Christiana Childers Photography Blog

Before my sister reads this and starts to cry again because she couldn’t be there, this is for her – COLD.  It was really really cold.  OK, Muggs – earmuffs… but we had a really good time together.  Here are a few photos from the trip -

Our brilliant friends the Judys let us borrow their wicked cool old trailer.  The Beatties let us borrow their car to tow it in.  We do have the best friends, do we not?!  I loved having the trailer so much.  I could happily live in there….if I didn’t have such slovenly roommates! 

Does my daughter not have thee most impressive bedhead?

My parents have a 1960s VW camper van.  It’s really cool.  I wish I would have gotten some better photos of it.  You can see a bit of through the trees above.

I take offense to this bag of candy -

As I mentioned above, it was really cold.  Sadly, I did not venture to the beach much because of that.  It’s a bummer because I love the beach!  But the wind was blowing so hard.  It made really interesting sand patterns though!  I don’t know why this is but I can’t look at this image very long.  It gives me the heebies.  Anyone else with me?

And the requisite cousin shot…  I took a lot of photos of the kids and this one was the best.  Less than half of them are looking at the camera!  I guess they are at least mostly smiling…except my daughter

One last one of Blue who had the time of his young life!

Cute ‘er what?!

I’ve been over and over how to introduce this family to you.  My words don’t have the depth of meaning that I want them to carry as you look at these photos.  All I can say is that they are my favorites.  I can’t imagine my life, my day, without this family.  I do love them so.

Now a little back story on the actual session.  We stopped in Leavenworth on our way back home from a weekend in Chelan.  Whatever you might think about Leavenworth, if you bring with you someone from Switzerland…well, then…it turns embarrassing.  It might be fun and kitschy go and buy taffy and pretend to be in the Alps when you are with other Americans who understand that we tend to fabricate charm because we don’t have the years behind us to make charm on it’s own but to bring someone who lives by the actual Alps…you get my point, right?   Also the piped yodeling/accordion music made me want to step in front of a bus!  So C’s boyfriend is from Switzerland and was with us for the trip. I got some great photos of C and M while there.  Knowing the back story, this one is pretty funny, don’t you think? -

Here are a few more.  It was hard to pick just a few!

Aww!  You kill me, you two!

After the session we went to this amazing Mexican food place called South…in Leavenworth…next to the Australian shop…Anyone getting this?!  Anyway, this place was so yummy.  I’d even brave the yodeling to go back.  And they give the kids those little wax sticks to play with while you wait for you food.

This weekend we took a little trip down to Portland to visit my cousin Ruthie.  Isn’t she the cutest?!We had a big time.  Portland is too cool!  Here’s a sampling from the weekend -

Also Ruth taught me a new way to dye eggs and you know how much I love eggs!  Here are some photos of the process -

First you peel some onion skins off of purple and yellow onions and then soak them in water.  We also did purple cabbage but it didn’t work too well so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Then you wrap the egg in skins -

You then roll up the eggs in some clean scrap cloth.

Bind the whole thing up in rubber bands and boil like you would hard boiled eggs-

And the result! -

Cool, huh?!

I love Summer.  I really really do.  So all the rain gets to me after a while.  It’s about now that I daydream of going to Hawaii, Mexico, Palm Springs…you get the picture.  But alas, it is not in the cards this year.  The next best thing, I’ve found, is to go through my photos from the previous summer.  It actually works!  It reminds me that it’ll be warm again – even HOT!  Yes!  So here are a few that made me feel warm.  Hope they make you feel that way as well – Have faith, my friend.    It will be warm again!

I apologize for my lack of posts lately.  I’ve been working on a bunch of cool projects!  More on them soon!!

Oh!  And one more thing – one of my favorite things to do is to talk books!  Mamabloo has her top ten list up and then people are adding to the list in the comments.  So fun to see what people’s faves are!

Ben surprised me for my birthday with a trip to NYC!  I’ve been dying to go ever since my cousin,  Sweet Miriam (of a Mississippi Wedding post) moved there. We had a fabulous time!  We’re big foodies so we made that a big focus but it was just so great to be there on so many levels besides just the food…the glorious food!  We went with our long time friends Scott and Mary (of the Apple Press post!). Mary goes to NY several times a year on business so between Mir and Mare we felt like we weren’t tourists but living in city which is how I love to visit a city!  Here are some shots from our trip -

Scott and Mary.  Isn’t that cool with the train going by in the background.  Love it!

I like to do little hip-shots sometimes.  Occasionally I’m surprised at the result.  I thought this one was kind of cool.

I didn’t Photoshop the “Ring Bell” in there but doesn’t look like it?

I’ve always wanted to do one of those shots with a slow shutter speed of Grand Central.  Ben and I got off the train there so I could do that!  Isn’t my husband patient?!

Ben took this of me and Mir in Brooklyn!

I wish I could tell and show you much more because this barely scratches the surface but I’m afraid this post would be just miles too long.  Sigh.  It was a big time in the Big Apple!

Lora told me about an idea she had for a post before we left for vacation to Texas. The idea was basically the title of this post – How do you use photos to document an event/experience such as a vacation.  I’m just going to take a piece of our vacation to show you how I go about it.  (P.S.  Johnson Family – too many to make a post out of but don’t worry, they’re coming!)

First – I take a ton of photos.  I have my camera with me at all times.  Seriously.  And I never stop shooting.  When you start getting into the habit of doing this it is impossible to stop.  For me, when I’m having a great time, this is my way of freezing that feeling or moment for me to savor again later.

Second – Never waste good light.  Photography is so much about controlling light.  Sometimes the fun moments and memories don’t happen in beautiful light so you have to roll with it. But as soon as the light gets that buttery pre-evening glow, my camera is out no matter what is going on.

Third – Look for details.  I usually find some fun details that help me freeze in time whatever I’m experiencing.  These are close up shots usually at a wide open aperture (2.8 is what I have been using).  These shots usually end up being my favorites!

Break for back story on this post’s shots – We’ve had so much fun catching up with old friends that we havent seen for so long. Since kids and then moving to Ireland, we just haven’t been coming to TX for nearly a decade!  If I wrote about all the different experiences/people this post would be way too long so I’m going to pick our visit with Greg and Lalise who have ….hmmmm….what do you call it?  Vacation home? No.  Although that is essentially how they use it.  Studio is a little closer.  Maybe a combo of the two.  They bought an old Coke-a-Cola bottling company/warehouse and have remodeled (that isn’t even a good word to describe what they’ve done) into a super cool space.  Good thing I have pictures because my words aren’t helping me here…..

The above photo is taken from the courtyard looking into the studio.  These shots are taken just after the sun has set so there is a bit of color still in the sky but the interior seems to kind of glow with light.  (Also my favorite time of night to drive around and look at houses for the same reason – interiors just look so appealing to me!) The below shot is looking from the studio into the courtyard type area.

This is the guest quarters!  How cool is that?!

They have a horse trough on what used to be the loading dock that they use for a pool.

Greg and Sadie – super sweet dog….we think Greg is sweet too…

R stole Greg’s hat -

Here is an example of a detail shot.  Love the colors in this one.

Now I can’t stop daydreaming about converted garages and Airstreams…

My husband was singing that particular Christmas song to be funny as we pulled into our driveway from our weekend in the San Juan Islands.  But Summer to me IS the most wonderful time of the year.  I just love being outside and not being cold and wet.  Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend.

Does that say Summer or what!

Check out this view!

Don’t you just want to climb in and sit by the fire?!  Hi Ed and Alice!

The perfect roasted marshmellows…

And the S’mores -

Ah, Summer.  What’s not to love?

Palm trees make me happy.  I mean, how can they not!  It usually means I’m on vacation somewhere warm which is true for this photo but the tree it’s self makes me laugh with it’s tall pole of a trunk and then an Animal (from the Muppets) looking do on the top. 

Good news for all you Northwesterners – the sun still exists and it is lovely. That was the word for my weekend with friends in Palm Springs, btw - lovely.