The Adventures of a Photographing Momma & Her Snap Happy Shadow

I got my first camera when I was in elementary school - I remember it was a 110 film nothing fancy rectangle.  I loved it!  I didn't even care if it had film in it.  Sure, I was excited every time my Dad came home carrying one of those rainbow graphics envelopes that meant he had brought home my treasures; but more than half the fun was looking though the view finder & deciding what to snap.

My daughter, all of almost 2 and a half years old, LOVES anything that she isn't suppose to touch.  This makes her a very typical toddler.  Maybe this is how it is with all kiddos, I am sure; but Sadie's desire for wanting said object is rooted in her firm belief that she is not a toddler.  She is merely a vertically challenged person who is a bit clumsy (she, of course, sees all those traits in me).  If Mommy can do it, use it, wear it, drink it, eat it (you get the idea) - so. can. she.  Now bring Mommy's camera into the picture.

I did the research.  Really.  My 5 year old niece got a camera for Christmas from Grandma and Papa.  Big and colorful and chunky.  Cute, right?  The recommended age is 5+.  Ok, understandable.  It takes coordination, it takes responsibility.  I get it.  I simply can not wait almost 3 more years for her to have her own.  Several companies make kiddie cameras.  I looked into them all.  Cheapest?  About $50.  All the bells and whistles?  Around $80.  They all have tiny screens and most are PC only.  Here is where my rationalization takes over.  I'm a photographer - I want my cake and I want to eat it too. I want to shoot my images and I want to hold them in my hands. My daughter in no different.

So, while we were at my printers yesterday (Lovelovelove Fullerton Cameras!) I asked about used digital point&shoots.  Chris, one of my favorite people and my scan/ print guru, helped me pick one for her. It's a Nikon Coolpix L22. Yes, there was one $10 cheaper, but it had way too many buttons & knobs on it that I just envision snapping off before we made it to the car.  And it is used, so I'm getting a deal. And I'm supporting the little guy by buying from a small business and not from a company on the NYSE.

Her camera has a large screen, a big fat shutter button for her little fingers, it's not too clunky for her small hands, and a 2M card gives her 250 images with good resolution. AND I still spent less money than the kiddo cameras.

So I get her in the car - once she's strapped in, she gets her present. I try to give her a quick demo/ rundown of how it works. Forget it - *I do it myself, Momma* Yes ma'am. You've got it.

She's very excited to be doing it herself!

The 25 minute drive - she snapped, giggled, snapped some more, giggled some more, lots of *Cheese!* requests from the peanut gallery, and a few more giggles. I'm sure people next to us wondered why there was a strobe light in the back of my car. Her camera had 82 images on it.

Her first self portrait

Her view from the back seat

Now I understand that every mother thinks their child is brilliant and artistic and a natural at everything.   But I'm pretty certain that, while she is not a savant, she will be incredible at whatever she chooses to do - her strong will and independent nature will take her far.  I cannot wait to watch her grow up and make her own choices.  Ok, yes, I can.  But for now, I am beaming with pride that she wants and loves her camera.

Sadie's homage to one of my favorite painters, Mark Rothko
(Ok, it's really just her fingers over the lens but work with me here.)

Now say *Cheese!*

Operation : Take Stock

Hi! I feel it has been forever since I checked in ... summer adventures in the few hours we get with Daddy, the inevitable migraines I am unfortunate enough to have to tolerate, and a whole week of being home sick with a 2 1/4 year old (Grandma gives me a stern look when I round up ...). All of this has taken me away from the computer - and it has been quite glorious. I can do bits & bobs from my phone (when Sadie isn't using it to play Signing Time and Calliou videos) but no real nitty gritty work. So here I am, trying to get back on task. So let's see what we've got.





I am the queen of big ideas and the court jester of follow through. Pinterest has done an excellent job of perpetuating this. Etsy doesn't help matters either. That being said, I am fairly addicted to both.  I have grand ideas and plans for what I want.  Both professionally and personally.  I'm much better at the follow through with my personal life.  I have taken risks that I want to take.  I go after what I want.  I hold on to what I need with all of my heart and strength. These attributes have served me well and I am so happy with the people and place in my life - I am truly blessed and I know it.




Now, professionally .... I tend to take a back seat. Other things always manage to crop up, of course. And they will. The concern is that, that is when what I want becomes lost in the shuffle. It's my own doing and I have no one else to blame - and I'm not.  I am lucky enough to be able to spend most of my days with the coolest toddler I know. Really, she rocks. But very soon, she won't be spending her days with me on little adventures - she will go out and have her own. So, what do I do then?


 Enter the sub project - Operation: Take Stock. I've realized in mapping out what I want for my office/ studio/ escape pod - I need to know just what I want. Pinterest and Etsy have filled my head with ideas for my photos and LWP shop. Most shops not only have images for sale, but some product or tangible goodie ~ jewelry, night lights, clocks, lanterns ~ something. I have knocked around a few ideas. What can I make, realistically, that would be marketable? Will I have the time for it? Will I have the space? The start up money to create stock for sale? Do I want to make lots of them without tearing my hair out? I'm not 100% sure what questions someone asks themselves when jumping into a similar adventure but these questions are constantly rattling around in my brain. The way I figure, I need to really narrow down my selection so that I know how to create my *me* space.

I think I need to experiment with 2 ideas - see which one is more feasible and fun to do. I have been fortunate enough to inherit more darkroom photo paper that I could throw. My (former) boss, bless his heart, encouraged my photography and now I have a substantial volume of vintage paper. It was their photography collection that furthered my education and love of history of photography. I really feel the need and desire to find a way to utilize my new found acquisition - I have been researching contemporary and alternative uses for paper. I'm learning all about pinhole cameras, salt prints, paper negatives ..... my mind is leaping for joy at the prospect of being a sort of student again! I have also found some ideas, a la Pinterest, for cute (seemingly) easy photo projects that might work for my images. A quick trip to Michael's when Sadiecakes wakes up is on the agenda.

And as Operation: Take Stock moves into Operation: Take Office, I will be able to sort out what type of space will best serve my purposes. Paint for the walls was decided on yesterday & purchased! Walls have been taped. I just need to prep the walls tonight & this weekend we really are transforming the image in my mind into a physical space that I am so excited about.

I have no doubt that a few months after my little piece of heaven is complete and functional, there will be a need for a nursery. Here's hoping it's a girl and they can share a room. I'm not ready to give up my little space yet!