VEGAS BABY!!

So last week my hubby took me to Las Vegas for my 30th birthday (which was April 13th)!
I had NEVER been before, and we had a blast! Two of my bestest friends, Lauren and Becky, got to join us along with their hubbies! We stayed at our time share {the wyndham grand desert}, a "country mile" from the strip! One of my favorite things that I got to do was go to the Neon Boneyard where they have all the OLD neon signs that don't work anymore.

I wish I could tell you the history on all of these signs, but to be honest, I didn't even listen. I was too busy taking photos of them and getting some really COOL new textures to use! Hope you enjoy!

This one is for Erik (my husband) who is now addicted to playing Black Jack!

This one above was one of my FAVS. It was actually the old STARDUST sign, but they used the letters to spell out the word TRUST!

This one was actually used on an episode of CSI Las Vegas...which we watch EVERY week! How cool is that?

The funny thing is that Becky and Shane just celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary, so we had to take a pic by this sign.

(Lauren and Jerrod just celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary, but they didn't come to the boneyard with us)

Just to preface, I had to sign a waiver saying that I would not "publish" the photos that I took or, you know...sell them Rolling Stone...HAHAHA!!

Senior Boy 2009...Garreth

Meet Riley...

Here is a sneak peak for Stephanie of Riley! She is the newest member to the family! I think she was a little nervous to come in to the studio, but isn't she so precious? Next time we are going to try and get a photo of Riley and her "siblings"!

CONTEST #2

THE WINNER IS:

MERYDWEN
Here are her settings:

ISO 200, f 1.8, 1/1600, 50mm

GREAT job to EVERYONE that entered! I was so EXCITED to have THREE brand new contestants and they ALL did such a wonderful job! I love teaching new things and everyone got the concept! YAY!





Okay, so what's the CONTEST?
SHOOTING AT LOW APERTURE NUMBERS!
If you have a 50mm lens use it, or any other lens where your aperture goes down to 1.8 or 2.8.

This homework is going to be a little tough for anyone using just a "kit" lens (meaning the lens that came with your camera when you bought it.) The reason it'll be tough is because "kit" lenses generally have aperture numbers that go down to 4 or 5.6 at the lowest. It's hard to get background blur at anything above 3.5 unless you have a really long telephoto lens.

If you only have your kit lens and want to participate, head over to B&H and buy a 50mm - it's only around $90 and it ROCKS! You'll LOVE LOVE LOVE it and you'll get some AMAZING photos (that are worth way more than $90!) Here's a direct link (to my favorite store!) : 50mm at B&H


Okay, Contest details ...

CONTEST #2 (for anyone and everyone, professional or non-professional)

Set your aperture to the lowest number you can (depends on your lens!) Anywhere between 1.8 and 2.8 is best. Bribe one of your kiddos (or someone else's....niece or nephew or your best friend's kid) with candy to get them to model for you and start up close. Shoot some close ups of their faces, hands, feet, whatever you think is cutest! Then move back a step. Don't change your aperture - just your feet! After you've taken a few there, take some more steps back and keep on shooting. Finish up by taking some full-length shots (at the same aperture!)

After you've taken a ton of photos, go through them and pick out your 3 favorites. One should be a close up. One should be a mid-range. And one should be a full-length. Size them to 5" wide at 72dpi and send them over! We'll pick our faves and post them up here and on the blog. FUN!!

Email address to send your photos : jennlankford@portraitsbyjenn.com

CONTEST Deadline : March 31, 2009 (that gives you time to order the 50mm if you don't have it already, or borrow from a friend)

Now go start shooting!!!

Portraits on the Beach

Last Saturday I went to visit my best friend Tawny who lives in Corpus Christi. I did 4 sessions while I was there so here's a SNEAK PEAK! I am usually in Corpus about 4 or 5 times a year and LOVE to plan a last minute trip if you ever want BEACH PORTRAITS!

It was quite windy {as usual} and a little chilly on the beach, however I think they turned out pretty cute! I LOVED meeting all of these families and children and it was so much fun "SHOOTING" you guys! Hope you enjoy!

AND here's one to grow on...
We didn't do Kya's portraits, but she came as a spectator! She was feeding the birds...or more like she was eating all the popcorn the kids were feeding to the birds! :)

HAPPY EASTER!!

Just ONE YEAR ago this is what my baby girl looked like! Look at those sweet little lips and the light in her eyes. She still gives me that little smirk sometimes!

Look how much she has grown. She is just a little person now. The girl with a million faces as some of you have seen a LOT of those expressions. Hadleigh is such a happy little girl. She loves to tease you and hug you and cuddle with you.

These are my babies together! They are HILARIOUS! As I said before she loves to tease Isaac and just the same for him! It is so funny how they learn what it is to "tease" one another. He likes to steal her pacifier {aka: mimi} and run and she like to steal his cars and run. They will chase each other around the room forever!

And here is my precious little boy Isaac. I just love how sweet his little face is. He is so sensitive, yet somewhat a bully. Can that be so? He knows EXACTLY what he is doing when he is doing something he knows he isn't supposed to. WOW, that little brain just goes a mile a minute!
And NOW look at my big boy!! He is such a little person too! He spoke his first FULL sentence just a couple days ago..."My Daddy is home." He talks all the time and repeats anything you say. He takes it ALL in and NEVER forgets!

My kids are so fortunate that their Mema lives so close. {Wish Grandma was here too} Mema keeps us out of binds all the time by watching our kids and ALWAYS offers us a date night at least once or twice a month. Can you believe how different they look in this pic...

compared to this one?

So he doesn't really like to take his picture, but he does LOVE his Mema.

Girl LOVES LOVES LOVES her Mema! I just love those dimples in her little cheeks.