Melinda Downing Design

lumberyard maternity shoot

Ani was kind enough to indulge my request to do her maternity shoot at the lumberyard. I love non-traditional shooting. I get a little nervous on location, when I am faced with full, overhead, bright sunlight. I kept seeing these GREAT places to photograph that were drenched in harsh sunlight, I hinted that we may have to come back some evening around 7pm when the light is yummy. It was fun though to search for the sheltered spaces where the light was perfect.  Isn't she just gorgeous? I'm really excited to photograph the baby next month, but... not at the lumberyard. Thanks Ani for putting up with the heat and the dust.

back at the studio

beautiful melana will have a sister in less than a month

Sees Candy, Monkey Hill and Zackeria

After teaching about fifteen yoga classes last week, this is how I ended the week. Only problem was when I got home and opened my custom filled box, my Tipperary Bon Bons were not inside. The Sees Candy lady made a mistake and put three chewy caramels in the box instead, which was actually OK, but I do love those Bon Bons. My friend Hannah turned me onto them when we stopped at Sees on the way to the movies and she bought a whole bag of her favorites, many of which I had never tried. Thanks a lot Hannah, just what I need... more favorite candies.

Zackeria and Max playing the Piano. When I get my new Canon 5D Mark II camera, with video capabilites, Zack will be the star of my first movie.

Today we drove up to Monkey Hill - our little peice of Heaven at 3800 ft in the Sierra National Forrest. Can't you just smell the Bear Clover? The Blackberries were just showing up on the thorned branches and there were Monarch Butterflies everywhere and plenty of Mosquitoes.

Avery

Avery was only six days old when these photos were taken. She was awake for the first 90 minutes of the two hour session. When she did slip off to sleep we were able to get some wonderful sleepy images. I'm experimenting with some vintage, soft, toned effects in addition to the classic Black and White, which always works well for newborn photos.  Avery is such a beautiful little baby, she looks good in all of them. I always tell the parents to try and have their newborn photos done before the baby is 10 days old. They will never be this teeny tiny again and you don't want to miss this window of opportunity.

bad blogger

It's been well over a month since I've updated this blog. There was a family wedding in Salem (post coming soon) new twin nephews to meet, busy at the yoga studio and lots of work on websites. I am just finishing up a site for a best selling author of thrillers, who is an amazing woman. I'll post a link when it's complete. Next I start a site for an author/astrologer for a well known magazine, I can't wait to get to know her better... and another for a sculptor who does beautiful bronze work and lives in one of the most amazing places I've ever visited in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, overlooking a rushing creek.

In 3 days my 7 ft octodome softbox arrives. My first subject will be my brother who is a songwriter and musician. He wrote a song that is being recorded by a former member of a popular band of the late 70's... more on that later. Sorry if it sounds like I'm name dropping....I just keep meeting the most interesting people.

Here is a sampling of some of the sessions I've done this month.

Juan Manual, such a little gentleman.

and his brother, Osiel.

Natalie

Meet Kyle

I broke my "I don't do groups" rule for this very special family.

This is the size family I like to photograph

Lizzy

Sam

Taylor June

my new twin nephews, Liam and Charlie.

Lori and Sam

I loved Sam's shoes

blossom trail

Sometimes I remember that I live in a really beautiful place, like last month when I drove with my mom and brother all over the valley looking at an endless landscape of blossoms.  April and May are my two favorite months here in California's central valley.

Seniors

I am finding that I really, really enjoy photographing Seniors. Meet Kasey and Matthew. I photographed Casey in her beautiful backyard, Matthew in the studio, his backyard and the alley. Mom probably wont want the one in front of the dumpster, but I love it.

a few from February

I have not seen The Wrestler (the movie) yet, but I did see Matthew the wrestler when I attended my first wrestling match. Matthew made it to the finals at this high school match. I hate boxing, the idea of people punching each other seems really stupid to me, and I knew wrestling would be different but I did not think I would enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised that I found it engaging, and was impressed at the strength, agility and technique applied by these young high school wrestlers. Matthew practices yoga and I can see how much a yoga practice can help a wrestler and I totally love it when a high school boy practices yoga. Way to go Matthew.

The lovely Roseanne, in her Furniture Showroom Design Center at Hemisphere Furniture. If you live in Fresno, check out the cool modern pieces and be sure and pop into Consignment Cottage next door for some bargains.

What would February be without Valentines cookies? These are my creations after attending a "cookie therapy" class taught by fellow yogi Susan. And YES! they tasted as good as they look. I now know how to make chocolate leaves and if I ever have time to throw a dinner party, I will have the coolest dessert, so thank you Susan! Check out the Yoga For Living website, that's Susan on the home page, blending in nicely with the trees.

rocky point

Visiting friends in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco, Mexico) over New Years, this is the view from their balcony. It was a 12 hour drive each way from California, but worth every mile. The best tortillas I've ever had, amazing sunshine and the meeting of the desert and the ocean was something more spectacular that I had imagined.

 

Here is Otis. Otis may have a condo on the beach but he has known great hardship.... not too long ago he met up with a rattlesnake in his backyard in Arizona and lost an eye.

 

His companion, Raider is more wolf than dog and gets a lot of attention when walking on the beach. He can look pretty scary at times but is really a gentle spirit and quite beautiful.

New Years Eve was a party on the beach complete with bonfires. Here is Michael with his buddy, Tim.

 

last session of 2008

These two sisters, Coco and Clover had just returned from England where they lived for a year and they both came home with these darling little British accents.  Even though I have known them from birth, I kept mixing up their names, that's when Coco said... just call us CloCo that's what people call us when they can't figure it out. Dad came along while Mom ran some errands. Their Mom often posed for me when I was in College taking photography classes. The last photo is probably 15 years old and more than likely shot with one of my homemade lights from the hardware store- you know the kind you clamp on the hood of a car when checking the battery. The whole set up was less than $10. Way cheaper then the Profoto lighthead I'm expecting UPS to deliver any day. I can't mention the cost of that one as my husband may read this blog.

Coco

Clover

with Dad

Mom, sometime in the early 90's

holiday blur

This past week has been a blur....it started with a quick trip to Los Angeles for a workshop with Scott Kelby, the Photoshop and Lightroom Guru. He is the best selling computer book author in the world. There were over 700 people at this workshop - so large it had to be held at the Convention Center. I love the way Scott teaches, he breaks things down into the most simple of terms so that learning is fun and easy. Since then I have pretty much been at my computer 12-14 hrs a day editing photos, cards, canvas wraps and books for holiday orders. My thinking is that next August there will be some smokin deals for folks wanting to order their cards early. I'm finding I am not the only big-time procrastinator out there. No complaints though. I am blessed to have so many wonderful clients.

when I first looked into rachel's eyes, I knew I had to photograph her.
this is not photoshop magic, it's really her eyes.

Foxtail Galleries in Clovis CA has the largest collection of geodes, crystals,
amethyst and citrine on the west coast. I'll post more images later-
some are 8 feet tall. amazing. Working on a catalog for them.

this mom and son are a joy to be around. whenever I photograph him
he is so happy - no shortage of smiles with this one and he is easy to
amuse with my tupperware collection.

incredibly adorable cousins.

crazy fun family at their annual holiday card shoot