Yay! A Happy Dance Kind of Day!

If you happen to be a self-taught photographer then you will understand why I have been doing the happy dance today.  Today I picked up my first ever, gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, large 16x20 custom framed canvas.  Well, I say it's mine. . . it's really Grandma's, but close enough!

Several of my clients have told me that they have gotten canvas wraps of my portraits but I have never seen them.  Today, was nice.  It was so beautiful, at least to me.  It was something tangible to tell me that my hard work and patience for learning my craft might just be beginning to pay off.

Grandma Birdwell has a 16x20 gorgeous portrait of each of her grand boys on a wall in her home.  Several months ago she called me and warned me that it was time for Chase to have a portrait!  Of course I got the heebee jeebees because it is extremely difficult to photograph your own child.  But, nevertheless, long story short. . . I finally did.  I finally produced a photo that I was pretty confident would look great with the other masterpieces on her wall.  So, we had a canvas print made and off to the frame shop we went.  It didn't take long at all to find the perfect frame.  We both agreed that the one we chose would look great with the photograph.  We had taken Zach's picture down off her wall to bring with us just to make sure we didn't pick out clashing frames since they were to be hung so close together.  Here is where my favorite part of the story unfolds.  Keep in mind that the other boys were taken to a very prestigious photographer here in town.  I won't name names but let's just say IVORY (oh, excuse me, I meant to say EVERYONE) has heard of them.  ;)  When we showed the frame guy Zachary's picture and then my canvas print he was going on and on about how nice the canvas (Chase's) was.  Of course my chest was getting bigger and bigger with pride.  So, I just simply asked which one he liked better for quality, composition, etc.  He decidedly picked mine!  Wow.  What a compliment!!!  And then, even before he knew I was the photographer he was pointing out differences between the two photos and what he liked better about mine.  Of course I was just about to die!  Anyway. . . it was a nice, gratifying moment for me.  I just hope those moments come more in the future.

Yesterday when Grandma let me know that she had been contacted with the news that it was ready for pickup I, of course, volunteered to go for her after taking Zach to school today.  She warned me that they had told her that I would have to have proof of being related to her or have the receipt or something.  I was just thinking I would show my drivers license that has my Birdwell name as proof.  It was pretty funny because when Chase and I were being helped the lady said to me, "well, I guess I have all the proof I need. . . you have the real baby that's in the picture!"  Ha!  Hadn't thought of that.  Chase Parker is perfect proof.

Anyway. . . I'm boring you all to tears.  All these words just to document my first ever canvas that I am super proud of.  I'm so glad I was able to get it for Grandma and for Chase Parker.  I definitely should not give myself too much credit though. . . any picture with my sweet baby boy would be perfection.

Here is a picture of my happiness today. . . .I know, I know. . . it's kind of strange that I chose to take a picture of such beauty with my iPhone Instagram. . . but, I did.

And since we are talking about the extreme cuteness of my baby boy. . . aren't his new shoes adorable? We went shopping for shoes a couple days ago.  He finally grew out of his "new walker" first pair of shoes and has graduated to a firmer sole.  He was so funny when he tried them on in the store.  He was running back and forth, almost dancing.  Can you tell I love him so much????