Blue Bomb Photography: Baltimore Child and Pet Photography

Protected: Hudson and Gavin

erika — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:28:57 +0000

Goodbye Purplesaurus!

erika — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:40:24 +0000

Meet my purple Taurus, Purplesaurus.

I’ve only owned one car. I’ve probably driven less than 10 in the 11 years since I started driving (NY doesn’t let you get a license until 17). It was used as a company car where my father worked and when its time with the company was over, my parents purchased it as a surprise for me. For some reason I loved that car and they got a good deal so that 1996 bad boy was all mine.

Wondering about that color? Factory, baby! It was a very limited color (probably a mistake!) called “Dusty Rose.” The title to it actually says red. Red! I’ve seen VERY few, maybe around 25 of them, since I’ve had it, and I’ve seen them mostly when I’m out of state on some random trip. I liked that it was unique. Though I did always have a fear that someone who was mad at me would see it parked somewhere and mess with it. Luckily that never happened!

I took a trip home to NY in it, and it got me safely there and back. The next day, I had to work in Baltimore and it got me there and back as well. That day, our apartment complex was having trees trimmed so the guys asked if I could park somewhere else and I got back in her and tried to start her up. That’s when she took her last breath, and the ignition popped out. So sad! The tree guys didn’t believe me so they each took a turn trying to turn the key and saying “The ignition really did pop out!” The electricity managed to come on but we couldn’t turn it back off, so then I tried to pop the hood to disconnect the battery and the release didn’t work. I had to get a hammer and pry the hood up and then the tree guys disconnected the battery for me. I was laughing like a maniac because for some reason, each thing got funnier than the last. I guess when it rains it pours!

The picture is from when a guy from Junkmycar.com came to get it. I’ll admit, a few tears were shed. It was like losing a family member! The creeper maintenance guy sat eerily close to the car as the guy was hooking it up to get towed. He sits in the parking lot like that all the time…but that’s probably a post all of its own.

I had been looking at new cars because I had a feeling that was going to happen soon. She had stalled on me a time or 2 in the parking lot at home and I was starting not to trust that I was always going to get home safe. So that same day I ended up going out and getting a car that I was looking at, a blue Dodge Avenger.
from topcarpics.com

Not the fanciest car out there, but I drove the least fancy car possible for 11 years so anything is an improvement! It’s roomy, has a lot of trunk space, and is fun to drive. The “serious” car reviews didn’t rate it very highly, but it was highly rated by all the people who actually owned one. After test driving it a few times, I decided to go with the owners’ opinions. And hey, at $4 a gallon for gas the 4 cylinder engine and 32 miles per gallon is pretty sweet.

White Marsh Pet Photographer: Charm City Animal Rescue Foster Cat Domino

erika — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:14:00 +0000

With sadness I must say that I’m no longer affiliated with HSHC. They’re sorely in need of policy changes and I hope to support those changes in the very near future. That said, I made friends with Michelle and Charm City Animal Rescue and have started fostering! I don’t know how often we’re going to do it since our living situation isn’t ideal for keeping Jack and House separated from the foster for long. But it’s exciting to make even a small difference to these kitties. It’s good to have a place to volunteer while waiting on Luna’s House to get up and running in their new building.

Our first foster kitty came and went really fast. Bryan fell in love instantly because he was a big cuddle bug. Bryan desperately wants a lap cat which ours are not. Well, not for him. House will lay on me. Especially in the middle of the night when I don’t even know it! Ha. Domino’s quarantine room was Bryan’s video game room so they got to spend a lot of quality time together. Domino was adopted within a week so he only got to hang out for a few days but he enjoyed watching birds with our cats and running up and down the hallway with House. I think House liked having a running partner. Jack is very moody about her exercising!

Anyway, now Domino is in his forever home with a woman who loves him which makes me happy. Bryan prefers not to talk about it.

Bullies and Babies

erika — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:56:25 +0000

Perhaps if you’re not Baltimore based, you haven’t heard about this controversy. This article has now been edited to add that the dogs were mistakenly labeled as pitbulls, but not before 98 Rock’s morning show personalities had a breed-bashing session on air. The broadcast certainly stirred up an enormous response that I doubt the station was ready for! Facebook has been buzzing for days. Pit supporters from all over have been posting Facts vs. Myths, personal stories, and just spreading the love while the opposing side seems to think that the dog lovers don’t give a fig about the little girl who was injured. What?! How could people who are supporting the lives of neglected dogs sweep a child’s tragedy under the rug?! That root error seriously undermines any point that was attempted to be made. Like I’ve said before, I never really had much contact with pitbulls before this past year and didn’t have much of an opinion on them either way. But the more I’ve met from volunteering at the shelter, the more I’ve fallen in love with these dogs- and have yet to be bitten. That’s not true for beagles, springer spaniels, mutts, chihuahuas, and probably others I’ve forgotten. Heck, I’ve been beaten up by more cats than dogs!

Anyway! What struck me most was all the pictures that were being posted of people’s kids with their pits. The love that you can feel between the child and dog is unreal, just in these simple camera phone snapshots! Which sparked my idea for a “Bullies and Babies” shoot! I love the idea of doing some sessions with young children and their bully breed best buddies.

Session info: A mini-session can be done at your home, in a park, etc. Anywhere your dog and child will feel comfortable. They usually lasts between 20-30 mins and yields between 10 and 15 images. You’ll receive a complimentary print and some web-sized images to tag the heck out of on Facebook to show your Bully pride! Other images will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to help Baltimore rescues spay and neuter their pits!

If you have a child under 5 and a bully breed, please email me to discuss a complimentary mini-session (in or around Baltimore/Harford County please)!!! If you don’t have a child, borrowing one is fine too! =) Let’s get some Pit-positive imagery out into the world!

Happy 29!

erika — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:28:04 +0000

Today is my birthday. It snuck up on me this year, that’s for sure! If Facebook didn’t let me know that yesterday was Pi Day (3.14, get it?), then I probably would’ve woken up this morning completely unaware until my mother called me at 12:09 to wish me a happy birthday. 12:09 is my official birth time, and mom has never missed a year! Although, you were 2 mins late this year, mom!

I’ve never been one to make a big to-do over my birthday. After all, today’s just a Tuesday. I have to work like every other day. Life goes on for everyone else. In fact, I don’t usually mention that it’s my birthday at all. But for some reason, today was different. I enjoyed telling customers and having them wish me a happy birthday. My sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and nephews brought me cake and balloons at work, which was completely out of their way. It made me smile all afternoon and I proudly shared the cake with coworkers. 29. It feels like this year should be the start of something special. 29! Not yet 30! I still have 1 year before…..before what? Life is over? That doesn’t seem right. 1 more year to make my 20s feel like they counted for something more than bad decisions, failed diets, and credit card debt? Yup, that feels right.

29 is the year to make a difference. I know this. It’s an awkward number, but one with so much potential!

I better have some of that cake before midnight! That’s when cake turns back into asparagus, you know.

Patrick

erika — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:11:30 +0000

Patrick is one of Humane Society of Harford County‘s senior residents. Everyone loves and adores Patrick, but for some reason he always got passed over. Maybe it’s his age? I assure you, he’s got plenty of puppy left in that big pitbull body! After being there just over a year, he’s finally been adopted! No to brag, but I can’t help but think that refreshing his photos had something to do with it =)

Congrats Patrick! May you live out the rest of your days on a nice king sized bed!!!

Bowser’s Boudoir Session

erika — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:16:17 +0000

I’m usually not much into boudoir sessions. Most of the time I can’t even spell boudoir! But when it involves a giant-headed pitbull, I’m all in!

Baltimore Child Photographer: Carlena

erika — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:39:07 +0000

Carlena is now way bigger than you see in these pictures. I fell behind on posting, and she’s growing up and we’ll have to do 3 month pictures to catch up! Actually, we might just have to do college graduation pictures because that’s how advanced she is. I mean, she rolled over during our session all by herself- and I’m pretty sure 10 day old newborns aren’t supposed to do that! So surely by now she’s mastered acrobatics, algebra, and foreign languages.

But as mom says, “she can do anything…as long as she’s not a cheerleader.” =)

How sweet is this chandelier?! Mom is crafty!

And here are older siblings- attention hound Donut

And handsome, sophisticated Nibbler

I hope the next session can yield more shots of the nursery since there was a delay with the furniture. I know it’s going to be adorable!

Harford County Children Photography: A Special Holiday Session

erika — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:43:43 +0000

This session was special to me because the family was the winner of the Bow Wow Boogie auction in the spring. Of course I have a special place in my heart for the families that support the animals!

I did learn a lesson on this shoot: NEVER trust GPS! Make sure to get directions straight from the client, especially when the main road has segments that don’t connect. I felt awful about the lost time, especially when I got there and Miss M was screaming “I don’t wanna take pictures!” Uh oh!

Luckily, mom was prepared. A box of orange Tic Tacs did the trick! haha. I might have to add those to my arsenal! =) We played around and I showed her my camera and then Miss M and her little sister warmed right up. Or should I say hammed it up?

“Watch me twirl!”

We started inside and tried to get a nice Christmas photo.

But the weather for November was SO nice that we just had to get outside for a bit.

We climbed up and down stairs and colored with chalk.

Miss M got a little sassy and went all fashion model on me.

We played hopscotch, and both girls were way better than me!

We ended the day by Miss M showing me her room and all her “secret” stashes of books. I got to see her bed diving skills and then her sister, Little Miss M brought out all her accessories to show me. When we were done playing for the morning, I’m sure great naps were had by all, including Rosie below.

I’m excited for the next Boogie to be coming around the corner!

Random Friday: Girl Talk

erika — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:10:26 +0000

A few years ago, I went back to school to work on a degree in multimedia. One of the requirements was a music and editing class. For our final project, we were supposed to edit together a track using an existing interview provided by the teacher and then whatever else we wanted. I decided to piece together some random parts of songs I liked from a mixed genre of bands with quotes from the interview to try and do a “mashup” sort of thing. I liked my final piece, and after I posted it, a classmate commented that it was like Girl Talk. Girl Talk? I had no idea what or who that was. He sent me a link to MySpace so I could check it out.

Turns out Girl Talk is a DJ/artist from PA who is pretty big in club scenes for his mixes. I listened to the posted tracks and was in awe of the way the clips made up a whole new song and sounded like it was meant to be. It was what I was going for, yet mine was so clumsy and obviously a school project. I listened to Feed the Animals for weeks. Even when I listen to it now, as I am tonight while editing photos, I find something new in each song. I love hearing a sample and thinking, “OH! That’s from THAT song!” Or better yet, hearing a song on the radio and going “That’s where he got that from!”

http://www.myspace.com/girltalk/music

Check it out! Especially if you don’t know what you’re in the mood to listen to…you’ll get a little bit of everything!