Special Times: Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!! I hope everyone had, or is still having, a wonderful time with family and friends. I know I did.

It's so much fun seeing children's faces when they open up presents. When they open up something good, their faces light up, which brings a smile to my face. But when they open something up that they don't really like, that's always funny too. To see their expressions as they say "Oh.....thank you" and then shove it aside for another gift to open, it's kind of funny. :)

It was also fun seeing my boys open their presents. And.....it was even better because they were able to open presents themselves. :) But I guess that means they're getting older and don't need mommy and daddy much... major SAD face :(

As for myself, I got great gifts. Most of them are photography related, which is AWESOME!!! (Thank you to my family who gave me photography related goodies. I really appreciate it and it tells me that you are supportive in my craft. I love each and every one of you.)

A much needed camera bag from my boys and husband. (Loooove it!!!)

I also got a new game for my Wii. Can't wait to play it.... TODAY! :)



The one gift that I think makes the very top of the list...my ten-year-old niece made me something. She decided that for the adults, she'll make them handmade presents, which I think I was the only one who received it. :) It was wrapped in pretty black and silver wrapping paper (which I bought from Borders..which I loved!). I carefully opened the little present. She made a little paper box. On the top of the box she wrote "Photography Tips. Veronica Hudley Designs Photography Tips". When I opened the box, there was a dollar coin inside :) So cute right? But when I looked under the top of the box, she had written "Handmade by Arielle. Don't give up!" My heart melted. I wanted to cry. I gave her a giant hug. She's the best...

Well... I hope you all enjoy the rest of the holiday with your family and friends. Cherish it all. Have a safe, fun and fantastic new year. If you're not the type to make new year's resolutions, then make new year's goals :)

(Raise your glasses...) To 2011... CHEERS!!!

Weekend Review Part 1- December 2

Yes, that's right... December 2, a Thursday. I work Mondays through Thursdays at my regular job, which gives me Fridays through Sundays for the weekend. Don't you just love it? You wish you were me, huh? =)

Thursday night, my husband and I had a "date night" (okay, okay... it wasn't really a date night, but it was without the kids). We got tickets to watch THEE Adam Carolla at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. We've never been to a comedy show, so it was something new. We, or shall I say my husband, is an avid Adam Carolla fan. We used to listen to him on the radio on our way to work from Brentwood to Fairfield. I gotta say, I got hooked. I even got upset when I couldn't get radio reception in the building that we worked at. =)

Since then, he's moved on to having his own podcast show (http://www.adamcarolla.com/ACPBlog/). I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm currently working on getting it on my phone.

Anyhow, back to that night. It was fun, nice sellout crowd... it was great! Love his "What Can't Adam Complain About" segments.

Afterwards, we waited in line to try to get an autograph and/or picture. This was something that I have always wished for growing up... getting a celebrity's autograph. I have been to my share of events that involved singers, athletes, some actors, and never really got an autograph. So this time, waiting in line, I wasn't putting all my efforts into it because I figured we wouldn't get to see him or that they would end the signing. Well guess what? We got to meet him =) and got to get his autograph =) and got to take photos of him. Ha ha ha... I shouldn't really say "take photos of him". I only had my camera phone on me and it doesn't really take a quick photo when I want it to. Therefore, I resorted to taking a video when I knew my camera phone wouldn't do the job. Either way it worked out.

We had our names on sticky notes so he knew how to spell our names. Funny thing is, he didn't sign my husband's name. Great thing is, I have video of him saying "Veronica...that's a solid name." YEAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Adam Carolla said my name is solid. Yahoooo!!! =) Then my husband shook his hand, as did I. And let me tell you, I didn't give a weak, wimpy handshake. I gave a proper, good handshake. So hopefully, he'll remember that Veronica, with the solid name, gave a good handshake. Ha, ha... That was pretty much it.

(Yes, that's not me. Some random lady that was still trying to get her photo in. This was the last photo I took before I took the video.)

Good night, and mahalo! (Adam's words)  =)

Dionne - Rodriguez High School Senior

Dionne, my first high school senior subject. I was in awe of her. She's very beautiful and it definitely showed in her photos.

I actually did two photo shoots with her. The first, I loved! Not only did my good friend join me on the shoot, but Dionne was very sweet and willing to pose any way we wanted her to. I had fun on the shoot, but the only thing that wasn't fun was trying to use my 50mm lens (which doesn't autofocus). The photos came out fine, but some were not tack sharp.

With that, I vowed that it was my last time I was going to use that lens. Off to Best Buy I go to purchase a new one. Which do I choose? The 35mm f1.8 (because it was cheaper =) ). It's a good lens. Very wide. I like it, but then again I have to like it because it's what I have. That's the thing with just starting out. I don't quite have the funds to buy what I want, so I have to use what I have. (This will lead me to my next post... hopefully tomorrow).

Back to Dionne. I asked her if I could try my new lens with her, since I wasn't too happy with the outcome. She agreed. And in fact, my friend Lateisha and I had a double shoot with her and Dionne's cousin. (If you would like to see that shoot, check out her blog http://www.fusionphotographyinc.blogspot.com/)

Here's Dionne (from both sessions):