We didn't like each other when we met in high school, I swear. After a few different incidents, we became best friends and the rest, as they say, is history! Fast forward a lot of years, we both have families now and she lives far away. Of course we had to do a family session when she was here for a visit! Obviously, her family is beautiful!
SO I just realized this afternoon that I forgot to post Max's picture from last week! It was sitting on my computer just waiting to show off his cute little self in his model pose :) Sorry for the delay friends...he's almost 3 months old already!
1. It's official, I am insane. I accepted an offer to teach Photo 1 at Delaware Tech, class starts today and I cannot wait! I am insane only because I decided to take on another resposibility....but if you know me at all, this is the kind of thing I could giggle and squeal about I am so excited to teach!
2. There are still lots of mini-session spots so grab yours today! Don't miss this opportunity to update those family photos or grab that Christmas card shot for a fraction of the price!
3. I have had two weddings in the last two weekends -both gorgeous events but lots of editing to do! Hopefully will be blogging them soon for your viewing pleasure! One wedding even had a surprise appearance by YOUDee, the awesome blue hen mascot from UD! Go hens! Fun times!
4. Made it through walmart with all 3 kids again today...only lasted about 20 minutes but that's all I needed!
5. Did i tell you all that I totally went through with it? Cut off the hair! I have a "robert" - a long bob....haha get it? If you didn't get it...don't worry, I didn't get the joke right away either but now I can't stop laughing about it!
Happy Monday! Gotta' go get ready for class!
Mini Session Fee $100
Includes 20 minute session at location & at least 10 – 15 hi res images on disc
- Up to 4 people, $10 each additional person
- This is just a short session to get that family or kids shot for the fall & holidays
-No admission fees but I am pretty sure your kids will want ice cream :)
Use Contact Page above or email Emily directly to schedule your shoot! emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com
"I was too in love with the strawberries to notice the ring, but then I did! I gasped. I cried. Mike proposed! I cried. I said yes! Neighbors clapped! We’re engaged! We’re gettting mmaarrrrrriieedd! And THAT, tumblr, is our engagement in 34 words." I love my little cousin :) This was her description of her recent engagement.
I could not be happier for her and Mike! They are planning on tying the knot next May and of course, I love me a good excuse for a photo shoot! Although this photo shoot seemed a little doomed...the first day we had it scheduled, the heat index was up over 110 degrees and no one is going for a "greasy, sweaty" look in their engagement photos. We rescheduled it for the next week and within the time we planned the photo shoot - the weather channel called for "high winds and deadly lightning in this zip code." Um...postpone again?!
Well another week later we got a gorgeous Friday evening with a cool breeze and low humidity - thank you Jesus! I believe all that waiting was definitely worth it and yes...our location was an amazing old church with a cool grave yard. Lex and Mike are the perfect pair to just go along with my crazy ideas and were game for the engagement shoot in a graveyard. Combine the cool aesthetics, the pretty weather, yummy sunset light, and this great couple ..match made in heaven! We joked that the graveyard thing was a good set up for "'til death do us part..."
Can't wait for May 2012!
First thanks to my wonderful designer hubby who gave my homepage a MUCH needed facelift over the weekend! Hopefully you enjoy the look of the new slideshow! Now time to confess..
1. I came to the realization at a wedding this weekend that I am super bad at eating chicken off the bone. I just don't exactly know what to do with it. I think of guys like my Grandpa who could eat a peice of fried chicken down to a bare bone...just don't have that talent!
2. My mom & stepdad went to a Journey concert this past Saturday in Jersey. Everything about that makes me smile...told my mom on her way out the door that her hair just wasn't big enough for that venue :) Don't Stop Believin'!
3. "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." - I got to see "The Help" last week on opening night thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law. It was such a great movie in my opinion, not just because it stuck fairly close to the book, but because it made me consider so many things about human life. It's a great story of love, loss, injustice and American history!
4. Our fifth wedding anniversary was on Friday. My sweet hubby surprised me with a wonderful gift of a spa day in the near future! I really can't wait! We also went to a lovely dinner at Cafe Gelato. It was such a nice night we even dined outside! Not only was it delicious, but we enjoyed the luxury of eating a hot meal and not having to get up once to help a little person! We also drove around with the Jeep top down like the old days when we were dating...good times
5. I am getting a haircut on Thursday and I really cannot wait. I am thinking about changing it up a little! My hair has gotten so long and I have no time to do anything to it...need a change!
6. I am ready for fall weather! Will be working on setting up a mini-session schedule so keep an eye out!
7. I hate trying to lose weight and have been struggling with it. It feels impossible to get any time to myself to even attempt working out and I am not sure that I can run with a triple stroller...need to figure this out and keep moving forward.
8. My mini-van is just flat out scary inside. To all the other moms out there who swore you would never have a scary mini-van...I am with ya!
9. I need to start seeing my chiropractor again - I feel all out of alignment!
10. Here's a sneak peek from a session this past week...my best friend and her family were in town this week all the way from Texas...so of course we had to squeeze in a session!
Have a great week everyone!
Well week 9 was a fail in the weekly photo department, life is hectic but we didn't want to dissapoint this week!
Good morning from Maxwell!
Enjoy your Wednesday!
I feel the need to do a little clarifying after what I wrote earlier. Do I know everything about photography? Certainly not. Do I have lots to learn? Absolutely. Are there areas I can improve? Always.
Am I trying to discourage budding photographers? Not at all!! We all do need to start somewhere and I am sure you would die laughing if you saw even some of my college projects. If you have a creative desire and enjoy photography - by all means enjoy it! I was speaking more in terms of people who like to call themselves professional and then fail to provide a product. For example, I have a friend who just celebrated her third wedding anniversary without ever receiving the photos or albums she paid for on her wedding day. That's a crime right?! I have another friend who a similar thing happened where the "fauxtographer" just sent them the disc of untouched images and never did the album that they paid for. I don't think that this is acceptable from someone calling themselves a professional!
An actual favorite story of mine is the guy who licked my friends wedding cake...I will tell this story in full detail someday but I made a huge mental note never to be a "professional" like him.
To all you readers out there who love to take pictures...keep shooting! There's room for everyone!
Have a good night...
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!
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!
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?!
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....
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!
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!
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!
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...
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!
The big boy grows over night I swear! Here's week 7 for your enjoyment :)
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!
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!