Great Family.. than a heck of a week!

I spend my day off with a wonderful family at Old Town Helena on Veteran's Day.. I was kinda hesitate to photograph this family because they are a AUBURN family ( I am so a Alabama fan #RTR!) Wonderful personality and a caring relationship was felt during this session. I even had an opportunity to have lunch with them... Ain't I special? Here are some peeks of their session.

Now.. that discuss the week from heck... After this wonderful session, I completed some last minute errands for my daughter's birthday party and then went home. I went to my computer to connect my hard drive and nothing was showing up.. I tried to my laptop and I even drove to Pelham to see if it would pick up on my computer at work.. Nothing. I went to Best Buy since I purchased the drive from there less than 3 months ago and they could not do nothing either, but tell me they need $250 upfront to ship it. Great.. I called around.. Quotes from $250-$1,000.  Still waiting to see what a friend's tech guy says.. We will see.. Next.. I had an over emotional conversation with someone I cared about... that went well.. Loser points for me... following that our Great Dane, Skylar died.. One day of a break of bad news. After getting my tickets for the midnight premier of Twilight, I went back to work to finish up with some patients, I had the some one come to the office to tell me that my car was broken into... Great... My co-worker's car was also broken into as well..  At least I can say .. they caught them.. So I guess karma is true.. Here is the article regarding that manner, click here  Karma.. Well that is my week in review.. I know things comes in 3s.  I sure hope so.. 

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

MIA but Engagement, Head shot, and A Cool Mother and Son

Well, it has been a while since my last blog post, I guess I have to give you the month in review.  So, sorry I am trying to get used to blogging. Last month was becoming a bit overwhelming, but I needed some time to breathe and take it nice and easy. Breathing, that is funny. Did I mention, I ended up with bronchitis and a severe sinus infection which made my life so so fun. Lets discuss the weeks in review...

 I had a wonderful session in Aldridge Gardens (w/o snakes) with very special person, Meagan. She needed some head shots since she is so popular (Jealous), just kidding. But Patty said that her head shots that she was giving to media looked more Facebook profile shots. That is funny, really.. Here are some sneak peeks from the session..

Well.. Well. Well... Ivan (Kay's dad) had a nasty 6+ feet fall from the stage when he was videotaping at WorkPlay in Birmingham. Believe me it was the worse site to see. I was so amazed that he got up and started to record again. Well, after maybe 30 minutes of footage, he could not bare the pain and he had to go to the hospital for a bruise lumbar. Loritab and muscle relaxers were his best friends and I was just the servant out of a hundred (you not believe me, if I told you what that comment means!) He needed assistance with an engagement session that weekend and his back was still a mess. Here is a sneak peak of the session that I was a second shooter with Joshua and Alicia..

Congratulations! I wish you the best...

Finally, this session means alot to me in more ways than one. Anne and me went to high school together back at JCA. I was a couple of grades of ahead of her and we really did not talk or have nothing in common. Me and Anne connected via Facebook (yes, that darn Facebook). Come to find out that we have so much in common that it is darn near scary especially the connection of our kiddos. Her son, Hunter will always have a special place in my heart even though I had to bribe him with bubbles and ice cream.  He is lucky to have a beautiful mother like Anne. If you are reading this.. Thank you for all the support and advice.. Hugs.. Here are the sneak peak from this heart warming session...

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Love you, both.. 

BTW.. Stay tuned.. I have more on my exciting my life with Kaylen, Ann, and a new friend Jennifer.. 

Until we next time, Tosha  XOXO

Living Again..

Been a while since my last blog post.. Been pretty busy .... work and other extra activities. Either I am hormonal or just thinking too hard, but I needed to get these thoughts out of my mind.. So, here I go.. everyone who knows me are aware on how much I love holding a camera or how much I love to capture moments especially every moment of my beautiful little girl's life.. But most of you do not know .. there are times when I do not want to touch or look at a camera because it is a shameful reminder of a life I had before (getting teary eye as I type this).. Everyone says, you learn from the mistakes that you make in your 20's and you are just found identity in the 30's and those are your best years.. Well ..I just turned 32... and I am still waiting for those best years... Often, I look at my camera and I just want to post it on Ebay or Craiglist, just to sell the darn thing.. Why do I want to get rid of an very expensive camera.. I have my reasons, but it is also bittersweet as well. I love it and I hate it.. but the camera just reminds of a past that I once had and how content I was in that world. I miss the care-free moments, I miss just smiling for no apparent reason, miss doing art and using my creative mind and miss joking around. Those are the things I miss when I pick up that camera.. I miss having support without me thinking negative thoughts and wandering of intentions of that person or their peers. I miss being with someone who shared the dreams and inspirations. Just on those moments alone.. my camera sickens me. Just want to keep it in a bag and do not want to touch it again. Even, looking at Photoshop makes me sick to my stomach cause it just reminds me more and more.. Well, all those are alot of thoughts .. I hope I do not sound psychotic.. On the bright side, I want to capture everything of my little ones' life.. I do not want to miss a beat.. I love people looking at the world from my point of view. Everyone point of view is always different, but you having someone who loves the world from your eye.. It can bring a smile on your face.. one that no one can take away.. Have you ever read the book "The 5 Love Languages," if not it is a good read. I have learned that my love language is giving.. Boy!! Don't I know it. .. I think I have given so much in the 20s, but I use my eye to give to others in my 30s. Sounds weird, huh.. But that is the way I feel ..  Maybe I need to be patient or maybe I am just a little more mature .. or maybe I just need to move on and stop dreaming.. or maybe I just need to stop being giving and just forget every one but darn it.. Just want the same smile on my face as my 20s.. well.. nice way coming back to blogging. Just a Hopeless Dreamer trying to find her way in the world..

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Artsy not Fatsy...

Tiled Photograph Coasters

This past weekend, I was wondering what can I add to my holiday special. Trying to figure out the next big thing in my world. I decided to make photography tiles and this was my end result. I am very please with it and Ivan thought they were excellent. We discussed over dinner on how much should I charge, but in my head I was thinking this year to do DIY gifts to family and friends and just buy gifts for just certain people.  Hey, I know the grandparents will like it!!!!

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Girls' Day Out

Saturday was very interesting, but fun. I had the opportunity to listen to tweens talk about school. Like who they like, who they do not want to be around and etc. Kinda reminds me of my time in elementary.. oh what memories. Any who, I had the opportunity to photograph to wonderful and beautifully made girls: Kaylen and Lucia..... Lets get to know these two tweens..

Kaylen is actually my daughter and pretty much my mini me. She has the most beautiful caught light eyes and a wonderful personality. She is a gifted athlete and compassionate towards her friends. This is actually the first time, she wanted to take pictures and allowed me to pick the outfit and the hair accessory. Isn't she lovely?  Lastly and not at all least, Lucia. Kaylen and Lucia are classmates.  Lucia's fashion inspiration is the 80's (yes, I said it, the 80s). She is a gifted singer and will practicing for her world premiere on CNN (her mom knows what I am talking about.) She was pretty tight in front of the camera, but when I started to be a goof ball, she started to open up. Did I mention that her mom is also a photographer, so I had some big shoes to fill.  Lucia became a natural in front of the camera after a couple of shots.  After the trip to Sloss Furnace and Bluff Park, we ended the session with Snow Biz in Pelham. yummmy.. That day ended on good note with a Strawberry Margarita snow cone..  

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

3 Artists Equals Creativity

I had the opportunity to photograph two wonderful people, Kathy and Allison (Alli). Lets start with Kathy.

Kathy attended Jefferson Christian Academy with me. Wow! That has been a long time.  This G.R.I.T.S (girls raised in the south) has turned into a California girl ( the song is ringing in my head).  Kathy was such a trooper during this session. This shoot was done the day after my house was flooded and it was still raining and somewhat cool. The atmosphere ended up making this session fun. Might I add, she is a wonderful painter and trying to convince me to go back doing shows
 (thinking about it, we will see!).

MMM.. who is next .. oh yeah.. Alli..

This shot was very special to me because it was my FIRST maternity shot.. Which I really think I rocked it, if I say so myself. Alli is an art therapist and a darn good one.  Her 8-5 job is merging community artists with individuals with special needs. Which I applause since I am a pediatric occupational therapy by education and  trade.  This shoot was fun and colorful as you can tell. I knew Alli is about contemporary and  I just added a little urban to it. We do appreciated good graffiti especially when "You are Beautiful." Congrats Alli on the newest arrival to your family. 

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Oopps! Catch Up Time!!

.... Looks Around.... and ponders if anyone notice that I have no blogged. I do apologize for not blogging for the last couple of weeks. It has been hectic for me, more than you will understand. Maybe one day, I will tell you more.. but it will determine how much I really want to tell you. Well, I have a shooting crazy for the last couple of weeks. Let me share two sessions that I have done recently.

VSA Alabama ArtPartners

As you all know, I love this organization and I really consider them as a family. They have been so helpful during my transition with my daughter, Kaylen. How can I say no to them when they have been so compassionate towards me and others in the Birmingham Metro Community. Just to see all kind of art genre creativity comes from scratch has been a blessing for the artists and individuals with special needs.  There is no limits on what you can achieve when you have the support of others. I am looking toward to the new ArtPartners session in October to see what will they come up with next.. 

Check them out at VSA Alabama

First Senior Portrait Session

(might I add during Tropical Storm Lee)

Recently, I did a casting call for high school senior so I can take practice shots for the price of the CD.  This is how I met Bre through Facebook (social networking can be effective). This session was done on Labor Day. Yes, it was raining all day, but this photographer knows how to adapt and willing to try anything once.

 So here is Miss. Bre... one of  Huffman's finest!

Wants to attend UAB (University of Alabama, Birmingham) or UAH (University of Alabama, Huntsville)

I would say UAB, since I am alumni (hehe!)

Wants to be a pediatrician

She loves to dance, rap, & and sing

Considers her self very different from her peers

Her friends does not know that she can dance, but she can get down! 

Congratulations to you, Bre. Have a good senior year.

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

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