Haley Poulos Photography - The Blog

A Pony A Day Again

2009-11-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

A Pony A Day

2009-11-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma: Part 3

2009-11-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

When I was in OK last weekend I had a few hours to spend in Tulsa with my other sister, who isn't really my sister at all but she really is. :)

Sara's all grown up now, with a real husband and a real house and real kids, and being with them for the afternoon was a trip back to 1987, but without the 80s-era side ponytails and tight-rolled jeans.

Sara's little boy is a tiny replica of her brother, Tommy, when he was three years old. Naughty, determined, and super-sweet all rolled up into one really cute package.

He couldn't quite figure out how to say my name, so when he wanted my attention it was: "Hey! Hayhayhay!" (love!)

This was the first time I'd met little Maya.

I'm a sucker for a snuggly one-year-old. She's at that fun Exploring Stuff age.

Maggie was there before any of the human kids.

She's very helpful with them.

I wish I had a scanner so I could show you photos from when Sara and I were 8 years old, playing "Statues" in the front yard.

Or photos from college, when we were ... well, neverMind. :)

Happy Birthday, Sara Kate. :) I love you a zillion and hope you come out here to see me soon. Bring those kids. But when they start to scream we'll leave them at my mom's house, k?

Oklahoma: Part 2

2009-11-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Universe:

Please

let me have acres to keep a herd of rescued ponies

the means to keep them healthy

the ability to listen to what they are telling me

and a donkey to keep them safe.

kthx!

New favorite shot. Ever.

I was being followed. :)

I have many horsish things to say. People who know me are very aware of that. If you are a horse person, please post your local horse rescue's website in the comments section of this post. I'm hoping to go somewhere with this .... I'll start with our local rescue: Colorado Horse Rescue. Your turn. :)

Oklahoma: Part 1

2009-11-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I was in Oklahoma for 48 hours. During that time, I photographed

22 horses

17 dogs

3 human children

3 cats

1 donkey

and 2 reindeer disguised as Oldenburgs. :)

Most of this weekend's critters were rescues of some sort. Lisa's dogs, including sweet one-eyed Hootie, found her, rather than the other way around.

This is little Nellie Belle.

Don't let her looks fool you. She's not really that small.

And this is Sky:

Corkie the ...

Gah! This is one of my favorite shots EVER.

And this one too. I loved the big dogs. They were tricky to photograph because they just wanted to be close (I'm an excellent scratcher).

Jake:

Nellie Belle and her dad (who, btw, is a big, tough motorcycle cop) are superClose, and this shoot was a surprise for him (even though he pulled up from work right as we were in the middle of shooting! Whoops.)

It really was a treat to be able to shoot in such a pretty corner of my home state. I'm glad to be back in Colorado (especially after two years of dreary Washington), but there's just something about rolling-hilled northeastern Oklahoma and its big-hearted people (witness the 43 rescued animals that I met this weekend, and that doesn't even begin to include the strays that my aunt feeds and doctors daily) that I'll always look forward to visiting. Except for in the summer, because really? 112 degrees with 90% humidity? Maybe not then.

Thanks to Lisa and her pack for inviting me out to their home and for agreeing to pose in the middle of the road for me. :)

Stay tuned for horses tomorrow. Lots and lots of horses.

Happy November!

2009-11-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Ireland and Reese

2009-10-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

I lovelove doing shoots in people's homes. Everyone is more relaxed (notably toddlers!) and I think the photographic results are more representative of the day-to-day interactions of parents, kids, siblings, and pets, which is exactly what I want to come away with.

Two-year-old Ireland was a little nervous when we shot at Chautauqua last week, but as soon as I showed up in her house yesterday morning, she grabbed my hand and gave me the grand tour, starting with the big girl room and moving along to tea parties, puppies, and kitchenGolf with no reservations.

It is my suspicion, however, that her parents were the ones who wanted to play with the blocks. Baby Reese didn't mind, though.

Ireland wasn't quite sure about my 5D and big lens until she pulled out her very own camera at the end of our session and started shooting everything in sight. It was like watching a shorter, much cuter version of myself. Now I know how my dogs feel. :)

Seriously, I want these blocks:

We went out back for a few minutes--it was cold and snowy yesterday, so that didn't last long.

Meanwhile, back indoors ...

We ended with a tea party ... plasticFrenchFry tea is decidedly delicious. Please note that Reese is gnawing on a drumstick. :) Love!

Thumpkin

2009-10-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite time of year.

Ever.

In the history of times of year.

Sport + Ali

2009-10-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lately I've a little unimpressed with my keeper ratio, and last week I had a mini internal meltdown regarding my apparent lack of photography skills. I did a Typical Haley Freakout (THF) and considered feeding my 5D to the bears and going back to school for biology.

(This is all making perfect sense so far, right?)

While I'm still seriously thinking about going back to CU for the spring semester (strongly encouraged by Mentor 1), I decided to save my 5D from bearDeath (also strongly encouraged by Mentor 1) and keep shooting, but maybe switch things up a little and get out of the processing rut I was in. To shoot for fun and not worry about what anybody thinks of the results, because maybe changing things up would inspire me to do something different (strongly encouraged by Mentor 2, who mentioned he would feed ME to the bears if I stopped shooting).

ANYway, I went hiking with a friend today. I decided to process a couple shots in the Regular Haley Poulos style, and then just goof around with the others. And ... it was fun! I'm not sure I'm crazy about how I did them, and tomorrow I might say ICK BLEH but I figure I'll post them anyway, because Sport is darling.

Meet Sport!

Then I shot this comPLETELY out-of-focus over-exposed thingo and LOVELOVE.

Sport wasn't really too sure about the thing I was pointing at him, and I was using my plastic 50, so I was all up in his face and stuff.

Sport has a story. He was a stray who made it from a shelter in Kansas to The Animal House in Ft. Collins, where Ali worked. He was adopted out to a person who returned him after a biting incident, and who then requested that he be put down (GAH!).

Ali swooped in and fostered him, rehabilitating him from the terrified dog he was into a pretty brave, trusting little guy. She failed as a foster mom, and now Sport is in his forever home. :)

Bumper Stickers

2009-10-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Someone (two someones, actually) once (technically twice then, I suppose) told me that I lack direction. YOU HAVE NO DIRECTION. I think they meant it as an insult, and at first I saw it that way too, but then a friend pointed out a bumper sticker to me: "Not all who wander are lost."

I liked that very much, and decided to live my life by the wisdom of bumper stickers. Good plan? I think so.

That's all I have to say about that.

Here are a couple more of Moose + Steve from last week:

Little Moosey reminds me of a serious little boy. He's all puppy in that he wiggles as though he has no joints and he chases bugs and he does naughty things like eating horse poo and barking at strangers, but he definitely looks to Steve for guidance and takes his jobs (heeling, sitting when told, reluctantly spitting out horse poo, etc.) very seriously. He's going to be a Good Dog.

Moving on:

I hope this next photo creeps you out as much as it did me. :)

I do have more grape and winery photos from the Western Slope trip a couple weeks ago, but they're sort of on the back burner until I finish up this Monterey sailboat batch.

SPEAKing of Monterey, my mistake was in not staying longer. The weather on Saturday was crap, and that's the only time we had to get out on the boat. So rather than shooting Glory (my intended subject) from another vessel, I was onBOARD Glory shooting Glory. Tricky!

I should post the before and after boatPics, so you can see how gray it really was out there. And flat and bleh. But I'd never been on a sailboat before, so to me it was still a lot of fun, and my crew was great company. :)

This afternoon I'm going pumpkin-picking with the Dino, my little cousin. Yesterday I had a family shoot up at Chautauqua, so hopefully once I get these boat photos done, I'll have time to process the pumpkin pics and some from yesterday before I go to Oklahoma in a couple weeks for a few horse shoots. (yay!) Until then, the wandering continues. :)

Moose

2009-10-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'll be adding more photos and words about Moose tonight or tomorrow, but I couldn't help but post this one right now. You know how puppies are wiggly and loosey-goosey and floppy? And you know how they smell good and don't understand about two objects occupying the same space at the same time? And how they eat horse poo and think leaves are the BEST THING EVER and have the attention span of a gnat with ADD? I love me some puppy, and this one's going to grow up to be a therapy dog.

Anyway, more later ... just wanted to post this one in case I don't get to the rest tonight.

edit: now two are posted! I've got to make myself stop until I'm done processing and have written out a proper post for Steve and Moose.

Om Nom

2009-10-04T21:27:00.001-07:00

Just rolled in from a weekend on the western slope of Colorado--wine country in the Rockies. :)

Here are a couple just for the sake of updating on here ... more (hopefully) this week before I head to California.

You Need Voice Lessons

2009-09-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

And I know where you can get them.

Onion Basket (your preferred chicken and wedding photography team) had Liz Ray (of Elizabeth Ray Voice) in the studio for headshots over the weekend.

Liz recently coached one of her students through American Idol auditions! The video is here.

Outside of the studio, the newOld Nikkor 50 f/1.4 mounted on my 5D is all I've shot with for a couple weeks now. I should mention that I love my 50.

That's my sister on her 22nd birthday. 22. Like, years. Which is weird, because yesterday she was 8, I think.

In case I failed to mention it, I love my 50.

I have a bazillion hours of processing to get through, and am working on a Top Secret project (!!!), so if I'm quiet for a couple weeks, that's why. After that it's a weekend trip to Palisade, CO for winery shooting and the FOLLOWING weekend I'm going to ...

(are you ready?)

Monterey, California to shoot

(are you ready?)

a SAILBOAT.

Her name is Glory. Details to come.

I sure love my 50.

Kian

2009-09-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

I've always believed that I'm one of the luckiest people in the world. Good things--or maybe I should just say things--happen to me and they always make my life richer and more interesting. I didn't graduate from college, but somehow, in the one semester I spent in the dorms at CU, I was lucky enough to live next door to Katie, and I knew from the beginning that she and I would be good friends for a long, long time. We lost touch for about 7 years while I was working in horse barns in Montana and she was building a curriculum at a charter school in Denver, but we've recently reconnected and I'm reminded what it was that drew me to her in the first place.

Katie and her husband, Jay, have little almost-one-year-old Kian, who I want to put in my pocket and bring home with me.

Jay was at work this morning, but we have plans to get the entire family out for photos one of these days.

I can't wait for Kian to be old enough to hear stories about dorm life with his mom. :)

Katie likes black and whites, and I shot with that in mind. Little Kian has the sparkliest blue eyes but something about his expressions and mannerisms felt like color would detract from him. Then again ...

I've only met Kian a few times and he was kind of shy at first, but I think by the end of the session he was pretty ok with my being there. He's a perfect little man and I can't wait to get Jay in on the fun, too. Thanks, Katie, for a lovely morning at your place, and for the wine. :)

(I don't want to forget to mention: My inspiration for these black and white conversions came from this post by Anerino Originals. I love his black and white work. You should go check out his blog.)

flwr

2009-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, people. A post. Now you can stop emailing me to ask if I'm still alive. :)

(That is a lie. Please keep the emails coming. I lovelovelove hearing from people who look at my blog, even if most of you share DNA with me.)

Some late-summer flowers that I shot with my new Vintage Glass:

Recent and upcoming shoots:

Wedding last weekend

One-year-old human tomorrow

Headshots this coming weekend

Family session in two weeks

Wine-tasting/grape harvest on the Western Slope in three weeks

(yay!)

Oh, Charlotte

2009-08-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

I love this dog.

So. Much.

Kenya

2009-08-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Kenya:

three-year-old GSD/Border Collie mix

loves to swim

good hiking buddy

loves her mom

a little shy of strangers

loves to fetch

a little wobbly on her feet

has seizures

loves kitties

good swimmer

T-Ball on a Hill With a 2-Year-Old

2009-08-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Kiedis

2009-08-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Meet 105-pound Keidis:

And his dad, Scott:

These two have been together for about 5 years and Scott has done a wonderful job of training Keidis, who is slightly food-motivated.

Even when there are bunnies crossing the trail.

Keidis is further proof that bully breeds are just the biggest lovebugs ever. Also, I wanted to snack on his wrinkles. Yummy.

Organization ...

2009-08-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

... is not my strong suit.

Kaya in Colorado:

Cow in Montana:

The similarities are there.

Coming up at the end of this week: Hotness. Stay tuned.

Daily Moo (Sunday)

2009-08-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

Lotsa things in Montana.

Cows, mostly.

I like me some cows.

Remind me to tell you about the Moving Pipe Incident Where Everyone Peed Their Pants one of these days.

Just so you know, it's CANADA goose, not CANADIAN goose.

I'd tell you more, but I swore on my opposable thumbs that I wouldn't. I wish I could tell you what any of this means, but all that really matters is that the horses don't think you're taking your hands off when you remove your gloves.

It was foggy up there on Friday.

Fog is good driving weather when you're in a 1979 Camaro.

I lived!

Strwbry

2009-07-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

Om nom nom.

Top Secret

2009-07-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's shoot was a top-secret anniversary gift from Marianne to her husband to celebrate 32 years of marriage. He doesn't know this blog exists, so I'm okay with publishing some images from our session!

Sweet Meryl stole the show.

Her tongue got longer and longer as the morning progressed.

Little Mina was supershy, but wanted to be wherever her mom was.

Dewey:

Ross is Marianne's 1-year-old SDIT (Service Dog in Training). He has a blog!

Dash:

I lovelovelove this photo. I don't even care that it's not in focus. It reminds me of a political photo. MAYBE I have secret dreams of being a political-figure photographer. Don't tell.

Dash:

This is what most of the morning looked like. :)

Dewey:

Yummy, yummy toes:

Lovelovelove this shot. I have a million more to go through, but these were my favorites upon initial inspection. Thanks to Greg for shooting with me and for navigating us from Louisville to Aurora. :)

Many more photos from this session, but I wanted to get some up for Marianne to show her lucky husband! Happy anniversary to you two!

The Mosquitoes Were Atrocious ...

2009-07-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

... but the flowers were ok.

(West Maroon Pass)

(Kebler Pass)

(West Maroon Pass)

(the backyard of our rental house in Crested Butte)

(Kebler Pass)

Dog Park, Social Skills, Throw the Ball

2009-07-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

There are dogs (see background), and then there is Charlotte (see Charlotte):

This one just makes me giggle. I remember the first time I took Char swimming after I'd had her for a few days. Seeing how much she loved the water, I was so happy that I'd adopted a dog who could go floating and canoeing with me. Then, seeing her shake off, I laughed at how scrawny she looked when she was doing her patented Chicken-Legs dance. Oh, Char.

(And yes, that is Wilbur in the background Being Social.)