshop (or Lightroom) that you have.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT

Aaarrrgghhh!!!

2009-04-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

Molly, what does a pirate say?

Photoblog

2009-04-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked when Bruce and I would start a photo blog. Well I'm finally doing it. I'm not sure how often I will have something to post here, but this is the start.
And I can't start a photoblog without a picture. So here it is...

Contact

2006-06-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

If you are located in Central California and are interested in having me photograph you,
you can call me at 559-836-8814
or email me at rhonda@exposinggrace.com

I look forward to hearing from you!