Goodbye...and Hello

Hi friends,

Exciting news! I've got a new site, new blog, new name! Well, my name is still Deanna, but you know what I mean. Hahaha, the other day Cash was in the shower and yells out, "Mom! Mom! Mom,mom,mom! DEANNA!!" Apparently he's learned my name. :)

So, this blog closes a chapter of photography for me and I'm starting a new one. I'll probably always keep this blog up but I won't be updating it anymore.

CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE HERE!

xo,
Deanna

Love and Marriage

I got married when I was 20 years old. I met Mat when I was 15 and a sophomore in high school. We met in biology and my first run in with him involved him spitting in a cup because he forgot to bring a liquid to class. Classy stuff. :)

In my mind, we've pretty much grown up together. I love doing life with him. We are constantly learning what it means to have a good marriage and definitely still growing. In this eighth year of marriage, we have grown closer and learned more about each other than we have the previous 7 years. So, I began to think about the top 5 things that we have learned.

Her smirk=the best!

1. Different is not wrong, it's just different. We went to a Love and Respect seminar when we first got married and it set the tone for our marriage. We are still learning this even to this day, but the point is that we're learning. :) We do our best to stay off the crazy cycle: without respect, he reacts without love and without love, she reacts without respect. However, the opposite is also true. Love and respect--it's a powerful thing.

2. I'm usually right, except when I'm wrong. Just ask him. ;) He values my opinion and often asks for my input when he's creating, building and making career decisions. That means the world to me. His opinion matters to me too, but in a different way. I'm not a questioning person. I usually don't ask if what I'm about to do is a good idea, or if there's anything I should tweak. It's in my nature. However, I don't make decisions about things that will affect our family without talking with him first. Not to get his approval per se, but to get his input before making the decision. If he's as comfortable as I am, then I'll make whatever decision is best. In contrast, Mat will ask for my input during his entire thinking process. Either way, I love putting in my opinion input and getting his.

3. Debt is dumb. Just learn this early people! I wish we had known this. When we bought our first car it was the result of a car accident (ahem, another lesson) and the insurance paid out the value of the car. We took the money, applied to it a credit card and then went an bought a brand new car complete with car loan. Does that sound dumb or what? We didn't buy a used car because the interest rate was going to be whopping 6% instead of 2%. So bought and new car and I distinctly remember sitting down and figuring out that the $1500 cash back that we'd get from the new car "special" or choosing to do the "special" 2% interest rater equaled the exact same thing! We were not smart. Credit cards (mine), laptops that died before they got paid off (his) and a brand new car with loan (ours) taught us lessons we plan on sparing our children from. Now we only buy if we have cash and so we don't buy much; when and if we do buy stuff, it's takes time. We are totally okay with that.

4. Having children is no joke. It takes work. Every single day. Arguing/disagreeing in front of them is not an option. If dad says no, so does mom. If we don't agree then we discuss it when the littles aren't paying attention. On the other hand, going on dates and only talking about the children is a no-no. It's really easy to keep them as the main topic of conversation but before they were, we were. :)

5. Marriage should be fun. For a while we were stressed out. Working, working, making it, not making it, working, throw a kid (or two) in the mix, living, scheduling, working some more. We forgot to laugh, enjoy each other, remember that the reason we got married was because we enjoyed being around each other. Learning how to communicate, respecting each other's time and opinions, valuing what the other contributes to the home and family life will ease up even the heaviest of loads. When you love on purpose, laugh because you remember that your spouse really is funny and not take life's journey so seriously (and by seriously I mean in stride, not Neverland), you'll have a lot of fun.

We are farrrr from perfect. We are still working on setting a budget every month (I love budgets, he gets overwhelmed at the details), getting our chores done (I kinda refuse to take out the trash, he leaves his shoes everywhere) and learning how to grow a business and a ministry at the same time (I love photography, he loves youth ministry). I couldn't imagine doing life with anyone else and am so glad that God saw it fit that we should be together. :)

Happy Tuesday!

This Guy

This past weekend was Father's Day and I haven't had the chance to sit down and write a brag about this handsome man. Mat has been working two jobs for about...well, actually I think he's been working two jobs almost as long as we've been married. Without complaint, he goes from one job to the other making a living for his family. 

About two and a half years ago he got a job at UPS with the intention of making UPS the career job. At UPS they tell you at your first interviews (at 3am and 4am!!) to not expect to be promoted, get more than a slight raise etc. in the first two years. We discussed it, prayed about it and decided that we would make the sacrifice in order to further his chances at a full time career with UPS. It was almost exactly two years before he was promoted to a part-time supervisor. A supervisor whom they really like. A supervisor who gets things done in such a great way that they will move him to different areas to improve that area because he's pretty no-nonsense about the job. And no, I'm not in denial that they may be moving him "trying to find a perfect fit" because they don't know what to do with him.

Howevvvver, UPS starting pay was barely liveable and so he got a second job at an after-school program before moving onto a cabinet shop where he used to work when he was straight out of high school. The cabinet shop has been a blessing to our family providing him work at a very fair wage. He works hard, up at 3am and down to bed about 9pm on a good night. Goes from one job straight to the other and not one single time does he complain that he hates to work two jobs. He does ask me to rub his back though...every.single.night. And I do...most of time. :)

As soon as he walks in the door from his last job he's down on the floor playing dinosaur with two little boys who are oh-so-happy to see their daddy. And then mom steps in to kill their fun, give dad a break and feed the family some dinner. After that it's bedtime and we start all over in the morning. But not before playing dinosaur one more time.

He's such a good man. I stand back and observe, amazed at the work God has done in his life. And then I reminisce about the times when we were 16 and 17 and we would walk to McDonald's on First St. and sit there for 3 hours, just talking. 

Happy {late} Father's Day Chapa. You make our lives so good. We love and appreciate you more than we could ever express and these two little boys got a great dad in you! xo

Jeremy+Christa||Morgan Hill Engagement

According to her he always had a girlfriend...and it wasn't her. Until one day, it was. And after that, he only had eyes for her. They attended different schools. She says he didn't move to her school for her. I disagree. Because really, he'd be crazy not to move from one place to another just to be with her. Jeremy makes Christa laugh and Christa causes Jeremy's eyes to just glaze over, like there's nobody else in the room except her.

I loved photographing these two. We headed out to Monterey where Jeremy had proposed and the day could not have been more beautiful. Christa and Jeremy, I am so happy for the both of you. I can't wait to see what God has in store for your marriage and lives. You both are truly beautiful.

Why Size Matters | Gilroy Children's Photography

I think decorating a space with your photos has got to be one of my most favorite parts of the whole photo process. I could sit for hours (and may be a little guilty of such a feat when the kiddos have gone to bed) and decorate spaces, playing with frames and creating canvas groupings. What's the point of having photos done if they're going to sit under your bed, stay on a disk and never see the light of day? No, no, no. That's just not good. Just throwing photos on your wall and hoping that they work isn't any good either. Below are a photos that'll give you an idea of what a print/gallery wrapped canvas looks like, what a print looks like when its framed and how canvas groupings should be sized for the space you'll be decorating.

Usually, when we think of print sizes we think conventionally that 11x14 and smaller are all the size that we'll want, but look how tiny they are when put up on your wall. They're actually the perfect desk size, gift print size or as part of a grouping.

Below is an example of what an 8x10 vs. 24x36 print looks like framed. Again, 24x36 may seem HUGE, but look how perfectly it fits in that space.

Canvas groupings are meant to wow, however, don't create a grouping without considering the space that it's going to go into. The grouping below is comprised of 2-10x10, 4-11x14 and 1-24x36. If I was going to place the grouping over the crib I would bring everything down a size to fit better.

I hope this has been helpful to someone! If you have questions feel free to ask!

Happy Monday!

Balboa Family::Gilroy Family Photography

I love photographing this family and I'm lucky enough to have been able to photograph them at least once a year for the last 3 years. It is so amazing to watch them grow!

Red Hair, Blue Eyes||Morgan Hill Family Photographer

Nothing is worth more than this day.

I love these girls--they're beautiful.

Why Hello Grey!

Boogerhead at 22 Months

He currently:

*Loves his microphone (give him a mic and he will preach, sing and perform his heart out)

*Loves all things horses

*Will hear any train in the distance, gasp and cry out "hooo-hoooo"

*Adores Buzz Lightyear

*Will tell you the animal sounds for the doggy, horsey, kitty, monkey, elephant, cow, duck, lion, bird, piggy, fish, frog, bear and I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting

*Can listen to his Aunt "Niss" sing all day

*Is learning to play by himself

*Prefers a shower over a bath

*Is happier naked than dressed

*Starts every.single.sentence. with Mama. Which he will repeat until you answer, "Yes, Cash."

*Amazes us every day.

*Kills me at night when he wants me to lay down next to his bed. He doesn't know my stomach no longer fits in the space by his bed or that my sciatic nerve hates me in the position.

Overwhelmed...and happy

This kid. He overwhelms us. And makes us so very happy.

Mini Sessions:: Winter 2011

Every summer and winter I do mini sessions--they're always a great way for clients to update their photos. I'm just barely getting to posting these and I was going to try to do individual posts for each client but I just don't have the time I used to have pre-kiddo and a half. ;)

I really do love seeing new and repeat friends at mini sessions. Meeting new kiddos, seeing them interact and act for the camera is so much fun.

I know I'm late in posting this, but thank you to everyone who did a mini session this last winter. I hope to do family sessions with each of you soon!

Happy Tuesday!

G Family::Gilroy Family Photography

I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had at this shoot at the end of summer/beginning of fall. So, so much fun. The kiddos had me laughing, awwing and giggling. There's absolutely no doubt that there is a ton of love in this family and these kiddos have a most awesome set of parents. I wish I had room to show you the whole gallery because they are so photogenic.

I know I put it in my blog header, on my website, and I have it on my FB page so I'll say it again here--REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS. Children grow up so fast, their teeth fall out, their legs gets longer, their hands get bigger and their childhood innocence turns into life and responsibilities. You'll never make a better investment than to capture their laugh, their hearts and their childhood interests.

 

Happy Thursday--go hug your kiddos, take lots of pictures and cherish all the little things!!