First Recital

Lights, Camera, Action...

That's what happened for many this past weekend of May 19th. The school year is closing as well  as dance classes ending, recital time is here; and Isabela was about to experience her very first one.  For a typical three year old girl who is shy  even when me, her grandma, wants to take pictures, this would be a time of great trepidation for Isabela.

The pictures don't show it, but she had stage jitters just before the curtains opened; but a mother's hug and a teacher's attentiveness quelled her nervous emotions, and when the group appeared on stage with the bright lights and camera crew and all the proud parents eagerly waiting to see their child perform, Isabela was there...enjoy.

Broadway Bound,

 performed by

 KidsAmerica; Perry, Ga. 

The star of Broadway Bound, is Miss Brittanie Edwards who is a graduating senior, and heading on to University of Georgia.

Isabela's dancing group; Piggy Rhaspsody

Isabela behind the scene, mom getting her ready with lipstick.

KidsAmerica 50th Anniversary performance

Scene 1- Sunrise at the farm. 

Farm Girl, Brittanie Edwards

Scene 2- Piggy Rhapsody

Isabela in the middle

 Brittanie Edwards

Beginning with scene two, Brittanie dances her way through life on the farm, dreaming of traveling to New York City.

Farm Friends

One day a passing Broadway producer sees her dance and invites her to New York to audition to be in a Broadway Show.

Brittanie dreams of being a big star on Broadway and dancing her way through life.



Brittanie travels by airplane, train and riverboat to New York, meeting exciting people on the way. 

Brittanie arrives in New York and meets busy New Yorkers in the hustle and bustle of city life.

Brittanie attends an audition for a Broadway Show.

Ballet Mistress- Michaela Heide

Brittanie is the star of a Broadway Show.

The End.

Gospel Rap Contest has begun.

Join the fun!

Another enterprise being offered in and around Orlando is a fun, Gospel Rap Competition.

This will take place in seven cities around Central Florida. The grand prize is, $10,000.00 dollars, to be awarded to one talented person. For more information on the gospel rap competition email: gospel.sodo@bluetie.com

Darrell's Future Plans
Helping under priviledge school children excell, is paramount to Darrell. He has been working closely with federal agencies to acquire grants that will help finance future programs he can offer in communities around Brevard County.
One dream is to begin an after school tutorial program named, 'Wag Zone'. This program will assist children in their homework and teach them how to study, so they may achive better grades in school.

Children need to learn to think independently from the confines of their surroundings, and broaden the vision for their lives. The activities offered by the after school program will center first around good grades, and secondly by introducting fun activities that will require them to become diligent: dance, TV production, sports and photography.
The creative discipline attained through these activities will help break through the barriers of tacit limitations; it will broaden their vision, help them become focused, and engage them in new endearvors far beyond their normal grasp, creating a, "can do" attitude, by displacing a, "can't do" attitude. Once they grasp this new concept they will be shown how to use it to their own benefit. Darrell is planning the start of such programs by April or May of this year.

Sponsorship Needed
A very important element for the success of this program, are sponsors. Darrell is hoping to have fifty persons willing to participate in the development of these school age children through active sponsorships. You may call Darrell to find out what a single sponsorship covers per child.

To get in touch with Darrell and his wife, email: moore.sodo@bluetie.com; or you can write to address: P.O. Box 2652, Sanford, FL. or by phone: (407) 235-5023.

PictureThis~: Child Photography

PictureThis~: Child Photography: Isabela is your typical three year old little girl whose room is full with stuff animals, bright colors and toys everywhere. And just like ...

Child Photography

Isabela is your typical three year old little girl whose room is full with stuff animals, bright colors and toys everywhere. And just like many little three year old girls, sometimes they want their picture taken and sometimes they don't. Today, Isabela really didn't want her picture taken, but we persevered through and got a few cute shots, with mother's help of course. But in this blog, I'll also show you the pictures no photographer wants to show their potential clients.

First we start by combing the hair and getting dressed for our photo shoot. Isabela didn't appreciate that too much so we start with glum poses.  What do you do when a child doesn't want to cooperate? You change the scenery, we went outdoors.

Outside was a little better but also full of more distractions! Like the family dog, voices of other children playing, wet soggy chairs, that I was planning on using for some cute shots.  Somehow I made it work and got Isabela to dance and smile...but it was a fading few moments.

Ask any photograher and they will tell you, to capture wonderful images, the trick is to limit the relationship between the subject to camera, in other words have your subject looking elsewhere than into the camera all the time. Of course looking at any one object all the time isn't good either, and that's was the difficulty I had with Isabela who looked at her mother constantly. It did bring big smiles which is by far better than frowns.

 Our short photography shoot went through the movements as a concerto, from a slow first movement, into a lively second, then quietly back to the beginning to create the final third movement that brings us to the end of our story.

I love photographing children because they are so unemcumbered and transparent with their emotions and reactions. Photographing them can be challenging, but so rewarding for the few good images you get.  With children using lots of props is helpful although not always necessary, patience is what is necessary, without patience you should rethink photographing children.

We ended the photo shoot with Isabela promising me, "...next time will be better," then she smiled.

                                                                             ~Ciao

PictureThis~: Maternity Shoot

PictureThis~: Maternity Shoot: While in Georgia for my birthday, I got to do my first maternity shoot. Rebecca is expecting her second child in a few months and accepte...

Maternity Shoot

While in Georgia for my birthday, I got to do my first maternity shoot.
Rebecca is expecting her second child in a few months and accepted my offer to pose. I'm always building up my portfolio between clients, so when I see an opportunity it's not uncommon for me to ask.

The lighting inside the apartment wasn't very good, although we used as much of it as we could, but outdoors the weather was beautiful for an afternoon photo shoot, and little Jeremiah, Rebecca's son, wasn't exactly camera shy either.  So the three of us took off on the apartment grounds where the Azalea's were in full bloom. The apartment complex offered several areas that was perfect for photographing and we took advantage of them all. 

After two hours, sitting on the ground, rocks, benches, by the fountain and retainer walls, we finished; and Jeremiah was good as gold the whole time; if he wasn't posing with mom, he was sitting in his favorite chair, the stroller.

We were a little slim on props inside and outside, but made due with a hat and umbrella. The one element I was hoping to use, was the sun, but it didn't come out to play. Instead we finished just as the sound of thunder was heard in the distance and sprinkles were felt, for us that was great timing. I hope you enjoy this sample of photos....

                           ~ Ciao