GIrl on slide

GIrl on slide, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is a picture of another one of my old neighbors. I absolutely love her wild hair and her expression in this photo. I snapped this at just the right moment as she came down the slide. Adorable!!!

Day at the Park

Neighbor, originally uploaded by lmentler.

I took this picture back in the fall before my neighbors moved out of Fresno. This was their oldest daughter and as you can see - she wasn't camera shy! Her sweet personality is reflected in this photo! She and her sister had a great time in the park that morning. I'll post my favorite picture of her sister next time...

Baby Boy 2, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is another picture that I took of my friend's newborn. What a sweetie! I thought I needed to add some color to my blog again! I've been posting so many B&W photos lately!

Baby Boy, originally uploaded by lmentler.

Besides my own son, this was my first attempt to take some photos of a newborn. He was only about 1 week old when I took this photo. I didn't get to try too many poses as my 20-month old was running around with this baby's big brother (a toddler as well!). I have to say, though, that I am very pleased with how this photo turned out. It's amazing how expressive such a new baby can be!

Niece, originally uploaded by lmentler.

My niece was more than cooperative when I was taking pictures of her last fall. I took a number of photos of her where she is looking right at the camera and striking a pose! I chose to post this one because it is one of my favorites. I love the sweet look on her face and that her chin is just barely on her shoulder. I tend to prefer black & white photos of people because I feel like they are more classic looking.

**As a side note, I haven't posted in a few weeks as we were out of town looking for a new home. I am happy to say that we found one! We will moving to Cary, NC in March.

Mother/Daughter Bond, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is one of my oldest and dearest friends with her daughter. The beauty of their relationship shines through in this picture - that's why I love it so much.

What's Important

What's Important, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is the photo that really got me thinking about professional photography. I submitted this for my second homework assignment for Ken McCoy's photography class at Fresno Adult School. He was very impressed and said that it was a great stock photo. I haven't tried to sell it or anything, I just love this pic. The assignment was to photograph something important to you ... I think that the picture speaks for itself.

Sweetie Pie

Sweetie Pie, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is a picture I took of my youngest niece back in November. I am drawn to her eyes in this picture and I feel like she is looking right at me. I like to get close to my subjects so that they fill the frame and I don't always like my subjects to be centered in the frame.

I am very excited because I will be taking some newborn shots soon. My friend is due with her son very soon!

Yummy!

Brandon's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This was taken right before Brandon's first birthday. It was the first time that I actually practiced my photography on anyone besides my family. He had so much fun with that cake. It was everywhere!

In Memory

Total Boy, originally uploaded by lmentler.

Brandon Everett Beatty
Sept. 2, 2005 - Dec. 26, 2006

I was sitting here for the longest time trying to find the best thing to write. Brandon was a very special, amazing little boy. He had the most beautiful blue eyes and was such a bundle of energy. I feel so lucky to have been able to see him so often and spend so much time with him and his mommy. He was my son's best friend.
Sebastian looked at this picture of Brandon on the monitor this afternoon and said three words, "Dindin" (meaning Brandon), he paused and then said "fwriend", and finally "bubbles". I don't know how he remembers the day this was taken in October when they were playing with the bubbles. Or maybe he just remembers that Brandon loved bubbles. I don't know.
I do know that we loved him very much, we miss him everyday and I will always remember and cherish the times that I spent with him and his family.

Siblings, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This is a picture that I took of my nieces and my nephew back in November. I like how their personalities are reflected in this photo. I hope that my son will someday be great friends with his cousins.

Merry Christmas, originally uploaded by lmentler.

I shot this photo last Thursday for a friend of a friend. She actually paid me. It made me a little nervous because I felt a little more pressure, but I was very pleased with the results (and so was she!)
I took this photo in their living room in front of their own Chrsitmas tree. I love how you can see the bench and I just think they both look so sweet here.

Sweet Baby Girl

Sweet Baby Girl, originally uploaded by lmentler.

This sweetie pie is in my son's playgroup. I snapped this photo in October when we all met at the pumpkin patch at Cobb's Ranch. She was enjoying all the animals that they had there. All the kids loved it there. I used this photo to "show off" for my last homework assignment for a photography class I took with Ken McCoy here in Fresno, CA.

Smile!, originally uploaded by lmentler.

Two year olds can be difficult to work with (not just with getting their photo!). This little girl did not especially want to get her picture taken with her sister. She wanted to do what she wanted to do and at this particular moment - that was lying on the floor.

Little Santa

Little Santa, originally uploaded by lmentler.

Here is my sweet little Santa! He would only keep the hat on for so long that morning, but I was diligent in my pursuit of this photo. I only wish I had taken this before I ordered our holiday cards!!

Girl with the Look, originally uploaded by lmentler.

I love this picture of my great friend's daughter. She was very excited to have her picture taken. She gave me a number of poses and dazzling smiles, but this photo is more classic. The way she just looked up without thinking about the camera. When I look at this picture, I am drawn to her eyes immediately. The innocence of a child captured in a split second. 1/80 of a second to be precise! ;)

Young Tom Sawyer

Little one, originally uploaded by lmentler.

I am fortunate to have friends that let me practice my photography on their children. This is my son's best friend. I loved the way that he was exploring near the fence. I followed him and hoped that he would glance in my direction. The overalls, the whitewashed fence ... I can't help but think - Tom Sawyer.

My Boy

My Boy, originally uploaded by lmentler.

My son playing in the backyard on a beautiful fall day.

I have always had an interest in photography. My father was a photographer and my husband dabbles in photography as a hobby. I have had a camera since as far back as I can remember and I have always relied on my pictures to remind me of important moments and events in my life. Since my son was born, I have taken numerous pictures of him and his little friends. I have been developing myself in the area of children's photography-trying to capture their essence, not always a smile. My friends and family have given me great feedback on pictures that I have taken of my son and of their children as well.

My name is Laura. I am excited to use this blog to show some of my photos. I am an aspiring children's photographer.