Donna Chapla – Page 4

24Aug 2012 by Donna Chapla No Comments

College Bound

I met up with this adorable couple just days before they began new chapters in their lives. One is off to Notre Dame and the other to Valparaiso University. So many possibilities in their future, it was exciting to spend a little time with them as they begin this journey. You could feel the strong bond between them and it made my heart ache a little knowing they would be saying goodbye to each other in a few days. It was cold, rainy and windy when we met but these two were all smiles as they held hands and gave each other little glances the whole time, young love is so sweet to witness. I truly wish them the best of luck this fall!

13Aug 2012 by Donna Chapla 1 Comment

Beautiful Family

Children, Family

This was a a great session with a really sweet family. Mom asked for the photos to be taken in a spot that I had never been to, I was thrilled when I arrived! Great architecture with the bridge, lots of water with a pond and a lake, an amazing willow tree and enough shade to avoid squinty eyes (except when the kids were laughing!) but enough glorious sun to light up the photos. The setting was truly beautiful. I had a great time with this family! Little Man made me work for his smiles but once we warmed up to each other I couldn't keep him from smiling and laughing. Little Miss was sweet as pie and had a smile to match. Mom didn't want any photos of just herself…

07Aug 2012 by Donna Chapla 3 Comments

Pet Faces | Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge, Uncategorized

The Photo Challenge this month over at I Heart Faces is "Pet Faces". This is my awesome dog, Xander. He's a German Shorthair, a breed often sought by pheasant hunters because of their ability to "point" out a bird and then retrieve it. When Xander was only a few days old he was scratched in the eye by one of his litter mates and the breeder didn't seek treatment for him. By the time we got him at 8 weeks he was already blind from the infection that took over and his eye was a cloudy blue color. Since this breeder sells to people who want a "perfect" dog with a great blood line, no one wanted him. We were thrilled to take home our "discount dog" and couldn't…

21Jul 2012 by Donna Chapla 1 Comment

Precious Baby

Uncategorized

It's no secret that I love babies so this shoot was heaven for me. On the other hand, I'm still intimidated by photographing babies and it didn't help that this little man came about 4 weeks early and spent 6 days in the NICU. He was just a tiny little peanut when we met at a mere 10 days; he was even too small for the crocheted cocoon made for him by a family member. Mom let me hold him for a few minutes and my nerves were instantly calmed, there is nothing like the sheer miracle of a baby to put things in perspective. We had a few interruptions and a few changes of clothes/blankets (I forgot how often babies "go"!) but we were able to get some cute pics. I learned so much from…

19Jul 2012 by Donna Chapla No Comments

Sweet Sisters

Children, Family

This was a super quick session with two amazingly cute girls. (Seriously, aren't they adorable?!) The skies were looking a little gray when we started and within 5 minutes things started to look ugly. Thankfully these two gave me tons of great smiles and were happy to follow me as we moved around the location to get as many shots as we could. I could not have asked for better models! The wind picked up and then the rain let loose. We ran for cover with about 2 seconds to spare, no joke! I wish we could have gotten a few pics with mom but when the rain started it was obvious there would be no more photos. This was a good exercise in working under pressure, thank you B…

06Mar 2012 by Donna Chapla 6 Comments

I Heart Faces | Beautiful B&W Photo

Uncategorized

The photo challenge this month is Beautiful Black & White. I chose this submission because I think it's one of those photos that doesn't have the same impact in color. Black and white pulls you in, causes you to linger and really get caught up in not just the image, but the moment. I look at those sweet little fingers holding the bubble wand and I can feel the sticky bubble solution. I can perceive her concentration, so focused on blowing bubbles that everything around her is gone. I can imagine the delight and joy that followed after she finally figured out how to blow a stream of bubbles. I love that a photograph not only captures a moment frozen time, but that it captures a mood, and feelings, and a story. You can…

13Feb 2012 by Donna Chapla 9 Comments

Cupid | I Heart Faces Photo Challenge

Babies, Children, Photo Challenge, Uncategorized

The theme over at I Heart Faces this week is Hearts in honor of Valentines Day. Normally I'm not one to take photos with many backdrops & props. Must have been all that sweet baby pudginess screaming "cupid" to me that made me pull out the fabric and craft supplies to fashion arrows, wings and a diaper. The arrows kept him busy for a few shots but his toes held the real interest. There were several cute pics from this shoot but this one with his toes was my favorite. This little cupid made me fall in love. You can check out the other entries at I Heart Faces by using the link below.

02Feb 2012 by Donna Chapla No Comments

Girly Girls

Children, Family

This was a wonderful session with 2 super cute girls! They both greeted me at the door decked out in pink and tutus and hair bows. Mom had warned me that they might be shy but I was quickly escorted by the girls upstairs to see their bedrooms and toys. I loved hearing their stories and seeing their things. As we started the photos, Little Miss 2 year old gave me a few smiles and then made me work for the rest! When she was done...she was done! Her sister on the other hand was ready with endless smiles and poses. Both of these girls were so much fun and had me smiling and laughing the entire time. Both girls wanted the family cat, Diego, to be in the photos.…

17Jan 2012 by Donna Chapla No Comments

8 Days

Babies, Children

Nothing like a newborn baby to turn you to mush! I didn't want to put this sweet baby down to take her photos, I could have held her all day. She wide awake, especially for only being 8 days old, and I tried to imagine what she was thinking as she looked around her new world with such wonder in her eyes. Baby is simply beautiful. Mom and Dad were exhausted but had a perpetual smile on their faces. Their love for each other and their sweet bundle of joy was obvious, a perfect family of three.

14Jan 2012 by Donna Chapla No Comments

Family

Uncategorized

I had the opportunity to photograph this great family when the three daughters came home for the holidays. It was a last minute request that just happened to work out perfectly, I took the photos just an hour and a half after we spoke. We were losing light quickly and the air was quite brisk so kept it short and sweet. A truly loving and wonderful family with one quick little guy!