When Wendy, a fantastic photographer, contacted me to do some extended family pictures I got a little nervous for two reasons:

1. I’m lame. I get intimidated to shoot another photographer. It’s true Wendy.
2. Extended families can be a little challenging. That’s a lot of people.

Well, when Wendy told me that her family only consisted of 3 siblings (and their little families) my mind was put at ease. You see when you come from a family of 8 children and 33 (almost 35) grandkids shooting a family of 16 is a breeze.

We shot these in freezing temperatures… FREEZING.

I’m staying up late tonight editing photos to Owl City & Kris Allen. How’s that for random?
Every time I hear Owl City it makes me want to run through an open field with lighting bugs and give the earth a big hug. So weird. Right?

I had a couple questions about my black and white photo conversions.
(This is the interactive/fun reader part where you count how many times I write the word ‘B&W’. I’m up to two so far. )

I find that I go through phases of B&W’s. Right now I’m diggin’ the moody, low contrast, edgy, but not too edgy (thanks Jean) B&W’s. On most of my B&W photos I’ve posted lately I have used either my Low Contrast B&W & Bump it UP from my photoshop actions or BAMF 16-Bit photoshop action from TRA 2.

Depending on the picture, I’ll play around with it a bit in curves after I’ve already converted it to B&W. I’ll lighten a little and then drag down the highlights just a titch. And then BAAMMM! Stellar B&W’s.

And speaking of Stellar…

Check out this awesome family. So kicked back and relaxed. It made the photo shoot a breeze!