Late this summer, I had the opportunity to capture a bunch of cute, athletic smiles for a photo company in town. My Saturday mornings were filled with lots of elementary school students, parents and soccer balls. This type of photography takes a different skill than candid photos I am accustomed to for the newspaper. These posed shots involved more planning and a greater understanding of my camera equipment than I am used to or prefer.

I prefer simpler, less flashy (literally) composition that aims at capturing moments. I enjoy being an anonymous person behind the lens lurking at events and butting in to ask names and questions every once and a while. True colors and focus appeal more to me as well. Why can't plain life be interesting enough sometimes. Regardless, I took some fun pictures, met a lot of children and got some more portrait experience.

SOCA Hot Shots were fun, rambunctious and cute. They were the youngest children I teamed up with on Saturdays.

This little brother keeps score on the sideline for his sister. Good thing, because at this age they don't actually keep score so she needs to know how her team did.

Of course, I snapped a few others while waiting for my ride.

The girls get pretty intense.

This dad was a real nice coach.