Some favorites from the weekend

The Gill Ohana

Aren't they beautiful?  This gorgeous mom and I met back in Tucson in our old waitressing and bartending days.  Now... look at my girl!  I am so happy for the wonderful life she has found and  am so happy to still be part of it!

Girls like playing in dirt too!

I am dying here!

Playing in Lightroom

The nature of having young children makes the endless play and discovery of new toys for us parents difficult if not impossible.  I dl the trial of Lightroom and have been quite impressed so far with it's intuitive nature.  I love Adobe products, but have been giving Aperture my faith lately for non Photoshop editing and file management because it can support multiple libraries.  I overall have not been very impressed. 

Being an Adobe girl, all the keyboard shortcuts that now are second nature to me, do not apply in Aperture, and this just slows my workflow more than it's worth.  I've spent a few hours in Lightroom and so far just love it.  Here are a handful of photos that have not been edited but have been "developed" with an Light Antique process.  I am loving it! 

Growing curls...

These curls just keep coming... I can barely stand it!  BTW- they are mirror image twins rather than identical, so just by looking at the direction of their cowlick, I can tell who is who!

Being a grrrl

At age four, there is really nothing more important than pink, sparkles and princesses.  Her she is, doing what she loves and allowing me to do what I love.

The kiddos

So... as a mother, I obviously shoot my kids more than any other subject.  One may think that this means I have an endless supply of "perfect" shots of them, but this is totally not the case!    They are easily irritated with me and the camera, especially my 4 year old.  Most photos I have of her are priceless of her eyes rolled in the back of her head, her lower lip (or tongue) sticking out etc etc....  

But every now and then.. I get what I envisioned the shot to look like.  Not to say that I don't cherish every mood I can capture, but after hundreds of photos where you'd think my kids are the most unhappy and/or un-photogenic bunch, and would imagine that I was most definitely torturing these girl's most treasured toys above my head as they scream at the camer... getting a handful of good ones are priceless.

I just love these girls... I could eat them up.... so delish!

PS The last 2 are not the same baby... I got TWO of them!

Devastating news

I just learned that Saxophone player, Leroi Moore from Dave Matthews Band has died due to complications from the ATV accident he was in back in June.  I am devastated.  My heart is still sinking... further and further into my body.  Yet somehow, I feel numb.

Before moving back to Hawaii, touring with DMB was something Chris and I did every summer.  We saw our last DMB shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado back in September of 2005.  Out of the twenty-something shows I've seen, no two were ever alike.  Somehow now, I feel that no show will ever be the same.

Leroi,

Thank you for all the good times.  Thanks for the inspiration.  Thanks for Say Goodbye intros, and One Sweet World intros... always a favorite of mine.  You will be missed by many.

Aloha and BIG Mahalo, from the heart of a woman who will never be the same, on an island in the Pacific.

Mele Kalikimaka!

So yes... it's a totally staged shot and doesn't capture the moment the way I usually shoot... but talk about a moment happening!  Look at that rainbow!  This family visiting the island will be thrilled with this shot on their Christmas cards for sure!  Mele Kalikimaka!

Shootsac Review

So I went out on a shoot Sat. to Ho'omaluhia and wore my new Shootsac. Holy shiznit! This bag rocks! I have never been able to make lens changes with such ease. I mean literally... I never had to set my bag down to search for anything. Not even a cleaning cloth. I was able to put on my 70-200 with no issue, and take it off with no issue.

PROS: Amazing all around bag to take on shoots. Easy and comfortable. Doesn't SCREAM camerabag!! Holds many lenses, flash, plus all my "stuff": wallet, keys, lipgloss, cleaning cloths, sunglasses, business cards, sunscreen., bug spray, etc...

CONS: Can't fit hood for 70-200 in bag, and without sounding too 1983, a shoulder pad would be really cozy... and sexy!  C'mon Jess Claire! Help us moms out!

I love love love it.... worth the money! Now enjoy a few macro shots of our beautiful island's windward gardens!   (PS. 3rd one down is a variety of Plumeria... looks more like Spider Lily huh?  The scent is JUST like a Singapore Plumeria... delicious!)

Mental note #1

Today, after spending ALL DAY editing photos that shouldn't have taken near as much time as they did...

I PLEDGE TO:

Remember that I have a digital camera capable of previewing photos before I dl them to my computer.  This is amazing technology that can save me HOURS of editing in my digital darkroom.  Though I may be so excited to keep my finger firing away at the shutter, I will pause, and breathe in the moment, and look at my histogram.

I could slap myself silly... but I think I will just go to bed.

My Shootsac has arrived!

I am super excited to go on my next shoot with my Shootsac!  I have been carrying around a Pelican Case to keep all my lenses and camera "stuff" in.  I love the case because I can literally throw it in my car, on a park bench, or find my kids climbing on it, and I never have to worry about my beloved equipment.  Also, it has wheels which is pretty sweet when I have to make a long haul to the perfect location.  (Besides... when I am on a shoot the last thing I want to do is carry anything I don't have to... having free hands is amazing since I hardly have that at home with the 3 kiddos!)  However, this is more of a storage and a transportation solution than a functional camera bag that make lens changes convenient.  

I have been getting all the kiddos in bed and hence have barely opened the box.   Needless to say, I haven't gotten all my lenses in there yet, and am wondering how my 70-200 will fit with the hood.  Aloha until tomorrow... 

Meet Baby Morgan

I was stoked to go shoot this adorable newborn since I hadn't done a NB shoot since June.  Not exactly your typical itty-bitty- this guy weighed in at 9 lbs 7 oz, 21.5 inches!  Welcome to the world, Morgan!  

Website up and running... barely

Check it out: www.cindyhainesphotography.com

I think it's one of those things that will always be a work in progress... but I am so excited that it's up and running.  I am official.. business license and all!  

Blog will be up and running soon.... stay tuned!