Branching out onto Youtube

So these days it's usually the later hours that I've been able to find time to do any kind of work, now that Ophelia is a permanent resident in our home. Our schedules have been uprooted and now our entire focus is on our beautiful daughter. With that in mind, I try my best to grab some editing time around midnight -when Natalie and Ophelia are both grabbing some sleep between nursing times.

One of the projects that I've been slowly putting together are photo slideshows. I've done a few of them in the past, but recently realized that posting these videos on Youtube is a great way to further market my photography. Since I have yet to finish any videos -being a new father and all- I thought to post this satirical Youtube video about Creative-Client relationships placed in real world situations: 

In Miami, I worked for many other photographers whom dealt with the exact behaviour that this video exposes. Earning a living as a creative can be a brutal and tough business, especially when dealing with clients like the ones in the video. Thankfully, there are people who do value the effort a creative artist puts into his/her work. They are the people that make working as a creative the fun and fantastic job that it is.

Like I said, I'm still working on my own Youtube videos/slideshows. I'll post them as soon as I can. Until then, you'll have to wait for your weekly dosage of vitamins for your optic nerves. :D

Our gem, Ophelia

Here are some of my favorite selected images of my new daughter Ophelia. She is a gem, completely adorable. Being Ophelia's father is the best experience that I could ever hope for. Most of these images were shot at the hospital. As new parents, Natalie and I had a great experience thanks to the wonderful hospital staff.

This shot is when the doctor brought Ophelia out of Natalie, via C-section. The surgery was a wise choice, as Ophelia was a 9.96 pound baby. The anesthesiologist's reaction was, "That's not a baby, that's a toddler!" 
Here I am, moments after becoming a happy and well-pleased Papa.
One of many bonding moments with my new daughter. She took every available opportunity to wrap me around her little finger too.
Ophelia's initials are O-P-A-L. Natalie and I named her this way on purpose to show exactly how precious she is to us.
Ophelia is an amazingly alert baby. It really surprises us what she is capable of and adds to our joy as her parents.
Here is the "Spoon family" finally leaving the hospital. After five days inside, we were ready to go home!
And a final shot of me smothering my daughter with a kiss. I love this pic, her facial expression is priceless. Ophelia is definitely her own little person. We're glad that she is what represents the best of us. Natalie and I couldn't possibly be any happier about that. 

Well, there always is the option for twins next time... :D

Sussurros perto da Agua

"Sussurros perto da Agua" is Portuguese for "whispers by the water." The phrase invokes an enigmatic feeling with me, as do the images that I am posting today.

Yet there is great news to share! My daughter was born last week, on the 18th. She is a new gem in my life and a beautiful, healthy baby. I have a wonderful fiancée who labored long and hard until we ultimately we chose a C-section (per doctor's recommendation) to prevent any complications. And we made the right choice. I couldn't be any more pleased than I am now. My daughter is lovely, strong and already working at wrapping me around her finger. My partner is a wonderful, brave and magnificent woman for enduring what she did to bring our daughter into the world. In light of such a fantastic milestone, I wanted one final chance to post some maternity photos that I shot of my fiancée out along the Ruston Way Waterfront. These images were at her 9th month of pregnancy. So enjoy! Vitamins for your optic nerves.

The Maternity Race

So I've been building a lovely portfolio of maternity pics these past few weeks. Our due date is today, so I only have a few more days to work until we're induced next week. I've been quite satisfied with the images that I have shot so far, but time is running by fast. I have a beautiful muse to work with, and I couldn't be happier about that. But will I be able to get all those fantastic maternity shots that I want? Such as this one?

Perhaps not. But I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey so far. Not as much a race, as a pathway that we have shared. One of parenthood. A path that we'll continue to tread together as time goes, racing by much faster than we ever can..