Springtime is the right time...

The right time for portraits that it. Springtime is perfect for pictures, from seniors to babies to engagement sessions. Everyone is ready to get out and spend some time outdoors, the flowers are blooming and no one has left town for vacation yet. Things are booking up on my end, so please let me know if you would like to reserve your session time.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Running late once again, but I didn't want to *not* blog about Emma's birthday! Last week my oldest turned 9. There was no school on Emma's big day because of a teacher work day, woo-hoo! We ended up hanging around the house, having lunch with my mother in law, painting in the afternoon and hanging out with some friends that evening. At 2:57 pm I told Emma that she was now officially a nine year old. I think I looked a bit teary eyed, she indulged me with a hug and then ask if I would "get off" of her so she could continue her painting. How's that for thanks? Haha.

Emma is now, and always has been, one of the sweetest, most easy going, most beautiful kids around. Of course that is just my humble opinion, you are free to think your kid is better. You'd be wrong, but whatever. But, I digress....my point was that she is growing up into a lovely young lady. She's caring, smart and loves to read and paint. As much as I wish she could stay little forever, it's nice to see her growing up into a good person. She makes me a proud mama.

I have many leather bound books and my office smells of rich mahogany...

OK, I made that up. Unlike Ron Burgundy, my office doesn't really smell of mahogany...but I do have a bunch of new leather bound books. Actually they are new photo albums. I recently ordered a few sample albums to show my potential clients and they are gorgeous. The albums come in several styles, colors and I customize them for each client. Each album is leather bound, 20 pages and range in size from 5x5 to 12x12 inches. I think all of my clients will enjoy them immensely. :-)

Letting go....

Today I said goodbye to an old and dear friend. My sweet pup, Pip, has passed on from this world into the next. She had been battling a combination things for awhile. We knew it was coming, in fact we had to make the agonizing choice to let her go- so mentally I was prepared, but apparently your heart can never be ready to let go of something you love.
When we answered an ad for Cattle Dog puppies for sale 12 years ago, I didn't know much about the breed. I'd read that they were athletic and smart, but that turned out to be the understatement of the century. Pip was not only built tough, but she had such a drive to be a winner that she would outrun, out swim and out jump any dog she came across. We would get to together with our friends for doggie play dates and 40 lb. Pip would hold her own against the 90lb. Golden Retrievers. If she wasn't the "winner" at their games of fetch she would be mad. She was obsessed with frisbee to the point that we had to put the frisbee up high at the end of the game so that she couldn't reach it. She would sit staring at the frisbee whining, wishing we would continue to throw it. Later in life she developed arthritis, the vet said she saw that a lot in Cattle Dogs because they play so hard that they wear their joints out.
Pip was a fearsome competitor at the dog park, but she was also extremely intelligent. She knew all of her basic commands, plus things like "Pick it up!" and "Go in the girls room and find your ball." She learned to balance a biscuit on her nose and hold it there until given the command to toss it in the air and catch it. I think she found that little trick demeaning, but did it to please us.
She was a trouble maker and loved to eat people food. Once I found fur and paw prints on the kitchen counter. After some detective work I realized she had jumped up on a chair, to a bar stool and then walked across the counter to get to some treat. I couldn't even be mad because it was so well thought out.
A man rushed up to me once while I was out with Pip and asked to pet her. He was so excited and proceeded to tell me about the Cattle Dog he'd once shared his home with. He said it was the best dog he'd ever had and talked about how he missed her. I know how he feels.

Twitterpated

I am all a twitter! Why, you ask?
It's because of a huge bridal show coming up in a couple of weeks. I have always wanted to do one of these, but in the past there were always excuses not to actually do it. This is my year though and I am going to show up, take names and book weddings! I am in the process of designing my booth, ordering prints and other informational materials for the show and getting more excited by the minute. I think it is going to be a really fun day and am optimistic about connecting with lots of cool brides. Hopefully some of them will be twitterpated enough to hire me on the spot!
I have a few dates already booked for the upcoming wedding season and am hoping to fill up many more spots because of the show, so if you or someone you know needs a wedding photographer this year have them contact me as soon as possible. Thanks for spreading the word!

Better late than never...

I had a nice little write up and had put together some photos to post at the end of 2010 and then my computer died. Well, not completely...it was more like it became handicapped for a few days and I couldn't get online. With a little luck we got it running again, so I'm posting the pictures that I intended for the end of 2010 at the beginning of 2011. Better late than never, right?

Last January seems like ages ago and and I'm glad I have pictures to remind myself of some of the little, everyday events that I had forgotten. Here is a quick rundown of some of the highlights of our year:

~I volunteered as a yoga teacher at the kids school from Jan.-May. Now that has turned into a real, paying job! Yippee!

~We rescued Norm, an injured puppy, from certain death with the help of many kind souls who donated their hard earned money to pay for his vet bills. He is now one of the sweetest and happiest 3 legged dogs you will ever meet and the entire experience reaffirmed my belief that most people are truly good.

~I shot several weddings and met some amazing people.
~We traveled. NY, Charleston, Nashville, camping, condos, subways, cars that broke down, panic attacks, campfires, hiking, we were here, there and everywhere and it was fun!
~We picked up a new hobby, 75% of our family is now interested/obsessed with rock climbing.
~We hung out with friends and family and had a lot of laughs, and that is the best thing of all.


I've committed myself to taking even more pictures this year and enjoying every day to the fullest. Wish me luck!

Love, love, love....

I love my job. Not only do I truly enjoy photographing brides and grooms and all the details of their special day, but I'm energized by the excitement and hope for the future that you feel at a wedding. It's like a drug for me, I'm addicted, but I don't want help! ;-)
All of my brides and grooms are special and every wedding day has something about it that makes it unique. Once in awhile, though, I will get to work with a couple that really stick with me long after our working relationship has ended. I think I have started down that path once more.
Brittany & Trey contacted me a couple of months ago and after meeting and discussing their style and mine they decided to hire me to photograph their wedding. Yesterday we met downtown, braving the freezing temps and gusty winds, to take some engagement shots. Although we stayed out for less than an hour, I was charmed by their stories and plans for the future (they want to move to Europe and are going to make it happen darn it!) They are both so sweet, respectful, level headed and laid back that I cannot wait to work with them again on the big day!