So, there's this thing that happens to me... it happens all the time. I see something and think "that is a photograph waiting to happen." I see it in landscapes, I see it in strangers' faces, I see it in graffiti and buildings and rain and clothing.  Two years ago, I saw this dress.  It's simple and sweet and I saw a photograph in my mind when I found it.  So I bought it, in a size 3T even though my little girl was barely 12 months old.  It was on a clearance rack and was the only one there.  I can't tell you how fast I snatched it up, because I saw these images in my mind of Rowan wearing this dress in a field.  The field pictures are coming soon, but for now I'm posting these... these images that make my heart sing and my soul sigh. 

I'm realizing that, the more I dig inside myself and discover who I am artistically and photographically, the more I'm seeing the beauty in my own work... NOT wanting to be someone I'm not, NOT wanting to imitate someone else's work, NOT wanting to just "shoot it like it is and fix it in Photoshop". I've worked tirelessly on nailing my exposure IN CAMERA with every shot. I've made it my goal to have my images come out of my camera relatively, well, perfect. People ask if I do lots of work in photoshop. My new answer is NO. I used to. And clearly, when I convert something to black & white, or tone an image to look more vintage, I do use photoshop, but I'm really loving my photographs right now, just as they are SOOC (or, "straight out of camera"). The following (besides the black & white, and the shot of Elias) are all straight out of my camera and sized for web.
And that makes me very, very happy.
 blogR_7384.jpg blogR_7435.jpgBlogRowanGrass2.jpgblogR_7404.jpgblogR_7441.jpgblogR_7430.jpgBlogRowanGrass1.jpgblogR_7391.jpgblogR_7390.jpg And, lest you think I've forgotten my firstborn (I assure you, I haven't!)- here's one of him taken last week. I realize I've posted quite a few images of my girls on here the past few weeks. It's funny- my time with Elias is so limited now that he's in school full-time, and I'm feeling bad that he hasn't had a blog-debut for a while. However, there's a big post coming with a whole lot of this boy as his 6th birthday is quickly approaching and we're going out for a big 6-year photo shoot (even got him a sweet new hat for the event!). So, keep checking in....
 
blogEliasChinatown.jpg










Jennifer N says:

I totally agree with you about processing! If u look at my work it's very natural and very little editing. My client galleries are very different from some of the "artsy" images I sometimes post. I want my images to be timeless and not trendy bc I want clients to love their images 10-15 years from now and not just this year! So props to you and your Sooc!

(02.26.10 @ 03:19 PM)
JT says:

I am grateful to be married to such a talented person.

(02.26.10 @ 03:20 PM)
katie williams says:

Perfection, my friend, perfection. I totally agree about the vision thing. I've had one in my head for my boys for a couple of years, and just can't find the time to do it! So glad you followed through with your vision! Love the SOOC - great job!

(02.26.10 @ 03:42 PM)
Lindseybelle says:

Your children are insanely gorgeous!! I love these shots. The colors are amazing!!!

(02.26.10 @ 03:47 PM)
Leilani says:

Stunning. Both your children and the images! I love the composition of the first image, well all of them, but especially that one. You are an amazing photographer.

(02.26.10 @ 03:54 PM)
paul mcpherson says:

these are really nice Rachel.

(02.26.10 @ 04:15 PM)
sarah says:

I love these!

(02.26.10 @ 04:21 PM)
Shari says:

How ironic:) I just got back from a days long seminar about all the millions of things you can do with photoshop and I kept thinking to myself "if I could just get it right in camera in the first place, I would need to know very little of all this". I love what you have done here and would go to a seminar to learn how you did it! Do you do seminars? :)

(02.26.10 @ 07:01 PM)
christy says:

I am SO inspired by you!! These are divine....so pure and sweet.

(02.26.10 @ 08:49 PM)
crystalyn says:

rachel, these are SO BEAUTIFUL. i'm with you on striving to just get it right. the color is so rich. (nikon? haha). perfection.

(02.27.10 @ 08:50 AM)
crystalyn says:

forgot to add that i can pretty much relate to every single word in your post. you're awesome.

(02.27.10 @ 08:51 AM)
Jen says:

You know how much I love these. I see photographs wherever I go as well. It is funny...I'm always imaging photographs, scoping out locations and staring at catchlights. It's a sickness. :) But one that I don't want to recover from.

(02.27.10 @ 11:44 AM)
Misha says:

Those are some of the most amazing shots I've seen, absolutley beautiful. Your awesome.

(02.27.10 @ 06:13 PM)
rachel clare says:

thanks you guys, for the kind words. they are most appreciated.

(02.27.10 @ 06:44 PM)
Cindy says:

Rachel, these are stunning. Way to go on you exposure, white balance... its perfection!

(02.28.10 @ 01:32 AM)
Susan Keller says:

Rachel -
truly these are stunning - what a perfect combination of soft sweetness and crispy clarity all wrapped up in perfect exposure! I can't wait to see your field pictures :-)

(02.28.10 @ 05:27 PM)
Johanna says:

Pure and sweet, both the images and the subjects. And oh my - those eyelashes on both of them! I'm such a sucker for eyelashes! Great job Rachel!

(03.01.10 @ 11:54 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Visions and "feeling it" - riverside, ca child photographer . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://rachelclarephoto.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/67
I've mentioned that I've had this desire to stretch myself and work on shooting just for ME. I've started a project called the one-word project where one word is assigned each week and the goal is then to get four interpretive shots of that word. This week's word was SUGAR. Here's my sugar:
 sugar.jpg

Lindsey says:

That last one with the huge smile makes me want to reach through the screen and grab her! So cute. I'm coming over! ;)

(02.24.10 @ 09:23 PM)
gina says:

LOVE this, rachel!! for some reason, this word was hard for me, but i'm attempting it tomorrow...

(02.25.10 @ 10:19 PM)
Kathy Scoffield says:

Absolutely Precious!!! Those lips are perfect. I could kiss them all day. I adore new little babes. Beautiful work!

(03.02.10 @ 08:56 PM)
Ellen says:

LOVE these - she is 100% sweet! :)

(03.09.10 @ 08:01 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: One Word: Sugar - Corona, CA child photography . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://rachelclarephoto.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/65

She turned three, and suddenly she's "Miss Independent".  Wouldn't let me re-braid her hair, insisted on those great glasses. 
I love it.


fashionista4.jpgfashionista2.jpg


Jen says:

Work it girl!

(02.02.10 @ 08:21 AM)
tara k says:

i LOVE a girl with a mind of her own! reminds me of my own sweet eliza...made purely of style and love. :)

(02.02.10 @ 10:09 AM)
misty Jones says:

Love these!

(02.02.10 @ 02:13 PM)
kathi Cook says:

She's a doll and I love that little curl right up there!

(02.02.10 @ 05:03 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: sassy girl - inland empire child photographer . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://rachelclarephoto.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/52

She gets her fashion sense from me.  Or maybe my mother, whom I love dearly.  Yep- she was rockin' it on Thursday morning- her nightgown, a pink fleece, flaming pink Monster's Inc. socks and flip-flops (a total pet peeve), big white Jackie-O glasses and her hair all fruffy from sleeping in her braids. 

Gosh, I love this girl.

Post-edit: Did I mention we graced Target at 8:15am looking like this?
 
fashionista5.jpg fashionista3.jpg





Jen says:

Now THAT is style. LOL!

(02.02.10 @ 08:20 AM)
Jennifer Chaney says:

OH I LOVE HER! That is classic!

(02.02.10 @ 08:33 AM)
Katie says:

LOVE IT! the socks and flip flops crack me up!

(02.02.10 @ 08:40 AM)
tara k says:

this kills me. she is the CUTEST little firecracker around!

(02.04.10 @ 11:18 AM)
kimberly donohue says:

I love this and the peeps in Target must have been jealous! I think she looks awesome. You go girl!

(02.09.10 @ 01:20 AM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Fashionista - Riverside CA Child Photography . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://rachelclarephoto.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/47
I'm posting this almost 2 weeks late, but wanted to post it none-the-less. My little missy is changing so fast (I always know this is going to happen, and yet I'm continually surprised by it?). I'm grateful she gave me a couple of smiles. I do love her smile.
 maura2mo5.jpgmaura2mo4.jpgmaura2mo3.jpgmaura2mo2.jpgmaura2mo.jpg





Jennifer Chaney says:

Oh my... she is SO adorable! That one just makes me happy! Beautiful work and beautiful daughter.

(01.31.10 @ 08:34 AM)
piper kinney says:

Absolutely beautiful!

(01.31.10 @ 09:23 AM)
Holly says:

Awww. She is so perfectly lovely!

(01.31.10 @ 10:14 AM)
april says:

awwwwwwww.... she is so incredibly beautiful... just like her momma! lovely photos rachel. chills. again. :)

(01.31.10 @ 11:11 AM)
Jen fauset says:

She is so CUTE Rachel!! Wow...she is getting so big so fast. STOP TIME! NOW!

(01.31.10 @ 11:23 AM)
Lindseybelle says:

She is gorgeous!! Wow. Love her clothes!!

(01.31.10 @ 01:36 PM)
Lizzie says:

RACHEL- NO WAY! She is totally changing and I haven't even gotten to cuddle her yet! She is GORGEOUS. I ADORE that picture with the blue-ish background. She is amazing! It makes my heart hurt to see these. I love her and I love you and I just can't wait to see her!

(01.31.10 @ 01:48 PM)
Alison says:

she is soooo cute! and getting so big so fast.

(01.31.10 @ 06:44 PM)
Jen says:

She is absolutely delectable. Just yummy. Can't wait to meet you Miss Maura!

(01.31.10 @ 07:30 PM)
Maria Hays says:

This just gave me a huge case of baby fever! She is absolutely beautiful, Rach!! Love your processing!

(01.31.10 @ 08:05 PM)
Tasha says:

She is just precious...

(01.31.10 @ 10:30 PM)
christy says:

Could she be any cuter?? Love that sweet little smile!!

(02.02.10 @ 06:37 AM)
tara k says:

oh rachel! she is such a beauty...love these shots of her. the sweetest!

(02.02.10 @ 06:54 AM)
Katie says:

Rachel - she's perfect. just perfect. LOVE the smile one. It makes ME smile.

(02.02.10 @ 08:02 AM)
Kristi Larson says:

She is just so delicious! I love her cheeks. I could just kiss them all day long!

(02.02.10 @ 08:58 AM)
Shuva Rahim says:

a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.

(02.02.10 @ 09:02 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Maura Clare, 2 months old - Riverside CA Child Photography . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://rachelclarephoto.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/49