Princess party

My sister-in-law, S. Krystal, requested that I take photos of the 3rd birthday party of Hazel who is her son Finn's half-sister.  Got that?  It's even more complicated than that.  Well, it's not really complicated in that it is really more like amazing. We are lucky to have this extended family in our lives.

I was given the direction to shoot the kids being kids and that's what I did.  Kids can be so real and unabashed in front of the camera, it was easy.  I think some of us lose that charm as adults because we can get pre-occupied with how we look.  Shooting people being real and themselves is my favorite form of photography.  Sometimes, we just need to act like children.

Anyway, the birthday girl had a princess theme so there was lots of pink and sugar and spice and everything nice.

Hazel, the birthday princess

Silly Snow White

Cute E Pie

Mama D wore a matching princess gown

Cupcake cutie

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to

Watching Mama Krystal being silly

Hazel gives brother Finn a squeeze

Sister Ivy is pooped out on partying

Princess Hazel peeks from her cardboard castle

Happy Birthday, Hazel!

If you were at the party and would like to see more or want to purchase prints, e-mail me at rachel@rachelmccauley.com. I will provide you with a link and a password to a private online gallery.

Neil and New Orleans

I had the pleasure of attending Neil Gaiman's 50th birthday party this November 10, 2010.  And, if that wasn't incredible enough the party took place in New Orleans.

I had no idea how much I could fall in love with a city.  The people, the food, the music, the soul.  Every corner you turn on the streets of the French Quarter there is life.

Thank you to Neil for being such a wonderful human being.  Thank you New Orleans for your hospitality.  We shall meet again soon.

I brought a DSLR to NOLA but opted for iPhonetography.  I wanted to take people along with me on the trip on Twitter through photos as it was happening.  I mostly used the Plastic Bullet app on my iPhone 3GS.

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Day 1

Happy 50th, Neil!

Photo taken by S. Krystal McCauley on her 4G

Ready to party

Photobombed on the party bus by Mike Gaiman

Kyle Cassidy (the iPhonetography master) is up to something

Neil gives a speech

Larry Marder, Cory Marder and S. Krystal McCauley

S. Krystal, Scari Cari and Neil cuddle

Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? perform

Winter McCleod is the tallest one here

Crowd shot taken by Winter

Sky McCleod and Scari Cari

Steph finds her Icelandic kindred spirit in Hera

She's the first person to ever recognize her Vegvísir tattoo

Trevor McCauley and Scari Cari

S. Krystal, Scari Cari and Roger Avary 

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Day 2

Brunch at the Court of Two Sisters with my sisters

Don't blink, Paul Cornell! 

Paul blogged my photo here  http://www.paulcornell.com/2010/11/bits-and-bobs.html

A guy with an impeccable taste for t-shirts

Musician at the Court of Two Sisters bids me LLAP

One of the many amazing buskers in the French Quarter

Stony Lonesome String Band

Then we took a carriage tour around the French Quarter with our guide Willie and his trusty steed Le Blanc

Andrew Jackson Square

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop bar

The haunted LaLaurie house owned by Nic Cage

Beignet break at Cafe Du Monde

When night fell, we took a Haunted History Tour

First experience with absinthe at the Pirate's Alley Cafe 

Love it

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Day 3

Louisiana State Museum

Visited the heart-wrenching Katrina exhibit

Wanted to purchase local art. This caught my eye. Turns out the artist is from Van Nuys. No matter. I love it.

Painting by Nathan Pitts The Bourbon Orleans Lobby We stayed on a haunted floor

Jason Webley performs at Tipitina's Dresden Dolls perform at Tipitina's -------------------------------------------------- Before we knew it the trip was over This is Sally.  She is the best cab driver ever.   She welcomed us to New Orleans and then bid us farewell. Last sunrise  If you'd like to see more... FOLLOW ME: Facebook / TwitterVisit my website www.rachelmccauley.com