I sleep in on Saturday Morning to hear the boys come tell me as I am still half asleep that daddy wants breakfast, toast, eggs, juice, coffee, I give them half a wave and say no and my head is hurting and I was a bit confused for my husband was suppose to be at work, then I remember oh yes, the snow. I told the kids no, tell daddy mommy needs to sleep more because after all I was awaken by Lucas then by Joshua who did not go to sleep right away and was crying about what? who knows, all I know is I had been going to bed very late and had such broken sleep, I just wanted to sleeeppppppppppzzzzzzzz. I did feel bad for the hubster but my body just could not do it and when I saw he was home and I could indeed sleep some wore, I dozed off. When I did finally get my aching body to sit up on my bed, I saw the boys running back and forth and giggle through the door cracks. As  I got closer, I heard plans of snow, one had a crooked hat on, scarf almost reaching the floor and the other one glove and joshua saying lets find the glub. They were plotting they snow play date which they had planned in their minds as they say the almost foot of snow outside. I sadly told them no and they whined but soon forgot about it and went to their next adventure. Today I woke up to such a bright day agfter only 5 hours of sleep but good sleep, slept almost 5 hours straight for me, after having drunk some Brazilian Cha Matte tea and it felt good to get up before 9 a.m. I went straight for a long shower to wash my oh so crazy hair. The sunrays were bleaming in the window and were hitting my back as I scrubbed and scrubbed my scalp and felt so good to take a nice warm shower on what looked like a cold cold day. My husband knocked on the door to check on me for I had been in the shower  a long time, he asked : Are you ok? You are gonna melt soon if you stay any longer and I knew that was my queue.  I quickly got out to get the boys ready for church and finish getting dressed myself and as Max went to go turn on the car Joshua threatened to go outside and I told him he could not. He said he wanted to play in the snow and I said no and I also told him Jack Frost was gonna get him. He then started the cutes conversation about how Jack Frost was not going to get him because Jack Frost only gets kids, but I said you are a kid,but he said no, I am good to him,he likes me, he will not blow that wind on me, it was so adorable. I explained to the boys it was too cold and since they did not have the winter gear, they could not go and play outside.

We proceeded to go to church and to my surprise, the snow had not scared anyone and it was still hard to park. I entered first taking the boys to their respective childrens classes, well sort of. Joshua at first did not want to go to any classes and wanted to be with Lucas but the classes are broken up by ages, they all sing together in one big room and then are broken off. Luckily there is this great teacher who lets Joshua go to what was Lucas class which is for the age 4 group but now Lucas is at the age 5 group. Joshua is doing good, today was the second time he stayed all by himself with no big brother and no crying, only a big smile,stories to tell and a crayon scribbled worksheet to show mommy. I love Sundays, life is great and it is simple too. At church, we had a good service but sad enough I sat next to what seems to be a very bitter woman. She would not scoot down when the usher asked her too and she gave him a mad face, she did not say good morning when the Pastor asked us to greet one another and as she was going to get up at the end did not say excuse me to pull her coat which had a piece stuck behind me. So sad really that in the house of worship where God’s word is being preached people are so into their grumpy worlds that they refuse to open up and be at peace and enjoy a beautiful sunny snow day. Perhaps she was having a horrible day or something is very wrong in her life, I can not judge but just notice that I do not want to be like that grumpy.

So as we got home, I said to the boys let us go upstairs, we will grab some plastic bags and place it over your feet and go play in the snow. Max even made his first snow man ever, the boys threw themselves in the snow as if they were diving into an ocean, Joshua even did a snow angel face first and not only on his back. It was a nice simple sunny snowy day and I as I work on my to do list for my trip to MD for Dane Sander’s Fast Track Workshop which I hope does not get canceled fo r rumors of more snow in Baltimore area, I already miss them. They drive me crazy, sometimes they do not leave me alone for more than 7 minutes calling me saying mommy I want juice,  I want a cookie, I want #2, he hit me, I want to watch noggin oh but I want to watch something different, that car is mine and I want to open the door and so on and on. I look forward to these trips where I will have some me time and learn more about my business and learn to be a better person and when it gets close  I already miss them even if they drive me crazy and in these pictures you can perhaps see why I do miss them already and keep thinking if they will be ok at the sitter, will they sleep well at my mom’s, will they eat okay. I know I know, it is only 3 nights but I worry, hey I am a mom even if I am not the greatest mom or maybe not even  a good one, being perfectly honest, but I do love them and   I am thankful to God for the simple sunny snowy sundays, maybe not so much the snow, rather the beach but hey I will take the sunny and simple part.

Now here are my attempts to take pictures with the first family Snow man. Vote on your favorite.

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

Take 4

Take 5

take 6

And the Finale with Daddy the creator of Mr. Snow Man.

and now for some more fun in the snow, I know this is long but can’t help it.

I had to play too right?

So ever since I started my blog, I have been wanting to interview folks, other photogs and then vendors or just over all cool people. Thought about naming it Fuse Coffee Talks, Fuse Reviews, Feuza Ask’s so still wondering what is best name for this section so today it will under Fuse News. It will be every Friday and I am open to ideas, we will have some video on location with folks too and some very hip folks lined up already but I am very happy to kick it off with a great interview of fellow Fast Track member Kristi  Crosson who is offering something so unique for her brides and I love that! Looking forward to meeting you Kristi!

1. What is your photographic story? why photography

I have had a camera in my hand from a very young age. There’s a photo of me at the age of 8 with one of the 110mm rectangular cameras in my hand. Photography has always fascinated me and as a hobby, it was my creative outlet. I went to college for Theater and Biology intending to go to Physician’s Assistant School. One of my classes was in Black and White Film photography and I L.O.V.E.D. every moment of it. A year before I graduated college my amazing sister (who is also a photographer) bought me my first DSLR camera. The love of photography was kindled even more. Someone actually hired me that year (2006) to do senior portraits…I have certainly come a long way since then. In 2007, after graduating college, my best friend from elementary got married back east. I was the unofficial second photographer. When I got rave reviews from all of her family and friends about my images, I started considering that maybe I could be a professional photographer…part-time. So that was the beginning of my journey as a professional photographer, and the start of my love for photographing weddings.

2. What kind of work do you usually do?

I have captured images of events, families, newborns, teens, children, engagements, and weddings…pretty much anything. I now focus mainly on weddings and engagements, but have recently discovered a real passion for maternity and high school seniors. I love the excitement and joy associated with weddings and maternity, and for seniors… well, if you’ve been around teenagers much, you’d find out that they are a B.L.A.S.T.

3. Nikon Chick? Canon Babe or none of the above?

I am a Canon babe by default. My first DSLR camera was a Canon Rebel xTi. I now also shoot with a Canon 40D while I save up for that 5D Mark 2 that I have been dreaming of…

4.Tell me about your ideas for photographing the plus-sized bride, tips, ideas

As a married woman, who is overweight, I have a unique perspective on how it feels to be in the “Plus-Size” category. I think that our media does a great job at telling overweight women that they are not as beautiful as their skinny counterparts. I do a great job of telling those women otherwise. I believe (truly) that all women are beautiful, and it is up to me as a photographer to capture that beauty that is already there, and show it to them. I understand that there are certain angles that are just not as flattering to someone with a little more meat on their bones. So here are 4 tips from me to you about photographing the plus-size bride:

a. Don’t photograph them if you do not think that they are amazing and radiant and beautiful. Seriously. I have heard photographers

put down their plus sized clients and demean them on forums. If you don’t think they are truly beautiful and that you can make them

shine, don’t take their business.

b. Once you know that you are “for” your client, make sure to affirm them (you should be doing this anyways, but I think it is important to

note here) on their wedding day.

c. Angles, angles, angles. Its all about the angles. There is a little more to be aware of when photographing plus-sized brides. Arms for

instance. A good way to minimize arm size in any bride is to break it up. Use the veil to help frame her face, while bringing attention

away from the arms. In bride and groom shots, you can have the grooms hand on the upper part of the arm. Do not photograph a

larger bride straight on. Turn her body slightly, and look for flattering angles. Do not photograph her from below her face, if anything,

have the camera angle slightly above where she is standing or sitting. If she tilts her head up toward you, it can minimize a larger face

size.

d. I personally am against using photoshop to slim a bride down. I want her to see herself as beautiful whether she is big or not, and I feel

that by using photoshop to make them skinny, it perpetuates to idea that plus-sized brides are not beautiful. If you are not against it,

and your client wants it, then that is another option for you.

5.What is advice you would give for somebody just starting out?

To someone just starting out, who wants to start a photography BUSINESS, I would recommend that they learn everything they can about running a business successfully. Learn about branding, marketing, being a CEO, creating Standard Operating Procedures, etc. Also, I would recommend that they find a photographer who is willing to let them be an assistant or second photographer. Learn how to use the manual settings on your camera, learn about lighting, and using a flash effectively. It will save you a ton of time in the long-run. It will also help you determine what areas of photography you are passionate about, and have a knack for.

6. Where do you see your business in 5 years?

In 5 years’ time I see my business being a leader in “Redefining the Face of Beauty” one amazing bride at a time. I see it as a forerunner to show the world that beauty is more than the size of dress that a woman wears. Every woman is beautiful. I really do believe that.

I loved this session with Hannah for it I can see her changes more now that she is exploring on her own, she did not want to be held at all but preferred to be on the floor trying to reach from one corner to another playing and being a girlie girl. I really love how intense her eyes are, she smiles with her eyes, too cute. So with out much further a do, here is part II of this awesome session of Hannah and her parents Rita and Rodrigo.

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We had some fun and tried a few new things which Hannah did not seem to mind.

Can we say drama queen?

Still cute anyway.

There are lots more so check out the SLIDESHOW***

There is a toast done by the new God parents of the child as well as the child’s parents and I wanted to show more of the fun, and did I mention, there is dancing? lots of dancing, stomping feet Portuguese style and it is loads of fun. For the Christening, as tradition, there is this special song that is done. The  child and parents get in middle of the dance floor and they play this song that says God Bless my family ( quite emotional actually) and then the other family members and friends start making circles and circles and circles around the main family and pretty soon you are squeezed in but it is so neat. As I stated in the first part of this event is how much the Portuguese Value family time together, lots of laugh, fun, lots of food and here comes the familia dance. Here are some more of the partyyyy.

P.S  Did I mention that cute elderly couple holding Justin is Justin’s Great Grandfather and Great-mother from Portugal, they are so cute.

P.S.S I will be in D.C next week for the Dane Sander’s Road Show and he will be speaking at the PUG on the 9th, all are welcome from 7 p.m- 9p.m

P.S.S.S working on a fusion slideshow for this event- more to come

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As some of you who follow my blog might know I do a month to month of baby Hannah Joy and we are getting close to her big turning 1 day. She is in such a funny stage, little, cute, funny and demanding, yes demanding. Little Miss Joy sure knows what she wants and that is to explore. She is exploring moving from one piece of furniture to the next, to being on the tip of her toes to finding big things on her hair and not wanting them, at least not on her head. It is interesting to observe how children even at a very young age have their own tastes and wants and they go for it. Many of us adults lose that childlike faith and we have tastes and wants and we many times do not go for it. I read a great post on J*’s blog today and she interviewed the first blog that she really followed’s auther and it stated the following.

Before the publisher of my first memoir Straight Up And Dirty became my publisher, she’d read my book proposal about moving on after living in an awful relationship with a husband whom I came to refer to as the “wasband.” Then, she scoured my blog. She read writing samples, saw that I photographed red carpet events, and noted that New York’s Hotel Gansevoort furnished all it’s rooms, suites, and corridors with my photography. She wanted to know, “Now, wait. Are you a photographer or a writer?”

Rather than responding, “Both,” I simply told her, “I’m a storyteller.” Sometimes I tell it with a lens, and sometimes it comes out in words. Really, it depends what I have on hand. Photography and writing are simply different vehicles, different mediums of storytelling. And yeah, they utilize a different skill set, but the attention to detail is the same. Capturing that gesture takes technique, but noticing it takes talent. Technique you can learn, but talent is instinct.

What I’ve learned as a storyteller is that it takes courage (and a modicum of confidence) to move in the direction of your dreams. It’s not about finding your “voice” or your unique “style.” It’s not about mimicking the style of those you admire. It’s about having the courage to do it your way, without apologies. It’s about taking risks. Letting go of the familiar, pushing your boundaries and exploring. Taking a different path home each day, sitting at a restaurant alone for dinner, leaving what you know, so you’re forced to see things differently.

The post goes on about how the writer is her self and puts herself out there and this is debate sometimes among photographers and bloggers if they are putting too much out there and if it is transparent. Recently I just met in person with a FB friend Jen from Harrington Limo and she said to me after talking, she said you talk just like you write and that was such a compliment because through my blog I want you to know who I am even with my cave woman hair, bad parenting skills, dreamer, big mouth, big heart, late nighter, dreamer, photographer, mother, wife and most importantly Jesus follower. Some days it is almost impossible to have the courage to do it your way and taking risks and letting go cause all around you wants to contain you and to contain your passion and all the self doubts and not being all in clings on to like a plague but you pick your self up, look over things, cry, take deep breaths, watch some t.v, sleep, play with your kids and you get back to the game board and you also see what needs to be done differently. This post was not planned for tonight and these thoughts are spontaneously coming as I write, but this is me, this is Feuza. Here are some sneak peaks of this cutie petutie I did today, can not wait to show you more because we played around with some things and went on exploring.

P.S remember how I said I have not been using photoshop but lightroom presets well there was a great post on actions vs. presets on DPS today and you should check it out.

P.S.S what is the # blog I follow well Justin and Mary- why? beautifully written, incredible sharp images and it gets more updated than I can keep up with and I so  love that. Mary wrote an incredible post of work, blogging, life, check it out here.

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I have mentioned before that a Christening is like a mini wedding, there is a getting ready session where the baby or child gets dressed by God parents and God parents gives baby/child gifts such as gold bracelets or necklace then we hurry to church for mass and then christening is immediately following. Last but not least we head to receptiopn hall to partyyyyy. Well Portuguese parties are always so much fun and one thing that really caught my attention in this event as I stood there and observed because this is what we are hired to do, not to participate in the party but to stand on the sidelines and as my friend Dave says, antecipate moments and there were so many moments around me, people greeting each other, kisses on the cheek, cute little portuguese older men with their hats chatting away about who was winning the soccer game and chatting while waiting on line to get some delicious sea food and loads of appetizers and then of course the dancing. So what I observed the most was this sense and commitment to FAMILY, this is such an important day for them that that really take the time to spend with family, they laugh, they eat for hoursssss and feed the photographers like crazy and they dance and they live and this is what I need more in my life. I get so sucked by the business that it is easy to let the other more important things in my life slip away but I pray to God for wisdom and I ask for forgiveness to my loved ones and then I sit on the sofa and hug and eat and watch movies and maybe even do a little dance. Life is good folks, enjoy it daily. Here are a few pixs of Justin’s Christening and slideshow coming soon. A long post, could not help it!

P.S Already have some folks lined up for my Feuza Ask’s section which I will be starting next week. I can not wait.

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P.P.S I will be in D.C area from 02/09- 02/11- let’s meet up!

So today I am taking husband for a surprise getaway to celebrate his birthday. It will be a kid free romantic quick escape and I can not wait! We are staying at the place we stayed for our 1 year anniversary so it will be interesting going back there after 4 years and also differant season. I am looking forward to a computer free weekend, woo hoo! I love the pc and my social media but really need some relax time for myself and for my family, it is so easy to get so wrapped in the BUSINESS and life is just to short, remember 80/20 rule, and do joyous things. I have such a great week filled with awesome news, interviews and latest is I was invited to be an expert blogger for the Bridal Crate Magazine and if you are in wedding industry they are having a great advertising listing rate, I mean $5, sweet deal and lots of exposure for you and your work and/or product. I also have been going to lots of events lately and went to a fabulous open house tonight, will talk more about that in different post. So I would like to leave you with some sneak peaks of Justin’s Christening which happened last Sunday, it was a great time because Portuguese folks know how to partyyyy. Have a great weekend everyone.

Last week I had the pleasure to listen in to Jesh De Rox talk to Dane on www.askdane.com, you should check it out, the live recording at Imaging USA . One thing he asked was, what brings you Joy? And he then said do more and more and more of that and it made so much sense. Then I made a list of things that made me joyous and thought hum I need to do more of this and I will be in better mood and perhaps more productive but more importantly I will be HAPPY because isn’t that what it is about, sometimes we think it is about success and making money, great things too but what if you get there to the top and you are not happy? Isn’t better to be happy along the way instead of thinking you will one day be happy. I am reading the book the “The 4-hour work week” and just gotten to the part where the author talks about Elimination and said some of the same ideas, I will quote it here:
80/20 rule which I think is a great exercise-

1) Which 20% of sources are causing 80% of my problems and unhappiness
2) Which 20% of sources are resulting in 80% of my desired outcomes and happiness?

Then he went to say that he found out that only 5 customers were bringing him over 90% of the income and he was spending all this time calling all these are people that were just taking energy from him ( could so related to that especially in beginning of my photography business) and making him unhappy so he says

I then identified the common characteristics of my top-five customers and secured three or similarly profiled buyers in the following week. REMEMBER MORE CUSTOMERS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY MORE INCOME. More customers is not the goal and often translates into 90% more housekeeping and a paltry 1-3% increase in income.

He also said instead of having this huge to do list, take a piece of paper that you can fit in your pocket and write 1 or 2 urgent things or things that if you did just those things, you would be satisfied and then go on your day to do other things like fun cool stuff so this sparked my interest. I work up Saturday having 2 important things to do for my Sunday Christening shooting event and then decided I would take the boys to the Liberty Science Center. We had driven by it on our way to the city many times and Lucas was especially interested. When I saw the T.Rex Sue Exhibit was launching that day, it was a green light. I got dressed up and pickup up my sister Ana and we headed to a fun filled afternoon of discoveries, dinosaurs, learning and even creepy creatures. I so loved the Center and we even watched a 3D Dinosaur documentary. It was such a relaxing time even with little Joshua acting up a bit and the day made me smile and made me happy. It was also a pretty much computer free day. As I was driving back home, my husband said he was cooking dinner for some friends to come over, perfect or what? I do plan to eliminate more things that cause me stress and suck up my energy, eliminate and automate so you could live the good life. Here is a glimpse of mine. Be sure to watch the SLIDESHOW*** to see more pixs.

Fuse News ( p.s if I like you enough, I will let you call me fuse, some very close friends of mine from high-school call me that and I like it.

• We are touching up the blog, testing out some things so some changes now and more in near future and I hope my website will be launched next month.
• I also was invited to lead a Fast Track Brasil group which I am so excited and nervous about since it will be an international group of photographers in Brazil or Brazilian Photographers to get insight on our local Fast Track Groups here. It is a test out phase before Dane goes to Brazil in April. If you are Brazilian, I ask that you join us, more info coming soon.
• I was contacted to be interviewed by a local paper today and I can not wait to see final print
• Q & A by the Fuse- I will be interviewing some fun guests in wedding industry, this includes, photographers, vendors, planners, so if you want to be interviewed just contact me under contact me form up on the blog.
• Want to sign up for my newsletter to receive my current Valentines’ Day offer? then use contact form and sign up

I met Yardia on 12/12/09 during the NJ Help Portrait Session and we chatted for a bit and exchanged cards. Then we hooked up on twitter and I saw that see also applied for the Soar Scholarship as I did and then we began chatting more and more. She had written to me and Ariane, also another soar applicant and suggested we did a shoot swap. I saw that Yadira needed one quickly and although I was not ready to get mine done I offered to do hers. It was all last minute and the plan was, take the kids and her husband would babysit them and we quickly go out and get the Bio Pixs done. So I met her up in Englewood, NJ at her lovely home. I feared my boys would not want to stay but as soon as they saw her little adorable 3 year old Joshua, they went on to play. We of course ran out before anything happened and drove down to city center to scout out some cool spots. Luckily it was not freezing cold and the sun was out. There were so many little cool spots and we tried hitting most of them. Our favorite though was the spot found on the end which we could shoot there for house. We went up a hill and found this parking lot with a view of the buildings in the town but also found a staircase which lead to this funky ally with green leaves falling down a wall, dirt, ally, all the nitty gritty stuff both Yadira and I love. Yadira is fun, passionate, vibrant and has such a beautiful smile. You would think she had done this before since she posed away and I did not have to say much. I had a blast with her and I am looking forward to a retreat for Creative Christian Women she is organizing which will be in June, check out her Point of Creation too. Here are a few of my favorites and be sure to check out the SLIDESHOW***

P.S Photographers- I have been with out Photoshop and I do miss some actions but cool to see what I can do using Lightroom~

Been meaning to blog on so many things so here is a quick post to my readers and friends. Have I told you how much I appreciate your visit? even if you do not comment, I am so happy you are here. It has been a crazy start for the new decade filled with events, new friendships and connections and anticipation for what is to come but I am glad I am busy as a bee and working towards my goals. Here is just a few random things happening lately.
I have been invited to lead a Fast Track Brasil group on Facebook which I could not be happier about! More info on that to come, so if you are a Brazilian Photographer, find us on Facebook. I am very pumped, excited and a bit scared but I am getting on that train, sorry had to throw that line in there. I watched the Polar Express with the kids tonight and my favorite line was when the Conductor told the main kid, The Dream! It is not about where you are going but about getting on. So what are you getting on? What have you longed to do? Two days ago I heard a great conversation between Dane Sanders and Jesh De Rox and Jesh said, what is it that bring you Joy? do more of that, every day and it was so powerful, you should listen to it, ( www.askdane.com) I need to and it is so true, I want to ride roller-skates in Santa Barbara, I want to make fun pannini sandwiches for my kids, I want to go see Sea Lions, Kiss my husband in Wine Vineyards in Napa, visit Museums and laugh til it hurts and gaze at the stars, life is too short, if we do not stop and notice it, it passes us by so are you getting on that Dream Train or what? So I did something on Wed I had never done before, I went to the ballet to celebrate Bianca’s Birthday ( very talented Brazilian photographer, check out her work). I faced many challenges getting there but must say it was nice to watch a story told with no words. I did keep thinking Romeo would scream out to Juliet and vice versa any minute but they were amazing actors and you so understood the story even if you had never heard of Romeo and Juliet. I think we are so used to so much stress going on, busy schedules, meetings and talk talk talk so it was nice to listen to the orchestra and to watch the dancers. It was my first time at the Lincoln Center and love the city lights and NY vibe even in the cold. We headed to a nearby restaurant for some chat time and must confess it has been a while that I do that and felt I need to do more of that cause life is short and if we do not stop to notice it does pass us by. Here are a few pixs from our get together.