Dash's First Guitar Lesson

We bought Dash a guitar for Christmas the year before last. Sometimes he would plug it in and make some noise but mostly he wouldn't plug it in and make some quiet. It's been collecting dust on the wall until a few days ago when he decided he wanted guitar lessons.

I have been taking slide guitar lessons from a New Orleans blues virtuoso named Jeremy Lyons. Jeremy agreed to take on the mighty Dash and today was Dash's first lesson.

I was so proud and happy to see Dash trying to finger his first chords that I started getting a little choked up. What!

He learned the guitar parts, how to hold the thing, E minor and G major chords, and some basic strumming. He was worried when we went to bed that he hadn't practiced today. I told him it's probably OK not to practice on the day of your lesson.

My mother pushed so hard for my brothers and I to learn the piano that we basically pushed back by refusing to enjoy it. I didn't start taking music serisoulsy until I was 15. It has always been a huge part of my life even when it hasn't been the exclusive focus. For my kids I just want them to love it. I secretly really, really want them both to weather through the difficulties and delights of learning an instrument but THEY are the ones that have to initiate. Like most things, if it's your own decision, it matters more.

Sara says that after Dash masters E minor and G major he only needs one more chord... and the truth.

More of today's pictures HERE

Magali Consents to Haircut

Magali finally relented and allowed us to take her to the barber. She also agreed to bangs, which I love. Dash, on the other hand, didn't get bangs for the first time and he looks super cool. The kids are so much better about haircuts now.

The kids might actually be a little TOO cute now. Maybe we can dress them a little dorkier or something.

More of today's shots HERE

We Love You Erica

My wonderful assistant, Erica, lost her father yesterday. I got to talk to her today and, while I was on the phone, Magali kept asking if she could talk to her. I finally relented and Magali and Erica talked for a little bit. Erica told Magali that it might make her feel better if Magali put on her lion costume and let me take pictures to send to Erica.

So here they are, Erica. We love you and are thinking of you and your family.

roar.

More of today's pictures HERE

Lisa and Louis Wedding

Oh, man, what a wedding! Lisa and Louis are the coolest people. We went to take some couple shots in the Boston Public Garden and the pond was frozen over. Louis casually suggested walking out onto the ice. I seconded the idea and they did it. What a blast. It was basically impossible to take a bad shot of these two. They were so genuinely happy and in love.

After it was all over they asked a member of the wedding party to take a picture of them with Erica and me.

Here's a link to the album we just put together for them: LINK

Thanks a million Lisa and Louis for reminding us how much we love our jobs.

What to Do After "ARGG!"

Magali was a pirate tonight. She put on the Jolly Roger bandanna and walked around screaming "ARGG!" After she did this for about ten minutes she asked, "Papa, what do pirates do after they say 'ARGG!'?"

I said, "I don't know. They probably stab someone."

And then she lost interest in the game. That was probably Dash territory.

More of today's pictures HERE

A Few New Studio Pics

The last shot is our entry from Yolanda Bridal. It's still kind of empty. One day, maybe, we'll have wood floors, a huge LCD screen, leather couches... more stuff.

Dash's Beautiful Hair

Dash spent a lot of time on his hair this afternoon before we went out to dinner. He adjusted it with water and comb until it was perfect. I asked him if I could take a picture of it. He consented and gave me the Winston Churchill glare you see above. Sara was standing right next to him so I asked her to give him a "wet willy". A wet willy, for those not in the know, is when you lick your finger and insert it into someone's ear. Please see Sara's finger (above) for an illustration. This shot is about 1/5 of a second before Dash jerked away laughing and rubbing his ear.

More of todays pictures HERE

Our Little Rock and Roll Princess

The other day in the car she asked to hear, "What's that man that wears the make up to try to be scary?"

"Marilyn Manson?" I suggested.



"Yea, Marilyn Manson. Can we hear a song by him?"

Today she declared that she likes Clutch. I'm very proud. She's a little four year old metalhead.

More of today's pictures HERE

I've Hung Out a Shingle

I'm so excited about my sign! I have a real sign painted by a real sign painter. I've had a retail store before but it was in another store and I didn't have my own entrance. Now I have my own entrance. And a sign so you know which entrance is mine. The one with MY SIGN.

The shop is looking pretty cool. I'm almost ready to photograph the inside of it for you. I still need new track lights, a few more framed pictures, some more screens, maybe a wood floor... It'll be a work in progress for a while.

But I have my sign out.

Our New Studio!

Today we went to clean up our new studio that opens tomorrow. We rented a glass annex that opens into Yolanda, a very upscale wedding gown boutique. We will specialize in wedding photography but will continue to do kids and whomsoever else wants us to open and close a shutter very fast in front of them. We are extremely excited and not at all ready to open tomorrow. We should have signage on Friday, framed pictures on the wall on Friday, lighting etc. by Friday. Seems like Friday would be a good day to open, huh?

But I can't wait so I'm opening our big empty studio tomorrow. We will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm to 9pm, and Saturdays from 10am or so until 5pm. We might come in on some Fridays as well.

So now Felix Rust Photographer has a home base. This all came about thanks to my wonderful assistant, Erica, and some amazing timing. Please come and visit us if you find yourself near Boston.

Here's the info:
Felix Rust Photographer
355 Waverley Oaks Rd
Waltham, MA 02452
617.515.0128

More of today's pictures HERE

Magali's Party at Build-a-Bear

We took Magali to Build-a-Bear for her 4th Birthday party. After everyone built their bears we walked over to Quincy Market and had cake. Everyone had a great time and there was nothing to clean up... except Magali and Dash and Ryan and Cooper and Lucy and Annelise.

More of today's pictures HERE

My Uncooperative Children

Dash was flipping out about something and was really angry. I got the camera and said, "I want to take a picture of 'Angry Dash'." That diffused the situation and this is the face he gave me instead. He knows I don't like "smiley" pictures...



Magali said, "I don't want you to take my picture." and she buried her head in the couch pillows. I asked her, "Can I take a picture of your butt, then?"

"OK." She said.

More of this month's shots HERE

Kelly & Tom

The other day we shot engagement portraits for Kelly and Tom. We shot at the Old Boston Public Library and then strolled across the street to the Copley Church.

Kelly and Tom are awesome. We had a great time shooting. Fun, relaxed, couldn't have gone better.

Here is a LINK to their shots.

Here is a preliminary ALBUM we put together:

Thanks guys!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with Auntie Nanda, Uncle Marc-ee, and Baby Jane. We called our mother and she asked us to get a picture of all of us together. I don't usully like posed shots, group shots especially. But one thing I love is pictures of people assembling to get their picture taken- shots of them waiting around until everyone is ready. Like the first shot above.

The second shot was an in between shots shot. Sara is aware that I'm shooting but the kids aren't.

The last shot is our official group shot. The camera was on a table and I shot using the self timer.

More of today's pictures HERE

Lighting the Menorah

At CoHousing we celebrate everything and try to be faith inclusive. Last Monday we decorated a Christmas tree in the common house and today we lit the Menorah. All the kids took turns playing with fire.

More of today's pictures HERE

Lights, Ornaments, and the Smell of Pine :)

This is the first year since Dash's birth that we got a real tree. Man, what a difference! I love the smell and the look. The kids had a great time putting up ornaments.

We even got a couple of robot ornaments. They will serve in our robot army (that we are amassing to take over the world) but they will be covert agents. They will stay in the basement in the box marked "Xmas Ornaments" until the uprising.

More of today's pictures HERE

Magali Likes My Treo

Sara and I ditched Cingular for Verizon Wireless. Supposedly, it has the highest customer satisfaction and it has the best coverage for Boston. For the first time, we can use our cell phones IN our apartment rather than having to run out into the yard to get a signal.

We got Treos which are cell phones and palm pilots in one. Now instead of having to carry my "brain" and my phone I carry one. Of course I still have to carry my ipod and pager for work. How about it science? Anyway, for some reason I usually first decide to install cool applications that the kids will like and THEN think about whether or not it is a good idea for the kids to be playing with this thing.

They write notes that say "hug papa" and then set an alarm to go off in five minutes. Then they look at the note and guess who gets hugs? Not Sara. She doesn't let them play with hers. :)

More of todays pictures HERE