Dylan!

Just a few from my session with Courtenay, Corey, and 2 year old Dylan. I think it's safe to say he loves his daddy! Oh, and by the way, the warm autumn sun is the absolute best time to get a nice family portrait! Look at that orange glowy sun and lovely fall colors, love it!

The Look

Just a quick sample from this morning. What a face!!!

Olive!

This family has been through a lot, including expanding their homes and hearts to welcome two little girls from Korea. I've followed their journey since the beginning, and cannot even imagine the joys & struggles they endure. Plus both their girls are very close in age, and have very different needs. I admire them and can't wait till their find their new "normal." Then again, when will I find my new normal??!!

The adoption on daughter #2 is still being finalized, so no photos of her here. And yes, it is the same umbrella, kids love it!

The Right Stuff

I try not to pose my subjects, I try to let them express their emotions without forcing a 'cheese,' I try and work my adult-child magic and not be intimidating behind the camera. And after hours of that working, a magical moment like the above occurs. This 6.5 year old was so over being photographed, but we had 1 more shot planned. I told her she could hold the umbrella, the light was perfection, the face was priceless. I'm so glad she didn't smile, I'm so glad she was slightly annoyed, I'm so glad I got this shot.

Mission Unaccomplished

Let's just say we didn't get the holiday card photo. Two little ones were not in any cooperative mood, daddy dressed them, and I only had my wide angle. Well played, irony. I'll kick your ass next time we meet.

Let the Leaves Rain Down

We've been trying to get into the Halloween spirit around here, though it's easy to let it slide knowing that Sylvia's class is knee deep in holiday projects. I picked up some pumpkin leaf bags at Targ.et yesterday and got the rake out. Of course, this prompted a photo shoot with my 2 favorite subjects (note, Easton is performing his signature lion face to imitate his shirt).

I'm so happy with all the photography business I've had lately, but I'm feeling like the winter months are going to slow things down. I'm really hoping to focus on my newborn/baby stuff this winter, since it can all be done indoors, and also working on some different projects. I've been asked to document a birth, and I really want to do some photography for a local crafter looking to catalog their wears in a super-edgy fashion. So the goal is: stay busy enough, but not too busy, and be innovative. I tend to get stuck on a look, and I need to constantly push forward. Oh, and my primary camera is currently in the shop (cry). My second body has been performing wonderfully (thank GOD), but it makes me nervous to be short a camera body.

Anyway, the weather has been gorgeous, and we've been taking full advantage. In fact, we've been playing so hard that we've moved Sylvia's bedtime earlier. She's so tired in the morning, and it makes us all rushed to get her to school. Her first field trip is tomorrow, and unfortunately I can't go, but Dave will be heading to Purina Farms with a ton of preschoolers. I'm really sad about it (riiiiiiiight). Also, I ran my first 10K last weekend, with very little training. In fact, the gym has been put on the back burner lately due to my busy schedule, but it all worked out fine, and was actually fun! Not that it'll be an everyday occurrence, but still.

Happy Raking!

Will & Quinn

Through this funny little online community of blogging, I've met some really amazing people. Some people I know simply through their words and pictures, others have become friends and playmates. This town is a big small town, and I love running into fellow bloggers/readers locally. Today, I photographed a family that is so sweet, so loving, so playful, and whom I'd never have met if it weren't for this online community. Meghan bought slings from me back in my crafting days, we'd hang at the occasional homeschool meet-ups in the park, and last year I photographed her beautiful boys as a gift for her husband (also named JJ). As usual, her boys provided loads of excitement and laughter, and we ended up with some amazing images. More of the session here.

If It's Not One Thing, It Must Be the Other Thing

Ok guys, I don't have time to make the long, funny, drawn out story of my total insanity. So instead, you get the quick and dirty version. I had a couple of dizzy spells, never really passed out, but felt real "off" and disoriented. It was happening at random times of the day, with no rhyme or reason. After consulting my mom, a nurse and by no means a real diagnoser (if that's a word) and she concluded that I was having petit mal seizures. I need to go consult with a doctor, get an EEG, have my drivers license removed, and probably shrivel up and die. I walked around for a few days in a fog, relishing the life I had had seizure-free, and basking in the unwelcome glow of the prognosis.

Before I typed up my obit., I decided to see my doctor. Why not get a second opinion? And do you know what she said? Can you guess the outcome to my predicament?

Vertigo. Awesome. After texting Dave that my life wasn't quite over, that it's merely my sinuses dripping fluid behind my ears and throwing off my center of gravity (supposedly a common thing, or she was trying to make me feel better). His response: it's better than epilepsy.

Indeed, it is better. But not as dramatic.

Emily & Kent

I've been second shooting weddings for the past few months and am totally loving it. I've shot weddings in the past, but now I have a renewed purpose: running a photography business. It's been great working under a real wedding photographer, gaining knowledge and experience, observing and practicing techniques, building confidence that I can achieve the look I want and the client will love. My favorite aspect is the portrait part, the moments when you are alone with the couple, freezing the beauty that they've created for their day. In my own wedding album, I love the images of Dave & I being together, alone in the gardens after our ceremony, enjoying the calm after the storm. Anyway, enough ranting. More images here.

Bouquet

The parts I love about photographing weddings: detail shots, portraits, environment, bouquets, kisses, and laughs. The parts I could do without: being pulled onto the dance floor by drunken groomsmen. Ugh.

Morning, Good or Bad

Hello out there to the world of reality! It's been a week since I've been here, and I've been oh-so busy. Three rather large photo shoots this weekend (though none of them mine) kept me going for 9-10 hours each day, I barely saw my kids, and I feel as though a train hit me. But alas! It is Monday! A new week, a new set of adventures. I have few exciting stories to tell, like the conundrum I'm facing in regards to telling Sylvia about God (she keeps asking), acquiring 2 new beds on craigslist (preparing for Easton's big transition), and trying to decide how to fill my November like I did my October. But today is for errands and stillness. We are almost out of wipes, toilet paper, milk, bread, & eggs (have I mentioned the eggs I've been getting from a friend that owns 2 acres on the bad part of town and houses 50 chickens? Oh so yummy), all these are staples in my house.

I'll try my hardest to post more this week, but I can't stop yawning and it's not 8 am yet!

Also, shooting this family on Friday, so excited about it!! Contact me if you're wanting family photos for holiday cards, I'm booking now for November and have a great package that includes session fee, 50 holiday cards with envelopes, and cd of final images!

Amilia is here!

As I was off working a long wedding yesterday, Sylvia took her first out of town adventure sans parents. Sure, she just went to Springfield with my mom, but it was the first time ever to sleep up there. I was going to head up after the wedding, but I got out too late and was just too tired. Anyway, blah blah blah. I awoke today and zipped up in the quietest car ride EVER! Only to show up at my brother's house to a peaceful, dreamy, delicious 3 day old baby. YUM! I'm going back next week for her official newborn photo session, but I had to snap some shots of her sleeping. Look. At. That. Head. Of. Hair.

And someone else was quite fond of her too!

Blue Tunnel