What Is Your Favorite Lens?

I asked a question on Facebook last week and really didn't get that much of a response so I decided to turn to you lovelies.  I have a Nikon D5000.

I have the AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G lens

and I have the AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1.4-5.6G lens.

While I have learned a lot about both of these lenses, the most important thing I've learned is that I need a different one.  The

18-55mm is great if I am pretty close to the kids.  The 55-200mm is great if I am a little farther away.  I need one that is the perfect lens for both.  Does it exist?  I swear I think I spend more time changing lenses than I do taking pictures.  I went to the zoo the other day and it was just so frustrating because if I wanted pics of the kids then I had to put the 18-55mm on and if I wanted pics of animals I had to switch out.  I tried to leave the 55-200 on for both but then I had to end up stepping out into the walkway 6 or 7 feet away from the kids to actually get it too focus.

Bottom line:  one is too close and one is too far away

So, my question is . . .

If you were taking pics and you could ONLY us ONE lens, which one would you choose?  What is the one lens that you cannot live without?

This Is What I'm Doing Tonight

Who schedules their kids' Christmas pictures the night before they are going out of town?  That would be me!

I also wait until the last minute to buy socks for the boys, shoes for the boys, tights for Grace and a collared shirt for Caleb.

I will not get frazzled.  I will not get frazzled.  I will not get frazzled.

Hopefully, they will all act as good at the studio as they did for pics here.  Bribing works wonders.

Need Camera Help!

If any of you out there know of anywhere that I can learn more about my camera, settings, how to take better pics, etc . . . PLEASE let me know!! If you have any tips, I would certainly appreciate it!

Camera Practice

Pics With My New Camera

Getting What You've Always Wanted

Ever since I can remember I have loved pictures. When I was in elementary school I used to take a camera to school and take snapshots just on ordinary days. I have hundreds of pictures from my school days, church camp, goofing off in the backyard, family functions--basically, a chronicle of my life.

This passion increased exponentially when I had Kanin, GracieAnn and Caleb. I want to chronicle every second of their lives. It's as if I feel like if I capture this moment then that little piece of them will be here forever, even when they aren't. Since meeting Scott I have gone through 3 different cameras. All of them have been the point and shoot kind but good cameras, nonetheless. I have been able to take some pictures in black and white, pose the kids and do some light editing but it still hasn't satisfied my desire to take better pictures of them.

If you come to my house you will see almost exclusively pictures of my familiy on the wall that I have paid several thousand dollars. Engagement pictures of Scott and me, pictures of us when I was pregnant with Gracie. Newborn pictures of Gracie and Caleb and some really great pictures of Kanin when he was about 3 years old. While these pictures are all wonderful, my problem is that I truly think that if I had the right camera and knowledge I could have done it myself.

Scott has heard my argument over and over for a "good" or "real" camera for the past 2-3 years and this year he finally broke down and bought me a camera for Christmas. There was a lot of research and debate in buying this camera but I finally decided on a Nikon D5000, against 19 comments from Facebook friends--LOL

So, "What's the problem?", you ask. Now that I've gotten what I've always wanted, it is a little intimidating. I try to read up on photography or the camera every single day but I know that I will never truly get the results that I want until I take some type of class. The camera, itself, is compliated enough without adding in all of the jargon about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lighting, bouncing, etc., etc. I have to admit that it is a little overwhelming.

I know it is kind of silly to go back through your life and play the "I wish I would have done . . ." game but I honestly do wish that I would have realized that photography could actually be a career all of those years ago. I know that I would have taken a different direction in college. But, then again, I probably would never have gone into the Army and would not have Kanin (or probably Gracie or Caleb) so I'm glad I did the things I did back then.

So, now here I sit, playing with this fantastic camera and, hopefully, one day I will understand how to use it well enough to take great pictures of my kids. LOL I'm going to start, though, with a camera specific class offered at Creve Couer camera (where I bought it). After that, who knows? I'm hoping to be able to take some other classes, too. I'll keep you posted.