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I actually got on a kick using this green wrap as you may be able to tell, but I tried to use it in a variety of ways - I have this on another two sessions you will see pop up here shortly. It became very versatile for me. I’ve had a lot of people ask what it is. Well, I purchased some yarn at a specialty place and knit a simple rectangle. That’s all it is. I had a goal of just trying it out with a few shoots in different ways…
I thought I would share something fun this morning — If you know me, you know that I acquired chickens for the first time as chicks around Easter time. I thought it would be a great experience for my children, and who can resist the idea of fresh eggs? I have to warn, if you ever get chickens, they are very addicting. The idea was get a couple chicks (click here to see original chicks). We bought all female but when I went to check out online, it said, “click here if you want a free chick”… why not? I didn’t think about it until they were on their way - of COURSE that would be a rooster, right? Sure enough it was… but then we got another surprise - that in a minute.
We were going to throw together a coop using a dog kennel, but then I found a great Amish structure place in Shrewsbury, PA, so I bought a premade coop to match our house of course ;) Dean and I have spent many hours working on the chicken run, and here it is thus far….
It’s an ugly foggy day, but you get the idea. We planted ornamental sunflowers around the front and concord grape vines in the back (on the right in this picture) to hopefully climb up the side of the run and offer some more protection/shade eventually. We’ve fox proofed, racoon proofed, and hawk proofed this coop and run. We’ve got a little “zen” pond going up near it as well… we’re trying to complete our projects before it gets too hot out…
Mind if I share a little accomplishment of my own? I made this window. The only thing I was disappointed about this coop was that the cross ventilation wasn’t very good. I found trim moulding that was similar, and went to work constructing a pull-open window to match the coop… I think it turned out pretty nice myself 
At last - the chickens. They still have more growing to do, but look how big they have gotten! Here they are waiting for me to open the door to the run….
A Rhode Island Red pullet coming out of the coop….
And here is our little surprise — we ended up with TWO roosters in that batch. This buff cochin is definitely a roo. When we pick him up and put him back down - he crows like he’s so disgusted with us - how dare we pick him up like a common chicken…
From left to right - americauna (she will have blue eggs), barred rock, americauna, Rhode Island red, Rhode Island red… all girls…
And this is Dean’s favorite - this was our “bonus chick”. It’s an Americauna. Dean calls him “Bad @ss” - I have to agree.
Can you believe in a week, we have seven more chickens coming? Two blue cochins, two silkies, and three polish - they are “ornamental” chickens - so they are more for fun than anything else! :D So far, so good, though - I’ve learned that chickens don’t have to be a really messy deal… and definitely not a lot of upkeep once you get them set up.
But I tell ya - chickens are VERY difficult to photograph - they move too quickly. Try it with a wide aperture, and wow…
Lots and lots of baby girls right now. It’s amazing to me how different every baby is. They each have a different personality and when working with them, you can always tell what their “comfortable” positions are. You can’t always plan the session out… It has to just happen…
It hasn’t been just babies, although I will warn, I have plenty more babies to show after this one ;) We’re starting to have some older kids trickle in for spring/summer shoots, so that will be coming up soon. In the meantime, here is a gorgeous 5-month-old girl!
Go get your June 1, 2009 copy of People Magazine. Thank you Tracey, for bringing this over to me, I had no idea it was out! Again, more images that I shot during the Similac shoot - another ad, love it!
And because I’ve received a lot of questions regarding which one - it’s the June 1, 2009 edition…
I hope you don’t mind, I’m going to share a few snapshots of Erynn over the years.
Today is Erynn’s 10th birthday. My baby is 10! It’s so hard to believe! My sweet girl…. I remember when I first held her in the hospital, how she stared up at her Daddy… he said to me… “Why is she staring at me like that…” and she did… she looked deep into his eyes… I think it was some alien connection they have… lol! Dean and Erynn have the most incredible quick-witted brains… I marvel all the time over the thought patterns that they have. They are just not normal…. and right then, on May 21st, 1999 was probably Erynn trying to connect with her Daddy!
As her personality started to emerge, we knew we had quite an interesting character on our hands… so expressive…
and imaginative beyond words!
she was always so sure of herself…
but would wrap us around her finger easily…
and yes, we know… that HAIR!!!!
and sweet innocent face…
can always make her brother laugh….
an all around lovely spirit…
can always steal the show…
and her heart is with her animals…
My sweet girl… 10!!!!!!
When I teach other photographers how to work with babies, I am always asked “What if they stay awake for the whole shoot? What if they won’t go to sleep?” This happens quite often actually - if they are awake, by all means, shoot, shoot, and shoot! You can’t miss the wide-eyed awake shots! This beauty was obviously very wide eyed and awake!
A reminder for those with older children - we are currently booking and shooting older babies, toddlers, children, and teens! This is a BEAUTIFUL time of year, don’t miss out!
I’m running out of titles for these blog posts - newborns, babies, babies, newborns ;) This baby was so sweet and calm the entire portrait session, loved her!
As some of you know, I was teaching mini-workshops for 2009, which filled up very quickly. At this time, there are no more 2009 dates left officially; however, we do have a wait list. I haven’t decided at one point I will be able to schedule more, but it probably won’t be this summer, as this summer is going to be spent with my family. If you wish to be placed on a wait list for THIS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP, please email me at theblackhorsestudio@verizon.net
In the meantime - check out this adorable little face
I had already placed these on my regular website, but thought I would share here as well. I have another twin shoot coming up shortly 
Had to leave these baby images in color… she’s so very precious!
If you don’t know, I did a shoot for Similac Infant Formula’s new ad campaign which has finally appeared for the first time in newspapers across the US - go check it out!
Thanks again to our four models - this is Daniel, the first to appear in the ad campaign — will let you know when I see more pop up. Thanks to Daniel’s mom for calling me and letting me know she spotted the first one! ;)
Will add some more client pictures soon, just been so incredibly busy - Spring and Fall are always the busiest times of year for portraits! In our spare time, my daughter has been working hard getting ready for a few horse shows… just had to share - this is her first year English riding. She’s actually planning on doing at least one jumping show this year - can’t wait! ;) We’re still not positive what we are going to do with her horse’s mane. Like Erynn’s own “mane”, it’s incredibly long, but we don’t want to cut it. This French braid is too loose - must practice getting it tighter.
