On Facebook this morning (here’s a link to the Amber Katrina Photography Facebook page) I saw that one of my favorite photographers, Tara Whitney was going to be the judge for this week’s contest over at I Heart Faces.  I really wanted to enter it, so I went over to the i♥faces website and found out the theme is moody and dramatic black and white photography.  I wasn’t quite sure what to enter since I don’t tend to do very much moody and dramatic photography.  I much prefer to capture love, romance, happiness, laughter – you get the idea.  So, I went through my pictures and found this shot.

This was taken on one of my first photo shoots over 2 years ago.  I went to Old Town Pasadena to take some pictures of my friends, Tara and Colton.  I was quite nervous.  I didn’t even really know how to pose them or give direction, but luckily Tara and Colton were very relaxed in front of the camera.  We walked around Old Town Pasadena for a while, finding some interesting places.  At the very end of the session, I found this little patch of cattails behind the courthouse building.  The patch was small and the light was fading really fast, but I wanted to try some moody shots.  Luckily they were up for it and knew exactly what I had in mind.  I’m so grateful for my early clients, letting me experiment and learn.

I was recently reflecting on Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the story, Alice comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom Alice asks, Which path shall I follow? The cat answers: That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.

Unlike Alice, I do know where I want to go, and it does matter which path I take.  In September, I will take a 39.3 mile plunge down the rabbit hole.  I will have two days to complete the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, held in Santa Barbara on September 11 and 12th.  While I travel this long road, I am hoping to be surrounded and uplifted by your support.

In conjunction with this monumental journey before me, I have committed to raising $2,000 for the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade.  Please consider donating to this wonderful cause – perhaps pledging a dollar or two per mile I will walk.  Your contribution will help provide care for those in need, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures for breast cancer.

This odyssey is personal for me.  In my own family, my grammy valiantly fought this battle later in her life and my great grandmother ultimately died from breast cancer.  My cousin is right now fighting for her life through a double mastectomy, radiation and chemo therapy.

Let’s help everyone on this heart-wrenching journey with breast cancer.  It just takes a moment to go onto my page and donate to the crusade: http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/AmberBaker

As I prepare for this exciting event, I will post updates about my training and fundraising on my blog (and maybe some special surprises for my generous donors along the way), so follow along.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Amber Katrina Baker

***These amazing pictures of me were taken by my mom.  You can see where I get my talent from.  Several people have been asking how my new diet and weight loss program is going.  I will save the details for a longer post, but I am doing well and have lost 24 pounds already!  Hopefully doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer will assist me in continuing to lose weight.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

Last month, Brian and I decided to take our boys to the snow. We don’t get any snow where we live, but just a few minutes away in the mountains we can go visit it. Aren’t we spoiled?

Well, it also means that we are completely unprepared with any useful snow gear. So, we spent two hours that morning trying to get the boys ready by putting on every piece of warm clothing that they own. They must have had on ten pairs of pants and shirts. Poor things couldn’t even move their arms.

The plan was to go to Mt Baldy Road. We got half way up the hill and realized that we didn’t have enough gas to drive through the mountains. So we found a gas station and headed back up the hill, only to find out that they closed the road. I guess too many people had the same idea as us.

At this point we should have given up and gone home. But the boys were dressed and ready. There was no way I was giving up this easy. So we headed up a local canyon road – GMR. It took about an hour, but we finally found some small patches of snow on the side of the road. It was just enough snow for a two year old to play with.

Baby Levi didn’t much like the cold, but Elijah had a blast – making snow balls, eating snow, sledding. … for about 30 minutes. Then he was done and wanted to go home. Yes, you heard right. At least 4 hours of preparation for 30 minutes of playing. That’s the life of a parent.

Here’s a few quick shots we got of the (brief) fun:

Baby Levi didn’t want anything to do with the cold snow.  This is as close as he would get.  I love that he is clinging on to Brian’s jacket.

Brian took this shot (obviously).  I think he wanted to make sure everyone saw what a dork I am.

It was a beautiful area.

We brought random mats and baking sheets for sledding, but Eli preferred just using his belly.

This is about how most of the sledding went – crashing into the already mad baby Levi.

My sweet and loving husband, Brian.  Thanks for putting up with all my crazy ideas, like taking a toddler and baby to the snow.

And a self portrait because we have no pictures of us together.  How sad!

A day after I had the maternity session in Old Town Pasadena with Samantha, I had a family session with a different Samantha.  What is it with these girls with pretty names?  I’ve always loved the name Samantha.

I met Samantha and Ramesh at their home in Arcadia.  They have two year old twins.  Yep, you read that right – TWO YEAR OLD TWINS!  Photographing even one two year old is a challenge.  Trying to keep up with their energy, changing interests and firm opinions.  But two of them?  I was a little nervous on how it would go.  But I didn’t need to worry.  Samantha and Ramesh planned a very low key photoshoot, just hanging out at home, doing whatever the twins wanted to do.   These are my favorite types of shoots because there is no agenda and we can all just relax, have fun and capture the moments and memories of this time in their lives.

Samantha and Harry chose to enlarge this print for their home.  I’m so happy they did.  What a sweet family portrait.

I don’t know why, but this photo just strikes me.  It is so real and in the moment.  Much more interesting than if they were all standing up straight and looking at me with smiles on their faces.

The twins wanted to ride their bikes around.  How cute are they?

Then we decided to draw with chalk.

Having fun with mom.

We went for a walk around their neighborhood.  The twins loved the little Radio Flyer wagon.  I love this shot with mom and dad in the background.

Jumping and singing time.

Then snack time.

One last shot of Samantha and Ramesh.  Samantha, you are breathtaking.

Samantha and Harry traveled out to meet me in Pasadena for their maternity session.  We had a wonderful time walking around City Hall and the streets of Old Town Pasadena, looking for great locations.  It was a crazy busy day for photography.  I saw at least 5 other photographers and their clients while we walked around.  I actually had to be pretty careful not to get them in our shots.  Like in this shot below, there was a family group just behind Samantha and Harry.  Just an extra little challenge for us.  :)

Love love loved the lighting that day.  These shots from the entrance of Pasadena City Hall are some of my favorites.

Ahh – sweet dancing.

Samantha, you are simply glowing.

Another favorite shot.  I just can’t get enough of this nice rim lighting.  While at a session with me, you’ll probably frequently hear me say, “Stop right there – the lighting is gorgeous!”

Such a cute little action sequence.  You are adorable, Samantha.

And my favorite photos of the day.  Can you guess why these are my favorite?  The lighting of course.

I don’t know why but this one just get me.  Such a candid, tender moment.

I’ve died and gone to heaven with the lighting.