The middle child syndrome...

OUR BEAUTIFUL MIDDLE CHILD

RYANN ESTHER 

There's is always such a negative connotation carried with the middle child, but just as with the "terrible" twos we as parents have refused this. With Isaac & Ryann both we did not let the idea of the 2-year-old year intimidate us, we set out to make it as Terrific as possible. Alas, that is a different subject for a different day. I was talking about the middle child "issue" before I rambled. Ryann is the middle child & the first girl. We had always wanted a third, but then the possibility began slipping away until the adoption of sweet Paisley-- which you all know that story by now. Ryann is already forging her own path as the middle child though & its's awesome to watch her go. At their young age she is definitely not the peace maker middle children are supposedly known for, if anything she is the instigator right now. On the other hand, she is often the most loving and kind-hearted of the three. Her strengths and weaknesses are one in the same, it all depends how she uses them. She is like a clone of me. I've learned over the years how to control my anger and use my mouth for good, but I hurt a lot of people in the process and often lashed out with words I instantly regretted. However, I am probably one of the most loyal friends you can have. I will stand by your side and fight for you until the bitter end. I will stand up to anyone for you and many times have no problem telling you how it is. I love my friends and family fiercely and will do anything for them. Ryann is the same way and I look forward to helping her learn to control her emotions and use them as a way to help others. She is already becoming such a strong girl for God, I cannot wait to see the woman she one day becomes. 

This past November Ryann celebrated for FOURTH birthday! I can't believe how fast the years have flown by already. She is so beautiful inside & out. She loves horses and playing outside, but at the same time she loves to wear dresses, play dress-up, and really play with anything girly she can get her hands on. Outside of her fiery emotions though she has a complete servant's heart. She loves to help me with Paisley, she does anything Isaac tells her to do and she loves to bring you food, tea, & set the dinner table. Asking her to help is always followed with a smile and no hesitation. Often when you ask a child to do something it comes with a sigh or a "why", but never from Ryann. She absolutely loves to serve. 

As you can tell from the pictures she has the greatest smile in the world, but she also loves to strike a pose whenever she gets the chance :) ! Ryann has been such a joy to watch grow. Unlike Isaac she was the sweetest baby. She slept all the time, only cried when she was hungry, and loved to be swaddled and cuddled. The only issue we had with her was acid re-flux  For the first 7-8M she vomited on me at least twice a day. I don't mean spit-up, I mean she covered me from head to toe. The washer was pretty much running all the time. You can ask my friends, she did it to quite a few of them too : / . But those days quickly flew by & suddenly she's off to preschool becoming little miss independent. 

 The whole point of this blog was of course to talk about Ry since I've covered the other two, but also for her birthday. This birthday was the first of what will probably be a few bittersweet ones. This year Daddy was deployed. As shown above with her DaddyDoll though Daddy was never far from our hearts and minds. Ryann had a Cinderella birthday party out at White Sands National Park. It turned out to be colder than expected and my lighter ran out of fluid. Despite the gliches though we had a blast. Daddy sent Ry a special birthday video to our IPad though so she got to hear him sing happy birthday even from the other side of the world. It was a sad moment, but I was so incredibly proud of how every kid handled him being gone. Ryann knew it had to be done & she had no anger problems at all. She missed her Daddy desperately, but loved to tell everyone how much he adored her. My heart is so full of joy knowing that Ryann has a Daddy that constantly tells her how much he adores her just as I did growing up. So very many families are hurting and broken in this world, but I have peace with the knowledge that ours is strong and together. Challenges and heartache will come and go, but we will always have each other in our hearts. 

 When I first learned I was pregnant with Ryann I was TERRIFIED! I really did not want a girl, I would have been perfectly happy only having boys. But man does God know what we need so much more than we think we do! Ryann completed my world more than I ever thought possible. She melted my heart the moment she entered the world and she will always hold a big piece to it. I never knew my heart could love so many, but each of my children have a special place. I often catch myself just looking over at Ryann either reading a book, playing with her girly toys, coloring, or building legos and just thank God for her. She is absolutely the cutest little girl in the world & I'm so blessed that she is mine. Esther could not have been a more perfect namesake for Ryann's middle name. She was beautiful in the eyes of all that met her, yet she was full of courage and obedience--just as my little Ry is. I am so privileged to be her mother & to watch the amazing woman I know she will become. 

#1

 The Firstborn

                                                          The most handsome boy ever, Isaac!

        Well, I know it has been FOREVER since I've blogged so I decided to start back up today. I already did a post on our newest addition, Paisley, but I just had to highlight my other 2 kiddos as well. I can't believe I can say that I have 3 kids!! Life sure has changed a lot in the last 7 years, but it has been an amazing ride. I say 7 years because that is when our adventure as a couple started. That's right Nate & I got married 7 years ago--crazy!! About a year & 1/2 later we welcomed our first born Isaac and man were we unprepared! So begins our exploration into Isaac...

        Isaac was the worst baby of all 3. He came screaming into the world at nearly 10 pounds! The delivery was chaotic from the moment I left the house. We left our house at 4AM in full labor. We bumped the wall backing out, then we were the last person accepted into the American hospital. I wanted to give birth naturally, but just couldn't hack it. Unfortunately the epidural didn't work on me, so I got to follow my birth plan anyway. Close to his arrival his heart rate dropped & the delivery room suddenly became overwhelmingly busy. I was tired & extremely anxious. It turns out the cord was wrapped around his neck so they had to use the vacuum to help get him out. After he arrived they whisked him away & it took a few minutes before he cried. He finally cried, it was the sweetest sound in the world, but it never stopped!!

       From day 1 he was colicky & could not be soothed most of the time. To top it off we were young, not ready, & had just moved to Italy--I could not have felt more alone. Parenting was definitely a trial by fire for us. There were times he was crying so hard I had to leave him in the crib, go out on the balcony & just sob my eyes out. Other times I had to load him in the car & drive around until he finally fell asleep. For the most part though I learned how to do every daily chore & activity with him strapped to the front of me. I didn't know if we'd ever make it out.

      Fortunately we did make it out alive. Around a year old he suddenly woke up and became the sweet, reserved boy that he is today. Looking back I would do it 100 times over to have the kid that he is. He is incredibly agile, smart, & handsome to boot!                

          The picture here is a perfect example of the boy that he has become. He loves to be outside climbing trees, but he is still a quiet, shy observer. Even around his own Mama he peeks out from behind the tree, not wanting me to embarrass him :).

            Despite his shyness though he still has a great sense of adventure (as seen above :) ). He thinks things through, but once he's weighed his options he usually jumps right in. This is great since Nate & I are both avid outdoors-men, he fits right in. He is exceptionally coordinated and has a gift for any sport or activity he tries. I cannot wait to see what he ends up choosing to do exclusively. He's already an incredible baseball player, he's great with a soccer ball, he's showing signs of BMX riding, & his balance is un-real! I'm pretty much letting him try anything until he decides what to stick with. I do want a soccer player in the family for selfish reasons of course, but I fully support each of my children pursuing their own course in life.

         Not only is he adventurous, but he has an awesome imagination as well. He loves to play superheroes, transformers, & whatever else comes to his little mind. I don't know when he made the transition, but it seems like overnight he went from a toddler to a kid! He uses "like" in every sentence the way a teenager does & he tells me the most extravagant stories. It is so fun hanging out with him!

       
         That is why today was so sad. It was such a huge milestone, but such a shock too. It really hit me last night getting everything ready that my days of spending all my time with him are now over. He is officially a kindergartner & will be in school for the next 13 years! He's suddenly like Daddy--I only get to see him nights & weekends! I know I get all summer with him & all the breaks, but this is my first one it's crazy!

 
        Finally, what makes Isaac so special though is the amazing big brother he has become. Not only is he athletic, kind, adventurous, & now a kindergartner, but he is a brother & a protector for our two sweet girls. Him & Ryann have their moments of fighting, but for the most part they love to play together & both girls already worship him. Isaac stands up for Ryann when other kids are mean to her & he gives her her way so often when they are playing at home. He is such a great example to her & I know he will continue to be so as he grows. We were worried how they would react bringing in a new baby that wasn't from my belly, but they both bonded to her instantly like it was always meant to be. Isaac & Paisley already have an incredible bond that just blows me away. He helps me feed her, he plays with her when I need a break, & he comforts her when she is fussing in the car so that she doesn't distract me.

      I know now that Isaac was & is the perfect first born. Despite how hard he was as a baby every moment with him has been a precious gift from God. The name Isaac means "he who laughs" which I thought was a cruel joke when he was born, but it now fits him perfectly. He fills our house with so much love & laughter & he's always keeping us on our toes! Happy first day of Kindergarten Isaac--we love you! And, I love photographing him! He clearly gets his good looks from my super sexy husband! See below :)

                                                               2 peas in a pod :)   My handsome guys!

**All photos property of MaggieLouPhotography** To view all my work visit my FB fan page

Adoption journey

Well, it's time for another post. I've been anxiously anticipating this post. The photos in this post were actually taken at the beginning of February, but due to the sensitivity of the situation I had to withhold posting them. But, the day has finally come. Many of you that follow me on FB have asked for the whole story, so I thought I'd share most of it on here. Only our closest friends & family know every detail, but for the most part I can share our journey on here. 

To begin this journey I must first introduce you to the main character, Ms. Paisley Ruth. She was born January 30, 2012. It was one of the best days of our lives, besides the birth of our other 2 children. This was a unique birth though since I didn't personally go through it. That's right, we adopted Paisley. And, without further ado, here she is, our beautiful #3! 

This was her laying with me at the hospital the day she was born. If you can tell she is a tad orange because she did have some jaundice due to her low birth weight. She weighed in at a whopping 5lbs. 5.8 oz. :) I guess whopping may be the wrong word haha! It was such an amazing experience being on the other end of the birthing process. Kind of a relief actually! I was worried about the whole bonding thing, but as soon as she entered the world I knew she was meant to be mine & I have loved her as such every minute since then. 

It was a wild, exciting, & exhausting journey adopting this sweet little one, but in the end it has been worth every second of stress, heartache, & joy as well. It cost more than we could have ever imagined, but we trusted God the whole way. First, another picture of this beauty before the story really begins. 

Okay, so the journey began back in September of 2011 for us when we were presented with the opportunity to adopt. The birth mother was struggling and she knew she would not be able to care for Paisley. After only minutes of consideration my husband & I knew what our answer would be. We have always preached the pro-life message, but now we had to actually put actions to our words! What choice did we have?!?! But, overall it was an easy decision. We have been blessed with 2 of our own children, but we knew this was the right path to go to have the third child we always wanted. I had always wanted to adopt, but my husband had never really considered it. When it came time to do this though he jumped in 100% and has already been an amazing father to Paisley. Despite his reservations he lead this family through the whole process and was my rock during times of stress & worry. I knew God had something amazing in store for us when I married Nate, but I had no idea that this was what it was going to be.

Look at Daddy go! 

The journey has not been without it's struggles though. Many people doubted it would happen for us & at times we even doubted that it would all work out, but what a test of faith it was. We had to continually remind ourselves that this was the path God put us on & He would reward us for following. And, that He did! One of the most amazing parts of this journey was watching our friends that God put on this journey as well. What felt like such a lonely journey at times was actually full of fellow passengers. As we followed the path we watched as God worked in others as well. We had friends praying for us constantly from all around the world, encouraging & supporting us every step of the way. Multiple friends gifted us financially without us even asking and without thought of being re-payed, simply because God had called them to be a part of this as well. Strangers payed for our hotel when we went for the birth, supervisors gave my husband basically unlimited time off to get everything situated before coming back, and friends left frozen meals in my freezer for me to return home to so I wouldn't have to worry about cooking for days. And, of course our family provided us with a place to stay and food to eat for almost a month. 

I'm ashamed to say that at many times I doubted God throughout the process. I spent nights lying awake crying my eyes out wondering if it would really happen. But, despite my weakness in my faith He still came through. When God wants something done, it happens despite our fears, but the reward is much more fulfilling when received in faith. 

These precious little feet say it all. God had a plan for this sweet little life that was going to happen regardless of my own ups & downs. 

Speaking of ups & downs, that's life isn't it?? I should give the back story for those of you that don't know it. We've all heard the verse that God works for the good of those who love Him, but at times we can't see what that good is. When we first moved to NM back in 2010 we had our hearts set on not staying here long at all. My husband wanted to re-train into SERE for the Air Force which would move us to Washington state. After months of waiting to get his flying class/medical clearance he was denied due to his bad hearing. He tried & tried, but it just wasn't going to happen for us. He was heartbroken & I was crushed. There is nothing worse than seeing your husband broken & disappointed. This was soon followed by a diagnosis of endometriosis in me. I had surgery to have some of it cauterized & we began trying for child #3. We found out in January of 2011 that we were finally pregnant again. It was so exciting for us & felt like such a huge relief after the disappointment of 2010. However, it wasn't meant to be. A couple of months later I suffered a miscarriage. It was harder to handle than I ever thought it would be. So, 2011 wasn't shaping up to be much better. We pressed on though & kept trying again, but it wasn't happening for us. I finally made peace with our situation--we would be in NM for a while & I would be content with the 2 amazing children I already had, then it happened, & now you know the rest. God really does work for our good, but sometimes it takes years of heartache to learn what that good really is. Some suffer far more than this & I can only imagine the kind of faith they have to have to push through, but God gives us what we can each handle & He also puts us all on different journeys because we are all uniquely different. 

Many battles have been won in this journey, but the war is far from over. We still have months until it is completely finalized & then years of learning how to parent an adopted child equally, but still differently. She will have many struggles herself, but hopefully we can wrap her in so much love & care that she has the strength to power through. She has an awesome older brother & sister to help her along the way & an amazing extended family to support her as well that includes all of our friends & loved ones. 

She is already so loved by her Dad & me so much! The journey has been a blast so far & I can't wait to see how life turns out for all of us. 

She is such a sweet girl already I can't wait to share in this life with her as her mother & see the woman that she becomes one day. 

She also knows already how to have some fun, she fits into this family well! 

I never thought I'd be a stay-at-home military wife, especially of 3 kids, but here I am! I am loving every second of it, even through the times I want to pull out all my hair! It helps to have such an awesome husband, amazing friends, & loving family through it all though. 

I hope this story has brought some encouragement to your life. If there is a path you feel God drawing you towards, even though you may not want to take it, go. It may be full of heartache & struggles, but in the end I can promise you that it is worth it! 

*All images are property of MaggieLouPhotography; do NOT download, crop, or alter in any way*

Door #1 or Door #2???

Well, I'm finally around to my second blog post. Life gets so crazy busy sometimes it's hard to catch a moment to just have a seat at the computer and let my mind wander. But, alas, I have finally found a few minutes to get this done. I took this series of pictures a few weeks ago, but have just now found the time to edit them & get them posted. These pictures were taken in Tularosa, NM--a town about 30 minutes from the base we live at. I'm sure years ago the town was pretty amazing, but sadly the wonderfully eclectic downtown has very few shops that remain open. However, the town still offers a mecca of photography backgrounds which is great for me & my fellow photographers around here. Every time I roam the streets looking for spots to take my clients I'm drawn to the many beautiful doorways. For those that have been to spots in New Mexico like Santa Fe or Taos you know what I'm talking about. New Mexico is hard to adjust to living in, but the beauty is not easily missed. The adobe style homes & buildings in northern New Mexico are not so easily found in the southern end of the state. But, Tularosa offers a nice little New Mexican oasis in the middle of this desolate desert area. 

Anyway, continuing on. As I was taking photos recently of a precious little 2-year-old I decided to start taking quick snapshots of all the doorways along the way so you could have a nice little window or should I say doorway into my photography life :). I thought it would be nice to have a little collection of photos on these beautiful doorways, but as I went along & later began my editing process I realized how much this study relates to all our lives. I learned quickly how powerful photos of such simple architecture can become--especially for those of us in the military. Life offers us so many doorways to walk through on our path that often we are overwhelmed by the choices. Do we go to this base or that? Should we try to change jobs or stick this one out? Do we re-enlist or get out & try to find an equal or better job in the civilian world? Do I stay home with the kids or work? What school do we send the kids to? I could go on & on & on, but I won't bore you. Choices like these have been at the forefront of our family's mind lately, so this photo study on doors came at just the right time. 

 So, for the first doorway... My first door was a simple door that sits on the side of one of my favorite photo shoot locations. At first I wasn't very fond of this photo, but as I edited it I really ended up liking it because I felt like I took it at the angle of someone walking up to it about to open the door & walk in. Sometimes in life we know exactly which door God wants us to choose. He leaves the choice for us, but we all know what it feels like to open the handle & walk-in exactly where we were supposed to. 

On the other hand, sometimes the door we choose may be locked & the windows barred. The sunlight & brightness are inviting, but that doesn't always mean it's the way to go. In the past few years my husband & I have approached many locked doors thinking they were the right choice for us. It was heartbreaking at times, but looking back we now know why. It is an immense struggle in the moment trying to understand why a door was locked when that path felt so right. There is a meaning in everything though, even the hard times, and eventually we can look back and understand the promise that our Father works all things according to his GOOD & wonderful plan. 

At other times in life we see others go through doors that we wish we could. But, sometimes there is just no way for us to even get in the door. We each have our own paths to walk that work according to His plan, but often it is easy to get caught up in the fantasy of living someone else's life. Wondering "what if" is only a stumbling block we all have to work to avoid. For now my path is to stay-at-home with my children & support my husband, even if it means living in this dry desert for longer than I had hoped. Watching friends move away from me & other distant friends getting the exact assignment they want is difficult, but I will walk this path by faith & one day I will enter that glorious doorway in the end & can only hope that I will be greeted with a "Well done". 

This door is quite possibly my favorite doorway I've ever encountered not only in New Mexico, but out of everywhere else I've ever been. It is so unique, so beautiful, and holds it's own special mysterious story. The contrast of colors makes it simply breathtaking. The oval windows & the reflections offered make it a fun prop as well. It's age reminds me of the doorways in our lives that many have gone through before us & many will go through after. We all have our own path in life, but often those paths cross, & often we are all meant to go through the same doorway at some point or another. Whether it's the amazingly happy doorway of marriage, or the painful doorway of losing a loved one--we all must walk through a similar doorway. Knowing that others have gone before me makes it that much easier when it's a painful doorway and it also assures me that once I have made it through I can then hold my hand out & help someone who must come after me. 

I have the unique privilege of being a military wife. At times it is difficult being away from friends & family, but I also am blessed to make so many new friends that are scattered around the world so I always have somewhere I can crash if I need to  :). I am able to make friends with so many women--some that are much older than me & some that are younger. Together we help each other through those tough doorways that all military wives face, but we also help each other through the doorways of life that all must face. It is the most amazing support system I have ever come across. I have made so many wonderful friends that have cried with me, prayed with me, & a few that aren't afraid to tell me when I'm going the wrong way. 

Speaking of going the wrong way... As with the doors we know we should go through, God also makes it very clear which ones we should NOT go through. There are times in life though when temptation gets the best of us & despite the dark surroundings & the clear warning posted right on the door, we go through anyway. Going through the wrong door may feel good at the moment, but it only leads to hurt & disappointment. 

However, thankfully through our glorious savior there is redemption! Even after choosing a wrong door God still shines His light of love on us & shows us the clear path He has designed for us. It still won't be an easy path--Jesus assured us of that--but, following His guidance assures us that He will be by our side every step of the way. 

What a great Lenten study this turned out to be as well--who knew?!?! I had such a great time exploring my own mind through this simple study of doorways. I had no idea the blessings that God would shine his light on simply photographing & writing about some doors. Sometimes sitting back & exploring the simple things in life is exactly where God is waiting to speak to you. He so often comes in the whisper after the storm, so make sure you are listening. I hope you are all enjoying this Lenten season & that you take a moment to look deep inside & find what God wants you to see or change as we walk to road to the blessed redemption of Christ.  

**All photos are property of MaggieLouPhotography. Please do NOT download, crop, or alter in any way. Thank you!** 

To see more of my work visit my website at www.MaggieLouPhotography.com or find me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/pages/MaggieLouPhotography/167245436690399. 

Digging for Bones

Hello all! Well, this is my first adventure into the blogging world, guess I'm actually behind the times. I decided to start this blog really for myself & to share with the rest of you the random wanderings of my mind. I started my own small photography business back in November & I have loved every minute of it, but I really wanted a place to share my own artistic collection of photos in a place where I can also explain the sometimes odd or inexplicable photos I take :). Also, these sometimes silly photos I take are a great chance to really stretch my skills as a photographer but also learn new ones at the same time. Continuing education is important in any field. This education can take place in a physical classroom, but also outside in the world pushing ourselves past our comfort zone & trying new things. Often it doesn't come out how we imagined it, but so many times it comes out far better than we could have ever dreamed. 


So, to my first study. I begin my blogging adventure with a really amusing medium per-say. This medium or model is the one & only French Bulldog Ginger who just so happens to belong to my parents. Recently we stayed at their house for a few weeks & as I observed this interesting breed of dog I found myself annoyed at times, but overall thoroughly amused most of the time. The saying should be stubborn as a French bulldog really because let me tell you these dogs are stubborn! When you tell her to do something she just looks over her shoulder at you in annoyance. However, she is so dang cute you can't help but laugh when you should be frustrated. She's loud & has really stinky farts all the time, but she is also a precious little clown. You know God loves to make us smile & I've realized that this is why He created animals. Not only to feed us, work for us, but also to love us, to be our companions, & to always lift our spirits when life gets tough. The photography project I decided upon was really thrust upon me by Ginger. She has these little bones that she hides around the house when she is actually supposed to chew on them. Since my two dogs were with us during our stay Ginger had to get extra creative in choosing hiding places. 


So, let the journey begin. First, you must meet Ginger. After you meet her & realize how stout she is & what a flat nose she has her hiding places become not only more astonishing but more humorous as well. My camera didn't always do justice to the hilarity of some the places, probably should have had a hidden video camera to figure out just how she did it, but alas, my photos will have to work. So, here she is, Ginger :). 

              Very human in here posture isn't she? Such a funny dog, but oh so cute! 


Next on our adventure we will visit the hiding place that prompted my need to photograph these. I went to bed one night exhausted as only a stay-at-home mom can get & laid my head down at the end of a long day stuck my hand under my pillow to prop my head up & felt something hard & cold. I was startled at first, but as I felt some more I realized, "hmm...there's a dog toy under here". I lifted my pillow & there sat Ginger's beloved white bone. We usually keep the door to our guest bedroom closed so she can't find her way in to chew on something of ours, but I some point we obviously left it open & somehow she used her snubbed little nose to stuff her bone under my pillow. Silly girl!

                       Hiding spot #1, it laid to rest under the pillow sound asleep :) 




The second stop on our little adventure together is sure to make a splash :). Do you know where we are headed yet? That's right, the shower! So, in the master bath at Ginger's home there is a modern walk-in shower, no door. My mother has a little bench set-up to place your towel on & what-not. Well, I was walking around the bathroom while the kids were splashing around in the jacuzzi tub when I noticed in the mirror something on the shower floor. I turn to look & there lay the little white bone. This time Ginger had managed to wedge it behind the leg of the bench. This is impressive, but the best is still yet to come :). 

                                                 Hiding spot #2, enjoying a hot shower 


Stop three leads us to the other side of the bathroom. This is where our little adventure in the mind of a Frenchie takes a turn for the bizarre. This is also where I would have loved a hidden camera to capture just how this dog did it. Now, for those of you familiar with big tubs, the ends often are not very wide unless you have added tile work around it. Somehow stocky little Ginger managed to tip-toe across the narrow tub edge, set the bone in the corner, & then reverse out. That's right reverse! There is no way she could have turned around to come back without falling into the bathtub where she was sure to get stuck! I've provided two pictures to try to stress the narrowness of the tub, so then maybe you can explain it. 

                                                            Hiding spot #3, On edge

                                           Hiding Spot #3, how on earth did she do it???


Finally, stop number 4 takes us to where we all hide what's precious--the closet! The bone hidden here is another of Ginger's favorites. My husband Nate called it her diamond since it was a shiny rubber bone & let me tell you when the other dogs come close she protects it like any woman would protect her diamonds! This is another bizarre one not because of location, but again it's her placement. The bone is tucked away between the clothes & built in drawers, but it is rested ever so gently against the wall ready to be grabbed at a moments notice if a threat presents itself. 

                                   Hiding Spot #4, Skeletons don't stay hidden forever


Alas, our journey is over, maybe to be revisited someday. There are plenty of hiding spots I didn't capture & many more to be discovered. You may be wondering why on earth I decided to take pictures of a bone for my first study. However, if you look closely you may figure it out. I love, love, love to take pictures outside in God's creations using His beautiful, natural sunlight. He almost makes it too easy! My biggest struggle is taking pictures indoors & getting the lighting just right. So, in reality this study was actually quite challenging for me, but practice makes perfect right?!?! I just got a new awesome flash for Christmas & it was time I really learned to use it. I still have a ways to go till I'm really comfortable with it, but this study was perfect. Following Ginger allowed me to step out of my comfort box & take pictures where she dictated, not where I wanted to or where the most natural light shown in. I had to adapt to each room of the house whether the lighting was good or bad. I had to make my own light, bounce the light around, & really just trust myself & camera to get a good picture. 


I will leave you on this adventure with one last photo of Ginger guarding her precious in front of the fire to ponder what challenges you most. Once you figure it out go, conquer, enjoy. 

                                                            Yeah, it's been a good day
                                          
 Until next time... 






*All photos are property of MaggieLouPhotography. Please do not download, crop, or alter in any way.*