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Welcome
Welcome to my blog! My name is Farrah Braniff and I am a portrait photographer in Houston, Texas. I specialize in contemporary portraits of babies and children. This blog is a place for me to feature my own personal imagery, images from my studio, my travels and the news and happenings of my family. I have two little boys (ages 5 and 6). You will see them a lot on this blog. They are my inspiration in so many ways. This is a great place to learn a little about me and my work. I hope you'll take a moment and look around. Use the navigation links at the top to find the entries by category, check out the FAQ, jump to my websites and so on. Thanks for stopping by! |
It's going to be hard to adhere to the one shot per Friday rule when I have days like I did today. Today was our first full day in San Francisco and it was an amazing day! We had so much fun together. So, there's simply no way I can boil today down to one shot.
The day started out perfectly with me getting a great run in- no humidity, cool weather and hills are FUN! Then we found the children's park in Golden Gate Park. I can't look at that picture of Sayer sliding without smiling.
The only way we were able to get our kids away from there was to tempt them with chocolate shakes at Mel's Drive In. Sayer decided we had to play a round of truth or dare (not sure where he learned that but ok). Everyone chose truth for the most part and the questions and answers were hilarious. I love the two pictures of the boys because those smiles are the authentic, real deal, truly "them" expressions.
We headed down to the Wharf where they got to dip their toes in the bay. It was so funny...I told them how cold the water was and so they literally crept up to it barely sticking their fingers in.
Off topic but...As you may know, SF is cold in the summer. As in the lows are in the 50's and the highs in the 60's. So, you can imagine how cold the water is right? Well, out there by the boats in the above picture, there were people SWIMMING! They were not in wetsuits either, they were in regular bathing suits! They were training swimming not just frolicking. No, they were doing the freestyle stroke waaaaay out there. BRRRRR! That puts all my triathlon training to shame! But, I digress...
The boys got used to the water and before long had their pants rolled up and the shoes off.
Next up, we went to Hyde St. Pier. The boys had so much fun playing on the boats! They were captains and pirates and we were everything from first mates to prisoners. Again, we had to lure them away with the promise of chocolate at Ghirardeli Square.
Up on top of one of the ships, we got to see this HUGE freight ship coming in. It was so big that it completely covered up the island of Alcatraz. In this picture, the island is behind the ship. Each of the containers that you see on the ship was the size of a train car! We were all fixated watching it and there was a second one just like it right behind it.
We did finally entice them away with the promise of chocolate (we drank coffee). They finished off their whirlwind day with a soak in the rooftop hot tub back at the house. By the time bedtime rolled around they were out like lights.
I know, to some, our July trip seems crazy. 30 days away?! It takes a ton of planning and we sacrifice lots of small trips in exchange for one longer trip. It's hard for Steven and I to be away from our businesses for so long but, it's days like today that make it all worthwhile! On that note, here's one more collage from today.
Hope you guys all have some great adventures this weekend! I'd love to see your favorite shots as well. Leave links to your blogs, Flickr, etc. in the comments below or submit your shots to our Favorite Shot Friday Pool on Flickr.
Happy weekend my friends!
Bren says:
I can't believe y'all are already there! And out playing. I thought it was 7/17?
I'm jealous earlier than I thought.
(07.10.10 @ 10:26 AM)
I love them so much. I'm speaking of my boys of course. It's like nothing I have ever experienced. Steven and I marvel at it sometimes. It truly is like looking through rose colored glasses. They are so beautiful, unique and special. I see all of them- every little vulnerability. The universe really did give me a gift when it gave me them. I'm learning how powerful love can really be and I'm thankful for it everyday. I'm trying my best to afford myself and Steven the same space and love that I give them but that is a much harder task.
Today I looked across the aisle of the plane and saw Sayer. The way the light skimmed his face was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. This quick shot doesn't do it justice. Try as I might, the camera doesn't see him quite like I do.
Hello friends! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend. Today's lesson is about using clipping masks in Photoshop. For those of you who already know about clipping masks, this will be pretty basic for you. If you do not know how to use clipping masks, you will be singing my praises after watching this video. I'd love to see your own experiments after you watch this video. Make sure and include links to your creations in the comments section or submit them to our Monday Lesson Flickr Pool.
Have a great week!
JS says:
Amazing! Can't wait to try it out. Thanks So much for the Lesson.
(07.08.10 @ 03:20 PM)
Nan says:
This is great! Thanks!
(07.10.10 @ 07:30 PM)
Claudia Eubanks says:
Wow. and I thought I was going to be able to go to sleep early tonight... I just can't resist trying this out. Thanks Farrah.
(07.10.10 @ 09:42 PM)
I know I have been neglecting my blog this past week or so...life is crazy hectic! We leave for California in less than a week! I'm doing my best to get all my loose ends tied up before we go. I've been shooting like crazy too! Today I had an amazing newborn session. One of the best things about what I do is that I get to see families grow up together. I love this particular family! They have 2 incredible little boys who I have been photographing for about 4 years and now, finally, a little baby girl! I have two boys as well and when Terra told me she was having a little girl, we both were like, I'll believe that when I see it! Well, here she is!
Isn't her little dress just too much?! My friend, Seanna (her company is Ivy & Holland), made this amazing little creation. Don't you love it? Well, good news for you! This fall, I am going to be opening up a new retail area in my studio and Seanna's gorgeous creations will be part of the fun. We will also be selling fun camera straps, camera and lens bags, small frames, custom cards and other unique local craft items. If you know of any local crafters who have interesting things to sell, please send them my way!
Hope you guys all have a great holiday weekend! I'd love to see your favorite shots this Friday. Leave links to your images, blogs, flickr, etc. in the comments section below or submit your images to my Favorite Shot Friday pool on Flickr.
Isn't her little dress just too much?! My friend, Seanna (her company is Ivy & Holland), made this amazing little creation. Don't you love it? Well, good news for you! This fall, I am going to be opening up a new retail area in my studio and Seanna's gorgeous creations will be part of the fun. We will also be selling fun camera straps, camera and lens bags, small frames, custom cards and other unique local craft items. If you know of any local crafters who have interesting things to sell, please send them my way!Hope you guys all have a great holiday weekend! I'd love to see your favorite shots this Friday. Leave links to your images, blogs, flickr, etc. in the comments section below or submit your images to my Favorite Shot Friday pool on Flickr.
judy dickinson says:
First best look at my new granddaughter------thank you Farrah...your work is beautiful!!!
(07.04.10 @ 08:50 PM)
Sharon Chandler says:
Beautiful as always, Farrah! Enjoy your vacation!
(07.06.10 @ 10:06 AM)
Sweet, sweet, sweet!
Love his puffy, little lips! I'm also a big softie for that full head of newborn hair because both of my boys had little shaggy heads like this...totally takes me back, sigh...
This one is my absolute favorite. I love the look on his little face!
Love his puffy, little lips! I'm also a big softie for that full head of newborn hair because both of my boys had little shaggy heads like this...totally takes me back, sigh...For those of you who have been to the studio, you know that I have a love affair with baby hats. I collect them. This sweet little pilot cap is one of my new finds. Love it?
Many congratulations to the Tristans! Thanks for sharing your sweet little boy with me for an hour. He's so precious!