Monday Confessions and a sneak peek!

First of all, I have gotten a lot of really generous feedback from the session with Jenny & Tyler. That session also drew the most amount of page views I have had since forming this website! I thank you to all of you who are participating in my work via the interwebs (smile).

I do feel like I challenge myself every time I go to a shoot. I think that the work you are seeing is a wonderful collection of love for my work, love for my location (my favorite running trail in a DE Park) and love for the people I am capturing. When all these things come together, the work is a bit more inspired. Jenny wrote me to say, "these are easily the most amazing and beautiful pictures anyone has ever taken of us." What a humbling and wonderful statement to hear because I know that they have worked with many talented people in their day. These are the moments though that keep me pressing forward in a world of "fauxtographers" - I remember who I am, where I came from, and why I do what I do. 

Which leads me to confessions...

1. A "fauxtographer" is someone who thinks a camera makes them a professional photographer...this is definitely not the case. This statement comes from a place of humility, I didn't just arrive here with a camera and think I could make a business. I have been photographing my entire life and do indeed hold a degree from a university in Fine Arts. Does this make me better? Certainly not, but it does mean that my career has been a long journey of learning and hard work. I didn't just pick up a camera, start charging people for sub-par photos, and call myself a professional. 

2. Sorry that last confession was heavy...so I confess this is something that has really been bothering me if you can't tell. Telling someone that "wow your camera must take nice pictures" is like telling a chef "wow your oven must cook really good food." (I am paraphrasing that quote from someone else).

3. I took my kids to chick fila today to play in the fun yet filthy playplace. When you are a kid you never think of dirt or germs but when you are a mom it's hard to ignore! We had fun though and of course purelled ourselves down before we ate :)

4. I just took a 15 minute break to read on my deck, Mockingjay , the third book in the hunger games trilogy. I am growing a little weary of the series only because it's such a different genre than I usually read but I am ready to know how it all ends!

5. I didn't run once last week and I am such a fail on my diet...good news? Still down a pound from last week. Need to get back on that horse!

Here's a sneak peek at a gorgeous engagement session from the weekend...and yes, I did an engagement session in an old church graveyard. It was too rad of a place to ignore and the early evening light is divine there!

 

Jenny & Tyler: Fourth Anniversary

The idea for this shoot sprung from me thinking about all the couples I have had the privilege to photograph on their wedding day. I started thinking it was high time for some anniversary shoots from brides and grooms of years passed. Jenny & Tyler came to mind as a couple who just celebrated their fourth anniversary and I knew that they were coming in to town. They hail from Nashville, TN now as they pursue their careers in music. They are great if you don't already know this, check them out - jennyandtylermusic.com). They are also people I consider dear friends, which is all the perfect combination for a fabulous shoot. We chose a day, time and location for when they would be passing through town but didn't account for the fact that it would be about 110 degrees in the shade! They were such good sports and didn't even pretend to be grossed out as sweat streamed down my face and onto my camera...awesome...professional..I know :) Lets just say I didn't object when it was time to follow them into the creek!

Enough from me, I really believe that these images speak for themselves and word on the street is that some of my work might appear in their next album cover, so keep an eye out for these two wonderful and talented people!

Due to extreme heat and humidity I had some camera fog when we first got started but I went with it. I actually liked the result and kept these first couple images. 

 

Another interesting fact is that Jenny's dad makes mandolins and this particular one they brought along is one of her dad's beautiful creations. 

Such a beautiful lady!

The image on the right was literally the last frame of the session and I found it the perfect ending to a beautiful shoot!

These are a re-cap from the sneak peek!

Happy Friday friends!

Monday Confessions

1. I am late with Max's photo from Friday...will hopefully get to it today!

2. It certainly comes with the territory but I am dead tired...it was a weekend packed full! Went to a wedding, worked on a rental property of my dad's that is going for sale, met with realtor, church, swimming...and all with the 3 kids and Max is still up a couple times a night! I pretty much resemble the grumpy old troll from Dora the Explorer this morning :)

3. Had a dream that we put our dog DOzer up for adoption but whenever people wanted him (& there were lots of people in my dream that did want him, who wouldn't?!)...I had excuses not to give him up. Guess Doz is a secure part of the Troutman clan for now :)

4. I am putting the finishing touches on a wedding album for a client today, love getting to order beautiful albums for people to treasure their memories!

5. I am also working on the Jenny & Tyler blog post from last week's session. If you don't notice the trend..I have been working hard but am a little behind where I would like to be with all this!

6. I scored a fabulous selection of coffee K-Cups for my Keurig last week when I returned those impulse purchases to Marshalls...I know, I know, I didn't need to return stuff only to purchase something else but coffee falls into the necessity category, unlike fabulous leather booties! It's the yummy donut house collection you can find here, complete with flavors like chocolate glazed donut and cinnamon bun. It helps my diet to drink low-cal yumminess like this while dreaming of cinnamon buns and chocolate glazed donuts!

7. I only ran once last week, thank goodness each week is a new beginning :)

8. I have a fun engagement shoot set for this evening if weather cooperates!

9. The hubby has a birthday tomorrow! Where should we take him to dinner?!

10. We have our 5th anniversary in a couple weeks and the traditional 5th anniversary gift is something made of wood...hmm....not sure I will think of anything wood he would like unless I found a rad vintage surf board or something like that. Ideas friends?!

Jenny & Tyler - Sneak Peek

one word...swoon. I had an amazing session this past Sunday with old friends who happen to be wonderful people, musicians and husband & wife. Here is just a little preview of what will come later this week on the blog... Thank you Jenny & Tyler for being yourselves and making my job so much fun!

(Did I mention it was 100 + degrees and they didn't even bat an eyelash at that?! Meanwhile I was DEFINITELY sweatin' like an iced tea in August, smelling like bug spray and generally looking more like I belonged at a Nascar rally than a photo shoot!) 

There will be more to this story when I post later....

Monday Confessions - the Tuesday Edition

Yesterday got away from me with all sorts of family business so I figured I would just confess today!

1. I have banana bread in my oven right now, not because I desire domestic goddess status, but because I had nasty ripe bananas! My kids will be glad for the yummy mid-morning snack though :)

2. I am on a diet and I don't really like to talk about it when I am on a diet because I am not really a nice person when I am hungry. I had small success though, 2 lbs last week, so I will continue slow and steady...hoping to lose 30 lbs by my 30th birthday in Feb.

3. My two-year old daughter woke up today with all sorts of drama and hysterics...right when I thought she was losing her mind, as all mothers of toddlers do, I checked her mouth for new teeth. To my surprise her two-year molars were poking through and no wonder the poor girl was a mess, Tylenol is our friend!

4. My two-year old daughter also owns her own Vera Bradley purses and regularly walks around with them with "treasure" inside...you know, like a toy baby bottle for her baby and a plastic cell phone :) Making mama proud!

5. I did some impulse shopping at Marshall's & Home Goods this past weekend, which led to some returns yesterday. I think I was a little too euphoric being out shopping alone with no agenda. One return item was these beautiful Franco Sarto Leather booties from the clearance rack, a little similar to these (Only the ones I bought were beautiful gray leather with cool silver zippers up the back). I mean really....where the heck did I think I was going to get to wear those things?! I am trying not to be a mom that has sacrificed all her style but usually practicality wins over fashion in the mommy world for me.

6. I started reading Hunger Games, and have to say that I am very intrigued. I usually don't do well with science fiction type stories (took me an entire chapter to realize the narrator wasn't a dude - Katniss is a girl my friends) but this one sucks you right and takes you for a ride! Will let you know how I like book one...

7. If you live in my area of DE you have probably heard that Borders Books & Music is going out of business. I have to say I snagged a few deals there over the weekend, both classy and trashy. I got myself a book that's the entire works of Jane Austen that I have admired for some time as the same time I purchased Lauren Conrad's LA Candy novel off the bargain rack. Hey...I can be deep and shallow at the same time right?!

8. I am not a nice person in the middle of the night...love Max but can't wait for him to sleep at least a 6-hour stretch...

9. We took the kids to Toys R Us on Friday night to let them pick out toys with their birthday gift cards. What did we come home with? Dean chose a super cool Buzz Lightyear and constantly says "my Buzz" now. Macy picked her first Barbie! She chose a beach Barbie and Ken with a hot pink Jeep. She called the Ken doll "Dada" yesterday because he has the same crazy shoes as daddy and quite the luscious locks for a doll :)

10. I was disturbed by a commercial for "Kidzbop" which is today's current songs sung by kids for kids. I saw Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song" and got super concerned that kids shouldn't be singing about sticking their hands down their pants, so I curiously checked it out on itunes to investigate. Fortunately our culture hasn't gone to complete junk, they changed a few words...before I am too quick to judge I had to laugh that as I played the version of Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" M & D started busting out their dance moves... other parents, what do you think about this type of thing?! Is it OK to take adult things and make them "for kids?"

Whew! Guess I had a lot to get out there today! I know it's Tuesday but it feels a little like Monday to me, here's to hoping we survive it at our house :) Ta-ta for now friends!

Max Week 8

Can this kid really be two months already?! Well he's about the size of a 6 month old I think :) We love him andh he is now cooing and smiling for us regularly! Since there's been such a bad heatwave he put his rock star glasses on for you and is wearing a wife beater :)

Here's a more "normal" shot :)

Have a great week and confessions may or may not come later today...we shall see what type of hand life deals me this afternoon!

The Haines family summer portraits

Gotta' love a warm summer afternoon for a photo shoot! This beautiful family became our friends when they were our neighbors (we were just married and so were they, this was LBK, "life before kids.") Although they have moved, thankfully we have kept in touch and I was super excited to meet them for this session this past weekend. Their sweeties are almost 3 years and 7 months, so we have lots in common!  Both kids were great but Miss Payton especially loved my camera! Get ready for an epic post because I can't contain my excitement for these photos!

For photogs out there that are curious - these were all shot with a Canon 5D Mark II with the 50mm 1.2 lens...it's seriously like 'butta' when you use it correctly! Don't ever sell yourself short with your gear - it does make a difference! And not to sound uppity but there was absolutely no "eye sharpening" techniques in these images. Sometimes we photogs need these tools to adjust less than perfect images but some people go crazy with it. If your gear and skill can meet up to make a great "in camera" image - that's ideal!  

 

This is what I mean by a "straight out of camera" image - no retouching. 

Beautiful Family!

Sweet little Payton...sneak peek!

I had the pleasure of photographing friends and their beautiful family this past weekend. I am currently editing the images and am in love with sweet little Payton who is 7 months old! Here's a sneak peek...

Monday Confessions

Is it really Monday already?! Time to confess then I guess :)

1. I haven't had any running confessions since last week because I did something to my knee on the first run out and need to give it a little recovery time. I have been walking instead and I think that the stroller adds a little resistance...or at least that's what I am telling myself!

2. My hair hasn't seen a blow dryer in weeks! Thank goodness the "natural wavy look" and the front braid are in for the summer!

3. My best quick makeup tips for the summer are tinted moisturizer goes a long way and so does a little mascara! Not that a soul in the world has ever asked me for a makeup tip :)

4. I finished the book The Help, and truly loved it. Of course it's about a sad and difficult time in our nation's history but what I loved about it was the humanity it shared. I loved the bravery of Kathryn Stockett to try to write in the voice of both African Americans and Caucasians in such a challenging historical time. I can't imagine the challenge it would be to stay true to the vernacular but I thoroughly enjoyed it...things like "sweating like an iced tea in August" will stick with you :) Obviously the point of the book stuck with me more though, we are all just people trying to make a life for ourselves and be happy! Can't wait to check out the movie with some girlfriends!

5. I also finished reading Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. It was simple and yet very convicting about mothering small children. I am sure I will revisit it lots for reminders I need to love my little ones every day!

6. So friends, I have not yet touched the Hunger Games - is it a DO or a DON't?! Tell me if I should join the fun!

7. The twins broke my bathroom scale, aren't they sweet?!...I am attempting weight loss and should really have a scale in the house but for some reason I am dreading the reality of looking at one! I mean who wants to pay for that humiliation?!

8. We had our own family portraits taken this past weekend and I really can't wait to see them. A friend did them for us, Libby Portraits. It has been great to be on this side of the photo shoot and experiencing what my clients experience all the time!

9. Here's a conference I would LOVE to go to...any sugar daddies out there or friends that would even consider doing something like this with me with connections in MI? http://herconference.com/ I would love to hear from all the ladies but especially Amy Wenzel!

10. What's for dinner friends?? I am thinking of turkey burgers and pasta salad...we will see what the twins think of that!

Have a great week and there will be some photo sessions showing up later this week on the bloggity!

Max Week 7

The big boy grows over night I swear! Here's week 7 for your enjoyment :)

Summer Family Photo Session!

We got a beautiful summer evening for this particular family session. Matt & I know this family from our current church where Terry (the dad) is the associate pastor. His wonderful wife Libby is a fellow photographer and friend so we have been chatting for a while about setting up a session. I was super excited when it all came together but there's also a little extra pressure when photographing another photographer's family. Their kids are super sweet but the little 2yr old decided that she didn't want anything to do with me :) I have two 2yr olds of my own that don't want anything to do with me so I am used to it thankfully! We made the most of it and had a lot of fun capturing this sweet family. By the way, Terry and Libby just celebrated their 15th anniversary so congrats to them! It made for a perfect time to capture their family as they have been together 20 years and married for 15 with four beautiful children (And Libby - you definitely don't look like a mom of four kids - you go!). May we all be so blessed!

This is for all the photogs out there - even the best idea for a shot might not work out if you have an unwilling participant ;) We just went with it though and captured this family true to life!

Running Confessions

I do some of my best thinking either in the shower or running....I suspect it's because it's some of the rare moments I am alone to think. I went on my first run in 10 mos yesterday afternoon and I came to a few realizations that I thought might fit into the "confession" category of my life.

1. About one minute into my run I realized that I turn 30 in exactly 7 months! This was the perfect motivation to complete the entire two miles that I set out to run...it's one thing to get old but another entirely to "let yourself go."

2. Running motivation also came yesterday in the form of a nice new adidas running tank top to "hold it all in" - lets just say children and gravity have not been kind! Whatever works girls - if you need to bribe yourself to workout with a cute new workout outfit - do it!

3. I realized that my cardio condition is great, chasing two toddlers, constantly carrying things and running stairs have been good for it. What is not so great is my knees, shins and other bones/joints that are not a fan of all the extra weight I am carrying. I thought of the biggest loser contestants on their first workout and how they must feel....helped me to just keep going.

4. This is probably more of a comment on their standards and not my current appearance but I still got sideways glances from the trashmen, Artesian guy and the Clear Channel dude while running.... or maybe they were just scared of the way my thighs moved as I approached their passing vehicles?

5. Lets just say a little tan goes a LONG way...this definitely applies to the appearance of the aforementioned thighs! Tan helps!

6. When I have quiet moments I get to thinking about my Dad and how towards the end it winded him to even get up and walk across the room or to even try to talk to me on the phone. For those that don't know, he succumbed to lung failure in May due to many years of smoking. As I ran and felt the air push in and our of my healthy lungs I thought of him in better days when he used to be so active. I commit to continuing to run and take care of myself so that my kids won't be standing at my funeral (God willing) at the young age of 29 because I know what that felt like. I know smoking is terribly addictive and a hard life habit to change but if you are addicted please think of the years that you want to spend with your family and let that help you fight it!

7. Even the longest run can be tackled like life's most difficult challenges....simply put one foot in front of the other and pray it through when you need strength!

That's all for now friends but as I continue to get into running again I will probably have some more of these posts..the simple musings that run through my head while putting one foot in front of the other, hoping to drop some pounds, and gain some endurance!

Max Week 6

Max is a happy boy, growing every minute! Sometimes I swear his cheeks grow over night! I am a little late with this post but that's a theme with some things in my life right now, better late than never! We actually caught him sleeping for this one.

Monday Confession

1. I have a new dryer after two weeks! I have to thank my friend and neighbor, Steph, and my mother-in-law for the usage of their dryers to keep us going! We got a good deal on a brand new dryer but had to wait for delivery...I keep telling myself it's all good - if I was Amish I would have to wash it by hand and hang it out to dry! I am a fan of modern appliances :)

2. My hubs is the best, he's letting me go get a much needed pedicure tonight once kids go to bed!

3. I am glad to be back to work, so to speak. I never really felt "off" but I am back in the mostly full swing of things with photography. This week I will start posting photo sessions again!

4. I know I am behind on Max's weekly - working on that!

5. I am reading a very convicting book about being a mother with little ones called, Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. It comes from a biblical perspective but I believe it yields wisdom for everyone. So much about being a mother is our perspective and our own attitudes! We definitely don't want to hear that but it's very true.

6. My 2 yr old daughter locked me out today while I already had one kid in the car while it was running. She locked the glass storm door which we rarely lock. She was looking up at me with her big blue eyes somewhere between laughter and tears once she realized I was stuck on the outside looking in. Thankfully I had a way back in after unsucessfully trying to coach her how to unlock the door! SO I had to refer to the book I talked about in confession number 5...perspective and humility....I couldn't freak out but had to gently explain to her the error of her ways!

Ok friends..that's all for tonight!

Family Portraits are a definitely a "do"!

We all say it all the time (unless of course you are 5), "time is passing so quickly" or other comments like "where did this year go" or "when did the kids get so big?" I say things like this a lot and think that I hear my mom or Grandma's voice coming out of me! Well what better motivation do you need to take some time to do some family portraits? Here's a session from earlier this summer that I love because it's multi-generational. I LOVED it for that very reason and many others (because these do happen to be dear friends)! What a treasure it is for not only parents to capture their family in time but to include the grandparents as well makes it extra special. I know all these boys love their "Nana and Poppy" and someday they will look back at these photos to see this little slice of time. It's so precious to see families grow and change!  

The whole gang!

We did individual family groupings and I heart this idea with the name sign!

 

Giving love to the grandparents...

And I love this shot because Z is definitely a fun 4 year-old to know! I am pretty sure every time I have seen this kid he has had on these Toy Story boots. It's adorable and I am sure he will someday cringe when his mom shows him this picture and talks about how she couldn't get him to wear anything else...like I said people, lets not miss out on these moments! 

**As as not of business, Max is now 6 weeks old and I am "back to work" booking sessions again for all portraits and weddings. Please email me if you need more information or would like to book something soon, summer is filling up fast! emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com**

Maxwell Week 5 & Tuesday Confessions....

Hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July celebrating our United States of America! I am treating today like Monday because it feels like it to me!

Here's Max's week 5 photo from last week...time is passing quickly and his is growing so fast! He is much bigger at his age than the twins were. Max is blowing right through Dean's old wardrobe :)

A few confessions for this week...

1. I really need to get on the "get in shape plan" because I am now about to reach the 6 week post-baby mark. I realized I better start dropping some pounds or I will be stuck in maternity clothes forever...not cool! I am working through my envy of all you ladies out there that wear you own pre baby jeans after like 4 weeks and dont even look like you had a baby!

2. I decided I need to do some summer reading here and there for pleasure to keep my mind sharp. I am in the sleep deprived mama stage and reading is a good easy way to keep from feeling like my mind is total mush. I am still working through some parenting books but just finished up a novel, The Island by Elin Hildebrand . It was a good, quintessential summer read about a family and their relationships, set in beautiful Nantucket. If you are going on a trip or need something to read by the pool, it's perfect!

3. The next pleasure read is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I am only a few pages in and I am totally enjoying the southern vernacular! Nothing like "puttin' it like it is!" I know that they are making this into a movie that will be released shortly so this might be a 'read with your girlfriends and then go to the movie together' type read.

4. I am eating a leftover hot dog for lunch...so much for the dropping the pounds for now.

Enjoy your week everyone, that's all I have for the moment! And remember...it's Tuesday already :)

Max's Birth Announcements

Hey blog friends, hope your holiday weekend is off to a great start! Just thought I would share a digital version of Max's birth announcement. My designer hubby pulled it together but we have to give credit where credit is due on this one - I saw an announcement that I fell in love with by designer Jody Worthington on Minted.com & I couldn't get it out of my head. Using a close inspiration is touchy in the design/photo world - "copy cat syndrome" its called - but usually it's cool as long as you point back to the source of the inspiration. MY hubs is my favorite designer but I asked him to use her idea for inspiration for the announcement and add some touches to make it personal to Max. SO YES I JUST PUT IT ALL OUT THERE, the icons were not our original idea but we loved it and wanted to use it!! It is an original Emily Troutman photo when Max was one week old. 

Max One Month

Are you tired of the personal posts yet?! Sorry if you are...it's just the world I am living in right now with 3 kids under the age of two! I am lining up some fun sessions starting in July so will be back to business with some photo posting but for today I will share another personal post.

Max is already a month old! In a way it has gone very fast but in another way it feels like little Maxwell has always been here. He fits right into our crazy with his sweet, easy going self. It was (and sometimes is still) hard for me to imagine how I will effectively mother these 3 little people but each day I am given God's grace to do so. Max is such a great addition to our crazy bunch ;) Here's to being one month old and a little bit cuter (& larger) every week! As of last Friday Max was already weighing in at 11 lbs!

Today I love...

• Mango Peach Salsa
• Sleep! We are missing each other but I still love it :)
• Yo Gabba Gabba music rocking in my car...
• Sleeping Kids :)
• Quiet
• This awesome poster! 
• Paula Deen - the woman does not give a care in the world about a calorie..just cares that it's yummy!
• Ice Cream...mmmm
• Costo - bless you for having double seats on the front of your carts & free samples to snack on!
• My Mini Van - fo' real!!! Who doesn't love touch button doors, "in flight" movies, and room for all our crazy kids?!

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Max Week 3

So I have to be honest, can't wait for the intentional smiles from baby boy as opposed to the random stares I get right now at the camera :) Max is growing so fast, he was actually weighed today and he's already over 10lbs! Go Max! Here's his picture from week three! (He's reminding me a little of Austin Powers in this one :) Hope you are all enjoying your first day of summer!