The blog has moved!

I am saying goodbye to this old blog and now I have moved on to bigger and better! So from now on come visit me at...
www.cherylyost.com/blog

Still alive!

For all of you who have been wondering...yes I am still alive and I have sessions to blog! But, I am holding off for a while I work on a new blog!!! The start of the new year always brings perspective looking back over 2008. I am changing things up a bit. You are soon to see a few new changes. Until then I will give you a sneak peek at two sessions, one fun 5th grader and an unbelievably beautiful momma!

Catching up...

Wow! It has been a long time since I have blogged. Well...let me catch you up on what's been going on here. It has been an emotional few weeks. I received news that one of the families I took Christmas pictures of lost their mom at the beginning of January. My heart was broken as I spent hours talking to the godmother of one of the small boys. She shared with me how Karla (the mom) did almost everything for her family. I didn't even have words to say how sorry I was about their loss. I have realized that my job is one that is more than just taking pictures...I am documenting life. I do hope that as the little boys grow that they will love the last pictures they have with their mommy.

In the same month that I learned of this loss, I also was blessed with the chance to celebrate in new life. I got the chance to photograph a birth. I can not begin to tell you about how much I love birthography. I hope that as this year moves forward that I will have the chance to photograph more births. I know that some of you are thinking "um, there is no way that birth needs to be photographed" but let me assure you that I spend most of my time at the hospital documenting the "G" rated parts of labor and delivery and a lot of time photographing the baby as he/she gets measured, weighed and given a bath. I love photographing the family's first moments with their new baby. Birth is so amazing and everyone has a unique story to tell. I like telling it through my camera. Hopefully I can share some pictures soon.

Well today I had to take some pictures of my little girl. I thought it would be fun to show you the making of a picture. The first picture will show you how not pretty my backyard is and how even in places that are not "beautiful" that beauty can be created. I am also going to share some of the things I love to photograph and why I love them. Everyone of these pictures are taken with the canon 5D and 70-200 2.8 lens (at a 2.8)

I have no problem breaking the "rules" of photography. I love doing it. Sometimes it's in the rule breaking that I find the kind of art that I love.I am by nature a very detailed person and it will show in my work. I love to photograph hands, feet and small little moments. Rarely will I do a photoshoot and not walk away with detail shots.I know that this one is not of her face but I adore the wispy-ness of her long hair. I don't ever want to forget how gorgeous her hair was at 3 with her sun kissed highlights.I am equally as obsessed with pouty faces as I am with the smiling ones. All over our house are pictures of the kids serious faces.

Grateful

Today I am grateful for many things....


I am grateful for new life and the birth of one of my best friend's babies (she is sleeping soundly in the NICU and doing well) I am grateful for another friend's big news of new life soon to come. I am grateful for 2 sleeping children that are amazing little blessings. I am grateful for my husband who loves me no matter what. I am grateful for my family who will no doubt spoil the kids even though they said they would take it easy this year on the presents. I am grateful for two friends/clients that gave my little girl two presents I only dreamed of getting her. I am grateful for health and the way God always provides what we need. I am grateful for God's gift of his Son...yes for this I am most grateful! This is what Christmas is all about and not for one moment do I want to forget it. I am grateful!

Ro - I hope that even though you will spend this Christmas in the hospital, that it will be great. I am so glad you finally got your girl. She is beautiful and I can only pray that she will grow to be a women of faith and beauty like you! Thank you for letting me do her first photoshoot :) Okay the real one is soon to come...if you do not beat me to it LOL

Blue Sky Sunday

After church this morning we took the kids to the park for a little hike. It was nice to be out of the house after the rain. So many people were out riding their hourses all over the trails. I know that I could never live in a state that rains all the time! I love the blue sky!

I will try to blog before Christmas, but for now....Merry Christmas!

What I should have said!

Do you have that one kid in your family that is constantly getting into things? I do! My son was fairly mellow as a toddler. He played with cars and blocks. He loved patterns of colors and shapes...but not my daughter. Oh no, she is into everything! She has successfully broken 3 DVD players, plugged the toilet twice with toilet paper, she colored our couch with permanent marker, put a cordless phone and walkie-talkie in the bathtub. The list goes on... We jokingly call her the destroyer! And in all honesty she breaks things all the time. What do you do with a girl like this?!!!

BTW - I hope to soon be done with this old blogspot blog! The pictures are too small. Hopefully you can read the rules.

just breathe!

On Saturday I did my last family session for the holidays. Now I am just wrapping up the last few orders, working on my own Christmas cards (it's about time) and baking cookies and caramel popcorn with the kiddos. With every busy season brings excitement and some sadness. I was very excited because it is truly a blessing to photograph families and capture memories. I am very thankful for the business and for clients and friends that trust my vision for photography. The sadness comes after the shooting is done when I am left alone for hours with my laptop and photoshop. I spent hours at the computer while I read facebook updates of friends going to Christmas parties, baking cookies and having fun Christmas shopping. All the while I was at home in a house that was so messy I don't even want to explain what it looked like! I went through a good two weeks of barely leaving my computer. But now it's time for me to once again see and talk to my family and friends and catch up on the loose ends before Christmas.
These pictures are from my last family session. I want to go back and share a few from each session, but for now I will share a few of these :)

I am still alive!

I am still alive and kicking...maybe not kicking. I think I am shuffling along. I have been so busy doing family sessions. My apologies to my friends that have not heard from me in days :) I promise I will come back to life soon LOL

Well, I still am dying to share all of these sessions that I have been doing, but I want to be able to share all of them and not just a few. So until I have time to post that huge blog I am going to share a few pictures of my favorite little girl.

Taking a blog break!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be taking a break from the blog for a while due to the Christmas rush. I am hitting a busy next two weeks. It will be hard not to post because I have photos I am dying to share!

There is one thing I wanted to let all of you know about, just in case you do not. I love the organization world vision and all they do for children and families around the world. 10% of our profits go to world vision and most of the time the money donated will be matched up to 5 times to feed children all over the world! Doug and I have sponsored kids through world vision since we were dating. It's amazing to watch our 2 kids grow from across the world. I know the holidays are among us and giving is so important this time of year. So this is a my HUGE thank you to my clients who allow me to be able to give what I do...Thank you!!!

www.worldvision.org

Beautiful Family

What a beautiful family I photographed last weekend. One of my best friends from highschool (who is also a photographer) is pregnant with her 3rd and she was just put on bed rest. This was one of her great families that she sent my way. Thank you Rochelle for sending them to us :) Back to the session...everyone did great. I felt bad that it was hot and the fires were going on in So Cal. The whole group was great walking all over the park to take pictures. Thank you Paul family for having me photograph you!

How could you not love that face?

Full of smiles :)

This was one of the best family photoshoots ever! Even though they were dressed for the fall and it was 90 degrees and the air was full of smoke (due to the So Cal fires), the session was smooth sailing. Miss "M" was full of smiles and willing to go where ever we wanted. I hope she had a big cookie or some other treat afterwards :) Thankyou "S" family for letting me photograph your beautiful family!